Speaker 1: Hi, and welcome to the NBA Podcast. My name is
Morten Jensen, and today we'll be discussing the upcoming NBA Draft,
which every single year it takes me aback how close
we are in between, like the conclusion of the finals
and the start of the draft. Whenever the finals wrap up,
I think, oh, I have a good week to just
kick back and relax. But guess what, No, the NBA
season is not over, folks. You have to go immediately
from finals coverage to draft coverage, and after draft coverage,
free agency is slooming. So this is our time to shine.
And when I say our, it's obviously because I have
the always great and fantastic Brian supporigon the Graham. He
and I have always taken extra joy out of covering
the off season. So Brian, how are you doing, first
and foremost and are you looking forward to the off season?
Speaker 2: I am doing well, Thank you for having me as
always definitely looking forward to the off season. Already got
some some fun things planned that I actually need to
pitch you on something, and we are not recording because
I have I have some fun ideas for this off season,
in particular that we'll be cooking up all over the interwebs.
Speaker 1: All right, you're not getting So if one of the
ideas is to turn me into an actual general manager,
I'm all yours.
Speaker 2: Do you want to be the number three in Philly?
You can? You can add your opinion to the Hydra
front office.
Speaker 1: Sure, or alternatively, I'd just like to run the Sacramento Kings.
Speaker 2: Sure. Yeah, I mean you couldn't couldn't do much of
the bar is so low to clear there, right, I
think you could finally prove that blogger is in fact
could be NBA GMS.
Speaker 1: I look if if if we're ground a DVA is
listening in, brother, I'm right here, man, just just make
sure I can actually fly into the country and Trump
not deport me. That's that's probably that is.
Speaker 2: Are you Iranian? I guess this is the first question.
Oh God would not like your odds if you were
no otherwise I think I think you might be.
Speaker 1: Okay, Oh, here's hoping. So, Brian, we are going to
talk about the top of the draft here in the
first segment, and then we're going to pivot into Utah specifically,
so like we are going to talk about players first,
and then the second segment it's going to be Utah specific.
We are going to keep it the top prospects because
as you told me before we record, and by the way,
I know this, you are not someone who spends the
entire season going deep into the weeds of like the
the late stages of the first round or the second round.
Like you're aware of who's around, but it's not something
you've like sunk your teeth into, and obviously that is
to be respected. So we are going to stick to
like the top four or five guys. I presume, great.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean, I there's only so much time
in the day and catching up on all the NBA
plus two small children. I will leave it to the
Sam Vesinis of the world to tell me everything that
I need to know about whichever prospects are falling down
the board and why. So yeah, I mean I'm familiar,
like obviously very familiar with the top few guys. Seems
like there is a clear top three, then a clear
top four, then the next tier after that seems a
little jumbled, and then you know, kind of a crapshoot,
which you know that might be worth a segment of
its own, just how the draft has changed with nil
because we you know, this draft like it's very very
I want to say, top heavy, but the top couple
guys are all, you know, really really strong prospects. We
just had at a Bleacher Report the other day, we
had Jonathan Wasserman, who was a longtime friend of the show. Here, yeah,
rank the top twenty five prospects from the past decade.
So basically, like how do DEBANSA, Peterson, Cambooser compare to Wemby, Cooper,
flag Luka, Doncic et cetera, et cetera. All three guys
were in the top ten of the past second So
like that should provide some context as like how good
the top of this class is. But then you start
going down the board and like Vassini, I think it
is latest mock draft said, you know, GMS only have
a first round grade on like twenty to twenty five
guys because so many players went back but due to
nil like this was a you know, I forget what
the exact number was. I think in twenty twenty one
it was like three hundred and fifty three early entrant
candidates initially, and then two hundred sums stayed in. This year,
I believe it was seventy one. Initially thirty five stayed in.
I think something along those lines.
Speaker 1: It was ridiculous, just it was utterly ridiculous how few
like stayed in. I actually told quite a few Danish
prospects that this might be the year to throw their
name in, just like off of volume. Some of them
had their agents basically say no, this is not a
good idea and look fair. Listen to the agent for sure,
But I maintain that this would have been a good year.
So at least test the waters.
Speaker 3: I'm not proposing they shouldn't necessarily have kept their name
in the draft, but like test out the waters, talk
to teams and then with goad before the deadline.
Speaker 1: I just don't see any downside to that whatsoever, especially
when they're this few players attached to the draft. So
if this becomes a situation again next year, I'm going
to bang that drum for days players even harder for
damn sure, just yeah, you have nothing to lose for
like five kids, I mean, just test it out so that.
Speaker 2: I wonder, sorry, just like the this year's class was
also supposed to be really strong, and the next two
classes supposedly are not going to be all that strong,
So I would imagine that also factored into the declared
not declare or keep my name in the draft conversation, Like,
you know, what's the guy Thomas haw from I don't
know if that's how you say his last name from
Florida forward, Like was gonna supposed to be a late
lottery pick this year? Maybe he sees next year's class
and things like well I could potentially be a top five,
top ten pick next year. Why not go back, get
paid five million dollars to be in college for another year,
and then go pro. So yeah, I'm I'm more than
like this specific class. I'm just fascinated by all of
these dynamics that are kind of changing how teams have
to operate. Like this plus the new draft lottery system,
I think you know it's teams have a lot to
figure out on the fly right now. And whichever team's
as usual, whichever teams do the best job of adjusting quickly,
we'll have a major leg up over those that are like, no,
we're not going to draft a twenty three year old senior. Well,
you know it's different than five years ago. These guys
are going back to school for a very different reason
than they were back then.
