WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.960 All right, what's going on drive time on a Wednesday afternoon. 2 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:07.919 Sunny and a little bit warmer today than it has 3 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:11.359 been over the past seventy two hours here in downtown 4 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:12.439 saw Lake City, Utah. 5 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:13.839 It's at our Broadway. 6 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:16.879 Media Studios, and as it is every single day, it's 7 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:18.679 gonna have you along for the ride. Spence check, it's 8 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:21.760 beyond the mike. That's Porter Larson behind the glass. Today 9 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:24.760 we have a short show for you guys, a bit 10 00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:28.399 of a sprint instead of our four hour typical marathon. 11 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.800 This afternoon, we're gonna make way for Utah basketball coming 12 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:35.000 up at about three thirty. You'll hear a pregame coverage 13 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:38.000 between the Uts and the Houston Cougars. Houston's one of 14 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.920 the best teams in the country, a national championship contender, 15 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:44.600 a Final four contender, certainly, so we'll get into that 16 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.600 game on the program today as we will bring that 17 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.799 to you early. A lot to do between now and then. 18 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:54.840 Know Utah Jazz made a trade. It's weird these pieces 19 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:57.719 of breaking news have come down, like with two seconds 20 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:00.679 left in the show, So try to do what you 21 00:01:00.759 --> 00:01:02.880 can and make sense of the news that came down. 22 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:04.680 But we'll talk about it today. The Jazz made a 23 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.920 trade with the Phoenix Suns. What exactly does it mean, 24 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:10.359 why would they do it, and what could be next 25 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:13.799 for quite frankly both teams. Obviously, the trade deadline is 26 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:17.400 coming up February the sixth, That is right around the corner, 27 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.760 and a lot of conversations about trades the Jazz could 28 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:22.439 be involved in. So we'll give you some thoughts on 29 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:26.519 that today on the program. One day closer to conference 30 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.239 Championships Sunday in Pro football, don't forget we are your 31 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.840 home of the biggest and best football events, whether it's 32 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:34.719 college or pro. So you're gonna hear the games on 33 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:39.920 our radio station coming up on Sunday for the right 34 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:42.319 to go to the Super Bowl. Coming up, it's the 35 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.519 Commanders and the Eagles live in Philipdelphia, starting at one 36 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.760 o'clock Mountain Toime on Fox. Billy's a six point five 37 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.280 point favorite in that game. The line hasn't moved much. 38 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.480 The line moved towards Kansas City yesterday and the Chiefs 39 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:58.200 are now two point favorite of the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead. 40 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.239 For the second straight year, those two teams play for 41 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:04.439 the AFC Championship. So one day closer, of course to 42 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:07.560 the weekend and too little pro football. Utah Jazz are 43 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:09.840 in action tonight, taking on one of, if not the 44 00:02:09.879 --> 00:02:14.000 best teams in the entire NBA Oklahoma City six o'clock 45 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:16.879 Mountain times start, So you get a little Utah basketball 46 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:20.479 tonight or this afternoon at four o'clock against Houston, you'll 47 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:24.319 get a little Utah OKC as well. And we've got 48 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.680 a lot to do on the program between now and 49 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:27.840 three twenty five. 50 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:29.520 The New York Jets avoy coach. 51 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:34.120 Definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over 52 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:36.919 again and expecting different results. Aaron Glenn seems like a 53 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:39.639 good dude, played for the Jets in the nineties. In 54 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.599 other first time head coach with a defensive background, and 55 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.520 so far that has not gone well. Could Pete Carroll 56 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.479 be heading to coach the Raiders? A lot of rumors 57 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:51.360 in that direction too. So we're gonna bring in Zach 58 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:53.919 Harper today NBA Daily assist I. We'll talk about what 59 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.719 the Jazz did with the Suns, what could be next 60 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.039 for Utah And it's Jimmy Butler on his way to 61 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:01.439 Phoenix now, so we'll bring in Zach Harper Neil Smith 62 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.400 stops by. We talked to Neil every week about the 63 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:06.960 NHL and the Utah Hockey Club. Utah Hockey Club is 64 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.439 off tonight. They're back at action tomorrow on the road. 65 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:12.840 Just completing a seven game homestand and only got two 66 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:17.520 wins there. So Minnesota good team. We'll take on Utah tomorrow. 