February 13, 2023 • 18 mins
Sarah talks with NBA.com Senior Writer Shaun Powell about the NBA buyout market players like Danny Green, Terrance Ross, Reggie Jackson and Russell Westbrook and if they can make a real impact. We also cover the new balance of power in both the East and West after the Trade Deadline moves.
NBA Pulse is a production of iHeartMedia and the NBA
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome into NBA Pulsar production of I Heart Radio in
the NBA. I'm Saracustack, NBA analysts for the s Networking
Today is Monday, February from our terrific core group of
NBA journalists were now joined by NBA dot Com Sean Powell.
And I was gonna say super Bowl. We no super
Bowl hangover for us, Sean, Well, we'll get it. We'll
get into a lot of the interesting stuff happening within
(00:26):
the NBA this week. Of course, we had passed the
trade deadline, a ton of movement, um, some interesting shifts
in power from the East to the West with some
of the players, and some of the movement happening that
we'll get to later in the show. But we go
from the trade deadline to buy out time, the buyout market,
and already have a couple of reports and um some
(00:47):
movement with some key players that I want to ask
you about the top three that we're looking at now
that it seems like there's some solidification. With Danny Green,
Let's start with he was traded for Memphis to Houston,
of which he was waived. He played just three games
with Memphis after tearing his A c L last postseason
with the Philadelphia seventy sixers. Looks like he is headed
(01:09):
to the Cleveland Cavaliers. UM Terence ross Way by Orlando
looks like he may be headed to Phoenix. And then
Reggie Jackson traded from the Clippers to Charlotte, of which
Charlotte buying him out and likely landing spot for him
in Denver. So um sean, let's start with Danny Green,
three time champion, obviously still seeing how he recovers from
(01:30):
that a c L. Cleveland Cavaliers are a team. Um,
it's surprised some just with how big of a jump
they've made thus far this season, though they've got a
solid core. What's the impact do you think that that
Green could have on this Cavaliers group in the East. Well,
he brings a couple of things. Number One, he brings
a veteran leadership, you know for a team that has
(01:52):
some young players. That will help. Uh. He brings some
three point shooting. Again, the last few years of his career,
that three point shooting is sort of you know, been
a little bit touch and go. But again he's like
he's one of those guys who if he gets hot,
you know, he can really help you, and he's not
going to be out there for any kind of you know,
extended minutes. You just want to be able to put
him in certain situations where you need a three point
(02:15):
shoot or at least a player who can stretch the
floor and have the defense respect him. You know, sometimes
you just put players on the floor. The defense just
has to respect and and that's important because it opens
the lane for a guy like you know, say Donovan
Mitchell one everything, uh the other thing he brings. I
would hope he brings two jerseys from the last two
(02:35):
teams he's been on. So Memph, Memphis, he stayed long
enough to get some barbecue, and in Houston, I hope
they stitched a jersey for him so he can add
to his collection. So you know, Danny, it's my way
of saying Danny Green has been around. You know, you
can even start with San Antoni. Actually he goes back
to Cleveland from the team was going to start a
place that he began. All circles back absolutely so he
(02:57):
boomerangs back um back when you know he played with
Lebron James first time, and of course you know he
played with Lebron James and the bubble as well, helped
the Lakers win a championship there. Uh so Um. Again,
he's just a guy who is at the end of
his career. But you know he's steady. You know, he's
got a good voice in the locker room, and you know,
(03:19):
if you put him on the floor, the defense has
to respect him a little bit. And I think at
this point that's what the Cats are looking for. Let's
go to Terence Ross. Way boy, Orlando expected to go
to Phoenix. I know there it seemed like there was
a little bit of rumblings of potentially Dallas, but it
seems like Phoenix, um will be the landing spot for him.
What do you make of what Ross could add with
this Phoenix lineup in the new Luk Phoenix now with
(03:42):
Kevin Durant headed over to the Sun's Well, you know
Terence Ross uh with Orlando uh and previously with Toronto.
I mean, he was a guy who could stretched the
floor a little bit. Uh And if and if you
gave him too much respect on his three point shot,
he could take you off the dribble as well. Backdoor
cut by spending whirling Terence Ronald like shut up in
(04:05):
the fourth quarter Wow. Never a spectacular player, never an
All Star or anything like that. But uh, at the
peak of his career, he was always very steady and
he could suddenly, without warning, could give you twenty I
think obviously those days are behind him. Otherwise that's you know, Orlando,
I'm sure tried to trade him before they you know,
(04:28):
gave his walking paper. So that kind of tells you
what the rest of the league thinks about you, just
in terms of giving up assets for you. But when
you're on the uh the buyout market, everything changes, you know,
because you're coming cheap and free. I think if you're
the Sons and you just lost Michail Bridges, uh, you know,
you're trying to add to your wings, and he was
a logical choice. Uh they didn't have. Again, he's a
(04:50):
guy who's a veteran who comes to a veteran team.
