WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.240 NBA Playoffs roll along tonight, Midtown Manhattan is the scene. 2 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:09.160 It's gonna be chaos, probably already is. It'll be six 3 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:11.439 o'clock Mountain time. The New York Knicks will try to 4 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:13.880 advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time 5 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:18.320 since the year two thousand, when they played the Indiana Pacers, who, 6 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:22.359 ironically enough, are awaiting the winner of next of Knick Celtics. 7 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:24.640 All right, big day for our next guest. 8 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:28.160 I understand that Craig Bowler Jack is turning forty five 9 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:31.600 years old today on this Friday afternoon. 10 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:33.719 Bowler, Happy birthday, sir. How are we doing? 11 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:38.320 Thank you, buddy. Hey, you know that's a nice that's 12 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.960 a nice birthday present. There, pal, I got allergies. Is 13 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:45.119 spring summertime. But other than that, I'm good. Yeah, forty 14 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:47.520 you're off a year forty four. 15 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:49.320 Oh my bad, my bad. 16 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:51.600 Well you don't look a day over forty, my friend, 17 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:53.039 you've taken good care of yourself. 18 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:55.119 So happy birthday, Craig, from all of us. 19 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:58.520 All to you. Okay, appreciate that, appreciate it. 20 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:01.240 We got any plans tonight? What do we got going on? 21 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.640 What we got cooking for the birthday? 22 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:05.079 I tell you, I'll be honest man, kind of laying 23 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:09.319 low of families everywhere this way and that may do 24 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:12.319 something Sunday, but I know I'm going to be watching 25 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:17.680 some basketball. I'll tell you that I've loved the playoffs incredible. 26 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:24.400 I like the physicality, the comebacks leads me nothing free 27 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:27.959 throws last night and a lot for Denver and tonight. 28 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.280 You just said it. I don't know. What do you think? 29 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:35.719 Twenty five years since the Pacers and the Knicks met 30 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:38.480 in the conference final? Interesting? Huh yeah? 31 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:43.000 Very interesting, And as a unbiased basketball observer. 32 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:44.159 I think the Knicks probably get it done. 33 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:46.840 As a longtime Nick fan, as this team has led 34 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:49.480 me down year after years since I was ten years old, 35 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:50.359 I'm very nervous. 36 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:51.760 Greg. 37 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:55.040 Yeah, you're not alone. I'm sure you know it's crazy 38 00:01:55.079 --> 00:02:00.079 and that New York just had that something happened, and 39 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.200 you know better than I do that the no fan 40 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.439 ever felt like it was in the bag. You know, 41 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:11.840 so many disappointments. They're involved in another interesting draft night, 42 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.759 you know scenario that Patrick Ewing came to the Knicks 43 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:21.599 on what was allegedly a frozen or a bit frozen 44 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:26.439 draft card. If I'm not mistaken. It's been a while, 45 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:28.639 run man, a lot of a lot of basketball, a 46 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:30.759 lot of players, a lot of have come and gone, 47 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.560 but to what a pretty good team. I think with 48 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.439 Tatum out, this has got to go. W Man at 49 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:41.159 the Garden, I would think. But we've been proven wrong before. 50 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:42.240 I hope you're right. 51 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:46.400 And since you brought up lottery and draft day malfeasans 52 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.199 and things that are questioned by the general public, I 53 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.599 just got to know, Craig, where were you and what 54 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.039 was your reaction when you saw Mark Tatum pull out 55 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.840 the envelope and the Jazz were set to draft at five? 56 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:01.879 You know what, honest, I walked in my office and said, 57 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:03.840 I'm just going to shut the door and watch this, 58 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:07.400 so you know, if I want to say yeah, I can, 59 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:11.960 or if I want to go damn, I can't. You know. 60 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:15.879 I just sat there, put my hands and you know, 61 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:18.520 underneath my chin, I said, all right, let's see what happens. 