WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.600 Next on the Drive, Tim McMahon dropping dimes for your 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:05.440 NBA daily assists. 3 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:12.919 Van McMahon. Van McMahan added dud in all the land 4 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:21.839 Texas flood As tickets Mud, He's man, Van McMahon, Ban 5 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.359 mcman the man Man. 6 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:36.520 Day two NBA Free Agency. 7 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:41.880 Nothing today regarding the Utah Jazz, at least officially, but 8 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:45.759 my goodness, a lot of movement, a lot of movement. 9 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:48.399 Our next guest joins us on a weekly basis Who 10 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.079 Collective ESPN Our Guide Tim McMahon, Tim, Happy Tuesday, man. 11 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:52.719 How are we doing. 12 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:55.399 All right? How about you? 13 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:57.399 We're good, We're good. I guess we found out where 14 00:00:57.399 --> 00:00:59.320 the market is for Colin Sexton is yeah. 15 00:01:00.520 --> 00:01:05.400 Yeah. That I would say was a rather underwhelming trade 16 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:09.200 for the Jazz, having to give up the second round 17 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:11.920 pick along with Colin Seconton to get a big man 18 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:16.280 who's bounced around to leave less than ideal. But I 19 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.120 do think that it accomplishes a couple of goals for 20 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.400 the Jazz, and that would be one to open up 21 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:27.560 minutes for their young guards and two to put a 22 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.560 products on the floor next year that's going to protect 23 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:31.280 their top eight protected pick. 24 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:36.079 And in addition they essentially waved Jordan Clarkson. It was 25 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:38.799 technically a buyout, and the buyout saved the Jazz a 26 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:42.560 little bit of cash. And then Jordan, according to you 27 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:45.159 guys over at ESPN, plans to sign with the Knicks 28 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:47.879 when he clears waivers. And for the past couple of years, 29 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:50.480 everybody around here loves him, as you know, but he's 30 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:53.400 just not the player that he was when he won 31 00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:55.640 six Man of the Year under Quinn because where none 32 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:57.480 of us are as young as we used to be. 33 00:01:57.959 --> 00:01:59.920 So your thoughts on the decision to move on from 34 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.120 Jordan Clarkson, Yeah. 35 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:04.879 And look, man, you know Clarkson had to basically sit 36 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:09.280 out last season. Yeah, I think that it was the 37 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.560 right thing to do to let him get to a 38 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:16.840 competitive situation. Clearly, if there was a robust trademarkt for him, 39 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:20.319 he would have been gone already. So instead of letting 40 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:23.759 that drag out, they let him go before free agencing 41 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:26.479 got started, and he found a home in New York. 42 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.400 And it's the first clutch client to go to the 43 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:32.879 Knicks in quite some time. Honestly, if there's a surprise involved, 44 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:34.759 it's if the Knicks took on a clutch client. But 45 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:38.960 hopefully Clarkson can go there, and obviously I'll have a 46 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.599 limited role off the bench, butit hopefully can give him 47 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.919 a little jolt of some offense off the bench. And 48 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.240 it's a good situation for all involved. But him sticking 49 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:50.159 around in Utah for another years didn't make sense for anybody. 50 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.759 You have an accurate frame of reference. 51 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:52.919 You know. 52 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.479 It's interesting because Jordan is the longest tenured jazz man 53 00:02:57.639 --> 00:03:00.919 and the only holdover from the Dennis Lindsay when Snyder group, 54 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:05.280 and it seems like throughout this four year pivot rebuild, 55 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.319 you know, wins and losses, it's the worst that it's 56 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:10.960 ever been around here. He's kind of been the locker 57 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:12.840 room vibe guy. It feels like a lot of people 58 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:14.759 are actually pretty sad to see him go. Do you 59 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:17.120 have any context or frame of reference for what he's 60 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:18.639 meant to that organization? 61 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:23.000 I mean, finally, somebody who's interacted with Jordan Clarkson who 62 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:27.199 doesn't like the guy, Sure, yeah, you know, like I mean, 63 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:31.719 he's just he vibes is the right word. And he's 64 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:34.879 also part of the one of the funnier Will Hardy 65 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:39.759 stories that I can recall, and that's you know, Will 66 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:42.280 Hardy comes in. Obviously it's his first head coaching job, 67 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:45.479 and he's got some base schools that he wants to instill, 68 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:47.919 and one of those rules is no jewelry a practice. 