Speaker 1: What is up, Fellasicko's I Am Dan Valley coming at
you with mister Moore Jensen of the NBA podcast, Fame
of Yahoo Spords, fame of HBO Max fame of course
only fans, celebrity. You're gathered around the Hardware Knocks NBA
campfire again to go through every Western Conference team's biggest
need following the peak of NBA free agency. We did
the East the other day, so if you have not,
go ahead and check out that podcast. We also got
to react to the Kawhi Leonard trade pause breaking news
in real time. That was fun to attempt to parse.
Speaker 2: With j Brown trade today it's.
Speaker 1: That second Jail Brown trade is gonna hit so hard,
or imagine the Jail and Brown trade pause that was
already official though. Right So, but uh, we're gonna do
the West. We're gonna alternate teams again picks like we
did last time. There is obviously some business that has
yet to be done. Nothing I mean the Kawhi Leonard
trade as it applies to the Clippers being one of them.
Nothing that should change our overarching thoughts at least on
these squads. First and foremost, though, mister ensign, how are
you doing doing.
Speaker 2: Well, sir. I would like to apologize in advance to
everyone listening in or watching this on YouTube, because if
they're going to be sounds in the background is because
I have my window open because we're in the middle
of July and it's hot as hell, so I just
need to, you know, not die as we do this
live show.
Speaker 1: I'd prefer you faint from heat exhaustion. I feel like,
like live I feel like that'd be really good for
the views and engagement and everything in content nowadays, So
it could go right like.
Speaker 2: I have to faint in a different way. Oh by
the way, opening window sponsored bikedraft Kings right like we.
Speaker 1: Not calci no cal uh? Do you want to get
us started? I'm going to game it perfectly so that
I forced you to take the team that at some
point that I know you won't want to take. I'm
not really sure who that is in the Western Conference,
good guess. But I forced you to talk about the Bulls,
Yes you.
Speaker 2: Did, so that's why I want to talk about the
Spurs now. I want to pay you that one was coming, yeah, exactly,
that one. We might as well get it out of
the way. So biggest need I still think it's like
a proper power forward. I know that got Tobias Harrison
there and he's look, he's good. I'm not going to
sit here and act as if Tobias Harris doesn't have value.
I thought Philly fans were way too harsh on him
for years and years and years. I think he's going
to help him out, But I don't think he's that
physical enforcer type player that you and I were talking
about during the finals or before the finals even and
the guy that you and I talked about, I don't
know if you remember this talking about I see a
Stewart who we're laughing that option off because you know,
Detroit won sixty games and we're like, no way, he's
like ending up in San Antonio. He'd be perfect, but
no way he ends ups in San Antonio. Blah blah
blah bla. He's gonna stick around. And then he was
traded for like three seconds or two seconds or whatever
the hell it was. So I still think they need
like a very physical, enforcing four man who can just
come in and take care of business. That to me
is still a major gap in their lineup symmetry.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the four spots the right focus. They
they have enough guards on this team unless you wanted
them to get another They drafted like eight of them.
I know that hyperboly, but unless you wanted them to
get another type of backup big but it has to
be it has to be the four spot. And I'm
with you in the sense of I think Julian Champagne
is fantastic, But you mentioned the physicality. Tobias Harris gives
you maybe some of that on the offensive end, but
like you said, he not a perfect fit. Harrison Barnes
isn't gonna do a ton for you at this stage.
We saw that in the NBA Finals. I also think
in addition to the physicality, it would be nice to
have doesn't necessarily need to come from the four spot,
I guess, but to have that guy who can come
in the game and just absolutely let it rip from deep.
They just don't have that on the roster. Really, I
don't like. The closest they come is who is it? Champpenny?
Speaker 2: Yeah for sure, So.
Speaker 1: It's one of those two. And maybe look, maybe Carter
Bryant can give you some of the physicality that you're
talking about, and but I think it does not seem
as if it's clearly not gonna happen in the offseason.
I'd be pretty shocked if they did something. So maybe
you did talk about the other day, maybe they do
do something with the Kelton Johnson expiring a contract, But
that feels very much at this point like a if
they do make an upgrade, it'll be mid season. We
just saw this, not that it's not working. Maybe it's
just not working at a high enough level. I'm I'm
I don't have a problem with the Tobias Harris signing,
but for what I wanted out of that spot offensively,
I don't think he does enough of it. There's like
more self creation and physicality offensively there than the raw
three point volume. But this team is just they could
they They could have done nothing and potentially won the title,
just if you bake in organic improvement because of how
young the top of their roster is.
Speaker 2: True, I just think it's for them, it's so important
not to get complacent after this final appearance, like you
just we've seen it before. Seems to go to the finals,
they're like, oh, we're right there, we don't have to
do anything. I overwhelmingly disagree with that approach, Like I'm
not saying you need to overhaul anything, but like you
need to be very, very aggressive if you're the losing
team of the finals coming into next year, Like, go
get that ring chaser, Go get that guy who might
cost you an extra draft pick, because you're so goddamn close.
Speaker 1: And I think last time we talked about this, you
were not that I wasn't in fa favor of it,
but Trey Murphy is the name. I thought you were
going to make a joke before when you said the
guy that both of us talked about. I was like, Oh,
Trey Murphy's name is gonna come up with?
Speaker 2: Oh?
Speaker 1: Yeah, he's been mentioned a ton with them. He doesn't
the physicality stuff where you're talking about that wouldn't much
be him, I.
Speaker 2: Know, but he'll rip the threes as you talked about.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I guess I would just be hesitant because of
the draft equity that it would cost to get him.
And then you're kind of deciding that you're firing your
last your last shot at all, right, just Trey Murphy,
and then that's kind of it. You still have. I'm
with you, but it's it would be so unspursy to
make such an aggressive move like that.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it would, but I'm all in on it because
like they have Wemby, like the like Dylan Harper is
his stud the vodcastly is DoD I mean the Champenny
they got at the good rate, like outside of the
dr and Fox contract, I don't think there's any gregious
deal to be found on their froster whatsoever. So they
just have so many options. And if even if you
can do that give up the equity for for Trey Murphy,
perhaps you're lucky and can actually flip Fox for something
as well, like so you kind of replenish your cuppards
a little bit. I don't think he was like obviously
he was bad in the finals, but I don't think
he's necessarily untradeable. I don't like the contract, but I
don't think he's untradable.
Speaker 1: No, I think he's far from untradeable, would be my guess.
Is there any other names that like spring to mind
for you that they should be looking at? Isaiah Stewart
on this team would have been the Dylan Harper Isaiah
Stewart lineups. Maybe worry about those offensively, like spacing wise
a little bit, but those and Castle, it's a lot
of physical dudes. Just yeah, in general, that'd be fun
to watch.
Speaker 2: I mean, look that those were the two guys I
had circled, like one wasn't serious in terms of Stewart,
but now that he was moved, I'm like, damn, like
if they he was available, so so like if they
had walked away from from this summer with Trey Murphy
and I say a Stewart, I.
Speaker 1: Should I mean, and they can't really save them any
money because they're after paying Champagnie and Harris. They're not
into the tax, but they're fairly close. I was gonna say,
like getting a Michael Porter Junior's money is going to
be tough without including Daron fox yep, I mean you
could get there. I'm assuming they wouldn't want Caldon Johnson back.
