1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Steven Holder is with ESPN dot com. He joins us 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: on the Java House, Peel and Poor Guest line, and 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: of course has been out at the Colts complex. Uh, Steven, 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: I'm going to begin with something that we were just 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: talking about earlier, and it's a little off the beaten 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: path perhaps and maybe even ahead of the game, but 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: thinking about Aaron Nesmith and the Pacers announcing, you know, 8 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: his extension within their franchise, I look at Alec Pierce 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: and he is clearly becoming a piece that the Colts 10 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: are going to want to maintain. Then you get into 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: the financials of it, that's probably well beyond our pay grade. 12 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: But do you believe that it's possible there are players 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: on the roster that will agree to restructure in order 14 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: to make things like that possible. 15 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: That's an interesting question. I think it would. It would 16 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 2: kind of depend on on where they're at, you know, 17 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: with with Daniel Jones after the season and what that 18 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: contract looks like, because I mean, at this point, right 19 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: we're working under the assumption that that's going to happen 20 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: unless Daniel Jones for some reason wants to go somewhere else, Right, 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 2: But I think that's going to be the big piece 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: of the puzzle. And then how many of these veteran 23 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: players from this cores they intend to keep next year, 24 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: which is an impossible question to answer and all that, 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: but I think the problem with Alec Parris, and it's 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: not a problem, it's just a reality, right The reality 27 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: with Alec Pearce is that it is going to be expensive, 28 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 2: probably more than people realize. 29 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 3: All Right. 30 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 2: Right now, Michael Pittman Junior is around what twenty one 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 2: twenty two million a year? I think he in terms 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: of this particular season, he might have the biggest cap 33 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: number on the team. Even so, I'm not saying Alex 34 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,639 Speaker 2: Pearis is going to be the same sort of money, 35 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: but I think we're getting to that point where he's 36 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: going to be in the ballpark of that range, and 37 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: or at least potentially. So if that's the case, that 38 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: becomes this is the reality. How much money are you 39 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: spending at wide receiver? And I don't know what the 40 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: right answer is, but I'm just telling you that that 41 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 2: has to be part of the equation. I will tell 42 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: you when they thought they had something in ad Mitchell, 43 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: and they still might we're talking about a year from now. 44 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: They were very much of the opinion that they were 45 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,119 Speaker 2: moving on from alex Paris after this year. No disrespected him, 46 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 2: just the reality. What I wonder is whether that's changed 47 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: with the ad Mitchell dynamics. 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 4: Steven, when you guys talked to Chris Ballard about different things, 49 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 4: free agency, money, franchise tag, it's always we'll work through 50 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 4: that and we'll use the franchise tag as a tool. Potentially, 51 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 4: if you had to guess, would you say that the 52 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 4: franchise tag will be used this offseason, whether that's on 53 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 4: Alan Pears, Daniel Jones, Nick Cross, Braden Smith, or whomever. 54 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: I I think you have to hold on to it 55 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: for for Jones in particular, I think elsewhere you probably 56 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: roll the dice. I don't know that they are gonna 57 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 2: have been over backwards to do it with anyone else 58 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: or feel the necessity. I think you have to hold 59 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 2: on to it though, up until the last minute, as 60 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: a tool with the Daniel Jones negotiation, because if that 61 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: if that deal is not done by the time you 62 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: get Depending on where you sit and depending on how 63 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: you feel about those negotiations, I think you have to 64 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: do it. 65 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: I just do. 66 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: I think you have to assign a tag, you can 67 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: always pull it back, right, you pull it back, you 68 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: do the deal when you're reach an agreement, and then 69 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: everybody walks away happy. It may it may end up 70 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: working out like that. And it's no, it's no like, 71 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: it's nothing personal if they hit you with the tag. 72 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: It's really just it's to give the team flexibility. It 73 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: is an advantage for the team and a disadvantage for 74 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: the player, There's no question about that. But it's also 75 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: not like, you know, it's not the end of the 76 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: world if they do tag you, if in fact they're 77 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: trying to legitimately do a deal with you in good faith. 78 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 2: And I think that will be the case with Daniel Jones. 79 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 2: I think it may come to that, And that's what 80 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 2: I would set it aside for is for. 81 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: Jones, Stephen, where do we stand for the Colts right 82 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: now on this? And I realized it's a Tuesday, so 83 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 1: perhaps it's early to know, But where do we stand 84 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: health wise in terms of those that we still might 85 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: be waiting on or those that we would expect to 86 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: be seeing now here against Tennessee? 