WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.640 About an hour and twenty five minutes away from tip 2 00:00:02.680 --> 00:00:06.000 off at Madison Square Garden tonight Game two Knicks Pacers 3 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:09.839 after a historic collapse by the New York Knicks in 4 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.560 Game one. We also have playoff hockey tonight for the 5 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:14.960 Dallas Edmonton game. 6 00:00:15.279 --> 00:00:17.199 Keep it right here on ESPN seven hundred. 7 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.760 If you're looking for the basketball on the Eastern Conference 8 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:24.719 final side, checkout the fan for Game two of Knicks Pacers. 9 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.800 Andy Larson, Salt Lake Tribune, Happy Friday, Andy, How are 10 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.120 we doing? 11 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.199 I'm good man. 12 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:30.600 How are you? 13 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:32.520 I'm doing well. I'm doing well. 14 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:35.799 How did you digest that horrific collapse by the Knicks 15 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:37.560 and the comeback by the Pacers Game one? 16 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.520 I mean it was fun, right, Like I mean, I 17 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:43.479 think that's one of the great things about basketball, is 18 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.280 that like that can happen that like an aaron Ne 19 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:48.960 Smith and all of a sudden hit six threes and 20 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:54.640 you're right back in it. And I loved Halburton, you know, 21 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.280 with the nods, Reggie Miller. I love that, you know, 22 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:01.719 Reggie shot when he did the choking symbol also was 23 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:05.719 tie to tie the game, and so I thought it 24 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:09.840 was a brilliant homage and lookay, I have to admit 25 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.799 I'm you know, I suspect we are on different sides 26 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:14.680 of this, but I am rooting for the Pacers a 27 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.519 little bit because they're a team that's built in a 28 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.680 really interesting way, like has just nailed trades with their 29 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:26.599 with Pascalciokoman obviously Haliburton, and then drafted really well around 30 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:29.799 him with you know, picks six through thirty. Really like 31 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:32.480 it's it's kind of a cool story that's just gone 32 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.680 so under the radar, and you know, they have every 33 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:37.599 good of a chance as they you know, it's the 34 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:39.200 next to them, maybe better to make it to the 35 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:39.920 NBA Finals. 36 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.760 Now does it matter who makes it out of the 37 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:46.599 East When Oklahoma City appears to have a level that 38 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.519 nobody else has and maybe Boston has it when they're 39 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:52.640 fully healthy, but they're out of course Tatum hurt and 40 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:54.760 and look, you know this, you've been watching them all 41 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:56.760 year and the net is is historic. 42 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.439 It's not like they just found this level this week. 43 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:02.519 But it's just it's I feel the same way andy 44 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.640 about Oklahoma City now that I felt about Boston this 45 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:06.359 time last year. 46 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:07.760 And I just feel like they have a level that 47 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:08.639 nobody else does. 48 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:12.520 Yeah, I agree with that one hundred percent. I would 49 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:15.439 say the only thing is, you know you you want 50 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:17.439 to get to the NBA Finals because you never know 51 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:20.599 what's going to happen healthwise, right Like, if we're honest, 52 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.199 the Toronto Raptors, the Kawai Toronto Raptors of twenty nineteen 53 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:26.719 weren't favored to win the NBA Finals then, but then 54 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:28.960 all of a sudden, Clay goes down and then Kevin 55 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.840 Durant tears his achilles and then it's Stepan versus you know, 56 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.680 a pretty good solid Raptors team, right Like, so if 57 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:39.319 Shay goes down for whatever reason in the NBA Finals 58 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:41.360 are between now and then, like you know what, I 59 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.479 don't think that's likely, but in that five percent chance, 60 00:02:44.599 --> 00:02:47.280 then yeah, I think then you know, the Pacers have 61 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.080 a really good shot at it. But yeah, you're right, 62 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:53.479 like healthy as is this Thunder team is rolling. They're 63 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:55.840 too good. They have been good, all too good all year. 64 00:02:56.360 --> 00:03:00.719 Like it's it's pretty clearly a fund in five or 65 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.759 six situation, I think against either eatern conference team if 66 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:05.080 both sides are healthy. 67 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.319 Shaye, excuse me, Shaye is your MVP. I believe when 68 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:10.599 you last joined us. You said that you were going 69 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:13.080 to cast your vote for Nicola Jokicic, which I have 70 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:16.479 no problem with it all. I feel like and I'm 71 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:18.919 I'm not you know me, I'm not usually a fence center. 