Speaker 1: What is up, Fellas Echo's I am dan fa Valley
coming at you once again with the one the Only
mister Mort Jensen of the NBA Podcast, fame, of Yahoo's Sports,
Yahoo Sports, Fame, of Forbes fame, and of OnlyFans Celebrity.
We're gonna continue take a little break from talking about
the finals and even our single team offseason look aheads
to talk about what I guess is like a division
offseason look ahead, except we're tackling the overarching, biggest question
that we have for every team, so every team in
the league. We're just gonna break it down by division
because it's neat and clean that way. We already did
the Southwest Division as we're recording this, so go check
that out, and now we're onto let's stick in the South.
We're gonna go to the Southeast Division. Hornets fans are
getting a lot of content from Hardwood Knox. We just
put up their offseason look ahead, so we're here to
just pump out as much Hornet's content as possible around
these parts before we dive in, Mort, how the heck
are you? Well?
Speaker 2: I was doing a lot better until you said that
we're supposed to just hammer out a bunch of Hornets content.
I know we're going to talk about them today, but
let's keep that one brief, because good lord.
Speaker 1: I don't honestly, We'll get to that team. But I
don't understand why so many people are down on the Hornets.
I think they're in Like, they don't have the best
spot in the league, but their books are flexible. They
don't really have any bad contracts on the books. Maybe
a bad human being on the books, yeah, for sure.
But I think that I'm higher on the Hornets, I
guess than most people, at least in terms of long
term view. We're not going to talk about the Hornets though, alphabetically.
What we are going to talk about them alphabetically though,
we begin with the Atlanta Hawks more. What is your
question for this team?
Speaker 2: I just want to know what the hell they're doing?
Are they still building around Trey Young?
Speaker 1: Like?
Speaker 2: Are they pivoting? Is Trey Young going to be more
of a complimentary of albeit high volume, complimentary player, Like
what is their end goal here? Who is going to
be their best player moving forward? Do they still I
think it's straight to the thing. Is Sheal and john
Snow they're leaning into the Zakari Risha sha Era, like,
I just want to know what their centerpiece of the
future is going to be.
Speaker 1: I think that's a fair question, and I'll throw a
mine out there because I think that they're just interconnected.
And I want to know if Trey is one going
to sign an extension this summer, and two if he does,
are we talking about a max deal? The max they
could give him is like four years and almost two
hundred and nine million dollars. I think that ties it
nicely to well, what is the timeline is Trey Younger centerpiece?
And kind of the other question I have surrounding that
is I thought Jaron Jackson Junior was gonna be a
lit mistest for that this summer when I believed he
was gonna make all MBA, and because he didn't, I
don't think he he's not eligible for the Supermax, but
he could have signed for thirty percent of the max.
It didn't have to be for thirty five percent had
he been eligible. I'm just wondering if we've entered a
stage in which, unless you were just a certified like
top ten to fifteen player, that you're not just gonna
have these extensions handed to you where it's like the
Calves with Donovan Mitchell, no brainer. But Tray with the Hawks,
is he going to be on that level? And I
think the importance to the franchise when they don't control
they already gave away this year's first round pick, they
don't control twenty six or twenty seven either. You can
argue he's hyper important. But if you don't think that
he's one of the things is people say, oh, move
him anyway. It doesn't matter that you don't have your
own picks. But no one can ever name the team
that's gonna come in with like the mega offer for
Trey Young. And if you don't think he's gonna get
that mega offer, now, what makes you think that he
would yield that type of value when he's on a
like a longer deal that's gonna pay him again like
a crap ton of money. And so I'm not even
trying to dendigrate Trey Young here. He just kind of
falls to that bucket where mort you're the Hawks, are
you offering him an extension? Is it the full boat?
Is it a shorter full boat? Is it not the
full boat?
Speaker 2: Like?
Speaker 1: What are you doing here? If you're Atlanta I'm playing hardball.
Speaker 2: I'm open to an extension, but it has to be
on my terms, meaning, yeah, he'll get compensated, but he
won't bet. He won't get compensated at a max level.
You know, at a max level contract, he's not going
to get probably the amount of money that he wants,
because every player, understandably so wants to get as much
as they want. I'm not sacrificing future flexibility for him.
I'm not sacrificing my books for him moving forward, especially
when I have Jilan Johnston on what is going to
look like a very reasonable contract as it that very
important inclusion. You're absolutely right, very import important inclusion. I've
decided to stay optimistic about Jalen Johnson, but I do
think it's a very fair point that if he's continuously
injured faddy million per year that's going to be a
significant chunk of money. But for Trey, yeah, I'm not
handing him a thirty percent max. I'm not at that
level whatsoever. I'm even like, I understand it might be
viewed as dis respect, you know, going to a veteran
who is eligible for a certain percentage and offering him
something lower than that, but I honestly think somewhere along
the lines of twenty five percent max for him that's
not that's actually not a max, but like old max
twenty five percent of the cap. That seems like a
fair middle ground for both sides.
Speaker 1: You kind of like want to keep him where he is.
I think, what is his player option for like fifty
million in that.
Speaker 2: Contract of forty nine, but that's actually let me just
make sure twenty nine almost percent there, So I think
he was on the thirty like this year or sorry,
next year twenty five to twenty six. His cap percentage
is twenty nine point seven, so I want him add
a little less than that.
Speaker 1: I'd be curious to see if he would sign it.
I almost wonder if it would make more sense for
both sides to say, like, here's a shorter term one
to where it's like you kind of tie yourself to
Trey while you don't have your picks, and you could
then talk to him and say, look, you get to
re enter free agency sooner when maybe you're available at
that point for the thirty five percent, Like that's how
you spin it. If you're Atlanta, I would agree though
that I'm probably trying to get him locked down for
because if I'm I know that there's gonna be more
cap space next year, but he has to decline his
player option to reach free agency. And so if you're
Trey Young, yeah, they'll be don't get me wrong, They'll
be teams out there that want Trey Young. Were you
confident enough to turn down nearly fifty million dollars and
say like, I'm gonna get like, there's gonna be a
team out there that gives me the mega deal? I
will say though, if you if you offer him any
sort of extension and he turns it down, your decision
has kind of been made for you though, because now
it's it's it's f the picks. You have to look
at moving him anyway because do you want to risk
losing him for nothing next summer? Or alternatively, are you
just gonna get less for him? Because maybe he opts
into his contract, which is like, you know, the Hawks
could look at it and say, like, maybe you opt
in and extend him at a lower number off that.
But if he's opting in at his age, you almost
feel like something's gone wrong there. And I kind of
wonder how this season plays a part of it, because
he was still like their offense was still way better
with him on the court, but he was not like
efficient by his normal standards. And I know he was
kind of dealing with that Achilles stuff. But he's a
small guard. And so if you're the Hawks, you might
almost want to wait and see and say, Okay, we
need him right now, but how much do we need
him for moving forward? And you don't just want to
tailor yourself to well, this has to be the guy
when honestly, I think even if you keep Trey, it
would not be unreasonable to say you still need your
best player of like the title contention era Atlanta Hawks,
whenever that era may begin. They're just in a really
tough spot. Like it's sort of fascinating with Trey because
I think he's an incredibly talented offensive basketball player. The
passing is just incredible. Yes, any given season, he could
make an All NBA team. I know a lot of
people are down, but it's like kind of Domas Sabonis territory,
Like he can make an All NBA team in any
given season. That's a big deal. I don't think he
hurts the development of guys like Dyson Daniels on Yekakongu,
Zachary Resa che Jalen Johnson. If anything, I think he
augments it because you're making their jobs easier, and none
of I guess, of all the guys I just mentioned,
you probably trust like Jalen Johnson if you are looking
for sort of an offensive hub, so to speak, but
like other than that, you don't like that's not supposed
to be. Zachary Resa, Schey, Dyson Daniels can give you
some secondary stuff, but just with his shooting limitations, defenses
aren't gonna respect him a ton. If he has the
ball in his hands outside of transition anyway, I just
think I'm gonna be throwing it back to I would
just say I think Trey Young is probably slightly underrated
at this point. And I also don't think that people
understand how important he might be to even a if
you don't want to call it a rebuilding version of
the Hawks, of this sort of just like retooling version
of the Atlanta Hawks. I don't think that people fully
understand like how important he is but also like how
much he could actively help them maybe get to where
they want to go. But I do think that will
be relative to well how much are we paying this
guy because this franchise is not Look, when you look
at their books this year, they have plenty of room
beneath the luxury tax. But when you're moving forward, it's, oh,
Dyson Daniels is extension eligible. You got to think about that.
Karas Lavertz a free agent this year, and you don't
really have a secondary ball handler right now, is the
other thing. So you have to think about that as well.
Speaker 2: I agree with you that in some like in some
areas I want to say Trey is underrated. At the
same time, you have to ask the major question, which
is how far can you go with him as your
number one? Like if he is your clear cut number
one guy, like what is your aspiration level? Like are
you satisfied, you know, being potentially a first round playoff
team and that's that? And if that's like for a
stretch of three or five years, like are you okay
with that? Do you just take the gate money and
a look, we're competitive, we are giving our fame base
a playoff team. That's cool, Like maybe one of those
years we make it into the second round or are
you actively looking at the playoff picture? And especially in
the Eastern conference and going, Look, it's a revolving door
of champions every single year. We want to get in
on that. Because if depending on how you answer that question,
I think that raises some additional questions in regards to Trey.
Speaker 1: What would be the ideal archetype of whether you want
to consider that in him their second best player or
their best player, Like, who's the ideal type of archetype
or star to place around Trey Young?
Speaker 2: Realistic or unrealistic?
Speaker 1: Well, I mean, is anything? What would be I mean,
if you're gonna go out there and say, like Prime James, Yeah,
that was the name I thought about too. I have
two names if you want to throw the I thought
Jalen Brown would be interesting for this team.
Speaker 2: I hear you. I'm I'm a little down on Jalen Brown.
I thought he had a bad year.
Speaker 1: But I bad need though too.
Speaker 2: That's true. Yeah, if you get if you you know
what's funny, If you get me Trey Young the age
twenty three Tray Young where he was averaging like twenty
eight plus and hitting forty forty six sorry percent of
his shots, and he was way more efficient than he
is right now. And you're giving me Jalen Brown from
two years ago. That would be a fun mashup. I
wouldn't hate that.
