1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Action Network podcast, the number one show 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: for the invested sports fan. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 2: Without further ado. 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 3: That's what the game's all about. All of a sudden, 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 3: you feel like you can't miss. 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: I'm gonna. 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 3: If you try that again. Absolutely trying to. 8 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: Welbo the Action Network podcast, where I guess the NBA 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: is still a thing despite all of the players being 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,959 Speaker 1: traded to all the places and everyone going to all 11 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: the different places. I'm Matt Moore. You can find me 12 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: on Twitter at HB Basketball, joining me on what is 13 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: one of about a million emergency podcasts I've been recorded 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: during this NBA season across the NBA Internet is Rob 15 00:00:54,440 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: Perez aka Worldwide wob, Rob Russell Westbrook's a Houston Rocket. 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: I don't even know who plays on what team anymore. 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 4: I feel like we did an NBA two K draft 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 4: where you don't play with the rosters that are originally 19 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 4: assigned to you and you just kind of do fantasy. 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 4: That's legitimately where we're at now is I couldn't tell you, 21 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 4: like where Kelly Brad Junior is playing basketball next year. 22 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 4: I need to get into the depth chart. But it's 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 4: even weirder that this all happened and Westbrook gets sent 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 4: from Oklahoma City to Houston, And it makes me feel 25 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 4: a little bit for OKAC fans because they knew he 26 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 4: was going to leave, and if he ended up going 27 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 4: to Miami, he's out of the conference. You good for him. 28 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 4: It's time, you know, we're headed a different direction. He's 29 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 4: going to sail off into the sunset like the end 30 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 4: of Lord of the Rings. This will be fine, But 31 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 4: instead he goes to Houston like arguably their biggest rival, 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 4: especially within the division and the conference. Talk about the 33 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 4: Warriors all you want. Houston OKAC has always been a thing. 34 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 4: Now they have to watch Westbrook four times a year 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 4: in a red jersey play against them. That sucks a 36 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 4: little bit for even though this was a great trade 37 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 4: for a team that is clearly building assets and for 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 4: the future. It's a great trade in nexus and No's 39 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 4: But that's gotta hurt man, really does. 40 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: I feel this whole thing has made me feel very old. 41 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: And the reason it's made me feel old, like I 42 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: remember how just awesome the thunder were from two thousand 43 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: and nine to twenty and fifteen, like they were just 44 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: they were this incredible team, like they were nuts. It 45 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: was so much fun to watch young Kevin Durant, young 46 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook, young James Harden. You had in the beginning, 47 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: there was Jeff Green, and you were like, I like 48 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: Jeff Green, Jeff Green's pretty good. And then like serge 49 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: Ibacca winds up there and they make the finals in 50 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: twenty twelve, and you're like, this is what's gonna be. 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: It's gonna be Lebron versus Durant, and this is what 52 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: the NBA is gonna be for the next five years, 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: and we never saw it again. And I am always 54 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: gonna think that the Thunder. I know everyone hates him 55 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: because of Seattle Fine. I am always an anthony that 56 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: they got the raw side of history because of the 57 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: injuries that they suffered, whether it was Kevin Durant or 58 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook or Sergei Baka in twenty fourteen by the way, 59 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: which is a weird one that doesn't get talked about enough, 60 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: or the insane Klay Thompson game in game six, all 61 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: of the things that happened, losing KD despite having built 62 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: a really good team around him, which he won MVP with, 63 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: For then for this to end like that, like that's 64 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: I'm having a hard timeline processing going forward. 65 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: I've got a call him up. That's on there. I 66 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: know you wrote about Okay, see, I need to check 67 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 2: that out. I says. 68 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,959 Speaker 1: We get done with this podcast about like the legacy 69 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: side of all this, but I'm left with just an 70 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: overwhelming like, man, like that's it, Like all of the 71 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: thunder are gone, Like that's it. 72 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 4: It's it's not the beginning of an era. It's not 73 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 4: the end of an era. It feels like it's back 74 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 4: to the future a little bit because putting Westbrook and 75 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 4: Harden together to all those points that you just discussed, 76 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 4: we're going back to the team that played the Heat 77 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 4: in the finals. You know, everything's different, but they are 78 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 4: going to go back to those roots a little bit. 79 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 4: James Harden on that team was six Man of the year. 80 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: He was not the. 81 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 4: Forty one point two usage percentage guy he was. That's 82 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 4: an actual number that James Harden was last year. He 83 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 4: was not that on Oklahoma City. So we've seen them 84 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 4: work together. They obviously like each other a whole lot. 85 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 4: They kid in front of the media. They clearly have chemistry. 