So in those situations, just that's really a smooth transition.
And you know, look, if you if you talk to Booker,
uh Ay d Um, Chris Paul, they know that they
know Terence Ross. You know, they played against him for
so many years that they know his tendencies and everything.
So you really don't need a training camp to bring
(05:10):
in the Terence Ross. And again, when we're talking about
by by players for the most part, uh, you're talking
about players are not going to see the floor for ten, twelve,
fifteen minutes a game, you know, and that's all your
actings from them is to help in those limited minutes. Uh.
So we're talking about the West, We're talking about some
of the top teams in the West, and obviously Denver
has been the team sitting atop the West for quite
(05:31):
some time. It looks like Reggie Jackson um who was
traded by the Clippers to Charlotte and then Wade, will
be headed to the Nuggets. What do you think of that?
What do you think of the impact that Reggie Jackson
could potentially have with this Denver lineup. But when you
bring in any point guard with the Denver Nuggets, you
have that point Guard's gotta understand one thing. You're not
(05:52):
really at the point guard. The point guard is seventh
fs all. Okay, you're talking about yogurts that that guy
is a point guard, right, even though he plays a
difference position, but the offense runs through him. So therefore,
if you're the Denver no goods, you need a guard
who can shoot, because he's not really gonna be breaking
down the defense, you know, setting guys up, not for
the most part, unless you pitches off the floor. Uh.
(06:15):
And I think Reggie Jackson does those things. You know,
he's a guy who, uh it's not like a hybrid
point guard, you know, shooting guard. A guy who can
you know, if you leave him alone, he can hit
the three point shot, he can stretch the floor a
little bit, Uggie Jackson open shot. And I'm probably a
good compliment for Jamal Murray. Again, they're just looking for
(06:36):
him to come in and provide some you know, some
points and leadership things like that. You know. The interesting
thing about Reggie Jackson a couple of years ago, he
goes very very good for the Clippers. Uh, this past year,
I just don't know what happened. Uh he felt a
favor some way, shape or fashion. Remember they just signed
him to a contract extension in the year before, so
I think they had higher hopes for him. And you know,
(06:58):
has he has He reached that point in his career
like all players do, where they kind of fall off
a cliff And I hope that I know, I know,
when you're talking about falling off a cliff in the
city of Denver. Well, you know, it's like a match
hunt but there with your words exactly. But I think, uh,
I think he probably has a little left in the
tank and and and going to a championship contender that
(07:21):
has to rejuvenate you a little bit, so you have
a sense of responsibility. I think that that is not
enough about Reggie Jackson to go get him. And so
I think that says, uh, what they think about him. Yeah, yeah,
And it was interesting with the Clippers, a team that
was looking for a point guard and needing, you know,
to kind of fortify that point guard role. Um, let's
get to another point guard real quick, and then we'll
(07:43):
look at some other names. Russell Westbrook, Uh, there's a
lot that you could look at with where he's at,
where he's at this point of his career. He was
traded from the Lakers to Utah um and will be
bought out. What do you make of Westbrook? The rumors
is him speaking of the Clippers going to the Clippers
more speculation? I should say, uh, what do you think
(08:05):
of that potential fit or Westbrook just being on the
buyer market. Well, I'll talk about Westbrook in general. Um,
you know, obviously it's been quite a wild ride. When
you talk about a guy who was a former m
v P and what he's been in four teams last
four years, he rarely rarely see that from guys of
his calibers. Uh, you know, made the semi pith All
(08:27):
Anniversary team m v P. You know. Uh, I think though,
but Russ had just a rocky road in l A.
You know, his his he couldn't shoot. He couldn't shot,
couldn't make free throws, couldn't make three pointers. Even his
two points shooting was down load. And then the other
thing that hurt Westbrook was turnovers. You know, and this
is a guy, by the way, didn't have as much
high usage with the Lakers because Lebron James had the ball,
(08:49):
so that that's even more alarming the fact that you
don't mean even even handle the ball as much and
you still have turnovers. He averaged over three a game,
So that was troubling. And the other thing about Westbrook
throughout his entire career, he's never really been a free agent.