69 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:51.800 And then Jordan Clarkson shows up and he's got diamonds 70 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.680 embedded in his teeth, and you know, Will had to 71 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.599 kind of think about that and it's like, is that jewelry? 72 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:00.960 Is that a violation of the rule, And then he 73 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.759 just decided not to enforce no jewelry practice real quite 74 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:05.400 as hard. 75 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.639 Yeah, And it's it's just been interesting to see, you know, 76 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:12.039 the social reaction and talk to a lot of people 77 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:14.680 that kind of felt like this was the end of 78 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:17.319 an era because he was the only holdover. But it's 79 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.199 been a minute since we've had you on, so we 80 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:20.639 get to talk to you about a couple of different 81 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:23.199 jazz topics that have already gone down, and that is, namely, 82 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:26.560 Ace Bailey was the selection at five and you know 83 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.199 a lot of reporting and I certainly can't coroborate any 84 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.040 of it that maybe Ace's camp did not prefer. Utah, 85 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:34.600 there was a and we had your buddy Tim Bontemps 86 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.199 on yesterday, so we unpacked this stuff. There was a 87 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:40.399 report from Tim and others at ESPN that his camp 88 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:42.720 had told somebody in the top five not to draft him. 89 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.279 Clearly it wasn't the Jazz. I thought, Brad, actually, we'll 90 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.319 get to wal Clayton Junior in a minute. But Austin ainge, 91 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:51.720 you know, you know, I kind of like, I don't 92 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.639 know if this is the dynamic, but whether or not 93 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:55.879 East wanted to be here, Austin just said, well, we 94 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:58.560 think you're the best player, so we're taking you. He 95 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.160 reported on time, he could not have been better for 96 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.199 the pressure, and he is ready to go. So your 97 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.680 thoughts on the Jazz taking at five, I mean. 98 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:11.519 Listen, the indications certainly were that he would prefer to 99 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:16.279 go to Washington. He he did not send out the 100 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:19.839 message that he was he was good, was going to Utah. 101 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.800 I think the communication after the pick was very spotty, 102 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.120 to put it politely, for a little bit there. But 103 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:30.399 to your point, he showed up, he showed up ready 104 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.720 to work, and it seems to me that he's gotten 105 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:38.959 over wanting to kind of choose his destination in the draft, 106 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:41.720 which is just not the way the draft works. He's 107 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:44.639 going to get plenty like listen. If he wants to 108 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:48.199 be a star, he's going to have that opportunity in Utah. 109 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:50.879 There's going to be plenty of opportunity for him, you know, 110 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.959 to get shots, to have the ball in his hands, 111 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.839 you know, to be developed, and so you know, life 112 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.160 could be a lot worse. I think this is actually 113 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:04.800 a really good situation for him, and you know he's not. 114 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:07.160 He didn't show up pouting. He didn't show up whining 115 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.240 and crying or anything of that. Like I said, seems 116 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:12.439 like whatever disappointment there might have been on his end, 117 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:14.800 he got over it. And he showed up ready to 118 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:16.360 go to work and ready to be a pro. And 119 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:22.639 that's all he can ask. You know. I think at 120 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:26.079 some point he's going to have to really consider who 121 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:30.439 he's listening to for advice and what their credentials are. 122 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:37.000 It's it's very easy to be a teenage kid and 123 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:39.920 had the wrong people in your ear and get steered 124 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.839 down the wrong path. So hopefully he's going to be 125 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.000 able to evaluate that and make some clear headed decisions 126 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:51.040 about what voices he's valuing that are in his ear 127 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:56.279 and move forward. But hey, showed up ready to go 128 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:58.720 to work and looking forward to seeing him and sat 129 00:06:58.759 --> 00:06:59.560 Lake City somebody. 130 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:01.079 Yeah, good point about the reps. 131 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:03.959 And I've been very adamant to remind the listeners that 132 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.079 this is an eighteen year old young man who is 133 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.680 surrounded by people who appear to have never done this 134 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.639 job before, so they're also learning on the fly. One 135 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:14.160 follow up, have you been able to kind of learn 136 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:17.959 the reasoning that he canceled all of his workouts? I mean, 137 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:21.319 typically your antenna goes up and you think, Okay, he's 138 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:24.519 been promised, and then he cancels Philly and you're like, wait, 139 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:28.040 he hasn't been promised at one or two. So maybe 140 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:31.480 Washington did have their eyes on him, and maybe they 141 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:33.279 take him at six if the Jazz don't take him 142 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:35.399 at five. But have you been able to learn why 143 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:36.959 he's canceled all of his workouts? 