72 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:21.080 I'm not like this. I just thought both were deserving 73 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:22.319 and Shaye gets it. 74 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:26.360 Give me your thoughts, yeah, I think, yeah, completely reasonable 75 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:29.360 and a good pick, like just like you have no 76 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:33.560 problems with anyone who went with SJA. You know, I 77 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:37.240 thought of really telltale series between the two last you know, 78 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:38.000 last week. 79 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:38.719 And two weeks ago. 80 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.599 Like, just both of them are very good players. Shay 81 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:46.400 has a little bit more help. Jokic is probably more 82 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:51.039 heliocentric offensively, right, Like, just in order for the Nuggets 83 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.280 to succeed, they need Jokic, and in order for the 84 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.520 Thunder to succeed, they are they are in a better 85 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:01.240 place without Shay. That being said, you know, Shay has 86 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:03.520 had an awesome individual year, and I think these first 87 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:05.719 few games have also served to kind of draw a 88 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.000 line between him and like the other stars of the league, 89 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:11.680 like an Anthony Edwards, who is struggling a little bit, 90 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:14.000 was struggling with the efficiency, can't get to his spots. 91 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.560 You know like it has been it hasn't been easy 92 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.879 where I think Shay has made it look easy. And yes, 93 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.199 you know, like people will complain about the fouls in 94 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:25.360 game one, Game two is about as clean as of a. 95 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:26.959 Performance as you're ever going to see from a star. 96 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.879 And he maybe had even a better game, you know, 97 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:34.000 like he is kind of the classic mid range sniper 98 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:39.240 scorer guard that like I think NBA basketball fans love 99 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:42.839 to see and so like that is, you know, and 100 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:45.399 that has been a successful formula in the playoffs before 101 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:46.560 and it is certainly right now. 102 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:49.319 So is somebody that had a front row seat to 103 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:50.879 the Rudy go Bear experience. 104 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:52.720 And you know, I'm a Rudy guy. 105 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.079 I appreciated everything he did here, and you know, I 106 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:59.240 don't think he'll ever get all the credit he deserved 107 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.399 for the way he conducted himself when I think his teammate, 108 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:04.439 more often than not, was the guy throwing him under 109 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:04.759 the bus. 110 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.199 Now, Rudy was not innocent. 111 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:10.000 Of everything, but I'll tell you what, Andy, Oklahoma City 112 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:14.959 is so intentional about putting him in switches. And it's Shane, 113 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.040 it's Jalen specifically. But what's interesting is they're feasting in 114 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.839 the mid range. It's not like, let's get him out 115 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.519 behind the three point line. Rudy wants to play and drop. 116 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:26.600 We know this, But what is fair to say about 117 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:29.720 what happens when Rudy is putting those positions where other 118 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:31.920 teams do seem to find a lot of success by 119 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:34.560 getting him out on switches on perimeter players. 120 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.759 Yeah, look, it's not about getting switches and putting him 121 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:40.120 on the perimeter against ISO and going one on one 122 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.439 right like that is actually a pretty big, bad mass 123 00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:45.399 move when you look at it over the aggregate, Like 124 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:48.000 he's actually pretty good at staying in front, and you 125 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.399 waked a lot of shot clock in the dribbling and 126 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:50.879 you know. 127 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:53.439 Like the backing it out and all that kind of stuff. 128 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:55.800 I think what Degnel and the Thunder have done really 129 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.800 well at is you attack him in the pick and roll, 130 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:01.879 go drop, and then make the defender so that it 131 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:07.160 is just you and Rudy now from fifteen feet away while. 132 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:09.480 The ball handlers on the move, rather than. 133 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.959 From twenty five feet away outside the three point line 134 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:15.000 kind of holding onto it. And I think that's where 135 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.480 Rudy can kind of get in between a little bit 136 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:20.959 where he's you know, thinking about room protection first, but 137 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:24.959 ends up giving up the twelve to fifteen foot mid 138 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.720 range floater kind of stuff. But I think Sja and Jalen. 