87 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,239 Speaker 2: Well, let's see. I mean the big question, I guess 88 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: is this what we're talking since and that ebbucom I 89 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 2: do think now that the Colts haven't said this, but 90 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: the indications are that he will miss some time at 91 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: least this week beyond that. Yes, an mcl spring, I 92 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: guess is what we're thinking. It is what the word is. 93 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: And here's why that's problematic. It's not that Sampson edbucom 94 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: Is is prime, you know, von Miller or anything. It's 95 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 2: just that the depth on the defensive line, on defense 96 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: in general, the death on defense generally, it's really poor 97 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: right now because of injuries and you know, you can 98 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 2: only hold on so long because and this is compounded 99 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: by the loss of Taekwon Lewis. He's got a groin strain. 100 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 2: I don't know what his status is. I talk to 101 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: him after the game, and he said he just couldn't 102 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: push through it. He tried. He just said, you know, 103 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: those are painful. You know, he just kind of one 104 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 2: of those things you kind of get split apart there. 105 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: And uh, you know a lot of groin strings in 106 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: this town this year, right So, Uh, it's it's tough. 107 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: It's really tough to maneuver into and to change direction 108 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 2: and things like things like that. So I don't know 109 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: what his status is, But I think those two guys 110 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: are big questions for me, as I said, because I 111 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: think they are core pieces of the rotation, and if 112 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: they are gone now you are digging deeper into the 113 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 2: depth chart, as you are already doing in the defensive backfield, 114 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: and that has had consequences obviously. So defensive depth is 115 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 2: my question right now? How are they doing? They're not great? 116 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: Okay, what about defensive pass rush? Are they going to 117 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 1: make a move before the trade deadline? 118 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 2: I predict they probably won't, just because I don't think 119 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: those deals are are necessarily as as plentiful as people think. 120 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 2: They're just not now. And then the other factor I 121 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: should say is that that has not been Chris Ballard's 122 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: mo ever, right. If anything, he's a seller, a not 123 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: a buyer. However, I think this is such a unique year. 124 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 2: They have such an opportunity here and they've never been here. 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: They're the best record in the NFL. I mean, when 126 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 2: have we been able to say that through seven weeks 127 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 2: they have such a good team, they have the best 128 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: record in the league. They have This is a I guess, 129 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 2: a situation where history kind of doesn't matter, meaning like 130 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: Chris Ballard's history. You know his tendencies and all that. 131 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: I don't know that they matter at this point because 132 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: this is a unique situation and an unprecedented situation for him. 133 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 2: So I say all that to say, I think it's 134 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: still a possibility, if not a likelihood, I think it's 135 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,679 Speaker 2: more likely than usual. I still don't think it's necessarily likely. 136 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: If that makes any sense, Yeah, it does. 137 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: Stephen Holder, our guest ESPN dot Comedy's on the Java 138 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: House Pilamport guest line. Stephen the you know, offensively speaking, 139 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: what the cults are doing, and this really is remarkable. 140 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: What they are doing is nearly historic. I mean of 141 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: the last twenty five years, their points per possession, their 142 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: offensive efficiency, their ability in so many different ways to 143 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: move the football. With all of that to me, and 144 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: I want you to tell me if you think this 145 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: is almost by design. It's great that they score a 146 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: lot of points, but more so they are controlling the football. 147 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: They're not turning it over. But they have big strike capability. 148 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: But is it somewhat by design of Shane Steichen to 149 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: just chew clock and keep other teams at bay and 150 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: not allowing opposition to get in rhythm? 151 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: So I don't think it's necessarily a tactic. I think 152 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:50,839 Speaker 2: what you're seeing is happening by default because of something 153 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: you just said, because of their efficiency. So what do 154 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 2: I mean It means they don't have a lot of 155 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 2: turnovers on downs? Well, they get a lot of first downs, right, 156 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: I think they leave the NFL in first downs, so 157 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: they convert. They also they sustain drives just generally because 158 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,199 Speaker 2: they're not turning it over. So all of the things 159 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 2: that kill drives, penalties, all that stuff, turnovers, drops, all 160 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: of that, all the things that kill drives, those are 161 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 2: the things they've managed to avoid. So if you do that, 162 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: you are going to possess the football and you are 163 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 2: going to have eight, nine, ten, eleven play drives because 164 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 2: that's the way most drives up. Most scoring drives end 165 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: up happening that way. The problem is, most drives get 166 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 2: killed for a number of reasons. The Colts, for whatever reason, 167 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:50,079 Speaker 2: they've avoided all of those pitfalls much better than other teams. 