Speaker 1: Yeah, totally agree. And you know, I'll just add on
to that. I really enjoy the college players are getting
paid down because we just saw for so many years
how they got squeezed and squeezed and squeezed. Then someone
would end up in the NBA as like a late
first round draft pick and flame out within the first
couple of years never to return. So like for them
to be able to cash in on their college experience,
to me, such a great situation because even if it
doesn't materialize for them at the NBA level, perhaps they
could walk away from college, you know, having earned ten, fifteen,
maybe twenty twenty million dollars like over the course of
four or five years. Great. I think it's such a
strong proponent for players now, which look, get your money man,
Yeah truly. And now we have to move on to
the actual prospects here. So we're gonna discuss a g Debond's,
a Darren Peterson, Cambus or Capables, and I really want
to get into Darius a cuff two. I know a
lot of guys are down on a cuff and I'm
not sure I'm there, but like, let's let's start with Debonza.
To me, he's and I might just be wrong on this,
Like Lord knows that both of us have been wrong
about draft stuff and free agency stuff before. I think
de Bonza is the number one guy because there is
this thing where his flour is super duper high. And
while I can see that he doesn't have the ceiling
as Darren Peterson, like the optimized version of Darren Peterson,
I just think he's I think he's undervalued in terms
of his ceiling. I think his flour is so high
that you just can't miss with him. Like he just
at absolute worst, and I do mean utterly worst. He's
like a better version of Loue all Dang, and lou
all Dang was like what a two time All Star
and a really good player, and like, if you get
the worst thing you can get from him is like
a better version than that, that's not a bad thing whatsoever.
And like I do think that there's legitimate star upside here.
I do think there's like higher star superstar upside in Peterson.
But you're the Washington Wizards. You're really trying to get
this thing off the ground after you're traded for Trey
and Ad, like you want someone who you know can
come in and produce. Because the floor for Peterson, on
the other hand, is lower, like significantly lower than de Bonsa.
Like it feels like Peterson, more so than ever, is
just the swing because you don't know about the body.
Do you heard all the creatin and stuff like, okay,
fair enough. I don't know how much to put into that.
He was being put in a weird role at Kansas
where he played more off ball than on ball. Why
was that what happened? He asked out of games because
of the cramps. Like everything is just filled with a
bunch of question marks. And perhaps it's nothing. And if
we knew right now this day then like June nineteenth,
that it was nothing, I would go Peterson over Dubonsa.
But since we don't know, sir, I'm going to Bonce
over Peterson safe, like just for safety purposes.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that seems reasonable, and that seems like
the most like the outcome I checked last night, and
I think the Bansa was like minus five hundred to
go number one overall. Obviously, we got the chicanery going
on with Darren Peterson visiting Washington but refusing to visit Utah.
Based on our reports, that's not going to affect anything
that either one of these teams do. Ace Bailey did
not visit Utah last year and they still picked him.
So if if, if the Wizards do go to vance
number one, I think it's safe to say, like Peterson
not visiting the Jazz at two will not dissuade them
from picking him, right. I mean, it's just interesting, like
the Wizards and the Jazz, frankly, are both kind of
in this spot where they were already going to take
this massive step forward based on what they did at
the trade deadline, like they intentionally punted off last season,
But they're the teams more than any other teams. I
would say those two are like the most reflective of
what Adam Silver was talking about as he was raging
about tanking this year and saying, like, you know, so
many teams are throwing away the season. We don't know
who the actually bad teams are, Like the Wizards in
the Jazz, their records do not reflect the amount of
talent on those two respective rosters. Assuming that the Wizards
re sign Trey Young, right, and that the Jazz resigned
Walker Kessler, like I think both would have been in
the conversation to at least be in the play in
tournament this year, if not the playoffs, regardless of how
the lottery played out. Now you're adding these face of
the franchise caliber prospects to their cores, and all of
a sudden, it's like, damn, the Wizards could go from Yeah,
I guess both of the Jazz finished above twenty. Like
both of these teams could go, you know, from roughly
twenty win seasons to like forty or fifty wins this year.
And now they especially don't have incentive to tank because
of the new lottery system and the relegation zone and
all that. So you know, I think they're going to
be kind of on parallel tracks. They're going to kind
of mirror each other in that regard where you know,
these teams are going to go from top three of
the lottery, top two of the lottery to like good
pretty quickly. And yeah, I mean, I think when you're
choosing between three guys, all of whom have kind of
face of the franchise potential, you know, with the risk
of Peterson with the cramping and all that, unless your
medical staff is one hundred percent certain that this will
not be an issue in the NBA. I do understand
why that would be a potential tiebreaker, and I don't
think it's unreasonable for, you know that to give the
Wizards some pause, because really, any of those three guys
could be a fit with you know, between A D
and Trey for however long those guys are in Washington.
Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, absolutely, I mean Washington. I do think there
is some bonus on them to get right because they
have the number one pick, obviously, but they do have
that luxury that whoever they pick among those three will
actually work to a certain capacity. And obviously we're going
to get into Utah later. But it's that's the position
I enjoy the most, like just because whoever drops the
two for Utah, it's just like great, Like I know,
I know that we're going to get into it. But like,
to me, if I was taking that approach, is debonsa
taking number like or sorry, is Peterson taking number one?
And I get de Bonds at too? Great? Reverse also great,
Like I just I just don't see a downside being
at number two here. So let's get into Peterson a
little bit. People people think that I've been a little
bit harsh on him because I don't have him as
my number one, like automatic number one, and I get it.
