June 12, 2024 • 38 mins
Magic GM Anthony Parker joins Dante, George and Jake at the AdventHealth Training Center to discuss a season of growth for the young Magic, their offseason plans and options, his first calendar year as a General Manager and tons more.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
On this edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad, we catch
up with Magic General Manager Anthony Parker to get his
thoughts on the future of this Orlando Magic organization. The
Borida Department of Transportation reminds you that fans don't let
fans drive drug If you've been.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Drinking, he'll get behind the wheel.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Instead, find a sober driver or catch a ride service.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Remember, drive sober or get pulled over. Have a great
night and drive safe.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Watts to cover.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
With Magic General Manager Anthony Parker, including his thoughts on
his first year in that official capacity as GM of
the Orlando Magic, how that year went for him, this
past year for the Orlando Magic, winning forty seven games,
his thoughts on the success of this past season, and
what lies ahead for Anthony black Jet Howard, the Orlando Magic,
(00:50):
and free agency the draft. So many important topics to
cover with Anthony Parker on this edition of Magic Pod Squad.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So respawns long enough to Orlando mataj.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
This is Cole Anthem, mister Jennings Suggs, this is Paulo
man Carroll the Orlando Magic and you're listening to the
Pod Squad.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
And welcome to another edition of Orlando Magic Pod squad
Dante Marcatelli, George Galatee, Jake Chapman, and Orlando Magic General
manager Anthony Parker kind enough to join us at AP.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I want to be the first one to say it
about what one week away from a birthday you got
coming up? So happy early birthday, AP.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Do you do? Well?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
What would be the ideal thing for you? With all
this madness you got going on with the draft and
all that, what would be the ideal birthday?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, you understand this. You just want to have a
day that just yourself did not do anything, you know,
just no dinner, no nothing, just lay around the house
and not do anything for me. That'd be great. That's
all I need.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
That means his wife's gonna plan a big party, the big,
big event. So yes, two hundred people, big event.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's what's not a milestone. But no one's coming now
what's going No, Michael, it's coming for all of us.
It's coming for us.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Some of it is already happening, some of us already
have it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Good, No, it's fun. I'm looking forward to it. Are
you you know the alternative? Well?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Yeah, I know some well some days, some days that
feels betters.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
On the moon depends on the moon. Well, listen, it's
been a couple of weeks, as we know, since the
season ended. But before we get into what you're up
to now, just kind of give us your thoughts on
this past year. Forty seven win season, fifth in the East,
to go seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, I mean,
they had to far surpass everyone's expectations.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah, I mean, you know, coming into the season, you know,
I think a lot of people wanted us to do
some things in the offseason, and we kind of stood pat.
You know, we drafted Jet and Anthony Black and then
brought on Joe Ingles and that was kind of all
we did. And you know, I don't know that I
expected us to win forty seven games, but I did
(02:50):
expect for us to take a jump. We had a
young roster, a lot of built in improvement, and you know,
the previous season we had a lot of injuries. But
once we heal up, you know, we basically played five
hundred basketball and so, you know, I think we wanted
to kind of see what that looked like another year,
and we're really happy with with the jump that our
guys took. They put a lot of work in into
(03:11):
the offseason, and we saw during the season.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
How tough is it to now after having the success
that the team had this past season forty seven wins,
et cetera, How hard is it to stay? You know,
because you guys are looking not just in one year,
you're looking two, three, four years down the road. How
hard is it to stay on that same path when
maybe you had a jump that you didn't expect to have,
(03:38):
or and looking at the landscape of the rest of
the East too and realizing, well, heck, we were one
two games away from being number two. You know, how
hard is it to stay on that path? Or does
the path change?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah? I think you know, if you go back a
couple of seasons, twenty two wins, thirty four wins, the
next season forty seven, So I think it's that's probably
not staable, sixty not hapf like you're all right, I've
heard it, that's probably not unstainable. And also when you
look at the East and the NBA in general, like
(04:12):
the parody like the margin of era is you know,
you're we're fifth, but we're like two games from being eight,
you know, And so you know, just being realistic about it.
The margin era is very thin, and and you know,
who knows what happens this summer with the other teams,
But we can focus on us and and Jeff has
always talked about, you know, step by step, you know,
(04:33):
not skipping steps, doing this the right way, but also
being aggressive if the opportunity comes. And so I think
that's where we are our greatest improvement. You know, look,
our our three best scorers, our best players, were twenty
two and younger. So we still, you know, those guys
have time to continue to grow, and we still don't
fully know what our team and our best players are
(04:55):
going to look like. And I think, you know, we'll
continue to try to do the right things, be aggressive
when it's necessary, but also not at the expense of
you know, our ceiling and what we could ultimately ultimately
be as a team.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Kind Of along those same lines, aps you as you
approach the offseason with seven games in the postseason against
the Cavaladers, kind of in the rear view, is it
tempting to just dive into those seven games and sort
of let it kind of, I guess, overshadow the eighty
two game season that preceded it. I would imagine as
you look at the postseason appearance and you think about
(05:31):
what's moving forward, it's really tempting to say we got
to beat the Calves or we need to be better
than we were for those seven games, whereas there's a
whole bunch of data that probably plays in as well.
No question, I think, you know, you do learn a
lot in the playoffs, especially with that Cleveland team, and
you know, kind of our strength as a team was
getting to the rim of our size and our athleticism
(05:54):
and them having those two big guys around the rim.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I think that was fun. But at the same time,
you got to look at the the entire season and
it's interesting to look at the playoffs now and as
teams kind of progress. You know, so much depends on matchups,
and so a lot of it is just making sure
that you have the versatility defensively and offensively to try to,
you know, go against whatever matchup you might have, and
(06:16):
so that's really a focus. It's not overreacting to the
Cleveland series, it's not overreacting to any one part of
the season. It's just continuing to try to build this
thing the right way.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Now.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I think back to your your first postseason appearance, right
you're with Toronto back in Oh wait, you make it
to the postseason? What for these these guys on this
team that never made it before? Like what opened your
eyes and that those guys might be going through that.
You remember, I got to think there's a burning hunger
now to make you want to get back once you
get there for the first time.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well, our guys were hungry, you know the previous season.
You know, they wanted to they wanted to make the playoffs.
And you know, we're we're a little more cautious and
we're like, hey, you know, one season when one thing
at a time. But you know, I think you realize
before the playoffs that every season has a life of
its own, just like every game has a life of
its own. And so nothing you've done previously makes anything
(07:05):
guaranteed going forward. And so our guys are gonna put
in the work. But I remember when I was with
the Raptors walking into the arena and all the shirts
are one call, right, you just have a different feel
like it's not regular season anymore. You know. It was
a little buzz in the air, and I think our
guys experienced that in Cleveland as well. You know, it's
a great fan base there, great fans, and there's a
(07:28):
buzz in the building, and I just I think it
was such a wonderful experience for our team to just
go in there, not only you know, make the playoffs,
but experience at game seven, you know, and all that
went into that. So it was a great experience for
our guys. And it is one of those things it's like, okay, yeah,
like we got a taste of that. We want more.
You know.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
The other thing that everybody got to experience was on
the flip side of it. You know, you're saying that
how they experienced things on the road and game one
and holy crap, well, you know, they experienced what the
Keya Center can be like and this town can be
like when when the team is doing well. I mean,
how what what were your thoughts of just the fans
and everybody around town? It was it was it was
(08:08):
very exciting.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, and before you get to the playoffs all season, right,
it's not a coincidence that one of the younger rosters
in the league had one of the better records at home, uh,
largely because of the fans and the support we got
all year. It was an amazing environment and the fans
were great, and I knew when we were in Cleveland,
I was looking around like, Okay, this is fun. Let's
(08:29):
see what we got. And man, we came home like
you could just see the energy of the players and
you know, every play and just it was it was electric.