62 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:22.439 And my gut was rolling and I thought I got 63 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.879 a feeling after all the talk and all the numbers 64 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:29.319 and you know, all the percentages that the five spot's 65 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.319 going to be the Jazz, and it just rolled up 66 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:35.319 and there it was and I just stared and thought, wow, 67 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:40.360 how does that happen? And then I got up and 68 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:44.120 told the wife and said, let's go have dinner because 69 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:46.319 I wasn't going to sit around here and just you know, 70 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:51.560 hit my head against the wall. You know, seventeen win season, 71 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:56.680 worse than Jazz franchise history. Dallas trades away Luca in 72 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:02.039 the dark of night, Kyrie blows up, ACL fans nearly 73 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:06.240 riot in Dallas Spence, as you know, and they end 74 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:09.240 up getting number one, and the Jazz dropped down, you know, 75 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:13.240 to to number five. And it just doesn't make sense. 76 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:17.199 But in a way nothing does. You take a chance 77 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.680 when you alleged or you go the tank position, you know, 78 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:25.639 let's tank it. And what's interesting two Spence. All three 79 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.839 of the teams that had the first the top three 80 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.519 worst records in the league all fell back in this 81 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:35.800 in this in this draft selection. And I find that intriguing. 82 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:38.240 If there is a lesson learned, you just go play, 83 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.279 you know. I'm I'm like you, I'm old school, and 84 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:44.480 I just think you go play and just do what 85 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:47.319 you can with what's given. But you know, you take 86 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.600 a chance, you roll the dice, and you come up empty. 87 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:51.480 Now you have to wait and see what the next 88 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:53.920 the next step, the next direction is for the Jazz. 89 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.759 Yeah, and you know, the good news is that in 90 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:00.519 a way, not the way that we were all hoping 91 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:02.519 it would work out, but in a way it did 92 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.240 work out because as the worst team in the league, 93 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:09.439 you are guaranteed a top five pick. So it so the 94 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:12.600 point of what they did this year certainly was probably 95 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:16.680 twofold and one was to have the best chance possible at. 96 00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:17.680 Getting number one overall. 97 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:20.120 But the other point of it was to not fall 98 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.680 past five because the top five pick Craig is very 99 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.759 valuable in every single draft, and it's going to be 100 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:28.079 valuable in this draft. So the bottom line is they're 101 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:30.160 still going to get a really good player at five 102 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.680 if they stay at five. My question to you is 103 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:36.079 are you hearing anything about where their heads are at, 104 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.160 because we've heard a couple of reports over the past 105 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:41.639 twenty four hours that they're still going to be bold 106 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.240 to try to do something to up the bottom line 107 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.759 of this team, and to me, that indicates maybe stand 108 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.319 at five is not on the table because san Antonio 109 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:51.759 has to look at moving too. 110 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:52.399 Now. 111 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:56.160 The problem is there's a Giannis component out there. There's 112 00:05:56.199 --> 00:06:00.199 a durant component out there. What does Boston's new ownership 113 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.160 group do with a luxury tax bill of five hundred 114 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:04.720 million dollars next year? 115 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:05.199 Amazing? 116 00:06:05.319 --> 00:06:06.720 Is Jalen Brown available? 117 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:08.920 So if you're San Antonio, you probably have a lot 118 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.199 of options. But any insider intel as to where the 119 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:14.759 head of Danny Ainge is the head of Justin Zanik 120 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:16.319 is what you think the approach will be? 121 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:19.800 You know, Spence, I wish I had an answer for 122 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.199 you of yes, this is what direction they are, but 123 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:27.199 no quiet. From what I know, you can speculate and 124 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.759 there's options, and that's a good thing. Look, the Jazz 125 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:35.720 collected draft picks for a reason, and that was to bargain. 126 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:39.560 And right now it's probably the most opportunistic time for 127 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.079 them to have these picks in their pocket. And how 128 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.279 do they use them? I mean, this is where Danny's 129 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.759 expertise is going to have to come through on what 130 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.560 he did in Boston in prior years. And you know, 131 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.439 Jazz fans are going to have to sit back and 132 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:58.639 go that worked or it didn't. But you're right, the 133 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:02.480 five spot still gives you a player that you can 134 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:05.160 slide in. But I don't think that's where the Jazz 135 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:09.800 were ever thinking personally. I mean all indications where you know, 136 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:14.360 it's Cooper, it's Cooper, it's Cooper. If Harper's there, and 137 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:19.000 by chance it goes too, that's a possibility and will 138 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:24.279 survive it. But I think this is an opportunity this 139 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:27.160 summer where the Jazz can do a lot of things. 