Speaker 1: So you're thinking like it needs to be on the
level of like a young like no, like you need
a top ten star beside where it needs to be
just a Yannis level player. Yeah, he might be available,
by the way, right.
Speaker 2: No, I think so, I mean, and that's that's not
trying to like slander tray whatsoever. But we just have
to be realistic. He's a small guard and in today's league,
especially now where we're seeing the return of size Dan,
I mean, nowadays, you're no longer looking small guards. I
can tell you from experience as well, having spoken to
scouts and people here over in my neck of the
woods who have insights into like pre draft processes and whatnot,
and the feedback you know, small European guards are getting
now compared to what they're getting what they were getting
just five years ago, it's vastly different. Like before then
they were like, oh yeah, yeah, if you can play
off Temple, there's probably a role for you over a
state side. Nowadays it's like, oh, if you're six foot
one or like under good freakin' luck. So the size
thing is a real thing. It's it's a real complication.
The fact that he's not a great defender by any
stretch of the imagination is also problematic. The fact that
these high turnover is also problematic. That said, everything you
lay or outlined previously about his strengths, I buy that
you're absolutely right that he does. He has this ability
to enhance the play of guys around him, and that
is not a small thing either. He is arguably one
of the weirdest players to sort of build something around.
I think like he and Sion, I think are so
difficult to like get a read on in terms of
how do you optimize them in their respective roles. For example,
I'm fearing, by the way that in a couple of
years time, Paula Benkaro is going to be the next
one to be included in that conversation. But that's probably
for a different time.
Speaker 1: Well that's interesting, Yeah, that well, it might be for
a different time in this exact podcast. So I would
just say he's better defensively than any of the names
that you just mentioned, would helps him. The thing with Trey, though,
I would wonder, just like you're right about the size thing. Yeah,
it's an issue, but like all, he's kind of proven
already offensively. You mentioned like a Yannis type there. It
feels like not that the Hawks have gone in that direction.
They seem to understand and I don't think it's exactly
worked out perfectly, but they've tried to surround him and
insulate him defensively when you look like, look at who
is there with Onyeka cong Wu, zachararysi Che Dyson Daniels.
So there's like kind of the makings of all right,
we're just trying to surround him with as much just
active or disruptive defenders and versatile defenders as possible. And
I think that's big. I just I think if you
want to it feels like they have three options to
where they could look at trading Trey and like kind of,
you know, screw the picks, like we're just gonna rebuild,
keep Trey and still continue to try and build, or
maybe this is a team that should look at Yeah,
if if you have the assets to get Yannis and
you're still gonna have players left over. If I'm at Lanta,
I'm absolutely looking at it. I'm considering it. Trey and
Giannis would be basketball and Nirvana, but like does Anthony
Davis shaik louse out of Dallas at any point, Like
there's some weird stuff going on, like you could do
something like that where maybe it's not as costly, even
though he was traded for Lukadancic, But that sort of
feels like the mold where it's you want it to
be a big who is more dominant than an On
Yuka kung Wu or Jalen Johnson.
Speaker 2: I like the Davis inclusion there, that's a good one.
A few years ago when our mutual friend Brian Saporik
and I we were discussing the Hawks. This is actually
three or four years ago, because this was before they
went in with all their cap space and went the
direction that they did. They had, if you remember, just
oodles of money. They had so many draft picks lined up,
they had trade possibilities up the wazu, and we were
talking like could they actually get like two more high
volume guys and the two players we outlined at the time,
ironically enough, one of them Jalen Brown. The other one
was Karl Anthony Sounds. And this was before he was
I want to say, like the word was out on
him defensively I think now it's extremely difficult to pair
Young and townds defensively that they would get just smacked
in the mouth that said offensively, good Lord, I mean
that could also be a very potent duo with the
Knicks be open to moving him. If so, what did
they want to return? That's also a discussion. But I
do think we agree on the overarching element of it
needs to be a big man in some capacity.
Speaker 1: Yeah, And it's not saying on Yekakungu can't be like
a starter. It's just that you either need the player
who's next to him to be better than Jalen Johnson
or I don't think it's insulting to say, like you
need someone who's more defensively dominant than a congo in
that role, like just more imposing. I agree, although you
mentioned Cornsley Town's I don't know, assuming if Jalen Johnson's
still on the team after that trade of Jalen Johnson
cat Trey Young defense, I don't know if that's gonna
go too many places. I'm not gonna lie. Let's move
on to the Charlotte Hornets, who we reference at the
top of this podcast more. What's your biggest question for them.
Speaker 2: Well should they be buyers? And the reason I'm asking
that is exclusively due to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons
obviously were horrible last year, one of the worst teams
that we've probably ever seen, and they turned it around
by leaning into age first and foremost, and secondarily there
were internal improvements, but they decided to go outside of
the organization to get some veteran leadership, some guys who
just knows how to play basketball, and lo and behold,
they made it to the playoffs. I'm not saying that
Hornets are going to replicate that, but they do have
talent on that roster. I think that's fair to say.
The question is can they build something on top of
that talent and perhaps stretch their internal improvement to a
place where they next year find themselves in the play
in Is it time to be buyers or are we
a couple of years away.
Speaker 1: I think there would be a case for them to
be opportunistic buyers to where I think when you look
at this what became the biggest difference for the Pistons
this year was, yeah, you got some development. Once Asar
Thompson was healthy, for sure, Jaalen Duran got better, but
it was also just you added Molik Beasley on a
six million dollar contract. You added Tim Hardaway Junior, even
though I didn't love that Quentin Grimes compensation trade, and
you just redefined your floor spacing essentially, And so can
you do something like that? And I think if it's
I don't think, I mean Giannis and LaMelo Ball would
also be like who is Johanna's not basketball porn with?
But LaMelo Ball and Giannis would be you talk about entertaining,
like the entertainment factor up there, I don't I find
myself with this team what's interesting? I really like. I
shouldn't say I really like the vision because I don't
know that I understand it yet, but I respect that
they haven't tried to expedite that vision the new front
office under Jeff Peterson. And I think that's why if
you're a Hornets fan, you should have confidence that, Okay,
they're not going to short circuit this thing. But I
do find myself wondering that, well, if they were gonna
buy you have LaMelo Ball, you have Brendon Miller, and
you have whoever you're gonna take it. The number four pick.
A lot of people seem to think that it's gonna
be VJ. Edgecombe. Sure, fine, what do you want off there?
Because I would say, as right now, the only players
I'm prepared depends. Like tray Man is interesting if you
can keep him in restricted free agency. Sure, there are
some other guys to kind of like on this roster,
but like and they've again, I just want to reiterate,
I think the front office is smart. The past two
trade deadlines, they've picked up extra first round picks, including
that Dallas first round or that's top two protected in
twenty twenty seven. What is it if you could have
juggling or if you want to name a specific player,
So if you could juggle like plausibility with being ambitious
or just an archetype of player. If you're the Hornets
and you're buying, what are what player or type of player?
You then in the market for.
Speaker 2: Two way wings if anything, and also a center who
is probably more durable. No, yeah, just.
Speaker 1: No, Grant Williams use of Nurkic and Mark Williams isn't.
Speaker 2: Doing it for I know it's harsh. I would want
some more stability at the center spot, and I would
want more two way guys, not you know, two way players,
not in terms of two way contractual players, because who cares.
I want someone who can go in and defend point
of attack, hit threes, who can space the floor. And
then I'm probably also gonna be in need of a
new you know, maybe a new training staff or a
new doctor staff.
Speaker 1: They overhauled that last year, Oh they did?
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I mean LaMelo just still isn't on the floor.
So and Brandon Miller played twenty seven games, Yeah, that
worked out well.
Speaker 1: Well he had Okay, he had like a real Brandon
Miller wasn't a reoccurring injury had as far was at
the wrist, like that was just me.
Speaker 2: I'm okay, but like they have not exactly been a
pillar of health right either this year and her last year.
I'm just saying, if if they overhauled, they think that's
actually something I missed, So maya colpa. That's what that's
on me. Here's hoping that works out eventually, I guess.
But but they're just gonna need someone around that twosome
of a Mellow and Brandon Miller who are going to
score the ball. And then I think again, moving off
Miles bridges for obvious reasons, perfectly to China. If you
can just.
Speaker 1: Cha to be even more fair, I'll say, because what
you're saying is fair. Some of those reasons are also
basketball reasons in my opinion, Like that.
Speaker 2: Is also true. Yes, yes, I would definitely prefer someone
who is a little bit more Yeah, two way oriented.
There's a thought that keeps occurring or reoccurring in my mind.
So the Raptures, we know, you know Messiah, Jerry runs
those guys. He is always a fan of international players.
It's been set for a while, and it might be
a smoke screen, might not. I lean into buying it
that they're high on Kaman mal Watch from Duke, like
the Duke Center and the Raptors have pick nine. If
the Hornets are aren't in love absolutely head over heels
in love with someone at four, that would be smart
to trade down and see whatever else you can get,
And like I haven't specified what that else could be,
but just picking up additional assets that would be smart
for them.
Speaker 1: Something like I don't know if this would be enough,
but o chaiak Baji would be great in Charlotte plus
nine plus maybe like a protected first for number four.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that'd be fun.
Speaker 1: That'd be an interesting try. I mean you could also
I don't know if like just because they need I
think they I really like Yaka Perl, but I think
Toronto might need a different look at center. If you're
gonna have Ingram, Barrett and Barnes all on this team,
Uh like Yaka Purl, just like Yaka Pearl nine and
ochaiak Baji. If like for number four, Yaka Purl'll be
semi and like you have to send out more salary,
then sure, but that'd be a semi interesting return for Charlotte.
Speaker 2: I actually don't hate that whatsoever. That'd be fun. Like
Perle is probably that type of guy there for that team.
You know, he's he's a little bit better offensively than
people give him credit for, but mostly he is, you know,
a rebound er, scrappy guy, opportunistic guy.
Speaker 1: The screen center.
Speaker 2: Yeah good, Yeah, exactly. There are a lot of things
there that would be easy to implement in Charlotte.
Speaker 1: Do you I wonder if they view him as enough
of because we haven't really seen him. Trying to think
back to who LaMelo has played with, Like, he doesn't
play with a ton of what I would call decision
making bigs and Yakka pearls on a Raptor's team that
would like to get out in transition, so that's not
foreign to him by any means. But he's not like,
that's not You don't look at Yaka Pearl like, well,
look at that guy hot foot in it up the
floor all the time, so he'd be more of a
decision making big. I would like to see the look
of LaMelo there. And it's like if use of Nurkic
is the outgoing money, even if it's Miles Bridges, just
as the outgoing money like Nurkic is on expiring contracts.