So and now you're talking about like three and four
teams scenarios. This would be an interesting cam Johnson team
if the Nuggets are looking to move him.
Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely efficient hopefully in the system wouldn't be too
high on the totem pole, but enough to where the
spacing is going to be an asset. Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1: Let me just keep naming guys who don't check the
physicality box that you outline.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I know at the top of this thought.
Speaker 1: Honestly, so I whoa more, are the Spurs wasting weben
Yama's youth because they're cheap?
Speaker 2: No they're not, but they are potentially wasting this summer.
I think that's a really good point, because this is
the last year he's cheap, Like, this is the year
to go out and may be actually do something. And
this is why I was hesitant when they signed Fox
to this type of contract, like the thirty percent max.
I did not like that deal. I thought it was premature.
I don't think they needed to be in such a
rush to get it done because they did it on
the day that he was extension eligible. I think that
was just a little too desperate, a little too thirsty.
So I don't think they've had, you know, a downright
good offseason. I don't have them in the loser category either, because,
like they just nailed the Champagne extension. That was just
such a that's just such a ridiculously good deal. Like
it's impossible to call them losers after doing that. Harris
is fine ish, but I just expected more.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I guess I didn't know what to expect. It
would have been nice to have seen a bigger swing. Yeah,
but also this doesn't this summer feel more up the
Spurs' alley in the sense of they'll slow play this
and if they decide they need to make a bigger
move like they did with Fox. I do also think
it hurts. It doesn't hurt that, like you said, you
could move Diaron Fox to where we're not at the
point where to get off of d like part of
the Paul George contract problem, which is why people were
looking at that Jaylen Brown trade and going whoa is
it felt like you needed all along to give up
more than a first round pick to get off the
Paul George deal. I don't feel that way about Fox's deal.
Maybe I should. I'm also willing to say maybe he's
just better next year and if he was healthier, but
like in the finals, maybe we're talking. Maybe we're just
having a different conversation right now for all we know.
Speaker 2: Maybe I still didn't like, you know, a lot of
what he did in the regular season, like yes, the
steady ballhandling, for damn sure, like that was a thing,
Like he was able to go in and dictate tempo.
I will give him that every single day of the week.
But I didn't necessarily like the long range shooting efficiency.
I didn't like the fact that in transition he looked
significantly slower than like prime kings fox, Like we didn't
see And this was not right on the heels of
coming back from the injury. This was like in the
middle of the season, after he'd ramped up, and I
was just kind of kept waiting for that burst to appear,
and he just did it never did, And I think
that has my alarms bells ringing just a little bit,
like where's that spurts? Like where where? Where's the athleticism,
where's that you know, the lightning speed that we've grown
so accustomed to seeing from him.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean the rim rate was like that's been
down from his peak levels for a little bit, And
so that is a fair concern, which also leads you
to question, well, how does this contract actually age if
this is the the If the athletic burst isn't going
to be there, what happens if he can't generate He
can still generate separation, you know, in the mid range
and with his handle, but if he's not getting to
the rim or get by guys as readily. What if
the separation gets even harder to come by than it
might be already, so that that would be fair as well.
My turn spent a lot of time on the spurs.
That's far for the course for us. Let's go to Minnesota,
who I believe just has the same need, except probably
more so. They just need they need the four after it,
and it's not because I think you could have argued
you wanted to see them upgrade the Julius Randall spot.
They just haven't filled the Julius Randall spot at this point.
I would be intrigued to see more of Jaden McDaniels
at the four. I think that'd be interesting and that
he'd be more of an offensive mismatch there. But they
only played Jmac at the four for forty one possessions,
with Rudy also at the five last season and the
year before that it was two hundred and twenty two possessions,
so a little bit bigger. But the offense was really
bad both in both of those seasons during those stretches,
and you look at the roster right now, I don't
really know what the plan would be. I don't think
he's more of a wing anyway, but you're not going
to scale rookie Isaiah Evans up in that department. So
aside from going with these smaller lineups we've seen, they've
been one of the teams that is linked to Lebron James.
I think it would be that'd be one of the
teams I'm just rooting to see Lebron go to because
it would be so shocking. But other than that, maybe
turning to Isaiah Evans or some of these smaller lineups
where j mack is going to be at the four,
I don't know what is the plan here as for Minnesota,
like sort of in that spot. We don't even need
to get bogged down by just the positions of it all,
but it's who is like the primary front court partner
for when Rudy Gobert is in the front line or
Johann Baron Jay's on the front line. I don't know
that they have that guy, and I think, again, I
won't read too much into the Jaden McDaniels at the
four lineup data, but I also don't believe that you
want that to be Jaden mcdaniels's default role, even though
if you're closing as of right now, that's probably what
you're default into, right because you have Lamello, Edwards, Ioh, McDaniels,
and Goberto. Those are your five best players with Devincenzo injured.
For sure, Yeah, I don't I don't mind McDaniels at
the four also because I this is going to turn
into like a Jade McDaniels kind of thing. But he's
been in the league for six years now, He's had
his ups and downs, just in terms of like the
consistency level, I'm just over it now, Like this season
he has to come out and show us something Like
now he has to come in and be a far
better offensive player.
Speaker 2: He has to be someone who we stop making excuses for,
Oh he played on a position. Oh he was like
third on the offensive hierarchy. Like I don't care anymore.
I just don't care this. This guy is too good.
He has too good of a nose offensively as well
to not use it more. He's got too good of
a jumper not to utilize it more. He's got too
good of an insn to go to the basket not
to utilize it more. Like I can go on and
on and on, so frankly, playm at the three, play
them at the four. I do not care. Just get
him involved and it's it's his time now to step up.
I need more Jade McDaniels on the positive side in
my life instead of the endless frustrations of watching him
play and yelling at the television, do more stuff because
you're good, So need more from him. If that's at
the four, so be it.
Speaker 1: I guess is it set up like it's not when
you say you need more from him? I don't know
that the wolves have ever been set up for him
to We've seen the incremental offensive improvement basically each of
the last three years. I'm with you, he says, I'd
like to see or was he at five three pointers
per one hundred possessions last year? He improved at five
point two. I would like to see that number come up.
Speaker 2: To go up? Yeah, yeah, no, But but the aggressiveness
as well as he had like when he started the
year last year, Like didn't he average eighteen nineteen or
something for like the first three or four weeks of
the season something along those lines, Like he was really good,
and I thought, now is the time for him to realize,
Oh yeah, I have to go in and take the
spot for myself. But he's a six', nine very athletic
and agile wing big AND i know go bears. There
but outside of, that they didn't have a ton of
elite rebounders four rebounds per. GAME i don't Need jade
McDaniels to turn Into Jared jackson. JUNIOR i need him
to come in and use the physical tools and advantages
that he does. Have long, arms, athletic we've seen him
rebound as. Well we've seen it, before like it's a
matter of devoting himself to certain. ELEMENTS i just need
to see him in a larger capacity and then we
can argue all day long whether that capacity needs to
be offense or. EVENTS i just need to see him
be featured at a higher.
