January 28, 2025 • 22 mins
Will the Golden St Warriors be active at the NBA trade deadline? Could we see Steph Curry ask for a trade? Will Draymond Green be traded? Golden St Warriors Beat writer Danny Emerman joins the show to talk the latest with the Warriors and what it would mean if the Warriors don't look to upgrade the roster this season
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Discover our favorite podcast gear and support the show—shop our studio must-haves on our Amazon Affiliate page! https://www.amazon.com/shop/19mediagroup
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome everybody, Gerald Brown, and welcome once again another episode
of Heavy and the Paid.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Gerald Brown here, Rick Mahon, he's on the men.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Make sure that you hit the subscribe button and we'll
get you caught up on everything associated in the NBA,
the world of sports, MLB, NFL, CFB, CBB.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Joining me right now.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
General does an outstanding job covering the Golden State Warriors,
the ins and outs all associated with them. Mister Danny
Immerman of the Bay Area News Group. Uh, Danny, I'll
start right off with the factors. Is that you look
at this recent road trip that the Golden State Warriors
went on. Uh, what is been kind of the feeling
(01:01):
and with the coaching staff and around the team. After
come some wins and really some bad losses.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
If you look at that Toronto loss if you will, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
The Toronto loss in particular was really deflating for the
players and coaches. It was about as dire as I've
seen it this year. Generally, even through the ups and downs,
things have been pretty positive in the locker room behind
the scenes this year. The Toronto game was a pretty
pretty brutal loss, though you know, it was a game
they should have won. They were up in the fourth quarter.
(01:33):
They're playing a team that had eight wins at the time,
and you know, the Toronto's starting to play a little
bit better. They just beat Boston the other day, but
that was a game that they circled as one that
they had to get. It was nice to see them
bounce back in Minnesota a couple of nights later. And
for as Diers things felt in Toronto, they were really
thrilled with that loss, with that win. Sorry, And if
(01:57):
you watch ESPN or we're on social media at all
this past week, those two games, you kind of saw
them pop off a little bit. You saw Draymond's comments
about not mortgaging the future. Stephan Steve talked after both
those games about pretty high level, big picture stuff with
the direction of the franchise, the end of a dynasty.
(02:19):
So this is this past week. This road trip was
certainly an inflection point in the season, and it's it's
one that I'll remember for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, Dan, when you look at the seam and right now,
you know they're about five hundred and you know the.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Coin this road trip we alluded to, and then they
come back home.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
You know, they got some games against you know, they
got the World Champs coming in on Monday. But then
after that, you know, they play a hot Sacramento Kings team,
and then they have the Bulls, Lakers, Utah and hot
Oklahoma City, followed by Phoenix, Orlando and Utah. Are we
starting to see the inevitable, which is the transition of
(02:59):
that champion and ship caliber team into a team that
is starting the rebuilding process.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
We've started to see a transition in these past few years,
but it's not necessarily one from a championship team to
a rebuilding one. It's one from a championship team to
a mediocre one. And as you know, like in the NBA,
it's where you don't want to be. You don't want
to be in the middle. You're going to be drafting
sixteen through twenty. You're going to be in the playing round.
(03:31):
And that's where this team has been for the past
couple of years. They're playing five hundred ball again. It
seems like another trade deadline is going to come and
go without any major reinforcements as far as I can tell.
That could always change, but this has been kind of
the line, the company line for them. They have this
roster flexibility that they want to use at the deadline,
(03:53):
and then the deadline comes and they don't find any deals.
Let's say, hey, we'll have a lot of flexibility in
the summer, and then nothing really happens and they have
a lot of optionality, and then you know, they kind
of like their young guys again, So they're in the
middle place. They're between eras. And the biggest concerning thing
(04:14):
for me is that the next era, the Jonathan Kaminga,
the Brandon Pajemski, Trace Jackson, Davis young core, they haven't
really proven much at all just in terms of being
winning players, being impactful on a night to night basis,
and they're all still young, and then they can change that.
