May 13, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, host Daniel Rushi discusses the recent NBA lottery results, focusing on the frustrations of a Washington Wizards fan and the excitement of Matthew, a Dallas Mavericks fan. The conversation delves into the implications of tanking in the league, the emotional investment of fans, and the perceived unfairness of the lottery system.
Special thanks to Musa from Gutter Ninjas for their support on this pod! Check their website here:
https://gutterninja.jobbersites.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
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. What is going on, everybody?
(00:41):
And welcome to this week's episode of The Huddle Within
podcast. This episode is going to be
extremely different to what I'vebeen doing in the past.
Reason being is because of the events that have transpired
today. I'm fuming at the moment and I'm
gonna try to keep myself cool. I already went on a 16 minute
rant before and when I did do the recording there was no
(01:03):
volume or audio. So I'm gonna have to do this
rant all over again. I like to think that I've calmed
down, but probably as I start walking I'm gonna be more bloody
frustrated. So obviously, as you can clearly
tell Washington Wizards fan, I've spoke about the Wizards on
multiple occasions and the events that have transpired
today have been extremely frustrating.
(01:25):
So for those that don't know, today was the NBA lottery.
And the NBA lottery is essentially a system where
basically the NBA reveals who will be getting the first pick
all the way up to the 14th pick.Now for those that support the
NBA, yous would have all been aware of how bad the Wizards
were. We were the second worst team in
the NBA this season. And the reason why we weren't
(01:47):
the 1st is because teams like Utah decided to shut down and
take their players to get a number one pick by the end of
the season. So that meant that we got the
second worst thoughts still meant that we had the highest
chance of getting the number onepick, but we couldn't get
anything worse than 6th. And as I got to the draught
(02:07):
lottery, the whole season, I've been waiting for this moment,
gone through all the suffering of the team, losing every game,
watching all those games, being still loyal and, and, and, and
excited for for what's to come in the future.
Understanding that in the position we are, we're not going
to win games. We're tanking to build for
something better. We're tanking for potential
(02:30):
stars to be acquired in the draught like this draught where
we have a 14% chance of getting Cooper flag who could have
changed our franchise. Today was the day.
Extremely excited the night before, extremely excited the
week before the playoffs are on.I don't even care about the
playoffs at this point. I've just care about this very
moment. And what did this moment bring?
(02:51):
And I can't say that I'm surprised because the Wizards
have been starved and always been cursed for since I've known
the last #1 pick was the person that I'm wearing right now.
And I was in 2010, that was JohnWall.
As the lottery goes, you've got your butterflies, you're
nervous, you're understanding. The Wizards get the six pick.
OK, The Wizards get the six pick.
I'm frustrated, I'm fuming, I'm disappointed.
(03:13):
And I'm thinking, OK, they're going to give this to Utah.
They're going to give it to Utah.
They're going to reward Utah forpurposely tanking and I was
already going to be frustrated. I was already going to be angry
that the Wizards got the 6th pick.
However, the events that transpired after this forced me,
forced me out of my hand, to go on a rant and put this episode
(03:33):
out because of the stuff that I've seen and how ridiculous it
is. The Utah Jazz, who had the worst
pick, got the 5th pick, which was the worst pick they could
have got, then followed by Charlotte Hornets, who also was
in top three of getting the number one pick.
So basically, the worst three teams didn't even get a top four
or top three pick. To me, that's already
(03:54):
astounding, already baffling. The Wizards are nowhere near it,
but so aren't the Charlotte Hornets or Utah Jets.
So that left with three teams, one being the Philadelphia 76ers
who has Joel Embiid, who has a Max contract player in Paul
George, who has a superstar in Tyrese Maxie and who has
arguably if you played the wholeseason, the rookie of the year
(04:16):
in Tyrese Maxie. When that team is fit, they are
easily a playoff team. So they're top three.
We then have the San Antonio Spurs who have Chris Paul, who
have Darren Fox that they acquired mid season.
They have the rookie of the yearin Stephen Castle and NBA's new
generational superstar, their number one pick, Victor
(04:39):
Wenbanama, who they tanked for and successfully tanked for.
So they get a second pick on topof that with Dylan Harper and
Ace Bailey. And just to make matters worse,
the team that won the lottery were the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks acquire thenumber one pick and we all know
what happened before. Nico Harrison got a lot of hate
(05:01):
for it, trading Luka Doncic, questionably trading Luka
Doncic, who was their franchise cornerstone to get Anthony Davis
and they just capitulated. They went to a play in, they had
a 1.8% chance of getting this pick and they got it.
So basically everything that Nico Harris done was bailed out
(05:23):
by this pick today. Basically by this pick.
All the moves that Nico Harris had made that were terrible
moves, They're going to get rewarded for a number one pick.
Three teams who tanked, we can say tanked or shut down their
chances of winning mid season are getting rewarded with top
three picks. And everyone's saying this is
(05:45):
what happens when you tank. You shouldn't be able to tank.
You shouldn't be able to have higher chances.
But what about teams that tank mid season?
What about teams that have players that can win right now,
that can compete, that purposelyshut down because their players
are injured? Why?
Is it because they're big markets?
Because you don't want top players to be at the Wizards or
Utah? We're tanking because we suck.
(06:09):
Our team is young. We needed to re scrap and
retool. We're not a big market like
these teams. We're not a big market like the
Lakers. We're not a big market like the
Chicago Bulls. We're not a big market like the
Golden State Warriors who are able to bring in free agents,
attract big players. We rely on the draught.
We rely on getting players like John Wall to change our
(06:31):
franchise. And this is a big opportunity
for that. And they gave it to a team that
didn't deserve it. The Dallas Mavericks didn't
deserve it. They stuffed up.
They made mistakes. They did not construct their
team properly, and they still got rewarded for it.
Nico Harrison gets a bailout. And look, we can go into the
(06:51):
conspiracies and I will. It just astounds me that the
Lakers have a benefit in this. They get a free trade in Nico
Harrison in, sorry, Luka Doncic basically free because Anthony
Davis is injured. He's a gun, but he got injured.
The Lakers get better, The Mavericks significantly get
worse, and you're telling me thenumber one pick wasn't in play
(07:11):
here where Adam Silva would havesaid, let's give the Lakers Luka
Doncic, let's make them relevant, let's make them a
playoff team so we can get more viewership, we can get more
money, we can get more sponsors and keep them relevant.
And you guys, you know what, youguys are good.
You'll be fine. We'll give you a number one pick
in return. And this is not the first time
it's happened, so don't think that I have.
I've kept receipts on design. Williamson pick.
(07:33):
The Pelicans were the 7th or 8thworst team in the lottery odds.
They got Zion Williamson. So convenient that that Anthony
Davis decided that he wanted to go to LA Lakers and get traded
out of there. The Lakers had nothing to give.
Do you know what happened? The Lakers were in the same
position as Dallas was and they were given a top four pick.
(07:55):
A top four pick conveniently been able to use for a trade to
get Anthony Davis because Anthony Davis wanted to leave.
Zion Williamson was available. That was going to be their new
franchise player. It would have been easy for them
to leave. It was so convenient, just too
convenient to be true. And it's happening again.