Maybe that's why Toronto would look at that. I kind
of like that package. I'm complimenting my own idea, which
I don't normally do.
Speaker 2: Well, that's fine, what do you how do you feel?
Go ahead? Yeah, I was. I was gonna ask you
a quick question or a big question. What tech going for LaMelo?
Speaker 1: Well? Am I running the NBA team? Because then they
can get a whole lot for him.
Speaker 2: I'm asking you to take your LaMelo ball jersey off
just for a moment and be as objective as you
can be about this young so called superstar.
Speaker 1: I think they get more than the Kings got for
the Aaron Fox. He's under contracts for longer. It's the
fun Max. The Kings actually did fairly well under the circumstances,
even though they had no business letting the circumstances get
to that point or prioritizing Zach Lavine as the return
in that. But I think they would get more than
the Aaron Fox, and so like the equivalent of what
four first round picks, however you want to spread that out.
I would be curious to know the team, like if
he if they were gonna listen on LaMelo, Orlando better
be like the first team call because he is such
a perfect fit there and you can insulate him against
his biggest issues.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: I love him in Houston. I would love him in
I don't know if I don't know if the Clippers
have the assets to get there, probably not, but he
would be fun a hell on the Clippers. If Utah
is getting a little itchy because Austin Ange is already
talking about how they won't tank, but I really think
that that was just an analog for the Western Conference
is so good that we could play everybody we want.
We're still going to be fourteenth. I really think that
that's what Austin Ainge was saying. We don't need Walker
Kessler taking nine threes a game or something. It's maybe
what he said to Tank, but Utah, if they were
looking to accelerate things, that'd be an interesting fit there. Uh.
Speaker 2: I had something specific in mind, well not super specific,
like a package that's center around it.
Speaker 1: Is it to the Knicks? Are we trading with Colt
Bridges and no?
Speaker 2: Same division though? Same division?
Speaker 1: Uh?
Speaker 2: Toronto Philadelphia? So let's okay, stay with me on this one.
You'll need to add salary and unfortunately spot track is
down right now, which is not helping me whatsoever. Keith
Smith get on it immediately. A package around number three
and Paul George for LaMelo and additional salary.
Speaker 1: Huh, that's interesting. I think, you know, I think someone
in our YouTube comments actually proposed Paul George and number
three for it was like number four and I don't
even know it wasn't LaMelo going out. I think that
Philly would have they would have to include other stuff,
like it'd have to be picks, right, like what are
you going to give up? Like it's not just Paul
George and number four. Uh no, excuse me, number three?
Speaker 2: Three? No, So that's but that's the starting point for me.
I think it's there's some something interesting in it because
obviously number three would be like the compensation level for LaMelo, right,
But then you have Paul George, who would you know,
the Hornets would have to take on his deal which
is enormous. So you're right, perhaps Philly will have to
include something else.
Speaker 1: I'm not I wouldn't if the basis is like so, like,
let's just say Paul George was an expiring contract or something,
I wouldn't do it. If I'm Charlotte, I already have
I already have number four. And it's just like.
Speaker 2: That's that's actually why I was thinking it, Like I
would sure as hell love to have number three and
number four because then I can fully lean into a
rebuild if that's what I want, that those are, I'll
add two top five picks in the same year.
Speaker 1: Hell yeah, I think I'd be more open to as Charlotte,
this isn't a Lamela Ball trade. But like, if Philly
was really looking to get off Paul George, if they
were willing to send you like number three Paul George
and another first round pick, and then you're just like
giving them back number four, So you're moving up a
spot to take on Paul George and getting an additional
first rounder. Because if you're the Hornets, it's Paul George
isn't good? Oh well, like what it's not? Really? What
money are you sending out That's gonna kill you anyway?
So I don't think that would be enough for me.
If I'm Charlotte the package that you're.
Speaker 2: Okay, interesting, I it would be enough for me if
I'm like Charlotte personally, but I'm also not.
Speaker 1: Yeah that man, who are you high on that at
number three? That you want like you want Ace Bailey
that badly?
Speaker 2: Uh? Well, I mean, look, if I'm ignoring, for example,
that that Toronto is aggressive and going for Malowaj, I
love him. I freaking love him. I think there is
legitimate all star upside in that dude, So that would
be one on I'm I love bj hcom I think
Trey Johnson said Hooper, although you know he's very one dimensional,
I'll concede that, but he can definitely score at an
NBA level. I think he could be one of those guys.
Who we look back on in a couple of years ago.
Oh okay, that's one of the best shooters in the
damn league. There are a lot of players where I'm
like open for business, so to speak, where I see
the upside. And again it's also the lack of availability.
Like I don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on
the mellow just to hate. It's like I don't want to. Yeah,
I don't like his game, but also the lack of
availability is an issue far more than I think we
make it out as like we can sit here and
talk about all the upside, the exciting play, the stat lines, YadA, YadA, YadA,
play forty seven games this year. Eventually we have to
talk about it.
Speaker 1: It's been talked about ad nauseum like I don't and
that's why I also don't understand why then you would
move him when he's at the NADA like. It could
be the idea of his value.
Speaker 2: That's fair, That's that's fair. I'll give you that one.
Like if you're trading him when he values atless loads,
that's not great. Absolutely, then I'm asking you, do you
have confidence in sticking with him and letting him turn
this thing? Around. Do you think there is an avenue
wherein he can become you know, available.
Speaker 1: I mean, I'm not a doctor. I would just say yes,
Like we saw it with Steph Curry, like people were
probably ready to write him off at one point, and
this is so different. He wasn't on a mester.
Speaker 2: Three seasons though that he wasn't injured over the course
of three years.
Speaker 1: He was injured. Like what was he drafted in two
thousand and nine. He was injured quite a bunch with
those ankle issues.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but that wasn't three years. It was really short.
Speaker 1: So he goes back. He played eighty seventy four, then
it was twenty six. Yeah, so it's like he did
his checker. Availability was not nearly as bad. But I
feel like people were so demp You remember when he
signed his extension. Oh, I really thought it was going
to be an disaster and it was million a year, right,
So I I would say, I can't be out on
the mellow until I see what he looks like surrounded
by NBA talent, and I don't think that they've surrounded
him by enough of it. And then that becomes a
different conversation about the health because he could be healthy
and maybe still not elevate this team to where it
needs to be. Where it's like kind of the inverse
of Zion to where it's okay, Zion's just never available,
but we know what he can uplift. Mellow has been
a touch more of available, but it's what can he uplift?
You haven't really given him enough to work with there,
which is why I have to bring it back to
your original question. I would probably be more opportunistic than
doing anything nuclear to where it's just like that's fair.
Is Detroit looking at moving Isaiah Stewart would be fun here.
If the Nuggets don't want to pay this guy or
they're making another deal, can you get in and like,
let's take a flyer on Peyton Watson. You want to
see them get two way wings. He's not I wouldn't
call him two way, but he's defensively disruptive and can
can do some things on offense, especially in transition. So
that's like kind of the mode I'd be in if
I'm Charlotte, if you could stumble into it, not stumble,
but if you can get a higher end guy that
you think is gonna give you the the Detroit Pistons
bump this year, so to speak. I also just wonder, like,
are the Pistons still the Pistons without that Jade and
Ivy injury too? Is the other thing here is like
I think he had found a better fit, but like
the numbers still weren't great with him on the floor,
and it forces you to do this other thing where
you have to lean into different lineups. Dennis Schruder comes
over and he gives Kate Cunningham these in game breaks
to where doesn't have to be on the ball as much.
But yeah, I think I'll frame it this way. I
don't think the Hornets need to be like aggressive this
offseason and doing anything, but I would be taking flyers,
and like, I'm not opposed to bringing in like win
Now talent even if it caught, Like you know, if
you had to move t John Salon right now is
coming off like one of the more disappointing rookie campaigns.
I'm not gonna batny at that. And that would bleed
into my own question of how do you handle the
Mark Williams extension eligibility at this point more you tried
to trade him, no one is ever gonna the Lakers
weren't even gonna give you what the Lakers were prepared
to give you at one point they had buyers remorse
almost immediately. How do you approach that situation?
Speaker 2: Communication first and foremost, because I do think Mark Williams
needs to have a say in all this. This was
such a weird situation and in such an odd position
to be put in as a player who's like, Okay,
so you wanted me initially, now you don't. Now you're
forced to take me back. Like it happens so rarely
I think that the trade gets rescinded that it just
puts the onus on a team to actually have a
sit down with the player and go, all right, we
have to talk about the elephant in the room here,
like what are we gonna do? Do you want to
stay here? Because like we do like you, We just
thought we had a package of someone who we liked
better already there you can sort of sense that's not
going to be a great conversation. So I think you
would have to really hash this out over a long
period of time to figure out are you even on
the same page as us? Like do you even want
to be here? Because again, the NBA is also about professionalism,
Like we know that all NBA teams rely a great
deal on having trust from agents, for example, who can
sort of help you get guys into the right situations. Now,
if you end up screwing a guy over, for example,
that's something that is not being taken well by age.
So if they are saying, hey, you know what, Mark Williams,
let's give this another go. We really like you, sorry
for what happened, they extend him, and then they ship
his ass out like within the next year or so,
that's you can avoid that. My guess ultimately is that
they agreed to seek a train.
Speaker 1: I'd be curious what the compensation would be on him
because they were getting a distant first a swap in
Dalton connect and I would be if they get more
than a first round pick for Mark Williams, I'd be
pretty shocked. Which is why I almost wonder if this
is just gonna spill, because I'd be fairly surprised if
he signed an extension unless he's want to take like
less than the mL money. Where it's oh, Mark Williams
is a signed for four years and fifty six million
or something. I feel like it might just leak into
restricted free agency and they'll let the market determine what
he might be there, or maybe they move. Then it
keeps your options open if you don't extend him to
move him in the middle of the season. But I
don't think I don't it's not that don't like him.
For this team, they need someone who's better on defense
on that back line. Like I think we've seen a
lot of really good defensive lashes from Brandon Miller. Maybe
you bring in some more just kind of perimeter defensive activity,
but you just want to have a better back line,
especially if you're gonna like the way we see LaMelo
Ball defend. I think that's probably the most frustrating part
of his game to me, is because I know or
we know he can defend better. We have seen it.