And so it was something that you know, I've been
here for a couple of years now and was waiting
the experience. And I know our young team was too,
and you know, hopefully hopefully, uh, you know, teams start
to look at us as like, no, that's a tough
(08:49):
place to win, and I think that's the reputation we're
starting get around thee. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
I didn't think it could get as loud as it did.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I really.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I mean because we've been here for a while and
I always have affinity to the old building because I
felt it was louder and the aesthetics and everything else,
and I was like a Kia Center, can't you know
it's loud, but it's not. But that place was. It
was jumping. It was really really something is really something.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So got a pent up energy building.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
That's what it is building, That's what it is for
a while.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Oh, what's the message to the guys.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
Obviously each guy has has a cater to message as
they leave after that Game seven, but after surpassing expectations
virtually all season, just kind of from thirty thousand feet,
what do you guys tell the guys as they left.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, no, I think it's it's something that you have
to enjoy. I mean, you know, this thing goes so
fast and you have to take time to enjoy all
of the winds along the way. That being said, again
going back to the margin of air in the across
the NBA, but but in our conference as well, nothing
is guaranteed, and so you know, our guys know the
work that they're going to continue to put in. Coach
(09:52):
Mosley and his staff have done an unbelievable job of
just creating a culture of work and working every day
and but also having fun. You know, if you watch
our guys play, they enjoy playing with each other, they
enjoy playing for each other, they enjoy playing for the fans, uh,
and mostly they enjoy playing for Coach Mosley. And so
you see a group of guys that are tied together,
(10:14):
that come in here and work every day. And we
saw a lot of the results on the last season,
and but you know, we're still young, and we still
have a long way to go, and that's where I
think most of our improvement is kind of baked in,
is in our youth.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
You said you've been here for a few years, but
this was your first year in this capacity, right, first
full season as general manager? What change for you in
this role and what was this year like for you personally?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
It was an unbelievable role. You know. Jeff Wellman, John
Hammond and our whole group have been unbelievable to me.
It's it's a it's a huge Larry experience and one
that I'm grateful for, you know. And it's been fun
like it's a it's good timing. It's good timing, you know, here's.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The key to success. A you know, it's all there
was It's a good job.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Ap no, But but no, it's been It's been great.
I think, you know, my first year has been just
kind of like getting lay the land, figuring out where
I can help out at and also you know, a
lot more traveling with the team, exposure to you know,
the the higher you get, the more you kind of
deal with things further and further away from basketball, and
(11:20):
so you know, Jeff has kind of given me a
glimpse of a lot of those things and as I
can take it, and so he's he's been great. Do
you like that?
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Do you like that the higher you get, the further
away you get from basketball or are there things you
you know give and take?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well? I think it's different for each person. I enjoy
it like I enjoy all that comes along with it.
You know, it's just the opportunity to continue to grow.
And if you're just a basketball person, and maybe you
won't enjoy aspects of negotiation or you know, budget or
all of the things that come along with it. But
but I do enjoy it. But it is a lot
(11:56):
more than whatever you think goes into it is a
lot more than that which I've learned.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Where does this podcast follow in your duties in your general.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean right now, it's right aside.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I mean, he did it before. It's not like he's
a stranger to podcast. Hanging out with you guys like
this should be a highlight. I would think right.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Should be baked in monthly at least. Now. Listen, Georgia
and I watched enough Summer League to know that some
of these workouts can be tough during turns of you
but you've got right. But you've got a lot of
guys that come in that everybody's trying to make the NBA.
There's not enough spots for everybody. So what don't just
give us your assessment as you wig who to bring in,
what you have them do while they're here, and kind
of what the last three weeks have been like and
(12:35):
what the next three weeks will be like leading up
to the draft.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, well, first of all, the draft process is unlike
any other process show to go through. I remember going
through it as a player, and it is just it's tough.
You're like every other day you're going to a new city,
you're getting to learn a new group of people, and
they're putting you through their version of whatever, their workouts,
their personality assessments. Like, it's tough and you got to
be on the whole time. So I just enjoy meeting
(13:00):
all of these young men representing themselves. Well, like you know,
it's it's it's really Now that I have kids around
their age, it's even more remarkable. Yeah, it's even more remarkable.
But for us, it's just another piece of the puzzle
of getting to know a new class each year, and
it's one of the most important times because for the
first time you get to actually sit down to talk
(13:22):
with them, meet them and put them through whatever you know,
each team decides to do. But you know, you also
don't want to overwegh this process versus what you've seen
all season. But it is an important part and and
you know, credit to the coaches and performance and everybody
that goes into putting this thing on because it is
(13:42):
a huge thing of you know, all these puzzle pieces.
I mean, it's so hard to arrange these workouts, and
if you don't know what's going on behind the scenes,
you can kind of take that for granted.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
How's the process changed as far as from from a
basketball operation standpoint with the international explosion.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
I mean, I don't think anybody could speak.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Better than you to where the game is, where the
talent's coming from. Half of the top ten could be international.
This year, probably the second trade year we've had an
international top pick, just as you've had to expand your scope.
How has that changed from a basketball operation standpoint?
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Well, first, I think it speaks to the growth of
the game around the world, like you know, I don't
know how many years ago it was kind of just
a predominantly American sport and the rest of the world
was trying to catch up. But now some of the
best players in the world are coming from other parts
of the world, and so that's amazing. The game itself,
you know, the international game and the American game used
(14:36):
to be kind of further apart, and they've kind of
come closer and closer together, which has kind of changed,
you know, the type of players that you go after,
you know, and so that's been exciting. But other than
having more of an international presence and more scouting and
maybe more trips overseas, I think the process overall is
pretty much the same.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Ap How will this draft be different than say, last
year or the year before, knowing that we're eighteen, I mean,
that's obviously it's different than having the number one pick
number one, you have pick of the letter. Just does
that just mean more hours in the room with your
scouts to determine all right, this is our I mean,
how what's the grouping you go into the draft with?
(15:16):
Do you have to narrow it down to five guys
when you're at eighteen? Do you narrow it down to
ten guys, what do you do because there's so much
unknown before it gets to us at eighteen.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Yeah, there's a lot unknown. But each year, you know,
we try to go in and do the whole draft
because you never know. Draft Day, you might make a trade,
you might move back, you might move up, so you
have to be prepared for all of those different scenarios.
But it is a challenge, not in that we meet
longer or do anything more. It's more that we talked
about the draft process. We're eighteen now, we're a young
(15:48):
team where you know, we have a lot of young
players at a lot of different positions, so a lot
of players. It's tough to get more players to come
in because of the success we've had and maybe it's
harder for them to see a pad on the roster.
So that's probably been the biggest change from from previous years.
But as far as the work, you know, you know,
(16:10):
mister Weltman, we're gonna do the work. We're gonna look
at it from every angle and and our our scouts
have done an amazing.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
A lot of angles, by the way, a lot a
lot of angles, a lot of angle.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Mister Weltman too. I like, well, mister Weltman, you know no,
but I but we we do the work and all
of that remains the same.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And oh, by the way, let's mix in that. You
get free agency coming around the corner, right, I mean,
it's all coming at you at once, which has got
to be kind of a crazy time of the year.
How do you view that? Obviously, you've got decisions to
make about players that you have been on the roster
the last couple of years. What you're gonna do outside
of here, I don't I fully don't expect you to
drop the names of who you're gonna sign. But how
what's your approach as you go into free agency, not
only with your guys, but who else?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Mike, you want to drop the names? And if you
want to go stock no, I think you know, over
over three seasons ago, when we push the reset button,
you know, the hope was to try to build this
into a place where players want to come, you know,
and and and this is a free agency destination. And
I think you know we're we're doing that because of
this amazing facility that we sit in right now, because
(17:13):
of the job Coach Mosley and his staff have done,
and and and the success that our young team has had. Oh,
by the way, the amazing weather and the tax free
uh situation. So I think we've done that and and
and by and large, I hope to be in a
lot of conversations that that, you know, several years ago
we weren't able to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Are you hearing that? Is there a buzz from other
teams and players about what you've done here? We're not
only with the success on the court, but the building
and what what is what is happening here in Central Forth?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, I think you hear. You know, people that talk
about the game, whether they're you know, in other organizations
or on TV, talk about the growth of the team
and the exciting direction. Obviously we know internally Coach Mosley,
Jeff Weltman, our players would be the first to sell
you we haven't done what we want to do yet.
You know, we haven't arrived celebrating the progress and everything,
(18:04):
but you know, we're not done and we want to
continue to get better and and and so we are
all individually doing our work, the players, coaches and UH
the front office staff as well.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
I kind of wish freight free agency and the draft
was flip flopped.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I got first.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
I kind of I would like to see what it
looks like if free agency happened first, and then and
then you have to I mean, I know it's not
gonna happen. This is just things I think about.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
What I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I'm sitting around George. Well, listen, it starts with draft
is two nights now, so maybe next night we flipped.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
What do you think about that ap that the draft
is two nights. I have my opinion. I know you
have your thumbs down.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
We have an idea. Anything with change, George.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Extra day of working, Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Yet, you're right, that is now I got to come
in two days. We're pants today.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
It's kind of I would they pitch it as a
mad scramble in the second round and now maybe you
have time to collect yourself a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I don't. I want to experience it first, I say, uh,
you know what I feel about it. I like it either. No, No,
I do think it's just as smart just yeah. No,
I do see the positives. It's an extra day, sorry, George,
but it's okay. I do see the positives and I
just want to experience it. I remember when I was
with the G League team and they put in a
rule where you're only going to shoot one free throw
(19:18):
that could be worth two points. Yes, to try to
speed the game right.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Also dumb, also dumb, which I thought.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I was like, this is a.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Dumb When you're sitting there, it's pretty cool, and I.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Was like, this actually makes sense, like I as I
experienced it, like I get it, and so I'm taking
the same approach.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know, it's not daughter getting in and out of
there in ninety minutes.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
That's also true.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
That's also true.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
That's very true.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
I want to ask you about free agency and free
agent destinations and kind of how it's changed since you played.