But if we're talking about passing the baton, that's just
(04:38):
not really an option at this moment.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, when you look at this team and you know
some of the moves that kind of you know, will
elude and let you know the direction that the franchise
might be going, you know, it was kind of a
head scratcher not to re sign or even try to
sign and come to an agreement with Johnathan Kaminga. But
yet they re on Marcus most moody and stuff. And
(05:03):
when having Moody. It's always the inevitable thinking that Kamingo
was going to be a young player that they were
going to move. When you look at the dynamic now
of Kamingo, what has been kind of his feeling around
this team. Is he kind of in a sense thinking
that his time might be very limited with the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I don't think so, and I think he'll be a
player who stays on the team after this deadline. I
think he'll be a Warrior for the rest of the year,
at the very least. In terms of his contract negotiations,
the two sides this summer weren't super close to coming
to an agreement. From my understanding, Minga and his camp
were not hard line at a maximum contract like some
(05:47):
of his draft class contemporaries got. But I think the
Warriors had in mind that they could maybe get him
on a bit of a bargain. The Kaminga camp was
not into that. I think they were pretty far apart
maybe ten million ish on an annual basis, apart on
a deal, and the Warriors wanted to see what he
could do this season before deciding, Hey, are we going
(06:09):
to actually pay this guy thirty forty million dollars a year,
and before his current, you know, significant ankle sprain, he
was turning a corner. He was playing the best basketball
of his career, back to back thirty four point games,
was much more forceful on defense. He was really committing
to rebounding, which is all the things that Steve Current
the coaching staff have wanted him to do all this time.
(06:32):
They know he can score, but they want him to
do with little things, and he was starting to do that.
So his injury came at a really inopportune time. But
I think the Warriors are thrilled with the way he
was playing before that and optimistic that when he gets
back from this ankle sprain around the trade deadline, he'll
he'll continue that.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, Danny, you know, I had a friend of mine,
Bj Armstrong.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
He still is a friend of mine.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But bj said something to me which really really has
resonated with me. He said, and obviously he was the
agent at one time for Draymond Green, and really, uh,
you know, having a part of you know, being a
part of that Warriors dynasty. He says, championship dynasties don't end, well,
they don't.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
And I was like, no, you got to be wrong,
and he said, you think.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
About it, well, obviously with the Lakers deciding to move
on from Shack, you know, the Celtics and.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Stuff like that, with Bird and those guys.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Getting older, the Bulls, you know, deciding to break up
their their their team, and you're looking at this dynasty
right now, the Golden State Warriors. I thought it would
have started in terms of obviously when Klay Thompson was
was let you know, obviously decide to sign elsewhere. How
how difficult is this with the fan base in terms.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Of the reality that you know they're.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Gonna perhaps either you know that that time has coming gone.
How has that process been from your perspective in terms
of this fan base embracing that, hey, we got to
restart this whole thing all over again.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Oh, the fan base is not there yet, not even close.
And I don't blame them, you know, when you still
see Steph Curry playing the way he is, I completely
understand fans wanting them to go all in on right now.
And I think there's a compelling argument that they should
do everything they can to maximize this year, next year,
(08:35):
maybe the year after, like Steph's last two or three seasons.
Either in this league or at this level, and put
as many good players around him as they can. The
fans are very much, very frustrated that the Warriors haven't
been able to do that, and that they are intent
on holding on to their future assets, whether it be
(08:58):
coaminga or some of their future first picks. It's also
just easier as a fan to say, hey, we got
to go get this guy or that guy, and who
cares what we give up. The fans aren't always privy
to as much information as the team is, as Steph
Curry is. You know, these other teams who these fans
(09:20):
want to take their stars from them. They don't always
want to trade their stars. They don't always want to
deal with the Warriors. They don't always like what the
Warriors have to offer. There's a lot of factors out there,
but now the fans are definitely not, you know, content
with fading into the distance. They don't really want a
farewell tour. It doesn't seem like and nor should they like.
(09:44):
Steph is still averaging twenty four game, you know, shooting
fifty percent. He's playing awesome and he deserves to make
another run at it if the Warriors can get their
stuff together and put you know, an actual team around him.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, I will say that whenever that day comes, I think,
you know, the ownership group of the Golden State Warriors
should really be embraced and and and acknowledged for all
the great things they did. Look, they've gone in the
luxury test tell yeah every year, and they have really
(10:20):
really put the sort of monies into this.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
But inevitably the end it's going to come.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And yet when you saw Bob Myers lead, that was
kind of an indication that, hey, this run might be over.
Draymond Green is obviously that other lynch pin that's around.
If we get to a point, this trade that line
and you look at the limited moves that are made.