168 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: And that's why I kind of think this is sustainable. 169 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 2: I mean, that becomes something of an identity of who 170 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: you are. You're the team that doesn't screw it up 171 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 2: even weekly. 172 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: Let go ahead. 173 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, No, No, that's it. I think that's the answer. 174 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 2: It's not intentional, but it's it's a product of who 175 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 2: they are and how they're playing. 176 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: Okay, lastly, in short, with tennessee here at home at 177 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: no disrespect to the Titans, but with an opponent at 178 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: home that inferior, does that, in any way, shape or 179 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: form impact the rapidity with which guys may come back 180 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: from injury, or does it give them, in the back 181 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: of their mind the flexibility of holding guys out to 182 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: be cautious. 183 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: So they haven't operated that way generally this year. I 184 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 2: think they're taking the long view with their injuries. You know, 185 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,560 Speaker 2: look at the Kenny Moore situation, like they they gave 186 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: him a full three weeks and he was able to 187 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: come back and be effective. Could he have rushed maybe. 188 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 2: I don't think they look at it that way. I 189 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: think they're looking at it just in terms of the 190 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 2: long view, and that is the right way to look 191 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 2: at it. I think forget the opponent. It's really about 192 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 2: having these guys down the stretch and whatever it takes 193 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 2: to do that, that's what they should do. 194 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: Stevenholder ESPN dot Com, Java House peeling poor guest line. 195 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 1: Steven appreciate it as always man, all right, you got it. 196 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: Are a busy day for Steven Holder and appreciate working 197 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: us in joining us now in the Java House peeling 198 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: poor guest line he is with field House file Scott Agnes. 199 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: Scott will beg in with the big news and that 200 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: is I thought, really good news for Indiana, extending Aaron Nesmith. 201 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: And what's funny is feel free to tell me that 202 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: I'm wrong. Even in nearly doubling his salary, Aaron Nesmith, 203 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: I think is still a bargain your thoughts. 204 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 5: Yeah, good afternoon, Jake, no question. I mean, especially as 205 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,839 Speaker 5: we're going to continue to see the salary cap rise 206 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 5: as expected roughly ten percent annually. It feels like in 207 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 5: NBA terms, this is going to feel like in a 208 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 5: couple of years like a four million dollar guy, which 209 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 5: is like an extreme bargain. So for Aaron, he gets 210 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 5: the stability, the guarantees, the know how that he's going 211 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 5: to be under contract for the next four years, and 212 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 5: from the Pacers side, it also gives him clarity knowing 213 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 5: the guys that they have under contract. This one ties 214 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 5: him with Tyrese Haliburton for four more years as well, 215 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 5: and so it's a good thing all around. 216 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: Where did things stand in part of my asking this 217 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,959 Speaker 1: Scott with nim Hard, I can't remember if he was 218 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: recently extended or he is up soon? 219 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 5: Do you recall, Yeah, so it was last summer the Pacers. 220 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 5: He was one of the guys that the Pacers were 221 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 5: able to do a deal with. It was a three 222 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 5: year extension last July. He was like one of six 223 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 5: guys that got paid after that run to the conference finals. 224 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 5: He was able to do it the previous year because 225 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 5: he was not a first round pick, so his contract 226 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 5: was a little bit different. Bring that to present terms. 227 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 5: Benedict Matheren was here recently eligible for a contract extension 228 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 5: that has now expired. So he'll play this year out 229 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 5: on the final year of his rookie deal and he 230 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 5: will become the big question going into next summer, much 231 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 5: like it was kind of at this time it was 232 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 5: probably Isaiah Jackson coming off his rookie deal. 233 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: Okay, So that means if I'm writing this down, okay, 234 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: if we're looking at let's say, you know this year, 235 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: we know the realities of this year. Next year you 236 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: have Halliburton back in the mix okay, and then let's 237 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: say the year after that. So Halliburton now has had 238 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: one full year of playing, you know, so, in other words, 239 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: in two seasons, Nie Smith is locked in for that year. Correct, Yes, 240 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,680 Speaker 1: ty Reese is locked in for that year. Would that 241 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: be the final year of Sam or to siakam is 242 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: next season? Seacom's last year. 243 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 6: Has two more years after this one. 244 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: Okay, So you got Sam for that and then Nim 245 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: you said, Nim Hart. Okay, Nie Smith? Now what about 246 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: there are two others here, Obi Toppin. 