Maybe on a team that's like up against higher stakes,
sure maybe he'll defend better, But for now, it's kind
of like, all right, you have Brandon Miller, and who's
the next best defender on this team?
Speaker 2: Is we think Mark Williams does not have the defensive upside?
Are we just out on that?
Speaker 1: I mean, he's rather large. I just don't know that
he knows how to leverage that enormity and his length consistently, Like,
who do you think who are you higher on defensively
moving forward? Jaalen Durham or Mark Williams.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good question, Like I do think Duran
is a better thinker on that end of the floor,
whereas Mark is just so much wider and bigger so far.
Duran is also younger, so he's got more time to learn.
I'm gonna say Duran, But I do think that we
tend to be a little quick on Mark as well.
Speaker 1: So just to clear some things up, Mark Williams, who
has missed more games than he has played in you're
ready to be more forgiving of than LaMelo because he's.
Speaker 2: No no no, no, no no no no no no, not in
terms of availability, no, no. I was exclusively talking about defense,
that was it. The same issues are very much in
play here. I mean, forty three games in his rookie season,
nineteen games in the second season, only forty four this year. Yeah,
like you No, absolutely, those same questions should be there
in regards to LaMelo as well, for sure.
Speaker 1: That also might be like is this how you just
get him on an extension where hey, maybe he ends
up being our second string big at some point, but
it's fine. Maybe maybe that's the avenue that this all
pans out for I did just would you do something
like I don't know if this is enough? And also
his contracts not great, but like Nick Claxton and eight
for number four, like if the Nets gave you another
first round pick with it, because they just have a trillion,
I mean they have a trillion in this draft. Like
what if the Nets just said they have nineteen and
they have twenty six and twenty seven. What if they
said Nick Claxton nineteen and number eight for number four?
Speaker 2: So I'm just moving down four spots and I get
Nick Claxton and I get an additional top twenty pick. Yeah, yeah,
I'm probably saying yes to that again with the caveat that,
unless I'm absolutely head over heels with someone at four. Yes,
I'm doing that.
Speaker 1: The other one I thought of, and I actually kind
of really like him on this team, but I think
it's too rich for the Nets was just number four
for Cam Johnson and number eight. It feels like Charlotte
would have to send something else out there, and I
don't know if, like, would you do the Nets even
want t Joon Salon with the hornets, like with the
optics of that be terrible sending out number four and
like another top ten pick a year remove from being
a top ten pick for Cam Johnson and number eight.
But I would like to see LaMelo with surrounded by
more like bankable shooting and Cam Johnson. I don't know
if fits the two way billing that you would ask for.
I think Nick Claxson's is a fantastic fit. The switch
ability some rim protection for sure. I don't his contract
has an aged the best, but it's it's starting center
money at this point. If you're not married to Mark Williams,
maybe that's an interesting route to go.
Speaker 2: I don't hate that either. Like the long term money
there are fine, It's it's on a decreasing contract, so
that's another asset. Yeah, I don't hate that. That's a
good one.
Speaker 1: Yeah, they're also that's fascinating to me. I think they'll
ultimately remain patient. But I do your question like that
macro of just should you be buyers and like kind
of looking at the pistons and seeming like we have
Lamello and Brandon Miller's healthy and there's some other interesting
guys on it, like what if Grahant Williams is healthy
and I I could see the temptation being there if
they're gonna do something like that. I hope it's what
Detroit did, whereas they gave up no future first round
picks and it was just they still found a way
to get better.
Speaker 2: Right.
Speaker 1: Our next team up from the southeast is oh Man,
the Miami Heat. More your question is it's a little complicated,
So I just want you to read it slowly for
the kids at home.
Speaker 2: Uh, what's the plan? So obviously they made the playoffs,
meaning they did not have to relinquish an unreprotected first
round or two. Okay, see in twenty twenty six. Mission accomplished.
Now you can tear it the fuck down if you
want to. Should they? That's the big question. I don't
know where I stand personally. I think I go back
and forth. I have been on the blow it up
trained with them, where I've just like, get as much
as you can from BAM. You can possibly stick with
Tyler Hero for here, pump up his numbers, and then
ship him off next year. Andrew Wiggins is on a
fine deal for the next year and next if he
picks up his twenty twenty six twenty twenty seven player option.
But at the same time, I'm just like, who is
like the number one guy left? If you pivot off
those guys and get like draft picks and young guys,
like who is their blue chip prospect who they can
build around? Is that kilil Ware is? Do they have
one like? That's I don't know how they view that internally,
I don't know how we should gauge their young core. Also,
are the Heat even interested in blowing it up? This
is a team that's notorious for we're never tanking, We're
never wanting to lose. We want to make the playoffs
every single year, which just screams you're gonna end up
in mediocrity.
Speaker 1: To me, that's a good question. Mine was similar. There's
a type on screen for anyone watching, I'll fix it
in post. Hopefully I'll remember to do that. I want
to know. I don't think they're gonna tear it down,
And which is why my question is this way is
can they convince pat Riley specifically to labor through a
gap year because that pick next year is not going
to OKAC Because I think the move here is just
be bad next year. Yeah, like put put Tyler, hero
Bamandabayo on a maintenance program. Go out there see if
anyone wants Andrew Wiggins for whatever. But the key here
would be okay, One, you get your own pick back
just in time before you then owe it to Charlotte
the following year, and it becomes unprotected in twenty twenty
eight if it if it doesn't convey in twenty twenty seven,
when it's a lot of protected, but you're also as
a right now slated for you can get like thirty
million in cap space and it could be a boatload
more if you're able to trade Andrew Wiggins for an
expiring contract that comes off the books next season. The
twenty twenty six free agency class will see if it
stays the same. These things change because of extensions and
how that were. It's more interesting as of right now
than twenty twenty five. So you can go into next
summer with Tyler hero bam Adebayo, khalil Ware, whoever you
draft this year with the Warriors pick at number twenty
presumably a higher lottery pick, and then cap space, that's
a much better spot to be in. But I do
think to your point, it takes a level of patience
or a stomach coded in iron for losing that I
don't like. This team hasn't had for I'll say for
a while. Because you can say, oh, the Heat don't tank.
I'd like to point you to Dwayne Wade. They won
what was it twenty four games that year? Twenty seven
games that they got Dwayne Wade in the draft, and
then the West, the West. The rest is quite literally history.
There's value. You're not guaranteed anything, but like that seems
like a more palatable path forward than the other question
would be. If we're not going to ask that is, well,
then how do you get your best offensive player? Because
I think that the team teams that have reached the
highest level lately, and I know the Heat have recently
been to the finals like in the semi recent past,
But like, look at the Pacers, look at the Thunder.
They got the Thunder, get Shay. Everything's built out from there.
The Pacers get Hallie, everything is built out from there.
The Knicks stumble into Jalen Brunson. Everything is built out
from there. And what I'm singling out those three teams
rather than like, oh, Minnesota, you get Anthony Edwards and
build it out from there, or Dallas with Luca and
they traded them. But you get the point because those
three players did not arrive on their teams via the draft.
They came via trade. And so if you're Miami, I
think you need to be brutally honest and say, bam
Adebayo is versatile, he is fantastic. He is nowhere near
hardwired to be a primary playmaker and scorer for an offense.
Tyler hero has improved by tremendous margins in terms of
a shot like his shot selection, and just as a passer,
that's still not going to be his game. The data
when they've played without Jimmy Butler over the past three
years supports that the offense has been mediocre at best,
really bad at its worst. And if you're the Heat,
you have to say, well, then how do we get
that guy? You're not getting him in the draft right
now unless you go through that gap year and just
think of the net, like if you can get Trey
Young or if you can get LaMelo Ball, that is
that one enough for you? More like if you're running
the Heat to say, okay, we're feeling good about this
LaMelo ball will be interesting here. But now here's the
other problem before I throw it back to you, You're
never ever going to have the best trade package for
basically any of the guys that will name like Trey Young.
There might not be a lot of desirability, but the
salary complications there are just incredible, Like the logistical hurdles
they have to go through because of just that number
and getting to it. But I just like if if
LaMelo ball is just as an example, comes on to
the like the or maybe even John Morant, like the Heater,
just they have a couple first round picks they can
include in you just mentioned, they don't have a blue
chip prospect. Like if you put khalil ware on the table,
that's not like, sure, I'm I'm probably a little bit
lower on khalil whare than a lot of people. But
like if you put khalil ware on the table, that's, oh,
that's really interesting. That's not all right, we found our
building block of the future.
Speaker 2: Will trade them. Yeah, just to clarify, the Heat aren't
tanking ever, And the example you're using is one from
twenty two years ago.
Speaker 1: Pat Riley was still there though, was he not?
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's still twenty two years ago.
Speaker 1: But I'm just saying like that's then. I think that
that's very short sighted because I think that this will
all end up being that they will be trapped in
Nowhere's Ville for the next few years and it'll end
with them trading bam Adebayo at some point, maybe not
anytime soon, but like this is just you're kind of
spinning your wheels. Now you can say you look at
how they reach those two finals and say, like anything
could happen. The East is wide open right now. You
had Jimmy Butler, then you don't have that level of
player anymore. And that's the level of player I would say,
and not even that exact player, but you need the
engine for your entire offense, and you just don't have
Tyler Hero again. Really good now he's an All Star.
If they want to extend him this summer, fine, you're
not gonna catch any crap for me for that. I
just don't Tyler Hero is my best offensive player. There's
a cap on how good my offense is.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, for sure, for sure. And that's why I
don't think the nuclear option should be completely disregarded like
I do think there is a world wherein they can
get better by taking the gap here. Sure I wouldn't
hate it if they're being proactive.
Speaker 1: Proactive to tear it down. You mean, yeah, man, I
would I could probably. I think I can get a.
Speaker 2: Shit on from BAM though, that's the thing you could.
Speaker 1: I'm like, what is the there are a bunch of
teams that's like might be its own podcast, though, is like,
what does a BAM out of BioTrade look like? Who
is the team that you think of as immediately coming
in with the the Godfather offer? Does Does Houston just
trying to over index on dfs a versatility now go
after BAM?