139 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.240 Was a really good at that has always been a 140 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:33.800 little bit of a problem. 141 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:35.319 For him, if I'm honest, you know, like that is 142 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.399 a lot of what we saw in the Rocket series 143 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:40.920 when the Jazz played him. For example, when Westbrook was 144 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:42.600 making his jumper, it was a little bit of a problem. 145 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.040 In the Thunder series, it is. 146 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.600 I would also say that I do think, and have 147 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.160 thought this for a couple of years now, that Rudy 148 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:52.639 is not quite the defender that he was in his 149 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.800 hugef Rian like he is at that age where it 150 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:57.560 makes sense that he has lost the step. And I 151 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:59.399 think he has lost the step and it's not a 152 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:01.439 huge step, and you know, I think he makes them 153 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.040 a well, it makes him a second team All defense 154 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:04.720 guy rather than. 155 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:05.839 A first team All defense guy. 156 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.680 And I think, you know, we're seeing a little bit 157 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.480 of that where the margins are pretty fine and the 158 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.399 Thunder taking advantage of them. 159 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:14.639 All right, let's move over to some Jazz stuff. 160 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.759 Since you and I last spoke, the all rookie teams 161 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:21.240 were released and the Jazz are not in the mix 162 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.959 and have not been in the mix for very many 163 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:26.160 postseason honors. That's what happens when you're unserious about winning 164 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:27.959 and you don't have a lot of good basketball players 165 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:31.079 and you're a basketball team but holding out hope for 166 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:34.519 maybe Isaiah or Kyle to potentially grab us. I don't 167 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:36.839 think either of them we're going to be first team. 168 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:40.040 Wasn't a great rookie class, you know, the Reshache Kid, 169 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:42.839 the number one overall pick, Stefan Castle Rookie of the Year. 170 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:47.040 Are you surprised that neither Cody nor Kyle uh finished 171 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:49.959 on the at least the second team All NBA Rookie. 172 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:52.240 No, because neither you know. 173 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:53.879 First of all, a lot of voters are just gonna 174 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:55.360 look at the win loss record and be like, you know, 175 00:07:55.360 --> 00:07:57.720 why am I going for a Jetman. Second, a lot 176 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.560 of voters are going to look at the points totals 177 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.480 and why am I voting for these guys? 178 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:01.759 Right? 179 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.199 And you know, kind of the interesting thing about Isaiah 180 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:08.240 was his assist number. The interesting things about Kyle Philipasky 181 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:11.600 was his efficiency in shooting and scoring the ball. But 182 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:14.519 wasn't like the number of points they put up, whereas 183 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.199 if like either of them had put up you know, 184 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:18.680 thirteen points a game or something, I think there's a 185 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.120 realistic shot there are second team or first team, but 186 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:24.720 you know, they weren't able to didn't have that chance, 187 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:27.279 and you know, frankly, maybe probably weren't that good in 188 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:29.800 their rookie years. Right, So look, I would have had 189 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.279 probably both of them over Bob Carrington. I did in 190 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:36.519 my vote, but I don't think and as well, he's 191 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:39.120 missed me from New Orleans. I don't think I had 192 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:42.639 him on my second team either, But I don't think 193 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:45.879 that the grand miscarriage of justice. You know, Isaiah Collier 194 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:48.720 missed out on the second team by one point compared 195 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:51.159 to Bob Carrington. I thought Collier, when you take into 196 00:08:51.159 --> 00:08:53.720 account the passing over the second half of the year, 197 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.919 did have a better season overall than Carrington. But again, 198 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:00.000 like it's hard to get two up in arms when 199 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:04.440 you're talking about spot eleven versus tenth in a ROS 200 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:07.360 rookie class on a team that doesn't you know, on 201 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.120 two teams that didn't win anything, right, It's just it's 202 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:14.080 hard to know who is right in that scenario. I 203 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:17.600 will say, like the Jazz and Jazz management were very 204 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:20.120 happy that bub Carrington made the game winning shot in 205 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:22.960 Game eighty two. It didn't end up mattering, but like 206 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:28.120 that made a the Jazz management happy. So there were 207 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:30.639 some jokes about voting Bub Carrington Rookie. 