It's happening again. This time, it's happened before
(08:16):
and they've just given to it. After that time, it happened
conveniently. So the Lakers again, getting
more benefits. It's a big market, getting more
benefits, getting more opportunities to be good.
The Mavericks, they get a bailout.
Nico Harrison doesn't get abuse anymore.
Nico Harrison's got a franchise player for the future.
They can have a chance of still competing, but what happens to
the small market teams? What example have you set for
(08:37):
teams that are struggling and tanking?
OK, tanking, we don't like it. We understand it as a league, we
don't like it. But if the Wizards didn't tank,
how good do you think that wouldbe?
Do you think that the Wizards would have made the playoffs?
Do you think the Wizards would have been near the play
insurance? No bloody chance.
So if you want us to be competitive, if you want us to
have a fighting chance, we need young stars.
(08:58):
We need to build from the draught.
And I'm just, I'm just baffled by the events that transpired.
Yes, the Wizards didn't get a top four pick.
OK, I can accept that. But when I see those teams get
get higher picks than us, when Iforgot to mention this, when,
when we were in the play in, when we had Bill, when we had
(09:19):
poor Zingis, when we had Kuzma, even when we had Westbrook, what
did they reward us with? 9th, 10th, 10th or 9th, 10th and
9th. We got the 9th, 10th and 9th
pick because that's where we were in that situation and
that's what we frickin deserved,being mid, being around the
players. So you're going to reward mid
teams to compete and make them better for teams that are
(09:39):
struggling to make them worse. What do you think that's going
to happen with the Wizards in Utah next season?
They don't get better, their team doesn't improve.
We're going to get a 6th pick and as I kind of feel negative
about this and disappointed, there is some positive
limelight. There are some good players in
this pick, in this draught. I'm having a look at it.
There are some good players. We've got the kid from Baltimore
(10:00):
that we could punt, potentially get Queen Trey Johnson's there.
There are some players that can change this franchise around and
Steph Curry was pick late as well.
Giannis was pick late. So I understand that there could
be a franchise player here. But as it stands, the Wizards
would have never have thought they would have got their worst,
their worst chance of getting a pick.
And that was 6th. So now it's going to be another
(10:21):
season of of of suffering. And I had to address it here
because I just find this extremely ridiculous.
How the lottery is is is done. It's set to to obviously stop
tanking teams, But you're encouraging teams that now, now
you're going to see more of it. You're going to see teams now
that mid season when their when their their chances are not on
the line, they're just going to shut down.
They're going to shut down whilethey're competing because
(10:42):
someone gets injured or a trade happens or, or shit happens to
their franchise. They can still make the play and
they can still compete, but theyhave a chance.
Oh yeah, we're in the lottery. We could actually get a top
three pick. You're actually encouraging
tanking more. You're going to separate playoff
teams and play in teams, and teams are not playing in the
playoffs higher, higher because of the draught award that you
(11:03):
can get. It is extremely frustrating and
I feel for play teams that are in that playing that didn't even
get the chance either, like the Chicago Bulls, who I like The
Mavericks. We can say that it's not really
we can say that they have the same lottery odds as each other
and it's random. Yes, yes, I get all that.
But then how the Bulls don't getdown there.
I don't even know if they have their pick next season, but I'm
just using them as a prime example.
(11:24):
They're A-Team that's struggling.
They're A-Team that's not doing really well.
They're staying in that kind of playing range.
How come they can't get a top three pick?
How how come the Spurs have to get how come The Mavericks have
to get it? You're telling me that this is
this is not really I, I really find it hard to believe.
And even if it's not rigged, it's still bullshit.
It's still unfair. There needs to be something in
(11:44):
place for for teams that are small markets that are terrible,
that rely on franchise players to have this reward.
As a Wizards fan that has struggled this season, this is
our playoff final. This is what we hope for.
The lottery is what we get excited for and to experience.
That is just a spit in my mouth from the league and it's just,
oh, it irks me because I've been, I've been thinking about
(12:06):
this for the last 2-3 hours and I just.
I just. Can't find a way to fathom what
just happened. And I had an episode planned to
come out tomorrow with with a really good guest in an
interview, but that's going to have to be put on hold till next
week because this this really needed to be to be addressed.
I guess for some positives, there are still some good
players in the draught and next year seems to be a decently kind
(12:31):
of big, big class as well with alot of potential players.
I'm looking at it right now. We've got Gilbert Arenas son
there, Aaliyah Arenas. He's around the 4th or 5th
range. Even if we do bad, we probably
have a better chance of getting him.
So that's one they've got that AJ Debunster kid and that Darren
Peterson that seemed like some pretty solid players as well.
So we're definitely gonna be down there with his fans.
(12:51):
We're definitely gonna have to stuff up a lot more.
So look out for those players for next year.
We're gonna we're gonna begin our tank and and get excited
again for this moment. But As for the NBA, the only
message I would say is that theydefinitely need to to fix this
because it has become too far now.
I think there is too many too many suspicious activities to
not say that this is rigged. And I don't know how to
(13:14):
personally stop this, but there might not ever be a solution.
But this this has went too far anyways.
I obviously I've got a friend that's a Dallas or not obviously
I do have a Dallas Mavericks fanfriend.
His name is Matt. I sent him a text this morning
once they got the the the pic ofCooper flag.
And I'm going to have him in here to give a bit of a Dallas
(13:35):
Mavericks perspective and a bit of a positive kind of spin on
what it's like to get a number one pick if you're a team that
went through what the The Mavericks went through as well.
So getting all perspectives here.
But as a depressed Wizards fan, we're going to have to go one
more year of this shit. And I'm extremely gutted.
I'm extremely disappointed. I'm extremely frustrated that a
(13:56):
moment that I was so excited forgot ruined before it even
started. And yeah, that's all I pretty
much got for you guys. But yeah, I'll move it on to the
call. And yeah, just enjoy that that
little snippet as well. So in other news, just to kind
of cool myself off and as I waitfor Matthew the Dallas fan to
(14:19):
come on, prayers up for Jason Tatum.
It looks like there is a significant injury there.
Don't want to think the worst, but to me it did look like an
Achilles injury, especially the fact that there was a it was a
non contact. A big shame and a big blow for
Boston Celtics. They're going to be probably out
of this series unless a miracle happens.
(14:39):
The Knicks are up three one. So good on the Knicks now
despite this injury. We don't want injuries to occur,
but we've got to give credit where credit's due.
The Knicks are potentially goingto be in the Eastern Conference
finals and have a chance to havea revenge game against the
Indiana Pacers where they were actually banged up against them
last season. And even for the Indiana Pacers,
(14:59):
a chance to make the Finals too.Don't want to jump on it too
early. But again, just here to say
prayers up for Jason Tatum. So I couldn't do this pod
without bringing in my friend that is a Dallas Mavericks fan.
So I've called him in emergency to come in and give his thoughts
on them getting the number one pick.
Look at the smirk on his face, the disappointment of myself and
the smirk on his face. Now, I called you straight away
(15:21):
to tell you that you got the number one pick.
And I'm pretty sure that was a surprise for all of us.
But I've got to hear your thoughts on this, man, because
you obviously know how I feel. I'm spent 16 minutes just
ranting about it before, but have to give some Dallas
Maverick fans some limelight as to how they feel here.