I want to say this right off the bat, I
totally get that. I think when people criticize me for
having the opinion that I have, I fully embrace it
because I get it. When we saw him in high
school and we saw the way that I think he
put up fifty eight on Dubonsa in a high school
game like eighteen months ago or something along those lines,
Like the talent level is insane, utterly insane, Like this
is a guy who you could envision, you know, going
toe to toe with other superstars in the late stages
of a Game seven in the NBA Finals, just drilling shots,
drilling shots, keep making place, like he does have this
high end superstar potential, like where he's a genuine Tier
one superstar. And that's It's also why I understand and
fully accept if other like draft people are just fans
are saying you got to go for that at one
if you're Washington and look if the Wizards take that approach,
Hell yeah, swing baby, swing. That's I totally get it.
It's because I like a seat belt and safety type
of guy, because like, if let's say debonsa becomes like
a seven time All Star. He doesn't become like the
Tier one superstar, but he becomes like a you know,
a secondary star on a championship level team. And let's
say Peterson just consistently finds himself near his own floor
and never becomes that dude that would haunt me for years.
But at the same time, I fully appreciate the ridiculousness
of his upside because the way that he facilitates his
own shot creation abilities, Like I don't think there is
anyone this draft class who has that combination of size
and shot creation ability, like six six and shoes can
just whenever he wants get to his bot. We didn't
see it a whole lot in Kansas because he was
given an odd role, yet somehow just walked into twenty
points per game in very a limited amount of minutes.
Like this dude, and I hate to sound like the
kids here, he's a bucket and he's he is a bucket.
The one thing, Brian, the one thing where I'm just
still a little bit skeptical of him. And it's also like,
if this wasn't something he'd showcased in college, I would
have put him at one immediately the playmaking, Like everyone
who we trust say that, oh, he's got the playmaking capabilities,
and why should I not trust the same Vassinis and
the rick Y O'donnald's of the world, because obviously the
same the washerman's. But at the same time, he just
didn't show it. Like I understand, playing off ball doesn't mean,
you know, you generate a lot of assists and you
don't get to really pass the ball at a whole time.
But can we really extract playmaking from the high school
level and expect that to hit like translate to the NPA,
Like maybe we can, but it's still to me an
unknown talent level at this point at this stage, Like
if he comes into the NBA and averages five or
six assist game right off the bat, I'll shut the
hell up. But we just don't know.
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I mean again, it's like you're picking such
tiny knits at this point when you're really deciding between
all three of them that you know, especially this high
in the draft, you don't typically want to take team
fit into account, and I think that would be especially
important when we get into the Utah discussion. But you know,
if you think Cam Booser is a better prospect than
the Banser Peterson, like you should be the number one pick.
And I know there are some people who feel that.
I believe Ricky O'Donnell of Espianation has been saying he
Cam Booser is the number one.
Speaker 1: You know what Ricky said, I'm not sorry to dump.
And this is really important because Ricky said that he
actually his comp for Boozer Larry bird.
Speaker 2: Man. I want to say, I'm gonna double check this
because I don't want to throw Wasss under the bus. Yeah,
but I believe he had Boozer over Peterson and Debansa
on his let me double check. Yeah, a lot of
these he had. He has of the top twenty five
prospects in the past ten years. So starting in twenty
seventeen with the Mark hel fALS draft yep Wemby number
one obviously, yeah, Cooper flag number two makes sense, Zion
number three, Cade number four, oh, Cam, Boozer five, Lucas six,
Peterson seven, and then Debansa eight.
Speaker 1: Oh my god, So all of them in the top eight.
That's ridiculous.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but he has yeah, Boozer as the number one
in his eyes, and yes, above Luca.
Speaker 1: And by the way, when I say ridiculous, I don't
mean that negatively, is what I say. That's that's ridiculous
high right above. Luca is wild to me. But I
understand because he, like again, he was not draft with
number one, Like teams were skeptical of him coming into
the draft, which was ridiculous, but like there were certain
things that they saw, like, oh, is he athletic enough?
I get that, Like Boozer is a thinker and you
know me, we've we've podcasted for over ten years now,
Like you know that. I always trust guys who think
to hit their threshold much more than guys who are
just athletic. And my skepticism with Boozer isn't regarding his thinking.
His thinking is why I think he's going to be,
you know, at lowest, a secondary star on a team.
But where I struggle to see this translating is everything
about him screams one position player, like just a powerful
not just but you know what I mean, Like he's
a power forward and he's he's not a center, he's
not a wing. You know, he he's very Julius randall
E in that regard randall you can't really no, no,
But like he can't. You can't slide Randall up to
the five when he does, like defensively, you just struggle.
You can't slide them down to three because he gets
burned defensively. But I will say this, if you somehow
can accommodate Boozer in this regard and you can just
play him at that four and you can pair him
with the right types of you know, teammates around him.
Hell yeah. Like I have him third, and I think
that's a good spot because I don't think he is
the tier one guy we all think. I think he's
going to be a tier two guy, like a secondary
star on a good team, and at three that's a win.
Getting that at three is a damn good haul. But
I just his his playmaking is good. I don't know
if it's great. Like if you are a big like
a big position player, a big man, and your playmaking
is what allegedly sets you apart. I feel if you're
going to be drafting number one, you better be closer
to what you call a YO kitchen that regard than
to Randall, for example, And I think right now Booster's
playmaking is closer to that of Randall than Yokich, Like
both are good for a big man. Don't get me wrong,
that's not a criticism, But I just don't see where
he separates himself as you know, a guy who will
become like a seer one player. Is it the shot creation?