208 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:30.759 Of the Year. 209 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:35.879 Made to me, but look like it's again no grand 210 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.080 miscarriage of justice. 211 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.480 This is fine. 212 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.840 Those guys were about the eleventh and twelfth best rookies 213 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.279 in the class. That's where they ended up. It's good 214 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.200 that they got the eleventh and twelfth best rookies in 215 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:48.639 the class with picks number twenty eight and number thirty two. 216 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:52.799 As we are about one month and change, almost exactly 217 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:56.360 one month away from the NBA Draft, I think everybody's 218 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.399 moved on from the disappointment that the Jazz are at five, 219 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:03.279 even though mathematically that was one of the more likely 220 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.320 spots in the fall. Give us some intel, what are you hearing? 221 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:08.399 You know, you hear all this stuff. They're going to 222 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:11.279 be bullish and try to move up. Maybe san Antonio 223 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:14.360 looks at moving too, because there's some redundancy. Although reports 224 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:16.840 are they going to keep it in draft Dylan Harper 225 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.559 and let them grow alongside Stefon Castle and learn from 226 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.279 Daron Fox. 227 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:22.159 Maybe Philly's in play at three. 228 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:25.559 That's a complicated transaction based off of what it would 229 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:28.320 take to get three. If it's Paul Georgian return, does 230 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:30.879 that make sense? Are you willing to move on from Larry? 231 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:33.440 What? What are you hearing prior to draft night a 232 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.440 month away? What give us some intel? Andy? 233 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:38.720 Yeah, Look, I mean they are open to everything, right. 234 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:44.360 I would also say that those conversations don't ramp up now, right, Like, 235 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:47.879 it's still a month, in more than a month until 236 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.679 the NBA Draft. You know, they're working on scheduling those 237 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:54.960 prospects to get in that. It does sound like they 238 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.039 are going to be successful in meeting with or working 239 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.279 out all of those guys in that range. So I 240 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:02.440 think that's notable, you know, besides probably the top two. 241 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:08.000 But look, it's you know, I think they've also signaled 242 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:11.320 probably that this is not They're not going to be 243 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:13.440 giving up the farm to move from number five to 244 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:17.159 number three, right Like, I don't think that they they 245 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.360 see those players in kind of the same tier, And 246 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:21.919 so yes, maybe you give up something, you know, if 247 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:25.360 Philadelphia wants to compete next year and is interested in 248 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:27.960 the column Sexton. Sure, you know, like I think that's 249 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.679 something that would be a good use of an expiring 250 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.879 calm secton and I think obviously the Jazz would. 251 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:34.600 Be willing to do that as well. But like in 252 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:37.600 terms of visit worth a lowry marketing, yeah, probably not. 253 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:42.559 And so you have that conversation. But I also think that, 254 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:47.960 you know, they the plan scene still seems to be 255 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:51.759 the long game, right like that is, as much as 256 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.679 there was a lot of handering, and I think reasonably 257 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:58.159 so when the picks fell to number five about the 258 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:02.840 tanking and the long term plan not working out, I 259 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:05.879 don't see a huge shift coming in terms of like 260 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:08.559 them all of a sudden going out and getting some 261 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.480 of the players on the trade market. So that's what 262 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:14.399 I continue to hear again. You know, look, there aren't 263 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.960 those conversations right now for the most part. They're all 264 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:20.279 like little kind of hey, you know, isn't it interesting 265 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.000 san Antonio got the number two pick kind of conversations 266 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.639 with league exacts, like everyone's just kind of. 267 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.639 Talking generally about the league to each other. 