Speaker 2: I mean, I wouldn't hate it, Houston. We know they
have some serious issues up front. Defensively and I say
that as a Shin Goon supporter, but defensively, he's he's
not that guy. He also doesn't have three point capability,
which I thought he would at this point. So you're
looking at a NOE, you know, a non three, non
d center, which is problematic BAM. Although he's not I
want to say, an elite three point shooter by any stretch,
he's begun taking them and some of them are actually
beginning to look pretty good. If he can come in
there as you know, a orderline dpo Y candidate. I
don't even know why I said borderline. He usually is
a dpo y candidate and he gives you playmaking. Yeah,
probably a smitch below the playmaking of Shing Goon, but
even so, he can he can play from the high post,
the low post, and he can space the floor and
he can kind of be the connector at that spot
for so many of those young guys in Houston. I
wouldn't hate that. We're talking about the Hawks earlier, like
what do they need?
Speaker 1: They'd be great for him.
Speaker 2: That'd be a fun destination if only this Burson know
their damn picks, right, I mean, that'd be a fun way.
But there are so many teams out there where he
makes a lot of sense because he's become very pluck
and playable at that big position, Like even if it's
not as a center, you can run him as a
four as well. I mean, he's just interchangeable those spots.
So you know, I think you can get a lot
for him. And if you were to ship out Tyler
Hero as well, especially when he's earning thirty three million,
the year after next as well, So he's only on
the books for two more years. Yes, but at a
grand total of sixty four million, that's a good ass
deal for a guy who's that good.
Speaker 1: I'm not would be if I was Portland. I know
this is funny because they didn't want Tyler Hero's primary
conversation for Damian Lillard. If it was just like Jeremy
Grant and Scoot and a first round pick for Tyler Hero,
you just have him and clinging in Avdia Timani Kamara there.
That's not like you don't have a true floor general,
but between him and Avdia, Anthony Simon's still there. I
would consider making it, and I consider myself a scooed optimist.
That might be too nuclear.
Speaker 2: No, it's fun I mean at least you get a
guy in their high pedigree prospects. Yeah, I wouldn't hate
Houston should.
Speaker 1: Probably be in on Hero. I think he's better than
Jalen Green, especially as a passer.
Speaker 2: Right now, the Rockets should trade for both bam At
a buyer and Tyler Hero. I would love to see
that trade.
Speaker 1: That'd be really funny. Tyler Hero in Detroit as like
the off ball, like the secondary option from Kay Cunningham.
Speaker 2: That's really and Ivy goes to Miami where he might
actually be, you know, get a chance to spread his
wing a little bit more. Yeah, I don't hate that.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I just I you know what it is. I
have a tough time envisioning the heat doing this, and
so I think that's why I gravitated towards the get
and the I think, is there any way so to
wrap up on is there any way where you're okay
with them sort of going for it still now? And
it's I think there's one player to where if you
told me, like they can turn the expiring contracts of Robinson,
Terry Razier and maybe you're trading Jim Hawks and Jovic
and I don't know, giving up a first that would
be what in twenty twenty nine, But like if Kevin
Durant is going to Miami, maybe that that makes sense
because the package you're assuming is not commeasure it with
we just had a mortgage everything. Because he's gonna turn
thirty seven only as a year left, that might be
the way out, but I think they have just to
use the Knicks as an example who we mentioned with
Kevin Durant. They have a less attractive offer for Kevin
Durant than the Knicks do, so like that's like i'd
be fair, Like Kevin Rant would have to say I'm
going to Miami and it's basically nobody else.
Speaker 2: So the trio would be Bam HEROKD and.
Speaker 1: Then kolia Ware is still there, Like I can't talk
myself into giving up. If you, as an organization believe
in kolil Ware, you don't give him up for soon
to be thirty seven year old Kevin. You just you
can't do. It's just like I said this about the
Knicks with Kevin Durant, and I got some pushback on it,
where it was I'll trade towns, like because the money
comes close to matching, you give up the PJ. Tucker
minimum to another team and you're not hard capped. But
if we're talking about the Nicks being shallow and you
want to trade og An and Obi and then another
top six rotation player for age thirty seven, like Leon
Road should be immediately fired if he does that.
Speaker 2: I agree. I agree. So you're asking me if I
if I had had a problem with it, Yeah, I would,
because I think you still have to identify the window, right,
Like we've talked about this a bunch that today in
today's league, you might have a two or three year window.
That has to be your goal. Then, whoever you are,
regardless of who you are as an NB or organization,
you have to identify when is that window, When is
that going to be open for me? What does it
take for me to get to that place where it
could be open for me? The heat even though if
they would be trading for Kevin freakin' Rant here, does
that open their window?
Speaker 1: Does it next year's East? We don't know where. I mean, like,
even if your honest is still in Milwaukee, if you
think the Celtics are gonna be kind of different, yeah,
bam Hero and KD and if khalil Ware is still there.
Speaker 2: Okay, Now, so what you're saying might be a one
year window, I could.
Speaker 1: See it being a two year Like this is tough
because it's you could we have evidence that Katie's gonna
age really well, but we're now at the point where
it's like it could just fall off at any moment. Right,
So you are you are guaranteeing yourself a year window,
but you're guaranteeing it in the wrong year because your
pick starts to be owed in twenty twenty seven, so
you want to make sure it's at least a two
year window. Essentially, I think there's a chance because Bam
and Tyler Hero are still just in the heart of
their primes. Hero probably hasn't even entered it yet, right,
I think there's a chance that you've carved out a
two year window. And again, if you're not given Wiggins,
it depends. I mean, I guess you can get to
the money without Wiggins, but it's like, I don't know
what the incentive is for Phoenix to do unless they
really want him Hawks and expiring contracts, right.
Speaker 2: So I'm asking is if you still have Wiggins and
you can flip him for something, you know, for depth,
really I might be okay.
Speaker 1: With it, but that brings us back to the quest, like, well,
what has to happen for Phoenix, Like what is the
third team? So we're talking as the framework lose framework.
I don't even know if this money works. Rosier Duncan
Robinson who could tactually be a free agent, but I
don't expect him to be Jim Hawkes. That doesn't even
get you to fifty million. I don't think so. It
was a Jovich too. If you're trying to work k Oh,
Kyle Anderson's money is there, But like if you're Phoenix,
so it's like we really want him Hawks and a
bunch of these placeholders.
Speaker 2: Yeah no, you're right. Yeah, so I'm with you.
Speaker 1: It might cost you Wiggins and then that's okay. Well
then how are you filling out? Like? Okay, your point
of it, you have Hayward high Smith on the defensive
end there, I mean the heat, I feel like we'll
pull defenders out of their ass, so I wouldn't be
too concerned about losing there defender.
Speaker 2: I'm more worried about the other side of the floor.
Speaker 1: Well, then I guess you wouldn't have a problem trading
Wiggans for KD is what you're saying.
Speaker 2: No, no, no, So Kat obviously is, but he's also
getting up there. Who's the real floor leader on that
team or we just gonna say bam hero.
Speaker 1: I swear to God, if someone comes in and says
Davion Mitchell and his close to the season, I'm going
to scream, right, you had a great close to the
season for the Heat. That is not your floor general
of the future, Please do not assume. So, Yeah, they're
in a tough I think this is the team that
I feel like I know what they should do this offseason.
But I have the least confidence in feeling better about
them than I do now heading into next season. Ye
ira that right? Certainly from this division, probably we're onto
a team that it's pretty easy to feel good about,
the Orlando Magic. Moret what's your question?
Speaker 2: Yeah, I worded that poorly. Which guard should they find? Like?
What guard? But what type of guard should they find?
It is probably the way I should have raced it,
because you can go in a wide variety of ways.
You can go scoring guards, you can go playmaking, you
can go two way, like what type of guard, like
the archet type of it all? Should they actually try
to identify and acquire?
Speaker 1: Is it bad to say a combo guard, which is
sort of a hedge to where it's they don't need
to be your primary playmaker, but there needs to be
enough playmaking. But it's you also need the scoring outside
scoring element both on and away from the ball, which
is why, which is why Anthony Simons and Kobe White
I think are the two names that come up.
Speaker 2: The most Kobe White is the name for me because
he's cheaper, so much easier to trade four. He's also
got a little bit more size than Simon's and defensively
he has taken some strides. Stride is a big word,
but he's gotten better. He's gotten a little bit better.
Speaker 1: Well, in Orlando, you could play whoever you want and
you'll be fine.
Speaker 2: So I wouldn't hate a Kobe White. Jaalen sucks back court.
Let me just put it that way.
Speaker 1: Oh you wouldn't. You don't hate winning playoff series. I
wouldn't hate that either.
Speaker 2: That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1: Yeah, if you're gonna go after Kobe White just because
the money you're sending out, unless it's like Wendell Carter Junior,
it's not gonna be all that close. I'm trying to
get Lonzo ball too. It's like, you take the KCP deal,
although he was really good for them defensively this year,
but you take the KCP deal. How much do I
need to compensate you to get Lonzo and Kobe White back?
And because they don't need Lonzo to play a ton
of minutes, having him and Jonathan Isaac is like what
they're like first team all minutes cap and then they're
on the same team. Would be pretty funny.
Speaker 2: I think you're going after the wrong guard.
Speaker 1: You want Io Desson MoU. Yeah, I don't think I want.
I'm looking for more offensive like dynamics here. I don't
think that Io dis Soon MoU. He brings some of it,
but he's more of just like he can do a
lot of the things that KCP would do on defense
and maybe just guard up a little bit better than
KCP can.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but also the ability as the thing, we have
no idea about the availability of Lonzo Bawl moving forward, Like, yeah,
you can trade for him. How many games is he
gonna play? How many minutes is he gonna be able
to handle? We have no clue.
Speaker 1: I mean, on a two year, twenty million dollar extension,
I'll roll the dice on the shooting the transition field.
Speaker 2: IOWA is at seven point five next year.
Speaker 1: And then he's a free agent that you're gonna have
to pay, have to pay Kobe White, that's a lot more.
I think that's too for me, just with the magic
and knowing that Palo's getting maxed out, Franz got maxed out,
Suggs is on the five year, one fifty million dollar deal.
I don't want to have to grapple with the free
agency of both Io to Soon MoU and Kobe White
at once. I think that gets a little difficult.
Speaker 2: I get that, but I do think having two guys
who are overwhelmingly you know, available, And I say overwhelmingly
because Io just had this year where the shouldered him
up a little bit and he played forty six games.
Outside of that, he's been He's been very available, very
very solid point of attack defender that, as you said,
can guard up. He can play the one, he can
play the two. He's very interchangeable the.
Speaker 1: Four defensively anyway, I'm finally to play in the four.