I mean, could you know, you hear the name of
(10:48):
Nikoli Bucevich perhaps.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Being you know, a guy that sought after.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
But if they have minimal moves this trade that line that,
what will that tell us in your.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Opinion about the team. And really, you know, what should
the message be for fans?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I think the message for fans and internally if they
don't make very many moves of the deadline would be, hey,
you know, look at the Western Conference, We're four games
back of the four seed. You know, everyone's bunched up,
and all it takes is an eight and two stretch
and we're right back in it. And I buy that,
you know, to some degree. They started the season twelve
(11:30):
and three, so you know they have something like that
in them. I'm just skeptical with the way they've played
the past month and a half eight weeks that they
could actually put together a stretch like that. But yeah,
if they don't do anything this deadline, I think it's
you know, encouraging the internal players on the team and saying, hey,
(11:52):
you guys, we believe in you, get you guys can
go do this. One move that I do think is possible.
I'm not reporting this, but I do think it's possible
that if at the deadline they decide to dip under
the luxury tax this year, they could trade away one
of their veterans. That would be a.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Sign and Ramon not Draymond.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I think they're about I think there's five or six
million over the luxury tax right now, So if they
got rid of a contract like a Gary Payton or
Kyle Anderson, they would probably have to attach draft capital
to either, but they could dip under the luxury tax,
and to me, that would signal that, hey, like ownership
has paid the luxury tax a lot this century this run,
(12:37):
they don't really want to do it again for a
team that they don't think can win the championship. And
that would be reasonable. Most most teams operate that way.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Yeah, I mean, look, let's let's be honest.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
And you know, Danny, I just looked at the way
that this has been played out, and you know that
the All Star Game is in the Bay Areas, you know,
the Warriors, and Steph Curry's you know, obviously he's going
to be the you know, the host of the of
the All Star Game. And I can only think of
perhaps maybe when the Orlando Magic, you know, they had
(13:09):
it in Florida, and obviously in Orlando and Dwight Howard
got traded right before that that that All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It wasn't a good feeling. But when you look at.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
The way this thing goes out, and I tell you
this this the TV's are there, how surprised would you
be if Steph Curry quietly behind the scenes, Allah Kevin Garnett.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Went to management after.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
This season is over and say, hey, you know what,
I really would like to play for another championship somewhere again,
where again we can help out both each other. How
surprised would you be if that was just something stressed
by because he said some interesting things when he resigned.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
He signed the extension and and and one play.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
At that lead level, which he's still playing coming off
the bigs, and yet the surrounding parts are not there
and they can't afford to continue just to pay the
you know, the luxury tax and the aprons and goal
over them. How surprised would you be if quietly Steph
Curry said in the offseason he asked for a trade.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I would be very surprised if Steph Curry asked for
a trade. I would be less surprised if he didn't
sign that contract extension, because this is something that has
been going on for years since the twenty twenty two title,
just in terms of them being in the middle, them
being unable to bring in a second star. He knew
all of that going into the season when he decided
(14:41):
to ink that deal. So to me, that represents trust
in the front office to actually get something done. It's
an example of him valuing being with one franchise for
his entire career. I do think that matters to him
a lot. I think last year in Dallas they were
playing a game against the Mavericks and noticed, you know,
Dirk and how he was treated and how he was
(15:03):
sitting courtside and at you know, he's treated like royalty
over there, and he spent his whole career with Dallas.
I think that is something that appeals to him. So
I would be very surprised that. Being said, you know,
crazy things happen in this league. And you know, if
Seth's number one priority is to win a fifth championship,
(15:25):
which is something he definitely wants to do. He wants
to match Kobe Bryant and some of those other guys
with five titles. If that's his number one priority, the
easiest way to do that probably wouldn't be in Golden State.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, think about it. Oklahoma City is only going
to get better and better. Houston is a team that's
gonna come up. You look at the sort of shift,
and I mean, if you look at a situation where
I had already mapped it out, I said, look, the
Orlando Magic have been looking for perimeter shooting. If you
are able to swing a deal and they have a
(15:59):
lot of young talent, a lot of talent.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
They have really drafted very well.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You are able to move to Steph Curry and get
young chalent. Now it's a win win situation for both parties.