So starting with yourself. Oh.
Yeah, First of all, over the moon, it's ecstatic to hear that
(15:43):
first, first pick Cooper, the man that you've been wanting to
get for quite a while. It's exciting and it makes, I'm
not going to justify Nico's trait to saying it makes sense,
but getting a first pick right now with our current line up and
having it be Cooper, it definitely is good.
And it's it's often the blow of losing Luca because no one can
(16:04):
ever replace him. And obviously, yeah, I think
every other man fan knows exactly what we went through the
last few months. It's been quite horrible.
I think to a point for a lot of us to kind of just stop watching
basketball. I think we're watching the
Lakers game and seeing him put How much do you put up against
us over 40 points? Yeah, pretty much.
Second game, yeah. Exactly.
And we were just chanting his name the entire time.
(16:26):
It's like we wanted him to do well.
We still want him to do well, but at least now we've got some
kind of formal direction going forward.
But I'm seeing a lot of a lot ofspeculation about a rigged NBA
draught. The only thing I would like to
make reference of, because obviously it's fun to make fun
of it being rigged, is we do ourown fantasy draught every year.
Yeah, Dan. Yes, we do.
And then I'm pretty sure that this year, or was it last year,
(16:49):
the person who was #1 pick was also a 1.8% chance of the ball
in terms of getting first pick and they end up getting it.
So as much as we'd love to sit and scream the rigged shouts and
stuff and I've it's more than funny, it's very funny to
entertain. It is very much so possible.
But I'm also glad Spurs didn't quite get it because if Wimby
and Cooper in the same team, that's that's just ridiculous.
(17:10):
Well, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna come in and chime on this because you
probably might be right that a 1.8% chance is still a one point
.8% chance of getting the numberone pick to me.
And maybe it's just the emotion getting ahead of my my
rationality, but the fact that it was the Dallas Mavericks of
all teams dropping down with what happened and what
transpired with the Lucca trade.To me, it, it just seems rigged.
(17:34):
But obviously we're never going to know.
It's always going to be in the centre of our assumptions.
And the NBA haven't done a good job in here of, of justifying
whether it's rigged or not. And I said this before, this has
happened before with Zion Williamson going to the Pelicans
and that allowed four Lakers to trade for AD.
It might not be Dallas that is getting the reward.
(17:55):
It might be further that the Lakers are getting the reward.
And, and my frustration comes from the fact that the small
market teams aren't getting rewarded for taking but, and in
the end of the day, this is about the Dallas.
I've spent 15 minutes ranting about it.
It will be good for the Dallas Mavericks to have someone like
Cooper flag there. And hopefully you guys don't
stuff it up and actually keep him because like you, we've all
(18:16):
we've spoke about in the past, Dallas fans and the organisation
is very big on loyalty and keeping their players with Dirk
obviously saying the whole season now for your sake,
they've got a second chance to rectify this.
But it just seems all fishy to me how it's transpired.
But again, big move for you guys.
Maybe Cooper flag can get slot in and and they can win now
(18:38):
straight away. But I'm hoping for our sake that
we could potentially swing a trade to get him up there.
But yeah, thanks for your two cents.
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Shout out to Musa, who is the business owner of this and
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thanks for helping out with the pod as well.
And now back to the show. OK, so we've talked about
Dallas, but do you have any sympathy for me?
I know you love to joke and you love to see me so far, but is
there any sympathy for small market teams like the Wizards in
in your situation? How?
How would you feel if you were in my shoes?
Of course. And I think naturally it's it's
the reason why we follow sports is for the fans.
(20:05):
It's to people spend big money to, for example, go to places
like Utah, go to places like Washington to watch their team,
players like Larry Mark. And then even for yourself, you
want to watch SAR play, you wantto watch.
I'm not too sure if you're else you'd really want to watch.
We don't. Have anyone fucking watch?
That's why we need a pick. That's why I'm so angry.
But in saying that you you spentall this money and tickets and
(20:28):
flights to get across and watch these teams and watch probably
your supposed star players play for like, let's just say Utah,
Larry Mark and missed a lot of the games this year.
I play only very few minutes. It's very disrespectful, I feel
to a lot of the fans when teams just tank an entire year.
And yes, I know the fans know that yes, there's a chance that
something might, something good might come out of it.
(20:49):
But at the same time, I feel like there needs to be a re
evaluation in terms of how thesepicks are allotted.
Just because it's not a great entertaining, it's not a great
spectacle for fans who wants theexperience of watching the team
win. Because let's be honest here.
How do you feel after watching the season?
How many wins did you guys end up with this year?
(21:09):
Like I think it was 16 or 18 wins.
Out of 72 games, correct? 82 games, yes. 82 games.
Sorry, we had the number wrong, but in a lot of those games, you
your your copium in this particular case, was that the
reason why you could cope to watch those games is because you
had a potential draught pick. I think that realistically, had
(21:29):
the Washington Wizards not probably have tanked as hard,
they would have got quite a few more wins, probably not good
enough to make a play in spot, but there needs to be some kind
of incentive for teams to still play the players that they have.
I know that they find teams for not playing the stars for
whatever reason and stuff like that as well.
And they teams will always find ways to kind of get around it
and break the rules to obviouslylook after the players health
(21:50):
and stuff like that. But there needs to be, I believe
there's some core issues alreadyin relation to how the system
currently works that need to be re evaluated.
Just so at least the fans experience is worth it.
Because let's just say you bought a ticket to Washington
this year because this might be the only year because you're
from Australia that you can get down to the USA.
And then to watch them have to tank an entire year and not even
be a competitive team is quite disappointing.
(22:12):
And also saying teams like Utah,for example, they've got quite a
like, I don't think their team is nearly as bad as what their
record shows. So. 100% I I said before that
Utah I think purposely were tanking and shutting down their
young players to get this numberone pick.
So maybe I'm being biassed and Idid mention this before, but I
don't think they did deserve a number one pick.
(22:32):
I look at a team like the Wizards, who, let's be honest,
on paper we are the worst team on paper right now with our
Rostar constructed at the moment.
Yes, we may have won a lot more games and yes, there was a lot
of times we were tanking, but I don't think even if at our best
ability, trying to win, we wouldget near the playoffs.
What frustrates me about that, and I can see that argument, is
when you have teams like Dallas,when you have teams like San
(22:54):
Antonio and teams like Philadelphia who when their
teams are extremely healthy, they're competitive teams, they
can push for those playoffs or play in moments when there's an
injury or when there's somethingthat happens.
They are actually doing the sameshit that we are, but towards
the mid season and as it's too late, they're getting rewarded
for a mid season tank. So realistically, it's not as if
(23:17):
the Wizards are the only team tanking.
These three teams inevitably were tanking once their season
didn't go the way they were. Once the Dallas trade happened,
they shut down. Once Wemby got injured, they
shut down. And I know you're about to
disagree with me, so I'm interested to hear four.
And then with Philly, once John McCain was out for the season,
they shut down Paul George. They shut down Tyrese Maxi.
And obviously, we know what happened with MB.
(23:37):
But yeah, I can. I can respect the country here
in a debate. So you far away.
Yeah. I agree with the Spurs because
quite frankly, Wemby being out for the rest of the season,
their post season is pretty muchdone.