247 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 5: Obi Toppin re signed the last summer that will run 248 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 5: through the twenty twenty seven twenty twenty eight season. So 249 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 5: you can see the similar timeline here. I mean, they're 250 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 5: aligning all around this right now. The question becomes do 251 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 5: you believe Scott? And we didn't mention this earlier, and 252 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 5: perhaps I should have. If you look at Benedict Mathern 253 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 5: and the decision by the Pacers to still wait, is 254 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 5: that partially because perhaps they want to see where Jeris 255 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 5: Walker and Johnny Furfey are, or even Ben Shephard, to 256 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 5: see how they want to distribute, maybe even trying to 257 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 5: lock in say two of those guys as opposed to 258 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 5: just one with Matheren who you think is going to 259 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 5: be big ticket or is that me way over thinking 260 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 5: the math. I think that's a factor, but I'd probably 261 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 5: put it down the list just a couple. I think, 262 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 5: first of all, it's at this time of year right now, 263 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 5: on a rookie year contract, rookie scale contract, it's in 264 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 5: favor of the teams. So that's why you see a 265 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 5: Nie Smith bargain type deal getting done. If you're Benedict Mathern, 266 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 5: you see what's ahead of you, Jake, you see a 267 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 5: greater role being in the starting lineup, the team needing 268 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 5: him to do more at both ends of the floor. 269 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 5: If you're a guy that doesn't is not desperate for 270 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 5: that stability and is willing to bet on yourself. As 271 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 5: we know, Bennedict, probably more than any other pacer player 272 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 5: is is able to do that because he's a restrictive 273 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 5: free agent. So from a team standpoint, the Pacers win 274 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 5: with his upside if he grows and his incredible as 275 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 5: an All Star, the Pacers can still match any offer 276 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 5: out there. But on the other side of it, I 277 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 5: think the number one factor in all this and Nie 278 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 5: Smith helps provide some of that clarity for this front 279 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 5: office is to understand at what point does this how 280 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 5: expensive does this team get and do they need to 281 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 5: go into the luxury tax and at what level there? 282 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 5: So I think with Matherin, there's no reason unless you 283 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 5: have a deal that suits both sides to get it 284 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 5: done right now, because the Pacers have that option coming 285 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 5: next summer where you're only going to have a handful 286 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 5: of teams probably that will have enough money to compete 287 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 5: with you at that juncture. 288 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: Scott Agnes is our guest. He is on the Java 289 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: House Peel and Port guest line Jake twenty five Jaka 290 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: E two five Jake twenty five four twenty five percent 291 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: off at Java house dot com. Scott, when you look 292 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: at this season and maybe this goes once we get 293 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: into the year, but in your anticipation, in the work 294 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: that you've done for Fieldhouse Files and reading about it 295 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: and just analyzing where the Pacers are, do you believe 296 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: that this year for Rick Carlisle, for Kevin Pritchard, Chad Buchanan, 297 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: do you think they are going into this saying we 298 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: are doing everything we can to sustain and maintain our 299 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: replacement amongst the top, or do you think they're saying 300 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: this is a year that we now have been blessed 301 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: with this opportunity to get minutes and analysis of guys 302 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: that otherwise we might not have been able to to do. 303 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 5: With you, Jake, my sense, it's the first one within reason, 304 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 5: within their capabilities. They want to compete at the highest 305 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 5: level and continue to show that everybody's wrong. Like I 306 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 5: was stunned, I don't know about you, like the fact 307 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,880 Speaker 5: that Vegas last time I looked, had the Pacers at 308 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 5: thirty six and a half wins. I see this team 309 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 5: bearing injury to be well above that, certainly north of 310 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 5: forty and in the in the playoffs, is my mind. Now, 311 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 5: things can can go a ride just based off injuries 312 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 5: like we saw at the beginning of last season. But 313 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 5: this team is by no means just happy to be 314 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 5: here going through the motions. And you're using a term 315 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 5: I used several years ago, a year of discovery, right 316 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 5: in reference to Johnny Furfree Walker, et cetera. I don't 317 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 5: think that's at all the case, is what I'm gathering. 318 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you a couple of players, and 319 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: I want you to tell me whether you believe, and 320 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: this is assuming that they're healthy. Okay, so win healthy. 321 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you some players, and I want you 322 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: to tell me the minutes that they see this year, 323 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: whether you think it is more than last year, fewer 324 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: than last year, or the same. Okay, Jerris Walker, I 325 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: would say more. Okay, Ben Shephard. 326 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 5: About the same, except the start of the season, I think, 327 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 5: but about the same. 328 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: Johnny Furfey more interesting, Okay. TJ McConnell about the same. 329 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 1: And then after that you get into Okay, Obie Toppin. 