Speaker 1: Extent i'll be curious if they have more or less
room for that this year than, last just because you
have No Julius, randall but you still Have edwards and
Then LaMelo And Io, desumu who will be higher usage
on ball. Guys maybe they'll be if they're if you're
gonna start both of, them maybe there's more opportunities For
jade McDaniels with the secondary Lineups i'm STILL i Guess
i'm Just i'm curious to see what the pathway would
be to him actually like seeing him higher, usage BECAUSE
i doubt he's never cracked twenty percent. USAGE i don't think. So, yeah,
no he's not even come. Close last year it was
his closest at eighteen to. Five SO i, GUESS i
JUST i guess he doesn't frustrate me as much as
he frustrated, you which.
Speaker 2: Is, oh you're so positive.
Speaker 1: Always that's, yeah, yeah mister optimist is what They, yeah.
Exactly so what you're is that your biggest need is
you just want More jaden McDaniels or is it it
is the four spot, though right force bot cup point?
Speaker 2: Guard but, like, well, okay, YEAH i mean Bones highland.
DEPENDS i could in the.
Speaker 1: World you're probably not Starting, io not because he's not starting,
caliber but you would have that coming off the. Bench
BUT i just DON'T i don't know what the what
the alternative path would look like as this rock they
are a team that would have been interesting For Tobias
harris obviously the spurs and more money to give.
Speaker 2: Out but, yeah now that the three guard line up Of,
LaMelo io And EDWARDS i. DON'T i don't consider that,
problematic like because you can throw in bones island in
that and then it should be okay. Ish but like
to your, point they probably could use some depth at that.
Position it's not something that concerns. Me not at this.
STAGE i think the. Four BUT i also think the
four is just so tied to McDaniels and and my
need of to see him just become more of an assertive.
Player SO i think those two go hand in. Hand,
yeah that's.
Speaker 1: Fair and LIKE i, SAID i think that their closing
lineup is going to be that as, Well so maybe
the four isn't as big of a need as painting
it out to. BE i think if you if that's
your if your best five man unit is just those
those five, dudes THEN i think you start to look
at people coming off the bench and, say all, right
well maybe it is between backup point, guard and like the,
four it might look quite frankly unless you really think
That baronjay is just just ready right, now you can
make a case that could be a backup.
Speaker 2: Five, yeah oh, yeah yeah for. Sure like in terms
of the backup, POSITIONS i don't think they're set, yet
but like do we even is there even a center
out there on the market right? Now that MAKES jv?
Speaker 1: SURE i, mean it might help you in the, possession
but what About Nick richards is still floating out. THERE
i LIKE Jv, moore they'd be a Good Micah potter.
Team people might laugh at, that BUT i think that
they like get theospacing element from the five.
Speaker 2: SPOT i see.
Speaker 1: It Uh target targets here for life as his brad
beel wanted by. Anyone he's a vet minimum player right.
NOW i assume The heat have him circled on, something
right they need? It, yep, Yep minnesota does, NOT i would,
say because he's. Not he wouldn't be the backup. Guard
what is, Up. Fellawsikos you're listening to this episode right
now thinking, wow would be so cool if there were
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you again as always for listening and for. Watching and
now back to the. Show who's your next?
Speaker 2: Team The Houston? Rockets and so we're talking about needs.
Here CAN i just say the need of symmetry BECAUSE
i don't fully comprehend where this whole team is going
AND i don't get the. Vibe i'm not SURE i
understand the vision. Here bringing In Bogdan bogdanovitch And mark
Is smart indicates, yeah we're going for it. Now resigning
Sorry easton means they're, short like shoring up like the wing.
Depth that's. FINE i JUST i understand that they want to.
WIN i don't see the pathway having improved significantly to doing.
That So i'm just my need is an understanding of
where this thing is.
Speaker 1: Going WHAT i, LIKE i can usulically why you don't,
understand like what is the all?
Speaker 2: Right so they have durand was. Great he's also getting,
older SO i don't think it's fair to continue to
expect him to like stay at that, Level like even
if he just notches down a little, bit that goes
in the opposite. Direction shanguda's out a rim. Protector he's
not necessarily a grace three point shooting. Either Fred nplie
is coming off the Acl Jabari Smith junior finally showed
us a little bit more THAN i. THOUGHT i think
that he's done in recent, years but it didn't he
didn't show at least me enough to Where i'm just
circling him in for a consistent. Role eason we. SAW
i Love Tar, Easton, however like EVEN i can admit
that the shooting, variants this was just ridiculous last, Season
like he came in and what hit like for no
forty percent of his threes for like months and ended
up thirty five percent on the year because he just something.
Happened Aman, thompson again the shooting. CONCERNS i know your
Boy Reed sheppard played a lot, better but he's still
so small so he can be. Exploited So i'm just
trying to, understand, like are they serious about wanting to
win a? Title and if, so is this the? PATHWAY
I that's What i'm confused, about because to, me this
team just screams first round.
Speaker 1: Exit they certainly have that floor just, because as you alluded,
To durant is another year older AND i don't know
how much less dependent on him they're gonna be with
a healthy Van fleet and they do have his bow
Down baldonovic gonna be healthy at. All this was a
team that had its offensive, issues AND i don't think
the only thing they've done to address them in theory
is not trade Than fleet for pure. Defense Marcus smart's
not gonna really to, me isn't gonna come in and
make you a better floor spacing. Team he's not gonna help.
You they were twenty eighth and turnover eight last. Year
you're really relying On fred Van fleet to do a
lot of. That they were nineteenth and half court efficiency last,
year seventeenth and first chance to. Offense that becomes more
problematic if you know how many minutes can you get
From Steven, adams who also finished the year. Injured and
there to your point About, durant their non durant players
were in the sixteenth percentile of catch and shoot three point.
EFFICIENCY i don't think just Having fred Van fleet changes.
There AS i said, before they're spacing, materially and So
i'm probably with, YOU i would have liked to have seen,
Them i'm. NOT i Guess i'm not confused by their
direction because they do seem like they will. Be they're
still a pretty big. Team they should be really good,
defensively but they don't HAVE i don't necessarily understand the
offensive theory yet of, them and that that's certainly. Confusing
and by the, way they've also you Mentioned Reed. Sheppard
we joke about how MARRIED i am to his. Trajectory
you now Have Marcus smart and a Healthy fred Van.
Fleet i'm very curious to see what his spot in
the rotation looks like this upcoming. Season are we gonna
see his opportunities WIN o down a little? Bit and you,
know you dig into some of the numbers and he
didn't necessarily uplift them a ton, offensively but conceptually he's
the exact type of player that they, need or close to.
It if we go into the season and this is
another team where it's they don't even have the other thing.
Too they didn't get more like they have, athletes some
athletes on this, team but they're not getting out in
transition a ton having to rant coming in like that
slows you down even further or even. More excuse, me
like is there can you have variants in that where
you play at a faster. TEMPO i don't know that
nothing they've done this. Offseason you can sit here and, say, oh,
yeah they'll definitely do. THAT i need to see just
more effective diversity and how their offense is run and
if they if we don't see, it or if this
is a team where what you, like what you seem
concerned about where it's running in the deadline and they're
like they're sixth or their seventh or their, eighth you
gotta do something this season that mighty. Can't, well we're
just gonna let the trade deadline come to pass and
see how it goes from. There nuclear moves don't tend
to happen in the middle of the. Year but this
is certainly a team THAT i don't think it would
take if you had a Healthy bogdanovich or if you
have The bogdanovic what three years ago or. SOMETHING i
feel their. Offense, yeah so it doesn't need to be
another star. Necessarily both you AND i were against them
getting in on the honest, sweepstakes but it does as
of right, now i'd BE i don't know if i'd
predict the first round. EXIT i haven't gone through like
that exercise. Enough this is A i would there's a
wildly imperfect offensive team right. Now, Yep i'm gonna question
from barkstale. Corners what would you guys do if you
were The? Rockets when do you press? Reset? Oh? Wow?