It feels like back then there were three or four
markets that everybody says is where everybody wants to go. Now,
if they got money and if there's a chance they're
gonna win, it feels like thirty teams have a fair
shot in any given summer at.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
A free agent is it.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Have you seen kind of the destination and the idea
of destination city has changed over the last fifteen twenty years. Yeah,
I think there is some I mean it starts with winning, right,
Like most players who we're talking about like have a
certain amount of money where that's kind of all they
can make, right, and so all.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Of that is equal. Then it comes down to the
other things. But even before you get to that, you know,
free agency in and of itself has changed, and it
used to be where some of the stars changed teams
and now that's mostly done through trades. And so you know,
again going back to that, we wanted to be one
of those places where if a player says, you know what,
my time's you know, pretty much done here and here's
(20:35):
a list of teams that I want to go to.
We wanted to be on that list of teams.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I would imagine. You know, as you go through this
whole process, you've got two guys that are going to
be fighting for minutes too at Anthony Black and Jet
Howard that you drafted in the first round last year
to take us through this year, what you saw growth
from those two and what their role could be potentially
moving forward.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah, and so the previous season we kind of moved
out of the hey, we're just going to give our
young guys a lot of men and it's into the
you know, we're playing winning basketball and you have to
earn it. And you know, those guys have come in
and they've continued to work hard, and you know they
have a lot of the things that we want our
team to be about, positional size, versatility, IQ. And you know,
(21:16):
ab got his chance during the season when when we
were we had some injuries and cam Inton did a
really good job and and some of our best stretches
were when he was on the court, and so you know,
you saw flashes of of what he could become, and
he got a glimpse of all the things that that
he needs to get better at to get to where
he wants to go. So he's in here working Jet Howard,
(21:37):
same thing like he played in Osceola, and we said, hey,
here's the things that we feel like you need to
work on to become the player you want to be.
And to his credit, he took on the challenge and
you saw him get better over the course of the season.
You saw his confidence crow, you saw how he played
start to line up with with what we wanted to
see from him. And so we couldn't be happier with
(21:59):
with that part of the season. And and and you
know those guys both know we're gonna have hard summers
and and you're gonna go out there and they're gonna
earn it. And and they're in here. To their credit,
their bodies are starting to change, their confidence is starting
to grow, and so we we hope that, uh, that
this continues into the next season.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
But the good thing, guys, right is we walked in
today and and who's downstairs? Anthony Black, Jed Howard. I mean,
there's the first two guys I saw when I walked
in the building. So I'm like, all right, it's on.
It's already, it's on. This They've actually been here longer
than I have this summer, which is great.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
This is great, George, But I would think that would
be important with those two. And then what what was
your message to I mean, we'll start with Franz because
I don't I can't imagine anybody needs a break more
than that guy. Ever since he burst onto the international seat,
he's been playing in the international tournaments. He's gonna play
in the Olympics coming up. But he's not going to
get that because he's gonna go He's gonna play in
the Olympics. What are you telling Fronds and and he
(22:51):
had an unbelievable season. He's going to play again and
I know he can't wait for next year's No.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Froz is exciting. You know, this whole thing I've I've
come to learn is mostly bet about betting on people
and what they're made up of and how they how
hard they work, all those things, and like Franz is
like the best example, Like he's a person, a player
that you want to bet on because of all the
things he's made up of. And he showed that last year.
(23:17):
He shows that during the season, and I'm sure on
the biggest stage with the Olympics this summer, he'll get
another opportunity to show it. And so you don't have
to tell that guy much. You know, he knows what
he has to do, what he has to be about,
and a large part of that right now is just
kind of making sure he's taking care of his body
and so much that's amazing about, you know, players that
(23:38):
play kind of this year round international and NBA is
just how much of a hole it takes on you mentally.
And so it just shows how mentally tough he is
that he can come in be ready and you forget
during the season. He's essentially playing year round basketball, and
he doesn't want to miss.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
He does not does not want I think in large
part every player in the NBA wants to be out there.
He does not want to miss.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Is that's when you say betting on a player that's part.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Of it, too, is that's part of it. That's part
of it. And you see, you know, he kind of
tweaks his ankle or does something and he just walks
it off, you know, and you forget the next quarter that.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
I don't look at him. I don't look at him.
I'm like, hey, he's fine, it's fine, he's good.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Everybody's good.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Is there when you're scouting players? Kind of a weird
question you might have just answered it is sometimes you
see a guy and you're like, I don't know what
it is about him, but I just like that guy.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Is there? Ever? Just sort of a I can't quite.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Put my finger on it, but I I like players,
like the way that guy does interview with.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Conversely that I dislike I can't put my finger on.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So I'm like a lightning rod of nonsense.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I just sit next to him.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
You're getting the good.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Question would have the switch scene.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
And and part two are inevitably are they players who
remind you of yourself.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
That's exactly what I was gonna say. Like most of
the time when you have uh something for a player
and you're like, I don't know what it is about
that player, but he's like six six and he like
can shoot a little bit, and I don't know what
it is.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
You know it's Anthony Parking. Yeah, just something about it.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Hell, guy's good. And so as a scout, you kind
of learned, Okay, this is a bias I have and
I have to like, you know, check it. But and
you do that, and that's that's like a constant process,
like you're always checking yourself and trying to to write
for sure. And and that goes a lot to like
having the discussions in the rooms with with other guys,
and you know, it's funny you have this kind of
season long conversation about certain players and and you know,
(25:31):
you might start out with it like I don't see
what everybody sees in this guy, and then by the
time you get to mid season like, oh, okay, I
get it, and then by the end of you're like, yeah,
I don't know what I see in this guy. So
it's just a it's a constant thing. But but it's
a fun process because it's never the same. You have
to stay open minded and and you are going to
be wrong a lot of the time and just accept that,
try to learn from it and and move on. But
(25:53):
that's why we have a group. That's why we have
a group, and it's not you know, any one individual.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
I was gonna say, let's go to the fan questions.
We want to go to the fan question Yeah, we
can do that.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I want to ask a mere question about that, because
since you mentioned yourself career forty percent.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Three point shooting, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
The three point shooting, I know, is something that we're
addressing and it we wanted to get better. It can
come internally, you can attack it a number of different ways.
How critical is the three point shooting and just taking
a leap in at it. I thought he was going
to say, can you give us like twelve minutes a night? Hey,
we were going for bab to get.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
In shape, or give us twelve minutes a night.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Can you just give us twelve minutes just sit in
the corner.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
You might remember about a year and a half ago,
I tried to go back on the court, remember that,
And it didn't work out, so well, that's right, I
ended up in a boot for like a couple of months. So, yes,
we don't answers that.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
I don't want that, we don't want that, we don't
want we don't want that.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I know I don't want true true though. No, you listen, shoot,
Shooting in today's game is super important, but so is
a lot of other things, and certainly we want to
address shooting. You have to be able to shoot at
to a certain level to be competitive. But we feel
we can get there, and we're not going to overreact
to just adding shooting because you know, we have a
team identity and we want to continue to build our
(27:02):
team in that way. And anybody you bring on the team,
you're going to have to address certain things and you're gonna,
you know, have to sacrifice others. And it's just like
what can we sacrifice and where and how do we
continue to move this roster forward. So the shooting thing, yes,
we'll have some some level of internal growth. You know,
you saw the jump that Polo took, that that that
(27:23):
Jalen took. You know, like there's gonna be some some
internal growth baked in, but also we want to continue
to add to to how we play and how we
get our advantage night in and night out.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
You mentioned betting on a player, I mean Polo and
Jalen you said, are right there. I mean you see
the way they work and what those guys put into it.
You had to have been happy with their second and
third year.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Yes, yes, like you know again, this was Jalen's first
summer that he really got to fully you know, dedicate
to to getting better, you know, going through injuries and everything.
And so you saw the result of that, and credit
to him for putting in the work every day. You
know you saw Jet and Ab when you walked in
that was that was jalen last summer. Paulo the same way.