He's always been traded. So now he has a choice
to where to go. So I think that's what he's
doing right now, he's trying to figure out what's his
next move. He wants his next move to be his
(09:10):
best move. Uh. And obviously he still plays hard. I
think he's still have to have him out there. But
I think the team that gets Westbrook wants to know
what his mindset is. Can he come off the bench?
Is he okay with that? What about his ego? Can
he can he put his ego in check? But at
the same time play hard, you know. Uh. Jeff Betty
(09:30):
wants said said the toughest player to coach is a
superstar and decline you need to really think about it
because that superstar is the last to know, you know.
But I would like to think that Russell Westbrook gotta
wake up call the last few years. Uh. And he
needs to understand his limitations, what he can do, what
he can't do. As far as the team that might
(09:51):
be interested in him, it would seem the Clippers are
good fit, if only because he doesn't have to move
his family, so he's right there in l A And
he and he had a good a couple of years
with Paul George in Oklahoma City. They messed very well.
The Clippers have Paul George is a creator. Uh Kawhi
Leonard is a creator. Russell Westbrook doesn't necessarily need to
have to be a creator. Is playing at risk and
(10:13):
the turner was coming to play just Ruscipe Russ. And again,
this is a guy like all guys in the buyout market.
He's only gonna go in there and get about fifteen
or twenty minutes a game, and he's got to be
okay with that. Yeah, Tyler, I think a good coach
to be able to um communicate, resonate with an individual
like Russ a couple other names. I'm going to toss
that you and I'm interested to see what what's your
(10:34):
thoughts if any of these stand out to You've got
George hill Um looking to be a bio candidate, John Wall,
Will Barton, Sergebaka, uh Pet Beverly, Dwayne Deadman, Um, who
who do you look at is potential players? If any
um that can go to a team and have an impact,
I think a lot of those players might have to
wait till next Seaon. You dont have to sit out
(10:56):
the rest of this season. I mean it's the way
it is. I don't think there's much demand. Pat Bands
thirty four know he's a good defensive player and everything.
Maybe someone gets him a flyer. I'm not so sure.
John Wall, same thing. I know the Clippers had high hopes.
It just didn't work out, and you know he might
be facing you know they add there. Yeah. I just
think for those guys, uh, if they haven't been snapped
up by now, I think that they're just cool their
(11:18):
heels and see what happens this summer in the free
agent market. Alright, Sehan, Well, let's talk about the rest
of the season because, as I mentioned, some shift that
the East felt like they were holding out of the
power for quite some time, but some changes have the
West u fortifying a handful of these teams. We're gonna
talk about that right after the break. Welcome back to
(11:40):
NBA Pulse. Saracousta joined by Sean pal Uh. Good Monday
to get going and start this week as we're heading
into All Star break and Sean, as we mentioned some trades,
some changes, the West seems to get a little bit stronger.
I'm interested to know when you look at your top
four teams on on the Western Conference and Eastern Conference.
Let's start with the West. How do you see things
(12:03):
sitting at this point of the season with some of
the changes made with these rosters. Well, I want to
talk about, first of all, how the NBA is different
from pretty much all the other professional sports leagues. And
I say that because if you have a mega star,
he means so much of a difference going from one
team to know the lookal Kevin Durant, he leaves the
Brooklyn Nets, all of a sudden they had to no
(12:24):
long have championship aspirations, and he goes to the Phoenix
Suns and all of a sudden, you could argue, you're
the best team in the NBA. Uh. The only thing
I can compare to, and this will be a time
to comparison, would be like Pat Mahomes leaving the Super
Bowl champion Chiefs and going to another team, and all
of a sudden that team is It's the greatest team, right,
So a superstar can make that big of a difference.
(12:45):
So Kevin Durant going to the Phoenix Suns, I mean, Sarah,
you know you've watched You've watched him played for so
many years, you know what kind of a difference he makes.
One for Kevin Doran. And the other thing with Kevin
d is that He can play in any system for
any teammates, any coach. You know, he's KD. He just
(13:05):
wants the ball. You just plug him in and there
you go. So obviously, the Phoenix Suns, their season basically
has just received a tremendous Treventus facelift, putting him with
Devin Booker, uh Ayton and Chris Paul. Of course, obviously
the Elephant rooms. These guys gotta stay healthy. Uh you
know they can't afford, particularly with k D and Chris
Paul who have been dealing with juries this year and
(13:27):
are all of a certain age at this point in
your career, you know, you have to really worry about them. Also,
understand that when the playoffs begin, and even you could
even argue after the Alstar Break, these guys gotta play
heavy minutes to put themselves in position to be maybe
top three in the West or whatever so they can
have home court advantage. So you're asking a lot from
those players that the scary thing is those players can deliver.
