The Biggest Offseason Questions: Southwest Division - Featuring Dan Favale

Mort and Dan discuss the macro, and micro, questions for each Division, starting with the Southwest.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
What is up Fellasiko's I am Dan FAVALLEI coming at
you with the One the Only Mort Jentsen of the
NBA podcast, fame of Yahoo Sports, Fame, of Forbes Fame,
and of OnlyFans Celebrity. We are gonna do go through
our biggest questions for every team in the NBA in
the off season over the next few weeks. We're gonna
roll them out by divisions that we can really get into,

(00:24):
just some nitty gritty stuff. Spend a few extra minutes
rather than having to do like two or three minutes
on each team. These will be great companion episodes to
Grant and myself are previewing the off season for every
single team individually. Go check out those podcasts, those videos, YouTube, Spotify, Apple,
wherever you get your stuff, and look, if you have
not subscribed to the show yet, please do so. And

(00:45):
if you have not left us a rating review helped
the show get exposure.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
And if you've done all.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Those things, I would humbly ask, and I don't ask
every episode now, but humbley asks that share us, tell
people about us, spread the good word that is Hardwood Knocks.
And you can also join our discord the link to
that is in the YouTube podcast description with sixty seconds
of that out of the way, more, how the heck
are you?

Speaker 2 (01:05):
I'm doing well. I just want to give the listeners
a follow up here because you know, also if you
do all the things that Dan just said, remember if
you meet Dan in the streets, give them a hug,
give them a kiss with tongue if necessary. Just be polite,
be good, give all you can for this great person
who makes is shits on a great content.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
You're making me blush right now, So I just want
to say thank you. Did you have any thoughts or
wanted to note anything about how we went about this?
We prepared our own question for each team, just our
biggest question that we're sort of ruminating on.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
Is there anything you want to note about your approach?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, they're overarching really, like you know, they're always going
to be like nitty gritty questions that fan bases are
looking at. But I'm going to take the major questions instead.
Not because it's just the popular question to ask, because
I think if you start big, we can always dick

(02:04):
down small instead. I think that's the better approach.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
Which a spoiler alert, that's kind of how I approach
this or you sent me your questions, so I decided
some of them I had like the same ones, and
so I was like, well, I'm gonna go a little
bit more micro where he goes macro, and I think
that'll provide a nice little balance for us. And with
that in mind, how do we feel about getting started
with We didn't note this yet, but it'll be in
the title, so you should know the Southwest Division the

(02:31):
Dallas Mavericks mort what is your biggest question?

Speaker 3 (02:34):
Tell the audience.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Well, I mean, obviously we know whether we know the
answer to this question. From our perspective, it is should
you keep the number one pick or should you trade it?
We would like the Dallas Mavericks to keep it, because
that's the smart play. However, I will concede here that
the question is valid because you traded away Luka Dantic

(02:57):
and you said we are in it to win it now,
like our window is right now. We feel that we
are a more competitive group now than before when we
had Luka Doncic first and foremost. That is obviously wrong,
but that's what they said. And in order for them
to not lose face, which Dan, you and I know
how much NBA teams care about not losing face, you

(03:18):
at least have to have the conversation about would we
lose faith face if we actually go out there and
pick a teenager, because that's going to set back our
timeline and it's going to make us essentially liars for
the whole reason for why we traded away Lukadotcic. So
that's why I'm asking keep the number one pick or traded.

Speaker 1 (03:40):
I do think it's a fair question based off how
the MAVs have operated. I do believe they'll keep They've
said the rumors are that they will keep it, and
I would be shocked if they didn't. I don't even
know the player that you would move. The pick for
Giannis is the one that is mentioned, and I just
even you could tell me it's anyone basically, you honest

(04:00):
would be he's a top three, top five NBA player.
He just traded away one of those two. But that's
neither here nor there. Kyrie's going to be out until
January or whatever. So I just feel like making that
type of a home run swing would be ill conceived.
So and look, if you believe that flat and the
other thing, by the way, like Nico Harrison was harping on,

(04:21):
you know, wouldn't have been hysterical at Jaron Jackson Junior
been super Max eligible when he got the super Max
when the MAVs didn't want to give it to Luca.
That would have just been such a weird juxtaposition. But
Nico Harrison has made kind of a big deal about
affordable contracts or not wanting to pay certain types of guys.
Cooper Flag on a rookie scale. We filled throughout rookie
scales when we do best contracts in the league, but
it has the potential to just be one of the

(04:43):
two or three best contracts in the league because his
cost is so repressed relative to the salary cap. I
would be honestly floored if they looked at moving the pick.
And to be honest, even more honest, like someone's head
needs to roll if they trade the pick, they need
to the Dumonts need to sell the team. Nik Garrison like,
I just don't I don't even know that trading for

(05:03):
Giannis would be the right decision here. I would rather
see them be trading Anthony Davis because they won the
number one pick, which I also don't think that they're
gonna do.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Right, No, look, you and our increement. They should do this.
They should basically say, look, we were starting over. But
that's the thing. They're not gonna do that. They're gonna
try to have one foot in each camp, right, They're
gonna have a foot in the nineteen year old Cooper
Flak camp and then another foot in the Anthony Davis
Kyrie Irving camp, and nothing's gonna make sense. So I'm wondering, like,

(05:35):
this is basically the best excuse for any organization to say, oh,
we can reset our timeline. I wonder how long it
will take for this. Let's just be completely honest here,
encompetent franchise to realize, when is the time, Like should
we do this now? Yes, you should. You should basically
trade Anthony Davis right now. It's not gonna happen, But

(05:57):
I think it's an interesting subplot, and like if they
are married to the idea of Anthony Davis, because I think, again,
there's a pr battle to lose here if you're pivoting
off Davis and then right after having making making a
big fuss about oh he's better than Luca, he's like
the guy who's like better to get in here. By
the way, side note, I don't know if you've seen this.

(06:20):
Luca was attending the real Madrid game the other day.
I don't know if you saw the picks.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Was he with like the Jokic brothers or something.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
I don't know. Well, it's not but dudes in shape.
Dude's big time in shape, like proper in shape. That's
as a very funny subplot to be by the way, but.

Speaker 1 (06:43):
The biggest off season addition for the Lakers will be
Luka Doncic having visible abs that will be called.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
Right now exactly. So, Like this is just such a
weird team, like they're they're they like Nico Harrison turned
them so weird. Now you have have to like figure
out what's the next step here. Can we justify it
to the fan base to trade like Anthony Davis, look
the whatever you do. By the way, if you're Nico Harrison,
the fan base still wants you gone. Like that's and

(07:11):
that's never gonna turn so. But I just think it's
such a weird position they found themselves in.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
So we're both in agreement that they should keep the pick.
I actually believe they will, do you believe they will?

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah, I think I think cooler heads will prevail.

Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yes, what I want to know then, can they get
another primary ball handler? Do they have the assets to
do so, do they have the gall to do so?
And can they game it so that whoever they acquire
can play alongside Kyrie Irving when he comes back? And
I think, look, I know the Kyrie contract, the player option,
that might be something people want to dig into and

(07:47):
Grant and I will get into what when we do
the MAVs offseason look ahead, but like, he's not going anywhere.
I don't know what the contract looks like, but he's
going to be on the Dallas Mavericks next season. So
I just find that not as intellectually curious as well
this team needs. I mean, maybe they give a lot,
like they can plumb the depths of what Cooper Flagg
could do in that role, But if you want to
be competitive right away while also having Cooper Flagg, I

(08:09):
don't think you want to put that type of responsibility
on his shoulders alone.

Speaker 2 (08:14):
Correct. Mark Stein has apparently mentioned, Oh, let me see
if I get this right?

Speaker 3 (08:20):
Hang on, Oh, I can tell you who we mentioned?

Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, I have it here. Drew Holliday, Chris Paul and
Lonzo Ball. Alonso is by far the most intriguing option,
also from a financial perspective because he's only earning like
ten million I believe it is next season, and he's
like the big guard, also defensively oriented. He can play

(08:44):
make you can play him with multiple ballhandlers. The thing
about him, obviously, is the same question that hovers around
Anthony Davis and even Kyrie Irving to this extent now
is availability Can he play over the course of a
full season or is he limited to playing twenty five
forty five games? Like Look at this point, if Lonso

(09:06):
settles in for forty one games, like half a season,
that's a win in my book. So again comes down
to like what are you what are your expectations? Also
financially because Drew Holliday is gonna cost a ton on
the books. He said, like what thirty four forty five
million per year?

Speaker 1 (09:24):
He like the defense that he fits their defensive most
even he could play off Kyrie. And what I'd be
worried about with Lonzo is that feels like, to me
an accessory move because even if he's healthy, how many
minutes can he play?

Speaker 2 (09:36):
Right? Yeah, And that's a legitimate question. What I'm asking
you is, if you're going after jew Holiday, what's the
deal like? Because you always yeah, so I have a deal.
Oh oh, I actually.

Speaker 1 (09:47):
Wrote about one before this report came out. So is
this based off my speculation?

Speaker 3 (09:51):
Who's to say? Really and my mark Stein's insider? I'm not,
but maybe I am.

Speaker 2 (09:56):
Who knows?

Speaker 1 (09:57):
So it would be you would have to involve a
third team because neither the Mavericks or the Celtics are
gonna want to be hard cap or take back more
money than they send out, and they functionally the Celtics
cannot do that, right, So Dwight Powell that four million
dollar play option, you go. He goes to the Nets
and they get Portland's twenty twenty six second round pick.

(10:17):
I think the Celtics have that as part of the deal.

Speaker 3 (10:20):
The MAVs send PJ.

Speaker 1 (10:21):
Washington and Daniel Gafford to Boston, and then Drew Holliday
goes to Dallas.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
Wait, you bring me the names again. PJ. Washington, who and.

Speaker 1 (10:29):
Daniel Gafford to Boston for Drew Holliday and both of
those guys for anyone wondering they are on expiring contracts.
And then my thought process there just really quickly is
that doesn't really save Boston a lot of money. But
like if they were trying to be good, PJ. Washington
soaking up the Jason Tatum defensive minutes like just positionally
makes a lot of sense. But I also think you've

(10:50):
now broken up Drew Holliday into smaller contracts that can
then be moved individually for more value.

Speaker 3 (10:55):
And save you additional money. That's my It's a.

Speaker 2 (10:57):
Lot of size you lose there, but you're getting Cooper
Flag in there as well, so perhaps it's enough for Dallas.
I mean, you have Dereck Lively right now.

Speaker 1 (11:06):
I want to be clear, I don't think PJ. Washington
is suddenly expendable, But if you have Cooper Flag, Naji Marshall,
Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, you can probably stand like you
would be able to survive getting rid of Gafford and PJ.

Speaker 3 (11:17):
Washington.

Speaker 1 (11:18):
It's just if you don't think if you think Drew's
contract is that much underwater, that's where it gets hung up.
But Gafford's probably gone anyway after this year if you
don't move him, and then PJ. Washington's eligible for a
four year I think it's like an eighty nine million
dollar extension, which is that's fine money for him, But again,
how much do you want him on the roster when
you have a d when you have Cooper Flag?

