Speaker 1: What is up, Fellas Tikos, I am have Valley coming
at you with More Jensen of the NBA Podcast, Fame,
of Forbes's Fame, of Yahoo Sports Fame, and of Only
Fans Celebrity. We're here for sort of a mini bonus episode.
More had the idea of talking about the San Antonio
Spurs and a report that they're out on the KD
Sweepsteaks for a very specific reason, which we will get into.
And then it's going to be peak Hardwood Knox the
NBA podcast crossover conspiracy theories from here first and foremost,
no more.
Speaker 2: How are you doing doing well?
Speaker 3: Now that you said conspiracy theories, Let's get wild and crazy,
absolutely into it.
Speaker 1: We're here to spread as much disinformation as possible. Goal,
So do you want to take us through what the
gist of this is?
Speaker 3: So Apparently Shan Sharani off ESPN went on Pat McAfee's
show and said that the Spurs aren't necessarily that interested
in trading for haven't rant They are basically expected to
be preserving trade assets for a bigger acquisition that kind
of fits their timeline better. And I thought that's an
interesting perspective because there have been two trains of thoughts
when it comes to the Spurs after they drafted Wemby,
which the first and foremost the one was like, he's
so good already, should they just lean the fuck into
building something right now and try to win a championship immediately?
Or the second thought, which is, let's see if it'd
be a better idea to actually get more players in
next to Wemby who's in a similar age bracket, because
then you potentially could open up a competitive window that
lasts ten to twelve years or even longer for that matter.
And like, so, friend of this show, I know he's
been on mine. I don't know if he's been on yours,
but Keith Smith, he's He's always said that, you know,
in today's league, you can't get too down on timelines.
If you have a chance to go for it, and
if you have the team to go for it, why not.
Speaker 2: And I tend to.
Speaker 3: Agree with him, at least on a lot of those
teams where this makes sense, Like we can talk about
the recent trade that Orlando made for Desmond Baine that
makes them significantly better, That is a step in the
right direction, even though they relinquished probably more than I
would you can never disagree with the premise that you're
better off, Like in terms of on the court, you're
definitely a better team now for the Spurs, I think
it's interesting, like there's a real debate to be had
there in terms of which direction of the two that
you're going.
Speaker 2: So I think that's the discussion we're aabouts to have.
Speaker 1: And it's a fair discussion too, because Kevin Durant had
he never got injured, probably issue in for all NBA
and to be still one of the fifteen best players
in the league. And you look at his numbers in Phoenix,
like over twenty seven points per game on ridiculous efficiency
as always, So yes, you put him on, to say, Antonio,
they are immediately better, way better. But he turns thirty
seven in September, and so it's just like you're shrinking
your timeline, which if the cost is minimal to where
you and I were talking beforehand, Yeah, if Phoenix is
gonna give Kevin Durant up for Kelden Johnson Harrison Barnes
at number fourteen, and let's say this bursu is twenty
twenty six pick, you probably start thinking about it at
that point just because the cost is so minimal. You
already have the number two pick in this year's draft,
and it's just like in twenty twenty six, all right,
what is that selection going to be. It's like, I
totally get it. The other thing too, that I don't
think is being paid enough credence. They just traded for
Daron Fox, and because of what happened with Wemby and
the blood clots coming out of the All Star break,
those two have played two hundred and fifty possessions together,
and so to add in, like integrate this other huge
piece would be I know, Kevin Durant's pretty plug in play,
like you don't even necessarily have a sense for what
you are with Wemby and Fox, and so I think
you could if you're the Spurs. Now, if we're talking
about someone who's younger than Duran, if it's a Yannis
who's not a name we're gonna mention when we get
into conspiracy theories, right then yeah, okay, you have the conversation.
But I think you could even as san Antonio say,
let's say it is Giannis. Do you go all in
on Giannis before you understand the fit between Wemby and
Fox necessarily and more than that, Wemby, Fox and Castle.
Now in some of these hypothetical deals where if you're
getting Giannis, I assume that Castle's going out, but like
that's something they need to figure and they also need
to figure out like there it's very unlikely. Again, maybe
some of the players we would name right now who
none of whom we're available. Maybe there's a scenario which
you would give up Steph Castle in number two in
the same trade, but there really isn't and so you
have to factor in, like, okay, one of those guys
will at least beyond the roster, So what does that
all look like? And those three, by the way, Fox,
Castle and Wenby played seventy eight possessions together. They averaged
if you care, one point per possession, which is not
good the offensive, and so the spurs are still. Wemby is,
when he's healthy, is one of the most transformative players
in the NBA. That's an arguable at this point, But
you still don't really know what you're working with in totality,
Like looking at some of the Devin Visell battling those
injuries you just traded for Fox. There are these limitations
offensively for Steph Castle, you have to figure out how
to work around, and I like, it's almost easier for
me to make the trade a trade if you're giving
up the number two pick, because then you don't have
to worry about any redundancies in either play style or
weaknesses because Dylan Harper wouldn't be coming in, and that's
not a trade. I saw some of the reporting before
was Phoenix appears frustrated that like Steph Castle or number
two isn't on the table and no shit like Kevin
Rant's gonna be thirty seventy's in the final year of
his contract. Like I'm not putting as someone who doesn't
even want to really see Harper, Castle and Fox together.
I'm not putting either one of those guys on the
table and a Kevin Durant trade.
