WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.000 NBA Finals Game six tomorrow in Indianapolis. The LA Lakers 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.480 have been sold for a cool ten billion dollars. But 3 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:11.240 Porters is in his bag today because as much as 4 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.560 I stay away from social media prior to the show, 5 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:17.160 I'll check it and our next guest has been aggregated, 6 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:19.079 as we deal with in this business quite a bit, 7 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:23.160 as every fifth tweet was a jazz trade rumor attributed 8 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.239 to the great Andy Larson from the Salt Lake Tribune, Andy, 9 00:00:27.239 --> 00:00:29.399 why are you all over my timeline today? 10 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:32.759 You know, you say some things I was on the 11 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.719 Lockdown Jazz podcast yesterday or I guess it got released today, 12 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:41.000 and then one Twitter user, you know, tweets what I 13 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:42.920 said and said, but says it in kind of the 14 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:47.399 Andy Larson is reporting x way. And then you know, 15 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.600 the fans of the teams involved gets involved in the Lakers, 16 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.960 Sixers and MAVs have pretty big fan bases and anyway, Yeah, 17 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:56.600 you just kind of blow up. And then you get 18 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:59.880 on NBA Central, you get the likes of Everton's Side 19 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.240 and Legion Hoops and all those different weird aggregate aggregation 20 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:07.439 accounts come together, and then hearing from fans, I mean 21 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.560 it's probably twenty notifications a minute right now on my phone. 22 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:12.359 It is crazy. 23 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:15.680 Okay, well, fair enough. I was a little bit confused. 24 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:17.519 I was glad we could get you today though, to 25 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.040 talk about this. So let's let's just kind of go 26 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:21.719 down the list and I'll give you the space to 27 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:22.680 kind of unpack some. 28 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:24.519 Of this stuff. And let's start with and you know 29 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:25.319 what's interesting. 30 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:27.120 I don't know if you've heard this, even though I 31 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.480 do know that you listen to this show for four 32 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.200 hours every day and never miss a minute. About a 33 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:34.680 month and a half ago, maybe two months ago, I 34 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:37.000 don't know if he was reporting well, actually, let me 35 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:39.239 clean that up. I know that he was not reporting this. 36 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:43.000 But Tim McMahon said he has heard that Colin Sexton 37 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:45.000 could be an option for the MAVs to look at, 38 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:48.280 well Kyrie gets healthy. So let's start with that potential 39 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:50.959 that you talked about, and we're aggregated about Colin Sexton 40 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:52.000 to the Dallas Mavericks. 41 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.079 Go ahead, Yeah, you know, like, I think it's something 42 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.680 that I've heard from kind of both sides of the 43 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:04.599 table there that it is kind of a reasonable landing 44 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.039 spot for Colin Sexton because right like he's an expiring contract. 45 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:11.439 He's a very good player. Uh and because Carry Irving 46 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:14.039 is going to miss the majority, if not the totality 47 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:16.879 of the next season with the with the major injuries 48 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:20.360 suffed last year. Right, Like, so I think it just 49 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:23.039 does make sense as the Dallas Mavericks try to stay 50 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:25.080 you know it, semi competitive. I don't think they're trying 51 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:28.560 to like think out next year to that that Collin 52 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:32.719 Sexton would make some sense. Their salary picture is interesting 53 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:35.800 in that, like the matching salaries in a deal, it's 54 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:38.039 hard to find which players would make sense from the 55 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:40.639 Jazz to take on, you know, like, so the Jazz 56 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:42.599 could take on Caleb Martin, But I don't know that 57 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:45.000 that is makes a ton of sense from a utap 58 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:47.240 point of view, Keavin that he has three years on 59 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:50.319 the deal and then even that's still not enough. You 60 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.360 need to find one other contract to make that work. So, 61 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:55.599 you know, I think it's a I think it's a possibility. 62 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:57.199 I think maybe more likely in kind of a three 63 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:01.159 team scenario or like, you know, but you know, I 64 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.439 do think like the fit makes sense, and it's something 65 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:08.240 that's like seen as a fit in multiple conversations I've. 66 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:12.280 Had, all Right, this is also a situation that isn't 67 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.680 necessarily new, and Dave mcminnimon on this show has talked 68 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:18.800 about how the Lakers, well, everybody knows the Lakers need 69 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.639 a big Okay, if you watch basketball, you understand the 70 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.919 Lakers badly need it big. And even last year, prior 71 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.319 to the trade deadline, there were some rumors about the 72 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:30.120 Jazz and Lakers discussing the framework of a deal that 73 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:32.680 would land Walker Kestler in Los Angeles. 