Speaker 2 (11:40):
Right, Yeah, no, I don't hate it. If there was
a cheaper option out there, I wouldn't hate exploring that.
But that's not a bad deal for Drew at all.

Speaker 1 (11:52):
And I don't really have I mean, like, there are
other names they could try, and I'm trying to think
of like super cheap, but I don't this isn't something
they're going to fix by Oh we got Tias Jones
the minimum. I guess Chris Paul would make a lot
of sense. I don't want to see him playing with
Kyrie too much, although maybe they have the defensive infrastructure
at this point to to cover up Rand. But Chris
Paul would be kind of as a stop gap if
you're using the mini mL E or if he's agreed

(12:13):
to come for the minimum. That would certainly like that
streamlines Cooper Flag's development, allows you to get Anthony Davis
the ball on the spots that he needs to get them.

Speaker 3 (12:21):
I like that one.

Speaker 1 (12:22):
Maybe that that one feels like the one that straddles
the best, the most amount of ground where it's temporary.

Speaker 2 (12:26):
But it makes he loves speaking.

Speaker 1 (12:30):
But I mean, we're gonna get to the Spurs. But
if they have Steph Castle, Dearn Fox, and Dylan Harper
on their team.

Speaker 2 (12:36):
Oh we'll get to it. I have its take, I
have it take.

Speaker 1 (12:39):
Anything else on the maverage or any names you want.
Kobe White would be interesting, but he's about to get
paid and cost a lot in assets and playing him
and Kyrie, you could.

Speaker 2 (12:46):
Think he's gonna look again, the Bulls are are stuck here. No,
I'm not know. That wasn't That wasn't one of my ranks.
That the Bulls are stuck is basically what I'm saying.
They they know that they had to basically let him
go into under such tree agency and twenty six, he's
only got one year left. They could have cashed in
big time at the trade dead line. I think they

(13:07):
cost themselves, like they made the same mistake with Caruso
and like all they got back from Caruso was Josh
Gideon nothing. So like I think teams out there are
not going to overpay for Kobe White because of the
contractual situation. Because if you trade for Kobe White, now
you're facing the same issue that Chicago is. Yeah, so
he's not gonna cost you. It's on.

Speaker 1 (13:26):
I think that is fair, and I do think it
will end with them either moving him for dissatisfactory value
or they end up paying his next deal that.

Speaker 3 (13:36):
Does not age correct. Well, that would be my official prediction.

Speaker 1 (13:40):
Any other names you'd want to throw off, But I
think I guess we didn't really answer the question. Do
you think that they will go out and get, like
be aggressive enough to get someone who is, oh, it's
not just oh we got Trey Jones or we got
Tias Jones, like it's someone who makes more of an
impact of that. Or do you expect them more to
just kind of balance their cap sheet out and buy
time until Kyrie gets back.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
Absolutely think they're gonna look for a serious ballhanker, because look,
Kyrie is also on the older side as an NBA player,
and that is a horrific injury, Like we don't know
whether how he comes back from that at that age.
Like if the if a young guy gets an aclsair, Okay,
look that now it shows that at most come back

(14:21):
and are fine at that age with a lot of
mileage on him as well. I just don't think we
can sit here and assume that he'll be himself. We
can hope so, but we can't assume. And I don't
think the Mats are either.

Speaker 3 (14:37):
Fair.

Speaker 1 (14:38):
Let's move on to our next team, which we're gonna
go alphabetically here. The Houston Rockets maybe the single most
fascinating team of the ausseason, or at least one of
the five most. I'm gonna steal this. Well, let's go
with here a quote. You took the overarching stuff, which
is fun to talk about. So what is your question
for Houston?

Speaker 2 (14:54):
The big question is is it time to trade for
a star or should they just run the course as
they did this season? And the reason I ask it
is because they had this conversation brewing even last summer
as well, and I was one of the few people
who are like, don't don't make a trade right now.
See what happens with your young team, See if there

(15:14):
are any developments that actually make you smarter about your
own players and makes it much more obvious who's like
in for the long haul and who shouldn't be. I
think they're smarter. I think they know who they are
I think they've identified certain players who are absolute keepers
or who has the most trade value of depending on

(15:35):
how you want to look at it. So they are
at a point now where they have to figure out
do we try to take like one aggressive step forward
and trade for a real star, or just do we
keep this train trucking.

Speaker 3 (15:48):
It's a It's an enviable position to be in.

Speaker 1 (15:51):
It's not an easy one because I think there's cases
to be made on both sides, And as someone who's
taking the ten thousand foot view of it all, I
would say, I don't to see them go balls to
the wall for the wrong player, just every player right.
But look at like I keep coming back to this,
these windows always just shut way sooner than you think,

(16:12):
even if you don't make the all in. Look at
Boston like they kind of that was an extended window,
and they like they reshaped it over time. The Jason
Tatum injury happens, and now their next two seasons maybe
just because you don't know what you have to figure
out what Tatum looks like when he comes back in
twenty six twenty seven, that could be out the window
and force a reorientation of their entire roster.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
So you don't just.

Speaker 1 (16:32):
Want to sit and bank on you getting to the
point where we could beat the Thunder in a series.
We have enough offensive creation, Like that's the thing is
you look at their offensive numbers. They need shooting someone
who can kind of run things for them.

Speaker 3 (16:45):
But the issue that I keep.

Speaker 1 (16:46):
Coming back to with them, while I think that I
would be a little bit more desperate if I'm in
Houston situation, to me, there's nobody on the roster that
checks the boxes that they need and the only one
who comes close. And this kind of gets to my question,
it's Reed Shepherd, And can you just say, hey, Read
Shepherd's gonna play a bunch next year if you're not
playing this year and gonna be the exact player that

(17:09):
we need. As a Reed Shepherd optimist, I don't know
that I would even say that. So that's what's really
tough is that, Okay, they have so much at their disposal,
there's still so much room for these guys to grow.
But Rockets fans can get in the comments. They could
let me know, like, who is the player that you
think aside from Reed Shepherd, who if that's the plan
for next season, that's really I'll support it because I

(17:30):
love Reed Shepherd, but like that's really risky. Who is
the player on this team that you think is gonna
turn into the guy that can run a playoff level
above average offense, because it's not like Shane Goon has
his limitations there. You need someone else who works from
the outside in. And if you still think Jalen Green
is gonna be the answer, I need to know which
basketball you're watching that I'm not.

Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, yep. And of course Aman Thompson still we still
have the overarching questions about his shooting capabilities. He's obviously fantastic,
I would argue right now, he's probably the best player
on the team defensively, is super a budding superstar, is
one of the best slashers in the NBA, one of
the most ridiculous athletes we've probably seen in years. But like,

(18:13):
does he have the floor game? That's that's what I
have to say.

Speaker 1 (18:15):
And even if he does, and I know they are
different players in many different functional ways, but like that's
kind of like, oh, Yannis, And I don't think you
even want Yannis to be the guy who's driving your
half court offense in the playoffs, right, Like you're okay,
with it. But like, no, you that's why they traded
for Dame and that we could you know, you know,
we don't need to relitigate that. I was in support

(18:37):
of the move when.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
They did it. It was obviously risky.

Speaker 1 (18:40):
But like even if I'm Thompson hits his ninety ninth
percentile outcome, I don't think that includes like someone who's
hitting these pull up jumpers and hit these three pointers.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
Like, we just don't see.

Speaker 1 (18:49):
Guys improve in volume and efficiency by such stark margins
when when it's such an inherent limitation of their game, right,
that's not insult him. Jannis Tetakoupo is one of the
five most valuable players in the NBA like the past
half the past decade. So I would again, I'm not
whether you think it's Devin Booker. Should they go after
Kevin Duran? Is there any names that you think fly
under the radar there?

Speaker 2 (19:09):
I would just say, you stole my name. That was
book book is the because that's he's the guy with
the floor game. He's the guy who I think you
can ask to create a substantial amount of work off
the bounds, not as not because he's the point guard,
but because he's a good decision maker, like he can
play a ping and role, he can initiate the offense,

(19:29):
and he can also play off the ball. He can
also be a guy who goes out and gets you
literally seventy because we've seen it before. He's that dude,
and that would be the fun acquisition for the Rockets.
The question of course, there being what's the deal, because
if you give up have the roster, do you just
become the new Sons. You don't want to do that,

(19:51):
and that's that I think is honestly the biggest threat
to this whole situation of you know, trading for a star.
Do you give up too much? Do you give up
like half the farm and are what and are suddenly
left with too few players on the roster where it
makes sense? That's where you go get into like, oh
did we just do we just over course? Correct? There

(20:13):
has to be a middle ground in terms of who
you're getting.

Speaker 1 (20:18):
I don't and I don't know if even Booker is
that option, because I guess you could argue that since
they own two of the control of some of the
Suns's own draft, it would maybe be easier to get
him for less net assets than if you were trading
for somebody else, but like it also could just call
you a crap ton and it's you know, do you
kind of look at is there a player that straddles

(20:40):
the middle ground of this is gonna cost us? Not
for first round picks or something. And I think that's
the tricky part of all this is because there's probably
no like they would be if you could get this
player for its Oh like no, this wasn't the Donovan
Mitchell package. This was more like I'm trying to think
of like which star was just traded for kind kind
of a blah return.

Speaker 2 (21:02):
Almost like luk at dunch.

Speaker 3 (21:05):
That's so mean, Anthony Davis. But it's also true.

Speaker 1 (21:08):
But if Trey Young would be the middle ground to
where he's so ball dominant, sure they can insulate him defensively,
and no, would he be my first choice. No, But
if it's oh, Atlanta just wants like two firsts or something,
then a young player, then that's that's a lot more
appealing than four first round picks and young players for
Devin Booker, plus making the salaries work.

Speaker 2 (21:29):
So making the salaries work. I was looking at that
at this, Uh, Dylan Brooks and Jalen Green. That was
the deal I was thinking of. Unfortunately, it seems as
though that is not doable because the Suns will take
on more money.

Speaker 3 (21:46):
Basically, any trade they make is just gonna rope in
like a third and fourth team to take on money
with Phoenix.

Speaker 2 (21:52):
It has to like there's no other way to go
about this.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
Do you think there's anything to the effect of what
if they just brought in a shoot that would crack
their rotation, their playoff rotation. Do you think that provides
enough of the outlet to where, hey, we don't need
to go make the meg where Cam Johnson would be
a good example here, and then it's Kobe White would
be Honestly, he might be perfect. You have to you
now to deal with his next contract at a time

(22:17):
where okay, is Shane Goon still on the books and
then Jabari Smith Junior and Tarisan have new deals that
are coming up.

Speaker 3 (22:24):
But yeah, he would be and that shouldn't cost.

Speaker 1 (22:26):
You nearly as much as a Devin Booker, as a
Kevin Durant, as a Trey Youngick the whole nine.

Speaker 2 (22:31):
He's obviously not on that level as the players should
just mention. But he's like closer to it, you know,
from a financial perspective at least where it makes sense
to go after him. Any questions of yeah, go ahead,
sorry no, no, no, no, go ahead.

Speaker 1 (22:47):
Because what it leads me to ask, and it's I've
asked this question about the Magic, the Orlando Magic before.