In the case of the Dallas Mavericks, they did compete up
into the play insurance. Obviously they lost out there.
I don't believe what they intended to do was the tank
because they didn't once again make the play insurance.
(23:59):
But I think once again though, it really shows and I think it
needs, well, I think in this particular case, it rewarded
some of the teams that were decent but just not quite good
enough. And I think that it also should.
Well, not to say that the formula works.
It was both. All those teams had very minimal
chances of being where they end up getting.
(24:21):
Realistically, Washington getting 6th pick was.
That's the worst pick we could have got.
That was exactly, and Utah was fifth there was there was their
worst pick they could have got as well.
Yeah. What was your percentage chance
of, for example, getting a top three pick?
Top three, if you combine them all together would have been
around like 30 to 40%. We had a 25% chance of getting
pick five and a 20% chance of getting pick 6.
(24:43):
So I understand that that could have happened but everyone has
those similar kind of percentagenumbers across the board same
with Utah as well. So the fact that we didn't even
get into that top 4 consideration was just
astounding to me like I obviously I'm not stupid.
I don't think we're guaranteed lock to get number one.
There was 3 two other teams at the same odds, but just seeing
(25:03):
us go to our worst lottery odds is, is is what frustrates me.
And as mentioned before, again, I'm going to rant about it, but
the Wizards were in the same situation Dallas was going into
the play in and we only got the 9th, 10th pick three years in a
row. But yeah, go on.
Yeah, but once again, that's it becomes a numbers game again.
Yeah, of course, but it's funny to play the rigged.
Let's just say it's rigged and let's all just bash on whoever
(25:26):
you want to bash on. But yeah, well, being a Dallas
fan to anyone listening complaints, Oh well, to anyone
listening this to this who's a Dallas fan, we finally have a
lucky break for, I don't know tothe next.
I don't know how many years because we only really had a
next one or two year game plan based on the trade that was made
by Nico. So things are looking pretty
(25:46):
grim, especially the injuries that we were copping with Kyrie
80 was looking wasn't looking too great with his injuries this
year. Now we've got some form of light
at the at the end of the tunnel.So to any of the Dallas fans out
there listening, let us rejoice for this moment because we don't
get a lot of these moments. We've had one championship in
our entire franchise history andI was with Dirk.
We would love to have that with Luke up and now we can have that
(26:08):
with Cooper. So let's just enjoy the moment.
I know it's easier to enjoy before the actual season
happens, but once again, we've got a lot of time again, which
we didn't have think beforehand.So thankfully we can we can go
again. We can it's, I don't know, it's
just it's hard to put into wordsbecause me speaking personally,
(26:29):
I was in a place of despair where I didn't even want to
watch any NBA games after that trade.
Me watching the play and I was struggling and I was admittedly
wasn't too much of it. Like, obviously we want, I want
my team to do well and I was watching those games.
But you also got that little bitof a component of I knew it.
I knew that trade wasn't going to work out for the best for us.
So yeah, it's just I'm glad for us, for teams like yourself,
(26:54):
Daniel, Washington and Utah and all the others I do feel bad for
to an extent. But also, and I think the
numbers game this year didn't work out for you.
But in any other year that's a first pay round pick for
Washington or Utah or whoever that may be.
I think that definitely the corevalues and the core system in
terms of how the draught allotment needs to be reassessed
(27:17):
because I don't like I don't mind seeing teams like Spurs get
a decent pick despite having a great team where they currently
have players like Wembe who's a generational talent.
We want to see teams contain. Like I guess we want teams to be
also be brought up to be competitive, but we also don't
want teams, for example, who make got get one or two injuries
like your Philadelphia and then just shut down for the year and
(27:38):
then all of a sudden they've gotanother good pick.
And imagine being a Philadelphiafan for the last what is it now?
Over 10 years of tanking and then making what we go into a
conference. They made a conference final I
believe and lost that one. No, they've never made a
conference. Final, so sorry, semi final
conference semi final. Yeah, that's the highest I've
been. So it's like, yeah, it's, it's
(27:59):
it's, it's an interesting one. But once again, super flag to
The Mavericks, unless they decide to throw a curveball and
throw somebody else into our first round pick, which I hope
that they don't. We've had enough curveballs in
our life. I don't think Michael Harrison
has the balls to cop any abuse. I think he's going to play it
safe this one for the sake of his job.
(28:20):
So I think you guys are in safe hands there.
As for the Wizards, we're just going to have to go through
another year of pain, another year of being down there and in
hopes that next year's class is really good.
I know we have, as mentioned before, Aaliyah Arenas, which is
Gilbert Arenas son. So maybe we have the next coming
of him and a few other decent picks for next year.
But Even so, this year we could get a decent pick 6.
(28:42):
So with this fans, it's not over.
It's just we're going to have tokeep suffering and eventually
something might turn. But As for now, we remain as a
very cursed franchise and starved of of anything
significant. But Matthew, thank you for
coming on and giving your Dallastake for your sake.
I wouldn't be complaining. I'm happy for you that there is
some kind of, I guess, silver lining with all the stuff that
(29:04):
happened last year. And I do hope the best for, for
Cooper Flag and, and his and hisjourney for the for the Dallas
Mavericks. But it's going to be painful to
kind of accept like that for forearly stages.
But cheers for coming on. Thank you.
And Cooper, we're glad to have you.
All right, so basically, to summarise everything that has
been said, we got a Dallas Mavericks perspective.
We had a Washington Wizards perspective as well.
(29:27):
Myself, I'm still very annoyed with the events that transpired.
But again, we have to move. That's part of being a sports
fan. We have to just hope for what's
coming up next. We could have been in a worse
position. We're getting a top six pick.
This draught class is really good.
If it was last year, we would have been probably in a worse
(29:47):
position. So I'm still going to remain
positive. I'm still going to lock in next
year. It might just be another losing
season that we're going to have under our belts, but eventually
remaining optimistic. I do feel for teams like the
Bulls who are were a playing team and didn't get near the
number one pick either. But again, that's how it works.
(30:08):
We can say it's rigged. We're never going to know, as I
mentioned, and yeah, I'm just going to have to have to deal
with it. But this has been a different
episode of the huddle within an emergency sort of huddle ran
discussing the NBA draught lottery.
I really wanted to put this one out because as a Wizards fan,
I've been really praying for a good moment.
(30:28):
And that wasn't that wasn't meant to be today.
And that's fine. That's not going to change my
love for the team. We're going to continue to
support. We're going to continue to bring
out episodes every single week. And maybe if something else
happens and if you enjoyed thesekind of unfiltered episodes,
feel free to leave a comment below on what you want me to
address next. I go for Manchester United, so
(30:50):
there's a lot more ranting therewith the Europa League final
coming up. We do lose that.
I could come back for some more,for some more emotional rants.
So again, thank you so much guysfor tuning in and I will catch
you guys next week on the interview that I have, which is
going to be really exciting. I'm not going to say much, but
the guests that I have, super down to earth bloke,
(31:11):
unbelievable fan and guest and he's done so much for that
basketball community. I don't really want to go too
much. I'm really excited to get that
one out to you guys in the next week's episodes.