67 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.240 That game is on ESPN Plus and also Hulu as 68 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.960 the NHL also kind of makes their way into these 69 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:27.199 streaming slash linear broadcast situation. So Quick Show ninety minutes 70 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.240 to day on Wednesday, Zach Harper, Neil Smith, Me Spence 71 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:31.719 check it to all of you, the great listeners, and 72 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:35.560 that guy Porter Larson breaking news as we ended the show. 73 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:37.240 It seems like there's I don't know what it's been 74 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.199 over the past few weeks, like the title nine ruling 75 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.080 came down as we were finishing the show. Jazz made 76 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:45.840 a trade a lot of conversation about it. We were 77 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:47.879 ending the show as the news came down. Where are 78 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:49.919 you at with it today after kind of digesting it? 79 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:53.199 Yeah, as you mentioned, awkward timing for us on the 80 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:55.840 end of the shows lately, and that's part of the 81 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:58.879 afternoon drive deal usually, you know, a lot of times 82 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:02.000 you're ending the show, games are in progress, or people 83 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:04.879 are news dumping things at five pm as we hang up. 84 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.520 But you know, I like how you laid it out 85 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:12.719 a little bit in cross talk with Scott. It's something 86 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:14.719 that of course, when you're trading for picks, when you're 87 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:19.160 trading for draft capital, and you're trading picks that you 88 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.240 don't necessarily know where they're going to land, Spence, you're 89 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:25.720 you're taking a gamble. It's a gamble, but it's a 90 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.079 gamble that could move the Jazz up into the drafts, 91 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:33.000 and I think it's a gamble worthwhile because of the 92 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:35.959 talent in the top end of NBA drafts. In today's game, 93 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:40.959 it's different story Spence than fifteen twenty years ago. And 94 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:43.120 I know there's some pushback still to that, but just 95 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:47.279 the sports science of yeah, maybe the demeanors of players 96 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:51.480 is different, but we're talking about just athletic prospects. They're 97 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:53.519 better now than they've ever been. Go look at the 98 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:56.639 top five in the draft a few years ago with 99 00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:59.959 Anthony Edwards, and I mean, if you miss on a 100 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:04.519 top five pick, there's something wrong. Whereas fifteen years ago, 101 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:06.879 sometimes it was hard you know there's one standout or two. 102 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.720 It's different now, and I like moving up getting some 103 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.480 draft capital that could be at the top end of 104 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.240 the NBA draft rather than the bottom half, because I 105 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:18.600 do think that the talent is it's just different, and 106 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:19.959 the Jazz are looking to capitalize on that. 107 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:23.480 Unprotected picks and pro basketball are like unicorns. So I think, 108 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:26.560 you know, I think most people agree that the Jazz 109 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:29.079 did something that makes a lot of sense. 110 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:30.959 Now only time will tell if it works. 111 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.600 But we'll get into it as we have a good 112 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.240 NBA guest on the show today. But before Zach Harper 113 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:38.519 joins us courtousy of our good friends, Standard Restaurants supply 114 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:40.839 your one stop shop for all your tailgate needs. 115 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:43.480 On a short Wednesday show, It's time now for your 116 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.120 opening tip. 117 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:47.199 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check. It's on Utah's 118 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:50.839 number one Sports Talk Now into the studio of ESPN 119 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.839 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 120 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:55.800 opening tip of the Drive is brought to you by 121 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.199 Standard Restaurants, supply your one stop shop to build the 122 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:03.920 best tailgate in town. Standard Restaurants Supply thirty five hundred 123 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:05.279 Southwest Temple. 124 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:08.160 NBA Trade deadline is right around the corner. 125 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:11.959 It is on February the sixth, so just about two 126 00:06:12.040 --> 00:06:16.279 weeks away or so ish thereabouts, and the Utah Jazz 127 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.000 a rumor to be part of a bunch of potential 128 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.160 hypothetical deals. 129 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.480 Of course, those are only rumors. 