144 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:40.240 I don't have direct information that I can tell you. 145 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:42.680 The belief throughout the league is that he wanted to 146 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.360 go to Washington, and Washington wanted him to go there, gotcha, 147 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:48.519 So you know, take that for what it's worth. Like 148 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.879 I said, I can't sit here and tell you absolutely 149 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.040 positively that's one hundred percent true. I can just tell 150 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:56.319 you that's what people around the league believe to be true. 151 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.560 So I'm a little conflicted here because if walk and 152 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:02.439 by the way, it's Walt, he told us as an 153 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:04.600 introductory press conference, it's not Walter. 154 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:06.439 He wants us to call him Walt, So I'll call 155 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:07.920 him what he wants us to call him. 156 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:12.120 Like if Austin Ainge and the Jazz staff identified him 157 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:13.480 as their guy, go get him. 158 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:14.519 I have no issue with it. 159 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:18.800 Then you think, okay, you traded twenty one and three 160 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:21.560 second rounders to only move up three spots, which is 161 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:24.759 not nothing. But again, if he's the guy, go get him, right, 162 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.600 So your thoughts on the trade they executed to go 163 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:28.839 draft Wall Clayton Junior. 164 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:32.279 Yeah, I mean, if they're right, you're not gonna worry 165 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:35.799 about the second round picks down the road. And they 166 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.600 really like this guy, and you know, I mean it's 167 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:42.919 funny because in a lot of ways, he's the polar 168 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:46.360 opposite of Ace Bailey in terms of a prospect. You know, 169 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:51.039 Ace Bailey is all about roth talent and potential, and 170 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:54.759 he was this, you know, like five star recruit coming out, 171 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:58.639 was pegged as a top lottery pick. You know, when 172 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.039 he's sixteen years old and all those kinds of things 173 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.759 where old Walt, you know, he's a guy who he 174 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:06.919 went to Sienna and he got screamed at by a 175 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:09.080 Patino for a couple of years. Came off the benches 176 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:11.639 freshman year. You know, I had to earn a starting 177 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.759 spot there. Patino leaves, transfers to Florida. You know, four 178 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.679 year guy, a total winner in college where obviously you know, 179 00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:22.240 Rutgers with with Bailey and Harper didn't win last year, 180 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:26.519 won a championship at Florida, you know, comes comes to 181 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.440 Utah obviously much more mature, you know what I mean, 182 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:36.279 just older, more mature, more experience, an adult, a proven 183 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:39.320 winner who doesn't necessarily have that jump off the page, 184 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.679 you know, the measurables, the athleticism, all that kind of thing. 185 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:47.559 But there's there are you know, I've seen him compared 186 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:52.120 to Brunson. Not not identical as players, certainly, but in 187 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.519 terms of some of the background stuff, very similar. 188 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.480 All right, I'm not going to ask you about spehe 189 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.200 Makay Luke's contract being picked up, So let's move over 190 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.320 to what could be next for the Jazz And the 191 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.679 one name that I think everybody's honed in on now 192 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:08.039 is John Collins with a twenty six point five million 193 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:11.120 dollar expiring deal. It was not expiring last year, it 194 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:13.360 is now. And you know, there's an argument to be 195 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:15.559 made that the season he had last year may have 196 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:17.879 been his best as a pro, or maybe second to 197 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:20.879 the season he had before he's got his big contract. 198 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:22.960 And I don't know, Tim. 199 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.039 I feel like every time I pull up some sort 200 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:28.519 of rumor site or see a tweet regarding the Jazz 201 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.320 potential next move, it lands on John any inside on 202 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.159 what could be next there. 203 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.759 Well, he is certainly available in the trade market, but 204 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:41.639 so was Collin Sexton. Obviously Clarkson was for a while. 