268 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:31.840 No, I'm talking in specifics right now, And so I 269 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.519 think that's that's where the Jazz stand right now. 270 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.759 As you've been able to dig in to study, watch, 271 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.039 learn about the prospects and understand the landscape ahead of. 272 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.840 The Jazz who are drafted at five. 273 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:46.399 Have you landed on who you perceived to be the 274 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.480 best case scenario available at five and who the Jazz 275 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:53.559 should walk away from for fans learning about names, Who's 276 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:54.440 best case at five? 277 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:55.159 In your opinion? 278 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:58.440 Andy, that's a good question, and I honestly want to 279 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.159 do more work on it. 280 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.759 And I know that's a top answer, but I'm. 281 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:05.679 Working on building a stat model right now, going back 282 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:10.480 to Andy Analytics mass days like yea, So I want 283 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:12.720 to wait until I finish that before I like, really, 284 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.360 you know, stake my name, because let me be honest, 285 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:17.720 what happened last year is I thought Cody Williams was 286 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:20.480 a really good ticket number ten. I thought he was 287 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:23.960 it was a good selection that he fell to number ten, 288 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:26.200 and I thought it was the best outcome for the 289 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:29.159 Jazz and that made me look really really dumb, and 290 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:32.159 it may jazz look really some too, frankly like, and look, 291 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.279 there's still a chance Tody Williams, you know, six seasons 292 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.759 his NBA career, but look when he had as bad 293 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:39.480 of a rookie season as he did. The odds are short, 294 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.960 and you would not have drafted him number ten if 295 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.159 you were to redraft last year's draft again. So I 296 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:48.000 want to approach this draft number five more important drafts, 297 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:52.600 better draft, with a little bit more rigorousness than I 298 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.080 did last year because it sent me astray. 299 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:58.080 And so yeah, I don't know. 300 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.320 You know, there are a lot of good names, and 301 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:01.039 I'm sure you thought about them on the show, but 302 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.440 I'm trying to figure it out. 303 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.000 Like my sense is, I. 304 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.639 Don't love Ace Bailey. I don't love that archetype of player. 305 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.240 I would be more in favor of a Trade Johnson 306 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:14.480 RVD film or a Conkine ple But like I again, 307 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:17.440 have to know more than just vibes at this point 308 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:19.399 because I did such a bad job Blackcraft. 309 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:22.519 When you say you're sure I talk about these prospects 310 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:24.639 on the show, is that an admission that you're not 311 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:26.799 tuned in every day two to six live. 312 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.200 I you know, I just missed that last half hour. 313 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.919 That's all where I'm sure you're talking about them all 314 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:34.200 the time. No, I am. 315 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:36.600 I'm busy learning. 316 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:39.600 The news, you know, And there's a lot there's a 317 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.080 lot of news out there. One thing that you and 318 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:46.399 I haven't discussed Walker Kestler extension eligible coming up. 319 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.519 How do you think this plays out? 320 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.240 Yeah, it's a really good question. 321 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:50.480 You know. 322 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:55.279 I think ultimately most likely is that the two sides 323 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:58.159 kind of come to a deal, like in that twenty 324 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:01.360 five million dollar a year range, you know, plus minus 325 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:05.639 five a year, which is where you know the league 326 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.559 is kind of extended guys in that platte you know, 327 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:14.039 so like the Spurs with Kelvin Johnson or Devin Vessel 328 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:17.840 or you know, like kind of good players who you 329 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:21.399 know can play roles on great teams, probably sub all 330 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:24.039 star potential, but guys who want to keep around are 331 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.039 kind of in that range. 332 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.240 And I think that's. 333 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:30.159 Where Walker likely finds themselves. But yeah, you know, they 334 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.360 can't really do that until later on in the summer, 335 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:37.080 until September, and that's you know, when you should expect 336 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:40.320 that to happen. That being said, you know, I also 337 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.240 think it really. 