#25 NBA Eastern Conference Shakedown: Offseason Moves Explained!

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
What is going on everybody? And welcome to this weeks
episode of the Huddle Within podcast.
Thank you very much for tuning in once again to another
episode. This episode.
I'm extremely excited to to present to you guys.
I've got my best friend Nathan Campbell on with me to talk
about all things NBA free agency.

(00:20):
This will be a two part podcast episode.
The first part is US covering the Eastern Conference, followed
by the Western Conference in thesecond part.
And at the time of this recording, few updates that are
made that we'll talk about. Darren Fox have just signed an
extension and Jonathan Kaminga has confirmed that he will be
staying with the Warriors while the Warriors organisation

(00:42):
confirmed for him Because I don't think he's too happy with
the move, but don't really want to dive too much onto that
specifically right now. But I guess the reason why the
podcast episode is a month afterwhen free agency began was
because of this Jonathan Kamingafiasco.
And now that that's sort of wrapped up, we're able to knock
down and do this episode and really breakdown the Eastern

(01:04):
Conference and the Western Conference.
So obviously this is going to bethe Eastern Conference
breakdown. Then the Western Conference will
be followed next week, which will we'll dive into everything
there. So really excited to sort of
break this down for you guys. It's something that's more
league focused and sport focusedspecifically.
Obviously our topics have been over a general kind of range of

(01:25):
topics and going into sort of deep and meaningful
conversations where this is moreof a chilled, sort of relaxed
breakdown of free agency. But it also allows myself and
Nathan who we are, very passionate basketball fans and
we always talk about these conversations in a coffee shop
or at soccer training or anywhere personal.
So I thought, why not bring it into the podcast setting and

(01:49):
onto an episode for you guys to listen to and just sort of see
how we sort of talk about the sport as well, which I find very
valuable as well. And shout out to Nathan.
He's the one that came up with this idea.
We've been planning to do a podcast together since I sort of
launched this thing and we finally kind of landed on doing
a free agency talk as well. So guys, enjoy the episode.
I'm not going to go too much into anything else, but the only

(02:12):
thing I'll probably mention in the sporting realm is that Simon
Goodwin from the Melbourne Demons has been sacked as the
head coach. And yeah, it's not really
surprised. They've been struggling all
season. So that's something that's kind
of been, yeah, in the backgroundin the Sporting News.
And also for you WWE fans, the ones that are listening, Summer
Slam has just finished. And honestly, it was a decent

(02:33):
Summer Slam. We had a few returns, Brock
Lesnar returned. If you guys know anything about
Brock Lesnar, he's been a legendof WWE for so long and he makes
his return attacks. John Cena, who was a heel for a
bit but then now decided to become a face, lost his belt to
Cody Rhodes. So Cody Rhodes is I guess the
new face of the company. It was a passing of the torch

(02:53):
moment for John Cena. There a few other matches that I
won't dive into, but there was also a Money in the Bank
catching cash in with Seth Rollins.
But if you want to listen to that, I mentioned that last
week. I've got my podcast episode show
on the WWE podcast, which I'll link down below covering main
event, which is kind of like thethe small branded show, but also

(03:15):
it has a bit of raw segments. But in this specific case,
because it was a PLEI reviewed summer slam.
So it was a really cool way to sort of review that and an
awesome breakdown of, I guess what happened on Summer Slam, if
you guys are more interested into that.
You know, you guys know how muchI love wrestling and love
talking about it, and that's where I can find that.

(03:35):
But this will be solely a basketball talk, a very long
episode, but I promise you that it'll make you worthwhile.
If I did have it in both parts, this episode will go for three
hours long and you guys would fall asleep.
So I'm giving you guys a week todissect Eastern Conference and
then go into Western Conference as well.
It's also broken down in chapters by each team.
So if you don't want to listen to some certain teams, I'm more

(03:57):
than happy with that. Find the team that you want to
look at, give the ratings, have a look, see what you what you
think. And it'd be great if you could
leave a comment and sort of engage with it as well, just to
see your opinions. And it really excites me to see
what people think as well. But without further ado, let's
get straight into it and enjoy the offseason, Eastern
Conference sort of ratings and reviews and breakdowns.

(04:19):
Welcome to the Huddle Within podcast, where we go beyond the
surface to uncover the real impact of sports on our lives.
Whether it's lessons of resilience, the passion that
fuels us, or the stories that connect us all, This is where
the game gets personal. I am Daniel, a regular sports
fan just like you, and together we'll explore what sports truly
means beyond the surface. So step right into the huddle.
And let's get into it. All right guys, so I'm here with

(05:01):
Nathan today. We're going to be discussing all
the NBA offseason moves, but we're going to start firstly
with the Eastern Conference offseason moves.
It's a two part series. Start with E, we'll move on to
West. Start with the week of
conference first, I think, and they'll lead up to things that
happened in the West. Hopefully by then we get an

(05:21):
update on this Jonathan Kaminga situation, which is what's been
holding this free agency talk back.
It's a month late, but we're here now.
So we'll start with the first team.
But before that, Nathan, introduce yourself.
Thanks for having me on, Daniel.It's been something that we're

(05:41):
trying to do for a while, and I'm glad we found the time to
finally come on and speak NBA. But yeah, thanks for having me
on. Appreciate.
It all good. So I think the way we'll start
this is by first explain to everyone why this free agency is
more important than probably other free agencies in the past.

(06:01):
And the main reason is that the NBA has essentially introduced a
second apron. And for those that don't know
what that is, NBA fans, non NBA fans, it's essentially a another
list, a tier of restrictions that are punishing teams for
going over a salary cap. In the past, back in the 2000

(06:22):
and 10s to 2020, there was this thing called the soft cap.
And the soft cap essentially wasthat if you essentially was over
the salary cap for every dollar that you spent over it, you'd
have to pay in luxury tax. So teams were willing to pay
millions and millions of dollarsin luxury tax to get the best
team possible. And that's why teams like the
Golden State Warriors were able to have such a strong dynasty in

(06:44):
getting Kevin Durant and becoming a powerhouse in that
time. The second apron essentially
punishes teams that do go over the salary cap and stuff that
include punishments are losing their first round pick.
If you're in the in the second apron for a certain amount of
years, you ain't able to I guessset up a mid level, you're not
allowed sign and trade. So a lot of ramifications here.

(07:07):
And two teams that went into this going into the second apron
were the Cavs and the Boston Celtics.
So you're going to see a lot of moves that we're going to break
down from those two teams specifically and also teams that
are in that first apron too, which is also another layer of
restrictions, but not as penalising as the second apron
is. So I think now that they've got

(07:29):
this, it's creating a very big, big advantage for teams to sort
of compete and, and breaks the dynasty window as well.
And it's really important that your teams draught well so
you're able to to give your yourplayers the most money.
So these free agencies now all have essentially people that are
extending and most of their freeagents are restricted.

(07:51):
And that's why we're probably not going to see the massive
free agency moves in a long timenow because a lot of these
players are getting extensions and the extension eligible.
And the only way that this really happens now is if a
player is disgruntled and they really want to test the free
agency market, but they're not even getting the most money
there. So it's very big.
Talk to me about it. What are your what are your

(08:12):
thoughts on this second apron? And how do you think that it's
obviously going to be an advantage or disadvantage for
some teams moving forward? Well, it's there's, there's I
can see why people do like the changes in that, the structure
of the salary for me myself, I tend to like it just because,

(08:33):
like you said, dynasties are nice, but you know, seeing
teams, smaller markets actually,you know, manage your assets and
not rely on getting free agents to build to get to a point where
you're competing. I find there's an art to it or,
you know, it takes more to builda team that way than, you know,
being one of these bigger markets that have advantages of,

(08:54):
you know, having a nice locationor a team that, you know, has
state taxes and then you get paid to pay more.
And yeah, I, I find that for thesmaller teams is a bit unfair.
So I, I tend to like the changesthat have been implemented.
And on that as well, it it has seemed to create, you know, it's

(09:18):
made it harder for free agents out there in the middle tier to
low tier to actually get their money.
Hell, when it was implemented, it was supposed to be that there
would be a disparity across the league with wages and have what
is earned for Max and mid level players.
But for what we're seeing now, Max players are still getting
Max's and those middle to low tiers.

(09:38):
They're just getting minimums. And that was seen with Trey
Johnson or Ty Johnson last season.
He was not a player that should be on a minimum.
But there was nothing out there in the market.
So, yeah, I tend to think that it's a good, it's a good
difference. You know, if your team is on

(09:59):
top, you got to manage your assets.
If not, then you're going to geta hefty bill and like you said,
you're into the second apron. Could be paying 500 million on
taxes and there's only so long franchise or billionaire can
last, cutting costs and sure. Yeah, I think, I think the main

(10:20):
thing as well is that as you mentioned, it really has got to
do with Russia construction. And what I love personally about
the league. And I think what we've gone into
as well is the idea of how teamsare presently constructed and
how they're built to to win a championship team.
And it's an even floor. Now there might be some low
market bias between our teams obviously given that we we

(10:41):
support those low market teams, but it doesn't mean that big
markets won't have or be a destination for free agents
moving forward. It's just the amount of free
agents that are able to sort of be in the team.
Like you're losing that super team value there.
And I guess if you're a mid level player, it's trying to get
long term deals rather than those short terms and trying to

(11:02):
find those players in the market.
So we can start with Atlanta Hawks who had a very busy
offseason acquiring the kill Alexander Walker first in the
sign and trade they sent a second round pick over it was
Cleveland's pick. So not the best or strongest
trade that they got back to Timberwolves.
But Atlanta signing for four years, 60 million and given the

(11:23):
salary, I think it's worth the the Minnesota Timberwolves are
obviously losing a key asset to their rotation, but we're unable
to obviously pay the money and the killer X and the water
Walker is is a perfect example of how the second apron can can
really affect the team like Minnesota competing, but allows
A-Team like the Atlanta Hawks tobolster their their kind of
roster and include someone that's extremely versatile on

(11:45):
the defensive side. So that was the main
acquisition. We also saw Luke Canard sign for
a one year deal and Paul Zingis are getting acquired in a three
team trade, which we'll talk about when we when we go into
Boston. But yeah, give me your thoughts
on Nikhil, who probably highlights the free agent
acquisition and then obviously pause, you guess you got
acquired in the trade. The It's funny because the rise

(12:08):
of Nikhil Alexander Walker needsto be studied because I've seen
him get traded multiple times. He landed on my Portland team
and I was watching him thinking who is this guy?
Like, he's not going to stick inthe league, but credit to him,
he found a home like Timberwolves and he's got

(12:28):
something about him. He's got that dog in him.
He can get buckets when needed. He's just the ultimate role
player. And then the players, as you
know, you need role players to win and it's a big loss for the
Timberwolves, but it's a, it's agreat, great steal forks really.
Yeah. I mean, I think tying him up
with Trey Young, especially on the defensive end, is going to

(12:49):
create a lot of versatility on that end of the floor.
Lena were a very struggling defensive team, especially the
given the fact that Trey Young is not really a good defender,
especially being undersized and also just not having that motive
to defend. Obviously his offensive game
speaks for himself, but getting someone like Alexander Walker
there that can take the load defensively, guard multiple