74 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:33.800 So let's move over to that one. 75 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.400 What's your understanding of those conversations, if they're taking place, 76 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.479 and if this is a possibility. 77 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.159 Yeah, those conversations are real, And I mean, like, the 78 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.800 Lakers have seen Walker Kessler as like a very good 79 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.240 fit for them at center for a long time, and 80 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:50.879 it's just kind of like, hey, what are you going 81 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:54.319 to give, right Like, do you have the assets that 82 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:58.479 make sense with the Jazz's rebuilding timeline? Given how much 83 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.439 the Jazz reasonably like Walker Kessler? Right Like, they I 84 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:05.159 think they like Walker Kessler quite a bit. But you know, 85 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:08.400 to this point, they've even you know, the picks they 86 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.080 would trade, let's be honest, or probably now with the 87 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:15.000 Luka Dantic trade and everything else like probably going to 88 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.759 be at the bottom of the first round, and so 89 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:20.759 you know, are you willing to move on from your 90 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:25.040 most interesting young piece for a couple of picks at 91 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:26.480 the bottom of the first round. I don't know that 92 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:29.279 the Jazz are in fact that. I suspect if they 93 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.000 were willing to do that, they would have made the 94 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:34.240 deal at some point already. You know, it is salt 95 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:37.240 and connecting. That deal I think is relevant is Rehashimura, 96 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.279 and that deal is relevant. I don't know specifically, like 97 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.240 what the actual offer is, but I do know that 98 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:47.839 there have been multiple conversations about that, or multiple I 99 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.560 guess the Lakers have reached out to the Jazz multiple 100 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.079 times thinking that Walker Kessler is that guy for them. 101 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:58.399 I just don't know that the Jazz if they have 102 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:01.319 compiled I mean, obviously they have not yet compiled an 103 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:02.959 offer that the Jazz have said yes to, And I 104 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.399 don't know that they have been particularly close and tempting 105 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:09.199 the Jazz and actually making that deal. I do tend 106 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:11.439 to think like if the Jazz were to actually shop 107 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:15.120 Walker Kessler around the league, they could probably get better 108 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.959 picks back and maybe better young players back than they 109 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:20.879 could then from the Lakers. 110 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.759 All right, let's move over to the potential of a 111 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:27.519 deal on Well, it doesn't have to be on draft night, 112 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:31.120 but regarding the draft where Affiliated three is thought to 113 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:35.959 potentially be willing to maybe move down, I don't really 114 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:38.480 know much about how that would take place. But this 115 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.639 is another one that was out there. Andy shut some 116 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.920 light on this one. 117 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.040 Look, they know they need to retool their roster, and 118 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.480 you know, there are a bunch of different ways to 119 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:49.639 do that. I think there is a you know, a 120 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.839 tank path where you give up on Joelle and Bean entirely. 121 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:57.519 But the Paul George contract is a part of this, 122 00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:59.839 and as I you know, in my view, and I 123 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:03.000 think a lot of league wide observer's view a negative 124 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.399 contract given that he just turned thirty five and put 125 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:10.120 up a fourteen per last season, and you know, had 126 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.240 a whole bunch of other bad Sixer stuff go on 127 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:15.199 around him, but did not look very good last year. 128 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:19.240 And this is decline time in players contracts, right in 129 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:23.759 players careers. So I get why, you know, the Sixers 130 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:27.800 would be interested in dumping the Paul George contract. I 131 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:31.759 will say also that if they wanted to do kind 132 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.000 of that three for five and Paul George Swap. That 133 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.959 would mean that the Jazz have to send back matching salaries, 134 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.839 right and given the size of that contract around fifty 135 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:43.519 million dollars a year, you would have