338 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.080 Really matters what else you're doing around the team. 339 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:46.440 And you know, like if you draft Metalwaks, who I 340 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.799 don't think you should, but at number five, then all 341 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:50.679 of a sudden, maybe you're thinking about Walker Kessler in 342 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:55.279 a different way. So we'll see, but I think generally 343 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.720 like there was one of the things, one of frankly, 344 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:00.919 the only good things that came out of last season 345 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:04.360 was that Walker clearly made himself into a figure, into 346 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:06.960 a player that you want to have on the roster 347 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.360 moving forward. And given that the Jazz have kind of 348 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.279 not a full out else going for them right now 349 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:16.159 in terms of young, really talented talent, and then the 350 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:18.360 fact that you also have to get to the salary floor, 351 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:20.799 it just does make sense to give Walker an extension. 352 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:25.559 Do you think based off of what has now transpired 353 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.519 not just with this draft cycle, but every draft lottery 354 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:32.559 since twenty nineteen, the Jazz will put their best foot 355 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:36.159 forward this year? No inventing injuries, about marketing, no cittying 356 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:39.399 veteran players, no telling Walker Keshler you are Ray Allen 357 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:41.440 from nineteen ninety eight. Now, do you think we might 358 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:45.159 have a serious approach to competing based off of how 359 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.759 everything played out last year? 360 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.879 I'm skeptical because, if anything, there's more incentive to tank, 361 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.399 not less, you know, like as much as Cooper Flagg 362 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:57.080 with a president, and I truly think he's a very 363 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:00.200 excellent prospect, like one of them be one of the 364 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:02.120 better number one picks in the last ten years. Like 365 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.279 I think at the top of this draft they are 366 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:08.359 even more good dudes who you might be even more sure. 367 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:10.920 On, right, Like I feel really confident. 368 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.160 On Age Debanta, and I feel really confident on Darren Peterson, 369 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.839 and I feel maybe even most confident on Cameron Boozer, 370 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:19.839 like his floor is so high, so all of a sudden, 371 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.559 now you have even more incentives to try to get 372 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.880 a top three pick, not just one pick, not just 373 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:27.759 a fourteen percent chance, but a forty two percent chance 374 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.160 at one of those three three franchise changing guys, plus 375 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:34.160 a number of guys blew them. Like, I don't think 376 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.440 that the incentives have actually changed all that much other 377 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.839 than public pressure, like you know, fan ticket right, you know, 378 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.279 ticket interest goes down, people get more mad at Ryan Smith, 379 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:51.279 et cetera. He's been pretty uh, he's been pretty hard to. 380 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.440 You know, stone face to that. 381 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:55.680 So to this point, I'm I don't know if that 382 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:59.119 changes necessarily. I think they probably just continue to go 383 00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.440 down the. 384 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:05.759 Spat So Windhorst and McMahon and Bontevs last week did 385 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:09.039 a pod on The Hoop Collective about the era of 386 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:12.960 parody in the NBA, and we had Bobby Marks on 387 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.799 the show. I think it was Monday of this week, 388 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:18.640 and Bobby did just a masterful job of kind of 389 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:22.039 walking us through while we are smack dab in the 390 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.359 middle of a great time in the NBA, if you 391 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.599 are a fan of a basketball team that plays its 392 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:31.759 basketball in a city like Salt Lake. And as a 393 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:35.039 result of those conversations, I did like an entire segment 394 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.839 to open the show about how you know with the 395 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:43.279 new CBA and billionaires clearly scared of the second apron 396 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.920 if you always wondered what the answer to the question 397 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.039 what scares billionaires is? And pro sports in the NBA, 398 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:52.720 it's a tax bill like Boston's gonna have a five 399 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.000 hundred million dollars just for the right to have the 400 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:58.000 team that will not have Jason Tatum next year and 401 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:02.359