(13:10):
positions and just take that relief of of Trey is going to be
something massive. And pairing him up with Dyson
Daniels. I'm really keen to see them two
on the floor, just pestering guards and pestering people that
are two way players as well. And then you add that with when
you go Conglu, who's looking up to take a big leap, and Christos
Porzingis, you can tell that their defence has bolstered big

(13:31):
time. And that's something that I
think Atlanta have been strivingto do since they got to the
Eastern Conference final a few years back.
They've made massive improvements bringing Alexander
Walker here, so I expect this team to be very defensive
minded, allowing Trey Young to just fully flourish on the
offensive, on the offensive side.
Yeah, and to add to that, I mean, they have a star in the

(13:52):
making. Jaylin Johnson, when I watched
this guy, I think he's got that upside.
He's got that potential to one day become an All Star.
He can do it all. He can score, he can defend.
Athletic just needs to stay healthy.
And I think him, along with Trey, can go places.
Not to mention Dyson Daniels, they got quite a lengthy

(14:13):
backcourt, not not backcourt, but players around Trey Young.
So it really makes sense to lineup some the type of rotations I
could put out there. And on that as well, obviously
they had that number one pick and Ricochet.
So you know, he looks to be a two way player as well.
So if he picks up stride, yeah, they look to be quite a solid

(14:35):
team in the East. He may not be probably the most
outlined number one pick that wehave in the NBA draught, but
he's a he's a very good player and I think a year under his
belt in second year has got strides to go and I think he's
got a lot of potential too. And speaking on and I guess
players that are going to help on the floor as well, especially
with shooting, Kristaps Porzingis looks to be a massive

(14:57):
acquisition for them. So give me your thoughts on that
in that three way trade. Obviously Boston in that second
apron, as we mentioned, look to ship them off again.
We'll talk about that when we cover for those guys, but it's
about Atlanta Hawks and they're looking good with adding a
potential third star in their team and being that third
option, creating a mini big three, you would say.

(15:17):
Yeah, I, I think the, the moves,it's awesome for them.
I mean, they got someone that can stretch the floor.
I've seen Porzingis, you know, camp at the three and shoot
threes. He's a big shot maker and he's,
you know, post offence is virtually impossible to defend.
So adding him in the lineup as long as he can stay healthy,

(15:38):
again, it's another knock on Pozingus because there's no
doubt of his quality when he is fit.
But if he is fit along with the rest of the pieces on this
roster, they can, they can causetrouble.
I think the fact that, as we've seen in the most recent finals,
the teams that get there are theteams that have different looks,

(16:02):
teams that can swap the offence,defence at any point in time.
Somebody's not working, change it out.
And I think Pazingis allows that.
So like you said, capitalising on the issues in their second
April for Boston, I think they got a relatively cheap deal for
him, if I'm not mistaken, and they did lose that Capella

(16:23):
archetype. However, you've got a younger
Congru, someone who's versatile coming into their prime years,
still only 24. So I, I find that's not too much
of a loss. And you know, Pozingus just adds
a different dimension to the team.
So yeah, I'm I'm excited to see what it can do.
Yeah, I think the East is very open now.

(16:45):
So we're gonna see definitely Atlanta up there.
I'm gonna give this one, to be honest, an AI think an A rating
for for this offseason. Atlanta's done a really good job
and getting the right pieces in.And on that as well, I think
Canard is just a sneaky additionthere.
He can, he can light it up. It might be in a 10/15/20 minute

(17:05):
roll, but sometimes that's all you need.
So I'm on this, I'm with you on this one.
I'll give this one an A. We're moving on to the Boston
Celtics who have been hit hard with this second apron and from
a team that was looking poised to win the Eastern Conference
and go for a potential back to back championship, have now
found themselves in a sort of half rebound.

(17:27):
Especially with Jason Tatum's unfortunate season ending
Achilles injury, which will put him out for pretty much all of
next season, you have a slight hope that that he will be able
to come in if they do make the playoffs.
But on top of that, they lose a few players.
Obviously Kristaps Pazingis of who we talked about and also
Drew Holiday. They didn't really bring much

(17:48):
in. So there's not really too much
to talk about them on a on a free agent basis.
They did breaking Luke Garza andJosh Minnet, both from the
Timberwolves. And I think it was part of
essentially just a free agency deal that was available.
And those two guys had no contribution, but they were able
to bring in Nyang and Anthony Simons via trade, which was a

(18:09):
very significant trade in getting rid of Drew Holiday and
also getting rid of Christopher Zingis.
So I think George Niang has beenaround the league for a long
time. He's a he's a lights out
shooter, someone that can play asolid 15 to 20 minute role in
the league and someone that could be really important for
for them to sort of improve their shooting.
And there might be a big opportunity for Niang here to

(18:33):
sort of have an opportunity to get a bigger contract with more
money if he's able to take more shots and whatnot.
And Anthony Simons might honey on a potential six man role is a
perfect player for you to talk about given that he was on your
on your Blazers and now he's been traded to the Boston
Celtics. But I think this year is a
definite season reset. Not sure how deep they will go

(18:55):
down. I still think with Jaylen Brown
and Derek White, they will look to to I think be a play in or
late playoff team personally, especially that the fact that
when you did see Jason Tatum getinjured, Derek White went off
for 25 to 30 points and he can definitely average that a game.
And with this Eastern Conferencebeing so open, I still think
he's a All Star bona fide if he is to continue to the same

(19:21):
lengths as he's done in the past.
So I think you'll see him performing at All Star level and
then Jaylen Brown being Jaylen Brown.
So don't think this team's down and out completely, but
definitely maybe a pause on their championship hopes for
this season. But yeah, go on with the
acquisitions of Nyang and Anthony Simons for us, please.
Sure. So yeah, the additions are

(19:42):
really just to cut costs really.And we could all see it coming.
Everyone within the landscape knew that they needed to make
moves. And with Tatum going out, it was
just a, it's almost like a mini pause.
So what they've done really is they've given themselves
flexibility for the future and know knowing the Celtics, Brad

(20:02):
Stevens. We know how good their front
office is. They're never going to be fully
down and out. But like you said, as a team or
or as an organisation, Boston Celtics, we know after next year
they'll be back and this really does give them the platform to,
you know, get creative, give some other players opportunity

(20:23):
and really try to bolster up forwhen Tatum comes back.
But yeah, with with the DNG acquisition, just another
shooter, similar to Hauser, can shoot, can stretch the floor,
solid role player, nothing too crazy.
The Luca Garza 1 is more so justa replacement for Luke Cornett,
which is I find a big loss. He might not be the most

(20:45):
flashiest player, but defensively, yeah, he can he can
really cause havoc. He's athletic and he just played
played roll perfectly, so that was a big loss for that.
There's something about there's something about Sam Hauser that
just gets me excited for gettingmore minutes.
I'm all for Sam Hauser minutes. I think in stretches of last

(21:07):
season, especially when their players were out, you saw those
occasional Sam Hauser games and Luke, Luke Cornett is a big
loss. But do you think before you go?
Who then is K the starts for this year?
Look, it's possible. I know Tillman, I think
Tillman's still on the roster there, so maybe he still gets a

(21:27):
starting gig. But it's I think start of
training the roster spots open. I mean, there's no one there
that's going to be locked down. If I was to be crazy and say
look at Gaza gets it, then that's just outside the box.
But yeah, I think I would give, I'll give the young buck a shot
and see how it goes. Why not develop Anthony?

(21:48):
So you know much about him? He's Portland days, him coming
to Boston. Anthony, he, he's always been
one that splits us fans because you could see that the shooting
ability, however, it was just accompanied by lacklustre
defence and in the right team itcould really pop for a team.

(22:09):
And I've seen him make crazy shots.
And I think at Boston, they have, they have that culture for
defence. You know, obviously Drew
Holiday's not there anymore, butthey still got White, They still
have Jalen Brown. And yeah, in the future, they're
going to get their team back andthey're going to be on on par
with what they were prior. So I think Anthony Simons is a

(22:32):
good addition. I mean, there was not much else
they could do to cut costs for the Drew Holiday deal.
It was on a hefty deal. Anthony Simons is on this young
asset. It's 2526, so it can build into
the future. And, you know, they might flip
him. They might see how he goes and
he might run the point or maybe Pritchard gets a shot, but he'll
definitely be in rotation and bean asset.

(22:53):
So yeah, I love Anthony. He served as well.
But yeah, I think I think he's got a good opportunity this year
to show the league what he's about.
Well, I think Boston have a really good track record in in
obtaining starting guards and then putting them as six man's
and attention to winning it. You saw that with Malcolm
Brogdon. Obviously not the same with
Pritchard, but you did see Pritchard become the 6th man of

(23:15):
the year last season. So definitely an opportunity for
the likes of Anthony Simons to to maybe hone in on that role.
Maybe they'll start him and justkeep Pritchard there.
But there's some potential in inthat line up in that roster with
either all players sort of helping there.
And I think I still think they can be a play in team.
As I mentioned, I still think they will be honing around that

(23:36):
spot. Even if they don't you I believe
will be a hard reset and just setting up for for next season.
I'll give AB plus rating in a sense of the fact that they had
to get off the salary. Jason Tatum being injured and
met. They're just having a pause this
season and they made the the right moves.
I thought they could have probably got something better
back for Kristaps Pozingis but definitely still the right move

(24:00):
to make and hopefully that sets them up for competing the year
after. So I'll give it AB plus.
Yeah, it it, it's a funny one for me because, you know, you
look at what they've had to do to get their roster and albeit
Drew Holiday and posing us as great as they are when they were
needed, they were just not around this year.

(24:21):
So, you know, injury point players having to cut salary.
I'd give it. I'd give it AB all.
Right. So the Brooklyn Nets are Next up
in our list of Eastern Conference teams, a very
interesting team. So we've had the the Kevin
Durant era where there were one pinky toe away from from winning

(24:43):
an NBA championship, you could argue to now being sort of the
rebuilding team they were when they had DLO back all those
years ago. So they're in a weird situation
now. They obviously drafted 5 first
round picks, one being Igor Damon.
A lot of no hype really on any of these picks, especially

(25:07):
considering that they had five and they didn't actually draught
up or trade up to get a better player as well which was also a
surprise. But Igor Damon interests me
given that he is a tour guard. He's a very beautiful playmaker.
The shots not there, maybe the the offensive aggression is not
there, but he's a really smart player.
So he may be able to stretch thefloor.

(25:29):
I don't know too much about the four other guys that have been
picked, but that'll be very interesting to sort of see as
they move forward. They do keep some very
interesting players. So Zia Williamson and they're on
shaft. Both sign on a mid level A2
year, $12 million deal for both for them.
I really do like Zia Williams. I think that when he was there

(25:50):
this season, he took a pretty decent leap.
He sort of dropped off towards the end, but I think that was
mainly due to sort of them sort of shutting down their players.
And Deron Sharp shows some flashes for me that he can be a
pretty decent aggressive rebounder and a paint protector
there, but not too much shown toto where I think that he could

(26:10):
really impact the winning team. But again, someone that probably
fits the the level that Brooklynwant to be to what gets
interesting is them picking up Terence man in that three way
trade with the Atlanta Hawks andalso that blockbuster trade.
I wouldn't call it blockbuster, but given the landscape of of
the trades that happened this season, Cam Johnson or this

(26:30):
season coming up Cam Johnson forMichael Porter junior.
So they're getting someone here that is a volume shooter.
He was, and people forget about this before his back injury was
projected to be the number one pick in his draught class and he
showed some very good passages for the Denver Nuggets.
Obviously his mode on defence isprobably not the best and in the

(26:52):
current climate of the Nuggets, which we'll obviously talk about
when we cover the Western Conference, didn't show probably
those flashes that was needed for them to kind of break the
wall of OKC. But now in this new situation
where he's looking to be probably one of the primary
options, could really take a potential star role here.
So I really like this trade for Brooklyn.