Eligible but by the, way, actually CAN i ask you a? Question?
Yeah Maybe i'm supposed to. Memory have we ever gone
this late without even hearing a whisper of a rookie?
Extension we've got? None, no that's.
Speaker 2: True, no not Even july. Tenth, no it does seem,
late right.
Speaker 1: Right Maybe i'm just, misremembering BUT i. Don't, NORMALLY i
feel as if some of them are agreed to right.
Speaker 2: Away it does feel like this is. Late, yes that's
a good, show But i'd LIKE i. DON'T i don't
want to hit the big red reset button, yet BUT i,
look If i'm a team AND i struggled to the
extent THAT i did in the regular season offensively, speaking
AND i go into the off season AND i ONLY
i get my injured player, back my insured point. Guard
but that injury is so substantial and he wasn't efficient
to begin with when he was. Healthy Like i'm not just,
saying oh, cool we're, Fine, LIKE i just think their
their lack of activity has been eye, opening, noteworthy whoever
you want to frame.
Speaker 1: It, wait so There's. Wenby Did wemby just sign as
an extension as we were recording this or did we
miss it BEFORE i hopped? On like right, Now wemby
Tweeted spurs, Family i'm here to stay whatever it. Takes, Okay,
OKAY i don't know. What i'm not seeing any news
of a deal. Though, no you.
Speaker 2: Can probably, imagine right what would you if he took
a pay?
Speaker 1: Cut that's what that tweet was. About that'd Be i'd
be against, it BUT i would.
Speaker 2: Imagine but could you imagine like twenty million years some
sicko just, like.
Speaker 1: Well, no you can, no But i'd Be i'd be
incensed because they went and they saw Did Tobias harris
was their big move then Knowing wemby was gonna be
super cheap for the new three or four. Years, yeah,
no i'd Be i'd be. Incensed that's a really good.
Speaker 2: Point, okay all, Right, Wemby so we got that, one
did we just? Speaking and.
Speaker 1: You're first of All spurs, fans you're. Welcome but second of,
all maybe there was unless maybe we missed it was. There,
Oh wemby's gonna want out or, something which would be
a while that we hear breaking. News victor Wem yama
doesn't seem like he's requesting a trade from The. SPURS
i know that's going to shock shock, everybody and The
rockets will probably be wildly. Disappointed but, YEAH I. Houston
their offense of structure still confused. Me it's. There they
might they could. Be you could tell me they win
like fifty seven games and it wouldn't shock. Me AND
i would still sit there and, SAY i don't trust
them to win more than a playoff series with the
way that they're. Built like their playoff offense right now
feels as if it would be way too dependent On.
Durant you're kind of banking on internal development from someone
or internal, improvement AND i don't is that Men, thompson
does he suddenly have more range on the offensive.
Speaker 2: End is?
Speaker 1: It is, It Reed? Shepherd is It Albert shangun is
just better this. Year i'm open to some of those
developments taking, place but, yeah.
Speaker 2: It needs to be a big improvement for, me for
For shangun at this. Point, LIKE i do think he's
extraordinary at what he, does BUT i think the things
that he doesn't do are becoming a. Problem like just
he's not a good, defender especially in. Space we know
that the like the rebounding is, fine it's not a.
Lead so we're looking at someone who doesn't really necessarily
finish defensive possessions at a great. Rate, Like i'm not
down on him by interest of the. IMAGINATION i was
in fact extremely high on him coming into the draft
in twenty twenty. One but we're now Five. Houston oh
Oh so From Jake?
Speaker 1: Fisher? Wow how DID i this is? From is this
From Jue?
Speaker 2: Okay Jake?
Speaker 1: Fisher? Uh there has been word this morning In Las
vegas That Victor mmiehwa's considering signing less than his maximum
rookie scale extension to Provide San antonio with greater. Flexibility kidding,
ME i that is, uh that's just, like that's the
this is the part of a player's career in which
they should not be Taking how did this is From july? Tenth?
At what is something that doesn't make? Sense this is
so bizarre to. Me it's saying six thirty seven, pm
but it's not six thirty seven pm my time On july,
tenth just, Yet so It's I'm i'm very. Confused it's.
Real i've got The i've actually got the link to the.
STORY i was about to, say make sure you're not getting. Hoodwinked,
Yeah i'm. Not i'm not on. BOARD i, mean if
he does, IT i guess more power to. Him but
that's a slippery slope because this would be the time
of a player's career where they shouldn't be taking a
pay cut because they're what they provide on the court
is absolutely going to be worth max. Value And i'm, Sorry,
like how much Does Victor webbeny Like Tobias, HARRIS i,
like if that if you knew wemb was gonna Take.
WEST i have to assume that this isn't breaking news
to The spurs.
Speaker 2: Unless something is uh in the works.
Speaker 1: That is, true that everything could BE. Tvd this IS
i did. NOT i, AM i didn't see this coming.
Yet we're both speaking.
Speaker 2: Into existence that he would get an extension and that
he would take a pay.
Speaker 1: CUT i don't think we spoken into existence because it
look looks like it's been out there AND i just
missed it, somehow which is very strange to.
Speaker 2: Me All, Right, no, look we need to go to
the REAL gm wire chap because like they have everything
And i'm not seeing anything about.
Speaker 1: This oh, no he's he. Tweeted Jay fisher tweeted this
eight minutes. Ago, OKAY i don't feel as. Bad that's still.
SHOCKING i just assumed the conversation, was to, me was
always gonna be did he get the fifty year player?
Up we knew he was gonna thought he was gonna
get the ALL nba Escal but if that's what this,
IS i don't that is still pretty big. Sacrifice, actually
what if he just signs for The Straight max with
No ALL nba escalator?
Speaker 2: Language how pissed With Jalen durham be at him, like,
bro you have the escalator, language you can use, it
AND i, do but no one wants.
Speaker 1: Me this IS i do think it would set a.
Day this is we're so far afield from The. Rockets
BUT i do think this would set a dangerous or
an uncomfortable precedent for just because you can't get Like
Victor Webbin yama is the best player in the world
maybe right, now and so if he's taking less, money
what are like that's a pretty big negotiator point for
teams in the. Future for you're sitting there forget About
joe And, durham But i'm On thompson right. Now we
know The rockets are going to. Negotiate, that's by the,
way The rockets do this really well from a team.
Perspective they negotiate with. Everything you look at all the
rookie deals right down To Tara easan's the one they just.
Signed that's basically the mid level per. Year teams like,
that they're gonna negotiate even harder With. Saya i'm And
thompson wee we didn't even take the ALL nba escalator.
Language we're not gonna give you anything close to the.