So just a bit of a teaser and a preview to that or else enjoy
the rest of your week. And I will I will try to calm
down and get my mind off this. But again, thank you so much for
(31:32):
for listening in. So that's a wrap for this weeks
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
just the way that we do. And hey, I'd love to hear from
you. Connect with me on my social
(31:53):
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.
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. What is going on, everybody?
(00:41):
And welcome to this week's episode of The Huddle Within
podcast. This episode is going to be
extremely different to what I'vebeen doing in the past.
Reason being is because of the events that have transpired
today. I'm fuming at the moment and I'm
gonna try to keep myself cool. I already went on a 16 minute
rant before and when I did do the recording there was no
(01:03):
volume or audio. So I'm gonna have to do this
rant all over again. I like to think that I've calmed
down, but probably as I start walking I'm gonna be more bloody
frustrated. So obviously, as you can clearly
tell Washington Wizards fan, I've spoke about the Wizards on
multiple occasions and the events that have transpired
today have been extremely frustrating.
(01:25):
So for those that don't know, today was the NBA lottery.
And the NBA lottery is essentially a system where
basically the NBA reveals who will be getting the first pick
all the way up to the 14th pick.Now for those that support the
NBA, yous would have all been aware of how bad the Wizards
were. We were the second worst team in
the NBA this season. And the reason why we weren't
(01:47):
the 1st is because teams like Utah decided to shut down and
take their players to get a number one pick by the end of
the season. So that meant that we got the
second worst thoughts still meant that we had the highest
chance of getting the number onepick, but we couldn't get
anything worse than 6th. And as I got to the draught
(02:07):
lottery, the whole season, I've been waiting for this moment,
gone through all the suffering of the team, losing every game,
watching all those games, being still loyal and, and, and, and
excited for for what's to come in the future.
Understanding that in the position we are, we're not going
to win games. We're tanking to build for
something better. We're tanking for potential
(02:30):
stars to be acquired in the draught like this draught where
we have a 14% chance of getting Cooper flag who could have
changed our franchise. Today was the day.
Extremely excited the night before, extremely excited the
week before the playoffs are on.I don't even care about the
playoffs at this point. I've just care about this very
moment. And what did this moment bring?
(02:51):
And I can't say that I'm surprised because the Wizards
have been starved and always been cursed for since I've known
the last #1 pick was the person that I'm wearing right now.
And I was in 2010, that was JohnWall.
As the lottery goes, you've got your butterflies, you're
nervous, you're understanding. The Wizards get the six pick.
OK, The Wizards get the six pick.
I'm frustrated, I'm fuming, I'm disappointed.
(03:13):
And I'm thinking, OK, they're going to give this to Utah.
They're going to give it to Utah.
They're going to reward Utah forpurposely tanking and I was
already going to be frustrated. I was already going to be angry
that the Wizards got the 6th pick.
However, the events that transpired after this forced me,
forced me out of my hand, to go on a rant and put this episode
(03:33):
out because of the stuff that I've seen and how ridiculous it
is. The Utah Jazz, who had the worst
pick, got the 5th pick, which was the worst pick they could
have got, then followed by Charlotte Hornets, who also was
in top three of getting the number one pick.
So basically, the worst three teams didn't even get a top four
or top three pick. To me, that's already
(03:54):
astounding, already baffling. The Wizards are nowhere near it,
but so aren't the Charlotte Hornets or Utah Jets.
So that left with three teams, one being the Philadelphia 76ers
who has Joel Embiid, who has a Max contract player in Paul
George, who has a superstar in Tyrese Maxie and who has
arguably if you played the wholeseason, the rookie of the year
(04:16):
in Tyrese Maxie. When that team is fit, they are
easily a playoff team. So they're top three.
We then have the San Antonio Spurs who have Chris Paul, who
have Darren Fox that they acquired mid season.
They have the rookie of the yearin Stephen Castle and NBA's new
generational superstar, their number one pick, Victor
(04:39):
Wenbanama, who they tanked for and successfully tanked for.
So they get a second pick on topof that with Dylan Harper and
Ace Bailey. And just to make matters worse,
the team that won the lottery were the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks acquire thenumber one pick and we all know
what happened before. Nico Harrison got a lot of hate
(05:01):
for it, trading Luka Doncic, questionably trading Luka
Doncic, who was their franchise cornerstone to get Anthony Davis
and they just capitulated. They went to a play in, they had
a 1.8% chance of getting this pick and they got it.
So basically everything that Nico Harris done was bailed out
(05:23):
by this pick today. Basically by this pick.
All the moves that Nico Harris had made that were terrible
moves, They're going to get rewarded for a number one pick.
Three teams who tanked, we can say tanked or shut down their
chances of winning mid season are getting rewarded with top
three picks. And everyone's saying this is
(05:45):
what happens when you tank. You shouldn't be able to tank.
You shouldn't be able to have higher chances.
But what about teams that tank mid season?
What about teams that have players that can win right now,
that can compete, that purposelyshut down because their players
are injured? Why?
Is it because they're big markets?
Because you don't want top players to be at the Wizards or
Utah? We're tanking because we suck.
(06:09):
Our team is young. We needed to re scrap and
retool. We're not a big market like
these teams. We're not a big market like the
Lakers. We're not a big market like the
Chicago Bulls. We're not a big market like the
Golden State Warriors who are able to bring in free agents,
attract big players. We rely on the draught.
We rely on getting players like John Wall to change our
(06:31):
franchise. And this is a big opportunity
for that. And they gave it to a team that
didn't deserve it. The Dallas Mavericks didn't
deserve it. They stuffed up.
They made mistakes. They did not construct their
team properly, and they still got rewarded for it.
Nico Harrison gets a bailout. And look, we can go into the
(06:51):
conspiracies and I will. It just astounds me that the
Lakers have a benefit in this. They get a free trade in Nico
Harrison in, sorry, Luka Doncic basically free because Anthony
Davis is injured. He's a gun, but he got injured.
The Lakers get better, The Mavericks significantly get
worse, and you're telling me thenumber one pick wasn't in play
(07:11):
here where Adam Silva would havesaid, let's give the Lakers Luka
Doncic, let's make them relevant, let's make them a
playoff team so we can get more viewership, we can get more
money, we can get more sponsors and keep them relevant.
And you guys, you know what, youguys are good.
You'll be fine. We'll give you a number one pick
in return. And this is not the first time
it's happened, so don't think that I have.
I've kept receipts on design. Williamson pick.
(07:33):
The Pelicans were the 7th or 8thworst team in the lottery odds.
They got Zion Williamson. So convenient that that Anthony
Davis decided that he wanted to go to LA Lakers and get traded
out of there. The Lakers had nothing to give.
Do you know what happened? The Lakers were in the same
position as Dallas was and they were given a top four pick.
(07:55):
A top four pick conveniently been able to use for a trade to
get Anthony Davis because Anthony Davis wanted to leave.
Zion Williamson was available. That was going to be their new
franchise player. It would have been easy for them
to leave. It was so convenient, just too
convenient to be true. And it's happening again.
It's happening again. This time, it's happened before
(08:16):
and they've just given to it. After that time, it happened
conveniently. So the Lakers again, getting
more benefits. It's a big market, getting more
benefits, getting more opportunities to be good.
The Mavericks, they get a bailout.
Nico Harrison doesn't get abuse anymore.