Speaker 3 (22:53):
How good does the offense? Does?

Speaker 1 (22:55):
Does the primary offensive upgrade need to be to get
the rockets to where they need to go? And what
I know that's a convoluted way of saying it, but
it's could you trade for a Kobe White and then
just win the title next year? Or if you want
to enter that inner circle, does it need to be
someone who is actually on that All Star All NBA level.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
Well, So to answer that question, I need to ask
you a question first, will Jalen Green still be on
the roster because and that sounds like a horrible way
to like initiate this conversation, but like, if you have
serious aspirations of winning an NBA championship, one of the

(23:33):
foundational mainstays in all NBA championship winners is that you
have a significant portion of players who are significantly outperforming
their contracts, meaning that their output production whatever you want
to call. It is flat out worth more than what
they're being compensated personally. Now, Jalen Green is going to
earn thirty three point three million dollars next year, then

(23:57):
thirty six million dollars after that, is any world wherein
he does not immediately become a net negative in terms
of like the production slash compensation ratio. I would make
it a priority if I get Kobe White in there

(24:17):
to find a new home for Jalen.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
I think I might make it a priority in like
any type short of I guess if they go the
Yannis route, you don't need to prioritize that as much.
But I don't think his contract will be so underwater that's, oh,
we need first round picks.

Speaker 3 (24:33):
To take it on. But no, no inserting it into
a deal. It's not part. I don't think it's part
of the outgoing value to another team, right, And.

Speaker 2 (24:41):
That's that's kind of where I'm at, Because if you
are entering next season with Jalen Green earning thirty three
million and you have championship aspirations, financially speaking, you're gonna
be in for a hard time that like you're like,
you're gonna put so much pressure on every single rookie
contract left on that roster to like play at a

(25:05):
ridiculous level above their compensation model. Same with the Shin Gooon. Honestly, yeah,
that is a good point.

Speaker 1 (25:14):
I want to get to my question, which I think
it bleeds into what we're talking about. Are any of
the younger guys no longer part of the future plans?
And I think you mentioned Jalen Green. Yeah, there's I
think you know, Jabari Smith Junior and Tar Easton are
both extension eligible. And when you look at kind of
how the Rockets were playing where we saw we saw
a lot of triple big stuff or quad big depending
on how you feel about like Tari Easton playing. Is

(25:36):
Jabari Smith Junior any less important if you think that
they're going to bring back Steven Adams and run that
way or is it just having Aman Thompson there? There's
also how important would Jabari Smith Junior be moving forward anyway?
That's the name that I would circle, along with Cam Whitmore.
Is sort of not that they need to get rid
of these guys, but as you're thinking about their next
contracts coming up, are they willing to move them for what? Like,

(26:00):
here's a good example, would you move Jabbar Smith Junior
is part of a Kevin Durant deal Kevin Durant's older
But yeah, Jabari Smith Junior feels I think Jabari Smith
Junior is really good.

Speaker 3 (26:11):
I want to make that clear, but.

Speaker 1 (26:12):
He feels somewhat superfluous on this roster. I don't want
to say dispensable because that just has the negative connotation.
So like those are kind of the names. And then
also not that they should give up on this guy,
but like, what is the plan with Reed Shepherd? Because
you have immediate aspirations, he doesn't have the runway to
develop like some of these other guys did. And we
know that the Rockets have brought in basically all of

(26:35):
their young guys along fairly. Jalen Greens like the lone exception.
I feel like he was inserted into the fire right away.
But everyone else, I'm and Thompson, Alphahin, Shanggun, Cam Whitmore.
Maybe Jabari Smith Junior not so much like a lot
of these guys have come along gradually. Can you how
do you integrate Reed Shepherd into a team that might
just be good enough to contend for a title. That's

(26:55):
really challenging.

Speaker 2 (26:57):
So you and I differ on our love for Jabari
Smith Junior. I think I'm lower on him than you are,
so I would not have any issues pivoting off of him.
I think, you know, some people are basically saying, oh, well,
he could be a superior version and Laurie Marketing, You're
Lauri Marketing with defense. I just don't think we've seen

(27:21):
the offensive volume to a point where over the course
of three seasons, by the way, in two hundred games,
that's not nothing to a point where I feel comfortable,
you know, penciling him in as a major offensive contributor, Like,
do I think there's defensive upside? Yes? I do. Do
I think he struggles with other big man stuff. Do

(27:41):
I think his rebounding is absolutely Do I think he
hits enough threes to be worth the squeeze? Nope? Not really.
Does he hit enough of his two pointers to be
worth it? Nope? Not either. Like, there are just so
many red flags to a point where I'm just I'm
pretty out on him as like a major component to
an offensive structure. So if you include him in a deal,

(28:04):
and if a receiving team looks at Jabari Smith and goes,
oh my God, that's a tremendous asset. Pull that trigger
immediately if you're from Houston. That's where I'm at. As
for Cam Whitmore, I just want to get this thing
to through because there are teams out there. There are
a lot of teams out there that should be calling

(28:24):
the rockets about Cam Widmore. The thing is they because
they can't sit there and say, oh, well, we love
Cam like he's a major piece of what we're doing.
No he's not. You played sixteen damn minutes this year.
No he's not. Like the counter argument is right there.
You didn't even utilize him. He should have played over
Jalen Green for extended stretches this year. He didn't like

(28:44):
if there should be twenty teams out there at least
calling the rockets and asking about Kim Widmore.

Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, he's super tantalizing.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
It does feel like I don't know how dynamic he
stands to be like the past on offense and that
the shot isn't falling, his value just becomes all over them.
I Mean, you can say that about a lot of players,
but I know.

Speaker 2 (29:06):
That Javar Smith Junior you can say that about as well.

Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, No, because Jabars Smith Junior brings more defensive value
than cam.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Win more, that is true. I was talking about the passing,
all right.

Speaker 1 (29:14):
Yeah, so by the way, Javari Smith Junior specifically, I
would just like to see him in a better spacing environment,
and I think that we would see him.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
That's fair, I will give you that. It's just I
I just can't ignore two hundred plus games of data
and six and a half thousand minutes. Like we're getting there, right.

Speaker 1 (29:33):
I don't know if he's going to be an All Star,
but I would love to see him. Not that I'm
rooting for him to leave, but like if they could
get more shooting or someone that could deliver him the
ball like more like that's just not Fred van Fleet
Jaalen Green read Shepherd maybe not yet. I would just
love to see him in that type of role, whether
it's Houston or elsewhere.

Speaker 2 (29:49):
Oh no, no, don't get me wrong. He's gonna he
would be better in a lot of different situations. I'm
not arguing otherwise. I'm just asking what the actual ceiling
here is because it's like, okay, so with the caveat
and unless he ends up in Denver next to Jokisch,
where he would blossom as hell, because that's just what
happened to Murray.

Speaker 3 (30:09):
That is Houston interested in him. Look, he's not a
bad fit for this roster.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
No, I'm just saying Jamal Murray without without Joki, we've
not we've not really seen it.

Speaker 3 (30:23):
That's oh no, we've seen it in Denver and it's
not pretty for the most part.

Speaker 2 (30:29):
No, But like I just it's what it boils down to.
All of this is identification, Like who do we believe
moving forward is worth more than whatever we're being offered?
Right Like, look, every single team right now probably has
a standing offer for Aman Thompson, and the Rockets are

(30:50):
rightfully saying no, thank you. But if that one offer
comes in where they estimate his value, oh sorry, the
return to be over his value, pull the trigger. I
think that has to be the approach on like an
individual basis.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
That is that's fair.

Speaker 1 (31:07):
They need to figure out, like what does their identity
as a team on offense want to look like? Yeah,
and that's that's what's so tough here. But it's a
good position to be in because they have a lot
of assets, They have a lot of intriguing young players,
but they're now tasked with kind of the toughest part
of this whole progress, which is going from good to great,
and my personal belief. To wrap this up, I don't

(31:28):
think they get there strictly by banking on internal development.
I think this we could debate about the level of
the player coming in. I think Kobe White is good
enough to make a difference. As an example, a fringe
like like you could throw Anthony Simon's on this roster.
Maybe you want someone who's a little bit better of
a passer, but that's someone else that I think comes
in and am I picking the rockets to win the title? No,
but he gives you more of an even keel presence

(31:50):
than Jalen Green.

Speaker 2 (31:51):
As an example, Do you trade Reach Cheers straight up
for Kobe White? Ooh?

Speaker 1 (31:58):
I mean, if I'm the Bulls, I'm bouncing on that.
I think, knowing that Kobe White's gonna leave, but they're
about to pay Josh Gidty, so Read Shepherd's career probably
gets ruined in Chicago. Unfortunately, Man, I probably can't just
because of the Kobe White contract coming after this. If
it was, if you're talking, could we rewind and would
you trade Read Shepherd straight up in the deadline for

(32:18):
Kobe White, then I think you have to consider it.
But no, I couldn't, I am, But I also would
you do it because we know that I'm just higher
on Read Shepherd I think than consensus at this point.

Speaker 3 (32:27):
Frankly.

Speaker 2 (32:28):
I mean, look, if you're the Bulls, and you're probably
if you're being honest about with yourself about that's Kobe
White situation, Yeah, I'm doing it because also Read Shepherd,
even though he had a horrible rookie season, there is
a level of shot making capability within his game that
I think could make him ultimately worth more than Josh

(32:50):
Giddy as well. So like just having a superior option
down the line so the Bulls can see, oh, perhaps
the time to trade Josh Gitty. That would be smart.
I don't think they're smart, so they're not going to
do it. What I will say as a secondary option
for Chicago is is assuming, of course the Rockets just

(33:10):
guarantee Jock Landale's contract just for salary matching purposes, centering
a deal around Cam Whitmore and maybe some additional draft compensation.
So Cam wit More Jock Landale for salary matching purposes
and some type of pick I'm not sure, like how
protected whatever for Kobe White. I wouldn't hate that for
either side either.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
No, that's a good one.

Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 (33:32):
I think if it's like sort of a middle end
pick one, I would say one of the rocket's own
moving forward rather than you're not giving a son's.

Speaker 3 (33:38):
Pick in that. Yeah, right, that would be like, that's
a good one. I really like that one.

Speaker 1 (33:42):
I think that's my favor Kobe White's like that feels
like the middle ground because I've been kind of racking
my brain thinking this player is a little pricy, and
I wonder if he's too Fred van Vlidi, when you're
looking at if you want someone to create advantages for others,
but Emmanuel Quickly would be kind of interesting here too.

Speaker 2 (33:58):
I agree with that.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Our team is the Memphis Grizzlies. More. What's your question
for them?

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Is it time to trade John rand the big one?
The big question. We have a lot of data now
on the Jahn Moran Grizzlies. I will see here. Here's
where I'll say it might be a little controversial, hopefully
not too controversial. You know, he's improved. I'm not going
to sit here and argue that Joam Moran hasn't improved

(34:28):
since he came into the league. Having said that, ever
since he took like was it his third year leap
when he was averaging like twenty seven or something along
those lines, like when he became you know that guy?
Since then, has he actually improved significant, significantly in one
single area on the floor to a point where we

(34:50):
can point to that and go, oh, yeah, we can
trust this going forward. I hesitate to say yes or
and if he has, please educate me, because I'm not
seeing it.