330 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 6: I think definitely more. 331 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, because top and they use, they will use in 332 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: a couple different ways, will they not. 333 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 5: That's the thought here right now. With center being among 334 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 5: your biggest concerns. I know it's a blimp. We only 335 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 5: saw you know, handful of preseason games, but that seemingly 336 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 5: was their most effective center was Obi and then running 337 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 5: small at the other positions. 338 00:18:58,280 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: Okay, starting center will be. 339 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 6: Isaiah Jackson to start the season. 340 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 1: And you believe Isaiah Jackson will be essentially a rebounding 341 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: and defensive center or a guy that becomes a staple 342 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: within their offense as well. 343 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 5: No, I think that I think that position will be 344 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 5: the fifth option. Offensively, Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's a lot 345 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 5: he still has to grow into from a development standpoint, 346 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,919 Speaker 5: But the thing I highlight most about him is his 347 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 5: rim running ability and get out and transition in that versatility. 348 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 5: That's a little bit different dynamic than we saw from 349 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 5: Miles Turner to Scott. 350 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 4: To kind of connect the two conversations, the Benedict Mathery 351 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 4: not getting any extension in the future of him with 352 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 4: the franchise in the current center position. Could the aspect 353 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 4: of the Pacers not wanting to sign him now also 354 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 4: be because they're looking to potentially spend money to get 355 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 4: a center that is paired that pairs well with Harry's Haliburton. 356 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 5: So from a from a fit standpoint, I think the 357 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 5: number one thing in all this is just you couldn't 358 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 5: agree to terms like Matherin you assume thinks highly of himself. 359 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 5: I want a type of a max deal. I want 360 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 5: a big money offer. Pacers on the other side have 361 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 5: to account for all those different contracts, say of on 362 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 5: their books. He's been a role player, has not emerged 363 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 5: at just yet in that starting role. But yes, you're 364 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 5: one hundred percent right to me that would be the 365 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 5: secondary piece in all this after the money, is does 366 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 5: he fit with this team? Does he allow Haliburton to 367 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 5: play his game? How does he surround the rest of 368 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 5: the guys. Is it just a good fit, because at 369 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 5: least initially, as we all know, the first couple years, 370 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 5: it was somewhat of a mismatch a little bit right 371 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 5: just in desired playing styles. But Matherin is locked in 372 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 5: more than any player I've heard about in camp right now. 373 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 5: So I'm intrigued to see how he plays and how 374 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 5: he settles in now as a more mature, confident player 375 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 5: within Rick Carlisle's system. 376 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:01,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, I just I feel bad for Matherin because you know, 377 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 1: he's kind of in this stuck place. Scott. And you 378 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 1: tell me if you disagree with this. If he has 379 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: a year this year where he averages twenty one a game, 380 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: I think he's probably more like eighteen. But you know whatever, 381 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,479 Speaker 1: then they're gonna and one would think in the NBA 382 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: that means you get a big payday. But there are 383 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: gonna be people that are gonna say, well, he got 384 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:22,719 Speaker 1: that because he was in a place where you know, 385 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: he was the designated score because somebody had the score 386 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: while they hold serve and then on the other side 387 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: of that, if he thinks that Indiana is the place 388 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 1: that will pay him because of that production. There still 389 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: is an element of the fact that it kind of 390 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: feels like he's a really nice sports car that is 391 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: sleek and fun, but the Pacers are living in Montana 392 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 1: where you can't go over forty five because the roads 393 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: are too. 394 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 6: Hilly, you know what I mean? 395 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: It just it just doesn't It just feels like I 396 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: don't know why I say this about Matherin because I 397 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: like him. I don't know him as a guy, but 398 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: he seems like a nice guy. He has been at 399 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,959 Speaker 1: times a really fun player to watch, and he's been 400 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 1: a very reliable player at times. But it does feel 401 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: like he is the one player that his game when flourishing, 402 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: it comes at the cost of the motion or the 403 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,399 Speaker 1: style that Indiana most thrives on. Would you agree with that. 404 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think that's absolutely fair. But I do think 405 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 5: he's done a good job. And you know, second part 406 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 5: of last season in particular, is what it stood out 407 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 5: to me of adapting more and leaning more in and 408 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 5: and doing exactly what the coaching staff was seemingly asking 409 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 5: of him and so I go back going too this season, thinking, look, 410 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 5: if he can thrive this year, and I think he'll 411 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 5: probably be the second leading scorer. I see probably a 412 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 5: Siakam at twenty three points in Matherin at twenty one. 413 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 5: It seems most likely to me right now. But just 414 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 5: think you throw Haliburton back into that and that opens 415 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 5: things up for everybody else. So that means in large 416 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 5: part it could be even more open for him come 417 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 5: following seasons. But look, you're always gonna have change within 418 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 5: the NBA. And with Tyree's coming back, then what does 419 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 5: it mean for Matheren? Does it mean Nemhart's back in 420 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 5: the starting line? Stays in the starting line? Like, There's 421 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 5: so many different levels to all of this. But you're right, 422 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 5: That's why I think from a individual standpoint, Mathern is 423 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,360 Speaker 5: the most interesting character in this upcoming scene. 