(27:13):
They take a hit on someone that can potentially be a star.
While Cam Johnson was really good for them, he is best in a
team that is obviously competinggiven he is a very qualified
role player there. So I would love to see Mark
Porter junior improve on his drives.
But here at the Brooklyn Nets, this will be a very interesting
acquisition too. They lose DLO and they lose

(27:34):
Trenton Watford. So there's some space for him to
obviously take the minutes. And I think a lot of people
though are going to be really frustrating seeing him and sort
of Cam Thomas probably take up 95% of their shots.
But again, Brooklyn are in this in this phase where they're sort
of rebuilding, but they're playing with what they can, what

(27:54):
can get and and who can be the star in this team is what we're
really gonna find out this season.
So yeah, take me on to your thoughts on on the Brooklyn
Nets. Yeah, I, I, I tend to think that
Brooklyn are definitely at the start of this rebuild.
I wouldn't say they have a cornerstone piece or something.
You can look into the future andsay they're gonna be the pillar

(28:15):
of this organisation. So, like you said, taking a hit
on Michael Porter, he's been injured, yes, but we know that
he's a lights out shooter. You know, if if he can just, you
know, get to 2025 points a game,you wouldn't be surprised.
He can shoot hand in his face. I know people say, you know, see

(28:35):
ball, shoot ball or no, doesn't swing the rock.
But I think it will allow him todevelop his game.
He's going to have the ball in his hands a lot more.
Him and Cam Thomas, if he stays,they're going to be just playing
two man the whole game. And yeah, really, if he can get
those passing chops up, he couldreally develop into something
nice. But yeah, obviously if you're

(28:59):
looking holistically, they've not really improved the roster
as such. The main thing is the, you know,
asset accumulated the taking Flyers on Michael Porter and you
know, just got the returning players and Theron, which looks
serviceable. Centre wouldn't say you could
see him developing into anythingcrazy.
And I do like the flashes of Zaire.

(29:21):
I can see him handle the ball, see them get to the ring.
Looks interesting. But yeah, it's I wouldn't say
there's any groundbreaking additions or resignings here.
And Terrence Mann of I've lost the words with this guy.
I've seen him play. I've thought that maybe he'll
develop into something and he's let me down a few times.

(29:42):
A fantasy. So yeah.
You really thought in that game six against Utah when they put
in the playoffs, when he did that Duncan Gobert, you thought
that this was the chance for himto sort of take a leap and
ascend into a star. But that never really happened.
So might be a fresh start for him.
He is now a veteran player can has experience with Kawhi and

(30:04):
stuff back in in the Clippers and and also a little bit of
that land out. But yeah, it's probably the last
chance for him to sort of be someone as a player.
But do you think that Igor Demoncould probably lead the lead in
assists this season as a rookie comparing the rookies, given
that you got Michael never swingthe rock Porter junior Cam
Thomas, who probably won't get assists from him because he

(30:26):
takes about 10 dribbles before he shoots.
But I think this is a decent situation for that rookie to be
able to develop and and give theball to to these scorers.
So they might be a sneaky fun team in my opinion.
I really like the demo pick. I mean, he's 69610 point guard
pass first, and I think he's going to, like you said, he

(30:48):
might not shoot the ball a lot, but he'll definitely have the
ball in his hands dishing it outto those guys on the wings.
So I think it's a perfect place to flourish, albeit they might
need a few more veteran presents.
But yeah, to take a flyer on someone 669610 in that kind of
Kate Cunningham archetype, if that pops, then maybe that could

(31:08):
be the cornerstone cornerstone for the franchise.
But yeah, I really like it. The other guys in the draught,
they've taken a lot of, you know, players that just seem to
be high upside role players. So hopefully one of them develop
into something for them and thenwe're all looking back saying
what a good draught. But yeah, I really like the demo

(31:30):
and pick and yeah, I think it's good organisation to get the
ball, yeah. Yeah, I would give them probably
AC overall just because it doesn't really swing anything
for them. But it's going to be very
experimental in the Brooklyn Nets organisation to see what
sticks on the wall with all these acquisitions and these
draught picks. So we'll look out for for the
Brooklyn Nets this season for sure.

(31:53):
Yeah. And on that, obviously they've
got their assets, accumulated assets to do second round picks,
that sort of thing. And they've created large
amounts of cap space for the future.
Now who knows how they'll spend it, Might spend it on someone
that's overpay and that might change the rating.
However, I'd give them just a just a blank seat I reckon.

(32:15):
Yeah, it is a big, it is a big market team.
We forget it is New York. So you never know which free
agent wants to come and potentially change the landscape
of Brooklyn Nets. And we also forget to mention
that they still got all those picks from the hardened trade
that they sent to Philadelphia. And if they continue to be a
struggling team, we may see those picks come back.

(32:37):
And they sort of recovered from the Kevin Durant, Kyrie and
hardened sort of era with that. So we'll have to wait and see.
And they also got Phoenix's picks too.
So that'll also be very interesting.
I think four first rounders, correct me if I'm wrong.
So lots of lots of potential here for Brooklyn, but again,
very experimental this season. Yeah, I I wouldn't be surprised

(33:01):
if they finished towards the bottom, maybe last second last
in the East this year, so. All right, so these blokes best
ever player, arguably one of theworst owners in the league.
He's he's given up a a chunk of his of his ownership.
We're gonna be talking about theCharlotte Hornets, who on
Twitter have been beefing with my Wizards.

(33:22):
But man, this organisation honestly, like from from since
the Kemba Walker era where we thought there would be a very
serious team and have the potential to to make some noise,
have done nothing. And look, they've acquired the
right picks at the time of theirdraught.

(33:44):
It just doesn't seem to work outfor this, for this organisation.
I don't know if there's a hoax on them, if they just have a
really bad losing culture, but they get Lamellar Ball who is a
star. He's got all the potential, has
injury problems, which is probably holding back.
Then you've got someone in the likes of Brandon Miller, who is
also ascending to be a potentialstar and this year is going to

(34:07):
be a massive year for him. But it just hasn't seemed to
work out for them. And I think this season getting
a player like Konkaniple, who may not be the star that all
these other I think draught draught things in his class or
in his range are, but he definitely has that mode and

(34:28):
that winning mentality. You saw it in in Summer League
when they won as a knockdown shooter has played alongside
stars such as Cooper Flag. So that's probably the big
positive we have to say because they're free agency.
Other than that, hasn't done anything.
They signed Spencer Dinwiddie, who will bring a better veteran
presence on a vet minimum, and they resigned Trey Mann, who in

(34:50):
flashes looked really good, but I think he's severely
undersized. He reminds me of an old school
type retro player who probably isn't able to adapt into this
league. But again, a three year
24,000,000 is not is not the worst deal for a player like him
who could potentially be a suitable or strong six man for
them, just a microwave scorer off the bench.

(35:11):
But a lot of their their sort ofacquisitions I'm not really are
not really significant. They get Miles Mason Plumley
back, which is nice. And they give away sort of Mark
Williams, which is going to go down as one of the most what if
interesting trades of all time. Like they resend the trade to
the Lakers and then they end up getting rid of him anyway for

(35:33):
something that they could have probably got more for if he
didn't have these injury problems.
But again, the Hornets just confuse the shit out of me and I
don't really understand when arethey going to turn it around and
win? Is it?
Is it when Lamalle Ball and Brendan Miller become healthy?
If Brendan Miller takes a leap? Or if Konkaniple can break away
and become a star and prove me wrong and make my prediction

(35:57):
look stupid? But yeah, talk to me about these
blokes. Because seriously, Like for the
time I've been following the NBA, they've just been Nuffy.
I just want to start with Charlotte Hornet.
They had the best commentators. Without the commentators they
would not be an organisation. Let me just put it straight.

(36:17):
They've been struggling, like you said, since the day I can
remember. I remember back in the days
Bobcats getting record losses and I just, this organisation
really never really materialised.
They've got some fun pieces. Lamelo is fun, but to lead
A-Team it's a bit unserious. So yeah, like you said,

(36:39):
Konkanipul, he looks like a great, He looks like a great
role player. He looks like a great
professional. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I
think he's fam. He has a whole family of
athletes, his parents, his mom, his siblings, all athletes.
So he's obviously comes from a good.
From A5 weekly, five brothers all like I don't know their full
names but they have I think 1 syllable and K yes, they all

(37:02):
have like similar names but I can't get them up right now.
But yeah, definitely a very sport and faithful family as
well. Yeah, yeah, I've seen something
on that, which is, which is quite funny.
But yeah, he looks, he looks like he's going to slot in and
maybe be a steadying presence inthe team because like I said,
they look very unserious. They had allegations, you know,
we don't have to speak on that. But you know, if the idea of

(37:26):
these players come to fruition, they could be a good roster,
right? It's just, you know, they've
failed us so many times, it's hard to put our faith in that
and trust in that. So with the additions, Pat
Connington, he's won a chip. So he's he comes in with a
championship pedigree. Not to say that he's been, you
know, elite player, however, he played massive Part 3 and D type

(37:49):
player can shoot, can add to therotation.
And then Spencer Dinwiddie and Plumley as well as Sexton now
has been around the league a bit.
So they'll add that studying presence and then you get rid of
some bad eggs, whether that's Mark Williams, Yusuf Nokich
didn't quite work out there. But yeah, look, it's it's
nothing major. They got lucky with the conker

(38:10):
nipple pick. But yeah, it's it's nothing
groundbreaking, I think. And yeah, Trey Mann looks fun,
but he's just like a lamellar ball light in my opinion.
So. I think the big one for me is
how good Conker Nipple can be inhis rookie season if he makes an
all rookie team. They mean serious business and

(38:33):
if Brandon Miller can take a massive leap and I think he has
the great potential to do that, all signs from what I've seen
show that he is a very competitive player.
I remember one clip surfaced outthat he was just yelling at his
team to run back on defence. And it just seems like he's a
strong competitor, wants to go out there, does things the right

(38:54):
way, plays with a bit of fire and attitude, which is what we
love and has the potential to really step up in that, in that
in that roster. It's just I think another
question of whether he can be healthy or not.
And this is where I say the Hornets have that sort of curse
on them because none of their stars can or will stay healthy
for an extended period of time. And if they're not, they're

(39:17):
doing stuff that we don't want to talk about here.
But again, I think I'll give this overall, to be honest, ADD
minus just because they didn't really bring anyone in that's
going to change their roster. If we talk about the draught,
they brought in a player that isa good fit and and does the
right things, but that wasn't because of their sort of front

(39:38):
office and making moves. So I'll give it AD minus.
I definitely see them being downthere for another year and they
might have to strap up and try to get AJ the banster or
something in the next year's draught, who could probably be
the star that they're wishing for.
Or they can go out there and potentially make a 10 seed.
I think that's their best potential given that the East is
so weak and that will only happen if their stars stay

(40:02):
healthy and they can play at least the 62 game mark.
And maybe if that happens, the Mala Ball could make an all NBA
team. But it's really hard to have
faith in this Hornets team. Yeah, and you know, the the
front office, they drafted TJ Salon last season.
He doesn't look to be, you know,hitting the strides that they
would hope. So if it came up to making the

(40:24):
right pick or not, then I'm sureCharlotte would have fluffed it
somehow. But you know, they got lucky
with where they got where was a fourth or fifth, somewhere
around the range, 4th pick. So it was a relatively easy pick
for them but and overall, you know, looking at Malcolm Mason
Plumley as the starting centre, I don't think they're going to
improve too much so I'm giving them day plus.