to send probably 136 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:47.680 both of John Collins and Colin Section or Lowry Markinen 137 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:51.319 in order to make those that deal work. And it's 138 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:53.319 hard to see how that makes sense for the Jazz. 139 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:54.680 You know, maybe all of a sudden, if you just 140 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:56.800 Jazz don't have to give up the number five pick 141 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.120 and have kind of have two top five picks, and 142 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:03.319 then maybe it makes sense. But like, yeah, it gets 143 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:05.519 you know, then I don't know that the Switchers do 144 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:09.000 that deal, so you know, I from my understanding, it's 145 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.639 not something again, it's an author that's been kind of 146 00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:14.759 out there. Conversations have been had, and I don't know 147 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.439 the current status of those, but I never got the 148 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:20.759 sense that it was like, you know, a piece or 149 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.639 two away. These are big frameworks that I think there 150 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:24.959 is significant disagreement on. 151 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.959 Honestly lost track of all the aggregation, and I did 152 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.319 not listen to Pod respectfully, but I do believe there 153 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:34.800 was a John Collins situation, maybe with the Lakers, maybe 154 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:35.439 with the Warriors. 155 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:36.199 Does that ring a bell? 156 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.879 I mean, I was referring more to the past on 157 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:44.480 that one. I'm gonna be honest, And that's one of 158 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:47.120 the dangers of aggregation, is like, hey, when you're talking 159 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.879 about conversations that may have happened around the trade deadline 160 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.279 or even earlier. I talked about that on the podcast, 161 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:55.800 and I did not mean to say with John Collins 162 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.439 specifically that like those have happened more recently. 163 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:02.560 Okay, fair enough, but let me expand the question. Look, 164 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:05.480 if they could trade them, they would they they would 165 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:08.360 trade them tomorrow. And now that that contract is expiring, 166 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.240 do you think it's more likely they'll find a suitor? 167 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:13.360 Yeah, I do, you know, And I think you know, 168 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:15.319 John Collins had a really good year last year, and 169 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.040 I think that he does fit into a lot of 170 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:20.959 what teams want in terms of, you know, if you 171 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.680 have a heliocentric star or you know, your your ball 172 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:28.959 handling situation figured out. I think he provides really interesting spacing, 173 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:32.879 really interesting rebounding, and then I think was better on 174 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:35.440 the defensive end, probably not a plus on defense last year, 175 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:37.519 but was better than he was two years ago. So 176 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:41.440 I do think it makes sense as a fit on 177 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:43.639 court wise, I think, you know, it's always the tough 178 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.679 part is finding a team that can take on a 179 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.679 twenty five million dollar salary, give up a twenty five 180 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:51.120 million dollar salary in return, and have that makes sense 181 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.879 for the Jazz moving forward, rather than just letting John 182 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:57.320 Collins expire, right, And I you know, I think that's 183 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.399 easier said than done. You know, I think so the 184 00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:02.879 Warriors are an example. And actually I said this on 185 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.639 the podcast, like they may have had some interest at 186 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.000 the trade deadline to go get down Collins. They got 187 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.000 Jimmy Butler and said, and all of a sudden, the 188 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:12.799 trade mask doesn't make sense at all, right, Like it's 189 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:15.919 just hard to figure out how the contracts would work there. 190 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.279 So yeah, you know, I think it is. You know, 191 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.559 I don't think that there's no interest in the league 192 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:24.879 with John Collins, and I think again, he's a good player. 193 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:28.080 I don't know the status of kind of how those 194 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.639 conversations have gone in the last few weeks. Even I 195 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:34.200 was just referring to stuff that had happened months ago. 196 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.919 All right, fair enough, let's move let's move over here. Andy. 197 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.720 I think that's all the aggregation that was across my timeline. 