Speaker 2: He's very versatility defensively at the very least. I understand
your point though about Lonso, especially if he's healthy. If
I knew beforehand that Lonzo would play let's say, fifty
five games, Fuck yeah, I'm taking that over too soon.
Speaker 1: I guess I get what you're saying. In a vacuum,
I'm trying to map out longer term here for fim Orlando,
and so my question is it steps on the toes
of yours. But how splash he does this guard or
offensive upgrade acquisition need to be And I guess another
way of phrasing that would would be who's the worst
offensive player? They could prioritize that you would feel, Okay,
they're serious. This team is ready to make some real
noise in the the East, where by the way, they
have not had an offense that in the top half
of offensive efficiency since Dwight Howard was on the.
Speaker 2: First the worst Tias Jones probably.
Speaker 1: That's pretty that's actually pretty low level. I was expecting
you to go a little bit higher to say that
it needed to be like Kobe White.
Speaker 2: You know what, It's interesting. It's because I'm also like,
as much as you love LaMelo, that's the same amount
of love I have for Tias Jones's. That's where we are.
I am a Tias Jones lover. I think he is
such a good shot identifier, like he never forces things,
and I don't I think for Orlando, if they just
have a guard in there who can take timely shots,
who understands when to take them, and hits them at
a high efficiency, then I'm not really worried about like
raw numbers. Oh is this guy is gonna average eighteen fifteen.
I don't give a fuck as long as it's cohesive
and it makes sense for everyone involved. Now, of course,
Tyas is also a small guard, and if we know
something about Orlando, it's that they are not that happy
about small guards. So if we bake that in, yeah,
Kobe would probably be the more accurate response if we
take Orlando's so perspective into into everything.
Speaker 1: Let's play a game I made up just now. I
didn't have these names in the cliff for it. I'm
gonna name players and you tell me yes or no,
and then once we get to a spot where you
like kind of can't decide, that's when we'll know that
we've reached the worst player that you don't need to
think about. So Kobe White's just a yes, flat out yes,
you wouldn't think twice about it. Anthony Simons, Yeah, Colin Sexton, So.
Speaker 2: We also want find it so offensive offensively, I like
Colin Sext a great deal. I wonder if he's got
enough playmaking jobs.
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's like a lot of his playmaking a lot
of it's just like the straight line.
Speaker 2: Drive stuff like that, Like, don't get me wrong. Offensively,
So from a scoring perspective, hell, yes, So would.
Speaker 1: It be a no then, like you think it needs
to be better or more dynamic, let's say than Colins.
Speaker 2: A little bit. Yeah, I wouldn't even mind relinquishing a
little bit of the offensive dynamics of a Collin Sexton
if I can get some more playmaking involved.
Speaker 1: All right, so we gotta keep going. Then the manual quickly. Yes,
Jordan Poole.
Speaker 2: Too inconsistent, No.
Speaker 1: Free agent here, fairly cheap, i'd imagine too, Chris Paul
Oh always, Mike Conley of Minnesota.
Speaker 2: No, no, no, no, no, no, no no.
Speaker 1: Tyler Hero feels too high end, right, that's like an automatic, yes,
if you could get him yep. Umm, kind of running
out of like TJ McConnell.
Speaker 2: As my starting No, I'm just asking questions. May wow, yeah, okay,
ty Jerome not as my starter either. I haven't seen that.
I would like. How many game minutes did he play
this year? It was under twenty, right, it was a yeah.
Speaker 1: He wasn't eligible to win most of player.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm surprised you haven't set Devin Vessel. That's probably
where I'll go.
Speaker 1: Mm oh, that'd be an automatic. Yi, I didn't think
you need to think about that'd be an auto.
Speaker 2: Yes, well, again because he's he's like exclusively an off card.
I think their need is more along the lines of
a point because again I understand what they're trying to do.
We want to run the offense through Polo and Franz.
Okay cool. I don't think that's gonna work. I think
you need that first guy who can initiate plays from
the predator, and I know they want to make Jalen
Sucks into that player. So far, I don't think it's worked.
I'm gonna need someone who can actually.
Speaker 1: Just do stuff at the guard spot Jalen Green.
Speaker 2: Oh, I think we found it.
Speaker 1: That'd probably be I had two more names. They were
both members of the Celtics, But I think that's a
I probably wouldn't feel much. Maybe I would maybe we
found the name. My other two names were Derek White
and Peyton Pritchard.
Speaker 2: Not Dereck Wise is an automatic?
Speaker 1: Yes, immediately, Well, I just you know what you're looking for, like,
that's not his style of playmaking was all my only reserve.
Would but I would agree that he's an auto.
Speaker 2: Yes.
Speaker 1: Actually find Peyton Pritchard to be super interesting. I think
he has more on ball, passing chops and he he
I know he's a smaller guard. What is he like?
He's six one six two, but he he'll fight defensively
and the shooting is just outlandish. He would be in
that know about salary structure that fits within Orlando's cap sheet.
So Jalen Green is the one we found where it's
like if just if Houston just wanted to get away
from that deal and said we will take out of
know KCP and a first round pick or something like
to compensate for that, and I think you'd have to
include more salary of course, But so we found the player,
Jalen Green.
Speaker 2: I think we found the player. Yes, Now what I.
Speaker 1: Was just curious as to just like what they need
to be looking at. And so it's a player that's
probably better than Jalen Green.
Speaker 2: I think so.
Speaker 1: Yes, I think that's a fair bar. By the way,
that's a realistic bar. When you look at their assets
now their future salary when you have sugs Palo and Franz,
you have to reconcile that all. But they have the assets,
they have the tradable salaries to go out and get.
I won't say whoever they want but like if they
wanted to try and like force Charlotte to make LaMelo
ball available, they probably could.
Speaker 2: That's probably the one destination I wouldn't hate for LaMelo.
Also a few words to get traded.
Speaker 1: I just I don't know what the trade package looks
like there, because it's are you giving up Jalen Sugs
I wouldn't. So then it's salary that Charlotte probably doesn't
want and just a crap ton like Tristan to Silva,
Jet Howard and a bunch.
Speaker 2: Of picks I guess yeah, I mean can save us
cold little Pope and Jonathan I Sack would be.
Speaker 1: Right, yees, salary matching not an issue, but like how
many first round picks does it take? So I don't
even know if like Tristan to Silva and Jet Howard
at once, I don't know how that would be viewed
in terms of competenceity. He's like Tristan to Silver's solid,
but he's just I would just say he's unspectacular, So
that doesn't move me. Jet.
Speaker 2: They haven't give him Jet a chance at any point,
which they should. It was always dumb signing KCP. In
my perspective, I wanted him to get those minutes. Hey,
you drive someone eleventh overall, you sit him on the
bench in his rookie season, and then the year two
you go out and sign a guide to take his minutes.
It's just they have just not done a good job
with that whole situation. So I would like to see
him moved.
Speaker 1: Orlando's package for LaMelo would have to be salary. Like,
let's just say caseyp and Isaac is the base, Tristan
da Silva number sixteen. They also have number twenty five.
You'll probably just have to send that to Charlotte as well.
And then what another two or three additional first on
the top, Like.
Speaker 2: If you're not trading, no, no, I'm not.
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, so you're not giving if you're not giving
up number sixteen Tristan to Silva, and what amounts to
two additional first round.
Speaker 2: Picture, No, it's the two additional one I'm barking at
because again, the availability. Yeah, I get it, I get
the allure of Flamelo, Don't get me wrong, I do.
It's the lack of availability. I keep coming back to it.
I'm I'm so fucking afraid of overpaying for a guard
who might be playing twenty five forty games for me
every single year.
Speaker 1: I think. The other thing to consider with him or
any other it's even something to consider with Kobe White
after this year, Yeah, is just you have to fit
them into your salary structure moving forward. And like the
appeal of Anthony and Anthony Edwards, the appeal of a wish, Yeah,
the appeal Vanthony Simons would be, what is he at
twenty five million or whatever? You don't see that number
going higher? With Kobe White. I probably don't see him
like doubling up his salary necessarily, but he could. LaMelo's
already making way more than that.
Speaker 2: Oh, I would be shocked if you didn't.
Speaker 1: Well, I'm saying you probably don't want another thirty million
dollar a year player.
Speaker 2: And here, no, no, no, But like I mean, oh, okay,
now I understand what you're saying. I thought you were
saying that you dan for Valley didn't see him get,
you know, double the money next time.
Speaker 1: I mean, first of all, if the Bulls are the
ones negotiating the contract, he might get the max as
far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 2: So that's funny you say that, because that's probably the
one thing I'll actually compliment the bulls about they've been
really good at getting guys in retarch, like getting guys
back under the market deals. Like I would assume that
was a freaking.
Speaker 1: Steal, Yeah, Williams, what a bargain.
Speaker 2: They They messed up on pat for sure, but like that,
those were two very very they wound up deals.
Speaker 1: They probably wound up net neutral again on the con track,
not the trade with Vouch like his value right now. Yeah,
that's not that's not unfair.
Speaker 2: But I hear you though. And oh, they did a
good job last summer on Jalen Smith and then they
just fucking didn't play him for whatever reason.
Speaker 1: Well, I honestly, the gauge will be what do they
give Josh Giddy, who apparently wants five years and one
fifty per Mark Stein and people expect him to get it.
That's a hard pass for me.
Speaker 2: Oh hard dude. I'm so I'm gonna say something semi controversial.
I'm not giving him half.
Speaker 1: That five years and seventy. I mean I'm not. You're
not going to give him what ten percent of the
salary cap? You know he's worth that.
Speaker 2: I'm not. I'm out, completely out.
Speaker 1: I there are challenges building around him for sure or
with him because you're not building around Josh Giddy, and
if you are, I have questions, lots of questions.
Speaker 2: That's the kind waight yep, I I.
Speaker 1: Look they're in a good spot. The salary stuff gets
a little tricky because your internal guys have gotten so
good in sugs from Palabancaro my final thing, and I
we can end it with here without the discussion. My
spiciest take is that I wouldn't hesitate to trade Franz
Wagner for some of like these upper echelon guys.
Speaker 2: Oh, thank you for saying that, because yes, I am
right there. I've been getting a lot of pushback when
I've been criticizing Franz Schwackner.
Speaker 1: I think LaMelo for Franz is like a framework would
be one of the most interesting challenge trades.