(40:48):
I don't think he will start though.
I think Diabate will probably bethe startup for them.
Not that it's a big upgrade, buthe does show some defensive
potential and he's a young centre so he does fit their
timeline. But again, nothing that's
groundbreaking so. Yeah, definitely.
I definitely wouldn't be pencilling in Diabate as a solid

(41:09):
starter or someone that sticks in the league.
But yeah, hopefully it works outfor them and you know, they find
a man in Diabate, but I I I think probably might start first
game of the season. All right, so moving on to the
next team who mate, this team isprobably the definition of mid

(41:32):
slash play in and they can't seem to get out of this hole
that they're in and it looks like they're finally starting to
to go into that lower tier direction.
Having been a a Tensei team for as long as I could remember,
some of the roster moves that the which we're talking about
now I'm going to announce the Chicago Bulls have made have

(41:54):
just been super questionable like.
You had. Vujovic there who who's most
likely going to pretty much leave for nothing as he's just
announced that if he doesn't gettraded, he's going to be bought
out. So that's already a waste.
They get nothing back for DeRozan, who who leaves to the
kings and the kings are a whole nother mess, which I can't wait

(42:15):
to talk about as well. But they lose him.
They lose Zach Levine, and you think that those are the right
decisions, which they were, but they don't really get any
anything back. What I do like about them is
Bezales. I think Bezales has opportunity
to take a big leap this year. I like the pick in him last
season, but this year's pick andlook, we can't judge him based

(42:37):
on a meme, but that meme of Asenge's face after he got
dunked on by Fala Ozzie, he's not a really good start to your
to your career, especially when you're playing with the Bulls as
well and being so mid. So I don't think Bulls fans are
going to be too pleased about Noah Sangay, but he could use
that as fuel to sort of shut everyone up, shut up NBA Twitter

(43:00):
and prove us wrong. But another French player, which
is great to see that there's a influx of all these French
players there. But again, nothing that moves
the needle for us like they theyresigned Trey Jones on a
324,000,000. He had a pretty decent year when
he came and got a quiet into theChicago Bulls.
But really nothing they they pick up Isaac Okoro, who now the

(43:23):
bulls seem to have the worst three first round picks of that
season, having Patrick Williams,who was a fourth pick who
flopped Isaac Okoro. And I can't get the the third
player on the top of my on the top of my head, if you can
remind me. But essentially those three were
like the worst picks of like thelottery and they're all playing

(43:44):
in the same team. So this team, I think they've
just come to the conclusion thatthey're sick of being mid and
they want to sort of rebuild, rebuild the team.
So I think besides Bazelas that I mentioned, Kobe Wyatt is still
around and he's a star, but I don't think he's anywhere near a
player where he can build a teamaround, given the the

(44:05):
limitations on on defence and kind of the inconsistency that
he does have on fed Still, the Sumu is a is a home native as
well. Like Bazelas, he's got a motor,
but nothing too fancy either. So yeah, like talk to me more
about them. I just, I just don't know if
these Eastern teams, we're getting really to the to the
thick of some, some struggling Eastern East teams now.

(44:29):
Yeah, like you said, Chicago Bulls are a team that we've
fought for a long time, needed to blow it up, and it looks like
every time they make a move to their roster, they just stayed
mid. So they got rid of the Rose and
they got rid of Levine and they were the same win loss, they
were the same. So with the moves that they've

(44:50):
made, I just can't see him beingany different really.
They're going to be, you know, an out of play in team that's
unlock. If they don't keep giddy, then I
think there's some problem, serious problems with the
Chicago Bulls because he looks to be someone that you can build
with and given the role and opportunity this season, it
looked good. So, you know, maybe I start

(45:12):
Australian buyers coming in here, but they definitely got to
keep hold of giddy. But the the signings, the
additions, the departures, not really.
It's nothing of note really. I mean, trade, trade Jones is a
steady presence. Okoro just seems like a, you
know, an idea of a leap 3 and D player who's never really shown

(45:34):
it consistently. And Lonzo leaving, he was great
when he was fit, but he was justnever fit.
So yeah, I don't think Chicago'smoves anything to too crazy.
It's not going to change the landscape of the NBA scene.
But I really do hope for SNK. He he bounces back from that

(45:56):
poster because that was criminalwhat they did to that man.
I'm sure that's that's going to hurt.
But you know, I love a comeback story and if that fuels the fire
and he pops, I'd love to see it.So look, Chicago Bulls, I like
the organisation we all grew up with the Michael, Michael
Jordan. Or even if we didn't know, we
knew the Chicago Chicago Bulls. So, you know, we'd like to see

(46:19):
him up there one day. But I think it's now the first
couple steps in rebuilding and starting all over.
Yeah, for sure. I think 1 positive that I forgot
to mention, if we're going to talk about acquisitions or re
signings, it is getting Bill Billy Donovan back for a few
more years. So he's very much into wanting
to rebuild this team and I thinkthere's no need for them to

(46:41):
change a coach in my opinion. I think Billy Donovan is a very,
very good coach and I think he'll be perfect for for their
rebuild and sort of getting these players to to play
basketball the right way. So I think overall I also give
these guys probably AD minus worse than the Charlotte Hornets
only because they end up having Concan nipple and I think they

(47:02):
have stars that if they're fit can potentially go up a bit.
But here I don't really see any potential for them.
I obviously taking my bias hat off.
I think Giddy is good enough, but at the same time not enough
for me to really think that he can be a all NBA or first option

(47:22):
on a playoff contending team. So that's unfortunate.
I'd love for Giddy to prove me wrong and put Australia on the
map higher, but I think I'd givethis one AD minus overall.
Yeah, and to mirror that or to what you were saying before, I
really like the look of Martez Bazalas.
I think he can do a lot at his size.
He's blocking numbers off the charts for first year rookie.

(47:47):
So yeah, I think he can be a cornerstone for that
organisation has the highest upside.
But really with the moves that they've made, unfortunately
there weren't anywhere near the top 10 or top five even to get
that, you know, cornerstone player that you compare with
Bazalas for the future. So the moves really to me is

(48:08):
like you said probably a D minusand.
That's probably what they need. It's funny that we're agreeing
on everything as well, by the way.
I'm interested to see where we do disagree, but that's the
Chicago Bulls. Just wanted to take a moment to
thank you guys for tuning into another episode of the Huddle
within podcast. If you do enjoy episodes like
this or this episode specifically, be sure to leave a

(48:28):
comment and a five star review wherever you do get your
podcast. It'd be also great if you could
like and subscribe wherever you do get your podcast so we can
continue to show this out to people that see sports exactly
the way that you do. But without further ado, let's
get straight back into it. All right, I'm going onto the
Cavs. So the first competing team in a
long time. We've gone through a few of the

(48:51):
the garbage teams and finally back on the competing train with
the Cleveland Cavaliers. So the second team that is in
the second apron and it looks asthough they're willing to stay
in there for a little longer given that the championship
window or the Eastern Conferencewindow is so open.
I know that they crashed out in the second round to an Indiana

(49:14):
Pacers team that now looks like they were a serious playoff
team. But now they're out of the
picture. Boston are out of the picture.
It really leaves them New York, Orlando as probably pencilled in
as the teams that could potentially take out the Eastern
Conference. So they don't really do much in

(49:35):
the free agency market, maybe because they actually because
they didn't have the the salary to do so, they're very much
stuck with the team they have. But they do manage to pay Sam
Merrill a decent amount of money, four years, $38 million,
which is a extremely, extremely solid deal for someone that is a
very lights out shooter. And they also pick up Alonzo

(49:59):
Ball, who they trade Isaac Okoroaway, who if it can definitely
be a stabilising backup point guard for a team that felt as
though they sort of needed that.And definitely someone that can
help elevate the guard level, which is I think besides the two
players of Garland and and Mitchell have really struggled

(50:21):
to find a third guard that can play make to the level that they
have. And I think if Garland proceeds
to continue to have injury problems, which I think is the
catalyst to why I think the Cavshaven't been able to perform at
the level they should have been or they should be.
Lanza Ball can, if he stays healthy or if he's at least
healthy when Darius Garland is in, can do sort of that heavy

(50:46):
lifting in terms of playmaking and allow players like Donovan
Mitchell to to elevate in scoring.
And also a player who I expect to take a massive leap in Evan
Mobley, who I think if he takes another leap this season, is
definitely going to be an All Star and someone that is
probably going to be their most important player on the roster,

(51:06):
given that he's such a unbelievable defensive player
who people would say could have been robbed of defensive player
of the year, But again, still being a utilizer in that aspect.
And once they they sort of work that out, I think they're going
to be a decent team. But in terms of just
acquisitions, it really is just Lonzo Ball and their team

(51:29):
remains the same, which is not abad thing because I think the
East is wide open and they're definitely a contender in that.
Yes, I think to write on your onthe same train of thought on
this one. The thing that I like about the
Cubs is they always seem to maintain that roster

(51:49):
familiarity. You know, they have the same,
you know, you're not getting toomuch change within the roster
and you know what you're going to get.
They're going to be a top two, top three seed in the East and
you know, semi final is where they should be aiming bare
minimum with their roster. They've got some stars and like

(52:09):
you said that the thing with this team is really dependent on
how far Garland gets him. If he's not around, if he's not
that All Star calibre, then thatmight just crash out again first
round sick around. So yeah, the the team hasn't
done too much like you said, several back lights out shooter
like you said, and the additionsfor me, although you're quite

(52:32):
small actually upgrades on what they had before.
Ty Ty, Jerome and Lonzo Ball like for like potentially Tides
of Rome obviously more recently was more solid.
However Alonzo does have a high ceiling in my opinion.
And the Larry Nance one, he's just a switchable defender

(52:52):
again, played power foil, play centre, can stretch the floor,
versatile connected type player.So they haven't lost too much
really. So just being consistent, not
being crunched by the salary is enough to give me, I would say,
a decent C plus. Yeah, I would, I would say

(53:13):
though that I think a bare minimum for them is actually an
Eastern Conference final this season.
If they do not make the Eastern Conference finals, there needs
to be some serious evaluation onthis team.
And that's looking to and for me, First off, without even
playing this season, it would belooking to get off Garland one
and definitely shipping him. And and also probably can

(53:33):
looking at whether Jared Allen and Ivan Mobil can also play
together because they've showed signs that they've had and the
Cavs are convinced that they canplay together.
But when it comes playoff time, it shows that they do struggle
and Garland can't afford to haveanother season where he's not
healthy. I think that's where they have
to really decide whether they'regoing to keep them or not.