Speaker 3: It's funny, though, because before we proceed on this one,
we should perhab talk about what we prefer here, like
if they have to choose moving forward, is it Castle
or is it Dylan Harper because Castles shooting woes are real,
Like this is a significant curve that he has to
somehow figure out a way of because it's bad and
especially the contested three points percentage. It's just I think
it's in the low twenties. It's really bad. Now, Harper
shot the ball at a thirty three point three percent clip.
He was at thirty seven percent spot up if memory
serves in college. Now that also isn't great. But he
does project to be a more seamless shooter at the
NBA level than Castle at the very least. Also, just
watching his mechanics, it looks like a shot that could
be more easily tinkered with and like optimized.
Speaker 1: So like, does feel the same way for what it's worth?
Speaker 3: Yeah, right, and understand So like, are we just looking
at the shooting as the end all be all of this?
Speaker 1: No, I think you know what it is. For me.
It's just how do you effectively juggle, like handle all
those balls in the air to where like, if you
have these immediate aspirations of needing to contend for a championship,
which if you trade for Kevin Durant, that's kind of
what you're saying, how do you juggle the development and
growing pains of these two players who, in theory, Harper
and Castle, whether you view them as trade assets or
long term building blocks, are so critical to your future
and yet playing them could come at the expense of
your presence, at least in Castle's case, on the offensive end,
and maybe in Harper's case on the defensive end. I
don't think. I don't think Harper's going to come in
and be necessarily a net plus offensive player either, Like
we for the learning curve for rookies can be pretty steep.
Speaker 3: Sometimes you're not wrong, you're not wrong. I do think
that Harper has some defensive upside as well. He's big,
he's physical, he's very strong. I think there are there
are there is upside, there is there's Stefan Castle upside defensively,
probably not like Castle, I think is it projects pretty
easily to be a highly influential defender one.
Speaker 1: I mean, he might be one of the best. I'm
not right. I mean one right now for sure. But
by the end of next year, if someone said he's
one of the five best like defensive guards in the league,
are you really gonna batan ee?
Speaker 2: No?
Speaker 3: No, not at all. He's he's at that level. I
watched a ton of Castle this year. I love him
for a multitude of reasons, the three point shot not
being one, but like the feel of the game, the defense,
I do think he has this tendency to also meet
the moment, you know, like there are a lot of
times where you would you would watch him during the
course of a game and the Spurs would sort of
like they wouldn't have a firm grasp on a game, right,
and he would just sort of say, Okay, now's my time,
and he would just go off and you know, get
like twelve points in a quarter or seventeen points and
a half whatever. It was like he would just go
in and find ways to do something offensively while still
doing the defensive part. And it's the two way up
side there that intrigues me. The thing is that two
way upside is just going to be so limited if
he can't hit the freakin' freed ball. And that's where
I hate that one skill might limit him from becoming,
you know, a superstar. Like it sucks that we're at
that point where one skills plays such a big level
of importance in today's game, but that's where we are
and that's the reality of it, so we have to
go into it now. I do have one question for you,
Like everyone is kind of pecking, you know, Castle's Fox
and Harper as like lead guards. What about trying to
move Castle onto like as a wing player, and just
make sure you stacker his minutes a ton with Harper
for example, so those two aren't on the floor at
the same time.
Speaker 1: You go that route, for sure, I guess it. Just
it puts a lot on Castle if he's all of
a sudden a wing And I know we've seen him
do some of that stuff, but like, what is he six'?
Five he's listened as he made me that's like. Fringe so,
like but do you want him defending like the you,
know the, wings like the power wings of the. League not,
necessarily but you do want him defending?
Speaker 2: THOSE i don't. Mind, yeah it's there's a difference.
Speaker 1: Between but it's sort of like The thunder With Jaln.
WILLIAMS i don't think you wanted him defending centers the
entire season just because he. Could so it's, just, yeah
you have to stacker him just because right now like,
THAT i don't think they'd be a good maybe against
some bench, units But i'm just so curious to see
and it looks like we're going to barring like an
unforeseen change of. Circumstances how you try and blend it all,
again there's probably even a Case we've only mentioned his name.
Tangentially but if you're The, SPURS i know you just
traded for him and he really wanted to be, there
and he's extension. Eligible but do, you, like is there
any part of you that looks at, like oh like
moving To Aaron? Fox then you should probably be open to.
Anything but IT'S i understand their logic and waiting when
it comes to the trade, market AND i honestly even support,
it but there is A i think there's typically that's
the safe, play there is it feels like more risk
in this, case just because there's then a chance that
the overlapping concerns or functionality winds up sort of repressing the,
growth growth or performance and or performance of one or
two of these. Guards if not maybe like Does fox
suffer at all as a result of, this and so
that then does weird things to their on core impact
their value on the open. Market and so that's where
You and this is all to say though The spurs
haven't been linked to anybody aside from, you honest who
does doesn't seem like he's gonna request to trade From
milwaukee where it would be worth giving up any, like
maybe you could talk yourself into like A fox FOR
kd type trade and you would have to include other.
Salaries so maybe if you were really like big believers
In castle And harper and you don't want to Pay
fox his next, contract maybe you could talk yourself into.
That but, like they're not for the people, like, oh
they just they need to trade the number two. Pick
and it's, like unless you're talking about trading down like
to get number five or number four whatever it is or,
something it's not really they haven't been linked to anyone's
where it makes sense to move number two Or Steph.