130 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:23.319 We can only talk about what we know and what's 131 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.399 already gone down. So as we were saying goodnight last night, 132 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:30.240 in the five o'clock hour breaking new Shamsharani, ESPN, the 133 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.800 Phoenix Suns receive a twenty twenty five first round pick 134 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:36.680 from the Jazz in addition to a twenty twenty seven 135 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.680 first round pick and a twenty twenty nine first round pick. 136 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.240 In exchange, Utah receives a twenty thirty one first round 137 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.839 pick from the Suns. On the surface, it's like what 138 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:47.120 exactly are. 139 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.399 We doing here? But when you dig into it, it 140 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.240 makes a lot of sense. 141 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:53.199 So in all three drafts twenty five, twenty seven, and 142 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:56.439 twenty nine, the picks the Suns receive will be the 143 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:00.360 least favorable of Utah, Minnesota, and Cleveland. Okay, that's the 144 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.199 deal with all three of these picks and all three 145 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.879 of these drafts. If you're Danny Ainge, if you're justin Zannik. 146 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:07.279 If you're part of the Jazz front office, you've simply 147 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:11.879 done your calculation on mostly Cleveland and Minnesota a little bit. 148 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:14.199 But Minnesota is getting a little bit older, and even 149 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:16.399 that pick this year for the Jazz could be late lottery. 150 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.319 The Cleveland Cavaliers pick this year might be the last 151 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:22.040 pick in the first round, and Cleveland has a lot 152 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.879 of good young players who you know. Nobody knows how 153 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.160 things could change during the course of any offseason. But 154 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.399 this is the Jazz doing their calculation on the Cavs 155 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:34.319 mostly and saying we believe on all three of these 156 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:38.360 in all three of these draft cycles twenty five, twenty seven, 157 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:41.360 and twenty nine, we believe the least favorable of these 158 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:43.839 three picks are most likely going to be late first 159 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:47.199 round twenty five to thirty thereabouts. So we're fine giving 160 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:50.279 away three picks that are probably going to be twenty. 161 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:50.639 Five to thirty. 162 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:55.000 That's our calculation to Phoenix in exchange for an unprotected 163 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:58.160 pick of theirs in twenty thirty one. Unprotected picks are 164 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:00.680 like unicorns and pro basketball. You can grab one, you 165 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:03.160 got to do it, and the Jazz have probably done 166 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.560 their calculation on the Phoenix Suns, and you understand that 167 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.079 Kevin Durant at thirty six and Bradley Beal at thirty 168 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:11.600 one and Devin Booker in his late twenties, there's a 169 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:14.839 good chance that this pick that's unprotected from Phoenix in 170 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:17.839 twenty thirty one comes during a year where they're probably 171 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:20.160 going to need to be pivoting or maybe even fall 172 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.000 on rebuilding the way the Jazz are now. 173 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:23.680 Is that a guarantee? Of course it's not. 174 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.879 Matt Eshbia, who just bought that team, seems to be 175 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:29.399 a very willing owner as far as spending money, and 176 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.399 he's probably gonna do everything he can to make sure 177 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.200 the Suns are as competitive as they can be every 178 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:36.879 single year. But that's not a guarantee. And the NBA 179 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:40.559 is cyclical. We're seeing it here right now. Sometimes you're up, 180 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:43.559 sometimes you're down. Sometimes you're trying to get back up 181 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:45.320 as much as you know, as quick as you can. 182 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.799 But it's not that easy to do. 183 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:51.080 And the Suns have found themselves in scenarios similar to 184 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:54.519 where the Jazz find themselves now. Your veteran players either 185 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:56.440 a jon or they want to get paid and they 186 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:59.679 move on or something happens in the locker room and 187 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.240 you just say to pivot kind of the way that 188 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.840 it happened here with Gobert and Mitchell. 189 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.399 Things happen all the time. 190 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:07.320 But there's a really good chance the Jazz just traded 191 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.159 three late first round picks for an unprotected draft asset 192 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.159 in twenty thirty one. That might be really, really special. 