(53:56):
So in terms of acquisitions, I'll give him AC just because
they didn't really make any, butthey have upgraded where they
needed to, especially with LonzoBall and keeping most of their
their roster intact to what willbe a weaker conference where
they were the first seed last season.
So we can't forget that. Hey, so this team, the Detroit

(54:20):
Pistons, they tripled their winslast season.
Shout out to Pistons. Jack, we spoke a bit about his
team there, but the Detroit Pistons are now a team that is
from what they were a rebuildingteam two years ago, having the
worst record losing record in the season to now potentially

(54:41):
being a top four seed, potentialat their highest.
And definitely now a pencil in playoff team bolsters their
roster definitely with the likesof Duncan Robinson, who signs a
pretty lengthy 3 years, $48 million deal.
They also get Caros LeVert for two years, 29 million, which are

(55:02):
great pieces for the bench and another acquisition that is
technically not an acquisition, but Jaden Ivy will be coming
back next season and that's someone that they were missing
during the playoff time. And I think he's going to give
them a lot of scoring and a potential backup to that
offensive load, not on the on the bench, but more as a as a

(55:24):
second option for for Kate Cunningham.
Now they do lose Tim Hardaway, junior and they do lose, if I
can get it right, Dennis Schroeder, who mistakenly I've
missed were very strong veteran present guards that really
elevated them last season. So I think the the losses of

(55:46):
those two are extremely underrated.
And also the fact that Malik Beasley has betting allegations
at the moment looks to not be pencilled into play as of yet
and that's still unknown. And he also took a massive jump
last season. So I think people forget to to
rate those players valuably and I think losing them downgrades

(56:08):
them a little bit. But then when you add in the
likes of LeVert and Duncan Robinson, who who can sort of, I
guess, improve their shot qualities and their three point
percentage and also Jayden Ivy back, people can argue that it's
not the worst thing for losing them.
But I'm very much big on on their veteran presence and how
important they were. So for me, I think they remain a

(56:30):
playoff team, but there's still,I mean, one player away or one
sort of leap from the existing players.
I think particularly Assad Thompson, if he picks up on the
offensive side to really make some crazy, crazy noise in the
Eastern Conference. But with Kate Cunningham taking
a massive leap in his third or fourth season, I think they are
pencilling to be a playoff team for a long time.

(56:52):
It's just whether they can actually get to a Eastern
Conference final, potentially compete for the championship one
day. Yeah, Detroit Pistons.
The team hasn't changed too muchfundamentally, but like you
said, Dennis Schroeder, solid role player, done it in the
league, done it with Germany. It's going to be a big loss to

(57:14):
that most stop. Correct me if I'm wrong, but
they don't have too many backup point guards per SE.
I know they got Marcus Assad. I don't think he's anything too
special and they have Ivy that can chop out, but he plays more
of the two guard, right. So yeah, I think it is a big
loss in losing the likes of Schroeder, the Dontechio and Tim

(57:38):
Hardaway. There's quite streaky.
I didn't think Fedechio got too much run anyways.
So, you know, swapping in for Duncan Robinson, not not really
going to make too much of a difference there.
And LeVert, he's quite he's a quite a hot and cold player.
Again, I'm not too sold on the idea of LeVert personally.

(57:59):
I've seen him get buckets back when Indy well on my rise and
that's what I kind of liked him,but since then has been a bit
lacklustre for what he could have been.
So yeah, for me I would. I'll probably give it C minus.
Yeah, I think I'll learn more towards C plus only because Jade

(58:22):
and Ive is coming back and I think Duncan Robinson on that
deal with a new fresh team can can really help them shooting
wise. And I think losing those players
is probably what's going to costthem if they do downgrade.
And that's probably the veteran presence.
But Detroit, it's good to see them be a playoff team.
They remind me back of the bad boys and also in 2004.

(58:44):
And I do like their kind of story from from their last
season tripling their wins. So I think Detroit are on the
rise here. So I'm excited to see how they
go. All righty.
So we're moving on to the finalists, Indiana Pacers, who

(59:04):
were one game of winning an NBA championship and this team and
like the stuff they did last season, simply incredible.
Those comeback 4th quarters in the last three minute victories,
beating the Cavaliers, beating the New York Knicks, Tyreus
Halliburton proving that he is up there with one of the best.

(59:26):
And unfortunately they've lost him.
And I think if he doesn't go down in the Achilles, you can
really make an argument that they could have won Game 7, but
we'll never know due to that injury.
But they lose him, which pretty much rules him out for next
season. And that also lost allowed them
to lose unfortunately. Miles Turner who was a massive 3

(59:50):
point pick and pop big man that also offered serviceable
defensive coverage. And yeah they only really pick
up RJR Jackson and they also re sign James Wiseman as well.
And I think both players are coming off Achilles tears too.
So some terrible luck for the Pacers organisation.

(01:00:11):
I think they don't really do much here.
They lose Halliburton, so it's really hard to think they will
be a contending team. But I think with the culture set
in place, I won't be surprised if they still make the playoffs
given that they have some very big bunch of dogs out there,
especially with Andrew Nemhardt,Aaron Naismith, who can

(01:00:34):
potentially take massive stridesmoving forward.
And you also got Siakam, who in my opinion is probably the most
underrated player in the NBA when compared to kind of the
players around his level. So don't be surprised if we see
Indiana Pacers still compete, but definitely getting a big set
back this season with no Halliburton and losing Miles

(01:00:54):
Turner. Yeah, it was such a feel good
story of the playoffs, seeing them in there and just those
clutch buckets. You just thought it was written
in the stars and they could havedone it.
So yeah, I second that. Seeing Tyrese go down like that,
that is painful for all of us fans.
I'm sure everyone felt it. Everyone thought maybe it could

(01:01:16):
have been if he was still there.But I guess like you said, we'll
never know. I think a lot rides on, you
know, the steps that better Benedict Matheran takes along
with some of the other older play, older draught picks such
as Jairus Walker, hopefully get some more game time.
And you know, seeing the introduction of like a Tony
Bradley, another centre. It was, yeah, this team

(01:01:37):
seriously deep. I wouldn't I wouldn't ride him
off getting to the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if they
got to an 8768. But having Tyrese out, it's a
big blow. I mean, he was the staple, the
energy of that team. He was clutch.
He was the conductor, He was he was everything.
So losing him was always going to be a massive blow.

(01:01:59):
But yeah, the it's it's a hard one.
There's not too much they could have really done.
I mean, the owners didn't want to pay.
They don't want to go into that second apron.
Like we said earlier, it's a bigthing and you've just lost one
of those three and D players cutone of those players coveted
across the league for nothing. So on that, that's yeah, it's

(01:02:20):
quite, it's quite disappointing as a for Pacers fans out there
and all the re signings I see asI Jackson, James Wiseman, Jay
Hoff, all centres. So I mean, they'll be rolling
out five centres in a starting lineup with what they've got now
on their rosters. So yeah, I think the Jay Hoffer
move is underrated actually. I think he's got the potential

(01:02:42):
to be a sneaky good pick. Yeah, he's he can shoot, he can
space the floor. I'm sure everyone has seen the
highlight package. No one knew J Huff was like
that. So, yeah, I I think what they've
done is damage and limitation, really.
But if I had to give you a rating, just the loss of miles

(01:03:05):
for nothing, I've got to give itAD minus.
It's just I just can't. I just can't.
Yeah, there's nothing to say. I'll give it AD only because we
get to see Jay Huff hopefully get on the floor.
Even 5 minutes of Jay Huff is isvery good to see former Wizards

(01:03:26):
legend as well. But in all seriousness, I think
Jay Huff offers something that alot of the centres that they
have in his team don't. So I'm very excited for that
acquisition. But again, I think nothing that
as you said, threads the needle for the Indiana Pacers.
But we're just hoping Tyrese gets back and they can sort of
get back to potentially the NBA Finals or at least competing for

(01:03:47):
a championship as they once did,because they really did take it
to OK. And also fun too.
So it was, it was a match up. OKC Pacers, it was a good final.
So it was something we needed. It's just didn't end in the way
that we wanted it to. But yeah, they'll be back for
sure. I won't doubt that all.
Righty. So moving on to the Miami Heat

(01:04:09):
and this team to me is probably the one team where you can't
actually make a prediction because every time it is a
prediction made or there is one,it's always been proven wrong.
They just find a way to compete and always be up there.
Like their addition Simone Fantacchio could come out and
potentially be a microwave 3 point shooter because we've seen

(01:04:32):
flashes of that. Daveon Mitchell who returns on a
2 year deal, I think has found the perfect home for him.
I'm very high on Daveon Mitchell.
I think he's an elite defender. He has an elite motor, he's
extremely competitive and every time I did see David Mitchell
play, I always thought in my eyes that he would belong on a
Miami Heat team. And now that he's landed there

(01:04:54):
from the flashes that I saw in the play in and also in the
playoffs a little bit, I think he can be a serious player.
I'm not someone that's obviouslygoing to be an All Star level,
but someone that can be a serviceable piece for the Miami
Heat and his defensive prayers. He improved his three point
shot. He's on a pretty luxury deal of

(01:05:14):
two years 24,000,000 and I thinkthat that is a very underrated
pickup. Another underrated pickup was
was getting in Norman Powell. I think he also fits the bill of
of heat culture and and really showed signs of being 1/3 option
on a on a very competitive team with the Clippers as well.
With that second apron. The Clippers were not willing to

(01:05:36):
pay him. So the Miami Heat have an
opportunity to take a family on him and I think he's a massive
upgrade to losing Duncan Robertson there as well.
And you still got hero and Bam who have now have two finals
under their belt and a real serious All Stars.
So you can't sit there and say that the Heat have improved
significantly, but at the same time you can't sit there and say

(01:05:59):
that they're not going to be around that playoff picture or
play in picture with the roster,with the culture and with the
coaching that they have. So you you think that it's not a
big offseason, but we'll probably come back and and have
a look at this when they're surprisingly in the playoffs
taking down the first seed. And we say that David Mitchell
has an elite player on the courtand Fontanchio is an

(01:06:20):
unbelievable shooter and normal Powell is basically their second
option. So yeah, it's really hard for me
to to actually say what's good or bad with this team.
But the Miami Heat make moves and they're they're always
interesting. Yeah, and not to mention they
got a slide in the draught yaquionis or whatever.
However you say his name, someone that was projected top

(01:06:43):
10 gets him 20th pick. So Miami, Miami Heat have a
serious, serious thing of picking out talent, building
them into the and integrating them into their culture.
And they're just models better. And like you said, Davey R
Mitchell's the perfect player for them.
Someone that's hard nosed, readyto get at it.
No, no nights off. So yeah, the addition to him, of

(01:07:05):
him to the roster along with Fantechio on a cheaper deal than
what Duncan Robinson was offering and you know, Norman
Powell for a bag of chips, really.
Kevin Love and Carl Anderson. I don't know how they've, you
know, got such a such a player who looked to be, you know, by
mid season and All Star almost. So really the deals they've made

(01:07:27):
is it's quite, it's quite remarkable, really.
The direction of the team itselfis still, is still yet to be
seen. And I don't know how far this
roster will go. And you know, with limited
assets and, you know, lack of role players, lack of
superstars, Sorry. But yeah, the, the moves they

(01:07:47):
made, they've I think they've done well.
So if it was up to me I'd I'd begiving them AB for those moves.
I think I'll, I think I'll give them AC minus not, not that I
don't think the moves are unbelievable.
It's just if I just take away the organisation itself and my
bias, not my bias, but the the general, general consensus of

(01:08:11):
what the heat is. If you put this in like another
team or another culture, besidesprobably the Norman power
acquisition, there isn't much that kind of moves the needle
for me. Your kindness is good.
He's obviously someone that was meant to be top ten as you
mentioned that he always hit on these players.
But again, this is something that I think we'll have to wait

(01:08:33):
and see what happens. But for now, I think just on
paper, I give it AC minus, but if it becomes ABI, wouldn't be
surprised either. All right, so this team, the
Milwaukee Bucks, we can talk about all the pickups they got,
but they're going to be notoriously famous for probably
the biggest clean up or clear out in NBA.