Nico Harrison's got a franchise player for the future.
They can have a chance of still competing, but what happens to
the small market teams? What example have you set for
(08:37):
teams that are struggling and tanking?
OK, tanking, we don't like it. We understand it as a league, we
don't like it. But if the Wizards didn't tank,
how good do you think that wouldbe?
Do you think that the Wizards would have made the playoffs?
Do you think the Wizards would have been near the play
insurance? No bloody chance.
So if you want us to be competitive, if you want us to
have a fighting chance, we need young stars.
(08:58):
We need to build from the draught.
And I'm just, I'm just baffled by the events that transpired.
Yes, the Wizards didn't get a top four pick.
OK, I can accept that. But when I see those teams get
get higher picks than us, when Iforgot to mention this, when,
when we were in the play in, when we had Bill, when we had
(09:19):
poor Zingis, when we had Kuzma, even when we had Westbrook, what
did they reward us with? 9th, 10th, 10th or 9th, 10th and
9th. We got the 9th, 10th and 9th
pick because that's where we were in that situation and
that's what we frickin deserved,being mid, being around the
players. So you're going to reward mid
teams to compete and make them better for teams that are
(09:39):
struggling to make them worse. What do you think that's going
to happen with the Wizards in Utah next season?
They don't get better, their team doesn't improve.
We're going to get a 6th pick and as I kind of feel negative
about this and disappointed, there is some positive
limelight. There are some good players in
this pick, in this draught. I'm having a look at it.
There are some good players. We've got the kid from Baltimore
(10:00):
that we could punt, potentially get Queen Trey Johnson's there.
There are some players that can change this franchise around and
Steph Curry was pick late as well.
Giannis was pick late. So I understand that there could
be a franchise player here. But as it stands, the Wizards
would have never have thought they would have got their worst,
their worst chance of getting a pick.
And that was 6th. So now it's going to be another
(10:21):
season of of of suffering. And I had to address it here
because I just find this extremely ridiculous.
How the lottery is is is done. It's set to to obviously stop
tanking teams, But you're encouraging teams that now, now
you're going to see more of it. You're going to see teams now
that mid season when their when their their chances are not on
the line, they're just going to shut down.
They're going to shut down whilethey're competing because
(10:42):
someone gets injured or a trade happens or, or shit happens to
their franchise. They can still make the play and
they can still compete, but theyhave a chance.
Oh yeah, we're in the lottery. We could actually get a top
three pick. You're actually encouraging
tanking more. You're going to separate playoff
teams and play in teams, and teams are not playing in the
playoffs higher, higher because of the draught award that you
(11:03):
can get. It is extremely frustrating and
I feel for play teams that are in that playing that didn't even
get the chance either, like the Chicago Bulls, who I like The
Mavericks. We can say that it's not really
we can say that they have the same lottery odds as each other
and it's random. Yes, yes, I get all that.
But then how the Bulls don't getdown there.
I don't even know if they have their pick next season, but I'm
just using them as a prime example.
(11:24):
They're A-Team that's struggling.
They're A-Team that's not doing really well.
They're staying in that kind of playing range.
How come they can't get a top three pick?
How how come the Spurs have to get how come The Mavericks have
to get it? You're telling me that this is
this is not really I, I really find it hard to believe.
And even if it's not rigged, it's still bullshit.
It's still unfair. There needs to be something in
(11:44):
place for for teams that are small markets that are terrible,
that rely on franchise players to have this reward.
As a Wizards fan that has struggled this season, this is
our playoff final. This is what we hope for.
The lottery is what we get excited for and to experience.
That is just a spit in my mouth from the league and it's just,
oh, it irks me because I've been, I've been thinking about
(12:06):
this for the last 2-3 hours and I just.
I just. Can't find a way to fathom what
just happened. And I had an episode planned to
come out tomorrow with with a really good guest in an
interview, but that's going to have to be put on hold till next
week because this this really needed to be to be addressed.
I guess for some positives, there are still some good
players in the draught and next year seems to be a decently kind
(12:31):
of big, big class as well with alot of potential players.
I'm looking at it right now. We've got Gilbert Arenas son
there, Aaliyah Arenas. He's around the 4th or 5th
range. Even if we do bad, we probably
have a better chance of getting him.
So that's one they've got that AJ Debunster kid and that Darren
Peterson that seemed like some pretty solid players as well.
So we're definitely gonna be down there with his fans.
(12:51):
We're definitely gonna have to stuff up a lot more.
So look out for those players for next year.
We're gonna we're gonna begin our tank and and get excited
again for this moment. But As for the NBA, the only
message I would say is that theydefinitely need to to fix this
because it has become too far now.
I think there is too many too many suspicious activities to
not say that this is rigged. And I don't know how to
(13:14):
personally stop this, but there might not ever be a solution.
But this this has went too far anyways.
I obviously I've got a friend that's a Dallas or not obviously
I do have a Dallas Mavericks fanfriend.
His name is Matt. I sent him a text this morning
once they got the the the pic ofCooper flag.
And I'm going to have him in here to give a bit of a Dallas
(13:35):
Mavericks perspective and a bit of a positive kind of spin on
what it's like to get a number one pick if you're a team that
went through what the The Mavericks went through as well.
So getting all perspectives here.
But as a depressed Wizards fan, we're going to have to go one
more year of this shit. And I'm extremely gutted.
I'm extremely disappointed. I'm extremely frustrated that a
(13:56):
moment that I was so excited forgot ruined before it even
started. And yeah, that's all I pretty
much got for you guys. But yeah, I'll move it on to the
call. And yeah, just enjoy that that
little snippet as well. So in other news, just to kind
of cool myself off and as I waitfor Matthew the Dallas fan to
(14:19):
come on, prayers up for Jason Tatum.
It looks like there is a significant injury there.
Don't want to think the worst, but to me it did look like an
Achilles injury, especially the fact that there was a it was a
non contact. A big shame and a big blow for
Boston Celtics. They're going to be probably out
of this series unless a miracle happens.
(14:39):
The Knicks are up three one. So good on the Knicks now
despite this injury. We don't want injuries to occur,
but we've got to give credit where credit's due.
The Knicks are potentially goingto be in the Eastern Conference
finals and have a chance to havea revenge game against the
Indiana Pacers where they were actually banged up against them
last season. And even for the Indiana Pacers,
(14:59):
a chance to make the Finals too.Don't want to jump on it too
early. But again, just here to say
prayers up for Jason Tatum. So I couldn't do this pod
without bringing in my friend that is a Dallas Mavericks fan.
So I've called him in emergency to come in and give his thoughts
on them getting the number one pick.
Look at the smirk on his face, the disappointment of myself and
the smirk on his face. Now, I called you straight away
(15:21):
to tell you that you got the number one pick.
And I'm pretty sure that was a surprise for all of us.
But I've got to hear your thoughts on this, man, because
you obviously know how I feel. I'm spent 16 minutes just
ranting about it before, but have to give some Dallas
Maverick fans some limelight as to how they feel here.
So starting with yourself. Oh.
Yeah, First of all, over the moon, it's ecstatic to hear that
(15:43):
first, first pick Cooper, the man that you've been wanting to
get for quite a while. It's exciting and it makes, I'm
not going to justify Nico's trait to saying it makes sense,
but getting a first pick right now with our current line up and
having it be Cooper, it definitely is good.