Speaker 1 (35:03):
That is interesting. I I think it's a fair inquiry
to make. The problem is and why I would say no,
it's not time to trade John Morant.

Speaker 3 (35:12):
This feels like it might be then idea of his value.

Speaker 1 (35:15):
Maybe you could go back to the off court stuff
and say that was the absolute idea, But having just
so much evidence about the limitations of building a half
court offense around him, I don't know how much. Like
what is the because Houston as an example, the team
we just talked about, they're not gonna go after him
the magic, They're not gonna they need someone who's a
bit more reliable shooter. So I just what is the market?

(35:38):
What is the team that's giving you a ton of
stuff for John Morant. I mean I kind of thought, like,
would Utah gave you like lowry marketing and two first?
And is that is your team even better after that?

Speaker 3 (35:48):
I like, I.

Speaker 2 (35:51):
Well, I mean just because you actually get a sense
of positional structuring. Utah would argue yes, because like who's
their point guard really Beyonce George?

Speaker 1 (36:02):
It's I think Isaiah Collier is probably the better bet
at this point. Not neither bets safe.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
Yeah, but like he's not offensively dynamic either.

Speaker 3 (36:10):
Not right no, right now, right now, he's outside of
the restricted area for sure.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
Exactly. Well, much of the same with John really, I
mean there's not a lot of stool there.

Speaker 3 (36:21):
What was his finishing numbers this year?

Speaker 1 (36:22):
He's like one of those classic guys where it's, oh,
why are why isn't his shooting percentage at the rim higher?
It's just he's always there with reckless.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
Nine within three feet?

Speaker 3 (36:32):
All right? Good, that's actually that's not Russell And he.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
Was seventy one percent last year, but that was only
a nine game stamble size, So like.

Speaker 1 (36:38):
You know what, it's because he attempts it so much
when I'm watching him, and he's always just there. I'm like, oh,
why does it feel like he's missing so many? But
he gets there. A third of his shots came that.
By the way, the other thing I think you have
to concern yourself with is given the injury history, he
is now what six years deep into his career, he's
only twenty five, But his game is so he's a
very high IQ player when you look at the passing.

Speaker 2 (36:59):
For sure, yeah, the passing absolutely, yeah, But.

Speaker 1 (37:02):
Like his game is prided a lot on his athleticism
and you kind of have to wonder, Okay, how how
long is this runway with John Moran in his prime
at this level? And that's something both the Grizzlies and
suitors would in theory need to reconcile.

Speaker 2 (37:17):
Yeah, I agree, So I think that's why I ask
the questions because I I understand training him or sorry,
not training him when his value is at the lowest.
I buy that argument in its entirety. That said, if
you're the Grizzlies, you have to eventually look at this
thing and go like, like, what are we going to
do here? Because if you also want to trade jaw,

(37:38):
does that have a ripple effect? Like do you actually
want to start over, like you're not going to want
to pay Jared Jackson Junior full max. I assume if
you want to start over again.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
No, I probably not.

Speaker 1 (37:53):
And it's like, yeah, so are you looking to get
better as part of the jaw trade? Is there any
pathway where that exists? I mean, if the Bucks aren't
getting their own picks back at when or if Jannis
requests out building something around John Morant for Yannis is
I don't know if that's what Memphis needs. But if
you just say we're gonna figure it out when it
comes to the offensive floor, general Chip, having Jaron Jackson

(38:14):
Junior and Yannis on the same team is insane. That
would be And if you're the Bucks you could say,
all right, we still have Dame. So there's that tricky bartment.
But if you're looking for kind of a tent pole
young player to map out your future, John Morant would
be an interesting option.

Speaker 2 (38:29):
Yeah. I will say Jared Jackson Junior and Yannis would
be fun in the regular season. In the playoffs, no, well,
I mean, look, we have to talk about it as well.
I mean, Jaron Jackson Junior in the playoffs historically has
been what's the kind word to say ass, but yeah,

(38:52):
but he's been he's been but no, look that that's harsh.
He's just he's been disappointing. Okay, Like I was just
trying to crack a joke there. He's been disappointing in
the playoffs and that's been through the four times he's
been there. Even when he's hitting shots, then he's not rebounding.
Even when he's rebounding, then he's not hitting shots. It's like,

(39:12):
you can't get the full Jaron Jackson Junior package in
the playoffs for whatever reason apparently, and I think he's
shown that to an extent now where I'm like, no,
his value in my eyes, just that's just me personally,
is significantly below what you know consensus, because I think
if you trade for Jared Jackson Junior, it's with the

(39:33):
mindset of, hey, let's make a playoff run, or let's
or not a playoff title run, let's get deep into
the playoffs. Well, if you go into the playoffs and
you're aiming to make the finals, it probably you probably
need to have guys perform in the postseason, and he does.

Speaker 1 (39:46):
Not, which leads me to my question, what happens if
Jaron Jackson Junior doesn't renegotiate an extent.

Speaker 3 (39:55):
Maybe he doesn't do it, and so.

Speaker 2 (39:57):
Nothing bad happens. Even if they pivot off of him,
nothing bad happens.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
Wow, So they probably got it.

Speaker 1 (40:03):
Might have been a blessing in disguise that he didn't
make all NBA for the Grizzlies, which kind of sucks
that we view it through that lens. He would have
been eligible for that supermax of five years, three hundred
and forty five point three million.

Speaker 3 (40:14):
They could have.

Speaker 1 (40:15):
I don't think they would have given him that, but
maybe they would have felt pressure to, or maybe even
just giving him a thirty percent max. You have to
ask yourself, is he worth this? What they can do
now is they project to have about seven million in
cap space while keeping Santi al Dama. If you bump
up Jaron Jackson. This is how renegotiating extends works for
maybe anyone who's not familiar with it, and hopefully I'm
not too wordy or confusing anyone here. The Grizzlies have

(40:38):
seven million dollars in cap space. They can give that
to Jaron Jackson Junior. Bump him up to about thirty
point four million dollars, which would allow them to offer
him a four year, one hundred and ninety point eight
million dollar extension from there. So over the next five years,
including next season, he's on the books for forty four
point two million on average, rather than over the next

(41:00):
six years had he been super Max eligible, averaging about
sixty one point five million. That's a huge difference when
you're factoring on the margins keeping this team together.

Speaker 2 (41:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (41:10):
My question though, is what if he says there and says, no,
I'm not I'm not gonna take the renegotiating extent, and
if I go into free agency, I'm gonna ge get.

Speaker 2 (41:18):
Good, good, good buddy. Look, here's the thing, he's a
great regular season player. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna
see to her and say he's like a bad player whatsoever.
My my entire frustration comes down to the fact that
he's Look, he's six', eleven he's built, really really, well
and he's one of the most athletic athletic interior players

(41:40):
in the. League and all he can muster is about
five boards per. Game One that is weakest. Shit two
he does not show up for the. Playoffs those are
highly concerning elements to. Me but if you're a team
that just wants to get into the, playoffs he's a major.
Get like if you're a team out, there it's just
like you know in the plane bubble every single, year

(42:01):
getting a guy in who just averaged twenty two points
in just over twenty nine. Minutes major major, elements like
to your success in order to get in because the
productivity in the regular season is. Nuts but if you're
paying him thirty thirty five percent of the, cap it's
with the assumption that he's gonna lead to its places

(42:23):
in the, playoffs which he will. Not So i'm just
not worried about.

Speaker 1 (42:27):
It that's interesting Because i'd be a little bit if
he turns it down because THE i guess the margin
is not too different is four years and one ninety
versus his max from another team next summer would BE
i think it's four years in about two hundred and nineteen,
Million so not actually talking about that big of a.

Speaker 3 (42:44):
Difference it could be.

Speaker 1 (42:45):
Higher if it's The, grizzlies they have the fifth, year
then give eight percent. Raises but if he says if
he says, no when you're The, grizzlies you're playing this
out and saying we'll let it ride to unrestricted free.

Speaker 3 (42:54):
Agency you're not looking At oh oh.

Speaker 2 (42:56):
No i'm. Treating if he says, No i'm Sure i'm.

Speaker 3 (42:58):
True said nothing. Happens, no, no, no.

Speaker 2 (43:00):
No WHEN i said how nothing, happens WHAT i mean
is there's there are no long term consequences of Trading
Jaron Jackson. Junior if you're The Memphis. Grizzlies that's what that.

Speaker 1 (43:08):
Is you've had some pretty bold ass takes and that
is spicy that there's just no difference For.

Speaker 2 (43:13):
Memphis, no, no, No, WELL i, mean, look you're obviously because
again it's the ripple. Effect we just talked About jaw,
Right like you, know if you trade, jaw the overwhelming
assumption Is Jaron Jackson junior is going to be your
best player that's going to lead you. Nowhere like he's
not your best. Player if he's the best player on a,
team and that's the lens you're looking at him, through
you're fucked pretty. Much and that's that's my. Take that's

(43:36):
WHEN i say nothing. Changes, obviously they're gonna lose more
games than the record. Season, obviously what in terms of
like their overall championship equity is not going to make
a damn difference because so, far what has their championship
equity looked?

Speaker 1 (43:50):
Like, okay, Fair so who would you rather here's an interesting.
Question then who would you rather have on your? Team,
well let me start. Here so you don't think if
he hit twenty six free, agency you don't think there's
gonna be a max offer waiting for.

Speaker 2 (44:04):
Him oh, No i'm not saying there ISN'T i think
there shouldn't. Be but like teams are, Crazy LIKE i
will say there is one team in a specific like
specifically WHERE i would open the door to him being
like the best version of. Himself that's next To luca
In Los. Angeles like if he gets next To, luca
just the sheer amount of shots that he'll be spoon. Fed,

(44:26):
Uh and, like, yes that is the one area WHERE
i could see him make that transition from regular season
player to playoff. Performer that's that's that would be the
one outside of, THAT i really struggle to see a
scenario where he lands on a team and, says, oh,
yeah Now i'm something good in the playoffs when it.
Matters so might there be an offer out? There a max? Offer?

(44:48):
Sure BECAUSE nba teams do this stuff all like all the.
Time DO i think there should be based on what
he's giving you in the playoffs right? Now, NO i
don't think there should.

Speaker 1 (44:58):
Be, Wow i'm gonna be watching the renegotiating extension talks
now that it's not because he's not going to sign the.
EXTENSION i, mean if he signs the extension off his current,
number that's probably a win for The.

Speaker 2 (45:08):
Grizzlies no, sure oh, yeah, Yeah, Like, okay LOOK i
come off as a Huge Jared jackson junior hater. Here
that's not my. Intent my point is Basically i'm not
interested as AN npa organization and paying. Him you, KNOW
i think the what was the three Hundred oh he's
not eligible for the, supermax but people were, like, oh
let's hope he gets the supermax so he can sign the,

(45:29):
deal like three hundred and forty five MILLION i think
averaged out to what is sixty nine million per, Year
and that's ridiculous. Money that is utterly ridiculous money for
a guy who doesn't perform in the. Postseason like if
you can get him for forty per year, straight, yeah,
absolutely because, look that's worth getting into the, playoffs and

(45:49):
that's what he will do for. You he will get
your ass into the. Playoffs if he's like the secondary
churchiary guy on the, Team absolutely he, will or well
he would at least eight that that goal. Significantly so,
Yeah i'm paying him forty million a, year what sixty sixty?