(01:08:53):
Where can we start with with this team doing everything they
can to to try keep Giannis whilealso staying under the second
apron? He said that he's not going to
leave. So we're going to believe that
he's not going to get traded, but he might potentially be the
biggest free unrestricted free agent of of recent memory or he

(01:09:14):
just leaves in the offseason before All Star break to a
competing team. But this team has been in the
highlights for all the wrong reasons.
We talked about the Miles Turnerpickup, which, yeah, it's it's
not bad. They get a few decent role
players as well. Jericho Sims, Ryan Rollins, Gary
Trent Junior re signs. They resigned a lot of their

(01:09:34):
players. Kevin Porter Junior, Bobby
Porter's Taurean Prince, which which are on some pretty
friendly deals, which is great, great, great to see for them.
But again, they lose so many players like Dame Lilith.
That's a story in itself. Didn't work out with Giannis.
We thought that that could potentially work out.
Culture wasn't there. The fit wasn't there.
I don't think they have any bad blood with each other.

(01:09:55):
It's just I think an organisational move there.
They wave him. Brook Lopez is out.
He goes to the Clippers. The Clippers get so much better
and I think Miles turnout simplycame to where the most money is
and they're doing their best to sort of help Yannis on that, on
that backcourt front to give them some defensive versatility.
But again, losing Drew Holiday Ithink those years ago and

(01:10:18):
getting them Lillard has really put the Bucks in a position
where they don't have any draught picks going forward.
And if Giannis does leave, we may see a proper broken down
rebuild of this team. But I do like Kevin Porter
Junior. I think if he can get all the
allegations and sort of history and put it behind him, there is
a serious player in that in thatplayer and having those sort of

(01:10:40):
role players back in the team. Gary's Trent Junior showed
flashes in the playoffs and Bobby Portis has been a fan
favourite there. They could potentially make some
noise, but again, it's hard to really put a a certain playoff
kind of point on this team, but we've got anything's really
possible. Yeah, they've had a lot of
changes to the roster for sure. And like you said, a lot of them

(01:11:03):
are just bringing back bodies from last season.
And although I like the Bobby Portis's of this world, you
know, someone that's hard nosed impacts off the bench, the bench
is really light from what I can see.
The additions of Cole Anthony, he's going to be someone that
can score for you, doesn't really offer defence.

(01:11:24):
The model's turn to deal, if you're looking at it by itself
is a great addition. Just because you've gone in for
free four years, 100 odd mil andthat's something that you can
accept. But really, I feel like this
type of deal is just going to bea part of a future trade in the
future when Giannis wants to leave someone that you can trade

(01:11:46):
out, get some assets and use that to rebuild.
Because you know, looking at that deal in totality, you've
waived Damian Lillard 100 mil. You're basically paying miles
turn out 200 mil over four or five years.
So that sounds crazy when you say it out loud, but they're
really, you know, salary cap tied themselves over the next

(01:12:07):
four or five years. And as a Blazer fan, you know, I
I hold a lot of interest in the Bucks as we have their picks,
you know, and them being blown up is just going to lead to more
successful Portland. So yeah, it's it's really
difficult for the Bucks because the the damn thing was working.

(01:12:30):
The idea of him and and Giannis sounded good, but it was just
never, it never clicked. And he was out for a year.
So I can see why they've done the move they've done, but I
think it's just going to accelerate the need to rebuild
really. So if I had to give a rating it
it's it's a tough one, but I'll just go for AC.

(01:12:55):
Yeah, I think I'll go for AC as well because I like the idea of
them bringing in some players, getting Miles Turner that can be
used as a potential trade piece,but also offer that room
protection and sort of trying todeal with what they have while
dealing with the second apron while waving Damian Lillard
while losing Brook Lopez. They've steadied the ship, but I

(01:13:17):
think they haven't really set themselves up in a position
where they can choose where to go.
And the only way they can go is to try keep Giannis for as long
as possible, maybe until in their minds the picks are gone
from from the ones that traded to Portland.
But I highly doubt that. I think they're really strapped
right now and they're in a position where they probably

(01:13:39):
know that Giannis is 1 foot out the door.
But if they can kind of convincehim to stay, they'll do their
best to do it. Yeah, you're exactly right.
And I think the team's a bit in limbo and I think it's just
we're just waiting on the day where Giannis ass out and yeah,
they're going to full rebuild mode again.
So that's where it looks like it's going.

(01:14:01):
Yeah, well, we'll move on to another competing team, the New
York Knicks, who as of recently extended Mikhail Bridges.
So he'll be locked up for another four years, which is
great for them. They also pick up some decent
bench depth, which is something that I think was the criticism

(01:14:22):
point for for the New York Knicks.
Maybe half of it was because of their coaching that their their
coach didn't want to play these players.
And maybe it was because of the lack of depth they had in those
positions. But there's probably no excuse
for their bench now. And it will definitely be used
as they pick up a previous 6th man in Jordan Clarkson, who is a
microwave scorer off the bench. Who's going to offer them a lot

(01:14:45):
of relief in that in that front and also someone that I think is
one of the most underrated role player acquisitions, I think in
this free agency class. Gershon Yabosele, who from the
Olympics has just ascended into a bona fide NBA player, someone
that has been out of the league for five years.
The last time I heard that name was when he was at the Celtics

(01:15:05):
not even playing to now being a key pivotal piece in
Philadelphia. And one can argue that the fact
that the the team sort of disbanded while he was there
upped his value and he showed that he can be a very potential
role player. He's got the motor he's he's got
the body that's hard to sort of get past because of his strength

(01:15:26):
and I think he's going to offer a lot of versatility on defence
and offence, especially off the bench for the New York Knicks.
So they're probably another teamthat haven't really upgraded in
terms of star power, but keepingtheir core team, adding a few
bench players to their current roster, a new fresh coach in
Mike Brown who who's an unbelievable coach as well.

(01:15:48):
Someone that's really changed team cultures, especially in
Sacramento. And if you remember back in the
day, taking that Cavs team with LeBron to the finals and also
being part of Golden State's dynasty.
I think the Knicks can really compete for the Eastern
Conference and I think they can they can make another Eastern
Conference finals and potentially the championship

(01:16:08):
because they have the pieces, they have the culture, they have
the the media and the market. So it's only up for New York
Knicks and it's always good whenyou see the New York Knicks good
in basketball. The fans are funny.
Jaden Brunson is an unbelievableplayer.
They finally have that franchiseplayer that they love.
The last time they had that was Carmelo Anthony.

(01:16:29):
So I think the Knicks are in good shape to to really create
some serious noise next season in the Eastern Conference.
Yeah, I really like what the NewYork Knicks have done.
I mean, they haven't given up anything in particular to get
the players that have gotten in Jordan Clarkson a few years ago
averaging 1520 points. So we know what he can do.

(01:16:50):
And not coming off the bench I think is a perfect role for him.
And Yabba Sally is just, again, he's someone that can slot into
the starting lineup if you need,but off the bench offers that
three and D that ability. Tough, hard nosed, girthy.
You know, he's he's a perfect role player and we've seen it in
Philly and just adding him into this lineup along with Mike

(01:17:13):
Brown, which is the biggest acquisition of them all, I think
completely changes the way the Knicks roll out throughout the
season. I mean, they have a deep enough
team and coached last year, Tom Thibodeau.
Thibodeau doesn't he doesn't he didn't trust the bench.
And I think that was the one of the things that you could see

(01:17:35):
come playoffs is the players retired, they needed rotation
and even players were saying like, you know, play some of our
bench players, we they can play.So I think Mike Brown's shown
even when he went to the Kings that he gets, he makes a team
first mentality. That video of him running down
the court made me laugh. I don't know if you remember
that one. Funny man.
Yeah, that was so funny. I don't remember exactly what he

(01:17:56):
said, but that was. Hilarious.
He was just running down the court and he he just brings that
culture, that intensity, that all in team first mentality and
I think it goes a long way. So I love what they've done here
on the limited. You know, it's not expensive,
it's not costing them too much. They re sign Macau, albeit

(01:18:17):
they've traded for him. He's one of the guys.
I'm down for AB for this one. I'll give it AC plus only
because nothing groundbreaking, but the moves that they made
were the right moves. So they'll definitely be up
there next season. We move on to a team that has
really taken advantage of of theweakness in this Eastern

(01:18:40):
Conference with all these injuries and that is the Orlando
Magic. They resigned Paolo Banqueira on
A5 year extension. They get MO Wagner another year
there who I think is pretty muchthere to make friends happy.
But he's actually, all jokes aside, a very good player.
I remember his time at the Wizards drawing charges for
days. He brings a lot of energy off
the bench as a as a big man as well.

(01:19:02):
But the main acquisition there was the Desmond Bay trade with
the Grizzly sending to Tavis Caldwell Pope who pretty much
flopped for them last season andcall Anthony for someone that I
think is the perfect piece for what I learned they need at the
moment. They have bold dominant wings in
in France and and Paulo, who arethe cornerstones of their

(01:19:24):
franchise, clearly both on extended for for a very long
time. And having a Desmond Bay, who's
probably one of the best off ball players in the league in
their team is a significant upgrade as well.
And we can't forget to mention the underrated acquisition of
Tyus Jones as well. I think he'll be very
serviceable off the bench. You've got Jalen Suggs, who's

(01:19:45):
going to come back and hopefullybe able to play a full season.
I think that'll be one of the big talking points for the
Orlando Magic is if he can also stay healthy because he's got an
unbelievable motor. He works hard on both ends of
the floor and really shows flashes of a winning player.
I love seeing Jalen Suggs play. I love the care that he has and
they've also got nice pieces offthe bench.

(01:20:06):
Tristan de Silva's going into his second year.
He's proven to be a decent rookie last year, can be a very
good role player. 15 minutes of.Jonathan Isaac, I know it's not
much, but in those 15 minutes just does an extremely good job
on the floor. And that's why they've probably
still kept him there for so longbecause of that.
And Anthony Black I think has another upside level to go.

(01:20:27):
He's going into his third year. He's got freaky athletic ability
given his size, and I think he'san extremely skillful player.
And I wouldn't be surprised if Iwas seeing him sort of in those
crunch time line UPS as well, given that they're God, they
don't have many, I guess guards on a defensive end that has as
much effort as him besides probably Jalen Suggs.

(01:20:48):
And the fact that Cole Anthony'sgone has opened up the floor for
him to get more minutes too. So I'm really excited with the
old and the magic. I think they've done a really
good job here. And now that they've got new
kits as well, a new badge, new logo, they're really honing in
on this, on this new generation and really looking to be a
serious threat in the Eastern Conference.
I think definitely top three locked.