Speaker 2: Max it's funny because on A danish pod about a year,
AGO i was talking to a friend about this where
we basically, said at some point a euro dude is
going to come in and just SAY i don't care
about the, money because that is such a mentality over,
here like especially in The EuroLeague, Format like there are
so many guys who just take less to make sure
that everyone gets a big piece of the. Pie and
we're just basically, saying, look so many of These european
players that get over to THE, nba they just say oh,
okay like they don't know about the salary cab like
they take the contract that's being offered and because the agent, says,
yeah do. It but for the few ones that, understand,
NO i can actually help my. Team i'm just not
surprised it had to happen, Eventually like we were sitting
there talking about we actually thought it'd Be. Luca so,
yeah this is the thing.
Speaker 1: Apparently parksdale corner of the comment says that My San
antonio is reporting it'll be the largest contract In spurs,
history and The escalator language will be a part of.
It even if The escalator language isn't a part of,
IT i would, argue, so what is this projected to?
Be five? Years this is the like the twenty five
percent max be five, years two hundred and fifty plus,
million that's gonna be the biggest contract In spurs history as,
WELL i would sure Argue i'm really fascinated to see
how THAT i did not have this on My bengo.
CARD i thought maybe would he get a player? Option
and you're follow it was like my big.
Speaker 2: Question and once, again, sir our program is being interrupted
by breaking. News love.
Speaker 1: It so this is the time we found the magic
spot where if you guys WANT nba slop we need
to record. It, wait what time is it In? Denmark
so eight Pm denmark? Time two?
Speaker 2: Pm, yeah almost time.
Speaker 1: Time, WOW i DID i at least The kawhi, stuff
knowing the background of it. Was it was, shocking but
it was also, okay this is JUST i did not
have this on My bengo. Card AS i, said, no
let's move let's move on, Though i'm gonna. Go i'm
gonna go a little bit off the beaten path. Here
it's The Memphis grizzlies more AND i can talk about
some maybe prototypes that they, need but WHAT i think
they really need is roster. Space they have twenty players
under contract right, now not a problem for the, offseason
but you're gonna have to trim that down to fifteen.
EVENTUALLY i don't know how. THAT i, MEAN kcp feels
like the low hanging. Fruit they'll negotiate a buy out with.
HIM i assume after that it's you could just talk
yourself into, it not necessarily everyone on the. Roster but
they're not gonna just Wave Jeremy grant as an, example
right and sos who ends up being they odd man out?
Here we Know Cam, Boozer Cedric, Coward Zach, EDY Jn.
Wells that's kind of just the. Core they just Got Kareem.
Lopez they Signed Quinton, posts so he's not going? Anywhere is?
This do they get rid Of Chris? Murray that would
be a NAME Aj. JOHNSON i guess those guys feel.
Expendable d low is.
Speaker 2: Expectable is pretty safe bed AND i misspoke.
Speaker 1: YESTERDAY i made it seem like he was going back
to The. MAVERICKS i just found it funny that him
And Chris middleton were involved in the same trade. Again
SO i guess you can get to expendable players pretty.
Quickly my question would, be how are you getting rid of?
Them are there other are you including seconds for someone
to take on D? Lo does someone just take On
Chris murray for. Free uh if you're looking AT i,
MEAN cacp has to be a. Buyout no one's taking
on that money unless you're taking someone, out like taking
back worse Like Christian brown as an. Example. Maybe So
i'm very curiously how they create the necessary roster. SPACE
i will, say even though they Have Cam boozer as
well As Scottie Pippen Junior Cam, Spencer Ty, jerome And
Walter clayton to, Evaluate i'm not sure this team has
like a a level passer on it at the, moment,
Agree and so that would be something if they were,
all we want to go out and fill this need
or get a higher end flyer here to evaluate against the,
future maybe it would be. That but they just have
a lot of guys on this team right. Now literally
they have too many.
Speaker 2: Guys, YEAH i mean this might actually be an interesting
destination for players on very large contracts that the teams
that sign them to him are like. Hesitant i'm not
going to say necessarily Darn fox Because memphis would also
have to like take on that, deal, right but, like
if they're struggling to get off, guys they need to
consolidate to a certain, extent that could be something, like
we just have to identify the teams that don't have
a lot of players on their roster.
Speaker 1: Currently yeah that or just like have these needs that
could be filled by one Of memphis's, RIGHT i JUST
i wonder they just have so many guys and like
who is like who is off limits on this? Team Cam,
Boozer Cedria, Coward Zach edy is definitely off. Limits Jalen
wells is probably off. Limits should he? BE i mean
should HE i doubt he's like on the most, Untouchable
BUT i would Say Cedria, Coward Cam, boozer And Zach
edy are most likely the guys they view is? There, yeah, CORPS.
Speaker 2: I agree with. THAT i think that's a fair.
Speaker 1: Assumption IF i had to, Guess i'm gonna just take
a stab at the. Five how they get to the
five roster? SPOTS i think D LO KCP A. J.
Johnson that's. Three, Uh i'm gonna Throw Chris murray in,
there and Then i'm gonna SAY i need one. MORE
i don't think this is gonna mean maybe it's like
one of the cheaper, guys like A mayshak Or Javon.
SMALL i don't know who the fifth player is gonna be. More,
YEAH i. CAN'T i can't pick. IT i don't. KNOW
i don't have a good fifth player.
Speaker 2: Here did you Say olivia Max mexican's Prosper.
Speaker 1: NO i. DIDN'T i felt like he had some good
minutes for. Them but that would be the.
Speaker 2: Do you have like? That? Yeah BUT i mean it was, LIKE.
Speaker 1: I feel like what a, team the team would give
you something For Gigi? Jackson, right maybe it would be,
him like just to capitalize that. Value what happened, There,
well he got injured the two years ago and that
seemed to throw throw them. Off, yeah, yeah that's their.
Need they need roster, SPACE i think. It i'm just
curious how they end up creating that roster space because
of who you think is? Leaving is it are we
is it more trades or are they just buying out guys
because there are on a more of a gradual. Timeline
but that AND i wouldn't mind seeing some higher end
passing in. There who do you want to talk about? Next,
oh let's go to The. Lakers, okay what's the biggest?
Need that's a really good.
Speaker 2: Question we can talk about defense all day, long which
we probably, should but, yeah should we have do we
have to go back to like the? Wing well, AGAIN
i think we, do Because.
Speaker 1: Jonathan kaminga doesn't feel that to, You i'm on the.
ANSWER i like, him.
Speaker 2: But, no, no not. Really AND i don't like the
idea of going With Jared vanderbilt at the three for
long stretches. Either that doesn't sound like. Fun dulton connects not,
Really SO i think a real three could be interesting,
there especially someone who's more two way. Inclined i'm Guessing
Quinn rives is going to play there a. Lot i'm
Guessing Jake, Larabia Cameron, CARR i, guess but it just
all seems so uninspiring at that. Position like, OVERALL i
actually think The lakers did well in free agency and
in the summer at. LARGE i do, KNOW i know
they gave up everything For.
Speaker 1: Walker well it's not even, THAT i, mean it is
THAT i Don't The Walker kessler contract to me is ultimately.