Speaker 3: Castle, yeah it's so funny you mentioned The fox thing
because this when he initially made it known to the,
world he wanted to go to The. Spurs you, know
he more or less kind of forced that whole thing.
Himself it felt like The spurs were, like, oh, like
you're a really good player that that that'd be.
Speaker 2: Nice, hi. Welcome it wasn't someone who they just.
Speaker 3: Targeted it was it felt like the interest came from
the other side of. It that it Was fox wanted
to go, there right and now when he's he's played
seventeen games there and he's already, like, YEAH i want to.
EXTEND i want to extent with this, Team and, Like
i'm almost comparing to this to A tinder date where
one is more interested in the other, part, Right Like
fox is the guy Like i'm riddy to commit and
you have this first, like, oh, well we had a
very nice, night but let's let's just let's just chat
a little, bit let's just get to know each.
Speaker 1: OTHER i do think that's that might be uncomfortably. Accurate
BUT i think what's also interesting is Maybe Diaron fox
was more interested in. Them AND i know they didn't
give up like everything to get, him but you did
give up real, stuff you, did and so to just say, like,
oh we don't so you are a pot committed to some.
Extent but, yeah that's that is what this feels. Like
AND i wonder if you could give them truth, serum
especially knowing that they now have the number two. Pick
BUT i was a good frame at The wemby injury
not coming back after The All star. Break had they
known about, that do you think that they either won
you could pick one or both The wemby the number
two pick of it, All they're they're inextricably tied because
you're probably. Not you don't get your lottery. Spot if
your womber y'allma never gets, injured, like you don't end
up with that lottery. Spot so had they known all
of this in, advance do you think they still make
The fox?
Speaker 3: TRADE i, LIKE i PROBABLY i probably. WOULDN'T i can't
speak up behalf of the. SPURS i probably wouldn't. Have
LIKE i was even lukewarm on it when it came
out that he wanted to go To San, Antonio like
everyone was so crazy about the, discord, like, oh like
this is The wemby fit he like he's defensively, inclined and,
like oh he's so he's.
Speaker 2: Such a high volume. Scorer it's. Great it's.
Speaker 3: Great WHERE i was, like, yeah, well you, know is
that fit as clean as we think it? Is and
also that age difference that it's actually bigger than we
seem to like, Realize LIKE i, WASN'T i wasn't in
love with. It it's what is What i'm trying to, Say,
like AND i felt like what they gave up for
him that was a perfectly fine, compromise and to, me
it just kind of signaled we can get this. Guy
in we can see if it works, out but we're
also keenly aware that he could get moved in the right.
Speaker 1: Deal SO i guess my whole thing is what so
the age stuff? IS i DIDN'T i probably didn't love
it as much as everybody. Else AND i actually Like
Daron fox as a jump, SHOOTER i think more than
a lot of other people because of the self created
buckets he can make both from mid range and. Three
but when you're contrasting it against other players on the,
roster where's There already wasn't enough? Shooting and now the
Fox castle fit specifically is is that just a pairing
you're always gonna want to? STAGGER i had, Concerns but
would you give up the equivalent of, like let's call
it like two and a half first round picks or,
like however you want to like frame it to get
this deal done? Three if you want to call it? Three,
sure gave him control of? Three that was, right, Right
they gave him control of three first round.
Speaker 2: PICKS i think those.
Speaker 1: Lines it was the, lot, well no one of them
was The charlotte picked, though right that turned into two,
Seconds so we'll just started chick. Here it's so they
gave up a twenty twenty five first round. Pick oh,
no they gave up a twenty twenty five first round.
Speaker 3: Pick well that games got their pick, back, correct twenty,
five that was the. One let's see the twenty twenty
five first, round twenty twenty seven first, round and a
twenty forty one first. Round was that the one they
got From? Minnesota, yes, yeah so you.
Speaker 1: Gave Up you did technically give up three first round.
Picks but The, BULLS i don't know why they play
such a premium on getting their own. Pick they could
have kept it if they really wanted, to regardless the
price was. Fine you're to your point about the, AGE
i get. It but Darreon fox is twenty, seven and,
guys if you don't think that aligns With victor Women yama's,
time like we don't really see players of that caliber
or let alone better become available before age, twenty Like
Luka doncic was the mother of all anomalies right there and.
Speaker 2: Then and that's a fair. Point that is a fair.
Speaker 1: Point so the, if the, if the reporting is suggesting
that The spurs are now waiting on someone who better
fits the timeline or a bigger acquisition we came up
with a. Rule these are conspiracy. Theories this is one
that's probably gonna agitate fan bases because of the players,
listed none of them are available. Now but Removing yatis
from the, equation we had the one. Rule each of
us picked five. Players we couldn't pick the same, one
so no. Overlap we'll begin With mort's, list but it's
who were the spurs in theory waiting for. Right mort
has one THAT i don't necessarily, understand but let's go
through your. List mort Has Kate, Cunningham Luka, Dancic Darius,
Garland Jared Jackson, junior And Aman.
Speaker 3: Thompson, OKAY i WANT i want to start with the
odd duck of it all And. Thompson, okay SO i
understand that there are definitely spacing issues, here but.
Speaker 1: Oh do YOU i do well to be, Fair wemby
is a floor, spacer so in, theory if you have
shooting around, them there's not really floor spacing.
Speaker 3: Issues this is, true but we're baking in that they
probably still are are left with one of number two
And castle right and Probably fox. TOO i GUESS i don't,
know LIKE i don't know what the tray parameters are there's.