Is it the fact that he's so young and so
productive as he was a dude, because let's be real,
he's not even nineteen yet, and I don't think he
will be nineteen until after the draft.
Speaker 2: H It's like mid July, isn't it.
Speaker 1: I think so, like after the draft, and like he
was averaging twenty two and a half ten boards forces
Like I get it, Like he was the best player
in college basketball, I would argue, So I totally get
the fascination. I just wonder does he have this secondary
leap at an NBA level where everything is bigger, stronger, quicker,
Like I just think three is more of a fitting
spot for him than one, at least like two. Okay,
we can have a discussion, but I just don't see
this the Tier one superstar upside? Am I being harsh, sir?
Speaker 2: I mean that seems to be the consensus, Like it
it seems like most people have boozer penciled into the
Grizzlies at three. But then all of the analysis about
that is that Grizzlies should be thrilled if this is
how the board plays out, because he could be the
perfect guy to kind of anchor their rebuild. And also
him with Zach Edie would be a fascinat fit. But
like you know, teams in the West especially are going
to basically have to start Wemby proofing their rosters and
are going to just have to load up on size,
where we already are starting to see that with Utah,
and we'll again, we'll get into them a little bit,
but I mean a boozer Edie front court. You know,
you you no one's stopping Wemby, but at least having
a lot of size to throw at him is like
step one in how to conquer this massive seven foot
four problem. Who's going to be in the Western Conference
for hopefully a decade plus. Yeah, so, I yeah, I
think it. I would, Yes, I would expect Debansa and
Peterson to go one and two in some order. Does
not really seem like boozers in the conversation for number one,
And as much as the Jazz are posturing, you know,
I would imagine they just take whichever of Debansa or
Peterson that the Wizards do not take.
Speaker 1: M Yeah, and that I'm glad you brought up the
Wenby proofing because you have the yeah, you have a
potential solution, solution staring you in the face. But he
just doesn't justify being like a top five pick your
dam Mara, Yeah, from Michigan seven four two sixty, And
like we've seen him jump off draft boards. And I
don't think it's entirely just the Wemby proofing, Like I
just think it's also a part of like the NBA
leaning into jumpo bigs again, and like you just you
just don't get the same impact with guys who are
like six ten. And I don't mean to be harsh
on this, Like Pistons fans will probably come at me.
We saw what a six' tenth center in the, playoffs
like how he could be, effective like if Affected Jalen
duran like almost had his scoring in the. Playoffs, yeah
he was, Newter let's just be. Real he was absolutely
new in the.
Speaker 4: Playoffs and that big part of that, was you, know
the size and the physicality he like obviously he's super, physical,
presence but he is only six, Ten like six' ten just.
Speaker 1: Doesn't get the job done as a starting. Center Anymore
like mara, AT seven i was even. Underselling him he's
sixty four in a quarter and that's, without shoes like.
IN shoes i, oh, no sorry that's actually, with shoes
because without shoes, seven three there. We go but seven
seven to four and a quarter, with shoes two hundred and,
sixty pounds, can pass can, block shots can score into
the rim. Like that tide of dude is just so
much more difficult to put a, lid on like even
in a, playoff context like the sheer physicality near like
defensively of just having to go buy a guy was
that big of a? Human being like, good luck good.
FREAKING luck i guess that is not an. Easy.
Speaker 2: Task yeah i've also seen a lot of speculation About
whether Oka, see yeah, YOU know i don't Know if
mara is going to be there at, number twelve but
there's talk of them wanting to. Trade UP and i
know they Just Took thomas sorber last year and maybe
they're happy. With him but, you know we'll see what
Happens With isaiah hartenstein THIS summer i would imagine they're
going to, keep him but, you know they are going
to have to start making some decisions to start, trimming
payroll and he is one of the more expensive options
that they could trim. This OFFSEASON so i don't think
they want to go into next playoffs with a rookie
center and then effectively a rookie Center in sorber since
he missed his. First SEASON but, i mean it would
be really interesting if he ended Up.
Speaker 1: At, Okay see i'll say that much as long as
they don't play like ship In The western. Conference finals,
oh yeah Did he? You? KNOW so i this is the,
dumbest THING but i just have to. Share it, GROWING
up I was, i was, you Know Watching cartoon network
a fair bunch that meant a Lot Of scooby doo
like and you saw all those guys or all those
characters get become afraid of like fake ghosts that like
throughout that. Entire series whenever the camera would pan over
To Chet holm grom like literally just looking like, he'd seen,
you know. A ghost i was, just like this Dude
Just scooby dude himself, so bad just there is there
is no way this this dude at any point like,
has right like in, THE series i, should say in
that seven, game series will have the mental capacity of
returning to norm like at all that that ship. Sailed
immediately he was just come completely like.
Speaker 2: He.
Speaker 1: Had nothing, AND like i hope so much that he
returns to form next year because as as one of
my colleagues OVER At hbo, max said, he said this
could be, Career defining like this could be something where
he's so mentally shell saw. Shell shocked that's a difficult word.
To say that this could affect him for the rest of,
the career, his career AND like i get like the idea.
BEHIND it i hope he's WRONG because i want a fully,
you know optimized version Of chet holme. Firm man, that
dude He just i've never seen someone that afraid ON
an mp, Court before.
Speaker 2: Like never it was. PRETTY wild i mean, He yeah
wemby just so clearly had. His NUMBER and I MEAN
i i think he strikes me as the type that
we'll use this as motivation and we'll come back, or stronger,
you know. More aggressive they'll figure out ways to avoid.