Speaker 2: That would be interesting, like and look hear me out
on Franz, right. I love the slashing. I think the
defense has grown. I think as a decision maker he
is very very good, pretty good passor yeah, very good passer.
That freakin' jump shot which is now being apparently retailored
from scratch where he's like launching it and it's not
a shot. It's a push, it's an aim to push.
Fuck no, like that's what at a MAX guy at
the wing spot, who's supposed to be like one of
the primary spacers next to Paolo bank Caro, who's like
the guy who's supposed to optimize the effectiveness of Paolo
ban Caro, who can't shoot. Really, that's where we are.
And it's not just this year. It was last year too.
It was during the Olympics too. I watched all of that.
I'm not trusting a guy who can't shoot. This is
this is twenty twenty five. We're not in nineteen eighty
five anymore.
Speaker 1: Like that.
Speaker 2: You just can't have a guy in there on that
type of salary who's playing the primary wing slot and
who's like breaking shots occasionally that doesn't even hit the
frickin' rim. I'm sorry, that's that's apologize.
Speaker 1: I don't disagree with you. I think I do think nationally,
there are more questions about if you look at them
through their lens of their MAX deals. When Palo scign says,
people seem to be more worried about Palo's aging poorly
than Franz Vakner. And I find that fascinating because I
would be completely flipped for me.
Speaker 2: Yeah, same, same, And I say this as someone who
if we ignore the three, I freaking love what Franz
Faulkner is doing. Like he gets to the line as well,
and he's converting at a high rate, which I guess
also boats well for the three to come along eventually.
But I think right now that shot is just a
freaking mess.
Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think, look, there's a lot of data
out there that shows that, like the offense and the
team overall is better when he is playing without short Hollow.
I think there's a lot of things that go into that.
The spacing with the two of them is just so bad,
in part because of Franz at this point. The other
thing is, with the exception of this season when Palo
was injured, a lot of those minutes are Franz is
going up against opposing teams as like not best lineups,
Like the leverage in those units is just not super high.
But two really good basketball players. But yeah, that was
my spice, and just we leave it there and let
it marinate more. We're just asking questions and give and takes, that's.
Speaker 2: All what we're asking questions.
Speaker 1: Yeah, our final team, the Washington Wizards. Yeah, rightat with them,
what's the question more, I just.
Speaker 2: Want to, like, we have to ask the big question
what is their biggest need? They're still young there, we
are no rush to like accelerate their timeline, but what
is their biggest need as of present? Like they have
sarrow up front, they have quitable at the wing. Bob
Carrington I think had a perfectly fine rookie season. So
there's a guard in there, be that a one or
two or even a combo whatever they like. They have
some pieces. So like as they go into these the
draft and free agency, what is there one thing that
they have circled underlined italic whatever as the number one
thing for them going into next year.
Speaker 1: I think you can go two different ways with it.
This would be mine, and I'm curious what you think. Okay,
you could go the floor general route, because I really
like bub Canrington, but I kind of wonder if if
you don't want to call him an off guard, It's like,
is that just someone you want running like second units
or like when that floor general is off the court,
or do you just want a primary on ball scorer
sort of like who Chris Middleton could be, but doesn't
fit your timeline. Who Kyle Kuzma thinks that he is
type deal. Yeah, I would be choosing between those pers
like personally, because I think sar Is the passing is great.
I think that the three point shot is gonna come along.
Actually hopefully as he gets stronger, he'll finish better. But
I don't view him as sort of an offensive hub
type guy. Like I think he's gonna be more of
a play finisher or creator rather than like a self creator. Yeah,
Kola Bali has been. He's had some very interesting on
ball moments. I just don't know that I've seen enough
of it. And so he kind of feels within the
same realm. Like if you're putting him into that primary
scorers role, I think you're over taxing him.
Speaker 2: And so yeah, at least at least now, I'm not
closing that door in like two years, though, I think
he does have enough on ball chops for that conversation
to be far more interesting. When he turns like twenty two,
it wouldn't.
Speaker 1: Shock Maybe it would shock me, but like if you
told me that we fast forward half a decade and
you're like, he turned into jail and Brown on offense.
Speaker 2: Right, I'd be like that that was the same name.
Speaker 1: Really, that's amazing.
Speaker 2: I love that.
Speaker 1: I don't. I haven't seen like Jalen Brown. I think
always kind of showed hints of like the in between
jumper game, but yeah, that just wouldn't shock me. So
I think it just those are my two what I'd
be picking between. Where do you sort of land with that?
Speaker 2: Between those two, I would go floor general, and I
would go floor general for one specific reason, and that's
you should never.
Speaker 1: Lie as a free agent. And you want to bet I.
Speaker 2: Love that, Yeah, honestly so, and you should never go
for like one reason. But there's something that bothered me
a great deal when I was watching Wizards games this year,
so almost every single game, I counted several instances where
Sar was either in the dunker spot or he was
open for a lob, or he was he was there
like in the play where a quick dump up pass
would have led to a dunk or a layup or
like an easy score, and he was looked off routinely.
And I don't it was never like ill intentioned, but
it feels like that was the youth issue there that
you know, Kulabli or Carrington or whoever. Well, okay, even
Malcolm Rockton, he's not a youth, he's he's not a
young guy, but he just didn't really realize. Oh I
had Sar on the wing. But I felt as though
his offensive development was very much hintered by the fact
that he was not getting a lot of those shots
that we all anticipated he would be getting, like shots
near the rim, lobs, like quick dump up passes. And
it just bothered the everlasting fuck out of me that
guards just didn't have the heads up that Jordan Poole,
all by the way, was very much a big culprit
of this, just did not realize, Oh, I have a
seven foot one power forward center whatever you want to
call him, who's athletic as hell, who's right there in
the play. I can just dump that ball off, take
a step back, give him the space to go up
against the rim. And that just did not happen at all.
So I want to see someone who comes in next
year who just runs the show where from the top
down there's like an emphasis in saying, look, we have
to emphasize and prioritize the scoring of Alex Sar, and
like that has to be a roster wide recognition, because
let's just be real, you're a better basketball team as
well if you can get open dunks and open layups,
like in transition. I know everyone is springing to the
free proint line and that's fine with me, but like,
if you have an open dunk, I'm taking that, especially
off a seven to one athletic center like him, So
that has to be a main priority. And if no
one on the current roster can do that, hell yes,
I'm looking outside the organization for someone to come in
and run the show.
Speaker 1: What's interesting? And I don't know. I have not begun
my draft prep yet. That will begin in earnest shortly.
I don't know if you're gonna address that with number six,
Like is there you know more about that? Is that
an area where? Like is that at that number? Is
that someone at that number?
Speaker 2: It's it's like it's tough, right, Like you have you
have players who can make these passes, like you kasparashaqua
Shonas out of Illinois for example, Like I trust him
to make good passes. The question I have there is
about the scoring, like is he going to be a
good enough NBA scorer? Can he gain enough separation can
he you know, overpower players. Can he score reliably and
efficiently at the NBA level is my overarching question. Then
you have Jeremi Jeremier Jeremiers. Oh, I can't even say
that name. Jeremiah. No, how do you say that? This
is the Dane in me right now? Fearce Fears The
point are out of Oklahoma. God, I'm tired. I'm an
old dan. It's not a great combination.
Speaker 1: It's Jeremiah. Yeah, you were saying it, right, Jeremi.
Speaker 2: Jeremiah right, Jeremiah say j Meyer. Is that where you're
Jeremiah Fears. Oh god, yeah, sorry about.
Speaker 1: That, Jeremiah fears Mort's pronunciation of his name. I like that.
Speaker 2: Oh god, that was that was atrocious. You should all
troll the everliving funk out of me for that. My apologies.
He is, you know, sort of a Deyont Murray type player.
You know, he's a very strong producer overall. He can
get to the foul line. He actually converts at the
foul line too. Not much of a three point shooter, no,
but like, look, there are a lot of guys who
who are getting to the foul line then they're hitting,
Like in the low seventies or whatnot. This is this
guy who's hitting in the mid eighties, like he's he's
solid on when he gets the foul line and at
the Colicia level getting over six et times for the game.
Kudos that is. That is a good sign. The three
point shot not quite there yet, turning the ball over
a little too much, but he's got the all round game.
He's got this presence I think where he understands that
when he's just running down the floor, all eyes are
basically going to be on him, and he understands how
to leverage it. So he'd be a guy who I
wouldn't hate in that position.
Speaker 1: I also wouldn't be opposed. And they just don't have
the I would call it dispensable assets just yet to
do it. But like if you said go get someone
who it's either a second draft guy or if you
even wanted to lean in towards that like they, I
wouldn't hate this. I wouldn't hate them as a Kobe
White team to come in and kind of I don't
know if he's the type of level of pass what
you're looking for, but it's just like you have number
eighteen from Memphis and then you have that Warriors twenty
thirty pick. It's like that plus salary. I don't think
that's getting.
Speaker 2: You ball would be fun there too, Oh, that'd.
Speaker 1: Be a really good one. I also thought about them
as like what if they were if Detroit is just
looking to move off, I'm like, what if they were
the Jade and Ivy kind of second draft team that
might be.
Speaker 2: We think Jayden Ivy is a one or two because
I am very much leaning to.
Speaker 1: M that's a good I've seen. I don't He's had
some really spicy passing moments. I'd be interesting to see
him in a role where he doesn't need to be
either coming off the bench or playing next to the
primary creator, and that would this would be a situation like.
Speaker 2: That I still want to see. Maybe I'm that's just
my optimism in Ivy. I still want to see him
next to Caid. After Kate broke out to the extent
that he did this year, we only saw Jayden play
thirty games this year. I would like to see him
next to Caid after a full training camp next uh,
well leading into next season, and just see if there's
something there in like the off ball roll, I'm trying
to just.
Speaker 1: Think of like what would be in like a veteran
name that they could trade for. That's not Oh, we
went all in for this guy, right. I mean, although
people are talking about maybe he'd be available, Darius Garland
would be super interesting in Washington if the Cavs wanted
to trade him.
Speaker 2: So we're not talking about the Central Division. But I
just want to get out ahead of this. He should
not be available.
Speaker 1: I don't think he should be available either.
Speaker 2: He shouldn't be That's that's dumb. Don't do that, Cleveland.
Don't don't. I mean, I know you were disappointing, disappointing
how everything ended. Just don't hold you react.
Speaker 1: Do you know what the player is? I want to
know what it costs to get him. Maybe it's part
of a three team deal because they're trading him and
so you're going to grab him from the other team.