Speaker 1: No, yeah they're not. Left they're probably getting rid of
two of those three cars if they're Getting.
Speaker 3: But i'm And thompson to, me, like could you imagine
first and, foremost the defense would be ridiculous Like Wemby thompson,
Defense like just on the, perimeter inside the, interior will
anyone be able to make an entry? Pass will anybody
be able just to get to the foul line? AREA
i don't think. So and the way that they will
just get out in, Transition Like i'm And thompson being
this just arguably the most athletic player in the league
and a one man transition, Team like he'll get that
ball down the floor if there isn't a real. Bucket,
oh here's a seven foot six Trailing wemby who'll pull
from thirty five? Feet, Okay LIKE i can build some
fun shit around.
Speaker 2: That that's.
Speaker 3: Fun that is, good that is immensely. Entertaining it's and
it should be. Effective it should be. Effective i'm, also
and this might be the most controversial of it, All
i'm not necessarily out On thompson's jumper.
Speaker 1: YET i just that's like he's so, young when is
he becoming? Available like it's just you think he's gonna
get moved before his rookie, extension like at least you Know,
darius Like Jared, Jackson, Junior, Darius, Garland, luca and then
Even kid is at least gonna start like his men
like you you know WHAT i.
Speaker 3: Mean so it's not HE'S i, again this was a fun.
Exercise we are going to piss off fan. Bases that
was that was our. Goal, no he's.
Speaker 1: Not, well, yeah AND i do have a pair of
players who like kind of fit the same bill when
you look at how.
Speaker 2: Deep with their career he's he's not gonna be.
Speaker 3: AVAILABLE i, look there's really this might be the most
insane part of it. All the player on that, list
the best player on that, list might actually be the
guy next year in free Agency Luka dacic in twenty twenty,
six unless he extends with The, lakers of, course who
like if they can get him in free agency at that,
point and Remember fox only has a year, left which
means don't give him an extension if you want to
have the flexibility next. Summer could you imagine if they
just go out and sign his, ass not relinquishing any
goddamn Thing.
Speaker 1: Oh, man that's just when's the so who's the? Last
So Paul george IS i guess the biggest free agent
recently that just left for. Nothing so that's just the
way free agency has. Worked and now that would kind
of Find but if you're The, lakers you would probably
take it to free agency If luca wouldn't sign an.
Speaker 3: Extension Right and here's the, thing even if even if
you flip, him even if you flip him as The, lakers,
Look luca isn't a dumb. Person he's well aware that
there's A Victor wimbiniamo right. There he would form a
formidable duo, With so, like why wouldn't he keep his options? Open,
hell even just from a leverage, standpoint that's a smart
ass play going into free agency next, year just, saying, hey, look.
Speaker 2: There are The. Spurs you better give me EVERYTHING i want.
Speaker 3: Now of, course The lakers are going to offer that,
regardless as they. Should but my point is keeping that
option open isn't a bad. Thing, like with all due
respect To Lebron, james would you rather play with a
guy who's going to turn forty one next year or
someone who's going to turn twenty?
Speaker 2: Two and he's. Small how old Is?
Speaker 1: Bronni he's pretty? Young? Right? GOD i actually think my
favorite name on your list Is Kate. Cunningham but if
you're The, spurs you're betting on The pistons doing everything
wrong over the next three or four years to the
point that he wants to get, Out and that's that's a,
long long waiting, game Which i'm. Wondering, No AND i
think what's interesting here too is when they, mean, wait
are they talking about Like luca would make sense twenty
twenty six offseason type? Deal maybe Even Jared Jackson junior
because as of right now he's scheduled for free agency
in twenty twenty, Six but teams like can't really plan
windows beyond two years at this, point and so it
very much feels like if they're, waiting it's doesn't it
feel like it's with the intention to strike no later
than twenty? Seven? Yeah, possibly, so Just i'd be curious to,
know like who is the player that they're that they
think aligns better with his timeline that they're just waiting.
On you want to take us, through who's your favorite
one THAT i have on my? List? Here i'll go
through my list quickly SO i am, yeah Bam, Adebayo Anthony,
Edwards Nikola, jokic who when you talk about fitting, timelines it's, like,
eh whatever if your honest is, included which is Not
Jason tatum and Then Jay dubb Slash. Chet the thinking
there being that, it's, oh do they expect the thunder
to get prohibitively expensive three years from now or something
where they're going to have to choose between one of
MAYBE i should have thrown she in, there but it
should choose between one like, moving one Of shay J
dub And.
Speaker 2: Chet, look.
Speaker 3: You're listen to. Outstanding it's really outstanding Look edwards, obviously
BUT i, mean you have everything has to go wrong
In minnesota. Everything i've said this to you before we.
Speaker 1: Started if if this was the, name you would circle
to this as The spurs. Are you're rooting for them
to trade For Kevin, durant, right because that increases the
likelihood that there's like issues.
Speaker 2: There, yeah, RIGHT i just you have to walk you
through The jokish.
Speaker 1: One you want To you don't want to See wemby
And jokic to play it. Again wenby could defend whoever
whoever the hell you want him to. Defend oh, yeah.
Speaker 3: You want you so you Want wemby sort of, like
don't get me, Wrong i'm just gonna try to make
sense positionally in my, head you Want wempy as like
a quote unquote.