Speaker 3 (46:08):
Five he's not a thirty five percent max. Guy i'm.

Speaker 1 (46:11):
Curious maybe not to The. GRIZZLIES i could see him
being worth thirty percent because this defensive. VALUE i know
the reboundings in, issue but it's kind of.

Speaker 3 (46:19):
Insane, no, yeah for.

Speaker 2 (46:20):
Sure and again IT'S i came off way too harsh
on this. ONE i CAN i can. Tell it's JUST.
I we're constantly talking about championship, windows Right that has
become the big conversation IS nba teams now have shorter championship,
windows shorter competitive. Windows that also means that whenever you

(46:41):
have a chance to make a, run you can better
make damn sure that the players that you are paying
the most money to are, major major assets who outperform
their actual contractual compensation level in the. Postseason so, Far
Jaron Jackson junior has not done. That and if you
give him a significant, rays you're putting yourself into possibly

(47:04):
a world of.

Speaker 3 (47:04):
Hurt let's move on to our next team in this,
division The New Orleans. PELICANS a little. Confusing what's your? Question?

Speaker 2 (47:14):
More is this the end of the road For Simon, Williamson,
like you, know we have to ask the. Question it's not.

Speaker 1 (47:21):
You want to know why he was on the day at
the at THE nba. Lottery you don't send someone to
be your lottery around and then move, him, RIGHT.

Speaker 2 (47:30):
I mean you.

Speaker 3 (47:31):
Not that's really.

Speaker 2 (47:33):
Funny that'd be funny they won the lottery and Got
Cooper flack and then they immediately were, like, oh hey, see.

Speaker 1 (47:44):
Thanks that is kind of weird because you're sending him
there in theory at that point where this could be
for them to win the right to draft replacements replace.

Speaker 2 (47:55):
Sorry, yeah and they already Have Trey, murphy who, was
let's be real, good probably play that role as. WELL
i oh, god this seems just so. Confusing that's Why
i'm asking the question About zion because like he's obviously
the guy who could fetch you a certain level of
return because like the contractual, stuff like where whoever team

(48:16):
would trade for him has a lot of control over the.
Contract THERE'S mvp upside in attaining, him so like presumably
there will be value attached to get, Back like is
there a lot of value in trading OUT. Cj. McCollum,
no is there value in trading Away Deontay? Murray who's
what was?

Speaker 3 (48:34):
All was?

Speaker 2 (48:35):
It THE A? C?

Speaker 3 (48:35):
L Or?

Speaker 2 (48:36):
ACHILLES i don't Need Achilles? Achille? Oh, god so an
acl tear earlier in his career and now The. Achilles
that's that's. Rough there's not gonna be value in moving
him right now, Either like what's what are they doing? Here?
Not that's not that's harsh to put that on at
their feet entirely because injuries are a. THING i just

(48:58):
don't know what their plan of attack.

Speaker 1 (48:59):
Here is What i'm wondering, though is does it get
worse if you Move zion right? Now because what's the
best offer you could get for?

Speaker 3 (49:10):
HIM i?

Speaker 1 (49:11):
Proposed and this for some, reason it felt if the
basis of this deal Was DeAndre ayton and then two
of The Milwaukee bucks swaps four and then all of a, sudden,
now all of a, Sudden New orleans controls four Of
milwaukee's draft.

Speaker 3 (49:23):
PICKS i THINK i just is that is that? Enough
is that too? Much if you're The.

Speaker 1 (49:30):
Blazers IT'S i guess my point would, be couldn't Get
hazier just because look at where they're drafting this.

Speaker 3 (49:37):
Year in the. Lottery they're coming in at number.

Speaker 1 (49:39):
SEVEN i don't know how you feel about this draft,
yet like they're probably not gonna find this fortune's turning.
Player zion to me is still their best chance of doing.
That and SO i look it AS i by the,
WAY i think your question is spot, on like it's very,
fundamental but it's like it has to. Be it's the
this is an existential crisis essentially that it feels like
this organization has been caught in for.

Speaker 3 (50:00):
YEARS i think what you. Do my plan would, be
we're Keeping.

Speaker 1 (50:05):
Zion can he either one just play so well that, it's,
oh it's clear that he is our pole star of the,
future or can he increase his trade value leading into
the trade? Deadline BECAUSE i don't even, honestly if you
went To portland and offered that As New, ORLEANS i
don't know if they do, It and that's WHAT i
would do. IT i want to make it clear right
AND i don't think If i'm The, PELICANS i probably

(50:26):
don't want to take that.

Speaker 3 (50:28):
Offer but at the same, time it's, like what is.

Speaker 1 (50:30):
OH I, also by the, way number eleven was also
included in, there so as number eleven those two bucks,
Swaps i'm just, like does that materially change your? Fortunes
Because zion's money is you.

Speaker 3 (50:43):
Could talk, about, well there's the.

Speaker 1 (50:45):
Contract one it has outs For New, orleans and two,
like If zion's Not, zion you're cooked, Anyway like to,
me the money he's not on a max where it's
just like breaking your, organization like the.

Speaker 2 (50:55):
Money he's on the Fun. Max, yeah he's on the Fun.

Speaker 1 (50:58):
Max and also just if he's not, right it doesn't
fucking matter what you're gonna be paying him the.

Speaker 3 (51:02):
Minimum your team is still going.

Speaker 2 (51:03):
Nowhere, yep.

Speaker 1 (51:05):
Yep so that would be my plan of. Attack but
this leads into my question if they keep zyon, watchally
let's get your, answer what do you want them to
do or what do you think they will?

Speaker 3 (51:15):
Do what do you think they should do when on
The zion, Front.

Speaker 2 (51:18):
NO I I i would look to trade. Him Not
i'm not SAYING i would trade him LIKE i would collect.
OFFERS i would see what's out. THERE i will not
decide to just negotiate with one, team because that's. Dumb
who does? THAT i, WOULD i would open it up
and see what's out. There and if one team just
made a big brain fart and was, like, yes we're all,

(51:41):
in we're giving up. Everything i'm taking that thing And
i'm running away with.

Speaker 3 (51:46):
It what is the? Team, like what is the team
that you look at and say they can think.

Speaker 2 (51:51):
That you never?

Speaker 3 (51:52):
Know like, sometimes But i'm asking, you SO i want To, yeah.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
Okay, okay, okay, okay now you're gonna laugh again because
all we're brought them, Up like call the, Bulls call the.

Speaker 3 (52:03):
Bulls your solution is just everyone pillage the?

Speaker 2 (52:06):
Bulls?

Speaker 3 (52:07):
Right AM i?

Speaker 2 (52:09):
Wrong? Though like call, Now i'm not just saying the
bulls as? Well like just call up the teams that,
you as an, organization consider the weakest, Negotiators like call
up the teams that you consider. Desperate call up the
teams that you have identified as being at a crossroads
where they have no freaking idea what to, do and

(52:31):
where you might be able to squeeze them for more
than they probably feel comfortable. Doing call those. Up be,
progressive be, proactive do something LIKE i don't have any
problem With zion, returning but given the current construct of the,
team it doesn't really make a whole lot of. Sense
Like Trey murphy And Herb jones great. PLAYERS i love

(52:53):
both of. Them DO i love them both together Alongside?
Sion probably? Not like things have to change. Dramatically so, like,
look if we're talking about trade, VALUE i WOULDN'T i
wouldn't like Trading Trey. Murphy but he's on a contract
that's very. Reasonable assuming he's, healthy you could probably get

(53:14):
a ton of. That why not try to finagle something
out of?

Speaker 1 (53:19):
This, MAN i haven't even tried to think OF i
just assumed he would not be. MOVED i have Documented.

Speaker 2 (53:25):
I'm working under the same. Assumption i'm Just i'm just
talking out.

Speaker 3 (53:28):
Loud portland might give up more for him Than zion
at this.

Speaker 2 (53:32):
Point, Man denny And Trey murphy would be interesting.

Speaker 3 (53:37):
TOGETHER i, Mean Trey murphy just opening up the floor
for literally anything.

Speaker 2 (53:41):
Everything yeah? Much?

Speaker 3 (53:43):
Yeah would you?

Speaker 2 (53:46):
Do?

Speaker 3 (53:48):
What pick number do they?

Speaker 1 (53:49):
Have so It's Julius randall if he opts In Rob
dillingham and then number eighteen For. Zion if they have, Eighteen,
No i'm number seventeen For. Zion they got.

Speaker 2 (54:01):
That, yeah, YEAH i, Yes and that's oh that would
hurt BECAUSE i love Seeing Julius randall actually playing well
in the. POSTSEASON i love how he's actually turned his
own narrative. AROUND i WAS i was harsh for a
lot of years On Julius, randall AND i don't THINK
i was wrong in doing, so in being. So, rather

(54:22):
Now i'm really enjoying to see his resurgence or whatever
you want to call, it a realization of how to
play proper. Basketball so to him to get moved back
to a place he's actually been before as, well that's.
Rough but If i'm The wolves AND i get a
chance to Pair Anthony edwards And Sion, williamson even though

(54:46):
like there's still the injury risk and the availability issue Of,
zion that upside is just too good to pass.

Speaker 1 (54:53):
Up that's that's like not a Package New orleans can accept, it,
Right It's dillingham and a first round pick.

Speaker 2 (55:00):
Essentially, yeah, NO i mean you're. Right that's why they should.
Explore that's why they shouldn't just be, Like, okay we're accepting,
Offers like they should follow up on some of their
offers and, go, yeah you can do, Better come, on
hit us back next week with something, better, Like, yeah.

Speaker 1 (55:19):
My question for the, team WHICH i think is gonna
become at least more relevant for this.

Speaker 3 (55:22):
Offseason Maybe i'm.

Speaker 1 (55:22):
WRONG i would love to See, look there are Teams
i'd love to See zion In. Detroit can you imagine
that him And kate together'd be? Incredible what do they
need the most if they're planning to keep building Around?
Zion AND i present this with the caveat that De
Jontay murray may not play this season or for most
of this, season but he's still on your.

Speaker 2 (55:43):
Team, yeah THAT'S i, mean the answer is a floor.
Leader so that's where it, hurts, right because he's he's
still on the. Books we don't know what kind of
what's the word, Here we don't know what kind of
state he's gonna be when he. RETURNS cj is obviously too.
Old he can play a sort of pseudo point guard

(56:04):
role for the time, being but that's not good. Enough
they need a player who can hit reliable outside, shots
who can be that secondary, guy like they need A Tyrese.
Halbert that's the type of player they, need but like.

Speaker 1 (56:21):
Supercharged modern Contemporary Steve. Nash, yeah that's not a hard.

Speaker 2 (56:25):
Player, well no, exactly but those that's the type of
player you need to pair with such a specific talent As.
Scion what.