Fine giving up control for first round picks to to
outright two swaps is a big. Deal BUT i look
at what some of all these other teams negotiated team
options on their, deals or you saw where And Anfrey
simons went For but you were like but you spent
what you did On Colin. SEXTON i Thought MoMu was
a slight overpay for what this roster, needed unless you
trust him to log a lot of backup five, minutes
Which i'm assuming you. Do if you just Shipped DeAndre
ayton off To, WASHINGTON i think you. SO i really
don't think that they had. THAT i wasn't thrilled with
their process over the. OFFSEASON i think the, talent for
the most, part can compliment one. Another i'm going to
be even more. Confused there's the report that they're willing
to give up the twenty thirty two swap to facilitate
a sign and trade that would Use Jared vanderbilt to
Get Jonathan. Kaminga and so it's all, right you get
off the two guaranteed years Of Jared, vanderbilt but it
costs you a twenty thirty two. Swap how high are
we On Jonathan kaminga in an offense that already Has
luca And, reeves, who, yes make life easier on, Everybody
BUT i think you need someone who wants their life
to be made. Easier And i've Just Jonathan diminga has
never felt like that type of a complimentary player to, me.
Speaker 2: Right, no he's someone you need to build, around or
at least playing, around to make sure that he's. Optimized you're,
RIGHT i don't disagree with. THAT i will, say, though
The Kaminka luca, Connection i'm not out on. IT i
could see a pathway for that to.
Speaker 1: Work sure is it worth a twenty thirty two swap
your last like enticing great?
Speaker 2: Ship you know? What? Yeah, YEAH i think it. IS
i like him and, GUY i like it more than
you than you, do and that's. FAIR i understand why
you're low on him BECAUSE i see the issues. TOO i,
Do but he's so. Young he only spent half a
year with that In, atlanta after getting just out of
that situation In Golden. STATE i think he needs to
find somewhere to, land like mentally. Land and if that's The,
lakers all, Right, YEAH i.
Speaker 1: DON'T i just. DON'T i haven't seen enough from him
to make me think that he would be okay being
the third wheel in the offense then defending hard enough
to justify playing him at the, three LIKE i, mean
he could play plenty of. Four there is the shooting
good enough in that, spot BUT i think you hit
it on the now with uh berserk, monk my bed,
guys My, toddler grab my. Phone i'm okay the chap berserk. Monk,
yeah that's. Great could they make the money work FOR.
Kcp this is From joyanne sw maybe move some pieces
for him And? JACKSON i actually have SO i have
a list of targets here for The. Lakers Gig jackson
is on that list for. Me so they could certainly
make the money work for him because he's so. CHEAP
kcp would be. Tougher you would Need memphis already has
too many, bodies but you. Would it would need to Be,
Laavia Jared vanderbilt and, yeah it would have to be
a three for ONE i think to get you, There
and so then another team probably needs to come, involved
SO i Don't Maybe memphis is willing to do that
like a twenty thirty, two BUT i don't WANT kcp
for my twenty thirty. Two i'd rather go up on
twenty thirty, two swap FOR h For Jonathan aminga THAN.
KCP ksep could be a nice buyout target out for.
Speaker 2: Them he would fit into that makeup of that team for. Sure.
Speaker 1: Yeah and by the, WAY i like The grime signing
the contract, is you, know four years for SIXTY i
think is, fine and he replaces functionally a lot of
What Marcus smart could do. Defensively neither one of them
are going to defend like a ton of, wings though if,
Anything grimes probably at least relative to last, Season grimes
did that more. Often BUT i think they need to
go get somebody who's capable of doing that and won't
torpedo the, offense or they're capable of doing. That maybe
they do torpedo the, offense but they're just so good on.
Defense NAMES i have listed here Justin, Champenni Ryan dunn
fly around him.
Speaker 2: Maybe oh that'd be.
Speaker 1: Fun, yeah do they have Any do they have enough
to get Herb? Jones probably not right, contractually so it's
like the contract they could match pretty. Easily, yeah, yeah but,
ASSETS i don't, Know like it would be the twenty
thirty two swap And Brandon.
Speaker 2: Carr negotiating With Joe dumars and his.
Speaker 1: Team would you do forget that this doesn't probably save
The nuggets enough, money but you're involving other? Teams would
you Do van Do, Oh Jake laavia And Jaden hardy
For Christian.
Speaker 2: Brown, YEAH i THINK i. WOULD i THINK i would
because we saw a bad year From Christian brown last,
season but the year, BEFORE i, mean he was ridiculously.
FISHING i thought he had such a good understanding of shot,
selection time and, Score like there's a real he didn't
walk into fifty eight percent from the. Field it. Was
he was very calculative in terms of like how he
scored when he started, driving like when he initiated certain.
Things and he just lost that this past season for
reasons that are completely unknown to. ME i don't think
it's injury. Related only something happened And i'm just not
ready to write them off after one bad, year.
Speaker 1: Which is WHY i wonder if The nuggets that, type
let's say that you were even able to reroute two
of those. SALARIES i wonder if The nuggets even, that
are they at the point where they just want to
get rid of? HIM i, mean his to his two
point percentage was in the gutter Without yokas last, year
it dropped by thirty three points When jokic was off the. Floor. Insane,
Yeah Isaaca korro would be another. One could you get
The bulls to take On? Vanderbilt you probably want someone
who could defend up a little bit more than A,
koro but he'd be nifty. Here but those are the
Guys i've. Listed hark w Hot hogs says or who Goes,
hark who? Goes excuse? Me The lakers are a forty
five win. Team i'm not even that low on. Them
if They're if they win that, AMOUNT i assume That
Austin reeves end Or luca has missed a bunch of.
Time yeah, Again, uh it's on. Me, yeah you picked The,
lakers so it would be my. Turn where do a
high want to go? To now let's go To, Okay,
See i'm not gonna say they need to get out
of the second, apron because guess what, more they have the,
ability they have the option not getting out of the second.
Apron they need like a shooter with. Size they there
and they'll be good defensively, regardless they'll be. Great they
could do nothing and they might just win the. Title
so this is not to say THAT i think it's
a fatal, flaw but they just don't have that like
combo wing sized. Shooter and from a volume, Perspective chet's
just not If, yeah he's playing a bunch of. FOUR
i get. That so that's why that's part of why
you can your roster can be. Built the way it
is is you just have these two giants And hartenstein And,
chet and Then Jay will could play with either of,
them and now you have a DeMar to bake in.
There But chet at under six threes per one hundred
possessions is just not cutting. It and SO i think
they need A they don't the salary structure to make this,
work but like they need Their Cam johnson or even
they need Their Sam. Hauser to, me it can be
someone who's not like what If Isaiah joe was just
a few inches taller than twenty pounds heavier or. Something
they need someone to me along those.
Speaker 2: Lines, YEAH i very much. Agree shooting is the one
thing that sticks. Out you said shooting with. SIZE i
don't disagree with. THAT i would EVEN i would even
be fine with shooting without. Size you're just the floor
spacers at this, point like, YOU i do not trust
them as a three point shooting team at this. Point
at this, STAGE i think they were too financially motivated this.
SUMMER i don't trust Lou dort as a. Shooter why
WOULD I. Nicoltachopitch even if he's gonna, play he was
never built as a long range. Shooter thomas soorbers like
mostly an interior guy Like jared McCain is the guy
who has to come in and say all of The
Isaiah joe minutes and like absorbing his own for that,
matter and just say all, Right i'm gunning. This i'm
absolutely gunning. This i'm, Good i'm playing twenty minutes and
He's jack ten. Three.
Speaker 1: YEAH i mean he has. That he does like to
get into the in between, stuff of, course but he.