Speaker 1: Four wenby could be Your Aaron, gordon like you, could
like you could game it however you want, it doesn't
it doesn't really matter to.
Speaker 3: Me, okay, no, no, no you know what you sold me
on that? One, yeah all, RIGHT i get, IT i
get it.
Speaker 1: That what would that be the hottest superstar pairing? Though, yes, Possibly.
Speaker 3: Look imagine, This it doesn't even matter. Who both of
them can screen for one another and both of them
can handle the. Ball have we seen guys of that
size with that skill play pig and roll off each?
Speaker 2: OTHER i mean with that.
Speaker 1: Skill Like, Holme grind And hartenstein probably fall short there.
Puts yeah you.
Speaker 3: Haven't that would be, like how do you defend That
you're taking your two primary big men, out like posting
big men out the paint while you're initiating big role, Action, like.
Speaker 2: How do you defend? That? Dan do?
Speaker 3: You?
Speaker 1: HONESTLY i guess aside From bam just Because miami's, Weird
yoki would be the one on this list right that's
most likely to become available within the next three. Years
AM i?
Speaker 2: Wrong, no you're. Not it's just so.
Speaker 3: HARSH i mean you're right the right now that The
nuggets aren't really doing, HOT i will say, this let's
just give them time to hire someone, New like let's
just let's just see what.
Speaker 1: There's still firing people just to get. It there's, well
look to The nuggets credit they gave the Thunder we
might look back and, say, okay like that was the
toughest test the thunderface during these playoffs and route to a.
Title SO i just, again you Have Jason tatum would be.
Interesting he's gonna be coming back from an achilles. Injury
but AND i don't know what needs to happen For
boston to think about moving. Him and he's on that
That supermax BUT i don't, Know like there's no when
we were doing this, exercise there's no, player, Right he's
like that's the one that they should be sitting and
waiting for because you kind of have to think far out.
There BUT i guess the the the appeal of building
Around wemby is that he can fit along, time so
like you could put him alongside another big and that,
like if If Mitchell robinson and karl Anthy towns can play,
together why Can't wemby And.
Speaker 3: Jokic, yeah you know, what that's a fair. POINT i
think what's stuck in my mind is The spurs tried
to play him With Sack collins and it just went.
Nowhere but that's Also Sack. Collins you know WHAT i,
mean with all due respects To, sack he's not In Nikola.
Speaker 1: Jokic, well you, know with all due respect TO. Nicolea,
jokic he's Know Zach.
Speaker 2: Collins that that is. Fair he is not he has
he is Not Sack collins has much better hair.
Speaker 1: The the other. Thing AND i find it interesting BECAUSE
i think of when you go Castle Dylan, harper assuming
The spurs have him Dearon, fox and then you Had
Darius garland on your. LIST i Think Darius carland is
the best fit For wemby like up those.
Speaker 3: Four, oh, unquestionably and that would be like in A
jerry And fox swap or something like. That was when
when the rumors came up With, fox some people were, asking,
like but who's the better? Fit AND i was Immediately
garland he's not, available But. Garland the fact that That
garland can pull up from mostly anywhere as well off
those Theoretical wenby, screens the fact that he can stretch
the floor also as to catch and. Shoot Guy dad
is just going to Give wenby so much more space
to operate. With and you, know you've been on my
ass for a while about, hey let's actually Give wemby some.
Spacing you're right on, it and Like garland would be
one of those players who absolutely fits that.
Speaker 1: Bill any other names we thought About Devin, booker but that,
again that's like, older Like Jason tATu. OLDER i might
be too old for this exercise.
Speaker 3: Too if you, know you, know, well you brought up
a fun name before we started, Recording Evan.
Speaker 1: Mopley just what has TO i guess sits if we're
working within the next three years and so it's, oh
you could see the end horizon of his current. Deal
that's the. PATHWAY i JUST i would feel the same
way About, jokic to be, honest but it's, like why
are you waiting for someone who arguably plays your best
player's best.
Speaker 3: Position BUT i mean you're right, though it would like
you could. Wait, yeah they would be totally, interchangeable would that?
Speaker 1: Be? Yeah and they both have like these outside in
floor games, Now like especially with What mobley did this,
year like HIS i was worried about his handle and,
stuff and it's it's maybe way better, Strong like it's
better Than wemby's at this. Point and that might be
a size, thing like the distance That wenby's the ball
needs to travel to reach The bomba's hands is. BARBERS i, mean.
Speaker 3: Just just the fact that that might also be part
of the vision From San, antonio, honestly because you AND
i have seen to identify a lot of players where
you're adding a secondary great defense in the front, Court
like that might be the same vision they go, after
because if you can somehow Pair wempy with another great
rim protector and someone who can also play a bit
on the. PERIMETER i, MEAN i don't want to crap
On okc's historic defense this, year but like could A
spurs defense challenge that if you have Prime wempy and
like a for, Example Evan.
Speaker 2: MOPLEY i guess depends.
Speaker 1: On who's in front of them, too because those aren't
guys who are gonna necessarily generate a ton have it inducing, turnovers.
Speaker 3: RIGHT i mean if you If Stefan castle is still,
there that's certainly.
Speaker 2: Someone so who are you?
Speaker 1: Trading?
Speaker 3: Right, oh, well you're training probably everyone else Like fox
the number two so And vasel like you're probably left
with a lot of cheer.
Speaker 2: Leaders after, that.
Speaker 1: You brought up another funny. One you Said Cooper flag
BEFORE i started.