(13:50):
Having said that, in the West, I still have Denver first,
then Phoenix, then the Clippers, uh and then Memphis. I
say Denver first his because unlike the Clippers, never Nuggets
that nucleus has been together for a few years. They
don't have to go. They're only a training camp or
anything like that. The only thing is Jamal Murray uh
and Michael Porter Jr. Once you can stop load managing them,
(14:13):
they're good. You know. They know how to play with
Yokich and vice versus, so there's no guest workfare. And
they've proven all season, even with those guys out of
the lineup, that they're very top, very great team. And
of course it goes back to Yokich the Clippers. I think,
you know, again, once you stopped load managing their stars,
I think they'll get it together. And you know, I
just think that this is a very good team, and
(14:35):
we know what Kawhi latter can do in the postseason.
The Memphis Grizzlies might be of all the top teams,
might be the one that starts to slip a little bit.
I know John Moran a few years ago, I mean
a few weeks ago, said hey, he's good in the West,
but not that good in the West. You know. Now
the retooled West being Sun would like to say, how
good are you in the West again? So I think
the Memphis Grizzlies of all the team of all the
(14:55):
top teams in the West. I think they'll suffer some slippage.
They really didn't really it and do anything at the
trade deadline, and this is your team, and I they
think when you stack up their team with the other contenders,
they're good. They ain't that good in the West, Sarah.
I think C. J. McCollum had a funny tweet saying
joh saying that is the one who started started all
this movement. But as you mentioned Denver, Denver sitting the
(15:17):
top of the West, Memphis is four and half games
back of them. Then it's Sacramento, Dallas, Phoenix, Clippers, all
all lumped up in there. As the West is jumbled up.
What about the Eastern Conference? Where do you see, if
at all, things moving up up top. I don't think
they're already major change in the East post deadline. I
think um the East pretty much and we're just talking
(15:40):
about title can We're now talking about teams that get
out of the play and we're just talking about teams
we need to talk about, right, I think there really
hasn't been much change. I think you know, you're talking
about Milwaukee in and but Boston at the very very top,
and then Philadelphia and Cleveland if things break right for them.
The reason why I stave Milwaukee in Boston, Uh, they're
(16:00):
just established. They've got the best players, you know, Joannice,
you know Jason Tatum. I mean, assuming all these guys
are healthy. But speaking of health, Chris Milton, he's got
to get really healthy and be to Chris Milton at
the Bucks have known the last previous you know, three
or four years. I mean that that's just very, very
difficult for Philadelphia or Cleveland to overcome. And I know
(16:21):
the Sixers are a good team. Joe and Beats playing
lights out. M VP candidate James harden Um. We'll we'll
see if he feels burned from not being in the
All Star Game to really, you know, refocus and and
finally have the playoff series that we all were waiting
for him to have. He still hasn't had it yet.
But look the Bucks, Janice, the Celtics, Jayson Tatum, those
(16:43):
two teams right at the top. And I'll give him
a walk at the edge because I do think the
Bucks would have beaten the Celtics last year had had
Chris Milton been healthy. They took him the seven Games,
So why wouldn't they beat him last year? Yeah? Like, uh,
you putting a little pump for Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs?
Were you? Were you for Casey? Last night? I had
no money, had had the money on the on the game,
(17:03):
had no dog in a fight, nothing like that or
anything like that. But I tell you what, it was
pretty remarkable to see an all time great get hurt
in the game and tough with out. I mean, as
fans and people who enjoy any professional sport, we like
to see the superstars have real world problems like injury.
(17:28):
Like we all get hurt, right, but we can't throw
like pack homefield. We all get hurt, so we can
relate what it's like that spring and ankle on the
pickup games. Y, I'm saying, Sarah, you play golf. You
know what I'm talking about, right, But we can relate
to that, But we can't relate to you know, being
at that high level and then just gutting it out
and winning the biggest sporting event of the well, I
should say, the second biggest after the NBA Thumals. Right, Sarah,
(17:51):
come on, now, I gotta get right right. I like it, Sean, Yeah,
for all of us saying we just want to see
a good game. We got that and more. Seawan as always,
thank you so much for of time. We appreciate you. Okay,
thanks sir, and we are back Wednesday with Steve Ashburner
as we talk about his rookie ladder in the Rising
Stars game coming up this All Star weekend and Be
a Pulse with Saraku Stock is a production of the
(18:12):
NBA and I Heart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe
on the I Heart Radio app or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Welcome into NBA Pulsar production of I Heart Radio in
the NBA. I'm Saracustack, NBA analysts for the s Networking
Today is Monday, February from our terrific core group of
NBA journalists were now joined by NBA dot Com Sean Powell.