That situation but like the size is. The size wemby
still has, you know a couple solid inches on him.
LIKE it i Would imagine wemby is just he's disorienting
to play against her, any PLAYER but i would especially
think like a big Man like jet who's just not
used to other guys making him. Feel, small yeah And
then wenby's just towering over him and, you know changing
his shot volume in a way there really no other
player IN the nba can, do.
Speaker 1: RIGHT right i don't remember it's game seven or, game
six like one of the game's. Latest games He blocked
Chit like. CHICK was i think it was like a,
jump Shot like chick was getting into the pain and
trying to take a. Jump shot and when he got him,
on it and he just the look on his face was,
so bedazzled like because at the same time it was
JUST like i never get contested on. These, Shots right
he gains he. Gained separation he was even fading away a,
little bit like that was a shot he had gone
to since, high school probably before, high school that he
could go to at. All times and there. We go
there was That goddamn frenchman again just getting, a ball
like getting a hand, on it and he was, JUST
like i don't know what. To do he he, JUST
like i don't know what. TO do i have, No
IDEA so i think it's a good idea at least
for okay see to like shore up, their size which
sounds ridiculous when they have like you just, pointed out
they have hit they have Is say Hardenstein And, thomas
sorber like they should be good in. That department but
at the, same Time, Hello, WEMBY like I think mara
is a perfectly reasonable name to put out there before
we Get. INTO utah i just want to bring up
one final, Player here darius a Gooff from arkansas Played
under John. Cala PERRY like i, understand THAT truly. I
do everyone is, basically, saying oh. The defense like. The defense,
It's horrendous like he might be literally the worst defender
AT the nba level when he. Steps IN and i
am not going to argue against the defense or. LACK
thereof i. Am, not however, this dude a freshman nineteen. Years,
Old again i'm going to. REPEAT myself a freshman averaged
twenty three and a, half points six and a, half
assist got to the line six times and hid forty
four percent of his, three pointers many of them pull
up self created off, The, BOUNCE like i just think
we are grotesquely underestimating his. Offensive, output now two things
can be true at the, same time being, one like
he's insanely good and we should stop like being that
skeep to go. Off him and two guards of his
size probably should go later in the draft instead of
right at, the top, so like because they're just easier,
to Find, right like guards are easier to find at
six three and a half. Or whatever he is somewhere along,
those lines like you can find. THOSE guys, i, can't
however shake this feeling pride that this dude is actually
someone who can go in, and basically LIKE what i
said Earlier, about peterson this is a dude who just
consistently can produce at an offensive clip so high in
the late stages of LIKE An nba, finals game that he, can, execute,
execute execute and just get to the shots and be
efficient and uper effective to the point where, you know
we've Just Seen jalen brunson Lead the knicks to a
championship at six foot two on a, good day, Right
right that kind of helps me think that perhaps we
shouldn't be this quick, to dismiss dismiss someone like a
cuff just because he's not six five. Mm.
Speaker 5: Hmm Alren the kings super high, on him, super high and,
FRANKLY like i don't want to Give.
Speaker 1: THE kings. I don't i don't WANT to i don't want.
To Crown the. Kings DIDN'T but i like that for
Them that the THING that i worry would be are
they going to miss? Him?
Speaker 2: Up, right well that's what my. Thought is just If
the kings are, On him i'm, immediately suspicious but maybe
that maybe they've turned the leaf and maybe they're actually well.
Speaker 1: Being on him is FINE that. I like i think
more multiple teams should be in. On Him what i'm
afraid is if they actually, get him what are they
going to turn? Him, Into right like We Saw jaron
Fox in, game four, you know drive to the cup
instead of just pulling the, ball back which was such.
A key that was like he Had Not jaren fox
had not Gotten the kings slapped out of.
Speaker 2: Him, yet, yeah yeah, oh man all of. This stuff it, was,
like well you can't take you can take the man Out.
Speaker 6: Of, sacramento yeah that was, Right rough but like a cub,
TO me i think he's such an interesting PLAYER because
i can see THIS just i can see him leaning
into offense and just being a dreadful.
Speaker 1: Defensive PLAYER but i could also see him becoming like,
a star like A genu, wine star where in the
middle of next season we're, all, thinking oh how did
he not go in the, top Five and, rigcky O'Donnell
who is so much smarter on the DRAFT than, I,
Am like i'm disagreeing him with him twice now because
he has booster first and he's not crazy about, a
cuff which. Is Fair i'm i'm leaning against my Good
pal ricky on. THIS one i think a cooff is,
freaking amazing And but i'm also a guy who leans
more offense, than defense as You know damn. Will, KNOW
sure i. LIKE him i THINK there's i think there's
something good to be found here AND and i think whoever,
gets him even if it's like in, the eight eight
nine range for something along, those lines Like if dallas
had him at nine Next, TO flag i. LOVE that
i low he.
Speaker 2: Love, That Yeah i'm i'm interested. TO see, i mean
it really does seem like that five, through eight five
through nine range or just a bunch of, point guards
and it actually worked out so like most of the
teams other Than the clippers, at five but like, you
know THEN that's i guess they're just still very MUCH in.
Bpa mode hawks could use a point guard After Trading
trey kings could use a point guard after he Traded.
Deeron fox Even the MAVs, at nine Like with kyrie
probably not being a long term piece of, that puzzle
they could also use a point guard to Pair With.