205 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:45.120 I don't know that he would be a buyout candidate, 206 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:49.080 but you know, it would make sense if there's nothing 207 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:52.679 that is appealing in the trade market. I did, and 208 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:55.120 you know, look could be traded. I don't think you're 209 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:58.399 going to get a significant hole in return. If that 210 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.039 was okay, she probably would have already had happened, or 211 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.399 it would have happened midway through last season. But you know, certainly, 212 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.320 I think we all understand that where the Jazz are 213 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:14.000 and they're rebuild, where Collins is in his career, that 214 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:18.000 Collins being in Utah this year probably isn't in anybody's 215 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:18.639 best interest. 216 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.960 Well said, all right, we can move off the jazz. 217 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.720 Let's talk about some Western Conference teams that have really, 218 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.720 in my estimation, done an excellent job of I don't know, 219 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.679 closing the gap between themselves and Okay, so you're just 220 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:32.440 taking a step forward. So I'm just going to ask 221 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:33.960 you about a team and I just want your thoughts. 222 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:35.360 Let's start with the Houston Rockets. 223 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.919 Yeah, obviously starting with a KD trade that that was 224 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:43.759 a big swing, a win now move that that's a 225 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:46.840 move you make that said, hey, we're serious about contending 226 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:49.879 right now. They were able to do it without really 227 00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:54.480 shortening their runaway all you know, Jamn Green got moved 228 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:57.440 in the trade, but he's probably fourth, fifth, sixth in 229 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:00.120 terms of the young guys that were most important the 230 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.960 future of the franchise. And then I'll be honest with that, 231 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.759 the Capella thing kind of caught me off guard. They 232 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.159 want to be able to have two bigs available at 233 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:11.480 all times, and obviously Steven Madison to miss some time. 234 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:16.399 Finney Smith. Though, here's the thing. The Rockets both went 235 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.960 out and drastically upgraded the go to guy they got 236 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.720 a Hall of Fame go to guy, and they also 237 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.279 leaned into the style of play that they want that big, 238 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:29.759 just nasty, rough, physical defense, rebound and all that kind 239 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.879 of stuff, bringing in Phinney Smith, bringing in Capella. So 240 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.159 I think they're the second best team in the Western Conference. 241 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.360 That's actually where I was gonna ask you, because Vegas 242 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:40.360 has them as two now. 243 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.240 But you answered it. 244 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:43.639 So let's move on and let me let me ask 245 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:45.639 you about what the Nuggets are doing and just coming 246 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.480 across the wires. They've added another rotational piece. And I 247 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:50.919 don't know that I'm a huge Tim Hardaway junior guy, 248 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.159 but you could do worse for like your ninth or 249 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.679 tenth man. But what do you make of the way 250 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:56.360 they've gone about their off season so far? 251 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.279 Yeah? I really liked what they did in terms of 252 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.039 like the short term with Michael Porter junior, trading him 253 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:08.320 for Cam Johnson. Now, but twenty thirty two pick could 254 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.320 end up being a steep price. That's a steep price 255 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:15.559 after Jokers prime. To me, you got a comfortable player, 256 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:19.279 it's not an upgrade, probably a more versatile, well rounded player, 257 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.279 and you saved a ton of money, which created flexibility 258 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.080 and then you know, I thought they might just try 259 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:28.720 to dust the tax, but they brought him. You know 260 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:31.960 Valu Tunas today. You know Hardley's a minimum guy, but 261 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:34.960 you know Bruce Brown coming back to the minimum. I 262 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:39.440 mean those are between Valentunas, Bruce Brown and Hardaway. Those 263 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:44.080 are three proven bets for the bench. And if you know, 264 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:47.080 if one of the young guys like plays Hardway have 265 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.799 a spot in rotation, great, but if not, you know, 266 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:55.000 the volume movement shooters around jokers not a bad thing 267 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:57.159 to have, all right. 268 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:59.919 Not a jazz story, but a local story is Dame 269 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.919 Lillard players played his college ball up north of Weaver State, 270 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:06.639 and you know, when you see the news, the optics 271 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:08.799 are like, wait, how do you cut Dame Lillard? 