You know, he went through his rookie season and he's like, okay,
(28:07):
you know there's something about kind of getting into all
these gyms and playing against these guys for one time
and understanding the schedule, how rigorous it is and how
tough it is, and how you need to take care
of your body. That second season you kind of go
into knowing a little bit more about what you have
to be about. And and Polo was was great in
the biggest moments, and I think that's what's kind of
(28:28):
separated him from from a lot of other people.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
What do you think his summer looks like? Ap Like,
he obviously he's not going to be on or I
mean there's a possibility that a couple of those guys
drop off Team USA and maybe he gets added on.
But right he's going to have a summer to kind
of sit back and relax and just work on himself.
What do you think his summer is going to look like.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Yeah, that's that's what it's going to be about. I
think I think Polo is you know, you experienced the
playoffs like that, and you go to Game seven and
all of the things, even you know, the last regular
season game against Milwaukee, like all of the big moments
that you can take from this year and and say, Okay,
you know that was great. We want more, And paulows
at the front of that line in terms of wanting more,
(29:10):
wanting us to kind of take a step forward and
and see what what we can do next.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
We got some fan questions, we went to social media,
we got some hard hitting fan question You've already actually
touched Yeah, I've hit a couple of them. Yes, well,
I like this first one because it comes from I
don't know if I'm saying or it comes from Dave Bench.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Is that how you say that?
Speaker 5 (29:26):
It could be Bench? It could be How.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Do you say, like, how is that from? Yeah, he's
a fan. He wants to know at what age did
Candice beat you? I'm not.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well then he from day? Is that really from Dave Bench? Oh?
I love it. I love that. Oh all right, well
I got one for him after I say yeah, I
got one. No, I honestly, this is the most asked
question I get from Like, so he's really not the original.
He's not original and original.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
People very pulled that right off a reddit, didn't.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Yeah, very predictable. So Cannice and I there's eleven years
difference between us, and so we never really played one
on one and it was always just kind of me
working out or helping her work out, and probably by
design on my park. So loss your shooting drills. Yeah,
I beat her a pig. All right, there you go. No,
(30:20):
I'm kidding, no, but like, we just never really got
We played throeund three on the same team. We've done
some of that stuff. But and then I got to
the age where like, no, this is it's not very
smart to me to get on the court.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
You're gonna end up in a boot again, up on
a boot or you know, worse.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
But an incredible career. And I know she's retiring. I
know you're incredibly proud of your sister and everything that
she accomplished.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Caitlin Clark, where are.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You on this? I mean we're sitting there, not that
we didn't watch games before, but we're watching games in
their entirety with my two daughters nine and ten. I
don't know if it's a media creat but she's unbelievable
to watch and where you know, where you come on
what she's brought to the league.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
I think it's amazing, you know, any kind of way
that more fans can come to the game and see
how unbelievable all these women are. And it is a
it's a big jump from the college to the NBA.
It's even a bigger jump from women's college to the WNBA.
Less teams, more talented players, like you have women that
(31:20):
are drafted eight ten not making the roster, you know,
and so it is extremely high level. And so anything
that brings more fans to the game that you can
witness that and come away and say, okay, you know,
like I get it now. I think it's great.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
I loved watching some Kannis Parker two, by the way,
for sure, for sure she was okay, all right, she
was all right, all right.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
This was a fan question. Favorite part of your job
that has nothing to do with basketball, nothing to do.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
With nothing to do with basketball. So, as a person,
and I imagine most people are like this, I love
to travel, right, I love going to new places, and
I love running into people that I have some level
of history with, whether I played with them, they've coached me,
or Basketball is a small world, and so to me,
I love that. Part of what I do is that
(32:09):
I always get to travel. I get to run into
people that I know, and we end up in dinners
or whatever reminiscent about old times. And so that's that's
part of the j Other I love interesting. So it's
not full staff meetings or podcast interview spending time with
George probably a better answer.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
I just snuck a peek and I went and asked
this one before when we were talking about Paula.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Was there a moment early on maybe.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
In Paula's rookie season or just in his career where
you knew like, wow, this dude's got something a little
bit different, maybe an extra gear, or maybe it was
even before you guys drafted him.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Well, so we interviewed him at the Chicago Combine and
you know, we'd seen him play all year and he
walked in the room. He was just huge, Like you
just couldn't see that, I thought on the court, Like
I walked in and shook his hand, I was like,
he's huge. Like so to do all of the things
he did at DOUP at six ' ten, that was
(33:10):
the first thing. And then just you know, having him
in and having him you know, practices and working out.
But then also you know when lights camera actions started
that first game, like you were like, okay, you know
you see a little bit like this guy jumped over
that guy. Yes he did. And that continued throughout the year.
There were just moments of you know, cause I don't
(33:31):
care who you are as a player coming in from college,
you never know where you quite stack up in the
NBA until you get up against these guys in a
regular season. And so I'm sure for Polo he answered
a lot of questions very early on for himself.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I like this question because they give you a chance
to maybe do some x's and o's a little bit.
But that what makes Polo and Franz so dangerous as
a duo. So you got two guys six ten that
handle the basketball. What what is so unique about those two?
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Well, what's unique is number one, their size. You know,
you've got to these two jumble forward guys that play
the most coveted positions in the league because of the
versatility that they offer. And and they just I think
they both have high IQs and and and good feel.
You know, a lot of times you'll see star players
that are good scores and maybe lack the feel or
(34:21):
the vision or vice versa. And and I think these
these two both have it. They have the guts, they're
they're made up of the right stuff. They both work hard,
and and they just process things quick, you know, so
on the fly, they just they're they're just learning. And
and I think you know, to have those two guys
at that position and be able to play off each other.
(34:43):
And then you look at the press conference and and
when they're talking about the other when the other had
a good game, how they talk about each other how
happy they are for the other and and and to
me like that, that says it all.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
You can't fake that, guys. I think that's right, which
is most impressive by the on this roster you put together.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
We've been around long enough correct to know when they
are faking or that to be able to I think
discern that it is genuine and that it's not always
the case A lot of times that do best players
like the team No, I's see that.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
On the court though, too, Like you can that's a
lot there's a lot one thing to do it in
the press conference or in the locker room talking to
the media or whatever. It's when we're on the court
and the other guy knows that you know, player A
knows the player B has a going or vice versa,
and they're just like, let's go, let's go, We're gonna
We're gonna feed you till the till the wheels fall off.
Like that, to me is what shows that those guys
(35:33):
get it.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Yeah, And a lot of credit for that goes goes
to both Jeff Wellman and coach Moseley. Jeff, part of
our drafting process, to go back to that is trying
to find the best people and of those which are
the best basketball players. And then the other part is
coach Moseley putting together a culture of of of young players.
That's really hard to do, really hard to do when
all these players are trying to find their path in
(35:56):
themselves in their game. Uh, to cheer for the for
the person next them. And you see that not just
last season, but even in in a lot of the
seasons prior where we weren't getting a lot of the w's.
You still you still saw it during those times.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Georgia has won.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
To end with yeah, this is the last one. They
stuck me with this one. By the way, from David,
who is in tune with the team you are, Okakay
who has the best aura of any war a team.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
It's a good word, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I had to look up with a Yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
It's like a new it's a new name. And when
you say or because I think erst well, I don't
say it. Some fans said, Okay, I don't. I'm trying
to figure out what they mean.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
By I assume they mean like the best O Joe presence. Yeah,
I bet Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Well throughout the year, Uh, you guys, see when players
coming into the locker room, they ask the players like
who does this best of that? Yes, they all have
different answers, so I'm sure they'd all have different answer
to this. I personally would go with Gary Harris, and
I think he's kind of has that quiet style, like
you know, just the understated, but like you know it
(37:02):
kind of just carries himself a certain way and been
around the guys look at him as you know, kind
of a vet on the team, and when he speaks,
people listen. And so I'll go with you, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I'm gonna say Joe Ingles. Joe Ingles taught me a
lot of new words and phrases, most of them.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Many can you say now, Well, most of them I
had already heard, just with a different accent actually, to
be honest, it was just a different let's not Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
That guy is a great presence too. This was great
a P. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much for
taking time. Congrats on the first full year as GM,
and to look forward to uh what we have moving
moving forward here.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
Thank you guys so much for having me, And the
best part of my day is now over.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
So I don't know, can I only can I only
come in on one day of the draft. Do you
give me permission for that?