And I was gonna say super Bowl. We no super
Bowl hangover for us, Sean, Well, we'll get it. We'll
get into a lot of the interesting stuff happening within
(00:26):
the NBA this week. Of course, we had passed the
trade deadline, a ton of movement, um, some interesting shifts
in power from the East to the West with some
of the players, and some of the movement happening that
we'll get to later in the show. But we go
from the trade deadline to buy out time, the buyout market,
and already have a couple of reports and um some
(00:47):
movement with some key players that I want to ask
you about the top three that we're looking at now
that it seems like there's some solidification. With Danny Green,
Let's start with he was traded for Memphis to Houston,
of which he was waived. He played just three games
with Memphis after tearing his A c L last postseason
with the Philadelphia seventy sixers. Looks like he is headed
(01:09):
to the Cleveland Cavaliers. UM Terence ross Way by Orlando
looks like he may be headed to Phoenix. And then
Reggie Jackson traded from the Clippers to Charlotte, of which
Charlotte buying him out and likely landing spot for him
in Denver. So um sean, let's start with Danny Green,
three time champion, obviously still seeing how he recovers from
(01:30):
that a c L. Cleveland Cavaliers are a team. Um,
it's surprised some just with how big of a jump
they've made thus far this season, though they've got a
solid core. What's the impact do you think that that
Green could have on this Cavaliers group in the East. Well,
he brings a couple of things. Number One, he brings
a veteran leadership, you know for a team that has
(01:52):
some young players. That will help. Uh. He brings some
three point shooting. Again, the last few years of his career,
that three point shooting is sort of you know, been
a little bit touch and go. But again he's like
he's one of those guys who if he gets hot,
you know, he can really help you, and he's not
going to be out there for any kind of you know,
extended minutes. You just want to be able to put
him in certain situations where you need a three point
(02:15):
shoot or at least a player who can stretch the
floor and have the defense respect him. You know, sometimes
you just put players on the floor. The defense just
has to respect and and that's important because it opens
the lane for a guy like you know, say Donovan
Mitchell one everything, uh the other thing he brings. I
would hope he brings two jerseys from the last two
(02:35):
teams he's been on. So Memph, Memphis, he stayed long
enough to get some barbecue, and in Houston, I hope
they stitched a jersey for him so he can add
to his collection. So you know, Danny, it's my way
of saying Danny Green has been around. You know, you
can even start with San Antoni. Actually he goes back
to Cleveland from the team was going to start a
place that he began. All circles back absolutely so he
(02:57):
boomerangs back um back when you know he played with
Lebron James first time, and of course you know he
played with Lebron James and the bubble as well, helped
the Lakers win a championship there. Uh so Um. Again,
he's just a guy who is at the end of
his career. But you know he's steady. You know, he's
got a good voice in the locker room, and you know,
(03:19):
if you put him on the floor, the defense has
to respect him a little bit. And I think at
this point that's what the Cats are looking for. Let's
go to Terence Ross. Way boy, Orlando expected to go
to Phoenix. I know there it seemed like there was
a little bit of rumblings of potentially Dallas, but it
seems like Phoenix, um will be the landing spot for him.
What do you make of what Ross could add with
this Phoenix lineup in the new Luk Phoenix now with
(03:42):
Kevin Durant headed over to the Sun's Well, you know
Terence Ross uh with Orlando uh and previously with Toronto.
I mean, he was a guy who could stretched the
floor a little bit. Uh And if and if you
gave him too much respect on his three point shot,
he could take you off the dribble as well. Backdoor
cut by spending whirling Terence Ronald like shut up in
(04:05):
the fourth quarter Wow. Never a spectacular player, never an
All Star or anything like that. But uh, at the
peak of his career, he was always very steady and
he could suddenly, without warning, could give you twenty I
think obviously those days are behind him. Otherwise that's you know, Orlando,
I'm sure tried to trade him before they you know,
(04:28):
gave his walking paper. So that kind of tells you
what the rest of the league thinks about you, just
in terms of giving up assets for you. But when
you're on the uh the buyout market, everything changes, you know,
because you're coming cheap and free. I think if you're
the Sons and you just lost Michail Bridges, uh, you know,
you're trying to add to your wings, and he was
a logical choice. Uh they didn't have. Again, he's a
(04:50):
guy who's a veteran who comes to a veteran team.