Speaker 3: Recording, Okay so let's get into, this, Okay BECAUSE i
was actually planning to record an episode With Keith smith
about and then it just fell through BECAUSE i didn't
have the, time BECAUSE i actually wanted to ask the
question what would it?
Speaker 2: Take LIKE i understand That.
Speaker 3: Dallas feels like they cannot, say like they can't lose
face on this, one, Right like they just can't after
what everything that. Happened there's just no. Way and that's,
Fine like let's acknowledge it's never gonna happen because The
mavericks are, like you know, what fuck, You we're not
gonna move that. Pick we we just don't have the
guts to do. It what would it?
Speaker 2: Take that's my? Question what would it?
Speaker 3: Take like when does an offer become too fucking good
to Where Nico harrison has to go to ownership and
just go we might have to do it. Again we
might have to make a call once again that's gonna
be extremely, unpopular but that this deal is just too
good to pass, Up like what is that?
Speaker 1: Deal SO i think it's probably just, No like if
we're operating under, This i'm saying That kyrine And Anthony
davis are still. There it to me would very clearly
involve a third team that is giving up someone who
is so immediately good that it's not The mavericks Trading
Cooper flag for this Pick, hall it's the and prospect.
Hall it's The mavericks Trading Cooper flag because oh so
and so called and said like this is the three
team setup and we're gonna GET i don't know who is,
It jokic because ad wants to play the? Four is It?
Yann like aren't you talking at this point About i'm
not Saying Cooper flag is gonna be a top, five but,
like who is the worst player that you Would let's just,
say all you have to give up Is Cooper flag,
too and then salary you don't, want, right which that's
where it gets tough, too is all? Right, well Like
giannis makes a trillion, dollars so you have to match.
THAT i just don't. Know is there a name that
you had in?
Speaker 3: Mind SO i, WAS i was thinking of a three
team deal AND i don't have the parameters worked. OUT i,
did BUT i don't remember him now because it's about
a month and a half ago THAT i did. This
but that was that WAS kd like you And kati
as as that leverage point of going to, no, no, no
we're not done, there, no, no.
Speaker 2: No K katy is just one.
Speaker 3: Guy so The spurs ultimately would relinquish AND i, AGAIN
i forget where who goes? Where but they would Relinquish
Masel barns so hand the twenty twenty Six chicago, pick
that was that before the. Deadline, no that can't be
the before the. Deadline they still have that right the
switch picks A chicago.
Speaker 1: Pick chicago doesn't know what twenty twenty six. Pick then
they should have all their own picks moving. Forward, okay
then then the spot, track they'll probably trade some of them.
Speaker 3: Soon they're probably well The atlanta pick in twenty twenty
seven unprotected, obviously The boston pick in twenty twenty, eight
and then the spurs own pick in twenty, nine twenty
one and In freddy one with swaps in, between so like.
Speaker 1: That boston pick is only a swap, too so.
Speaker 2: That's also a. Swap that's. True see that's the.
Speaker 3: THING i had it all typed, out and it's it's
somewhere basically they would give up a shit son and
then it just kind of you have to finagle how
do like how much value Are phoenix looking to get
back from FROM kd, right so like they'll take some
of the picks and Then dallas gets the rest of.
Them and OBVIOUSLY i forgot number two was involved as,
well because you have to get, like if you're going
for flag at number, one number two has to be,
involved and.
Speaker 2: Two as The.
Speaker 1: Mavericks maybe that's enough to CONSIDER i mean probably enough
to consider, IT i, guess because then you have like
the air apparent for your offense With Dylan harper there
if you're getting the number two. Pick but, again how
do you how much are you integrating him or are
you turning around and trying to move number two for
another like.
Speaker 3: Bing that's that's their, problem that's The hoast. Problem i'm
not THAT i haven't like. That that's up to, them But,
like What i'm basically asking is when does that offer
become too enticing not to pull the fucking.
Speaker 1: TRINKER i honestly don't. KNOW i THINK kDa number two
would probably get me thinking If I'm. Dallas but that's
EVEN i don't, know because you're, saying, oh two years
Of Kevin durant is worth dropping From Cooper flag To Dylan.
Harper that's still that's. Tough and then you're giving up
other players to match THE kd? Salary would do you like?
That From San antonio's, perspective to give up everything for
this un you're talking, About, oh we don't want to
trade For Kevin durant or we're not going to be
in On, giannis and so you're gonna give up everything
for a proven. Player, yeah, honestly if It's Cooper, FLAG i.
MIGHT i.
Speaker 2: Might he's, LOOK i really like that.
Speaker 3: GUY i think he is going to be one of
those players who live up to the hype That, now of,
course there's a valid question baked in, there like will
he be able to spread his wings next to Wen
beat to the same. EXTENT i don't know the answer to,
That but from a value, perspective from like a here's
your running mate for the pet next ten years.
Speaker 2: PERSPECTIVE i, might, Man, YEAH.
Speaker 1: I can't wrap my head around. It that's too like
That's galaxy bringing. IT i. CAN'T i JUST i guess
you picked the right team, though if there was some
if there was a team that would consider going that,
direction it would Be i'll say That Nico harrison Led Dallas.