198 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.440 But you know, Brian Wyndhorse, I don't know. A few 199 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.879 days ago on Sports Center dropped the whole like he's 200 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:49.159 been told the Jazz are going to try to accelerate 201 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.360 the rebuild. That's not what he said. I'm paraphrasing, but 202 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:53.879 you understand the spirit of the whole thing. And then 203 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:57.759 ever since that conversation took place, I've had NBA guests 204 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:01.679 on the show, Haberstrow Old Bye, we had Smittyan studio, 205 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:05.080 and we've just debated what I perceived to be two 206 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:07.879 different paths for the Jazz. And Brian Winhors is a 207 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.720 very smart, plugged in, very good NBA reporter who certainly 208 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:15.480 deserves respect. So I'm not saying that he's lying. I 209 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.720 don't know what that avenue looks like. I don't like 210 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.440 Boston apparently is willing to trade everybody outside of Tatum 211 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.759 who's going to be hurt all next year. And if 212 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:27.480 you add Drew Holliday and Kristaps Porzingis to this roster 213 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:33.879 for free, I mean, playing forty five would like. I 214 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.879 don't know what that looks like. But again, Windhorst is 215 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.919 a respectable guy who deserves respect. So there's that path 216 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:43.879 that includes adding to the group a veteran or two 217 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.120 that can exibedite the growth, add to winning right away. 218 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:49.559 And then the other avenue, And Tommy brought this up, 219 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.200 and you've talked about it before. You and I have 220 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:54.440 discussed it, and this is not reporting anything. This is 221 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:57.879 discussing and pontificating on possibilities where you engage with san 222 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.960 Antonio at two and you say something like all right, 223 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:05.360 marketing in five for Harrison Barnes and Kelden Johnson at 224 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.080 two and obviously Harrison Barnes is not in your future plans. 225 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.919 Calden might bes twenty five, He's fine, and then at 226 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.840 two you grab Dylan Harper. Then you can continue this 227 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:17.600 long game, slow play brick by brick by brick. 228 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.519 That makes more. 229 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.480 Sense to me because you and I have discussed and 230 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:24.399 will continue to discuss all year. That eighth pick, the 231 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.639 top eight protected pick that will go to OKC if 232 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.799 you're not in the top eight. So those are the 233 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:32.279 two avenues, Andy, what do you think happens? 234 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:36.159 Yeah, look, I think you made it out well. I 235 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:40.159 think I don't know whether Brandon Windhorst, you know, was 236 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:44.120 referencing aus Mange's comments that the Jazz didn't want to 237 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:47.519 tank next year as like the sole basis of that, 238 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.679 or also something that he was hearing around the league. 239 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:52.840 You know, I think like two, you know, I completely 240 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:54.960 agree with you win horses like an awesome NBA reporter 241 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.600 and those much more than I do in many many cases. 242 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:01.399 But also he got agrig on that a little bit, right, 243 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:06.159 and I know what that's like. I think it could 244 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:09.080 be either way, and winhorse obviously then gets the extra 245 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.399 bonus points in Utah for the what's going on in 246 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:14.840 Utah meme? Right like where he did, you know, essentially 247 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.320 predicts that there were gonna be bigger moves after the 248 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:20.480 Royce O'Neil trade that ended up meaning Donovan and Rudy 249 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:24.440 and Quinn all left Utah. I could see it going 250 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.480 either way, and I do think, you know, there is 251 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:31.480 some interest in the idea of not being bad anymore 252 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:33.559 and the idea of hey, yeah, let's go get the 253 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:37.279 Drew Holliday and Chris hops for Zingis and start building 254 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.960 a team that's trying to win and then maybe through 255 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.200 that you make the young guys better too. Right. There's 256 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.720 also a thought frankly that like even if you have 257 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.000 Drew Holliday and Chris Hops for zingis it's not immediately 258 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.200 clear that that's a top eleven team in the West, Right, 259 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.399 That could still be a bottom four team in the West, 260 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:58.159 which would theoretically allow you to keep a top eight 261 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:02.720 pick next year, right, and so, and then you're kind 262 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.960 of trying to thread the needle that way and build 263 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:10.200 without worrying about that too much. I think ultimately, like 264 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.320 in the end, what often Aine said at the press conference, 265 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:17.240 I think is interesting. It's just like, hey, you're just 266 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.720 trying to make one good deal after another. You're trying 267 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:23.679 to make one good decision after another, and I know 268 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.919 that boring, and you should have kind of a plan. 269 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.919 But that has also been kind of the Danny Ainge 270 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:30.919 and Justin Zack point of view too, is like, hey, 271 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:35.679 when they have traded guys, it's it has been for 272 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.480 positive value. You know, in general, the league has thought 273 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:41.639 they've done well with their business, with maybe one or 274 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:46.240 two exceptions, and so I don't think that they will 275 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.240 all of a sudden issue that in order to kind 276 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:51.159 of chase one plan or another if the value they're 277 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:52.759 getting in these deals doesn't make sense. 