Speaker 1 (56:31):
ABOUT i, mean his name is gonna come up a
bunch BECAUSE i think he's really, good and also his
contract almost necessitates.

Speaker 2 (56:38):
If you Said Reach shepherd, again so help Me, God, YEAH.

Speaker 3 (56:40):
I would trade For. Rechaper If i'm The, Pelicans i'll
give up everything For. Reach i'll risk it. ALL i
was gonna, say his name is gonna come?

Speaker 2 (56:47):
Up all?

Speaker 3 (56:48):
Right Kobe white for The.

Speaker 2 (56:49):
Pelicans, Yeah Kobe white should come up a lot this.
Year he'd make a lot of sense to. It like
he's still more For combo in my eyes than he.

Speaker 3 (56:58):
Which works long term With dejontay right or no.

Speaker 2 (57:02):
Again depending on How deyoncey. Returns you, KNOW i don't.

Speaker 1 (57:06):
Know, WELL i think at that point it's you Have
zion And Kobe white to alleviate some of the responsibilities,
offensively now. Defensively, sure you could have some issues if
those three are on the court together And Dejonta murray
is not the same, Player.

Speaker 3 (57:18):
But that's why you Have herb And Trey murphy And Eves.

Speaker 1 (57:21):
MECY i think you can also argue THAT i Like,
mec but do they need a different type of a
big man look Alongside.

Speaker 3 (57:26):
Zion we've talked a lot about that over the. Years
it'd be Something i'd.

Speaker 1 (57:30):
INVESTIGATE i don't view it as go out and Get
Christops porzingis or sign and trade For Miles turner And
osried right, Now.

Speaker 2 (57:36):
But AS i, SAID i spent a lot of time
saying this at the pre draft last, year And i've
been saying it like throughout the entire. Year Kilil ware
was the guy they should have targeted aggressively in the
draft last, year like he was. SHOOTING i trusted more
THAN i Trust Eves. Mesi but even he has a vertical,

(58:00):
player you, Know he's always, like that's.

Speaker 3 (58:02):
Khalil ware's primary value right, now the fact that.

Speaker 2 (58:05):
Primaries, yeah that's the. Thing, yes, primary but he can
at least stretch the floor at a capability at a
level Where missi is like what years away from doing.

Speaker 3 (58:16):
If at, all but mess he also plays defense at
a level that we've yet to see From khalil wears.

Speaker 2 (58:20):
Right that very, fair BUT i would rather go with
the high upside swing, there, KAY i don't.

Speaker 1 (58:28):
KNOW i wonder what it would take to Get you,
know he'd be really interesting on this team next to
sign because we did see him shooting.

Speaker 3 (58:34):
Threes Zach, Edie.

Speaker 2 (58:37):
Oh, yeah like the big lumbering guy who can also grab,
lobs but who Can, yeah if he upped his volume
a little, bit you clock the paint on.

Speaker 1 (58:47):
Though, honestly this player is like similar way. Older he's
a free agent And New orleans could access the nontax
Premier Brook.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
Lopez, well, YEAH i knew you were going. There that'd be.
Fun that's the that's the. Archetype if he only wasn't
two point three million years.

Speaker 3 (59:02):
Old, yeah well even now for what TWO i don't
know what. Is he might want to be on a better,
Team he might want to go back of.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
Money it is Because i'm thinking long. Term i'm thinking long.
TERM i want someone next To sion for not just one,
year but a couple of years at.

Speaker 3 (59:16):
Least, yeah like you do.

Speaker 1 (59:18):
Enough in my, HEAD i was, wondering like The, grizzlies
we sty still kind of need their wing of the.
Future But Jaalen wells And Zach eadie For Herb jones
just feels rich Because Herb jones.

Speaker 3 (59:28):
Doesn't do the thing that they need the. Most so
Like Herb jones is, excellent but he doesn't do the
thing That memphis.

Speaker 1 (59:33):
Needs he's also not that. Available herbs also fair the
other thing. TOO i would love to see them Sign Chris.
Bouchet that's someone who could run Alongside.

Speaker 3 (59:42):
Zion that'd be.

Speaker 1 (59:44):
Fun, yeah but, yeah long term the higher, END i
Think mecI with the vertigal gravity and the stuff he
could do, DEFENSIVELY i thought those two played well off
each other by the way him And Zion mesi And
zion by the end of the. Year But i'm with
you that they kind of need a floor. General but
IT'S i just don't. Know how do you wait investing
in one when you know you have Dejante, marie you
also know that you don't know what he's gonna look.

Speaker 3 (01:00:04):
Like how's that for some?

Speaker 1 (01:00:05):
Burbiage there any other names if they're out, there any other,
things any other things on on this.

Speaker 2 (01:00:11):
Team, NO I I'm i'm just a little skeptical of
them as currently constructed and with the assets that they
have in. Hand I've i'm gonna be interested to see
what they do this, summer because nothing right now screams
obviousness to. Me and that's off the red.

Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
Flag our next team and final team of The Southwest.
Division you might have heard of. Them they are The
San Antonio spurs who almost Had Cooper. Flag that was
man watching the. LOTTERY i know Where weeks were moved
from it, now BUT i. WAS i was really, like
The spurs are gonna Get.

Speaker 3 (01:00:48):
Flagg this is a rooting.

Speaker 2 (01:00:50):
IT i was rooting for. It that would have been
the best thing. EVER i would have loved it because
imagined the. Defense so like, YOU i know, you you're sucker
for for for defensers and for good overarching. Defense just
imagine Like Wempy flag and a Darn fox who now

(01:01:12):
doesn't have to assert all that offensive energy that he
did In, sacramento so you could actually get back to
some of a like defensively oriented. Game and Then Stefan Castle, no,
yeah well you Know castle throwing for good. Measure, yeah
absolutely defensively with that probably ranked number two in the
league Behind, okay, see like right off the, bat that

(01:01:35):
wouldn't shock.

Speaker 3 (01:01:35):
Me so what is your question for The?

Speaker 2 (01:01:39):
Spurs my question is what's the big? Play like what.

Speaker 3 (01:01:44):
One for? You?

Speaker 2 (01:01:45):
Yeah will they even make. One, Yeah i'm.

Speaker 3 (01:01:49):
SKEPTICAL i just don't that would. Be.

Speaker 1 (01:01:50):
SO i know they traded for Darn, fox but that
was this player only wants to come. Here the cost
was reasonable. Enough they've been the. TEAM i think you
were an advocate of it. Too But grant uh really
wants them to trade For. Yannis he wants them to
be The yannest.

Speaker 2 (01:02:05):
Team i'm, Yeah i'm me. Too and and that is
that is the play That i've outlined several. Times the
thing here Is Dylan harper is really really good.

Speaker 3 (01:02:19):
And he can, shoot which is.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
WELL i mean From.

Speaker 1 (01:02:25):
Downtown he was on forty plus percent on spot UPS
i believe.

Speaker 2 (01:02:30):
First, seventh thirty seventy. Seven, yeah at least according To
Ricky o'donnald who was on my, POD i would trust
him over. ME i would Trust ricky over virtually everyone
when it comes to draft. Stuff he's got that he's
got a memory that's. Insane so like the shooting needs.
Work But harper to me could be you know one

(01:02:52):
of those point, guards so you, know the big physical
point guards who has this how to phrase? This so
you know how there are guys who aren't necessarily major
like physical athletes but they think the game, out and
because they think the game, out they tend to reach
their potential a little bit. More i'm talking About, Luke
i'm talking About Paul. Pierce i'm talking about those type of.

(01:03:14):
Guys James harden. Too. Well harden is, athletic but like
he never utilized it to to the extent he probably.
Could like, Thinkers Dylan harper is a thinker that to
me is enormously attractive right off the, bat because who
is another thinker on that team who's also coincidentally their franchise.

(01:03:37):
Superstar you want to exactly that, is you hit it
right on the. Money he should stick. Around by the,
way he's really. Good you're basically Telling, wemby, look we're
going to bring me a thinker for you because you
and him are are going to solve issues together on the,
fly and you're going to be really good at. It

(01:03:57):
like there's a part of me that also just want to,
say you know, what screw, it just stick With Dylan
harper and then let's see what, Happens like let's just
build a long term. Window but like If yannis comes,
up that's he's probably like the one guy out there
who might be pseudo available where you's just go screw,
it like let's just let's let's get let's get.

Speaker 3 (01:04:20):
NUTS i WHAT i just is there? Other is there
another name out?

Speaker 2 (01:04:27):
There?

Speaker 3 (01:04:28):
Though because when you say what's the big? Play is? There?

Speaker 1 (01:04:30):
Like is there another player that then moves the needle
because you Didn't we're not asking should you go trade For?
Yiannis let's say if they opt not For? Yannis is
what do you want to see?

Speaker 2 (01:04:38):
Them Is?

Speaker 3 (01:04:39):
Yannis The is that what you?

Speaker 1 (01:04:40):
WANT i, mean it's ANOTHER i guess a front court,
upgrade like Alongside wemby at this. Point but is there
another player that moves?

Speaker 3 (01:04:48):
You?

Speaker 2 (01:04:48):
There there is one guy THAT i wanted on The
spurs for a, while he's just not. Available That's Kate.
Cunningham that's that's.

Speaker 3 (01:04:59):
RIGHT i mean more so should they should they be
A Kevin durant? Team? Like?

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
Interesting, Yeah AND i get why you're confused because look
this this the spacing element of. It he's such a
better shootering Than. Yannis it's if you relinquish a ton
for a guy who's that. Old that's that's, Again i've
said this a million. Times that's WHAT i keep coming
back to with The Kevin durant. Thing it's if you
relinquish a lot for a guy who's, like for what

(01:05:28):
two years away from, RETIREMENT i just don't know if
that's worth the, Squeeze, like, yeah you can get a,
go like you would have to win the, Title like
you would almost have to guarantee yourself a. Title And
i'm just not there WHERE i THINK kd is at
that level where you can pencil him in like he
could when you got into To Golden state for. Example

(01:05:49):
so Like yiannis is also probably the oldest player That
i'm honestly interested in BECAUSE i know timelines are a
little bit overrated now that wind competitive window sources so,
Short but With wemby, SPECIFICALLY i have to think long.
TERM i have to.

Speaker 1 (01:06:07):
Is what about any of The celtics guys if they became,
Available like a reunion With Derek white or Even John.

Speaker 2 (01:06:12):
Brown brown would be, interesting but he Just i'm worried
about the, contract And i'm, like he looked he did
not look great this. Year he really. Didn't like if
he has a bounce back here and he returns to
like the version he was two years, ago.

Speaker 1 (01:06:28):
You definitely want to, see like what his knee is
looking like because he was battling through that.

Speaker 3 (01:06:31):
The entire season or most of it seems like.

Speaker 2 (01:06:33):
So based on that right, Now, NO i mean, AGAIN
i would need some level of. Insurances who's, available that's
that you.

Speaker 1 (01:06:44):
HAVE i was honestly thinking like a middle ground. Type
this doesn't cost you, anything AND i actually think that
he would make their team a lot more. Dynamic they're
a Good Cam johnson.