So in those situations, just that's really a smooth transition.
And you know, look, if you if you talk to Booker,
uh Ay d Um, Chris Paul, they know that they
know Terence Ross. You know, they played against him for
so many years that they know his tendencies and everything.
So you really don't need a training camp to bring
(05:10):
in the Terence Ross. And again, when we're talking about
by by players for the most part, uh, you're talking
about players are not going to see the floor for ten, twelve,
fifteen minutes a game, you know, and that's all your
actings from them is to help in those limited minutes. Uh.
So we're talking about the West, We're talking about some
of the top teams in the West, and obviously Denver
has been the team sitting atop the West for quite
(05:31):
some time. It looks like Reggie Jackson um who was
traded by the Clippers to Charlotte and then Wade, will
be headed to the Nuggets. What do you think of that?
What do you think of the impact that Reggie Jackson
could potentially have with this Denver lineup. But when you
bring in any point guard with the Denver Nuggets, you
have that point Guard's gotta understand one thing. You're not
(05:52):
really at the point guard. The point guard is seventh
fs all. Okay, you're talking about yogurts that that guy
is a point guard, right, even though he plays a
difference position, but the offense runs through him. So therefore,
if you're the Denver no goods, you need a guard
who can shoot, because he's not really gonna be breaking
down the defense, you know, setting guys up, not for
the most part, unless you pitches off the floor. Uh.
(06:15):
And I think Reggie Jackson does those things. You know,
he's a guy who, uh it's not like a hybrid
point guard, you know, shooting guard. A guy who can
you know, if you leave him alone, he can hit
the three point shot, he can stretch the floor a
little bit, Uggie Jackson open shot. And I'm probably a
good compliment for Jamal Murray. Again, they're just looking for
(06:36):
him to come in and provide some you know, some
points and leadership things like that. You know. The interesting
thing about Reggie Jackson a couple of years ago, he
goes very very good for the Clippers. Uh, this past year,
I just don't know what happened. Uh he felt a
favor some way, shape or fashion. Remember they just signed
him to a contract extension in the year before, so
I think they had higher hopes for him. And you know,
(06:58):
has he has He reached that point in his career
like all players do, where they kind of fall off
a cliff And I hope that I know, I know,
when you're talking about falling off a cliff in the
city of Denver. Well, you know, it's like a match
hunt but there with your words exactly. But I think, uh,
I think he probably has a little left in the
tank and and and going to a championship contender that
(07:21):
has to rejuvenate you a little bit, so you have
a sense of responsibility. I think that that is not
enough about Reggie Jackson to go get him. And so
I think that says, uh, what they think about him. Yeah, yeah,
And it was interesting with the Clippers, a team that
was looking for a point guard and needing, you know,
to kind of fortify that point guard role. Um, let's
get to another point guard real quick, and then we'll
(07:43):
look at some other names. Russell Westbrook, Uh, there's a
lot that you could look at with where he's at,
where he's at this point of his career. He was
traded from the Lakers to Utah um and will be
bought out. What do you make of Westbrook? The rumors
is him speaking of the Clippers going to the Clippers
more speculation? I should say, uh, what do you think
(08:05):
of that potential fit or Westbrook just being on the
buyer market. Well, I'll talk about Westbrook in general. Um,
you know, obviously it's been quite a wild ride. When
you talk about a guy who was a former m
v P and what he's been in four teams last
four years, he rarely rarely see that from guys of
his calibers. Uh, you know, made the semi pith All
(08:27):
Anniversary team m v P. You know. Uh, I think though,
but Russ had just a rocky road in l A.
You know, his his he couldn't shoot. He couldn't shot,
couldn't make free throws, couldn't make three pointers. Even his
two points shooting was down load. And then the other
thing that hurt Westbrook was turnovers. You know, and this
is a guy, by the way, didn't have as much
high usage with the Lakers because Lebron James had the ball,
(08:49):
so that that's even more alarming the fact that you
don't mean even even handle the ball as much and
you still have turnovers. He averaged over three a game,
So that was troubling. And the other thing about Westbrook
throughout his entire career, he's never really been a free agent.
He's always been traded. So now he has a choice
to where to go. So I think that's what he's
doing right now, he's trying to figure out what's his
next move. He wants his next move to be his
(09:10):
best move. Uh. And obviously he still plays hard. I
think he's still have to have him out there. But
I think the team that gets Westbrook wants to know
what his mindset is. Can he come off the bench?