But when you think about Steph Curry obviously Draymond Green,
is it kind of in a sense that there those
two guys are tied at the him that as long
as Steph Curry stays and at what the warror is
that Draymond would also as well.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Think about all of the times in the past ten years,
maybe even especially in the past two to three years,
where the Warriors kind of had to make a decision
on Draymond one way or another, and they've always stuck
with him, through suspensions, through punching a teammate, through on
(16:51):
court behavioral issues, They've always stuck with him. I think
that says a lot about what Steph Curry values and
what Steph Curry thinks about Draymond Green. The Warriors don't
make decisions like that without talking to Steph. So I
think that connection is pretty ironclad. And yeah, I would
(17:12):
consider them, you know, attached, and Draymond similarly like Steph
you know, values being on one team isn't Tiger. He
had a chance to leave. He almost went to Memphis
as a free agent, but he decided to stay. And
I would be surprised to see Draymond in another uniform
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, last one before I'll let you get on Adia, Danny.
When you look at us Steve Kerr and obviously this
is right around the anniversary of the passing of the
assistant coach was so beloved by that Warriors team and
just hearing obviously Steve Kerr reflection on the coach and stuff.
(17:53):
Do you get a sense in terms of the energy
and stuff from Steve Kerr that obviously if they go
in a different direction, And that's why I said there's
so much to be told about this season in terms of,
you know, with Steph what they do with trade dead line?
Could you foresee how much you know, what is the
vibe and stuff that you get from Steve Kerr and
(18:15):
is it still something that again you could perhaps maybe
see him also hanging around as they sort of transition
differently from that sort of championship.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Try to rebuild again.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah. I think Steve has talked about this publicly in
terms of him his desire to coach and how long
he wants to coach. I would be surprised if Steve
coached much longer after Steph and Draymond are done. Steve's
had a fantastic career as a player, as an announcer,
as an executive, as a four time champion, as a
(18:53):
head coach. He doesn't have anything to prove, but he
does love Steph Curry, he loves Draymond Green. I imagine
after they're gone. I think what would probably be a
time where he would probably reassess things in his career,
in his life. But that is three, four, five years
down the road at this point and Steve. I think
(19:15):
Steve is the second longest tenured coach in the league.
Is that right? Maybe spos might be longer than.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
In Yeah, yeah, spost I believe is well Popovich. I
think pop would be popped, then spostra uh and then
curb Yeah, Curve would be right behind him, last one
before he let's get on out of here. When you
look at the Warriors and stuff and play a game
of what if? What if James Wiseman would have developed
(19:44):
into this?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Obviously the lottery pick and stuff?
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Where do you think the Warriors would be right now,
What would the conversation be like if James Wiseman had
developed into the lottery pick and obviously the expectation.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
That was attached to him.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I don't even think they needed him to develop into
what they thought he could be. I think even if
he just stayed healthy and was like an average player,
everything would be different. You know, he obviously didn't pan out,
you know, for a lot of different reasons, and it
wasn't pretty even before the injuries. You know, he had
(20:21):
some struggles on the court. But if he watches like
rookie year highlights when the team was really bad and
he was getting a lot of opportunities, you could see flashes.
You know, he was hitting threes and blocking people at
the rim, running the floor, finishing Like if he could
do those things like those tools would carry the day.
And he's kind of exactly what they need. They've never
(20:43):
had a stretch five who's six eleven seven feet tall
who would open things up for steph, open things up
for a guy like cominga to slash. I think things
would be very different if if James Wiseman had stayed
healthy and panned out, there would be some interesting like
domino effects of that in terms of like roster building.
(21:03):
But yeah, I mean they had really high hopes of
James Wiseman in twenty twenty, and you know, every team
has misses, but he was supposed to be the lynchpin
of the second timeline, right. He was kind of the
impetus for the infamous two timeline plan because they had
this championship dynasty team and the rare opportunity to pick
(21:26):
second in an NBA draft and have these young players
headlined by the number two pick in the draft, come
in and usher in a new era as the old
guard fades out. And that just hasn't panned out at all.