(01:21:09):
But again, we'll have to wait and see.
But very excited for them. Orlando Magic have lovely kids,
kind of like their jerseys are too clean.
But yeah, like you said, you know, re signing Paolo was never
in doubt. They're always going to sign
him. He's the franchise guy.
He's the guy that's going to getthem to the next level.
If he elevates, the team elevates, simple as that.

(01:21:33):
MO bag now coming back. I like this deal.
There's something about him playing with his brother.
I just love to see and you know,when they're on the court
together, they're just they're just that 10% better.
I love I love to see it and I'm sure at the Wizards you've seen
in play you love that guy. But yeah, I reckon it's a sneaky
addition to re signing anyways. And the the Desmond Bain.

(01:21:55):
I mean this this team lacks shooting all year.
I've seen so many mocks of Anthony Simon's two and four for
just fill up. But to get the shooter, someone
that's bona fide 40% plus shooter year on year can handle
the ball. 20 plus points a game gives that defensive, defensive

(01:22:15):
effort. It's just it's a perfect deal.
They didn't give up anything toosteep.
I know they've given up picks, but you know, picks aren't a
sure thing. They're not going to be tanking.
They're not going to be high endpicks, so to trade them in and
get something that's bona fide when the East is weak, it's a
great move. And then you've got that sitting

(01:22:37):
aspect of Ty Stones there as well who can chip in.
So yeah, I really like what they've done here really.
And not to mention in Draught Night got Jack Howard, one of
those 66 guards who maybe mould into another Desmond Bane and
look to be a good pick as well. And a Jace Richardson who was

(01:22:57):
the top 20 and they've got them sliding in the draught there
too. So holistically, their moves
have been great. And I don't really think they're
losing it too much on the departures there.
You know, call Anthony Gary Harris, parts of the it's part
of the rotation at time, not really significant.
And KCP was really just a failedpick or draught or trade in the

(01:23:19):
end, per SE. So yeah, I really like what
they've done. And you know, because they've
pushed it in. I like the the effort.
I like how the organisation has picked the road and for that in
itself I've given it another B. If not AB plus, they'll give it
AB Plus. I'll give it a a minus only

(01:23:40):
because I think the player that they got in the trade and the
fact that Orlando had the balls to to actually make this move
and no one really saw it coming.So that's what made me kind of
excited for that. And getting Paula Vaquerra in is
an A in itself. Having that guy locked up and
Franz Wagner locked up for the foreseeable future is amazing.

(01:24:02):
And they still have picks from their their sort of rebuild back
when they had Vucci, Rich Fournier and all those players.
And like you said, even though they gave up a lot of picks to
the Grizzlies, I don't see this team falling into the lottery
unless something catastrophic happens to them.
So they're honing in on something that I think is going

(01:24:23):
to be special down in Orlando, FL, and I'm excited to see it
for the foreseeable future. Fingers crossed.
Hopefully Suck stays fit and youknow that team, they're going to
be menacing playoff time. So fingers crossed.
And yeah, we'd love to see the rise of the Magic.
Yeah, that'd be awesome. All right, so the next team

(01:24:44):
mate, this team for the life of me have just year by year never
fail to just not even let me down, but sort of just prove me
right when I say this team is a pretender team, when I say that
they've never made an Eastern Conference finals despite
throwing and flexing the trustedprocess to their fans.

(01:25:08):
This Philadelphia 76ers team have made some pretty average
moves again. But what I will say is getting
Dylan Harper, I'm not Dylan Harper, sorry.
Getting Vijay Edgecombe in theirin their draught is is something
that I'm extremely excited about.
Someone that has a large motor, offers both offensive and

(01:25:29):
defensive attributes. Adam Baylor, who has a very
reputable college system there, I think he's going to be an
extremely valuable player. But in terms of kind of their
free agencies, losing the other seller is a big loss, but they
didn't really do anything else. They resigned Kyle Lowry and
Eric Gordon on deals and they added Trenton Watford, who could

(01:25:51):
potentially be a serviceable role player.
But it really depends on availability, right?
We can basically rule that and beat on playing any more than 40
games a season. Given his injury, McCain is
obviously set to come back, which is probably a positive
there. Tyrese Maxi looks to be the star

(01:26:12):
for that team now, and he's proven that he can be a star.
But it's really hard to see where this team goes because you
think that they're they're up there, but then the next minute
they find a way to kind of proveyou right in my case, but let a
lot of Philadelphia fans down. And those fans are very
ruthless, very loyal. They've seen success in their

(01:26:33):
football team but have failed tosee success in their basketball
team. And they've definitely let the
basketball community know about it.
So the Philly 76ers, we can sit there and say all these things,
but if everything kind of fits perfectly and goes into place,
VJ Edgecombe becomes a first team or rookie.
Jared McCain becomes the rookie of the year that we thought he

(01:26:56):
was going to be or definitely was going to be the way he was
going. Tyrese Maxi makes another leap
and then Beads somehow decides that he wants to play more than
40 games. We may be having a whole
different conversation on to seewhether they can win an NBA
Finals, if I'm honest. But it's hard to really believe
that with this organisation and I think their offseason moves

(01:27:17):
show that that's not going to happen.
But they do have the players there.
So this is probably one of the most weirdest teams in the
league, I would say right now. Yeah, it could definitely go
both ways if the Philly pretenders, as you say, because
really if if they're keeping hold of Grimes and then they've
still got the Kelly Ubrays off the bench, you got the Andre

(01:27:41):
Germans off the bench, Eric Gordon off the bench, you've got
a solid 1011 man lineup. So I think Philly, they really
did luck into this pick. I mean, you look at the teams at
the bottom of the league, they're they're without those
star players, right? They don't have the embeds of
this world, they don't have the Paul Georges of this world.

(01:28:02):
They don't have Tyrese Maxi. None of them have even one of
those players. I literally forgot about Paul
George. He was so I think irrelevant
this season just took a chunk ofmoney.
They're saying that he's not going to be ready for the start
of the season of a training campas well.
But that's a player that is getting a lot of hate from the
the 76er fans. And I even forgot to forget to

(01:28:24):
mention him. And that's how you know that
they were extremely struggling last year.
But yeah, go on. Yeah, and even when they were
fit or I know that that Embiid was out pretty much the whole
season, even when fit, they weren't convincing, right.
But the fact that they've lockedinto a top four pick, they've
got VJ Edgecombe that looks to be a great 3 ND player who could

(01:28:45):
learn some chops off PG and become a great cool piece next
to John McCain and Maxi. They really didn't deserve the
pick really, honestly speaking. But they've got it.
And if all things go right, you never know, they could see
themselves in an Eastern Conference final.
But yeah, with it's, it's funny.But with the additions they've

(01:29:06):
made, they haven't really done anything else.
All I can say is they lucked into that pick really.
Yeah, I think I'm going to give them probably AC minus.
No, I didn't really don't do much.
So you can't sit there and say the players that have gone out
have changed anything. They're obviously going to hit
second apron if they pick up anyone else and they pretty much

(01:29:29):
pick up VKH game and I can't give the front office credit for
that. So they're not going to get a
high rating for getting him because that's fallen to their
lap. But again, I think AC minus is
probably appropriate because again, if this team is fully
healthy, that's including Paul George, which I forget, they can
definitely be a Eastern Conference finals team, which is
crazy to say because they've never made it before.

(01:29:50):
And you then those teams were somuch better.
But even the East is so open. You can't sit there and say that
won't be a surprise. But I think, I don't think it's
going to happen, but it's it's worth a conversation.
Yeah, I think like you said, that they really didn't.
There was not too much thinking about the pick when Vijay was
there and you take him. And for that, I'd give it a

(01:30:10):
straight seat. We're moving on to the Toronto
Raptors and if there is a team in the league that just puts
players in the team for the sakeof it, it is it is this team,
like if you look at their roster, they have 4 of pretty
much the same type of players, high offensive shooting players.

(01:30:33):
I don't really have much defensive qualities or traits.
I'm talking about Scotty Barnes,RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, who
I think half the league if I mentioned Brandon Ingram was on
the Raptors, they wouldn't even know that.
They would think what the hell and when that happened, he's
there and also Emmanuel quickly,which I think if you take
Scottie Barnes out out of the the three, Emmanuel quickly has

(01:30:54):
the best upside. But he's a similar story to a
lot of players we've spoken about here.
Can this guy actually play more than 40 games as well because he
always seems to be unhealthy. They do pick up Jacob Perdel,
who is a very serviceable playerfor the Raptors.
They get him on a decent deal, but again, their team literally
stays the same. There's no there's no traction

(01:31:15):
here. They pick up Karen Murray
Boyles, who I think he slide, hegot picked up pretty early from
when he was projected, but he seems to be a decent player.
But there's like four other players in his position.
So I think the Raptors, they haven't done much.
I think they're in they're in the biggest limbo yet.
They've got chunky and like unfitted pieces.

(01:31:35):
Like if he made a puzzle, it wouldn't even look look nice.
So there's not really much I cansay about this team.
I think they're just going to beexactly where they are.
They might be big offseason movers.
You could see them trading a lotof these players because I think
Scotty Barnes, as much as he is a very good player, I don't
think, and I think the Raptors have realised that he's probably

(01:31:57):
not someone that's going to takeyour franchise to another level
either. So it might be a set and forget
season for them. Maybe a lot of offseason moves,
All Star break trades and they really just build into trying to
get a superstar. But I think, yeah, I think they
they don't really, they don't really have anything.
They've also lost Ujiri as well,who was a very important GM for

(01:32:20):
them. I don't.
I don't have much for Toronto ifI'm honest.
Yes, I, I don't have much to sayfor them either.
And like you said, when you're looking at their roster and have
built it, you really tend to think what is that front office
really doing? You know, you got wingy wings,
forwards, shoot, no defence. The idea of Scotty Barnes being

(01:32:46):
a guy that can handle the rock but can't shoot has over time
shown that yeah, he might not bethat first option that we all
thought he might be. And yeah, the roster is just
lacking that A1A2 type players. You've got a lot of threes and
fours in there, but you're just really missing out on that top

(01:33:07):
end talent. So I think if the Raptors were
to go into the season looking tobe one of the seller teams
trading pieces like RJBIME tooling for the future, I think
that might be their best bet. But I wouldn't think this team
would be making noise. I mean, put jacket puddle is

(01:33:28):
solid centre serviceable, but the other additions really
doesn't doesn't really move the needle on the note.
On that note, sorry, that draught pick CNB he's he's he
looks to be a really good defender, best defender in the
league. And if he can pop to what they
were saying Draymond Green type defender, then who knows what

(01:33:50):
how that works within the team. But yeah, go on what you're
going to say. I just said that I don't see
like even if they were to trade them, like realistically what
are you getting for those players?
Like that's the problem that I have with this team.
It's like you've got these supposedly players that like
they obviously don't fit. So they're going to be trade
pieces you'd you'd like to think, but who is really going

(01:34:12):
to give up a lot of their their draught capital, even their
assets to to want to even get these players.
So that's probably my concern for them.
Yeah, and that's why everyone was so puzzled when they got
Ingram because, you know, looking at it, it was just like,
why? Why would you get him?
It makes no sense. You've already got players at
the wing position. You know, he's been very

(01:34:35):
underwhelming. So yeah, the only one that would
probably have retained value is obviously put.
I think Portal could be serviceable for the right price
and maybe Scotty Barnes for the right team, but no one's really
handing over picks like that. And yeah, I think it's just
going to be a case of continue going through the draught and

(01:34:55):
hope you hit on something. And you know, if somehow Ingram
works and Scotty Barnes works with RJ Barrett, you've got a
lengthy, you know, 33345. So who knows?
I'm not too sold on quickly. The idea of him in New York off
the bench was a bit different towhen he's been starting.
So yeah, I guess it's just a wait and see.