Speaker 2 (01:06:54):
Team m. M, yeah that's a good floor spacing. Element.
ABSOLUTELY i think even even on its, own you also
have to, wonder, like what is the plan With Jeremy
sohan right? Now BECAUSE i probably would see.

Speaker 3 (01:07:07):
That's Eligible jeremy So, han yes past, Right.

Speaker 2 (01:07:10):
Yeah oh it did because right, now even THOUGH i
think So han projects as the better all around player moving,
Forward Cam johnson just solves such a big need that
they have right off the. Bat where if he were
to make that roster like traded onto that, ROSTER i
could not see her and say That Jeremy sohn should
be playing over. Him that would be a very hard.

(01:07:32):
Sell so, like, yes they need to bridge the gap
between talent and, fit and it's always like it's tough
situation to get into before they made it this far
in the, lottery and before they also traded For Darren.
FOX i was big on them going after guess, Who Kobe,
White that was one of those guys WHO i was looking.
For not at the carts.

Speaker 1 (01:07:53):
Anymore what about we just talked about him. Previously if
he maybe he says no to the Extension Jaron Jackson.

Speaker 2 (01:08:02):
Junior, Defensively, yeah ridiculous, Upside but, again like These spurs
have championship aspirations in the near future because of the
presence Of. Wemby DO i trust a guy who's historically
been very poor in the? Playoffs maybe under the right.

(01:08:24):
Circumstances are these the right? CIRCUMSTANCES i don't. Know he
would definitely give them floor spacing as, well which they sorely.
Need so, Like i'm not saying he doesn't solve two needs,
honestly but will that carry over into the postseason is
WHAT i kind of need to know a little.

Speaker 1 (01:08:39):
Bit what If denver's just in the business of cutting
costs at this, point and so The spurs have Those
Harrison barnes And Kelden johnson expiring, contracts you could send
one to The nets or maybe another team as a
large enough trade, exception and those are players that are.
Useful do you take a fly because this would cost
YOU i would think minimal in just terms of assets and.

Speaker 3 (01:08:57):
Equity would you take a flyer On Michael porters or?

Speaker 2 (01:09:01):
So skills? WISE i would probably take a flyer on.
Him here's my bigger. Issue does he fit into that locker?
Room from a personality? PERSPECTIVE i think a guy like him.

Speaker 3 (01:09:13):
Where political the coach, anymore but he is the, part right.

Speaker 2 (01:09:19):
You, know the political. Debates look that that might be
a place WHERE mpj can go to be, rehabilitated so
that that's a good thing.

Speaker 3 (01:09:26):
Radical in the scientific. Way.

Speaker 2 (01:09:28):
Yeah. Right that, SAID I i think he's he's got
tendencies that would frustrate the everlasting fuck out of Bick.
THAT i do. THINK i think because if you notice one,
thing it's that While wempy is an extraordinary, teammate he
also demands a ton out of his. GUYS mpj has

(01:09:51):
become a little bit of a poster boy in terms
of a guy who probably could do more than what
he does and just doesn't do, it and he too
inconsistent and just occasionally just runs around and does. NOTHING
i think that would be an, issue especially at that price.
POINT i, mean hell you could Probably i'd probably Take

(01:10:13):
Cam johnson OVER mpg in that specific, circumstance and fairly easily.
So and that's paying like what half the, salary well
not half close to.

Speaker 1 (01:10:23):
It it's CALLED i mean like And Cam johnson's. Declining,
yeah SO i don't Like Larry marketen for this team
anymore with his price. POINT i did find him interesting
before him and him And vic together would be.

Speaker 2 (01:10:35):
Would be fun.

Speaker 3 (01:10:36):
Madness, yeah what ABOUT.

Speaker 1 (01:10:38):
I mean you just mentioned shoul this team investigators trade
Value Trey murphy In San.

Speaker 2 (01:10:42):
Antonio, Yes Trey murphy is a big one WHO i
think could be a major key moving. Forward so he's
he's sort of in that same salary bracket As Devin
masel AND i Think miselle was a little overwhelmed this.
Year he's he's had better. Season he was not good to.
Year BUT i do think there's a better shooter in

(01:11:02):
him than what we. Saw is that better floor Spacing
if you actually Retain vassel and you GET i don't
know who you sent. Out that's that's the big, question,
Right like it probably has to Be Kelton johnson and.
Stuff and then what.

Speaker 3 (01:11:18):
The barnes as, Well, like, yeah it would.

Speaker 1 (01:11:20):
BE i, mean If New orleans is Trading Trey, MURPHY
i think that they're in the picks and prospects business.

Speaker 2 (01:11:25):
Exactly so that's probably a landing spot For jeremy So
hanna as. Well but like, so so let's assume it's
What Jiaron, Fox Devin, Vassel Trey murphy at the three
of the four THAT i don't even Care and, yeah
four maybe because then you Have Julian champagne at the
three for spacing, purposes that something becomes. Interesting now you

(01:11:47):
Have wempy And fox with optimized well maybe not, optimized
but really good spacing around, them and himself is a floor.

Speaker 1 (01:11:55):
Spacer this Is i'm, Again i'm just throwing. Stuff i'm
just what's that you made fun of? Me called it
The fox newsification Of Dan it, Was i'm just asking
questions more the number two pick For Trey murphy and
the number seven pick who, says.

Speaker 3 (01:12:09):
No.

Speaker 2 (01:12:10):
That's a really good one that could send.

Speaker 3 (01:12:12):
So hand To New orleans as, Well AND i mean
there'll have to be other money.

Speaker 2 (01:12:16):
Involved but so, LOOK i am especially high on On Dylan,
harper probably more so than consensus So i'm inclined to say,
no BUT i fully. Concede that's that's and and that's
a conversation like that is not something you you hang
up the phone. For that is where you sit down

(01:12:36):
and you probably actually take a meeting face to face
and you hash it out and figure out a way
that makes. Sense that's that's a really good starting.

Speaker 1 (01:12:43):
Point any other names that we, should, oh you know
WHO i would? Love and, again MAYBE i shouldn't put
it past this. FRANCHISE i have no idea what they're,
doing and we'll eventually talk about. THEM i might even
like this player's fit more Than murphy can do a
lot of.

Speaker 2 (01:12:58):
You you're gonna say the, metal aren't? You?

Speaker 1 (01:13:01):
NO i like Mel ball, everywhere though we know. THAT
i was gonna SAY i might like him better Than Trey.
Murphy But Trey murphy's got some more that we've seen
On Ball Juice Kegan, Murray.

Speaker 2 (01:13:11):
Yeah i've had that thought a. Lot so here's my. Issue.
Keegan as much AS i love the rebounding improvements and
the defensive, PROVEMENTS i need to see more out of
him offensively, speaking he was built of this guy who'd
come in an average. Twenty i'm not that's an our portraying,
number but like be a high volume offensive, score not

(01:13:32):
someone who could just, shoot but do moren with the
ball in his. Hands he goes through these major MAJOR
i don't want to say, slums but he goes through
like periods where his confidence just drops and you can
often tie together just with him not making. Shots that
to me is a pretty big red flag now Where

(01:13:55):
i'm worried about that moving, Forward.

Speaker 3 (01:13:59):
I'm not as.

Speaker 1 (01:14:00):
WORRIED i think that the ecosystem In sacramento has been
one overturn too often and two was never conducive to
like putting him and just look at how many different
ball handlers they brought in and then they kind of
there's a roster turn there this past. Season BUT i
think that's, Fair like there's been some inconsistency even and
he's been asked to, play to be, fair a pretty
streamlined role and the fact that you're coming out of

(01:14:22):
it wondering why isn't he more of even a dead eye, shooter.

Speaker 3 (01:14:25):
Or why isn't even more? CONSISTENT i think that's totally.

Speaker 2 (01:14:27):
FAIR i do have a name for, you, Though. Towns
it's not it's someone who is a who's basically breaking,
out and but he hasn't broken out to an extent
where he's where he's like Untouchable Danny. AFTUBA i don't

(01:14:52):
like not giving up the second overall, pick, Obviously, NO
i JUST.

Speaker 1 (01:14:57):
I know he shot the ball well this year and
there's a lot OF iq there, Then but like you
need to Surround vick with more dead eye, shooting and
that's JUST i Don't that doesn't necessarily bring you further
away from doing, that BUT i feel like it's more
so you might actually lose floors basing as part of that.
Trade If Harrison barnes is part of the outgoing. Money
denny obvious is a better, player better on the. Ball

(01:15:19):
but if you're gonna Have fox because you're not Trading
castle or the number two pick in this scenario, either
which might be part of the, Appeal but, goddamn just
put some more shooting Around Victor wenbiyama.

Speaker 2 (01:15:29):
PAT i hear, THAT i totally. DO i was thinking
him in the short role with With wemby like in
The Dunker spot would be that'd be.

Speaker 3 (01:15:39):
FUN i would be opposed to.

Speaker 1 (01:15:42):
It that's JUST i don't know If i'm. ALLOCATE i
don't know how much asset allocation For San. Antonio If
Daron fox wasn't there, ALREADY i might feel differently or
step if one of these things didn't happen that they
Had Steph castle the number two pick In Daron, fox,
which by the, way that is my. Question, YEAH i
don't know WHY i have it written AS i do on,
Screen but if they keep the number two, pick Can Dylan,

(01:16:03):
Harper Darn, fox And Steph castle all call exist in
the same.

Speaker 2 (01:16:05):
Rotation so here's here's the TAKE i. HAVE i Think
Stefan castle right now is you know he we've all
talked about him, as, oh the point guard of the
future before they traded For Daron. FOX i don't think
he's necessarily a point. GUARD i don't think he's necessarily
a two. GUARD i don't think he's exclusively a. WING

(01:16:26):
i think he's one of those very positionless. Players you,
know not gonna Say Jalen, williams Because jalen has a
shooting touch That castle obviously does not. Have but the
positional fluidity and the ability to also defend up, POSITIONS
i THINK i think those are. Real so like if

(01:16:47):
you get a very good shooter in at one of
the guard, spots for, example and you Have Daren fox
at the. One could you survive With Stefan castle at
the three as long as show as will make sure
that the foreman is a floor. Spacer i'm not SAYING
i love, it BUT i think there's some upside. There

(01:17:07):
at the very, Least Stefan castle has so much positional
fluidity that you can sort of like put him into
the right situations at.

Speaker 1 (01:17:17):
WILL i could see him being offensively more of a
Supercharge Bruce brown. Type you can have him step, screens
make some plays out of the short hole, himself especially
within that. Ecosystem WHAT i would be worried about is
that Having, Fox harper And, castle it feels like it
would inhibit any one of, them Including, fox who's more
of an established, player just from hitting their peak or

(01:17:40):
the best version of themselves in the. Spurs there just
feels like there's too much redundancy in both strengths and.

Speaker 3 (01:17:46):
Weaknesses for that.