193 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.480 And if you're the Jazz, you have to lean in 194 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.120 on every possible scenario to try to finally and you 195 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:22.679 need lady luck the way the Jazz haven't had Lady 196 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.960 luck yet. Nine lottery appearances, the Jazz have never moved up. 197 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.960 At some point that has to change, and you give 198 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.840 yourself as many options as possible. You give yourself as 199 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:35.960 the best odds possible to finally land that pick that 200 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:39.279 could change things. And that's what makes a process like 201 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.960 this worth it. The problem is when you look at 202 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:45.200 processes like this around the league. The Philadelphia seventy six 203 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:46.960 or did the very same thing. It took them five 204 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.679 full years to finally get the pick in the player 205 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.960 that changed their roster and their franchise, and that was 206 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:55.200 Joe LMB. Now, obviously he hasn't been able to stay 207 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.679 healthy This is not a Philadelphia seventy six or topic. 208 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.000 You get the gist. This is all about. 209 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:03.039 Trying to find that one pick that could finally be 210 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:06.279 the pick that changes the Jazz organization because in the 211 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:10.120 past they've had to rely on savvy draft and talent 212 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.679 evaluation in spots in the draft where you don't typically 213 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:17.639 get great players. Late lottery Mitchell, late first round, Go Bear, 214 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.679 John and Carl both mid to late first round picks. 215 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.000 You get the deal. Carolinko second round pick. 216 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.840 The only like top five pick they've really developed in 217 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.879 the modern day of the Jazz has been Darren and 218 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:31.600 they traded him because he and Jerry got loose. Find 219 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.960 the pick that ends up to be the Victor Wembanyama, 220 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:36.039 find the pick that ends up to be the Cooper Flag, 221 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.360 find the pick that ends up to be the aj Debantsa, 222 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:42.679 and then we're on our way. But until then, you're 223 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:46.720 just you're spinning your wheels. You're running around one of 224 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:49.559 those mouse wheels and just you know, every single year 225 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:52.559 you're winning thirty thirty five games in drafted eight, nine, 226 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.240 ten to eleven. That's the way to find Keante George. 227 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:59.320 That's the way to find Taylor Hendrix. That's the way 228 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:01.879 to find real, nice role players. And we're simply playing 229 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.559 the percentages because of course there are exceptions. There are 230 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:06.919 late lottery picks that turn into be some of the 231 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:10.360 best picks that we've ever seen. There's the best player 232 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:12.240 in the world right now was drafted in the second round. 233 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:14.960 It's not the only way to do this, but it's 234 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.200 giving yourself the best chance to do it juxtaposed to 235 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:20.399 the way you've done it lately, because you have to 236 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:22.559 base this on the way teams have been built and 237 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:26.360 team you know, great championship teams draft, they develop, and 238 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:31.200 they retain. But championship teams have one of those generational 239 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:33.320 pieces and that's what the Jazz don't have. And that's 240 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.519 quite frankly, what the Jazz haven't had for a long 241 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.519 long time, depending on on how you analyze Donovan right now, 242 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:42.840 this is one of the rare deals in pro basketball. 243 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:44.519 That I get why Phoenix does it. 244 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:47.679 Phoenix, prior to this trade had one draft asset to 245 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.639 trade and it was a second round pick because they 246 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.600 went all in to get Durant, Booker and Beale together. 247 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:57.200 Now Phoenix has three first round picks. They can either 248 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:02.000 utilize to add talent via the draft. That's affordable because 249 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.080 they paid a lot of money to their three big stars. 250 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:07.960 The draft is a great way to add talent without 251 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.519 having to pay top dollar. Yet, because they're on rookie 252 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.399 deals for three years with a fourth year, that's a 253 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.200 team option. So Phoenix has the chance to use these 254 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:18.120 picks to add affordable young talent. Or they now have 255 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.879 something interesting to call Miami about if they want to 256 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.759 get Jimmy Butler. 257 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.000 The Jimmy Butler deal is probably going to be complicated. 