And it's it's often the blow of losing Luca because no one can
(16:04):
ever replace him. And obviously, yeah, I think
every other man fan knows exactly what we went through the
last few months. It's been quite horrible.
I think to a point for a lot of us to kind of just stop watching
basketball. I think we're watching the
Lakers game and seeing him put How much do you put up against
us over 40 points? Yeah, pretty much.
Second game, yeah. Exactly.
And we were just chanting his name the entire time.
(16:26):
It's like we wanted him to do well.
We still want him to do well, but at least now we've got some
kind of formal direction going forward.
But I'm seeing a lot of a lot ofspeculation about a rigged NBA
draught. The only thing I would like to
make reference of, because obviously it's fun to make fun
of it being rigged, is we do ourown fantasy draught every year.
Yeah, Dan. Yes, we do.
And then I'm pretty sure that this year, or was it last year,
(16:49):
the person who was #1 pick was also a 1.8% chance of the ball
in terms of getting first pick and they end up getting it.
So as much as we'd love to sit and scream the rigged shouts and
stuff and I've it's more than funny, it's very funny to
entertain. It is very much so possible.
But I'm also glad Spurs didn't quite get it because if Wimby
and Cooper in the same team, that's that's just ridiculous.
(17:10):
Well, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna come in and chime on this because you
probably might be right that a 1.8% chance is still a one point
.8% chance of getting the numberone pick to me.
And maybe it's just the emotion getting ahead of my my
rationality, but the fact that it was the Dallas Mavericks of
all teams dropping down with what happened and what
transpired with the Lucca trade.To me, it, it just seems rigged.
(17:34):
But obviously we're never going to know.
It's always going to be in the centre of our assumptions.
And the NBA haven't done a good job in here of, of justifying
whether it's rigged or not. And I said this before, this has
happened before with Zion Williamson going to the Pelicans
and that allowed four Lakers to trade for AD.
It might not be Dallas that is getting the reward.
(17:55):
It might be further that the Lakers are getting the reward.
And, and my frustration comes from the fact that the small
market teams aren't getting rewarded for taking but, and in
the end of the day, this is about the Dallas.
I've spent 15 minutes ranting about it.
It will be good for the Dallas Mavericks to have someone like
Cooper flag there. And hopefully you guys don't
stuff it up and actually keep him because like you, we've all
(18:16):
we've spoke about in the past, Dallas fans and the organisation
is very big on loyalty and keeping their players with Dirk
obviously saying the whole season now for your sake,
they've got a second chance to rectify this.
But it just seems all fishy to me how it's transpired.
But again, big move for you guys.
Maybe Cooper flag can get slot in and and they can win now
(18:38):
straight away. But I'm hoping for our sake that
we could potentially swing a trade to get him up there.
But yeah, thanks for your two cents.
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Shout out to Musa, who is the business owner of this and
(19:44):
thanks for helping out with the pod as well.
And now back to the show. OK, so we've talked about
Dallas, but do you have any sympathy for me?
I know you love to joke and you love to see me so far, but is
there any sympathy for small market teams like the Wizards in
in your situation? How?
How would you feel if you were in my shoes?
Of course. And I think naturally it's it's
the reason why we follow sports is for the fans.
(20:05):
It's to people spend big money to, for example, go to places
like Utah, go to places like Washington to watch their team,
players like Larry Mark. And then even for yourself, you
want to watch SAR play, you wantto watch.
I'm not too sure if you're else you'd really want to watch.
We don't. Have anyone fucking watch?
That's why we need a pick. That's why I'm so angry.
But in saying that you you spentall this money and tickets and
(20:28):
flights to get across and watch these teams and watch probably
your supposed star players play for like, let's just say Utah,
Larry Mark and missed a lot of the games this year.
I play only very few minutes. It's very disrespectful, I feel
to a lot of the fans when teams just tank an entire year.
And yes, I know the fans know that yes, there's a chance that
something might, something good might come out of it.
(20:49):
But at the same time, I feel like there needs to be a re
evaluation in terms of how thesepicks are allotted.
Just because it's not a great entertaining, it's not a great
spectacle for fans who wants theexperience of watching the team
win. Because let's be honest here.
How do you feel after watching the season?
How many wins did you guys end up with this year?
(21:09):
Like I think it was 16 or 18 wins.
Out of 72 games, correct? 82 games, yes. 82 games.
Sorry, we had the number wrong, but in a lot of those games, you
your your copium in this particular case, was that the
reason why you could cope to watch those games is because you
had a potential draught pick. I think that realistically, had
(21:29):
the Washington Wizards not probably have tanked as hard,
they would have got quite a few more wins, probably not good
enough to make a play in spot, but there needs to be some kind
of incentive for teams to still play the players that they have.
I know that they find teams for not playing the stars for
whatever reason and stuff like that as well.
And they teams will always find ways to kind of get around it
and break the rules to obviouslylook after the players health
(21:50):
and stuff like that. But there needs to be, I believe
there's some core issues alreadyin relation to how the system
currently works that need to be re evaluated.
Just so at least the fans experience is worth it.
Because let's just say you bought a ticket to Washington
this year because this might be the only year because you're
from Australia that you can get down to the USA.
And then to watch them have to tank an entire year and not even
be a competitive team is quite disappointing.
(22:12):
And also saying teams like Utah,for example, they've got quite a
like, I don't think their team is nearly as bad as what their
record shows. So. 100% I I said before that
Utah I think purposely were tanking and shutting down their
young players to get this numberone pick.
So maybe I'm being biassed and Idid mention this before, but I
don't think they did deserve a number one pick.
(22:32):
I look at a team like the Wizards, who, let's be honest,
on paper we are the worst team on paper right now with our
Rostar constructed at the moment.
Yes, we may have won a lot more games and yes, there was a lot
of times we were tanking, but I don't think even if at our best
ability, trying to win, we wouldget near the playoffs.
What frustrates me about that, and I can see that argument, is
when you have teams like Dallas,when you have teams like San
(22:54):
Antonio and teams like Philadelphia who when their
teams are extremely healthy, they're competitive teams, they
can push for those playoffs or play in moments when there's an
injury or when there's somethingthat happens.
They are actually doing the sameshit that we are, but towards
the mid season and as it's too late, they're getting rewarded
for a mid season tank. So realistically, it's not as if
(23:17):
the Wizards are the only team tanking.
These three teams inevitably were tanking once their season
didn't go the way they were. Once the Dallas trade happened,
they shut down. Once Wemby got injured, they
shut down. And I know you're about to
disagree with me, so I'm interested to hear four.
And then with Philly, once John McCain was out for the season,
they shut down Paul George. They shut down Tyrese Maxi.
And obviously, we know what happened with MB.
(23:37):
But yeah, I can. I can respect the country here
in a debate. So you far away.
Yeah. I agree with the Spurs because
quite frankly, Wemby being out for the rest of the season,
their post season is pretty muchdone.
In the case of the Dallas Mavericks, they did compete up
into the play insurance. Obviously they lost out there.
I don't believe what they intended to do was the tank
because they didn't once again make the play insurance.