And they won the twenty two twenty twenty two title
while they were technically trying to do that, but none
(21:46):
of the young guys really contributed much at all in
that title run. They kind of won that championship in
spite of a two timeline plan and ran with it
as if it was a huge part of it. I
think that was a big mistake.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Yeah, Danny Listen Man really really appreciate your time as always.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Man, definitely look forward to doing this again.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
All the best, enjoy the rest, enjoy this weekend, and
really appreciate you giving tremendous insight on the Golden State
Warriors and this season and the run that they're on
and hopefully seeing how it all pans out.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Thanks cherld, I appreciate it. And next time we'll have
to do it with Rick too.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Yes, yes, yes, once Rick is Rick is on the man,
definitely gonna make sure we make that happen.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
All right, All the best to you and Rick.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Thanks, Okay, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Danny Emmigrant all the Barrier News Group joining me here
and heavy into pay
Welcome everybody, Gerald Brown, and welcome once again another episode
of Heavy and the Paid.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Gerald Brown here, Rick Mahon, he's on the men.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Make sure that you hit the subscribe button and we'll
get you caught up on everything associated in the NBA,
the world of sports, MLB, NFL, CFB, CBB.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Joining me right now.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
General does an outstanding job covering the Golden State Warriors,
the ins and outs all associated with them. Mister Danny
Immerman of the Bay Area News Group. Uh, Danny, I'll
start right off with the factors. Is that you look
at this recent road trip that the Golden State Warriors
went on. Uh, what is been kind of the feeling
(01:01):
and with the coaching staff and around the team. After
come some wins and really some bad losses.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
If you look at that Toronto loss if you will, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
The Toronto loss in particular was really deflating for the
players and coaches. It was about as dire as I've
seen it this year. Generally, even through the ups and downs,
things have been pretty positive in the locker room behind
the scenes this year. The Toronto game was a pretty
pretty brutal loss, though you know, it was a game
they should have won. They were up in the fourth quarter.
(01:33):
They're playing a team that had eight wins at the time,
and you know, the Toronto's starting to play a little
bit better. They just beat Boston the other day, but
that was a game that they circled as one that
they had to get. It was nice to see them
bounce back in Minnesota a couple of nights later. And
for as Diers things felt in Toronto, they were really
thrilled with that loss, with that win. Sorry, And if
(01:57):
you watch ESPN or we're on social media at all
this past week, those two games, you kind of saw
them pop off a little bit. You saw Draymond's comments
about not mortgaging the future. Stephan Steve talked after both
those games about pretty high level, big picture stuff with
the direction of the franchise, the end of a dynasty.
(02:19):
So this is this past week. This road trip was
certainly an inflection point in the season, and it's it's
one that I'll remember for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, Dan, when you look at the seam and right now,
you know they're about five hundred and you know the.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Coin this road trip we alluded to, and then they
come back home.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
You know, they got some games against you know, they
got the World Champs coming in on Monday. But then
after that, you know, they play a hot Sacramento Kings team,
and then they have the Bulls, Lakers, Utah and hot
Oklahoma City, followed by Phoenix, Orlando and Utah. Are we
starting to see the inevitable, which is the transition of
(02:59):
that champion and ship caliber team into a team that
is starting the rebuilding process.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
We've started to see a transition in these past few years,
but it's not necessarily one from a championship team to
a rebuilding one. It's one from a championship team to
a mediocre one. And as you know, like in the NBA,
it's where you don't want to be. You don't want
to be in the middle. You're going to be drafting
sixteen through twenty. You're going to be in the playing round.
(03:31):
And that's where this team has been for the past
couple of years. They're playing five hundred ball again. It
seems like another trade deadline is going to come and
go without any major reinforcements as far as I can tell.
That could always change, but this has been kind of
the line, the company line for them. They have this
roster flexibility that they want to use at the deadline,
(03:53):
and then the deadline comes and they don't find any deals.
Let's say, hey, we'll have a lot of flexibility in
the summer, and then nothing really happens and they have
a lot of optionality, and then you know, they kind
of like their young guys again, So they're in the
middle place. They're between eras. And the biggest concerning thing
(04:14):
for me is that the next era, the Jonathan Kaminga,
the Brandon Pajemski, Trace Jackson, Davis young core, they haven't
really proven much at all just in terms of being
winning players, being impactful on a night to night basis,
and they're all still young, and then they can change that.