258 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.840 The Jazz actually could be involved because I think Miami 259 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:29.279 and Phoenix are going to need a third or fourth 260 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:32.320 team for salary implications. Think about when the Jazz trader 261 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:35.360 for Russell Westbrook and Dereck Rose and waived them. The 262 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.440 Jazz could be a team that absorbs a contract and 263 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.799 they could say, Okay, we'll take the player and the 264 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.840 player's contract, but you got to send a first round 265 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:45.360 pick with that player, right. I mean, the Jazz are 266 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.080 actually in a really, really good spot. The problem is 267 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:50.799 all this is hypothetical because if we get to twenty 268 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:53.840 thirty one and Phoenix wins fifty five games and it's 269 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:55.200 the twenty sixth pick. 270 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:57.200 This was a bad move. 271 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.960 We won't know until twenty thirty one, is what I'm saying, 272 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.960 and so strapping for the next six years. It doesn't 273 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.960 change anything for right now. It just puts the Jazz 274 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:09.279 once again in a really good spot hypothetically down the road. 275 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:12.639 If things go their way for once, if the ping 276 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:15.080 pong balls bounce their way for once, if Lady Luck 277 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.759 shines on the Jazz for once, then we'll look back 278 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.639 on deals like this and say, Okay, it worked right. 279 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:22.639 But in the meantime, it's one of those deals where 280 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.320 if you're Phoenix, you do it. If you're Utah, you 281 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.039 do it, and I get it. We'll bring in Zach 282 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.840 Harper coming up on the other side, and continue to 283 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:28.960 kind of break this stuff down. 284 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.320 Do a little Utah Hockey Club with Neil Smith. 285 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.679 Later on we say good afternoon at about three twenty 286 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:38.600 five in time for Utah Basketball. I'm too tired today 287 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.159 to even fight it, I really am. We're on night 288 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:46.320 three of Little Duke. Don't do that, Okay, don't don't 289 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:49.000 force the issue. I'm just saying, we're on night three 290 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:51.440 of the station mascot Duke a little. 291 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:52.679 Stomach issues, so He's waking. 292 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:55.559 Me up every two hours, which I appreciate because I'd 293 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.320 rather have him go outside to go to the bathroom. 294 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:59.840 But I'm too tired to fight the pitbull thing today. 295 00:14:00.039 --> 00:14:02.759 I'm just gonna embrace embrace it. Yeah, but don't sing. 296 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:05.440 Don't sing pit bull on air. That's embarrassing for all 297 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.639 of us. We're playing pit bull because Zach Harper joins us. 298 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:11.200 By the way, just real quick, before I forget, we 299 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.399 have the number now, Notre Dame Ohio State twenty two 300 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:18.600 point one million viewers. That's three million less than Michigan 301 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:20.759 Washington last year. And it's got to be Monday night, 302 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.399 January twentieth as opposed to January eighth last year. So 303 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:26.879 kind of interesting stuff. Zach Harper, Happy Wednesday, sir. 304 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.399 How are you? 305 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:29.759 I mean pit bull was playing on them? Excellent? 306 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.200 Do you watch college football? 307 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:34.799 Though? I do, But I gotta be honest. I had 308 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:38.480 no interest in Ohio State versus Notre Dame. But once 309 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.840 it got to that point, I just for whatever reason, 310 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:43.360 and it's you know, I don't really have a reason 311 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:47.159 per se. I just wasn't interested in either side winning. 312 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.679 Do you think it had anything to do with the 313 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:55.039 fact that the CFP Playoffs started seven years ago. I mean, like, yeah, dude, 314 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.840 Like last year, the final was on January eighth, and 315 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.240 it drew more eyes have. I think a a lot 316 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.840 of people, like you may have just been over it 317 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:04.519 because I think it just was kind of extended out 318 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.279 way too long. 319 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:09.039 Yeah, and I you know, it's it's tough in a 320 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.440 tournament format, and I do want to give it a 321 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.639 couple of years to see if this is the right way. 322 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.480 But it it's funny, like, I know this is a 323 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:18.279 bad criticism, but it kind of felt like there were 324 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:21.480 too many teams in it. To me. I was good 325 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:23.480 at just four, Like I really was. I was good 326 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.360 at just four. And then they're like, we're doing it twelve, 327 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.000 all right, whatever, let's check it out. And then yeah, 328 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:30.039 maybe it was just it. It was two months of 329 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:34.279 college football playoff and I, yeah, I guess I just got, 330 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:37.320 you know, a little, a little tired of it. 331 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:40.240 What's the pie chart look like for the Zach Harper 332 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.080 sports consumption? 333 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:42.720 How much of it is pro basketball? 