272 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:10.120 How do you cut Damian Lillard? 273 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:10.240 Like? 274 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.919 And then optically, that's not a great look for who 275 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:16.240 Dame is historically is a Hall of Fame player. But 276 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.240 he will get his money and he will decide where 277 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:21.919 the either the final or the next stands of his 278 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:25.000 NBA career will take place. As a result of the 279 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.879 deal that Milwaukee made to stretch him, they bring in 280 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:31.200 Miles Turner, which is an interesting dynamic because, as you know, 281 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:34.240 the Bucks and the Pacers aren't necessarily the best of friends. 282 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.960 So what do you make of how Milwaukee went about this. 283 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:42.919 Massive blow to the Indiana Pacers. Obviously, I get the 284 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.320 fit of Turner with the honest Turner, basically a younger 285 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:54.039 Springer version of Brook Lopez. I understand like the logic 286 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:57.519 behind the wave and stretch with Dame. He's going to 287 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.559 miss all next season. You don't know what he's going 288 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:02.480 to be when he comes back. Tell like, who that 289 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.840 man paying a guy one hundred and thirteen million dollars 290 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:09.080 to go away? That's who. That's tough. And basically the 291 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.919 Dame trade ended up being a disaster for Milwaukee. You know, 292 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:17.559 they're still out draft capital in the future. It didn't 293 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:21.519 produce a single Playoff series victory, and now he's on 294 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:23.679 their books for the next five years at twenty two 295 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:27.759 and a half million per I get it. I don't 296 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:32.879 think that bringing them Miles Turner just vaults the Bucks 297 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:36.960 in the contender status and he, like is Kevin Porter 298 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.879 junior starting point guard? They still got something to figure 299 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:42.360 out there. I'm not sure what that answer is going 300 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.840 to be, but they're going to need a better answer 301 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:47.480 than that, And as far as Dan goes like, it's 302 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.519 you know, it's a little smudge on his resume, but 303 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:53.080 if he never scores another point, he's a Hall of Famer, 304 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.759 and for him, he gets his money. And it's not 305 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:58.440 like he wanted to be in Milwaukee. He'd made the 306 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:00.559 best of a situation he did not want to be in. 307 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:03.399 So now he gets to choose his next spot, and 308 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:06.960 he gets to choose, you know, probably does he want 309 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.000 to sign with somebody this year in a two year 310 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.879 deal and rehab under their watch, or does he want 311 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:15.200 to kind of play it out, rehab on his own 312 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:19.320 and be able to evaluate the situation. You know, maybe 313 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.360 he's in late this season or next summer. So my 314 00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:26.080 understanding is Dame is not heartbroken about this development. 315 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:29.679 Only because I've been asked ten times today and I 316 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:32.080 believe the answer is emphatically no, because I don't think 317 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.159 it makes sense for either side. But every time anybody 318 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.600 with a local tie who is good becomes available, a 319 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.720 lot of people out here says, Okay, the jaz should 320 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.480 go get him. There's not anything that makes sense about 321 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:43.919 Dame Lillard to the Jazz, right. 322 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.840 The Jazz just bought out Jordan Clarks and then traded 323 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:52.039 Colin Section for I'm not very good player to open 324 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:56.679 up minutes for these young guards that they've drafted. And yeah, 325 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.759 I mean that really doesn't First of all, forget about 326 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:02.440 it making sense for the Jazz. How does that make 327 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:05.680 sense for Damian Lillard. It doesn't like there's one thing 328 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:09.000 he really wants to do that's won a championship at 329 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:12.279 this point in his career. And I don't think coming 330 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.039 to Utah as they're in a rebuild would be a 331 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.839 very good route to that. 332 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.599 I just needed the Tim mcman approval for my opinion, 333 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:21.559 so I appreciate that. You know, a couple of weeks ago, 334 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.200 maybe a month ago, we were discussing just the potential 335 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.839 of Collin Sexton to Dallas because they needed a guard 336 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.880 while Kyrie got healthy. Well, they went a different direction. 