Is he okay with that? What about his ego? Can
he can he put his ego in check? But at
the same time play hard, you know. Uh. Jeff Betty
(09:30):
wants said said the toughest player to coach is a
superstar and decline you need to really think about it
because that superstar is the last to know, you know.
But I would like to think that Russell Westbrook gotta
wake up call the last few years. Uh. And he
needs to understand his limitations, what he can do, what
he can't do. As far as the team that might
(09:51):
be interested in him, it would seem the Clippers are
good fit, if only because he doesn't have to move
his family, so he's right there in l A And
he and he had a good a couple of years
with Paul George in Oklahoma City. They messed very well.
The Clippers have Paul George is a creator. Uh Kawhi
Leonard is a creator. Russell Westbrook doesn't necessarily need to
have to be a creator. Is playing at risk and
(10:13):
the turner was coming to play just Ruscipe Russ. And again,
this is a guy like all guys in the buyout market.
He's only gonna go in there and get about fifteen
or twenty minutes a game, and he's got to be
okay with that. Yeah, Tyler, I think a good coach
to be able to um communicate, resonate with an individual
like Russ a couple other names. I'm going to toss
that you and I'm interested to see what what's your
(10:34):
thoughts if any of these stand out to You've got
George hill Um looking to be a bio candidate, John Wall,
Will Barton, Sergebaka, uh Pet Beverly, Dwayne Deadman, Um, who
who do you look at is potential players? If any
um that can go to a team and have an impact,
I think a lot of those players might have to
wait till next Seaon. You dont have to sit out
(10:56):
the rest of this season. I mean it's the way
it is. I don't think there's much demand. Pat Bands
thirty four know he's a good defensive player and everything.
Maybe someone gets him a flyer. I'm not so sure.
John Wall, same thing. I know the Clippers had high hopes.
It just didn't work out, and you know he might
be facing you know they add there. Yeah. I just
think for those guys, uh, if they haven't been snapped
up by now, I think that they're just cool their
(11:18):
heels and see what happens this summer in the free
agent market. Alright, Sehan, Well, let's talk about the rest
of the season because, as I mentioned, some shift that
the East felt like they were holding out of the
power for quite some time, but some changes have the
West u fortifying a handful of these teams. We're gonna
talk about that right after the break. Welcome back to
(11:40):
NBA Pulse. Saracousta joined by Sean pal Uh. Good Monday
to get going and start this week as we're heading
into All Star break and Sean, as we mentioned some trades,
some changes, the West seems to get a little bit stronger.
I'm interested to know when you look at your top
four teams on on the Western Conference and Eastern Conference.
Let's start with the West. How do you see things
(12:03):
sitting at this point of the season with some of
the changes made with these rosters. Well, I want to
talk about, first of all, how the NBA is different
from pretty much all the other professional sports leagues. And
I say that because if you have a mega star,
he means so much of a difference going from one
team to know the lookal Kevin Durant, he leaves the
Brooklyn Nets, all of a sudden they had to no
(12:24):
long have championship aspirations, and he goes to the Phoenix
Suns and all of a sudden, you could argue, you're
the best team in the NBA. Uh. The only thing
I can compare to, and this will be a time
to comparison, would be like Pat Mahomes leaving the Super
Bowl champion Chiefs and going to another team, and all
of a sudden that team is It's the greatest team, right,
So a superstar can make that big of a difference.
(12:45):
So Kevin Durant going to the Phoenix Suns, I mean, Sarah,
you know you've watched You've watched him played for so
many years, you know what kind of a difference he makes.
One for Kevin Doran. And the other thing with Kevin
d is that He can play in any system for
any teammates, any coach. You know, he's KD. He just
(13:05):
wants the ball. You just plug him in and there
you go. So obviously, the Phoenix Suns, their season basically
has just received a tremendous Treventus facelift, putting him with
Devin Booker, uh Ayton and Chris Paul. Of course, obviously
the Elephant rooms. These guys gotta stay healthy. Uh you
know they can't afford, particularly with k D and Chris
Paul who have been dealing with juries this year and
(13:27):
are all of a certain age at this point in
your career, you know, you have to really worry about them. Also,
understand that when the playoffs begin, and even you could
even argue after the Alstar Break, these guys gotta play
heavy minutes to put themselves in position to be maybe
top three in the West or whatever so they can
have home court advantage. So you're asking a lot from
those players that the scary thing is those players can deliver.