Speaker 3: Mavericks but something an interesting thought did hit me with all,
this because we keep you like bringing The spurs and
The thunder up as like trade. Competitors that was specifically
through the prism Of giannis, right like, oh who can
outbits who you know who and? Whatnot like if The
spurs want to think timeline and they aren't necessarily interested
in accelerating the, timeline and they're willing to go for
draft picks young, guys THEN i think they might stand
a much better chance because then they'rely, Saying, Okay, thunder
you're gonna have the next two, years and then we're
coming and we're, strong and we were gonna have like
this amount of debt to match yours and the top two.
TALENT i don't hate that. STRATEGY i guess.
Speaker 1: It depends on what you're giving up to lean into that,
strategy which is so. Difficult and that's not just based
off the way that you Relayed shams's. REPORTING i don't
feel like that's where they're. Leaning, no it just feels
like they're waiting for someone to shake. Loose And i'd
be very curious because now when you look at what
they're gonna have on the, roster what's already in place
to begin, With i'm very curious to see if they
are waiting and they have even a specifically five names
on their, List i'd be very curious to see what
those names.
Speaker 3: ARE i have a one final question, too BECAUSE i
Think i'm going to write about this over At, forbes
they have the number fourteenth. PICK i think that might
just be a little bit out of like the area
Where Colin Murray boyles. Go and to, Me Murray boyles
is like the realized potential version Of Jeremy, Sohan LIKE
i think he's got more juice Than. Sohan AND i
say that as a as someone who Likes sohn quite a.
Bit would you be interested even though he's not a
floor spacer, yet but like the shot isn't broken at
all With Murray. Boyles would you be interested in going
that route with number fourteen and try to trade.
Speaker 1: Up so you're saying package So hand and number, Fourteen, no.
Speaker 3: Not necessarily So, Hand Just i'm looking at him as
a long term. Replacement then you can like whatever you
need to like or not. Whatever but like maybe you
add something of value and a contract of some sort
and then trade up and then you figure out what
to do with So hand later, on like perhaps you
flip him for a better fit on the.
Speaker 2: PERIMETER i, MEAN i.
Speaker 1: GUESS i wouldn't hate. It you're also kind of punting
the you, know you're preserving that rookie scale, spot, yes
because exten, Eligible, yeah. EXACTLY i GUESS i just have
to know what's the cost of moving up, Though like
that's kind of the other thing.
Speaker 2: Here, also like where does he? Get like where's he? Projected?
Speaker 3: Right because we've Seen Murray boyles projected AS i Think
i've seen him as high as eight and as slow
as twelve or, thirteen and The spurs have, Fourteen so,
LIKE I i don't, KNOW i THINK i feel like
that's a pretty wide area you kind of have to explore.
Speaker 1: There, no, YEAH i would BE i wouldn't imagine that
it would cost, much especially if you think that you
need to get TO i, mean maybe the number you
need to get, to unless this is too, ambitious is.
Nine everyone's kind of saying that The raptors are the
most likely team to trade their top ten. Pick it's,
like maybe that's the pick you, Target but, again what
does it cost to move up the five? Slots? Right is?
It would you use if you're moving up five, slots
would you use like So hand plus fourteen for? Nine
is that a little?
Speaker 2: Loaded you, know it might not.
Speaker 3: BE i feel it like it's loaded from a talent.
Perspective but given that So hand is extension eligible and
you're kind of passing up, that it's not a. Problem
but like you're passing up that, decision like you're getting
out of a potential headache there in terms of like
the extension, talks then it might not be that it
greaches AND i feel very comfortable Picking Murray boyles at.
Speaker 1: Nine oh you're that high on?
Speaker 2: HIM i.
Speaker 1: AM i don't know THAT i have strong opinions on him,
Yet And i've begun my draft prep because we're having
Our Draft Mega. SPECIAL i think it'll go live later
this week with b r S Jonathan. Wasserman, oh that's
just that's what's in interesting about The spurs is they're
kind of built to do whatever they. Want they could
create their own trade market and they. DON'T i kind
of think timelines are overrated for the most, Part BUT
i do think that we've kind of reached a point
where teams are, thinking when we really go for, it
we're doing it under the guys that we believe we're
gonna have, two maybe three years of this is our peak,
window rather than we're trying to keep this five seven
year timeline. HORIZON i don't know that those exists. Anymore
maybe the thunder of The rockets or somebody disprove. That
so that's what's fascinating about. Them but maybe that's why
to kind of bring it all back to the report
about them, waiting that's why they're waiting is because they
understand that as they futz and, fiddle now maybe they
could be, competitive but you want to buy your assets
sort of like it's different from what The knicks did
before they. Struck but it's also not like The knicks.
Waited they didn't go in On Donovan. Mitchell they. Waited they.
Waited now they probably went in on the wrong player
when you look at Mchal, bridges but like you're just
kind of biding your. Time i'm rolling over salary slots
and assets that you're ready to strike when you believe
that two to three year stretch is there for you
to win a. Championship.
Speaker 3: Agreed and that also makes it interesting from A kd
perspective because if they can get him for cheap because
of his, age and they just Got Darren fox also
comparably for, cheap you're sort of looking at getting two
guys in there where you haven't relinquished a, ton where
you can look yourself in the mirror and, Go, okay
look this happened a little bit by, happenstance but we
can potentially make a run right.
Speaker 1: Now, yeah it's you know what's interesting is THAT i
think it just comes down to sort Of i'm gonna
keep saying this is, like what is the as The,
spurs what's the most you could realistically give up and
still feel, like, oh our assets are still just full
to go out and strike when that next name becomes.