(23:59):
But I think once again though, it really shows and I think it
needs, well, I think in this particular case, it rewarded
some of the teams that were decent but just not quite good
enough. And I think that it also should.
Well, not to say that the formula works.
It was both. All those teams had very minimal
chances of being where they end up getting.
(24:21):
Realistically, Washington getting 6th pick was.
That's the worst pick we could have got.
That was exactly, and Utah was fifth there was there was their
worst pick they could have got as well.
Yeah. What was your percentage chance
of, for example, getting a top three pick?
Top three, if you combine them all together would have been
around like 30 to 40%. We had a 25% chance of getting
pick five and a 20% chance of getting pick 6.
(24:43):
So I understand that that could have happened but everyone has
those similar kind of percentagenumbers across the board same
with Utah as well. So the fact that we didn't even
get into that top 4 consideration was just
astounding to me like I obviously I'm not stupid.
I don't think we're guaranteed lock to get number one.
There was 3 two other teams at the same odds, but just seeing
(25:03):
us go to our worst lottery odds is, is is what frustrates me.
And as mentioned before, again, I'm going to rant about it, but
the Wizards were in the same situation Dallas was going into
the play in and we only got the 9th, 10th pick three years in a
row. But yeah, go on.
Yeah, but once again, that's it becomes a numbers game again.
Yeah, of course, but it's funny to play the rigged.
Let's just say it's rigged and let's all just bash on whoever
(25:26):
you want to bash on. But yeah, well, being a Dallas
fan to anyone listening complaints, Oh well, to anyone
listening this to this who's a Dallas fan, we finally have a
lucky break for, I don't know tothe next.
I don't know how many years because we only really had a
next one or two year game plan based on the trade that was made
by Nico. So things are looking pretty
(25:46):
grim, especially the injuries that we were copping with Kyrie
80 was looking wasn't looking too great with his injuries this
year. Now we've got some form of light
at the at the end of the tunnel.So to any of the Dallas fans out
there listening, let us rejoice for this moment because we don't
get a lot of these moments. We've had one championship in
our entire franchise history andI was with Dirk.
We would love to have that with Luke up and now we can have that
(26:08):
with Cooper. So let's just enjoy the moment.
I know it's easier to enjoy before the actual season
happens, but once again, we've got a lot of time again, which
we didn't have think beforehand.So thankfully we can we can go
again. We can it's, I don't know, it's
just it's hard to put into wordsbecause me speaking personally,
(26:29):
I was in a place of despair where I didn't even want to
watch any NBA games after that trade.
Me watching the play and I was struggling and I was admittedly
wasn't too much of it. Like, obviously we want, I want
my team to do well and I was watching those games.
But you also got that little bitof a component of I knew it.
I knew that trade wasn't going to work out for the best for us.
So yeah, it's just I'm glad for us, for teams like yourself,
(26:54):
Daniel, Washington and Utah and all the others I do feel bad for
to an extent. But also, and I think the
numbers game this year didn't work out for you.
But in any other year that's a first pay round pick for
Washington or Utah or whoever that may be.
I think that definitely the corevalues and the core system in
terms of how the draught allotment needs to be reassessed
(27:17):
because I don't like I don't mind seeing teams like Spurs get
a decent pick despite having a great team where they currently
have players like Wembe who's a generational talent.
We want to see teams contain. Like I guess we want teams to be
also be brought up to be competitive, but we also don't
want teams, for example, who make got get one or two injuries
like your Philadelphia and then just shut down for the year and
(27:38):
then all of a sudden they've gotanother good pick.
And imagine being a Philadelphiafan for the last what is it now?
Over 10 years of tanking and then making what we go into a
conference. They made a conference final I
believe and lost that one. No, they've never made a
conference. Final, so sorry, semi final
conference semi final. Yeah, that's the highest I've
been. So it's like, yeah, it's, it's
(27:59):
it's, it's an interesting one. But once again, super flag to
The Mavericks, unless they decide to throw a curveball and
throw somebody else into our first round pick, which I hope
that they don't. We've had enough curveballs in
our life. I don't think Michael Harrison
has the balls to cop any abuse. I think he's going to play it
safe this one for the sake of his job.
(28:20):
So I think you guys are in safe hands there.
As for the Wizards, we're just going to have to go through
another year of pain, another year of being down there and in
hopes that next year's class is really good.
I know we have, as mentioned before, Aaliyah Arenas, which is
Gilbert Arenas son. So maybe we have the next coming
of him and a few other decent picks for next year.
But Even so, this year we could get a decent pick 6.
(28:42):
So with this fans, it's not over.
It's just we're going to have tokeep suffering and eventually
something might turn. But As for now, we remain as a
very cursed franchise and starved of of anything
significant. But Matthew, thank you for
coming on and giving your Dallastake for your sake.
I wouldn't be complaining. I'm happy for you that there is
some kind of, I guess, silver lining with all the stuff that
(29:04):
happened last year. And I do hope the best for, for
Cooper Flag and, and his and hisjourney for the for the Dallas
Mavericks. But it's going to be painful to
kind of accept like that for forearly stages.
But cheers for coming on. Thank you.
And Cooper, we're glad to have you.
All right, so basically, to summarise everything that has
been said, we got a Dallas Mavericks perspective.
We had a Washington Wizards perspective as well.
(29:27):
Myself, I'm still very annoyed with the events that transpired.
But again, we have to move. That's part of being a sports
fan. We have to just hope for what's
coming up next. We could have been in a worse
position. We're getting a top six pick.
This draught class is really good.
If it was last year, we would have been probably in a worse
(29:47):
position. So I'm still going to remain
positive. I'm still going to lock in next
year. It might just be another losing
season that we're going to have under our belts, but eventually
remaining optimistic. I do feel for teams like the
Bulls who are were a playing team and didn't get near the
number one pick either. But again, that's how it works.
(30:08):
We can say it's rigged. We're never going to know, as I
mentioned, and yeah, I'm just going to have to have to deal
with it. But this has been a different
episode of the huddle within an emergency sort of huddle ran
discussing the NBA draught lottery.
I really wanted to put this one out because as a Wizards fan,
I've been really praying for a good moment.
(30:28):
And that wasn't that wasn't meant to be today.
And that's fine. That's not going to change my
love for the team. We're going to continue to
support. We're going to continue to bring
out episodes every single week. And maybe if something else
happens and if you enjoyed thesekind of unfiltered episodes,
feel free to leave a comment below on what you want me to
address next. I go for Manchester United, so
(30:50):
there's a lot more ranting therewith the Europa League final
coming up. We do lose that.
I could come back for some more,for some more emotional rants.
So again, thank you so much guysfor tuning in and I will catch
you guys next week on the interview that I have, which is
going to be really exciting. I'm not going to say much, but
the guests that I have, super down to earth bloke,
(31:11):
unbelievable fan and guest and he's done so much for that
basketball community. I don't really want to go too
much. I'm really excited to get that
one out to you guys in the next week's episodes.
So just a bit of a teaser and a preview to that or else enjoy
the rest of your week. And I will I will try to calm
down and get my mind off this. But again, thank you so much for
(31:32):
for listening in. So that's a wrap for this weeks
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
just the way that we do. And hey, I'd love to hear from
you. Connect with me on my social
(31:53):
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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