278 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:56.679 All right, fair enough, we are one week away from 279 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:00.039 the NBA Draft, and before we get into maybe the 280 00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:03.200 individual prospects and the noise around Ast Bailey and such, 281 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:06.879 just what are you hearing about the potential for activity 282 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.159 or are you hearing that it's more likely that the 283 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.440 Jazz stay at five and twenty one? 284 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.639 What are you hearing as of now? 285 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.080 Yeah, I mean I think they're interested in moving in 286 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:20.639 all kind of different possibilities there kind of the vibe. 287 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:23.240 I believe it was Bestiny who reported this last week 288 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:27.320 that like it's kind of quiet in the trademarket right now, 289 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:32.080 is true? I think like essentially you would expect more 290 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:35.559 maybe conversation a week out, but there are still obvious 291 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.120 kind of deals that make sense for a lot of 292 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:40.159 different teams. There are a lot of people waiting to 293 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:42.480 see what happens with Gianness and Kevin Durant. Will I 294 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.840 will say that as far as like specific things of 295 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:49.320 the Jazz do kind of like the context of the 296 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.759 Philadelphia thing we mentioned earlier, Like that was my answer 297 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:57.559 to that question yesterday, right Like I have heard that possibility. 298 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:00.000 I don't know of any kind of other specific possible 299 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.679 abilities of the Jazz kind of moving up and down 300 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.799 are around with the number five and number twenty one picks. 301 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:11.679 Vesini and Givoni and some others too are reporting that 302 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:15.480 there is some real noise around the league regarding Ace Bailey, 303 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.120 who once upon a time was thought to be a 304 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:20.200 top three and maybe even flirting with the. 305 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:21.120 Top two prospect. 306 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.679 Now it feels like consensus that it's Cooper one and 307 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.120 Dylan two. But for a long time, Anie Mock I 308 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:29.879 saw had Ace at three, and then you started to 309 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.120 hear some things. Of course, there was the combine measurement 310 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.960 that people latched on too. It's like, wow, could he 311 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:36.559 fall the five to the jazz? And now you're seeing 312 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.200 things like is he still going to stay in the 313 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.639 top ten. I don't have any frame of reference for it. 314 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:43.919 What's you're understanding about what NBA teams could potentially be 315 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.840 concerned about concerning Ace Bailey? 316 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:48.919 Yeah? I mean, look, I've heard just much more negative 317 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.320 stuff than I have positive stuff. I do think, you know, 318 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.960 some team in the top ten I think just fits 319 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:58.320 the app r like there is significant talent there, but 320 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.840 it's much more interesting at like six ten than it 321 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.639 is at six seven, which is where he ended up 322 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:06.159 measuring out. And you know, so you worry about the 323 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:09.360 top shots that he made in college. Do they continue 324 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:12.639 to go in against longer defenders in the NBA. Then 325 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:15.320 you worry about kind of all the off you worry 326 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:18.159 about the development path. You know, like he's been pretty 327 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.159 clear in interviews like he sees his path as getting stronger, 328 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:24.519 which then he can use to bump guys off his 329 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.919 body and create more space in the midrange for more 330 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.600 mid range shots. And you know, a lot of teams 331 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:32.799 don't want to go that direction. I think there's some 332 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.080 concern about, like, hey, is this guy going to be 333 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.399 part of a five man offense or just try to 334 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:40.799 get as many points as he can? And then you know, 335 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:44.120 I think there's some on and off defensive effort questions 336 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:46.720 where we see two teams in the NBA Finals that 337 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:50.120 are absolutely killing themselves on every defensive possession, right, Like, 338 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.480 so kind of the the the kind of mid range 339 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:55.679 comp I think Frase Bailey has been Michael Porter junior 340 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:58.000 for a long time. But if you're going shorter Michael 341 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:01.600 Porter junior, how much value does that really happen? Do 342 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:04.119 you really want to draft that guy over I think 343 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.920 some other compelling prospects in the top six or seven. 