Cooper flag so it's it's nice to see that the
lattery kind of fell in line with, you know these
teams CAN, do bpa but also go for guys who
fit with, their core with their vision.
Speaker 1: Moving, forward, yeah, YEAH absolutely i very. Much agree do
you have before we move on to the jett do
you have a draft take or a guy you just want?
TO like i Noticed this.
Speaker 2: It sounds like the Kid From Kentucky. Jayden, quentin, yes,
yes yeah it seems like he is falling at least based,
on REPORTS and i imagine that mostly due to the
health since he didn't play all that much. Last year
but he feels like one of those guys where, it's
like you know what you were talking, about earlier where
you're you're more of a safe single. Or double you
don't necessarily need to swing for the fences. Every time
he feels like the swing for the. Fence's, boombust, like,
yes obviously if the medicals, go wrong it's, you know
that's probably it. For HIM but, I mean i would
think if he didn't have those, medical concerns he's going
a lot higher in this draft. Than That so i'm interested.
To see, you know there are a lot of good
teams in the twenties that could, use him and if
he lands in the, right spot, you know that feels
like the guy that in a couple of years, from
now if everything, breaks right we're gonna, be like how
the hell did he go to, you know twenty sixth? Or, whatever, yeah, yeah, Yeah.
Speaker 1: YEAH no, i look he is someone who is also
talked about a great deal and. So quents he hasn't
played more than four games this last season For. For
kentucky the stats don't even matter because it's. Four games
it was like a. Few minutes it's just him getting
on the floor is the most important thing in. All
this he is just so, ridiculously big and it sounds
ridiculous when you look at his height and it's it's
listed as let me just MAKE sure i, don't yeah
six' ten, and a Quarter So basically, jalen DURHAM size which,
i just criticized but he very Much. Similar to duran
just looks, so OUTRAGEOUSLY large and i think his chest
area and like upper like shoulder, LENGTH and back i
think he Looks. Wider than duran, maybe it's not but
it looks it so like he almost looks like he
plays seven to one instead of. Six Y ten and
i don't know if he are going to trust that
because we've heard this so many years when a guy
comes in at a certain height and, then, we hear
oh but, he plays bigger and then when push, comes to, shot,
it's like no that dude is still. Like that high
but it seems like everyone is intrigued, by him defensively
just what he can do on that end, of the
court that he can just alter so many shots because,
of his, wingspan his athleticism like he should just be
someone theoretically at least who can clean up a. Bunch
of stuff i've also heard LIKE we just i just
brought up A. Cuff for dallas i've also heard some
bring Up coincidence for dallas as someone who can clean
up for flag like, in that sense like flag, on
the perimeter him shoring up. THE back line i. THINK
that's high i don't think you should take. HIM at
nine i think. That's pretty preposterous but if they were
willing to trade, down war him that. Would, be interesting yeah, that, is, yeah, no,
No no he's he's going to be an interesting. Case
FOR sure and i Also saw on tanka thought that
he's currently projected to Go to your philadelphia, seventy six
ers which is PROBABLY who, OH i. SAW i saw.
Speaker 2: I didn't know i've seen A Lot of CoA Pete. And,
chris sinak yeah that Sounds like both sixers fans The
three remaining sixers fans of the Planet do not they're
not superhero for either.
Speaker 1: Of those picks we are going to take a quick
commercial break and then we're going to be back with
your topic, off The Day. The utah, jass, all right
right you wanted to Talk About. THE utah jass i
know where you're, going WITH this but i want to
let you.
Speaker 2: Lead, THE way, YEAH i mean i am. Just very interested,
as we, mentioned you know Assuming let's say debansa. Goes
number One if If peterson or boozer, GOES number One
i think debanza they run to the podium and take
the bands. At, number Two yeah but debanza heavy favorite to.
Go number one let's assume the odds. Makers are right
jazz are now stuck Between deciding Between. Peterson and boozer
peterson much cleaner fit just with their current core Because
They Have Lori Marketing. Jaren Jackson jr walker kessler is a.
Restricted free agent we'll see, what happens there but already
we're Talking about lor marketing is, the starting three which
He did in Cleveland Next to Jared Allen, and evin
mobley so he. Has experience there but this is still a,
seven foot three which you know you're there's just not
room in, the starting Lineup Assuming that walker kessler Is Back.