But if we're talking about passing the baton, that's just
(04:38):
not really an option at this moment.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, when you look at this team and you know
some of the moves that kind of you know, will
elude and let you know the direction that the franchise
might be going, you know, it was kind of a
head scratcher not to re sign or even try to
sign and come to an agreement with Johnathan Kaminga. But
yet they re on Marcus most moody and stuff. And
(05:03):
when having Moody. It's always the inevitable thinking that Kamingo
was going to be a young player that they were
going to move. When you look at the dynamic now
of Kamingo, what has been kind of his feeling around
this team. Is he kind of in a sense thinking
that his time might be very limited with the Warriors.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I don't think so, and I think he'll be a
player who stays on the team after this deadline. I
think he'll be a Warrior for the rest of the year,
at the very least. In terms of his contract negotiations,
the two sides this summer weren't super close to coming
to an agreement. From my understanding, Minga and his camp
were not hard line at a maximum contract like some
(05:47):
of his draft class contemporaries got. But I think the
Warriors had in mind that they could maybe get him
on a bit of a bargain. The Kaminga camp was
not into that. I think they were pretty far apart
maybe ten million ish on an annual basis, apart on
a deal, and the Warriors wanted to see what he
could do this season before deciding, Hey, are we going
(06:09):
to actually pay this guy thirty forty million dollars a year,
and before his current, you know, significant ankle sprain, he
was turning a corner. He was playing the best basketball
of his career, back to back thirty four point games,
was much more forceful on defense. He was really committing
to rebounding, which is all the things that Steve Current
the coaching staff have wanted him to do all this time.
(06:32):
They know he can score, but they want him to
do with little things, and he was starting to do that.
So his injury came at a really inopportune time. But
I think the Warriors are thrilled with the way he
was playing before that and optimistic that when he gets
back from this ankle sprain around the trade deadline, he'll
he'll continue that.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Yeah, Danny, you know, I had a friend of mine,
Bj Armstrong.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
He still is a friend of mine.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But bj said something to me which really really has
resonated with me. He said, and obviously he was the
agent at one time for Draymond Green, and really, uh,
you know, having a part of you know, being a
part of that Warriors dynasty. He says, championship dynasties don't end, well,
they don't.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
And I was like, no, you got to be wrong,
and he said, you think.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
About it, well, obviously with the Lakers deciding to move
on from Shack, you know, the Celtics and.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Stuff like that, with Bird and those guys.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Getting older, the Bulls, you know, deciding to break up
their their their team, and you're looking at this dynasty
right now, the Golden State Warriors. I thought it would
have started in terms of obviously when Klay Thompson was
was let you know, obviously decide to sign elsewhere. How
how difficult is this with the fan base in terms.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Of the reality that you know they're.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Gonna perhaps either you know that that time has coming gone.
How has that process been from your perspective in terms
of this fan base embracing that, hey, we got to
restart this whole thing all over again.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Oh, the fan base is not there yet, not even close.
And I don't blame them, you know, when you still
see Steph Curry playing the way he is, I completely
understand fans wanting them to go all in on right now.
And I think there's a compelling argument that they should
do everything they can to maximize this year, next year,
(08:35):
maybe the year after, like Steph's last two or three seasons.
Either in this league or at this level, and put
as many good players around him as they can. The
fans are very much, very frustrated that the Warriors haven't
been able to do that, and that they are intent
on holding on to their future assets, whether it be
(08:58):
coaminga or some of their future first picks. It's also
just easier as a fan to say, hey, we got
to go get this guy or that guy, and who
cares what we give up. The fans aren't always privy
to as much information as the team is, as Steph
Curry is. You know, these other teams who these fans
(09:20):
want to take their stars from them. They don't always
want to trade their stars. They don't always want to
deal with the Warriors. They don't always like what the
Warriors have to offer. There's a lot of factors out there,
but now the fans are definitely not, you know, content
with fading into the distance. They don't really want a
farewell tour. It doesn't seem like and nor should they like.
(09:44):
Steph is still averaging twenty four game, you know, shooting
fifty percent. He's playing awesome and he deserves to make
another run at it if the Warriors can get their
stuff together and put you know, an actual team around him.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, I will say that whenever that day comes, I think,
you know, the ownership group of the Golden State Warriors
should really be embraced and and and acknowledged for all
the great things they did. Look, they've gone in the
luxury test tell yeah every year, and they have really
(10:20):
really put the sort of monies into this.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
But inevitably the end it's going to come.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
And yet when you saw Bob Myers lead, that was
kind of an indication that, hey, this run might be over.
Draymond Green is obviously that other lynch pin that's around.
If we get to a point, this trade that line
and you look at the limited moves that are made.