344 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.079 I think that's a reasonable question to ask. And then 345 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.920 you know, I done some draft modeling on my own 346 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.200 and looked at other draft models as well. Like, in general, 347 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.000 Ace does not project as necessarily like in that same 348 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.559 class as Cooper and Dylan because like he because of 349 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:26.880 some of those issues and because Rutgers did struggle and 350 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:30.279 you know, like they struggled even more when he was 351 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.839 off the floor, to be fair, but like, it's not 352 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.480 the typical profile of the top prospect. So yeah, like 353 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:40.000 I get the concerns. And for me, it's at the 354 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:43.839 point where if I'm trying to create a franchise, not 355 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.920 just get the most talent available. Yeah, I am looking 356 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:51.160 at at you know, Trey Johnson or VG Edgecombe or 357 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:56.880 or Continent Pole right like, and really thinking about who 358 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.200 is going to help me win a championship, Who's likely 359 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.640 to actually push me to the next round in the playoffs? 360 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:05.400 It might be those other guys more And so you know, again, 361 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:08.799 I think at some point, whether it's at Washington at 362 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.000 number six for Brooklyn or you know, I think he 363 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.119 is drafted in the top ten, I am not that 364 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.839 worried about him falling out of the top ten, but 365 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.359 I do understand the teams that have real concerns and 366 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:20.119 want to go in another direction with prospects I think 367 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:22.079 are also incredibly talented. 368 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.400 As I ask you every week, and this will be 369 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:26.640 the final time, Well, no, we actually might get you 370 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:28.799 on Draft Day. And for our listeners, Andy is doing 371 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:31.519 the show on Friday of next week after the two 372 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.519 rounds of the draft, so that'll be some good stuff 373 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.000 to stay tuned for that. So I'll probably ask you 374 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:38.640 one more time, but for this week, the Andy Larson 375 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.839 take on the most realistic best possible scenario at five 376 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:46.039 for the Jazz is who and why I. 377 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:50.480 Think best possible scenarios vj It's come false and I 378 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.799 like VJs come as a prospect a lot. I've been 379 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:54.839 doing some draft modeling over the last couple of weeks 380 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:59.359 and it considers the model considers vjgs come to be 381 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:03.079 a top here prospect at a higher level than kind 382 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:05.920 of the other guys in that range. So that's because 383 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.720 of the block, that's because of the skills, that's because 384 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.359 of the athleticism measurements, that's because of the kind of 385 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:15.000 semi efficiency and kind of small usage kind of projects. Well, 386 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:19.960 he's got a good assistant turnover rate and in general 387 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:23.640 when I talked to VJ at the combine, like was 388 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:25.400 a kid with his head screwed on straight. Kind of 389 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:28.680 reminded me of Donovan Mitchell in his draft workouts, where 390 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.799 he's like, you know, look, I think I can impact 391 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.000 the floor on the defensive end first and then expand 392 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.240 my game to be offensive. And you know that's not 393 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:37.440 what ended up happening with Donovan Mitchell. But kind of 394 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:40.680 having the right mentality about the game and about his 395 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.680 own development and about his own work ethic really impressed me. 396 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.279 Then it really impressed me about VJ. 397 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:45.559 Edge. 398 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:48.759 Come, I don't think it's realistic that he falls to 399 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:52.759 number five. So in that case, I'm waffling still between 400 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:56.240 Trey Johnson and kongk Nipple, and I think Trey Johnson 401 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:59.319