Speaker 3 (37:45):
No, do whatever you want. Here a lot longer than me.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
To let them handle the picks. And you come Friday. Okay,
I'll see you guys on Friday after the draft. Do
you guys come all right? Yeah? If you need any help,
we're around. We're round, so you can just give us
a call.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
That'll do it.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
This installment of Adic Pod Squad
On this edition of Orlando Magic Pod Squad, we catch
up with Magic General Manager Anthony Parker to get his
thoughts on the future of this Orlando Magic organization. The
Borida Department of Transportation reminds you that fans don't let
fans drive drug If you've been.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Drinking, he'll get behind the wheel.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Instead, find a sober driver or catch a ride service.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Remember, drive sober or get pulled over. Have a great
night and drive safe.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Watts to cover.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
With Magic General Manager Anthony Parker, including his thoughts on
his first year in that official capacity as GM of
the Orlando Magic, how that year went for him, this
past year for the Orlando Magic, winning forty seven games,
his thoughts on the success of this past season, and
what lies ahead for Anthony black Jet Howard, the Orlando Magic,
(00:50):
and free agency the draft. So many important topics to
cover with Anthony Parker on this edition of Magic Pod Squad.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
So respawns long enough to Orlando mataj.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
This is Cole Anthem, mister Jennings Suggs, this is Paulo
man Carroll the Orlando Magic and you're listening to the
Pod Squad.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
And welcome to another edition of Orlando Magic Pod squad
Dante Marcatelli, George Galatee, Jake Chapman, and Orlando Magic General
manager Anthony Parker kind enough to join us at AP.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I want to be the first one to say it
about what one week away from a birthday you got
coming up? So happy early birthday, AP.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Do you do? Well?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
What would be the ideal thing for you? With all
this madness you got going on with the draft and
all that, what would be the ideal birthday?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, you understand this. You just want to have a
day that just yourself did not do anything, you know,
just no dinner, no nothing, just lay around the house
and not do anything for me. That'd be great. That's
all I need.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
That means his wife's gonna plan a big party, the big,
big event. So yes, two hundred people, big event.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
That's what's not a milestone. But no one's coming now
what's going No, Michael, it's coming for all of us.
It's coming for us.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Some of it is already happening, some of us already
have it.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, it's not.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Good, No, it's fun. I'm looking forward to it. Are
you you know the alternative? Well?
Speaker 5 (02:05):
Yeah, I know some well some days, some days that
feels betters.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
On the moon depends on the moon. Well, listen, it's
been a couple of weeks, as we know, since the
season ended. But before we get into what you're up
to now, just kind of give us your thoughts on
this past year. Forty seven win season, fifth in the East,
to go seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, I mean,
they had to far surpass everyone's expectations.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah, I mean, you know, coming into the season, you know,
I think a lot of people wanted us to do
some things in the offseason, and we kind of stood pat.
You know, we drafted Jet and Anthony Black and then
brought on Joe Ingles and that was kind of all
we did. And you know, I don't know that I
expected us to win forty seven games, but I did
(02:50):
expect for us to take a jump. We had a
young roster, a lot of built in improvement, and you know,
the previous season we had a lot of injuries. But
once we heal up, you know, we basically played five
hundred basketball and so, you know, I think we wanted
to kind of see what that looked like another year,
and we're really happy with with the jump that our
guys took. They put a lot of work in into
(03:11):
the offseason, and we saw during the season.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
How tough is it to now after having the success
that the team had this past season forty seven wins,
et cetera, How hard is it to stay? You know,
because you guys are looking not just in one year,
you're looking two, three, four years down the road. How
hard is it to stay on that same path when
maybe you had a jump that you didn't expect to have,
(03:38):
or and looking at the landscape of the rest of
the East too and realizing, well, heck, we were one
two games away from being number two. You know, how
hard is it to stay on that path? Or does
the path change?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah? I think you know, if you go back a
couple of seasons, twenty two wins, thirty four wins, the
next season forty seven, So I think it's that's probably
not staable, sixty not hapf like you're all right, I've
heard it, that's probably not unstainable. And also when you
look at the East and the NBA in general, like
(04:12):
the parody like the margin of era is you know,
you're we're fifth, but we're like two games from being eight,
you know, And so you know, just being realistic about it.
The margin era is very thin, and and you know,
who knows what happens this summer with the other teams,
But we can focus on us and and Jeff has
always talked about, you know, step by step, you know,
(04:33):
not skipping steps, doing this the right way, but also
being aggressive if the opportunity comes. And so I think
that's where we are our greatest improvement. You know, look,
our our three best scorers, our best players, were twenty
two and younger. So we still, you know, those guys
have time to continue to grow, and we still don't
fully know what our team and our best players are
(04:55):
going to look like. And I think, you know, we'll
continue to try to do the right things, be aggressive
when it's necessary, but also not at the expense of
you know, our ceiling and what we could ultimately ultimately
be as a team.
Speaker 6 (05:08):
Kind Of along those same lines, aps you as you
approach the offseason with seven games in the postseason against
the Cavaladers, kind of in the rear view, is it
tempting to just dive into those seven games and sort
of let it kind of, I guess, overshadow the eighty
two game season that preceded it. I would imagine as
you look at the postseason appearance and you think about
(05:31):
what's moving forward, it's really tempting to say we got
to beat the Calves or we need to be better
than we were for those seven games, whereas there's a
whole bunch of data that probably plays in as well.
No question, I think, you know, you do learn a
lot in the playoffs, especially with that Cleveland team, and
you know, kind of our strength as a team was
getting to the rim of our size and our athleticism
(05:54):
and them having those two big guys around the rim.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I think that was fun. But at the same time,
you got to look at the the entire season and
it's interesting to look at the playoffs now and as
teams kind of progress. You know, so much depends on matchups,
and so a lot of it is just making sure
that you have the versatility defensively and offensively to try to,
you know, go against whatever matchup you might have, and
(06:16):
so that's really a focus. It's not overreacting to the
Cleveland series, it's not overreacting to any one part of
the season. It's just continuing to try to build this
thing the right way.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
Now.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I think back to your your first postseason appearance, right
you're with Toronto back in Oh wait, you make it
to the postseason? What for these these guys on this
team that never made it before? Like what opened your
eyes and that those guys might be going through that.
You remember, I got to think there's a burning hunger
now to make you want to get back once you
get there for the first time.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well, our guys were hungry, you know the previous season.
You know, they wanted to they wanted to make the playoffs.
And you know, we're we're a little more cautious and
we're like, hey, you know, one season when one thing
at a time. But you know, I think you realize
before the playoffs that every season has a life of
its own, just like every game has a life of
its own. And so nothing you've done previously makes anything
(07:05):
guaranteed going forward. And so our guys are gonna put
in the work. But I remember when I was with
the Raptors walking into the arena and all the shirts
are one call, right, you just have a different feel
like it's not regular season anymore. You know. It was
a little buzz in the air, and I think our
guys experienced that in Cleveland as well. You know, it's
a great fan base there, great fans, and there's a
(07:28):
buzz in the building, and I just I think it
was such a wonderful experience for our team to just
go in there, not only you know, make the playoffs,
but experience at game seven, you know, and all that
went into that. So it was a great experience for
our guys. And it is one of those things it's like, okay, yeah,
like we got a taste of that. We want more.
You know.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
The other thing that everybody got to experience was on
the flip side of it. You know, you're saying that
how they experienced things on the road and game one
and holy crap, well, you know, they experienced what the
Keya Center can be like and this town can be
like when when the team is doing well. I mean,
how what what were your thoughts of just the fans
and everybody around town? It was it was it was
(08:08):
very exciting.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Yeah, and before you get to the playoffs all season, right,
it's not a coincidence that one of the younger rosters
in the league had one of the better records at home, uh,
largely because of the fans and the support we got
all year. It was an amazing environment and the fans
were great, and I knew when we were in Cleveland,
I was looking around like, Okay, this is fun. Let's
(08:29):
see what we got. And man, we came home like
you could just see the energy of the players and
you know, every play and just it was it was electric.
And so it was something that you know, I've been
here for a couple of years now and was waiting
the experience. And I know our young team was too,
and you know, hopefully hopefully, uh, you know, teams start
to look at us as like, no, that's a tough
(08:49):
place to win, and I think that's the reputation we're
starting get around thee. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:52):
I didn't think it could get as loud as it did.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I really.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
I mean because we've been here for a while and
I always have affinity to the old building because I
felt it was louder and the aesthetics and everything else,
and I was like a Kia Center, can't you know
it's loud, but it's not. But that place was. It
was jumping. It was really really something is really something.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So got a pent up energy building.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
That's what it is building, That's what it is for
a while.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Oh, what's the message to the guys.