I mean, could you know, you hear the name of
(10:48):
Nikoli Bucevich perhaps.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Being you know, a guy that sought after.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
But if they have minimal moves this trade that line that,
what will that tell us in your.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Opinion about the team. And really, you know, what should
the message be for fans?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
I think the message for fans and internally if they
don't make very many moves of the deadline would be, hey,
you know, look at the Western Conference, We're four games
back of the four seed. You know, everyone's bunched up,
and all it takes is an eight and two stretch
and we're right back in it. And I buy that,
you know, to some degree. They started the season twelve
(11:30):
and three, so you know they have something like that
in them. I'm just skeptical with the way they've played
the past month and a half eight weeks that they
could actually put together a stretch like that. But yeah,
if they don't do anything this deadline, I think it's
you know, encouraging the internal players on the team and saying, hey,
(11:52):
you guys, we believe in you, get you guys can
go do this. One move that I do think is possible.
I'm not reporting this, but I do think it's possible
that if at the deadline they decide to dip under
the luxury tax this year, they could trade away one
of their veterans. That would be a.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Sign and Ramon not Draymond.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I think they're about I think there's five or six
million over the luxury tax right now, So if they
got rid of a contract like a Gary Payton or
Kyle Anderson, they would probably have to attach draft capital
to either, but they could dip under the luxury tax,
and to me, that would signal that, hey, like ownership
has paid the luxury tax a lot this century this run,
(12:37):
they don't really want to do it again for a
team that they don't think can win the championship. And
that would be reasonable. Most most teams operate that way.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Yeah, I mean, look, let's let's be honest.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
And you know, Danny, I just looked at the way
that this has been played out, and you know that
the All Star Game is in the Bay Areas, you know,
the Warriors, and Steph Curry's you know, obviously he's going
to be the you know, the host of the of
the All Star Game. And I can only think of
perhaps maybe when the Orlando Magic, you know, they had
(13:09):
it in Florida, and obviously in Orlando and Dwight Howard
got traded right before that that that All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It wasn't a good feeling. But when you look at.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
The way this thing goes out, and I tell you
this this the TV's are there, how surprised would you
be if Steph Curry quietly behind the scenes, Allah Kevin Garnett.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Went to management after.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
This season is over and say, hey, you know what,
I really would like to play for another championship somewhere again,
where again we can help out both each other. How
surprised would you be if that was just something stressed
by because he said some interesting things when he resigned.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
He signed the extension and and and one play.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
At that lead level, which he's still playing coming off
the bigs, and yet the surrounding parts are not there
and they can't afford to continue just to pay the
you know, the luxury tax and the aprons and goal
over them. How surprised would you be if quietly Steph
Curry said in the offseason he asked for a trade.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
I would be very surprised if Steph Curry asked for
a trade. I would be less surprised if he didn't
sign that contract extension, because this is something that has
been going on for years since the twenty twenty two title,
just in terms of them being in the middle, them
being unable to bring in a second star. He knew
all of that going into the season when he decided
(14:41):
to ink that deal. So to me, that represents trust
in the front office to actually get something done. It's
an example of him valuing being with one franchise for
his entire career. I do think that matters to him
a lot. I think last year in Dallas they were
playing a game against the Mavericks and noticed, you know,
Dirk and how he was treated and how he was
(15:03):
sitting courtside and at you know, he's treated like royalty
over there, and he spent his whole career with Dallas.
I think that is something that appeals to him. So
I would be very surprised that. Being said, you know,
crazy things happen in this league. And you know, if
Seth's number one priority is to win a fifth championship,
(15:25):
which is something he definitely wants to do. He wants
to match Kobe Bryant and some of those other guys
with five titles. If that's his number one priority, the
easiest way to do that probably wouldn't be in Golden State.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I mean, think about it. Oklahoma City is only going
to get better and better. Houston is a team that's
gonna come up. You look at the sort of shift,
and I mean, if you look at a situation where
I had already mapped it out, I said, look, the
Orlando Magic have been looking for perimeter shooting. If you
are able to swing a deal and they have a
(15:59):
lot of young talent, a lot of talent.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
They have really drafted very well.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You are able to move to Steph Curry and get
young chalent. Now it's a win win situation for both parties.
But when you think about Steph Curry obviously Draymond Green,
is it kind of in a sense that there those
two guys are tied at the him that as long
as Steph Curry stays and at what the warror is
that Draymond would also as well.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Think about all of the times in the past ten years,
maybe even especially in the past two to three years,
where the Warriors kind of had to make a decision
on Draymond one way or another, and they've always stuck
with him, through suspensions, through punching a teammate, through on
(16:51):
court behavioral issues, They've always stuck with him. I think
that says a lot about what Steph Curry values and
what Steph Curry thinks about Draymond Green. The Warriors don't
make decisions like that without talking to Steph. So I
think that connection is pretty ironclad. And yeah, I would
(17:12):
consider them, you know, attached, and Draymond similarly like Steph
you know, values being on one team isn't Tiger. He
had a chance to leave. He almost went to Memphis
as a free agent, but he decided to stay. And
I would be surprised to see Draymond in another uniform
as well.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, last one before I'll let you get on Adia, Danny.