Available so one of the TRADES i came up with
basically had The spurs giving. Up it was a three team.
Trade you can go read it at Bleacher. Report but
they Traded Harrison, Barnes Kelvin, Johnson Jeremy, sohan the number
fourteen pick and twenty twenty six. Pick, now they also
traded the number two, pick but it was to Get
Kevin durant and the number four. Pick does that straddle
the line enough or did we veer too much into,
No like they still gave up too much in that
might like they have a shit ton of draft picks
still after twenty twenty.
Speaker 3: SIX i mean they got the number four pick in
SO i would, say even though that's a talent regression
compared to HOW i view the draft ranks right, now
that is not an insignificant Ascid like you can build
something with, That like there's A. Vj Edgecomb, again you,
know a tough, defender not much of a. Shooter we
have to look at the Shooting, Dan like what the
HELL i thought everyone was like molding their games Like Stephen.
Curry that was all the criticism of the three point.
Shot when you're really looking at young players in today's,
league and even in like in this particular, class there
are a lot of guys who aren't necessarily great.
Speaker 2: Shooters where are the great? Shooters?
Speaker 1: Man they're molding their games in the vein Of Andre,
roberson is what you're.
Speaker 2: Saying, no but LIKE i wouldn't hate, That like is it? Rich?
Yes is it too? Rich probably not.
Speaker 1: The, End but it's just, LIKE i don't, KNOW i
THINK i would do that If i'm San, Antonio and
it's just it makes it easier for them because almost
avoiding The Dylan, Harper Steph, castle The Aaron fox conversations
like kind of a w for.
Speaker 3: Them so, wait would they protected like the picture were
relinquished without LIKE i know number two from one?
Speaker 2: Four what what you mentioned the twenty twenty six, pick, right, yeah.
Speaker 1: It WAS i think at that, one like the protection
has to be insanely loose because if you're getting, yeah,
okay IT'S i mean in The suns by the, way
they ended up Getting, Barnes Johnson, Sohan Mark williams number,
fourteen The spurs twenty six, pick and Then dallas's twenty
seven For. Charlotte so like For, kevin it's a. Lot
but it's like you, Know Jeremy sohan And Mark. Williams
Mark williams is injury prone, extension Olivil, jeremy.
Speaker 2: You're eligible, Still freddy, SAID i thought it was.
Speaker 1: Fair the actual the most questionable side of. IT i
Had charlotte giving Up Mark williams That dallas pick in
twenty twenty seven and number four to move up just
the two spots to number, two WHICH i think you
do if you Believe Dylan harper's the guy, guy, yeah
WHICH i, MEAN i would love to see him And
LaMelo play. Together i'm not gonna. Lie but then other
people will point, out, oh are you're doing that to
get rid Of? LaMelo And I'm my whole thing would
Be i'm not giving up assets to go get someone
who then makes it easier for me to trade. Them
but that doesn't make any sense TO r, Right, no, No, no.
Speaker 3: Agreed, WELL i think the main takeaway from this pod
is that The spurs can go in a million different
directions and it's going to be super fascinating and interesting
to see what they kind of decide.
Speaker 1: On so we've decided that the name they're waiting on
Is Nicolai okitch is just that's the that's the that's
the young gun they've. Circled the other THING i didn't
mention IS i can't PICTURE i want to make it,
CLEAR i can never picture players who have been on
their teams. Forever LIKE i got Picture Kevin durant in
any uniform you want me to picture him, in, RIGHT
i can't do the same With Nicola. Yokich but, like
doesn't he seem like the type of person who if
he goes to another team and is gonna be the
player that gets like the second most level of attention
that he would love?
Speaker 2: That Oh, god, Yes Like Yo kitch under the radar
might be even better than The yokic we're seeing this.
Speaker 1: Year and you're also like going to a franchise that's
just Where denver has, Been like this is like their
best stretch ever, there and he's like that's. Amazing it's
he's a huge part of. That but The spurs aren't
strangers to that type of. Success so it's like it's
just a confluence of circumstances THAT i think would play
well Because Yo kitch on The lakers With luca is
just such an Anti jokic.
Speaker 2: Move yeah it. Is In San antonio would be.
Speaker 3: Different here's the fun part, Though like people would probably, say,
oh he's declined if he can Get San antonio and
average is like twenty ten seven or something along those.
Lines people will look at the rawstats and they'll, go
that's not the yokeich we. Know and then you'll dig
into the advanced metrics and he'll just be completely skull
fucking everyone, Completely like he'll have a true shooting percentage
that nears eighty or.
Speaker 1: Something, yeah it'll be maybe in the. Ninety well he
can get over one hundred who, knows who?
Speaker 3: Knows like his eternal percentage would be like under. Ten he's,
like could YOU i DON'T i mean, AMAZING i don't
know who they're. Getting i'm about to say.
Speaker 1: That could you imagine Like Steph castle playing off of the, Clats, like, well,
okay they have to give up stuff to, geticle like the.
Conversations what do we say? More we're just asking, questions imposing.
Hypotheticals that's all we're. Doing, yeah can you tell our
fine listeners and subscribers where they can find.
Speaker 2: You you can find my work over At Yahoo.
Speaker 3: Sports you can find my work work At, forbes and
THEN i.
Speaker 2: Can podcast at maybe Podcast that so.
Speaker 1: Cluster until next, Time as, always we move the shout
out to the one the only the actual star that
San antonio was waiting, on Mister Frank Nila keina