Speaker 6 (09:19):
Obviously each guy has has a cater to message as
they leave after that Game seven, but after surpassing expectations
virtually all season, just kind of from thirty thousand feet,
what do you guys tell the guys as they left.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, no, I think it's it's something that you have
to enjoy. I mean, you know, this thing goes so
fast and you have to take time to enjoy all
of the winds along the way. That being said, again
going back to the margin of air in the across
the NBA, but but in our conference as well, nothing
is guaranteed, and so you know, our guys know the
work that they're going to continue to put in. Coach
(09:52):
Mosley and his staff have done an unbelievable job of
just creating a culture of work and working every day
and but also having fun. You know, if you watch
our guys play, they enjoy playing with each other, they
enjoy playing for each other, they enjoy playing for the fans, uh,
and mostly they enjoy playing for Coach Mosley. And so
you see a group of guys that are tied together,
(10:14):
that come in here and work every day. And we
saw a lot of the results on the last season,
and but you know, we're still young, and we still
have a long way to go, and that's where I
think most of our improvement is kind of baked in,
is in our youth.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
You said you've been here for a few years, but
this was your first year in this capacity, right, first
full season as general manager? What change for you in
this role and what was this year like for you personally?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
It was an unbelievable role. You know. Jeff Wellman, John
Hammond and our whole group have been unbelievable to me.
It's it's a it's a huge Larry experience and one
that I'm grateful for, you know. And it's been fun
like it's a it's good timing. It's good timing, you know, here's.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
The key to success. A you know, it's all there
was It's a good job.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Ap no, But but no, it's been It's been great.
I think, you know, my first year has been just
kind of like getting lay the land, figuring out where
I can help out at and also you know, a
lot more traveling with the team, exposure to you know,
the the higher you get, the more you kind of
deal with things further and further away from basketball, and
(11:20):
so you know, Jeff has kind of given me a
glimpse of a lot of those things and as I
can take it, and so he's he's been great. Do
you like that?
Speaker 5 (11:29):
Do you like that the higher you get, the further
away you get from basketball or are there things you
you know give and take?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well? I think it's different for each person. I enjoy
it like I enjoy all that comes along with it.
You know, it's just the opportunity to continue to grow.
And if you're just a basketball person, and maybe you
won't enjoy aspects of negotiation or you know, budget or
all of the things that come along with it. But
but I do enjoy it. But it is a lot
(11:56):
more than whatever you think goes into it is a
lot more than that which I've learned.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Where does this podcast follow in your duties in your general.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean right now, it's right aside.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
I mean, he did it before. It's not like he's
a stranger to podcast. Hanging out with you guys like
this should be a highlight. I would think right.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Should be baked in monthly at least. Now. Listen, Georgia
and I watched enough Summer League to know that some
of these workouts can be tough during turns of you
but you've got right. But you've got a lot of
guys that come in that everybody's trying to make the NBA.
There's not enough spots for everybody. So what don't just
give us your assessment as you wig who to bring in,
what you have them do while they're here, and kind
of what the last three weeks have been like and
(12:35):
what the next three weeks will be like leading up
to the draft.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, well, first of all, the draft process is unlike
any other process show to go through. I remember going
through it as a player, and it is just it's tough.
You're like every other day you're going to a new city,
you're getting to learn a new group of people, and
they're putting you through their version of whatever, their workouts,
their personality assessments. Like, it's tough and you got to
be on the whole time. So I just enjoy meeting
(13:00):
all of these young men representing themselves. Well, like you know,
it's it's it's really Now that I have kids around
their age, it's even more remarkable. Yeah, it's even more remarkable.
But for us, it's just another piece of the puzzle
of getting to know a new class each year, and
it's one of the most important times because for the
first time you get to actually sit down to talk
(13:22):
with them, meet them and put them through whatever you know,
each team decides to do. But you know, you also
don't want to overwegh this process versus what you've seen
all season. But it is an important part and and
you know, credit to the coaches and performance and everybody
that goes into putting this thing on because it is
(13:42):
a huge thing of you know, all these puzzle pieces.
I mean, it's so hard to arrange these workouts, and
if you don't know what's going on behind the scenes,
you can kind of take that for granted.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
How's the process changed as far as from from a
basketball operation standpoint with the international explosion.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
I mean, I don't think anybody could speak.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
Better than you to where the game is, where the
talent's coming from. Half of the top ten could be international.
This year, probably the second trade year we've had an
international top pick, just as you've had to expand your scope.
How has that changed from a basketball operation standpoint?
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Well, first, I think it speaks to the growth of
the game around the world, like you know, I don't
know how many years ago it was kind of just
a predominantly American sport and the rest of the world
was trying to catch up. But now some of the
best players in the world are coming from other parts
of the world, and so that's amazing. The game itself,
you know, the international game and the American game used
(14:36):
to be kind of further apart, and they've kind of
come closer and closer together, which has kind of changed,
you know, the type of players that you go after,
you know, and so that's been exciting. But other than
having more of an international presence and more scouting and
maybe more trips overseas, I think the process overall is
pretty much the same.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
Ap How will this draft be different than say, last
year or the year before, knowing that we're eighteen, I mean,
that's obviously it's different than having the number one pick
number one, you have pick of the letter. Just does
that just mean more hours in the room with your
scouts to determine all right, this is our I mean,
how what's the grouping you go into the draft with?
(15:16):
Do you have to narrow it down to five guys
when you're at eighteen? Do you narrow it down to
ten guys, what do you do because there's so much
unknown before it gets to us at eighteen.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Yeah, there's a lot unknown. But each year, you know,
we try to go in and do the whole draft
because you never know. Draft Day, you might make a trade,
you might move back, you might move up, so you
have to be prepared for all of those different scenarios.
But it is a challenge, not in that we meet
longer or do anything more. It's more that we talked
about the draft process. We're eighteen now, we're a young
(15:48):
team where you know, we have a lot of young
players at a lot of different positions, so a lot
of players. It's tough to get more players to come
in because of the success we've had and maybe it's
harder for them to see a pad on the roster.
So that's probably been the biggest change from from previous years.
But as far as the work, you know, you know,
(16:10):
mister Weltman, we're gonna do the work. We're gonna look
at it from every angle and and our our scouts
have done an amazing.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
A lot of angles, by the way, a lot a
lot of angles, a lot of angle.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Mister Weltman too. I like, well, mister Weltman, you know no,
but I but we we do the work and all
of that remains the same.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And oh, by the way, let's mix in that. You
get free agency coming around the corner, right, I mean,
it's all coming at you at once, which has got
to be kind of a crazy time of the year.
How do you view that? Obviously, you've got decisions to
make about players that you have been on the roster
the last couple of years. What you're gonna do outside
of here, I don't I fully don't expect you to
drop the names of who you're gonna sign. But how
what's your approach as you go into free agency, not
only with your guys, but who else?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Mike, you want to drop the names? And if you
want to go stock no, I think you know, over
over three seasons ago, when we push the reset button,
you know, the hope was to try to build this
into a place where players want to come, you know,
and and and this is a free agency destination. And
I think you know we're we're doing that because of
this amazing facility that we sit in right now, because
(17:13):
of the job Coach Mosley and his staff have done,
and and and the success that our young team has had. Oh,
by the way, the amazing weather and the tax free
uh situation. So I think we've done that and and
and by and large, I hope to be in a
lot of conversations that that, you know, several years ago
we weren't able to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Are you hearing that? Is there a buzz from other
teams and players about what you've done here? We're not
only with the success on the court, but the building
and what what is what is happening here in Central Forth?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah, I think you hear. You know, people that talk
about the game, whether they're you know, in other organizations
or on TV, talk about the growth of the team
and the exciting direction. Obviously we know internally Coach Mosley,
Jeff Weltman, our players would be the first to sell
you we haven't done what we want to do yet.
You know, we haven't arrived celebrating the progress and everything,
(18:04):
but you know, we're not done and we want to
continue to get better and and and so we are
all individually doing our work, the players, coaches and UH
the front office staff as well.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
I kind of wish freight free agency and the draft
was flip flopped.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I got first.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
I kind of I would like to see what it
looks like if free agency happened first, and then and
then you have to I mean, I know it's not
gonna happen. This is just things I think about.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
What I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I'm sitting around George. Well, listen, it starts with draft
is two nights now, so maybe next night we flipped.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
What do you think about that ap that the draft
is two nights. I have my opinion. I know you
have your thumbs down.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
We have an idea. Anything with change, George.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
No, I don't.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Extra day of working, Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Yet, you're right, that is now I got to come
in two days. We're pants today.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
It's kind of I would they pitch it as a
mad scramble in the second round and now maybe you
have time to collect yourself a little bit.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I don't. I want to experience it first, I say, uh,
you know what I feel about it. I like it either. No, No,
I do think it's just as smart just yeah. No,
I do see the positives. It's an extra day, sorry, George,
but it's okay. I do see the positives and I
just want to experience it. I remember when I was
with the G League team and they put in a
rule where you're only going to shoot one free throw
(19:18):
that could be worth two points. Yes, to try to
speed the game right.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Also dumb, also dumb, which I thought.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
I was like, this is a.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Dumb When you're sitting there, it's pretty cool, and I.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Was like, this actually makes sense, like I as I
experienced it, like I get it, and so I'm taking
the same approach.