337 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:34.400 The Angelo Russell was the decision. And it's not a 338 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:37.000 bad value play, you know, because he's not going to 339 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.759 be a long term answer. But I'm going to find 340 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:41.559 this team really interesting this year. So I will ask 341 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:44.559 you about what this transaction says to you and what 342 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:46.200 you're expecting from the MAVs this year. 343 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:50.680 Yeah, and I think with Sexton is look, the Hornets 344 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:55.400 had a salary of that size. They did not mind 345 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:58.440 at all parting with the Maddens. Wanted to keep all 346 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:00.720 the guys who were at that sort of a number. 347 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:05.240 So that's where that got u. You a wonky and 348 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:09.359 Dan Tel Russell. Look, Dangel on a MAX that he's 349 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.839 been on is a disaster. I mean, it's a terrible 350 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:16.880 value tax payer mid level. Okay, you know he's a 351 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.960 flawed player. He's not really a point guard. He's more 352 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:24.079 of a league guard. They're going to give Cooper Flag 353 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.920 every opportunity to prove that he can handle a lot 354 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:31.559 of the point duties as a rookie. And you know, basically, 355 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.839 Daniel Russell his jobs to come in to get buckets 356 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.799 in the starting lineups the first half the season and 357 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:40.519 then hopefully transition to a six man role when Kyrie 358 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:46.160 comes back. You know, it's it is a little tough 359 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.920 to make the Mantra Defense Wings championships kind of your 360 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.960 repeat line as a general manager. And then your most 361 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.200 significant move of the off season, aside from drafting he 362 00:18:58.359 --> 00:19:03.920 a defending number one overall, is signing D'Angel Russell. But again, 363 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.559 this is a team that they needed shooting, They needed playmaking. 364 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.240 You know, they need a guy who can create his 365 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:13.640 own shot, and Deangel Russell can do all those things 366 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.680 that they at a price point where you're not going 367 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:19.559 to get at all. You know, if he was a 368 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:23.200 really good defender, he wouldn't be available at that price point. 369 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:26.599 I'm going to ask you about Lebron because I feel obligated, 370 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.559 But it's just kind of a weird story to understand 371 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:31.680 as far as how this thing is playing out. He 372 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:35.240 picked up his option fifty two point six, but he's 373 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:41.119 also monitoring what the Lakers do, contemplating his future. According 374 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:43.920 to several reports, I just feel like Lebron will be 375 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:46.279 playing for the Lakers next year next to Luka Doncic, 376 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:49.200 but they've got work to do via free agency that 377 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:51.680 they have not come close to being able to execute. 378 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.640 I don't know how much of this is new ownership, 379 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:56.440 but what's the what's the take on the Lebron Lakers stuff? 380 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:59.640 Well, and Rich Paul went on the record with a 381 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:07.720 bear like subject to interpretation type of statement, but you know, 382 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:12.519 essentially indicating them, Hey, Lebron's opting in for the money 383 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.519 and we'll figure out if he really wants to be there. 384 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.920 But they understand, crazing the guy making fifty two point 385 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:23.720 six million dollars to his preferred destination is not easy, 386 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:28.799 or in a lot of situations is not even really possible, 387 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:32.200 but in part because if you're going to trade a 388 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.000 guy at that salary, a lot of guys gonna have 389 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.400 to come back, and then it might not be a 390 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:39.799 situation you want to be a part of anymore. There 391 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:41.799 are people around the league who are like, is Lebron 392 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:44.440 trying to bully his way to a buyout from the Lakers, 393 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:48.839 And if you're sitting in rob to Lincoln jingie Bus's chair, 394 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:52.079 the answer to that is just sorry, No, we're paying 395 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:54.240 the fifty two point six million dollars. You'll be playing 396 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:57.519 basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers this year, really looking 397 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.559 forward to it, and that we're doing our best upgrade 398 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:02.160 the Ross. Sure, i'll see you when training camp starts. 399 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.400 Yeah, that's kind of how I read it as well. 400 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.359 All right, before I say you lose, you know, it 401 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:10.440