334 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:44.840 Oh? Man, I mean it's a lot. Like I don't 335 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.919 even really watch college anymore. I used to try to 336 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.600 keep up with as much college as possible, and I 337 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:53.159 just I can't do it anymore. Yeah, for pro sports, 338 00:15:53.200 --> 00:16:00.159 it's probably eighty five percent NBA, ten percent NFL. You know, 339 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.440 we'll sprinkle some baseball and there, we'll sprinkle a little 340 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.360 bit of college here and there. My dad's a big 341 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.200 Georgia Bulldogs fan, so I will watch Georgia games and 342 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:09.919 talk with him about it, just out of you know, 343 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:13.399 out of necessity. But but yeah, like I mean, it's 344 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:15.159 it's pretty much all NBA, all the time. 345 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.759 Fair enough, fair enough, So Zach, the Jazz made a 346 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.759 blockbuster move. They did well, they did not make a 347 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.759 blockbuster trade, but they made a trade. And it was 348 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:26.240 the news broke right as I was signing off. So 349 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.159 I was trying to drink through a fire hose. And 350 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.759 now that you know, I've been able to kind of 351 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.879 read about it and listen to people break it down 352 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.840 to you, you get why they do it. 353 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.039 Now. 354 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.600 There's no guarantees, right, but they obviously have done their 355 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:40.240 calculation on probably Cleveland mainly, and they've said, okay, we 356 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:43.399 think this year that might be the thirtieth pick. Two 357 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:46.519 years it's probably still late first round. Who knows, in 358 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.440 four years, but Cleveland's good, they're young, they're well coach, 359 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.039 so I guess Zach, they're like, all right, we'll give 360 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.879 Phoenix three picks, we believe, or late first rounders for 361 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.039 the chance that in twenty thirty one they're in a 362 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:01.879 pivot situation or a rebuild situation. We get an unprotected 363 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:04.240 first which is kind of like a unicorn these days. 364 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:08.200 Yeah, absolutely, I mean you don't get a lot of those. 365 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:14.319 And there's been a lot of teams recently who are 366 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.920 kind of just banking on Phoenix is not going to 367 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:20.559 figure this out long term, right, Like you've seen teams 368 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.519 kind of poach them some first round picks future first 369 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:25.799 out of them over the last year or two. And 370 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.039 I think it's this belief, like I was, I was 371 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:30.519 thinking about it earlier today, and I think I've come 372 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:34.519 to the realization that if you made me a billionaire 373 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:37.799 and I bought a team, I would run it the 374 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:42.000 exact same way that Manaspiel is just reckless decisions. Who 375 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.920 cares about the future. Like, I just want to try 376 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.519 to win now. I don't really know how to do that, 377 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.720 but I'm gonna try. And like, look, I got a 378 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:49.640 couple of really good players, Let's try to get another 379 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:53.279 player who cares what the collective bargaining rules are. It 380 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:56.759 does feel like a very impulsive person and I think 381 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:00.240 I think people around the league see the spot that 382 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:04.160 the Suns are in, see the kind of urgency or 383 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:07.920 desperation that they seem to be operating with, and and 384 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.000 in theory, like they didn't make a bad trade, right 385 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.240 that you acquire three other first round picks in order 386 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:20.000 to to you know, kind of restock the treasure chest 387 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.119 of what you might have to. You know, you got 388 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.720 to attach a pick. If you're getting rid of Nurkic, 389 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:25.720 you're gonna need picks for a potential Jimmy Butler trade. 390 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.559 If you can get Bradley Beale to agree to it. 391 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:32.559 You know, there's logic behind it. But ultimately, I think 392 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.559 people look at the Sun's team around the league and 393 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.759 they think, oh, this team's gonna be a disaster, just 394 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:42.039 in terms of financials, you know what they'll be able 395 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:44.960 to sustain, you know, three years from now. I don't 396 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.920 think they're gonna recover by six years from now. So 397 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:49.319 I actually think in terms of what what Danny and 398 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:52.920 everybody did yesterday, I think it's a brilliant gamble by 399 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.920 them because I'm with you like that Cav's pick isn't 400 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.799 gonna be any good, Like you still get good players there, 401 00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:59.079