Speaker 6 (19:32):
You know, it's not daughter getting in and out of
there in ninety minutes.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
That's also true.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
That's also true.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
That's very true.
Speaker 6 (19:40):
I want to ask you about free agency and free
agent destinations and kind of how it's changed since you played.
It feels like back then there were three or four
markets that everybody says is where everybody wants to go. Now,
if they got money and if there's a chance they're
gonna win, it feels like thirty teams have a fair
shot in any given summer at.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
A free agent is it.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
Have you seen kind of the destination and the idea
of destination city has changed over the last fifteen twenty years. Yeah,
I think there is some I mean it starts with winning, right,
Like most players who we're talking about like have a
certain amount of money where that's kind of all they
can make, right, and so all.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Of that is equal. Then it comes down to the
other things. But even before you get to that, you know,
free agency in and of itself has changed, and it
used to be where some of the stars changed teams
and now that's mostly done through trades. And so you know,
again going back to that, we wanted to be one
of those places where if a player says, you know what,
my time's you know, pretty much done here and here's
(20:35):
a list of teams that I want to go to.
We wanted to be on that list of teams.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I would imagine. You know, as you go through this
whole process, you've got two guys that are going to
be fighting for minutes too at Anthony Black and Jet
Howard that you drafted in the first round last year
to take us through this year, what you saw growth
from those two and what their role could be potentially
moving forward.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah, and so the previous season we kind of moved
out of the hey, we're just going to give our
young guys a lot of men and it's into the
you know, we're playing winning basketball and you have to
earn it. And you know, those guys have come in
and they've continued to work hard, and you know they
have a lot of the things that we want our
team to be about, positional size, versatility, IQ. And you know,
(21:16):
ab got his chance during the season when when we
were we had some injuries and cam Inton did a
really good job and and some of our best stretches
were when he was on the court, and so you know,
you saw flashes of of what he could become, and
he got a glimpse of all the things that that
he needs to get better at to get to where
he wants to go. So he's in here working Jet Howard,
(21:37):
same thing like he played in Osceola, and we said, hey,
here's the things that we feel like you need to
work on to become the player you want to be.
And to his credit, he took on the challenge and
you saw him get better over the course of the season.
You saw his confidence crow, you saw how he played
start to line up with with what we wanted to
see from him. And so we couldn't be happier with
(21:59):
with that part of the season. And and and you
know those guys both know we're gonna have hard summers
and and you're gonna go out there and they're gonna
earn it. And and they're in here. To their credit,
their bodies are starting to change, their confidence is starting
to grow, and so we we hope that, uh, that
this continues into the next season.
Speaker 5 (22:14):
But the good thing, guys, right is we walked in
today and and who's downstairs? Anthony Black, Jed Howard. I mean,
there's the first two guys I saw when I walked
in the building. So I'm like, all right, it's on.
It's already, it's on. This They've actually been here longer
than I have this summer, which is great.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
This is great, George, But I would think that would
be important with those two. And then what what was
your message to I mean, we'll start with Franz because
I don't I can't imagine anybody needs a break more
than that guy. Ever since he burst onto the international seat,
he's been playing in the international tournaments. He's gonna play
in the Olympics coming up. But he's not going to
get that because he's gonna go He's gonna play in
the Olympics. What are you telling Fronds and and he
(22:51):
had an unbelievable season. He's going to play again and
I know he can't wait for next year's No.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
Froz is exciting. You know, this whole thing I've I've
come to learn is mostly bet about betting on people
and what they're made up of and how they how
hard they work, all those things, and like Franz is
like the best example, Like he's a person, a player
that you want to bet on because of all the
things he's made up of. And he showed that last year.
(23:17):
He shows that during the season, and I'm sure on
the biggest stage with the Olympics this summer, he'll get
another opportunity to show it. And so you don't have
to tell that guy much. You know, he knows what
he has to do, what he has to be about,
and a large part of that right now is just
kind of making sure he's taking care of his body
and so much that's amazing about, you know, players that
(23:38):
play kind of this year round international and NBA is
just how much of a hole it takes on you mentally.
And so it just shows how mentally tough he is
that he can come in be ready and you forget
during the season. He's essentially playing year round basketball, and
he doesn't want to miss.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
He does not does not want I think in large
part every player in the NBA wants to be out there.
He does not want to miss.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Is that's when you say betting on a player that's part.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Of it, too, is that's part of it. That's part
of it. And you see, you know, he kind of
tweaks his ankle or does something and he just walks
it off, you know, and you forget the next quarter that.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
I don't look at him. I don't look at him.
I'm like, hey, he's fine, it's fine, he's good.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Everybody's good.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
Is there when you're scouting players? Kind of a weird
question you might have just answered it is sometimes you
see a guy and you're like, I don't know what
it is about him, but I just like that guy.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Is there? Ever? Just sort of a I can't quite.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Put my finger on it, but I I like players,
like the way that guy does interview with.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Conversely that I dislike I can't put my finger on.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So I'm like a lightning rod of nonsense.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
I just sit next to him.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
You're getting the good.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Question would have the switch scene.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
And and part two are inevitably are they players who
remind you of yourself.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
That's exactly what I was gonna say. Like most of
the time when you have uh something for a player
and you're like, I don't know what it is about
that player, but he's like six six and he like
can shoot a little bit, and I don't know what
it is.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
You know it's Anthony Parking. Yeah, just something about it.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Hell, guy's good. And so as a scout, you kind
of learned, Okay, this is a bias I have and
I have to like, you know, check it. But and
you do that, and that's that's like a constant process,
like you're always checking yourself and trying to to write
for sure. And and that goes a lot to like
having the discussions in the rooms with with other guys,
and you know, it's funny you have this kind of
season long conversation about certain players and and you know,
(25:31):
you might start out with it like I don't see
what everybody sees in this guy, and then by the
time you get to mid season like, oh, okay, I
get it, and then by the end of you're like, yeah,
I don't know what I see in this guy. So
it's just a it's a constant thing. But but it's
a fun process because it's never the same. You have
to stay open minded and and you are going to
be wrong a lot of the time and just accept that,
try to learn from it and and move on. But
(25:53):
that's why we have a group. That's why we have
a group, and it's not you know, any one individual.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
I was gonna say, let's go to the fan questions.
We want to go to the fan question Yeah, we
can do that.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I want to ask a mere question about that, because
since you mentioned yourself career forty percent.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
Three point shooting, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
The three point shooting, I know, is something that we're
addressing and it we wanted to get better. It can
come internally, you can attack it a number of different ways.
How critical is the three point shooting and just taking
a leap in at it. I thought he was going
to say, can you give us like twelve minutes a night? Hey,
we were going for bab to get.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
In shape, or give us twelve minutes a night.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
Can you just give us twelve minutes just sit in
the corner.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
You might remember about a year and a half ago,
I tried to go back on the court, remember that,
And it didn't work out, so well, that's right, I
ended up in a boot for like a couple of months. So, yes,
we don't answers that.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
I don't want that, we don't want that, we don't
want we don't want that.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
I know I don't want true true though. No, you listen, shoot,
Shooting in today's game is super important, but so is
a lot of other things, and certainly we want to
address shooting. You have to be able to shoot at
to a certain level to be competitive. But we feel
we can get there, and we're not going to overreact
to just adding shooting because you know, we have a
team identity and we want to continue to build our
(27:02):
team in that way. And anybody you bring on the team,
you're going to have to address certain things and you're gonna,
you know, have to sacrifice others. And it's just like
what can we sacrifice and where and how do we
continue to move this roster forward. So the shooting thing, yes,
we'll have some some level of internal growth. You know,
you saw the jump that Polo took, that that that
(27:23):
Jalen took. You know, like there's gonna be some some
internal growth baked in, but also we want to continue
to add to to how we play and how we
get our advantage night in and night out.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
You mentioned betting on a player, I mean Polo and
Jalen you said, are right there. I mean you see
the way they work and what those guys put into it.
You had to have been happy with their second and
third year.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Yes, yes, like you know again, this was Jalen's first
summer that he really got to fully you know, dedicate
to to getting better, you know, going through injuries and everything.
And so you saw the result of that, and credit
to him for putting in the work every day. You
know you saw Jet and Ab when you walked in
that was that was jalen last summer. Paulo the same way.