140 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:31.800 They can move players, they can decide to stay young 141 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.839 and and rense and repeat, which I think would be 142 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:42.959 a bold decision. Knowing that downtown is being re energized 143 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:48.319 with a billion dollars in change, the three year project 144 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:51.600 to give the Delta Center a Facebook for hockey, and 145 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:55.279 the Jazz is right in front of us. They're underway now, 146 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.399 and you know, the Olympics around the corner, and you 147 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:02.720 also have a new competitor in town and Ryan Smith 148 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:05.199 owns that team. It's it's you know, what was the 149 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.519 Utah Hockey Club but the Utah Mammoth. And you know, 150 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.519 I think that's the most intriguing thing for me, Spence. 151 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.759 You know, it's how do you handle, you know, to 152 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:21.720 have both teams financially fiscal and making money and getting 153 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:26.399 return on the investment. But also is there enough advertising 154 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.600 dollar to go around. Does someone peel off to join 155 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:34.120 hockey that was a Jazz fan. That's interesting to me 156 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:38.080 because this has never really happened ever in Utah. You know, 157 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.360 sports is to have that type of competition, and they 158 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:45.279 own the fourth pick Lady Luck shine down on the Mammoth, 159 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:48.559 unlike the Jazz. So I think had some of the 160 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:52.039 most intriguing conversation over the next month and a half 161 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.639 on how this plays out. And you know how aggressive 162 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:59.440 Danny and Justin and Ryan truly are going to be. 163 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:02.600 And you brought up some names that are gonna move. 164 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.159 You know, injuries are going to force it. You know, 165 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:09.799 in Boston that's kind of a quiet, unknown, big story 166 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:13.159 because new ownership. I've got a college buddy of mine 167 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:19.759 who had some interest in financial interest and investment in Boston, 168 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:23.799 and you know we've talked a little bit about you know, 169 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.320 he's very quiet on the up and up, but yeah, 170 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.879 it's it's but they're interested in Boston about what the 171 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.879 changes will be. And now it's been accelerated with the 172 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:37.960 Achilles here, did Jason Tatum right? They may have to 173 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.039 make a move quicker than they may have thought and 174 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:46.080 maybe not play this again, maybe won't play it forward. So, man, 175 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:47.759 there's a lot of stuff going down. What do the 176 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:51.559 Lakers do? What about Lebron? What about Phoenix? What about 177 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:57.600 Steph Golden State's era of greatness? Man, it's it's interesting 178 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:01.879 in Milwaukee again with Dame Lillard's achilles, that puts him 179 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.080 kind of in the driver's seat on what he wants 180 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:06.320 to do and how this may play out for not 181 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.320 only the Bucks, for multiple teams though around the league, 182 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.240 East and West. 183 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:14.679 All right, Craig, are you ready for my trade idea? 184 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:16.240 Let's do it. 185 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:18.840 I'm gonna throw this at you, and let's remind the 186 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.279 listening audience that Craig Butler Jack is an employee of 187 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:24.519 the Utah Jazz, so he needs to be careful about 188 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.159 what he says. And we all understand that Patrick Dumont, 189 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.919 owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has said, we are keeping 190 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.919 one and we are drafting Cooper Flag. 191 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.960 So no, Nico, you can't trade it. Get out of 192 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:38.120 the room. That's what we're doing. So one is off 193 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:38.879 the board, Craig. 194 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.480 So let's move over to two, where the San Antonio 195 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:44.480 Spurs find themselves in an interesting spot because they made 196 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.200 the trade for Daron Fox, and they have the reigning 197 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:49.200 rookie of the Year in Stefan Castle. So if the 198 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:52.360 second best player in this draft is Dylan Harper, the 199 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:56.080 reality is there's a lot of redundancy on San Antonio's roster. 