Does he's the closest on this team to having that
in him now That Isaiah joe and Even Aaron wiggins are,
gone as well as Something Aaron wiggins could at least in,
theory do uh Berserk monk, says why don't The thunder
just pet overpay For Trey. Murphy it's a good question
that they were really going for. It it would be they
have the salaries to make the math. Work BUT i
don't think. YOU i think they want to get out
of the. Set this is the PROBLEM i run into
with them IS i would still be very shocked if
they don't get out of the second apron and so
it's tough to build scenarios where they would get A
Trey murphy and then they're actually shedding money, overall like
before the end of the, year joy anew, says If
mara is good right, away do you think about Moving
hartenstein at the deadline for a Wing, ooh, yes, YES
i guess. Yes but after he signed, THAT i thought
it was going to take them a fourth year to
lock him. Down if he was taking a pay, CUT i,
WONDER i wonder how that would fly behind the, scenes
or maybe the market just wasn't there for. Him but
If Walker kessler got four for one, thirty you would
think that there might have been even a sign in
trade market For Isaiah hartenstein in the neighborhood of.
Speaker 2: That, yeah but.
Speaker 1: Yet that would Be, Hartnerstein Like hartnerstein For Trey murphy
is like a, structure and then you include picks To New.
Orleans that's not.
Speaker 2: Bad that'd be. INTERESTING i, mean of, course do you
trust that gap being left By? Hartenstein do you trust
that to go to Chet holkren in the? Playoffs because, WELL.
Speaker 1: I guess that's the, Question like joy, ansaying If mara
is good right, away but, yeah you would have to
do you trust him in the playoffs as. Well that's.
It hartstein's probably for a team that Has, Chet And
i'm not this isn't meant to be perjoradive To chet.
NECESSARILY i think The pendulums one way too far after
the way the playoffs ended to. Me but Like hartsta
is probably too important to this team for as much
down as they have on, it if you really start
to think about.
Speaker 2: It, YEP i agree he. IS I, look if they
don't have the, shooting the defense is going to be extra,
important Right. Like that's that you have to weigh and
balance things, out and if you're lacking in one, department
you need to be damn sure your lead in. Another.
YEAH i, look, OVERALL i don't think the thunder are
standing as strong as they were last year because of
the shooting issues right. NOW i am frankly not that
in love with their roster right, now not compared to
last year at least Yet, still obviously they could have
a cake walk towards the. Finals everything like failed right
but or fell. Right but, NO i think they have
a legitimate need, here legit need for. Shooting, YEAH i
would say it's a legit.
Speaker 1: NEED i think they would probably be less inclined to
feel that way, though because they could just, say, well
we're gonna Have Jalen williams this year mostly A j
Dow and so that's the think about they were so.
Banged he was banged up by The, like you're dealing
with that all year through the playoffs and you still
made it To game seven against The wemby Led. Spurs
i'm still waiting for That wemby pay cut to come
through and keep checking my.
Speaker 2: Phone, yeah same where we. Go we are going To,
utah and my big question here is the center. POSITION
i don't know if it's IT'S i would need per,
se but, LIKE i just need to know who's gonna
rebound the fucking. POLL i need to know who will
finish defensive. Possessions SO i want to get this out
of the way Because i'm harsh On Jared Jackson. JUNIOR
i do think he's a great. DEFENDER i do think
he is such an acid on that end of the.
Floor but you, can and we've seen him do this
multiple times during his career In, memphis where he will
play great defense forty to twenty four seconds and then
when the ball's up, there we go relinquish the, rebound
and that just negates the level of defensive activity that
we've seen from. Him SO i just want them to
be sure that they have someone who they can put
alongside him to, say all, right this dude is just
going to go grab that goddamn ball after you have
played terrific defense for a full shot. Clock and is
that use Of nurkic, Maybe LIKE i don't know what
they're planning to, do is jaring the four lord the
three and use Of nurkic like in theory the starting five?
MAN i probably, Not but LIKE, I i just need
to know that they have a plan to finish defensive.
POSSESSIONS i think that's a need right.
Speaker 1: NOW i think the center, spot you could argue is
just a need in. General is that if you just
want someone better Than nurkic Or. Hayes i'm at your. Concerned,
though even if you're gonna Start, nurkic who does give
you a presence on the defensive, Class like you, SAID
i would assume you're not closing many games with any
one other Than TRIPLE j at the, Five and so
that's where it comes. In even if You're i'm fine
With larry marketing when it comes to, rebounding but from
there it's are you getting it from the? Wings is
that it Is Ace, Bailey, Keyante George Darren peterson leveling
you up. There they have the their salary structure right
now with the trade, deadline When nurkic himself could be,
traded they they might have some opportunities open. Up, otherwise
right now they're kind of trafficking. In it would have
to be like middle rung, options but they could go
out and be a right like right this. Second A
Musa diabat suitor is a name that we've, mentioned a
ton As charlotte willing to pay, him could you GET
i guess rebounding, Though Like i'm sure we Mentioned. Hartenstein
that'd be a Good hartenstein team, midseason but they're already
getting super expensive on the front. Line Would Jay will
do enough of that for you if The thunder are
looking to cut money that?
Speaker 3: Way?
Speaker 1: Yeah SO i, YEAH i. DON'T i don't know what
the center target for them would, be just because they'd
be in a weird salary structure with, it and you
can find. Bigs but then you have to, ask, oh
do they do enough of the rebounding stuff that mort
is outlining at this. MOMENT i also another NEED i
had for them was do they have enough like on
ball perimeter defense here when you start to go through
their their, ROSTER i, think as of right, now there's
a lot on the shoulders of A Darren peterson and
Or Ace. Bailey and that's, again both of those two
could turn out to be just like long, TERM i
don't have like huge questions about them, defensively but when you're,
like right, now it's who's your most important perimeter defender
or non big, defender is? It is it like it
could Be Cody williams might be the answer for all we.
Speaker 2: Know always getting back To Cody, williams your former number?
One was it your top top pick back?
Speaker 1: THEN i think he was number one or two on
my big board because that was The Reed shepherd, draft wasn't.
It SO i might have bumped Down Cody williams to
two at that, POINT i might have had Read shepherd number.
Two i'd have to go back and. Check and they,
do they. Do they did Sign Josha, kogi so that
helps a little. Bit but and what you get into
with this team, now which is very interesting to say
about a squad that yes they were, tanking so it
was by, Design but you don't really say this about
a team that isn't coming off a really good. Season
the bar to crack one of their core units is incredibly. High.
Now it's not as high as when they Had Walker,
kessler of, course but it's like in a in a core,
lineup four of the spots could just be gone right,
now or they are gone with Keyante George Darren, Peterson Jared, Jackson,
Junior larry Market in and so to be that like
the fifth guy might just Be Ace. Bailey and so
whatever improvement you're, making you're making it, knowing, well is
this player gonna close games for? Us and if the answers,
no how much are you willing to give up to
go to go get? Him which is Why Joshua kogie
signing and bringing Back, nurkic you, know to like talk
about both of the needs that we. Outlined that's why
it might make sense in their, minds because why are
you gonna go out there and expend that Like Max
christy would be that it was a trade TARGET i
had for this team would have been, interesting but what
he closed for them would be because if he's, Not
Thence bailey's. Not if he's, closing Then Ace bailey's not,
closing Or Darren peterson's not. Closing, yeah uh, utah was
you excuse? Me So i'm gonna, Go, yes it is
up to.
Speaker 2: Me.