(13:50):
Having said that, in the West, I still have Denver first,
then Phoenix, then the Clippers, uh and then Memphis. I
say Denver first his because unlike the Clippers, never Nuggets
that nucleus has been together for a few years. They
don't have to go. They're only a training camp or
anything like that. The only thing is Jamal Murray uh
and Michael Porter Jr. Once you can stop load managing them,
(14:13):
they're good. You know. They know how to play with
Yokich and vice versus, so there's no guest workfare. And
they've proven all season, even with those guys out of
the lineup, that they're very top, very great team. And
of course it goes back to Yokich the Clippers. I think,
you know, again, once you stopped load managing their stars,
I think they'll get it together. And you know, I
just think that this is a very good team, and
(14:35):
we know what Kawhi latter can do in the postseason.
The Memphis Grizzlies might be of all the top teams,
might be the one that starts to slip a little bit.
I know John Moran a few years ago, I mean
a few weeks ago, said hey, he's good in the West,
but not that good in the West. You know. Now
the retooled West being Sun would like to say, how
good are you in the West again? So I think
the Memphis Grizzlies of all the team of all the
(14:55):
top teams in the West. I think they'll suffer some slippage.
They really didn't really it and do anything at the
trade deadline, and this is your team, and I they
think when you stack up their team with the other contenders,
they're good. They ain't that good in the West, Sarah.
I think C. J. McCollum had a funny tweet saying
joh saying that is the one who started started all
this movement. But as you mentioned Denver, Denver sitting the
(15:17):
top of the West, Memphis is four and half games
back of them. Then it's Sacramento, Dallas, Phoenix, Clippers, all
all lumped up in there. As the West is jumbled up.
What about the Eastern Conference? Where do you see, if
at all, things moving up up top. I don't think
they're already major change in the East post deadline. I
think um the East pretty much and we're just talking
(15:40):
about title can We're now talking about teams that get
out of the play and we're just talking about teams
we need to talk about, right, I think there really
hasn't been much change. I think you know, you're talking
about Milwaukee in and but Boston at the very very top,
and then Philadelphia and Cleveland if things break right for them.
The reason why I stave Milwaukee in Boston, Uh, they're
(16:00):
just established. They've got the best players, you know, Joannice,
you know Jason Tatum. I mean, assuming all these guys
are healthy. But speaking of health, Chris Milton, he's got
to get really healthy and be to Chris Milton at
the Bucks have known the last previous you know, three
or four years. I mean that that's just very, very
difficult for Philadelphia or Cleveland to overcome. And I know
(16:21):
the Sixers are a good team. Joe and Beats playing
lights out. M VP candidate James harden Um. We'll we'll
see if he feels burned from not being in the
All Star Game to really, you know, refocus and and
finally have the playoff series that we all were waiting
for him to have. He still hasn't had it yet.
But look the Bucks, Janice, the Celtics, Jayson Tatum, those
(16:43):
two teams right at the top. And I'll give him
a walk at the edge because I do think the
Bucks would have beaten the Celtics last year had had
Chris Milton been healthy. They took him the seven Games,
So why wouldn't they beat him last year? Yeah? Like, uh,
you putting a little pump for Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs?
Were you? Were you for Casey? Last night? I had
no money, had had the money on the on the game,
(17:03):
had no dog in a fight, nothing like that or
anything like that. But I tell you what, it was
pretty remarkable to see an all time great get hurt
in the game and tough with out. I mean, as
fans and people who enjoy any professional sport, we like
to see the superstars have real world problems like injury.
(17:28):
Like we all get hurt, right, but we can't throw
like pack homefield. We all get hurt, so we can
relate what it's like that spring and ankle on the
pickup games. Y, I'm saying, Sarah, you play golf. You
know what I'm talking about, right, But we can relate
to that, But we can't relate to you know, being
at that high level and then just gutting it out
and winning the biggest sporting event of the well, I
should say, the second biggest after the NBA Thumals. Right, Sarah,
(17:51):
come on, now, I gotta get right right. I like it, Sean, Yeah,
for all of us saying we just want to see
a good game. We got that and more. Seawan as always,
thank you so much for of time. We appreciate you. Okay,
thanks sir, and we are back Wednesday with Steve Ashburner
as we talk about his rookie ladder in the Rising
Stars game coming up this All Star weekend and Be
a Pulse with Saraku Stock is a production of the
(18:12):
NBA and I Heart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe
on the I Heart Radio app or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.