200 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:59.559 So what if you call san Antonio and you say, 201 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:04.000 send us two, Okay, send us two, and then send 202 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:06.799 us fourteen. They've got two lottery picks, Send us two 203 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:11.279 and fourteen. Send us Kelton Johnson and Harrison Barnes. We're 204 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.360 going to send you five, and we're going to send 205 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:16.720 you marketing. Lowry marketing the number five pick for the 206 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:19.200 number two pick, the number fourteen pick in exchange for 207 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.519 Harrison Barnes and Kelton Johnson is only twenty five and 208 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:22.320 a really good player. 209 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:22.919 What do you think? 210 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:27.120 You know, that's intriguing. And I think it depends too 211 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.240 on where Lowry's head is in this because it's been 212 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:35.000 well documented documented that he wanted to see in Utah, 213 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.279 he did stay in Utah, and he still wants to 214 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:40.960 be in Utah. Now that was before. I haven't heard 215 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:45.639 anything out of Lowry since Draft night. But you know, 216 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:48.440 I think the other part of the equation, Spence is 217 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:53.679 at the timetable for Lowry in the sense of how 218 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:56.399 many years in the league, his age, and how do 219 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.240 the Jazz look at him in the future and is 220 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.600 he now going to be past his prime when this 221 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.720 all comes to, you know, fruition of being a major 222 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.879 player in the Western Conference. I think, you know, it's 223 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.480 an intriguing idea, I really do. I think there's a 224 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:17.440 lot of them out there, and you know, you still 225 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:20.639 have a John Collins, I believe who have the player option. 226 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.600 You know, jac There's a lot of players that Jazz had. 227 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:27.759 There's some talent even you know, the talent of the 228 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:32.639 last two draft class could be moved if necessary, some 229 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:35.919 of them. So I think Will Hardy said it back 230 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:39.320 best in his pressure last summer was you know, this 231 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:42.200 is not an easy league. It's not easy to make 232 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.759 a roster, it's not easy to stay on a roster. 233 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.360 And this past year I think they got a really 234 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:51.200 good insight of who can actually I think, play under pressure, 235 00:12:51.480 --> 00:12:54.080 deliver under pressure, and who wants to be a part 236 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:57.879 of this of this build. Obviously there's a few that 237 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:01.000 probably may want to go some place else. They may 238 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.799 not have a choice, but that's just the way the 239 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:05.320 life is in the NBA. I think there's gonna be 240 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:07.360 a lot of names out there, Spence, I really do. 241 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:11.440 And I think it goes beyond Giannis. You know, what 242 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.720 does Golden State want to put on the table? Are 243 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:17.919 they players? This? What is Phoenix gonna do? They're gonna 244 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.559 be players? And now Dallas, out of nowhere, is obviously 245 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:26.080 sitting in the driver's seat trying to revitalize a franchise 246 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:29.279 who most of us thought a week ago, five days 247 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:32.320 ago was basically dead on the vine, right, and they're 248 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.159 going to have to take a step back and really 249 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:38.759 rethink this thing. But Lady Luck shown shown down on them. Man, 250 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.000 I'd say, it's it's amazing to see how this thing 251 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:44.559 worked out. It really is. This will go down again 252 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:47.679 in jazz Loar is another year where you wanted to 253 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:51.919 develop and you did. You had the worst record in basketball, 254 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:55.519 the worst in franchise history. But it didn't work out, 255 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:57.639 and you have to move on and find a way. 256 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:01.120 One thing, Spence, you cannot take this. You cannot allow this, 257 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:05.200 and through your idea of a trade, that idea is 258 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.919 moving forward. The one thing you don't want to do 259 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:13.120 under the circumstances to make you move backwards in this situation. 