For cameron boozer so If They, take cameron boozer that
implies another shoe is going to drop. At some point
maybe it's, not this year but it's also hard to
imagine that any of these top picks are going to
be thrilled coming. OFF the, bench i mean we just
Heard It with dylan harper, after the finals where you
know he spent most of the year coming off the
bench Because they Have. Fox And Castle but devin vessel
lets It slip after game, five, that like yeah he
wasn't super. Thrilled with that so maybe they can get
away with it, for a year, but after, THAT you
know i don't Think You're taking cam boozer with the
number two overall pick with the intention of having him
be your six man. For. Four Years correct but peterson
apparently shares An Agency, with kyanti george who becomes extension,
eligible this offseason and it sounds like the agency is
Trying to steer Peterson away from utah with. That in
mind because it, also sounds Like according to TIM, McMahon
Of espn that utah is not expected to reach an
agreement on An Extension. With KIYANTI george and i think
that makes sense, To some extent like he had a
credible breakout, year last year flew completely under the radar
because he Was, Playing FOR utah, but i mean twenty
three point six. Assists per game efficiency went from below
forty percent to. Like mid forties He Crossed the, terry rogier,
LINE you, know i think not the line within his right,
the shooting line the shooting he would be within his
rights to ask for a max or a, near Max
contract but Utah Already has Lori Markinen And jaron jackson
junior on nearmax deals of. Their own Right And, if
walker kessler you know McMahon's reporting they offered, him five
years one hundred, And forty million he's not. Thrilled with
that he wants. More, than that, So You know ace
bailey still has three more years on. His rookie deal
whoever they take a number two is gonna have four
years on, their rookie deal so they've got some time
before they really face. A financial crunch but If they
sign keyante to a max or near max deal and
they hand out a Big Deal for walker, kessler as
well they're gonna be kind of in the Same spot
that Cleveland Was With mobiley mitchell Garland all on Max's
And then jared allen on a big deal. Of His
own so i'm just really interested to see how this
offseason Plays out for utah with these, three big decisions
who they take, at number two whether they are able
To Re sign walker kessler and, at what price and
then also Do. They extend keyante seems like the, answer
is no but even if they'm good to restricted free,
agency next summer do? They keep him and? At WHAT
price because i think if everything Goes, RIGHT for utah
i would make the case that they are the Biggest
threat to Okay See in san Antonio. In the west,
not right now, but moving forward like within the next,
YEAR or two i think They. JUMP over denver i
think They jump over houston just because those two teams
have a lot to sort out, on their own and
they're also further along in the like we need to
start shedding talent because we. Are too expensive we're already
Seeing it With Denver With michael porter junior last year
and that obviously did not work out. In, their favor
houston we're. Not quite There but When i'm and thompson,
gets his, extension you know well they'll be there, in
Due time whereas utah has got a couple more years
before they need to. Worry, ABOUT that, so i know
what do you think they should Do if de bance is? Off?
The board peterson do you think They? Just go peterson?
Speaker 1: And they? Should they should and do you.
Speaker 2: Do you have peterson as a higher rank prospect or
are you factoring fit into?
Speaker 1: The mix here then Pet than than Debasa.
Speaker 2: Or, then, BOOZER yeah no i.
Speaker 1: Think he's again this is THIS is the supersi, a,
Superstar UPSIDE right Like i think peterson's highest and upside
is higher Than. That of booser's, AND at two i
think it's easier to justify a swing than. A number
one i don't think it, Should be though like that's
also even. Baking THAT in like i think if you
if you think a guy has the highest upside and
you think you have the organizational tools to make him, reach,
that level swing. Like it's fine debondsa to me is
Just someone Who's like if debond's's floor had been, A
little lower i probably would have Just. Said go Peterson
but debon SA's floor it's just. So goddamn high he
really MUCKs it up for me because he's, He's really
good like he's Gonna come in brady. From Day ONE
but peterson I, Have OVER boozer. Yes i Do the more,
i've watched him THE more. That I do and i
don't care about, the agency Bits, nor should utah, because
that's business and that is like trying to protect. The player's,
interest that's, fine that's cool but you have to work
as an organize station. To move forward like you you
just can't get caught up in all that jazz that
was that. Was actually unintentional you just you can't again
get get caught up in it because like you want
to PROCEED as, an nba organization and that doesn't mean
trying to take players who are. Of lesser value like
even if the, agency, is going well we're, upset with
that what? Can you do we make the Decisions like
funk off honestly right at at, a certain level just shut.
The hell up we're making. The calls here So, SO
FOR peterson i i think he also slides. IN beautifully,
there I think Like george and. Peterson a backcourt if
that agency like perhaps had to flip it, on his
heads like just if those two power it up like
one of the best backcourts. In the league you could
make the ARGUMENT that that i don't even know who
represents them, at this stage, but the team which.
Speaker 2: Is what the agency is now, named the team but
it Was The former Wasserman oh.
Speaker 1: It's, wassermuran, Group, Okay cool yeah But like then i'm
Just gonna go i'm not gonna call them something as
stupid As team so i'm Just. Gonna say, washerman but
Like if the washerman group really looked at this from,
A creative Perspective like If peterson and george just became
one of the most prudent BACKCOURTS, in the nba they
could more more or less name their price because then
they become invaluable members. Of that team because that team is,
so heavy upfront as We, Know With Kessler jared, jackson
junior marketing they need the balance of perimeter play. They just,
do I'm sorry and i'm still not A Fan of
laura marketing. AT the three I don't think i, will, Ever,
Be so like i'm not saying you can't win. Despite
Of that what i'm saying is you need to tailor
your roster so, perfectly AROUND that because i still think.
HE'S a four i don't think. HE'S a free i
still don't love the Trade To Acquire jaron jackson junior
unless you actually are Able To, retain walker kessler because
if you Have To Play jaron jackson junior at the
five a whole bunch and that dude still can't freaking,
grab a board. That's. A problem NO but, like i
mean we've talked about. This for Years He and laurie
markelon are among one of the like the two worst
you know big you know big men in terms of.
The rebounding department they both play like shooting guards. On the, glass,
it's like oh, well rebound occasionally and that's, not, Good, enough,
dude like yeah So You, need walker kesler who's, a
brilliant rebounder just like. Absolutely exquisite rebounder so if, you
lose him that's that's a big issue. In my eyes
so like for you to say they can be so Close,
to san antonio. NO can see i assume you say
everything has to go right that One they retain kessler
and two they, get, The PICK right?