424 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Scott, we both should point out, in fairness 425 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: to Scott, to Benedict mather and Scott Agnes our guest 426 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: from field House Files on the Java House Peeling poor 427 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: guest line, there is none of this is in any way, 428 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 1: shape or form an indictment on the person or the 429 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 1: teammate of Benedict Mathern, there is zero evidence of that 430 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: being an issue at all. 431 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 5: Right, Yeah, no, No, you're completely leaning into stylistically and 432 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 5: how do you maximize the player's best traits and does 433 00:23:57,880 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 5: it align with the team's best traits? I think is 434 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 5: That's what I'm gathering. That's totally been the conversation with 435 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 5: Matherin always. 436 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: Do you think lastly, Scott, I mean it's been It 437 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: doesn't seem long ago that we're sitting here doing weekly 438 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,719 Speaker 1: chats with Austin Kroscher, you know, in the playoffs talking 439 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: about the possibility of how close it is to a 440 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: title and Achilles and Haliburton and all of it doesn't 441 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: seem long ago at all. It wasn't long ago. It 442 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: was the shortest postseason we've ever seen. Obviously, does that 443 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: change the way the Pacers at the beginning of the 444 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: year play or Look. 445 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 6: That's a very good question. 446 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 5: The other one I would add to that that I 447 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 5: would like to ask Jacob is how did it impact 448 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 5: training camp because the usage rate and in terms of 449 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 5: how much these players to wear and tear. 450 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 6: Look, tomorrow will mark. 451 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 5: Four months from that last finals game. That is not 452 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 5: a short turnaround at all. I mean most of these players, 453 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,719 Speaker 5: Jake will take a month, month and a half and 454 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 5: do nothing substantial, maybe just weight room and that's about it. 455 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 5: Then get into their off season. And so the other 456 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 5: big thing in all this that I don't have the 457 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 5: answer to is how did all these players off season 458 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 5: training change their regimen to adapt to that longer season. 459 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 5: With all this now, how I would guess and all 460 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 5: this is they're going to try to ease into this 461 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 5: first month of the season from a minute standpoint and 462 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 5: take it a little bit more cautious viewpoint. Get At 463 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 5: the same time, you can't hold these players back a ton, 464 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 5: but I would keep a stern eye on your guys 465 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 5: coming back from an Achilles, like Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman. 466 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 5: You don't want them playing significant minutes or maybe long runs. 467 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 5: Maybe it's five minutes seven minute bursts out there, but 468 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 5: that's where you trust your medical staff. The Pacers have 469 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 5: five athletic trainers and you got to lean into that. 470 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 4: Who's the favorite of the Eastern Conference? 471 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: Is it Cleveland? 472 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 5: I think by default Eddiot's got to be Cleveland just 473 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 5: given what they did during the regular season. Knowing how 474 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 5: they're leaning highly into this roster got the largest tax bill, 475 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 5: and obviously they have an ax to grind after really 476 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,159 Speaker 5: struggling there in that postseason. But I mean after that, 477 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 5: and I think it's it's a toss up. Maybe other 478 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 5: than New York. I think it's easily Cleveland and New 479 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 5: York one two. 480 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: Who could be this year's Indiana? 481 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 5: Maybe Orlando in the Eastern Conference. Orlando's the team that 482 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 5: I really like to buy into. 483 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: What about Atlanta? 484 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 5: I think I need to give it another year. I mean, look, 485 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 5: you're still dealing with the Trey Young down there, and 486 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:38,239 Speaker 5: I'm not a big believer in building around him, just 487 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 5: like Philly. For Philly, it's believe it when once I 488 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 5: see it with him. We've been talking about them being 489 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 5: contenders for ten years and nothing's come to fruition there. 490 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: So trust the process. Philly, You're fifteen of the process. 491 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 6: Right and it never got him to the final. 