260 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:17.559 So anything Justin and Danny probably do. They've got to 261 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:23.039 be forward thinkers on what will get them past this disappointment, 262 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:26.840 this bump that didn't occur for Cooper Flag, and can 263 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.519 you survive it and move on without missing a beat 264 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:32.399 in the rebuild. I think that's the biggest challenge of all. 265 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.200 Lowry is turning twenty eight in six days, so he 266 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.600 will be twenty eight this year. And you know, Craig, 267 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:43.480 even if the Jazz grabbed number one and drafted Cooper Flag, 268 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.639 the reality is that would not have put them in 269 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:48.360 a place to really challenge for anything all that special 270 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:51.080 this year. As it is, they didn't grab number one 271 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.759 and they're left at five where they're going to get 272 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.639 a good young piece. And look, man, I don't know 273 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.679 Ryan Smith all that well personally. All my interactions with 274 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.759 him have been very pleasant. One thing we can all 275 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:05.240 agree upon is the dude is bold. I mean, he's 276 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:08.600 a bold guy. And you know, I would imagine that 277 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:12.240 an owner like Ryan who at least front facing says 278 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.720 he wants to win and wants to win soon. I 279 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.960 think you put everything on the table at this point, 280 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.080 because sure Larry wants to be here. But you know, 281 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.919 Larry Marketing is making max money for the next four years. 282 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:25.440 He he you know, he's fine no matter where he's at. 283 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:28.279 And yes, when players want to be here, it's important. 284 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.440 But if he doesn't fit the timeline, I actually think 285 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.440 they might put him on the table, on the table 286 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.519 to move up or grab a couple of young pieces 287 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:37.200 that are a little bit more exciting because they have 288 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:40.320 to have done their calculation by now to understand that 289 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.200 there really is not many avenues to improve the team 290 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:46.399 to make next year look different than this year unless 291 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.360 they're going to be bold. 292 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.519 And Ryan's a bold guy. 293 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.080 So I wonder if we're going to see finally some 294 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:53.279 bold movement from this ownership group and from this from 295 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.000 this front office. 296 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:57.639 What do you think? Yeah, great points, And you remember 297 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:01.320 the comment about going big game hunting that didn't happen, 298 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.759 and maybe this summer that that statement by Danny comes 299 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:10.039 to fruition And how however they end up doing it, Spence, 300 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:14.960 there's multiple ways, as you know, uh, draft, free agency, UH, 301 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.679 using trades and moving players in and out. I think 302 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:20.720 you're going to see a lot of a lot of 303 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:24.519 movement because of age and injury, A lot of teams 304 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:28.600 have to re energize and rev their you know, their 305 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.159 their roster back up. Uh. But there's a lot of 306 00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:35.960 great players are on the cusp of the end. And 307 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.120 that's what the jazz I think, probably in the back 308 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.679 of their planning, in the in their mind of planning 309 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.919 all this is that they would be setting in a 310 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:47.519 position where in the West especially it was aging rapidly 311 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:51.240 with you know, Hall of Famers, first ballot Hall of Famers, 312 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:55.080 and now injuries hit the East and you wonder, you know, 313 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:59.600 who's going to accelerate the process even more. That to 314 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.600 me is is so intriguing, but also it's of the 315 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:06.440 future of downtown. It's a competition with the with the 316 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:10.359 Mammoth and the Jazz. The Jazz have always been, you know, 317 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.960 top dog, and it's interesting to see to me what 318 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.240 Ryan wants to do on how competitive they can be 319 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.240 against each other but yet still profit. And that to 320 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:26.680 me intrigues me a ton, because again, Salt Lake's growing, 321 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:31.000 but when it comes to multimillion dollar deals, you know 322 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:35.279 in advertising packages, yeah they're out there, but just how 323 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:39.319 many and is there enough to sustain and profit off 324 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:43.599 of two young franchises that are looking to make their 325 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:47.160 way through the NBA and the NHL. Spen to tell you, 326 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:50.599 I mean, you know, this is where you earn your money. 327 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:56.160 Danny's experience has got to shine through. Justin's been an agent, 328 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:59.839 he knows players and tendencies and all this all has 329 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:03.279 to come together to get the right decision on the 330 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:06.319 table and and to pull pulled string on it and 331 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.920 make sure that it's a long term. You know. Going 332 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:13.559 back to Lowry, you know he's intriguing, but not so 333 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:15.599 if he doesn't have the right players around him. I 334 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.200 think we saw that this year. Is he the second 335 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:22.240 or third best on a great team? Most likely? Does 336 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.200 he want to play? I know he wants to play, 337 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:27.839 but he also understood what the situation was. And as 338 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:32.519 each day and each game went by, you know, TikTok, TikTok. 