86 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 4: This checks all the boxes for me other than x's 87 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 4: and o's because In the end, no matter what team 88 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 4: you assemble, there's only one ball on the court. And 89 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 4: when you have a career thirty point eight usage percentage 90 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 4: guy and you have a guy that just put up 91 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 4: that forty one point two number, what are we doing here? 92 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 4: Because Marie ball is designed around isolation threes in dunks only. 93 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 4: And what is the purpose of Russell Westbrook if he's 94 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 4: just going to stand there on the edge and watch 95 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 4: Harden do his thing. So I commend Maury for making 96 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 4: his final chess move. He's out of options at this 97 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 4: point because they don't have any cap space. They just 98 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 4: pawned off the next half decade of draft control to 99 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 4: Oklahoma City. They don't have any ability and flexibility in 100 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 4: terms of go out there and maneuvering and making like 101 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 4: a deal with the deadline, it's going to be quite 102 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 4: difficult for them to do so. So this is their 103 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 4: last chance to reinvent themselves. And for the past five years, 104 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 4: it feels like the Rockets have always been going with 105 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 4: this short sighted strategy, of which isn't necessarily a bad 106 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 4: thing until it bites you in the ass. 107 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 3: But they've been very short sighted. 108 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 4: And I'm going to assemble as many guys as I 109 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 4: can get together and we're going to figure it out later. 110 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 4: The problem is that they never really stuck to that. 111 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 4: They've stuck to Moriball, but with Westbrook there and Hardened there, 112 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 4: I think this at last is just going to be 113 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 4: more like you know what you guys do what you do. 114 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 4: I would be stunned if they have to stick to 115 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 4: like threes and dunks only at this point because they 116 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 4: have Mike D'Antonio as an offensive genius as well, so 117 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 4: it's it's going to be real interesting to watch how 118 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 4: this works from an x's and O standpoint. 119 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 3: But good for. 120 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 4: Houston thinking they got the better player here. They got 121 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 4: the younger player, they got the more dynamic player. I 122 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 4: just can't reason how giving up all those years of 123 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 4: draft control to take on an equal contract. 124 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 3: Let's not act like Chris paul is Smush Parker. He's not. 125 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 3: He's good. 126 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 4: I know he's on the wrong side of thirty, but 127 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 4: he's good still. I just can't believe they gave up 128 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 4: that much. 129 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 3: Thank you for letting me vent No. 130 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 2: I think it's crazy. 131 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: I think it's crazy that the Thunder got one of 132 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: the top five point guards of all time. And they 133 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: got two picks with them, and that's just that's insane. 134 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: I get it, I do. 135 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: I'm with you that I think Chris Paul's demise has 136 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: been greatly exaggerated. Like when I saw him come back 137 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: after the injury at All Star, he was defending at 138 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: a high level, he was shooting at a high level. 139 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 1: The problems that they had in the playoffs were not like, 140 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: oh man, Chris can't do it anymore. 141 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 2: The problem it's just that they were facing the Warriors. 142 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: That was it. 143 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: It was the only team in their way. And that 144 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: team's gone. That team's never coming back, and the Warriors 145 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 1: will still be a problem. But like part of my 146 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: the whole thinking, and I was gonna write a whole 147 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: big thing about how like, look, I think that the 148 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: Rockets probably need to get your money on Western Conference 149 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: at least as part of a position, because I was like, look, 150 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: the Nuggets can't match up with them, the Jazz can't 151 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 1: match up with them. Even with their additions on offense, 152 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: that's still not a good matchup for them. They still 153 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: had all these matchup advantages over teams in the Western Conference. 154 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: Now I don't know if that's true or not, because 155 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: I just this is why I wrote the second part 156 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: of my calm about was okay, is Rushbrook gonna stay healthy? 157 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: Because nobody talks about this. But for all of Chris 158 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: Paul's injury problems, Russ has had several knee injuries. He 159 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: had the most recent one Arthur Scott, a surgery before 160 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: last season. It was one of the reasons why I 161 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: switched and took the thunder under is because there's a 162 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: lot of evidence that shows that for the first like 163 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: fourteen months after that surgery, NBA player's efficiency declines, it 164 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: goes back up. 165 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 2: So that's promising for the season. 