Speaker 1: Uh feeling the pressure here right. Now let's go To.
Phoenix LET'S i don't like this team as as much
AS i LIKE i didn't like them going into last,
season and they proved me. Wrong so there's that they were, fun,
scrappy the offensive, rebounding the defensive. EFFORT I, Miles miles,
bridges if you can give up a twenty thirty three
unprotected first round pick for someone with who pleaded no
contests to three felony domestic violence charges and what was
that twenty? Two, yeah when you have the opportunity that
you definitely have to do. It but even moving on
and a terrible, segue but moving on from the morality
of it, ALL i don't know how much he actively
upgrades the basketball team in a talent in a talent,
vacuum maybe going From Grayson allen And roy O'Neil to,
Him but you lost a lot of floor. Spacing in that,
trade you maybe gained or you did gain some rim,
pressure but now you're losing a ton of off ball option.
Out like just look at the guys on this roster
that would now prefer to operate with the ball in their.
Hands Devin, booker WHO i, have no he'll be a,
Passer like if he has to be a playmaker, first
he'll do. It So i'm not concerned About Devin. Booker
but you do Have Devin, booker you Have Jalen, green
you Have Dylan, brooks and now you Have Miles bridges
and so it's just it's it's. Weird and so bring In.
Lukenard that'll help with some of the force basing a little.
Bit but there's also aside From Devin, booker like your
playmakers are him And Colin, gillespie and then it's Like,
ozoegadaro who's we're not sure how much he's gonna. Play
you could also make the case, that, Well Miles bridges
might be an upgrade at the four. Spot this team
doesn't have enough size to materially improve upon its defensive.
REBOUNDING i guess If Mark williams is healthy and common
malawatch makes a. Jump you could say, differently there are
problems up and down the. ROSTER i think IF i
had to settle on, One i'm gonna say like off ball,
offense just to incorporate the, shooting but also basically everything
that doesn't include offensive. REBOUNDING i think you could look
at and, wonder, oh is this team's attack gonna like
seriously drop? Off so, yeah IT'S i don't know when
you look at the makeup right, NOW i don't trust
That Miles bridge is going to slide in and be ultra.
COMPLIMENTARY i don't trust that With Dylan, brooks as important
as he is to this. Team now you're getting into
the realm of, like have we really Need jail And
green to be super plug and play and more? Efficient
so they still do have some gritty defenders on the.
Team when you're Like Jordan, Goodwin i'm excited to. See
although the, plan as far as we, knew was to
give her sheer fleming more, minutes that gets harder With
Miles bridges in the. Building it does questions up and
down with the. Offense it's tough for me to just
settle on like playmaking or. Shooting i'm gonna just say
off ball offense in general to incorporate the, shooting but
even some of the movement, stuff or maybe it's just
the offensive optionality in. GENERAL i don't know if this
team has enough of it right.
Speaker 2: Now and for, me one of the biggest things here
is also a devotion to young. Players Mala watch was
at top ten pick last. Year he did not play
a lot of. Games he did not play a lot of.
MINUTES i thought they did not take his development serious
and what in year? One so if you want to
know what's, THERE i do think this year that needs
to change BECAUSE i and generally, SPEAKING i think that
has been an issue for For phoenix occasionally just not
giving their guys enough time to actually make a genuine
decision on, Him like what was? It was? It who
was it that they declined the third was it the
third or fourth year? Option? Well on was That Jalen?
Smith like they declined an option and then he turned
into like a perfectly REASONABLE nba, Player like it's JUST
i don't think they give their young guys enough, leash
AND i could just be so afraid that the same
is going to happen With. Malowatch so a need for
me is stay the, course like invest develop do something
if you if you have a top ten pick At george,
disposal don't waste.
Speaker 1: It oh that that bleeds into another need for them
is they could probably they could use a twenty thirty
three first round. Pick that'd be something that they could.
Speaker 2: Use, yeah that's a, need that's a neat.
Speaker 1: Uh andy cru says in the, Chat Miles bridges is
absolutely a down. Upgrade what are we? Doing hot take
suns will be better than The timberwolves this. Year underrated
part Of Miles bridges was he was able to get
his even when he was the fourth option behind three
shoot first players like Ball con And miller average seventeen
six and three as the fourth, OPTION i, Mean. Pumpkin
The hornets were worse on both ends of the floor
last year With miles Turn, so by the, WAY i
don't know That Miles, bridges excuse, me Not Miles. TURNER
i don't know, That, like how much did you upgrade
your defense really here with this? Trade Because i've seen
a lot of that was part of the reasoning behind,
it AND i just Don't i've said this a. Bunch
when you Watch Miles, bridges even when he's dropping. Twenty
it's never on hyper. Efficiency he's in the fiftieth percentile
of points per shot attempt last. Year he's not an exceptional.
Passer he's was in The he was also the fiftieth
percentile of assist to usage ratio last. Year he's never
really ranked higher than around the. Sixty he's never been
in the seventieth percentile of. That to, me he just
he might give, you like raise your floor in certain,
instances BUT i don't know that He to, me he
doesn't augment their. DEFENSE i don't know that he significantly
augments their. Offense he is the from a basketball, perspective
he is probably the better singular talent Than Grayson. Allen
but just the, space like the gravity That Grayson allen,
Has i'm not Even i'm not even prepared to say
that at this, moment he is one of THE i
think he's one of the biggest empty calorie guys in the.
Speaker 2: League and, see there we. Go that's because whoever wrote that,
set he still gets His, yes that's the kind of the,
problem because that's not how you need to look at.
It that that is the wrong way to gauge. Basketball
if you have teammates in front of you that are
significantly better Which Miles bridges. Did your role and your,
Responsibility god damn it as a basketball, player especially at this,
level is to incorporate yourself into a manner where you
weave yourself into the fabric of the offense instead of
going in with the mindset Of i'm gonna get. Mine
that's What Miles bridges did for a long. Time that's
part of the. Issue him getting his is actually a
part of the. Problem Jalen, green another guy on this,
Team it occasionally still struggles with that understanding what does
that might team need for me? Now like the, truest
greatest basketball players on earth always understood when it was
time to, sacrifice when it was time to step. Aside
like Even michael Effing jordan like would realize When Scotty
pippen had it going and, say all, right Like i'm
going to scale back a little. BIT i can feel
That scotty is going through something special right. Now i'm
gonna make sure THAT i can enhance that by giving
him the ball and being a thread off the. Ball
Like it's just it's not about getting, Yours it's about
weaving yourself into the frabriacal for team organization and become
the quality teammate and actually do what you need to
do in order to enhance everyone. Else Miles bridges does
the exact.
Speaker 1: Opposite, YEAH I i hated. THAT i mean just even
removing what they gave up for. Him i'm just curious
to see how much better he makes their team of it.
All AND i don't the other part of that. Too
this doesn't get into their, needs but it's what is
That they're gonna sign him to an? Extension? Right, otherwise
WHILE i give up a twenty thirty three first round
pick for, him AND i know they got a twenty
twenty nine first, back but it's the less favorable of
what is? It that's The, Utah Minnesota, cleveland, Right so
that's gonna be in the twenties at that. Point this TEAM.
Speaker 2: I would have.
Speaker 1: PREFERRED i thought they were too high on their own
supply based off some of the things that were being
said after this past. SEASON i would just preferred they
Stood pat