492 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 1: I know Scott will have all of the coverage Fieldhouse 493 00:26:59,119 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: files Pacers. He's in getting underway Thursday night with Oak City. 494 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: Appreciate it, Scott, all right, thanks guys. Scott Agnes joining 495 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: us field House. Big news is the Pacers have given 496 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: a contract extension to Aaron Nesmith, but that means Nie 497 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: Smith in the mix now in terms of when you're 498 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: looking at Tyre's Haliburton coming back, same too with Andrin 499 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 1: Imhard Pascal Siakam, and you got to kind of align 500 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: those things to talk about that and more. He joins 501 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: us now on the Java House Peel and Poor Guest line. 502 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,160 Speaker 1: Of course you see him on ESPN. He has been 503 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: on this radio show many a times, has always appreciated 504 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: NBA front office insider for ESPN, Bobby Marks joining us. Bobby, 505 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: I will get first and foremost right to this meat 506 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 1: of the matter, and that is this Nie Smith deal. 507 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,920 Speaker 1: I think seems even still like a bargain with him 508 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: doubling his price tag because I just think he's the 509 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: kind of guy that championship teams have a guy like 510 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: a Nie Smith that can Swiss army knife it a 511 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 1: little bit, but it is a lot of money. Is 512 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: it going to be a deal by the time this 513 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: deal is. 514 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 3: Done, yeah, I mean it's still a value deal. I 515 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 3: mean he still has two years left at eleven million 516 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 3: dollars per year and then this this doesn't kick in 517 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 3: until twenty twenty seven to twenty eight. I think you 518 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 3: have to you have to remember, as the salary cap grows, 519 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,639 Speaker 3: so do the numbers. You know, it's going to be 520 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,959 Speaker 3: comparable to the non taxman level exception, which is basically 521 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 3: the average players salary here. So it's it's a great 522 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,719 Speaker 3: deal right now, it will be The deal will be 523 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,360 Speaker 3: fine when he when it comes to fruition two years 524 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 3: from now. Now they get him on the contract for 525 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 3: about four years. 526 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:43,719 Speaker 1: How big a challenge is it for teams to you know? 527 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: In other words, I realize that playing the rules of 528 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: the salary cap, that's one thing, right, but managing as 529 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: Indiana is doing, Bobby, And you tell me if I'm 530 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: off base here, but it seems as though Indiana is 531 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: being very strategic and making sure that they are aligning contracts. 532 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: You get players in prime at the same time, already 533 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: locked in and not having to deal with it. Right, 534 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: how rare is. 535 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 3: Off That's a great point. I mean, I think, you know, 536 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 3: it's funny when when these new rules came into play 537 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 3: a couple of years ago, you know, everyone had pointed 538 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 3: to as a team that if there was a blueprint 539 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 3: how to build a roster, let's remove Oklahoma City from 540 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 3: the equation a little bit. But to build a roster 541 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 3: where you have, yeah, your two main guys with Tyres 542 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 3: and Pascal, and then you have everyone that kind of 543 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 3: fills in. Now. The question was going to be what 544 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 3: happens when you had to pay players, whether it be 545 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 3: Benedict matherin a year from now and when contract came up. 546 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 3: And they've done a they've done a really good job. 547 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 3: I mean they've they've been extra aggressive with extensions. When 548 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 3: you look at Nie Smith and them, Hart, Halliburt and 549 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 3: McConnell all signing deals, and what the CBA does either 550 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 3: you prioritize your own players and there's kind of a 551 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 3: packing from a salary perspective, and they've done a good 552 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 3: job from a from a now standpoint, but also looking 553 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 3: forward to, like in you know, the next two to three. 554 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: Years, Bobby, as you look at it with the Pacers 555 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:13,479 Speaker 1: and there are a couple of other players I had 556 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: questions about. But I wanted your thought on this. Knowing 557 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: that Halliburton is out, knowing that Turner now is in Milwaukee. 558 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: If you were Indiana we were talking about this earlier, 559 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: would you take this year as look, we're still going 560 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: to try to just maintain same high level. So that 561 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: there's not as much a drop off, or do you 562 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: take advantage of this year by seeing what you have 563 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: on a Johnny Furfey, by analyzing furthermore where Jaris Walker is, 564 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: by getting more minutes from Ben Shepherd, et cetera. 565 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, you know, especially with Rick, I think 566 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 3: you're you're probably going to see a little bit of 567 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 3: a longer leash with with some of those younger players, 568 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 3: the bench players that maybe the opportunity wouldn't be there 569 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 3: if you still had my in Tyrish was his health here, 570 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 3: And I think that's that's the beauty of it, when 571 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 3: there's nobody that's really expecting much from you. I think 572 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 3: in the Eastern Conference it allows, especially this year, that 573 00:31:11,280 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 3: it will allow you to stay in it and then 574 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 3: you can kind of evaluate where your roster is going 575 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 3: to be, probably some time in January February here. But yeah, 576 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 3: I do think it's going to be an opportunity. I 577 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 3: think the one I would say my one concern would 578 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 3: be your your your depth at the guard position, especially 579 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 3: with the McConnell injury. You know, somebody you relied a 580 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 3: lot on last year and you know I was looking 581 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 3: at with Nemhart, you know, he's never averaged a year 582 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 3: where he's averaged more than thirty minutes per game, and 583 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 3: I think there's gonna be a little bit of a 584 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,800 Speaker 3: workload him. So your death is going to be important 585 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 3: as far as you know, how this team goes this year, 586 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 3: especially at the guard position. 