339 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:36.319 I mean, time goes on and you lose a season 340 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.960 and all of a sudden you jump in and you're 341 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:44.119 ten years in. So you make a great point. There's 342 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:47.960 young young players, and they're younger every year every you know, 343 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:52.559 Scooper's not even eighteen yet. I mean I find that fascinating, 344 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.200 and so that comes into the equation. I think too 345 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:58.720 Spence is you know, how long do you hold a player? 346 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.279 How long do you want to give the development, give 347 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:05.480 him time to development, to develop, because look back in 348 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.960 the day of Sloan and look that's going back, I 349 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.839 know it, but guys were three and four years they 350 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:17.200 were twenty three, some twenty four, Big t was a senior, 351 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.039 won the national title. Seventh player taken. Was the NBA ready, 352 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:23.640 he says he was, and I think you know, he 353 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:26.920 proved that he was. And now you're waiting to see 354 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:30.160 if the pick was right. And that makes this whole situation, 355 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.559 I think even more intriguing and more difficult. You're rolling 356 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:37.359 the dice on young, young talent because you're not sure 357 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.119 how they're going to mature and what kind of work ethic, 358 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.279 truly do they have if they're going to be a 359 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.079 pro and make the top of money that's in the 360 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.720 league right now, All. 361 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.759 Right, Boler, last thing and I'll set you loose. We 362 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:51.039 had your guy a Lemma in studio yesterday for an 363 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:54.160 hour and it was fun man telling some story time, 364 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:56.240 and we both decided that we've all just kind of 365 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:59.960 followed you to, you know, find our way in this business. 366 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:02.519 Is you know, Alema kind of followed in your footsteps 367 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:04.960 over Ksel. Of course you have the original Big Show. 368 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:07.720 I had the second iteration of that. Unfortunately we had 369 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.519 to drag the same partner around for years. But he 370 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.680 said something that kind of shout out, Gordon, we love you. 371 00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:16.599 He said something that kind of I don't know, maybe 372 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.400 smile because a Lemma is such a sweet guy. He 373 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:22.440 just said, Look, we all as a collective jazz community, 374 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:25.720 and whatever part of the ecosystem you're in, you're part 375 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.880 of the jazz community. Whether it's fans, media, we all 376 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:30.200 want to see the jazz win and do well. We 377 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.400 all just have to find our own way to enjoy 378 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:36.079 the ride. How do you do that when the team 379 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.640 is not close to what we're accustomed to? How do 380 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:40.920 you enjoy the ride as a media member, as a fan, 381 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.359 as somebody who cares about the jazz? 382 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.960 How do you do that? 383 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:47.119 Well, you know what you're catching me on a quick answer, 384 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:51.799 But what first came to mind was people working with 385 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.400 a Lemma. I've known him for years and years and years. 386 00:20:55.440 --> 00:21:01.079 We've we've been through it at KSL and beyond. You 387 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:05.200 known Monson, David James, I mean Scotti, Girard all the 388 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:07.440 names that we hear around town are people we all 389 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:11.400 know and interact with, and it makes that you know, 390 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:15.480 West rough Over Channel four forever. But I think it's 391 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.200 the people that I see on a nightly basis, but 392 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:22.200 the fans who are wide eyed, and also the newer 393 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:28.039 fans that come into that building and just embrace, embrace 394 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:32.839 a franchise now fifty one years and year old, and 395 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:37.319 you go, wow, look at the longevity of the franchise, 396 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:39.880 but also look at the generations of fans that have 397 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:44.319 come through the house that Larry built and before it 398 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:48.480 at at the Salt Palace. And you know, for me, 399 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.839 this year was challenging. Thryll and I had multiple talks 400 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:56.039 and Lauren her first year was you know what, first 401 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:59.359