When you look at us Steve Kerr and obviously this
is right around the anniversary of the passing of the
assistant coach was so beloved by that Warriors team and
just hearing obviously Steve Kerr reflection on the coach and stuff.
(17:53):
Do you get a sense in terms of the energy
and stuff from Steve Kerr that obviously if they go
in a different direction, And that's why I said there's
so much to be told about this season in terms of,
you know, with Steph what they do with trade dead line?
Could you foresee how much you know, what is the
vibe and stuff that you get from Steve Kerr and
(18:15):
is it still something that again you could perhaps maybe
see him also hanging around as they sort of transition
differently from that sort of championship.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Try to rebuild again.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah. I think Steve has talked about this publicly in
terms of him his desire to coach and how long
he wants to coach. I would be surprised if Steve
coached much longer after Steph and Draymond are done. Steve's
had a fantastic career as a player, as an announcer,
as an executive, as a four time champion, as a
(18:53):
head coach. He doesn't have anything to prove, but he
does love Steph Curry, he loves Draymond Green. I imagine
after they're gone. I think what would probably be a
time where he would probably reassess things in his career,
in his life. But that is three, four, five years
down the road at this point and Steve. I think
(19:15):
Steve is the second longest tenured coach in the league.
Is that right? Maybe spos might be longer than.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
In Yeah, yeah, spost I believe is well Popovich. I
think pop would be popped, then spostra uh and then
curb Yeah, Curve would be right behind him, last one
before he let's get on out of here. When you
look at the Warriors and stuff and play a game
of what if? What if James Wiseman would have developed
(19:44):
into this?
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Obviously the lottery pick and stuff?
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Where do you think the Warriors would be right now,
What would the conversation be like if James Wiseman had
developed into the lottery pick and obviously the expectation.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
That was attached to him.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I don't even think they needed him to develop into
what they thought he could be. I think even if
he just stayed healthy and was like an average player,
everything would be different. You know, he obviously didn't pan out,
you know, for a lot of different reasons, and it
wasn't pretty even before the injuries. You know, he had
(20:21):
some struggles on the court. But if he watches like
rookie year highlights when the team was really bad and
he was getting a lot of opportunities, you could see flashes.
You know, he was hitting threes and blocking people at
the rim, running the floor, finishing Like if he could
do those things like those tools would carry the day.
And he's kind of exactly what they need. They've never
(20:43):
had a stretch five who's six eleven seven feet tall
who would open things up for steph, open things up
for a guy like cominga to slash. I think things
would be very different if if James Wiseman had stayed
healthy and panned out, there would be some interesting like
domino effects of that in terms of like roster building.
(21:03):
But yeah, I mean they had really high hopes of
James Wiseman in twenty twenty, and you know, every team
has misses, but he was supposed to be the lynchpin
of the second timeline, right. He was kind of the
impetus for the infamous two timeline plan because they had
this championship dynasty team and the rare opportunity to pick
(21:26):
second in an NBA draft and have these young players
headlined by the number two pick in the draft, come
in and usher in a new era as the old
guard fades out. And that just hasn't panned out at all.
And they won the twenty two twenty twenty two title
while they were technically trying to do that, but none
(21:46):
of the young guys really contributed much at all in
that title run. They kind of won that championship in
spite of a two timeline plan and ran with it
as if it was a huge part of it. I
think that was a big mistake.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Yeah, Danny Listen Man really really appreciate your time as always.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Man, definitely look forward to doing this again.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
All the best, enjoy the rest, enjoy this weekend, and
really appreciate you giving tremendous insight on the Golden State
Warriors and this season and the run that they're on
and hopefully seeing how it all pans out.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Thanks cherld, I appreciate it. And next time we'll have
to do it with Rick too.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Yes, yes, yes, once Rick is Rick is on the man,
definitely gonna make sure we make that happen.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
All right, All the best to you and Rick.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Thanks, Okay, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Danny Emmigrant all the Barrier News Group joining me here
and heavy into pay
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