587 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: Were you surprised they did not offer extension to Benedict 588 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: Madaren And do you believe he will be a coveted 589 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: player if he hit free agency? 590 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I wasn't surprised. I think for if you're Indiana 591 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 3: and you're gonna see it this year, I mean it's 592 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 3: kind of you know, it's gonna go one way or another. 593 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 3: I think there's an expanded role for him with the injuries, 594 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 3: whether it be starting or play significant minutes coming off 595 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 3: the bench. So I wasn't I wasn't totally surprised that 596 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,520 Speaker 3: there wasn't a deal. And and you know, don I 597 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 3: always say Ricky, extension is the hardest things because from 598 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 3: from the team perspective, you're not competing against anybody. It's 599 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 3: just the clock on Monday, Monday, late in the day here. 600 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 3: So I think when he gets into restricted free agency, 601 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:38,959 Speaker 3: we saw this past year that became pretty daunting for 602 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 3: where the Josh Gittis and Quinton Grimes and Cam Thomas 603 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 3: and Jonathan Minga. The market does get a little bit 604 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 3: better next year, but we haven't seen you know, we 605 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 3: haven't seen a team come in with with a significant 606 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 3: offer sheet in like you know, three or four years here. 607 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 3: That might change, but we'll see. Well, you know that's 608 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:00,080 Speaker 3: Indiana will have the weigh that when he gets and 609 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 3: to restrict a free agency. 610 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: Jade and Ivy, were you surprised by the fact that 611 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: Detroit did not extend him. 612 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 3: I wasn't because he's just had his knee scope. He 613 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 3: came when he's coming off that injury. 614 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:13,680 Speaker 1: Last year. 615 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 3: He just had the knee scope. Here, I think you 616 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 3: know him and Dorian, you know, as far as two 617 00:33:18,880 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 3: guys at work extension eligible. Here's a team that is 618 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:24,719 Speaker 3: expecting a lot out of especially for what they did 619 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 3: last year. So no surprise with with the Ivy no extension. 620 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: Who could be this year's Indiana in the East. 621 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 2: Oh, that's a good question. 622 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 3: You know, I'm pretty high in Toronto. 623 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:36,560 Speaker 1: I think the. 624 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 3: Raptors are intriguing to me, just because they went out 625 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 3: and got brandon Ingram at the deadline. We never We 626 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 3: haven't seen Brandon Ingram since the days and New Orleans 627 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 3: and your returner roster that has Scottie Barnes and r J. 628 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 3: Barrett and Emanuel Quickly that Jacob Pertle that hasn't been 629 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:56,720 Speaker 3: relatively healthy here, They've got the talent. I don't want 630 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 3: to say, you know a team that can get to 631 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 3: an Eastern Conference finals or an NBA finals, but I 632 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 3: do think they have the talent that they can sneak 633 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 3: up on teams. 634 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 1: Okay, lastly, Bobby Mark's our guest ESPN. He's on the 635 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 1: Java House Peel and Port guest line. Lastly, Bobby Indiana. 636 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,399 Speaker 1: At least from the Indiana standpoint, it felt like Rick 637 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: Carlisle's offense, the style that Indiana played and the pacing 638 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: and the wide open shooting ability they had suddenly became 639 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: like a like a game changer to the league. I mean, 640 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: they were kind of a trendsetter in the pacing in 641 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: which they played. Can they sustain that and does the 642 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: rest of the league catch on to it? 643 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 3: Yeah? I think you can sustain it. I think you 644 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 3: have an identity as far as certainly from from an 645 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:42,720 Speaker 3: offensive standpoint here, the parts of the roster, of course, 646 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 3: have changed. That's going to be the big question as 647 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:48,720 Speaker 3: far as who you plug in. And I'm not talking 648 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 3: about Mem Hart or or Ben Shepherd or you know 649 00:34:54,160 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 3: players like that, but that that's going to be the 650 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 3: big thing is as far as who who basic he 651 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 3: comes into an expanding role as going today a bill, 652 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 3: accept that different offensive responsibility. 653 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 1: Bobby, Appreciate the time as always, man, it'll be here 654 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 1: before we know it, Thursday night from the Indiana standpoint 655 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 1: Pacers and Thunder getting things underway, and then we will 656 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:18,760 Speaker 1: be right into the thick of the NBA season. Appreciate 657 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: the time you got. 658 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 3: Thanks, guys, Appreciate it all right. 659 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,479 Speaker 1: Bobby Mark's joining us from ESPN on the Java House 660 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:26,720 Speaker 1: Peel and Poor guest line. Interesting stuff there, especially Toronto. 661 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: That one surprised me a little bit.