Can you guess what it is?
Speaker 2: No, who it is?
Speaker 1: Sorry, tell me this is the Reed Shepherd team. Go
get him. That costs you future draft equity probably, which
is just I'm not sure that this is a team
that should be doing. And by the way, the reason
the Rockets wouldn't trade him might just be because they
believe in Rehepherd as much I do, and like Washington's
not solving. My point is Washington doesn't have the player
that Houston would trade Read Shepherd for. So it's very
much multiple moving parts that the Houston went all in
on Jannie or Kevin Durant or LaMelo Ball or somebody else,
and you're trying to come in and scoop up Read Shepherd.
But the team that is trading any one of those players,
I feel like they would probably want Read Shepherd to.
Speaker 2: What is Reach Shepherd's trade value at this current juncture?
Speaker 1: I I honestly have no idea, and that's probably why
you don't move him, right, I guess if you're the Rockets,
and it means getting y honest, Okay, Like we could
talk about like how much value is he accounting for
in that deal? Like what else is Milwaukee gonna want
aside from that? So but my point was, and this
kind of ties into my like sort of micro question,
I just want to see, like what's the plan with
the veterans who are on the books could be entering
free agency. Middleton has that player option, Malcolm Brocken's going
to be a free agent. You have Marcus Smarts on
an expiring contract. Jordan Poole's deal has two years left.
It no longer looks as bad after the season that
he just had. It feels like they could be they
have like it's like forty plus million under the tax
if they wanted to facilitate signing trade with Malcolm Brogden,
you want to send out an expiring contract of someone
who can actually play and smart, or if Middleton picks
up his option, you can take back money and get
compensated for that. Or you could go the other direction,
if you're Washington and say we don't need number eighteen.
We'll attach it to some expiring money, maybe include some
other mini sweeteners. I'm not saying trade Sar or Kulabali
or Carrington or anyone like that. Can we get someone
that we think can run the offense, even if they
view them view that player not as like our point
guard to say, of the future, but like, this is
someone who could come in for the next two or
three years, be a nice steward, help out the young guys,
like you said, set up Alex Sar. Even look, I
want to see more short roll stuff with blau Koula
Bali I think that's something he could do, like I
come and get someone who could do that make the
job easier on bub Carrington. So he's more of like
you're a second side creator, just like your second string
floor general or whatever. I'm just they have a lot
of options and I'm just curious to see how they
go about their business. I think their trade deadline was
kind of telltale in the sense that I think it'll
be more of the same. Where you took on Chris Middleton,
you took on Marcus Smart, you got a J. Johnson,
you got the spot for Milwaukee, you got that draft
pick from Memphis. I ultimately think that's how they will
handle like the veteran situation on their roster this year.
But I am open to the idea because of what
we just spoke about about them being just a touch
more aggressive. I'm not talking about they should be the
team to mimic last year's Pistons. Who Again, what's special
about the Pistons is it wasn't major changes that spurred that.
It was a lot of things happening from within and
some like minor to moderate tweaks that really open things
up for them. So I'm not saying do something major
where we talked about that with Charlotte, whereas are they
feeling the pressure do something major? But I just something modest,
something just a little bit out there, especially at the
floor general spot or if you viewed as a primary scorer,
I just wouldn't hate it.
Speaker 2: I have an idea. So they're probably gonna win it, right,
So they were probably gonna win the championship this year.
I think despite being a one bold down one or
down one, we'll see, uh and and I feel like
they're pretty locked up at guard with Shay case on
Wallace and even I say Joe getting minutes at that point,
like even aj Mitchell, I think like they just have
a bunch of guards. Nikoletop, who is you know he
missed all this year with the A C L highly
touted prospect. Perhaps there was something there, like.
Speaker 1: Is there something there with Nicole a topic? I do
believe so, because would you like to know who I
thought the best draft comp for him was when we
were doing our draft prep last year. This is based
off only the way he moves in some of the
spots he could get to.
Speaker 2: Okay, it was Shay oh oh damn?
Speaker 1: All right, Yeah, now, knowing the thunder and how important
cost controlled guys are. No, you don't move him, but
like if you win the win the title, don't win
the title, Like how are you where are you finding?
I mean they do it anyway. I guess they're winning
so much in the regular season. Nicola Topic could be
like their ninth guy averaging twenty minutes a game. But yeah,
that if you got Nicolo Topic as Washington, I don't
know that's another guy though. You talk about what's Reed
Shepherd's trade value? What are you giving up for Nicolo Topic?
He was drafted? What was he ninth, eight, twelfth, twelfth.
Speaker 2: It's a lottery pick, lottery pick with an ac elchair
if you're offering and in a week draft. By the way,
eighteen and forty, No, I think I.
Speaker 1: Think Okahoma's issues that down pretty pretty positively. No, so
you're the guy you took at number twelve last year.
Speaker 2: You're gonna give up an acylsair first and foremost. But
all right, so let's thinking here's the.
Speaker 1: Here's the other thing, though, where are these roster spots
coming from for Oklahoma City that you're now adding two
draft picks to this day?
Speaker 2: The fortieth the fortieth. That's where you get a stash
guy at eighteen. You've reset the rookie scale clock.
Speaker 1: Yeah, but don't they have two So they have two
other first rounders in this draft, don't they they have
the number twenty four.
Speaker 2: Then look at future picks.
Speaker 1: Well, maybe that's where it kid's interesting if Washington says
we will give up one of our own first round
picks in the future for Nicole a topicch.
Speaker 2: Yeah, with certain protection levels. You're right, it should be noted.
Speaker 1: I would be shocked if Okse did that. But I
like the name for Washington, that's for sure. That would
be interesting.
Speaker 2: I mean, look, I don't I don't know how high
they are and on him and moving forward, like maybe
they're super high and they think he can be you know,
a fully flatched rotation guy, you know down the line.
Then I just have the question, whereas Cason Wallace gonna play,
should case On Wallace be the guy that the Washington
Wizards go after, Like eventually you're just you gotta have
to look at the OKC and sort of way to
see what shakes loose. Oh will.
Speaker 1: So I'm not rejecting the notion that really good players
could shake loose. I just don't think the value was there.
Like I think that Okay, see, if they're going to
do it, it would be for distant first, which is
just so that they can continue rolling this thing forward.
And it's your Washington. That's a really big gamble, I
will Yeah, that's.
Speaker 2: Going with the future first. That's fine. That's fine. Like
make it top ten protected or whatever.
Speaker 1: I that's a really interesting name. I mean, that's I'm
just curious, Like I was, like, where does his playing
time come from? An okac? But I think you could
have asked the same question about aj Mitchell at the
start of the season as a rookie, and he ended
up being in the rotation anyway, So like, okay, see,
just finds a way. So what about here's another name? Well,
actually I have two, Scottie Pippen Jr. Oh yeah, to
get him out of.
Speaker 2: Memphis'd be fun. Yeah, that's a good name. Love that
is he Let me just look at that salary situation.
What is his deal?
Speaker 1: I mean, he makes basically nothing, which I think is
why you wouldn't.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, no, I know, it's just for next year,
so like next year it's fully guaranteed. Then it's a
non guarantee, but you almost so let me figure this
out because he was a second rounder. Isn't there something
along the lines that if you don't accept that last
year or sorry, if you accept that, you can decline it.
That was the thing. Yeah, so you have to decline
the twenty seven to twenty eight option for him to
be a restricted free agent. Now wait a second, Hang on,
he's not playing in the league to just two years?
Has he? Is this his second year?
Speaker 1: I don't isn't he different? Isn't he not on his
rookie contract? Is that right? You're right?
Speaker 2: This is his third year. Oh, hang on, this gets
way more confusing because he was on the Lakers on
an Exhibit ten deal. Then he became a two way
player in Memphis. Okay, no, no, no, no, no. So
those the parameters we just talked about, they're not relevant here,
I think.
Speaker 1: So that might influence it in the sense of saying,
like Memphis shouldn't be as inclined to not trade him.
I'm not saying they should look to actively trade him,
but you're not in a situation where you can keep
him just out of the open market.
Speaker 2: Right, that's a good name. I don't like I don't
hate that. I mean he's six', one so you know
he's not a big, guard but he might be one
of the best backups in THE nba at this.
Speaker 1: Point the other NAME i, had AND i don't THINK
i think this would have to be another three teamer
where It's minnesota decided to do something else and now
you're coming in and swooping in and Getting Rob, dillingham
like you're. NOT i don't think it's a straight up
trade BECAUSE i Think minnesota would have to be, like
we don't Want Julius, randall but we Want Chris, middleton
and you're gonna give Us Chris middleton and stuff For Rob.
Dillingham AND i just that doesn't say it have to
be Like minnesota traded For Kevin durant and Wherever Rob
dillingham ended up as part of that. Trade like if
It's phoenix or another team you're trying to come in
and Get Rob, DILLINGHAM.
Speaker 2: I wouldn't Hate Rob dillingham. EITHER i mean shooter capital
as shooter for sure going to space the, floor the,
PLAYMAKING i think he's got.
Speaker 1: It he could probably get off the ball a little
too quickly sometimes where maybe you'd want to see him
like milk the possession a little.
Speaker 2: More but, YEAH i, mean, look that's a good. Gamble
it's it's just as fine as the gamble is you
call it. Topic, Honestly No Coola topich would.
Speaker 1: BE i would love to just see him somewhere that's
gonna play him so much right off the. Bat BUT
i just struggle so hard to See okase entertaining that
unless they're making one of their bigger, swings in which
CASE i spend it With. Dillingham if they lose the,
finals Decide giannis is the. Answer maybe you swoop in
and try get To Cola topich is part of that,
trade DON'T i don't.
Speaker 2: Know, REGARDLESS i do think identifying a playmaker who would
actually get the ball To Alexander sar would not be
a bad way to go.
Speaker 1: About it anything else on this division. More, NO i
think we're good before we get out of. Here can
you tell our subscribers where they can find you and
all the work that you, Do.
Speaker 2: Yes, sir you can find me over At Blue, sky
WHERE i share run my links To forbes And yahoo
WHERE i. Write THEN i have a podcast called THE Nba,
podcast and ALSO i have A danish podcast called Plusser.
Baberg you're saying.
Speaker 1: Until next time and as always with you with the
shout out of the, one The, only the player who
every team in The Southeast division should sign to save
and or improve their. Future Mister, iverson mister Frank Ela,
keenan