Speaker 2 (01:17:47):
MATTER i don't think you're. WRONG i think it's a real.
Question that's Why i'm like thinking out of the box
and basically trying to Turn castle, into you, know not
necessarily a guard BECAUSE i do think he can play off,
ball not necessarily as a, spacer but in terms of his,
cutting the way he just moves, around like he doesn't
stand still all the. TIME i think there's something, There but,

(01:18:09):
like you're, right the spacing concerns are. Real like this
is WHY i didn't like when the initial rumors came
out About Daron fox And San. Antonio you know a
lot of people were, like, oh this is a great,
fit like they jumped on the train. IMMEDIATELY i was
a little bit more. Skeptical i'm still not like in
fully love with the. FIT i think what they got

(01:18:30):
him for was. Tremendous that was tremendous work from The.
Spurs But i'm not married to the Wempy Darren fox
pairing long. Term so if suddenly something pops, UP i
know that would be very hard For, fox who actively
wanted to be. There but if something came up where
they could optimize their floor spacing capabilities and streamline that

(01:18:51):
roster a little bit, more and that would cost Them,
Fox i'm not saying, no, man he.

Speaker 3 (01:19:01):
Forces his way To San, antonio then they flip. Him
that would be, Cool AND.

Speaker 2 (01:19:05):
I don't think because it doesn't seem like that's an
organization that they want to. Be but, LIKE i don't
think they realize that they win the second frickin' pick
in the draft, Either so now they're looking at a
situation where, okay things suddenly. Changed like, again to reiterate,
Myself i'm a Big Dylan harper, guy REALLY i. AM
i think there's a lot of upside in him and

(01:19:25):
wouldn't be moving. Forward so If fox becomes a sacrificial lamb,
there but you also feel in need in moving, HIM
i don't hate, THAT i, don't but you don't have
to move him. NOW i don't think you're in any.
Rush you can still have a good season where he
just plays balls out and then maybe you look at
it at the trade dead line or. Whatever like he's

(01:19:48):
an unrestricted free agent in twenty twenty, six so that
complicate matters. Slightly but, Yeah i'm not married to that
fit at.

Speaker 3 (01:19:55):
All this isn't number two pick.

Speaker 1 (01:19:57):
Material should they be a nas red, team like it's
some sort of sign in. TRADE i don't think he's
gonna take the non tax payer mid?

Speaker 3 (01:20:03):
Level is?

Speaker 2 (01:20:03):
That? Or?

Speaker 1 (01:20:04):
No does he not give you enough of The he
has a real floor game but does it not feel
like him And wemby are kind of gurthy, enough let's
say on the front.

Speaker 2 (01:20:13):
Line let's just put it that. Way if we're looking
for a guy who's going to play a lot of
power forward and who needs to shoot the, Ball i'm
looking At Tredy murphy, instead as opposed To.

Speaker 1 (01:20:27):
Oscreen, WELL i think the difference there is one is
Trade murphy? Available and two how much is it costing
you to get?

Speaker 3 (01:20:32):
Him?

Speaker 2 (01:20:32):
Right And i'm not in a, okay let me put this.
Away i'm going to rephrase. It i'm not in a
rush to go find like a four or five. MAN
i am way more in a rush to go find
a legit. Wing and IF i didn't have spacing, issues
by the, Way, dan IF i didn't have spacing issues
as an, organization right, Now i'm calling Up houston And

(01:20:53):
i'm saying number two For Amen, thompson what do you
think can we build a package off of?

Speaker 3 (01:21:00):
THAT i think they would immediately say.

Speaker 2 (01:21:02):
No, Correct and that's why you add the twenty seven
hawks pick unprotected as.

Speaker 3 (01:21:06):
WELL i think they still say, no.

Speaker 2 (01:21:08):
Probably but like at the very least you make that call,
again if if you had spacing around them that that
is the number one need with a bullet that is,
spacing but it shouldn't be for every, cost you know
WHAT i? Mean like, this this team still need to
optimize the talent level to get.

Speaker 1 (01:21:28):
In do you think they end up doing something that's
considered Splashy i'm talking not like Nas reed would be,
interesting but not at that level something.

Speaker 2 (01:21:38):
HIGHER i THINK i think they've already had their. SPLASH
i Think Jaron fox was their.

Speaker 3 (01:21:43):
Splash, well you, said well they make a big. Play
that was your. Question So i'm asking.

Speaker 2 (01:21:47):
Yea SO i, well that's the THING i would. Be
my question to that is or. Sorry my answer to that,
Is i'm inclined to say no when it comes to
like a, major major. Shakeup it's like if it comes
out That giannis does actively ask, out that changes the. Equation.

Speaker 1 (01:22:07):
YEP i THINK i would have been more on board
with the idea, of, oh The spurs will do this
if we had seen more reps of D Iron fox
And wenby together and we just we. Didn't so and
that's just like sort of a big thing looming over
all this is how do you make such a wholesale
call without having a concrete idea of what's already in,

(01:22:30):
place and SO i think that they would.

Speaker 3 (01:22:32):
IF i Had i'll frame it this.

Speaker 1 (01:22:33):
WAY i think they would max out at like we
traded For Cam, johnson we traded for nasr sign and
traded For nasried or something that feels like Maybe Trey
murphy would be like the absolute apex of, well that
dude's just gonna fix, it like fit.

Speaker 3 (01:22:48):
Anywhere it makes so much.

Speaker 1 (01:22:49):
Sense but in terms of like a ton of, consolidation
or not even a, ton but like moving the number two,
PICK i guess for a player that would cost. You
if for a player that would cost, you we Have
castle or the number two. PICK i would be pretty
shocked if The spurs end up doing anything like.

Speaker 2 (01:23:05):
That SO i do have one for you. Here and
it was a QUESTION i got probably a month or
so ago THAT i just completely forgot, about AND i
was reminded of it. Recently he. HASN'T i don't think
he played ever since getting traded TO Uh, toronto Brandon

(01:23:27):
ingram didn't play for him right? Now play a, game,
NO i THINK i don't think. So so they're overloaded
at the. Wingspot this is something we've talked. About they Have,
brandon they HAVE rj obviously have The Scottie. Barnes now
The spurs are in that situation where they have too many, guards,
right and it feels like there's something, there a deal
centered Around Daron fox For Brandon ingram and. Stuff could

(01:23:51):
that do? Something is that interesting for both? Parties is
there something? THERE i don't, know.

Speaker 1 (01:23:59):
HONESTLY i Think toronto then Has quickly And fox And.
Barns that's, interesting but that's a lot OF i Mean
barns And fox And. Turn i'd be, more, Honestly i'd
be more intrigued by that set up In toronto if
you're gonna Play fox And quickly together that being a
caveat THAN i am With Brandon ingram there THAT i would, Say,

(01:24:22):
YEAH i don't know IF i like that for The spurs.

Speaker 2 (01:24:24):
Though see that's the, thing, right if there's a system
Where Brendon ingram might actually realize or get, taught, hey
place your strength take more, Threes maybe that's the, place,
Right like maybe him coming to a situation where there's
a very clear cut superstar in place and he's way

(01:24:46):
more available than the superstar you played with. Before maybe
there's a sense of, okay you know what if the
superstar needs me to space the floor for, him, SHIT
i better do.

Speaker 3 (01:24:56):
SO i mean that's like.

Speaker 1 (01:25:00):
THAT i think that's one THAT i would need to
think about even after it went. DOWN i probably need
to see it to understand it or believe.

Speaker 2 (01:25:07):
It but it's we can't agree that it's a wing
that would dramatically improve upon their current wing, depth, right.

Speaker 1 (01:25:17):
YEAH i mean their best wing is like do you
even get Like barnes And johnson are both kind of not.
Wings champagne is their best, wing Like devin veself is
a little, small but maybe the answer is just.

Speaker 3 (01:25:26):
Him.

Speaker 2 (01:25:27):
YEAH i Like champagne THOUGH i know that he was
a little up and down this, season but like considering
that he was like an end of the benched. GUY
i also spoke with people within the organization who just
raves about, him like he's so, good and the THING
i keep hearing is just he doesn't seem to fully

(01:25:50):
understand how good he, is which is always, interesting like
because if he has that realization at some, point like
he's like a legit six.' eight, I've stood i've stood
next to him a couple, of times like this isn't
you know six sate in size but like six', five
from reality and he can play both the two and

(01:26:10):
the three and he get that shot off. So damn
quickly like if there's another layer to him, coming next
year maybe some of those wing. Issues sell themselves the other.

Speaker 1 (01:26:24):
Player that we didn't really kind of mention in this
sort of If, They have Fox, harper and castles What
Like does devin vessel get lost in the shuffle. Of
all this it's a good, problem TO have but i,
don't LOVE it and i think you have to try.
It TO see, LIKE i said i don't expect them
to move any of those guys that, we just outlined
but it is a real question because none of those, dudes,

(01:26:44):
are wings.

Speaker 2 (01:26:45):
Right how much of this, Whole conversation changes, by The
Way if stefan castle comes back next year and it's
like a four, Three, point shooter like does that that?
Changes like everything the Ripple Effect of stefan castle developing
into a you have three point shooter just. Basically, CHANGES everything.

Speaker 1 (01:27:03):
Yeah i mean it'd be pretty close and then you're all,
of a sudden but then still It's like the Harper
and the fox of it, All.

Speaker 2 (01:27:09):
All right but like then then you're getting into like,
the minor issues because the overarching issue here is that
you're kind of stuck with This with the castle lineups
because he's such a huge shooter as he. Is right
now if that, changes like that we're looking, at a
complete completely different like way of. Analyzing the scene.

Speaker 3 (01:27:33):
That's just doesn't that feel like such? A?

Speaker 1 (01:27:35):
Big leap though why do we ever see players that
we think are really erratic or bad shooters just all
of a sudden become league averager better shooters that one
to operate at a higher volume and two that defensive
respect enough. To cover them that would be if it
happens in, a sophomore season that would.

Speaker 2 (01:27:53):
Be so wild, It's and Look i'm NOT that's why
i mentioned it, in That vein like i'm laughing IT
off because i. Don't think so it's just it's it's
interesting to me how basically what we're really talking about
without really, talking about it the big elephant in the
room is really that the lack of Shooting, capability of

(01:28:14):
castle the fact that he's such. A poor shooter that's
where the. Issue, overarchingly lie like, because you're right catch
and shoot threes this year thirty point three percent is
that is just, not great man and like he too
was like he's he's in that coming. Into this year

(01:28:38):
he Was In that josh giddy camp last year of
how bad. Of a shooter that's. Where we. Are that's,
horrible so yeah expecting him to make a major, turnaround
shooting wise. Very much optimistic.

Speaker 3 (01:28:53):
Do you have anything else on any of these teams?
BEFORE we skidadle.

Speaker 2 (01:28:57):
I do not i think we went about it pretty
thoroughly to be. Honest with you.

Speaker 3 (01:29:02):
Can you tell our fine listeners subscribers where they can
find you and all the work, That, you, do.

Speaker 2 (01:29:07):
Yes sir you can find Me Over, at BLUE sky
where i linked to my Work, over at Yahoo, elv
at forbes and TO the podcast i DO at the
nba Podcast and My Danish.

Speaker 1 (01:29:17):
Pod bust repeater, until next time, and as always we
leave the shout out, to the, one the only the
real missing Piece For The, san Antonio Spurs Mister frank
nila keina