You know, he went through his rookie season and he's like, okay,
(28:07):
you know there's something about kind of getting into all
these gyms and playing against these guys for one time
and understanding the schedule, how rigorous it is and how
tough it is, and how you need to take care
of your body. That second season you kind of go
into knowing a little bit more about what you have
to be about. And and Polo was was great in
the biggest moments, and I think that's what's kind of
(28:28):
separated him from from a lot of other people.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
What do you think his summer looks like? Ap Like,
he obviously he's not going to be on or I
mean there's a possibility that a couple of those guys
drop off Team USA and maybe he gets added on.
But right he's going to have a summer to kind
of sit back and relax and just work on himself.
What do you think his summer is going to look like.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
Yeah, that's that's what it's going to be about. I
think I think Polo is you know, you experienced the
playoffs like that, and you go to Game seven and
all of the things, even you know, the last regular
season game against Milwaukee, like all of the big moments
that you can take from this year and and say, Okay,
you know that was great. We want more, And paulows
at the front of that line in terms of wanting more,
(29:10):
wanting us to kind of take a step forward and
and see what what we can do next.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
We got some fan questions, we went to social media,
we got some hard hitting fan question You've already actually
touched Yeah, I've hit a couple of them. Yes, well,
I like this first one because it comes from I
don't know if I'm saying or it comes from Dave Bench.
Speaker 3 (29:25):
Is that how you say that?
Speaker 5 (29:26):
It could be Bench? It could be How.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Do you say, like, how is that from? Yeah, he's
a fan. He wants to know at what age did
Candice beat you? I'm not.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Well then he from day? Is that really from Dave Bench? Oh?
I love it. I love that. Oh all right, well
I got one for him after I say yeah, I
got one. No, I honestly, this is the most asked
question I get from Like, so he's really not the original.
He's not original and original.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
People very pulled that right off a reddit, didn't.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Yeah, very predictable. So Cannice and I there's eleven years
difference between us, and so we never really played one
on one and it was always just kind of me
working out or helping her work out, and probably by
design on my park. So loss your shooting drills. Yeah,
I beat her a pig. All right, there you go. No,
(30:20):
I'm kidding, no, but like, we just never really got
We played throeund three on the same team. We've done
some of that stuff. But and then I got to
the age where like, no, this is it's not very
smart to me to get on the court.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
You're gonna end up in a boot again, up on
a boot or you know, worse.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
But an incredible career. And I know she's retiring. I
know you're incredibly proud of your sister and everything that
she accomplished.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Caitlin Clark, where are.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You on this? I mean we're sitting there, not that
we didn't watch games before, but we're watching games in
their entirety with my two daughters nine and ten. I
don't know if it's a media creat but she's unbelievable
to watch and where you know, where you come on
what she's brought to the league.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
I think it's amazing, you know, any kind of way
that more fans can come to the game and see
how unbelievable all these women are. And it is a
it's a big jump from the college to the NBA.
It's even a bigger jump from women's college to the WNBA.
Less teams, more talented players, like you have women that
(31:20):
are drafted eight ten not making the roster, you know,
and so it is extremely high level. And so anything
that brings more fans to the game that you can
witness that and come away and say, okay, you know,
like I get it now. I think it's great.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
I loved watching some Kannis Parker two, by the way,
for sure, for sure she was okay, all right, she
was all right, all right.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
This was a fan question. Favorite part of your job
that has nothing to do with basketball, nothing to do.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
With nothing to do with basketball. So, as a person,
and I imagine most people are like this, I love
to travel, right, I love going to new places, and
I love running into people that I have some level
of history with, whether I played with them, they've coached me,
or Basketball is a small world, and so to me,
I love that. Part of what I do is that
(32:09):
I always get to travel. I get to run into
people that I know, and we end up in dinners
or whatever reminiscent about old times. And so that's that's
part of the j Other I love interesting. So it's
not full staff meetings or podcast interview spending time with
George probably a better answer.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
I just snuck a peek and I went and asked
this one before when we were talking about Paula.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Was there a moment early on maybe.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
In Paula's rookie season or just in his career where
you knew like, wow, this dude's got something a little
bit different, maybe an extra gear, or maybe it was
even before you guys drafted him.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Well, so we interviewed him at the Chicago Combine and
you know, we'd seen him play all year and he
walked in the room. He was just huge, Like you
just couldn't see that, I thought on the court, Like
I walked in and shook his hand, I was like,
he's huge. Like so to do all of the things
he did at DOUP at six ' ten, that was
(33:10):
the first thing. And then just you know, having him
in and having him you know, practices and working out.
But then also you know when lights camera actions started
that first game, like you were like, okay, you know
you see a little bit like this guy jumped over
that guy. Yes he did. And that continued throughout the year.
There were just moments of you know, cause I don't
(33:31):
care who you are as a player coming in from college,
you never know where you quite stack up in the
NBA until you get up against these guys in a
regular season. And so I'm sure for Polo he answered
a lot of questions very early on for himself.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I like this question because they give you a chance
to maybe do some x's and o's a little bit.
But that what makes Polo and Franz so dangerous as
a duo. So you got two guys six ten that
handle the basketball. What what is so unique about those two?
Speaker 3 (34:00):
Well, what's unique is number one, their size. You know,
you've got to these two jumble forward guys that play
the most coveted positions in the league because of the
versatility that they offer. And and they just I think
they both have high IQs and and and good feel.
You know, a lot of times you'll see star players
that are good scores and maybe lack the feel or
(34:21):
the vision or vice versa. And and I think these
these two both have it. They have the guts, they're
they're made up of the right stuff. They both work hard,
and and they just process things quick, you know, so
on the fly, they just they're they're just learning. And
and I think you know, to have those two guys
at that position and be able to play off each other.
(34:43):
And then you look at the press conference and and
when they're talking about the other when the other had
a good game, how they talk about each other how
happy they are for the other and and and to
me like that, that says it all.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
You can't fake that, guys. I think that's right, which
is most impressive by the on this roster you put together.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
We've been around long enough correct to know when they
are faking or that to be able to I think
discern that it is genuine and that it's not always
the case A lot of times that do best players
like the team No, I's see that.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
On the court though, too, Like you can that's a
lot there's a lot one thing to do it in
the press conference or in the locker room talking to
the media or whatever. It's when we're on the court
and the other guy knows that you know, player A
knows the player B has a going or vice versa,
and they're just like, let's go, let's go, We're gonna
We're gonna feed you till the till the wheels fall off.
Like that, to me is what shows that those guys
(35:33):
get it.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
Yeah, And a lot of credit for that goes goes
to both Jeff Wellman and coach Moseley. Jeff, part of
our drafting process, to go back to that is trying
to find the best people and of those which are
the best basketball players. And then the other part is
coach Moseley putting together a culture of of of young players.
That's really hard to do, really hard to do when
all these players are trying to find their path in
(35:56):
themselves in their game. Uh, to cheer for the for
the person next them. And you see that not just
last season, but even in in a lot of the
seasons prior where we weren't getting a lot of the w's.
You still you still saw it during those times.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Georgia has won.
Speaker 5 (36:12):
To end with yeah, this is the last one. They
stuck me with this one. By the way, from David,
who is in tune with the team you are, Okakay
who has the best aura of any war a team.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
It's a good word, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
I had to look up with a Yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
It's like a new it's a new name. And when
you say or because I think erst well, I don't
say it. Some fans said, Okay, I don't. I'm trying
to figure out what they mean.
Speaker 5 (36:34):
By I assume they mean like the best O Joe presence. Yeah,
I bet Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Well throughout the year, Uh, you guys, see when players
coming into the locker room, they ask the players like
who does this best of that? Yes, they all have
different answers, so I'm sure they'd all have different answer
to this. I personally would go with Gary Harris, and
I think he's kind of has that quiet style, like
you know, just the understated, but like you know it
(37:02):
kind of just carries himself a certain way and been
around the guys look at him as you know, kind
of a vet on the team, and when he speaks,
people listen. And so I'll go with you, guys.
Speaker 2 (37:12):
I'm gonna say Joe Ingles. Joe Ingles taught me a
lot of new words and phrases, most of them.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Many can you say now, Well, most of them I
had already heard, just with a different accent actually, to
be honest, it was just a different let's not Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
That guy is a great presence too. This was great
a P. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much for
taking time. Congrats on the first full year as GM,
and to look forward to uh what we have moving
moving forward here.
Speaker 3 (37:36):
Thank you guys so much for having me, And the
best part of my day is now over.
Speaker 5 (37:39):
So I don't know, can I only can I only
come in on one day of the draft. Do you
give me permission for that?
Speaker 3 (37:45):
No, do whatever you want. Here a lot longer than me.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
To let them handle the picks. And you come Friday. Okay,
I'll see you guys on Friday after the draft. Do
you guys come all right? Yeah? If you need any help,
we're around. We're round, so you can just give us
a call.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
That'll do it.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
This installment of Adic Pod Squad
Host
Dante Marchitelli
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