(01:35:17):
But you know, going off these deals, I'm probably giving him
AC minus. I'm going to give him ADI think
they they haven't done anything and I think not even getting rid
of their players or having like any trades for them just shows
that I think no one wants the players that they have.
The only positive they have is keeping Purdle, but it's not

(01:35:40):
like he's going to impact them winning.
He's a nice player, don't get mewrong, but into this team there
isn't really much he can do to help them get better.
Yeah, I guess what they're hoping is the players like Jamal
Sheed, you know, Mike Bow and Greg did keep taking steps and

(01:36:01):
you know, that Jacobi Walter kidlooks like he could be some sort
of shooting guards, more forwardtype.
So I guess their best bet bet isthat, but really I can't see him
developing into more high end role players.
All right, So the final team andthe team that I'm most excited
obviously to talk about for obviously obvious reasons and to

(01:36:24):
close off this Eastern Conference acquisition talk for
the upcoming season is my Washington Wizards.
And look, a lot of the stuff that they've done, I'm
personally and I'm going to put my bias on how here have been so
impressed with. I haven't seen the Washington
Wizards make that many unbelievable offseason moves in

(01:36:48):
such a long time. And when I talk about
unbelievable, it's taking $40 million off cap space and
opening up up to $100 million ofcap space next season.
Taking Flyers on a player such as Cam Whitmore, Dylan Jones
from the Thunder, who that puts us up to getting basically five
first rounders from last year. If you count the three first

(01:37:08):
rounders we drafted, plus AJ Johnson and now Dylan Jones, we
get some cap relief again, getting rid of Kaliolinik for
Blake Weasley, who we've kept, and also I think another guy
from the Spurs who at the momentI can't get my head around, but
we've also managed to. So Michael Malachi Brenham.
That's right. I think we did release Blake

(01:37:30):
Weasley, but we do get Malachi Brenham there.
We also resigned Marvin Bagley, who we actually traded in that
Marcus Smart deal to get a firstround pick back.
So we pretty much got a first round pick who ended up being
Will Riley, who we who we drafted in in this season
basically for nothing. And we also pick up a nice guard

(01:37:51):
in Trey Johnson, who I'm very excited for.
Obviously I made my rant about the first pick not getting
Cooper flag and how I was upset that a team like Dallas could
get him and a team like Philly and San Antonio got the players
they did. But if I look at it, I'm very
happy with the the Trey Johnson pick up as well.
We've got our second year players that going to take a

(01:38:12):
leap for sure. Keyshawn, George look
unbelievable in summer league. He's looking to be a very solid
role player and I think he's gotthat potential.
Alex Staff, he fixes up his shooting, can be an unbelievable
3 and D player as well as a big man and can really be
serviceable. And I'm really excited to see a
potential leap in Bob Carringtonas well, who had a a pretty

(01:38:33):
solid first year. Mind you, he was the only rookie
that played all 82 games, so he has a lot of experience under
his belt. Obviously there is some flaws in
his offensive game, his inconsistencies, but that's
something that he can obviously improve for as he as he goes
into his second year as well. And having that with Trey
Johnson, who is a 40 or 38% shooter off the dribble threes,

(01:38:54):
which in this league you need tobe able to shoot off the dribble
and most of the stars in the NBAdo tend to shoot off the
dribble. I'm talking Steph Currys, I'm
talking Damian Lillard, I'm talking Tyrese Halliburdens.
Those are players that do that on a very efficient rate.
He's also a scorer, first point guard, which is something that I
think we need at the moment given that do have some strong

(01:39:15):
defensive potential players. And what I mean by this is
obviously the Wizards are going to be down there.
You can hear my excitement when it comes to these things.
But this is all on potential. The Wizards are taking a flyer
on on players such as Ken Whitmore, who was meant to be a
top five pick but then had some issues in college.

(01:39:35):
And he he he came to us. He's a Baltimore native as well.
the Rockets chose for him to come to the Wizards so he could
develop. So there's just so much
potential this Wizards team has.And then adding the likes of CJ
McCollum, who people forget, this guy is probably the
greatest player to not be an AllStar in history.
And you know a lot about CJ and I'm excited for you to talk

(01:39:56):
about him more given that he wasa former Blazer and he had his
best years there. But he offers a lot of veteran
presents as well. You keep Chris Middleton there
for another year. You still sort of have Brogdon
on the books. So I believe he's going to
probably part ways, but again, some veterans there to help the
team out. But exciting times for the
Wizards and we have that cap space to if we decide we want to

(01:40:19):
take a hit and try to run for this given that the Eastern
Conference is open. That's not the worst thing
either because we didn't know that tanking did fall to our
demise. Getting pick pick 5 or pick six,
sorry, but still getting Trey Johnson was good.
So we may just just really either go for it and try to get
in the playing spot and really compete and try to just elevate

(01:40:40):
like the Detroit Pistons did. Or if not, we may just crash out
be a bottom team. But we can afford to do that
another season if our young guys, I guess develop and also
we pick up another potential star or a top five pick in the
draught if we choose that way. Plus adding that that $100
million cash face, plus having all those first round and second

(01:41:02):
round picks accumulated, the badly built trade we forget to
mention. I know that's obviously
something that happened before this offseason, but the fact
that he's been waved shows that we won that trade by a
landslide. I'm looking at the Phoenix Suns
and seeing how they're going andthinking they're going to be
terrible, which we'll talk aboutnext week.
But yeah, very excited for the Wizards as you can tell, and

(01:41:23):
I'll leave this to you for maybe5 minutes of your thoughts on a
non bias perspective. Yeah, so I really like what the
Wizards have done. I mean, as a team that's been
down there and you would know itis it is a bit painful watching
them lose. But the best part is watching
the development of the Young Bucks go at it and the
development of the team and you can really see they're starting

(01:41:45):
to form my identity that I mean,star has a potential to be that
two way Mobley prototype, which I think is the archetype of
winning a cheap look at check, for instance, OKC, if you can
get him to, you know, build intothat potential.
Coupling him with Trey Johnson. It is he, he looks, he looks to

(01:42:08):
be a real stud. And, you know, he's a Texan.
Texan native, isn't he? Hook and horns, Yeah.
Yeah, it's that's our college team for side reference for
everyone that's we watched them play in the US So by default
that's our college team. Yeah.
So shout out to the Texas long run.
Great, great aura with that guy.He looks like he's gonna be a

(01:42:29):
baller. And you know, Portland got the
gave you the sister for your guard last year.
What was his name? Sorry about Carrington, he looks
to be a solid guard player as well.
And I mean, Wizards kind of gavePortland their sister of Blake
Wesley. We picked him up fire, fire
waivers. So he's actually in our roster

(01:42:49):
now. But yeah, I really like what you
what you've done. I think Malachi Brandam is a
sneaky good guard pick as well because from the flashes I've
seen him, he looks to be a good shooter.
He just never really had that opportunity there in Spurs.
But yet my boy CJ, he, he brought many great memories,
very clutch at times. But you know, it never really

(01:43:13):
worked out being him working with Dame, both small guards,
both made the ball. But over the last couple of
years he's really developed moreinto a studying presence with
the ball, more point guard type than shooting guard, passing the
ball around a bit more. And he was president for the
Players Association, wasn't he? So it comes off as a really

(01:43:34):
level headed, calm presence, which I think if he does stay at
the Wizards, we'll definitely goa long way.
There was nothing I could ever fault in the way he did things.
He just seems so smart, so humble, good guy to have around.
And I really do hope if he is bought out, finds his way back
in Portland. But yeah, other than that, they

(01:43:56):
came with more trade. I I know I sent that to you as
soon as that happened. I love, I love the deal.
I mean, you're taking a fly on someone that was, you know,
projected lottery, fell from thefell out of the lottery and
everyone's just passing on and making him sound like he was not
a good player. Pick 20th or something around
there. And if he gets the, the ball in

(01:44:17):
his hand, I, I think he can be aserious score scorer.
I mean, taking a flyer on that is exactly what teams like
Washington need to do. And I, I wouldn't, I wouldn't be
surprised if he's averaging 15 points this year, 15 points, 20
points in the limited minutes against Houston, he was a
bucket. So he compliments the team.

(01:44:38):
I think the Wizards need that scoring punch as well.
Correct me if I'm wrong. So him coming into the team
there, along with the additions of Branham, you know, Trey
Johnson, did you draught anyone else?
Yeah, Will Riley. So he was our pick that we got
from the Memphis trade and we obviously were getting 17.

(01:44:59):
Then we traded down for another second round pick.
But Will Riley, he played with Yakanis from the Miami Heat and
at times was the primary player in so in those patches.
So he's also got a lot of potential.
He's a wing that's can offers potential three ND as well.
So yeah, yeah, real rally. Is good and we also got this guy

(01:45:19):
in the second round. I know it's a lot of Wizards
talk, but he is a menace on on defence as well.
We got him in the in the second pick as well on second round.
I forget his name, but he he he's shown.
Flash Jamie Wills 8 steals JamieWatkins or something?
Jamie Watkins or something? Yeah, so yeah, Jamie Watkins.
So he's also a pest on defence, so watch out for him if he does

(01:45:42):
get on the floor. But yeah, those are our.
Yeah, but that's yeah, you guys are really building up a nice
yard core. You know, I I've seen that AJ
Johnson come through and he's looking to be some sort of
player. Maybe he doesn't hit, maybe he
doesn't, but that's that's the type of deals you got to make.
And, you know, unfortunately Wizards weren't gifted a top
four pick like they probably deserved.

(01:46:04):
But I think the management of the GM being able to move a cap
for the future, take a hit on foot players and still get a
good pick in which you know, suits the need.
I got to give Wizards AB plus. I'll give him an A because my
boy has had son, but I think B Plus is probably the most

(01:46:27):
accurate there. Will Dawkins is a former
assistant GM to Sam Presti at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So a lot of the moves that he's made have resembled Presti, not
maybe with the first round pick accumulation, but a lot of these
kind of moves and these aggressive moves.
And it's just really impressive.And I'm really excited to see

(01:46:49):
where the Wizards do go. But anyway, that's been the
Eastern Conference wrap up. Obviously couldn't do the
Western Conference in now or as this podcast episode would have
gone for, for two to three hours.
But we'll be back with the Western Conference, which is
probably the more exciting conference given that the
competitiveness in that in that conference is huge.

(01:47:10):
So we'll review that. And yeah, I'll catch you guys
then. So that's a wrap for this week's
episode of the Huddle Within podcast.
I appreciate you for tuning in and being part of this community
where we go beyond the game and into what really matters.
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to subscribe,
leave a review, and share it with someone who sees sports

(01:47:30):
just the way that we do. And hey, I'd love to hear from
you. Connect with me on my social
medias, which will be linked below, send in your thoughts and
even be part of a future episode.
Until next time, keep that passion alive, stay in the
huddle, and remember it's alwaysdeeper than the game.
Cheers.

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