Speaker 2: Am? I, wrong, yes, yes yes.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: FOR sure YEAH i mean i think if they don't
retain if They, don't retain, kessler like right If, they
retain kessler they will have the Problem that. SAN antonio
had i would argue even More than SAN antonio because
i Don't know that champagni is necessarily a starter for
all thirty teams. In the league but they will have
six starting caliber players and only, five, starting Spots Right
Like a's bailey i'm assuming is the one who comes
out If, THEY go peterson i Assume They move ace
bailey to the Bench And, It's, GEORGE Peterson laurie jjj
kessler as, they're, starting five right that is just in
an enormous amount of size VERSATILITY shooting, with, I mean
YEAH lori and, jjj in particular like shooting from big
like they they could be a really dynamic unit on
both ends. Of, the floor yeah And then yeah peterson with,
This like takeover like they, don't have, That, You know
keyante george average. Twenty three game laurie's had game or
seasons where he's averaged. Twenty five game so like they
have guys who can, put up numbers but they still,
don't have that like you know, The, dude Who Yeah
the jalen brunson at the end, of the Game Or,
the kobe bryant like. The late game we are going,
through this guy you know we're. Going through him we
know we're going.
Speaker 1: Through him and all the players you could have BROUGHT up,
An nba history You Went with Kobe Bryant. And Jalen.
Speaker 7: Brown jalen, brunson, oh, Sorry sorry sorry. Oh my God
Complimenting a boston Celtic. Are you ronson.
Speaker 1: I'M so SORRY i thought i thought You might Callby Bride.
AND jalen brown, i.
Speaker 2: Was Like what.
Speaker 1: Jalen?
Speaker 2: Brown? DID finish what i wish It well In milwaukee
or portland or where you're going to? Play next, Week, you
said bronson fear.
Speaker 1: Enough my mistake that makes so much? More sets offs
like what what? Are we? LIKE oh god i Was
Just like Michael Jordan, and gerald wilkins like what what
how do? We get there.
Speaker 2: That would?
Speaker 5: Be, pretty, good, okay No NO but peterson, I, FOR
sure yeah i hear you like he's gonna be like
the number one dog is basically, What you're, Saying yes, exactly.
Speaker 1: OH god, NO i yes i. THINK you're right i do.
Think you're right that. Would be, INTERESTING and again i
really think if necessitates the the retention Of of of, castler, because,
Like Again hi lorie Market AND high triple j go get.
Me a rebound, ten minutes later you still haven't gotten.
Me a rebound. God damn it like?
Speaker 2: What about that guys about?
Speaker 1: Yeah right right are?
Speaker 2: We?
Speaker 1: There yet? Oh there yet and and and that to
me is just. Is, A PROBLEM again like i don't
know if you saw like this was An interesting stat
like remember when the league decided to pave it away
from offensive rebounding because they wanted to, prioritize optimal. Uh defensive, Positioning,
so offense yeah apparently that's back. LIKE offensive rebounding a
lot of, numbers are, indicated like ya like we see
a lot of value in going back on and crossing.
The offensive glass, like, we're, like, no shit guys.
Speaker 2: You don't say you.
Speaker 1: Don't say, rebounding is important like you? Optimize possession counts?
Like what what what is this magic? That's called mathematics
have they kicked the nerds out out of out of?
The front offices now all the hoopers are?
Speaker 2: Back about?
Speaker 5: Time oh GOD but LIKE i just i really think
rebounding will be the big thing for this troop and.
Speaker 1: And PERIMETER play so i think it's a really. Good
SHOUT out but i just love the position, They're in
right like you just can't. Go Wrong there if, dubonsa
goes One. You Go peterson if, peterson goes One. You
go dubonza and, you're, Like Fine cool like debonza's Even
told them booster is like you're if you, want More
size h dubonza at, Almost six ten, come on down
let's throw you into the you want to be? A, two,
guard like? Sure why not we're playing lowry. At the
three anyway you're gonna start a guy who's six' four
six' ten seven one six? Eleven, and, seven to? Two
sure sure why Not.
Speaker 2: Feels like a pretty, wenby proofed roster to me if
you're gonna if you're Gonna have a chance to wenby
proof starting three seven footers and then another massive. Eye,
and it's pretty.
Speaker 5: Good yeah until we realized when he comes back next
year with like a forty five three point shot, like,
off the pull ups right like.
Speaker 2: It's over, added, Fifteen, pounds of muscles. Right like screw
being skinny i'm. Just gonna run through people now if.
Speaker 1: He Comes back, with like a, gyannis body oh my.
Speaker 2: GOD that would. Be wild i just.
Speaker 5: Can't like that's just then then and and even like
we imagine if he Comes back with both a yana's
body and like a Legitimate, Forty shot off the, Bounceyah
Like at that point alan silver, is just.
Speaker 1: Gonna, be like screw it NO no matter what, rules
i PUT in. Place, This guy i.
Speaker 2: Can't yeah, YOU'RE just gonna. Break basketball i, give.
Speaker 1: Up well we uh we cover some draft prospects and
We Talked. About the the utah jazz so thank. You,
for everyone listening in brian let the good people know where, they,
can find, your.
Speaker 2: Work sir oh Boy All over the place, forbes sports
AND fan, sided for general nba Stuff, silver SCREENING role
for lakers and i am back As Of. This week
at liberty bollers so for those of you who hate Yourself,
enough to follow, THE sixers pleased to say i will
be back there covering the team. That continues, to Torture
Us But hey the new york knicks just proved after fifty,
three years of being tortured even the worst teams in.
The league CAN have hope So maybe i think the
sixers drought is. Now at forty three years we only have.
Ten more years to. Go n, be champions again nice
one nice.
Speaker 1: One for everyone listening in. Thank you for doing, so
until we speak again have a good, one and stay
safe everyone