166 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: But if he has another problem and he's out for 167 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: a while, that's obviously gonna really hurt them because they're 168 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: so thin. And then you've got the issue of like 169 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: you mentioned Dan Tony but and d'An TONI was happy 170 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: to go ahead and go to this ISO thing. He 171 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: was like, look, it's gonna work. And when I talked 172 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: to him two years ago when they got Chris Paul, 173 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: he was like, look, man, like we just decided, like 174 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: great players are gonna figure it out. My job is 175 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: to get out the way and empower them, and he did. 176 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: I don't know how you empower both James Harden and 177 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook. They found a way to empower both Chris 178 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: Paul and James Harden because those are both great passing shooters. 179 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: Westbrook's a great facilitator in that he can set guys 180 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: up incredibly well. He's not a brilliant passer, but he's 181 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: really good at creating buckets for other guys. It's why 182 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: he's so consistently in the top three in the league 183 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: and assists. Westbrook's not a selfish player. He might be 184 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: a ball hog, but that's different from being selfish. But 185 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: that's just entirely different from Chris Paul. So now you 186 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: have to think that they're changing the entire offense that 187 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: they won sixty five games with two years ago, and 188 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: I don't know what they're changing it to. Like I 189 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: kind of envisioned when I wrote the article, like all right, 190 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: maybe you can do like a seven seconds or less thing, Okay, 191 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: because Capella can get up the floor, Tucker can get 192 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: up the floor, Gordon can get up the floor, Harden 193 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: can get the floor. So maybe you just run more 194 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: up tempo and then you got Westbrook attacking the rim 195 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: and you got spot up shooters and then like Westbrook 196 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: handle's a transition and Harden handles the half court, and 197 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: if they balance it that way, like that could make 198 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: a lot of sense. But I just don't know how 199 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: this dynamic is going to work out. This is the 200 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: big thing. I don't know if Russ is capable of 201 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: playing differently. It's literally a matter of I don't know 202 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: if he can. 203 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 3: Well. 204 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 4: I don't think they make this trade assuming otherwise, because 205 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 4: no one's ever been able to convince Russell Westbrook to 206 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 4: abide by their way, or their system or their philosophy. 207 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 4: And that's why I'm kind of like Mori ball is 208 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 4: going to die, just because Westbrook will never ever be 209 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 4: a guy that stands there just standing there without any 210 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 4: sort of movement and waiting to catch and shoot. That's 211 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 4: not how he plays the game of basketball. You brought 212 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 4: up the Golden State Warriors here, which is a great 213 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,559 Speaker 4: example because, like the Chris Paul thing, they are one 214 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 4: hamstring injury away, arguably from probably winning the NBA title 215 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 4: the following year. They run into the Warriors, who are 216 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 4: clearly the best team in the Western Conference. I understand 217 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 4: Duran got hurt, but they were one of three to 218 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 4: four teams in the league last year that you could 219 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 4: say they have a chance at actually winning this all. 220 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 4: What happened overnight that they decided that Chris Paul is 221 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 4: no longer that guy. Because Chris Paul, he may not 222 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 4: be as explosive and dynamic as Russell Westbrook, but I'm 223 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 4: with you that he is still right on the fringe 224 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 4: of being an All Star guard. He was important because 225 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 4: he complimented James Harden. They both needed the ball and 226 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 4: they both wanted to score. But Chris Paul was a 227 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 4: they call him the point god for a reason. He's 228 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 4: a floor general. Now it feels like quantity over quality 229 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 4: in terms of creation, and not only for Harden in Westbrook, 230 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 4: but creating for teammates. They're just Dann Toty's gonna let 231 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 4: these guys off the leash and just attack the rim 232 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 4: like savage pitbulls. Just get to the rim the two 233 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 4: of you, and I know something good will happen. You 234 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 4: couldn't do that with Chris Paul because he's only six 235 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 4: feet tall and he doesn't have the explosion and the 236 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 4: finishing ability that Russell Westbrook does. 237 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 3: So maybe that's the strategy here. A new play call. 238 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 3: It's called go. 239 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and that will work. 240 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: Except like if Harden's got we know Harden's had issues 241 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: with basically endurance going the full length of the season. 242 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: Is he going to change and maybe take the foot 243 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: off the gas and do more load management because otherwise 244 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: he's going to run. You can't run him up and 245 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: down the floor that way. And if you do that, 246 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: the other thing is they don't have the personnel to 247 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: do what some of the good teams have done, which 248 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: is like Golden State's at the standard of in twenty fifteen, 249 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna be the number one team in pace and 250 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: the number one team in defensive efficiency. That was unheard 251 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: of before they did it. A few teams of dance 252 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: with it through the last couple of years. The Rockets 253 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: do not have the personnel to do that. And if 254 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: you the problem with d'An toni teams, once you start 255 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: sliding defensively, it is not like, oh, slip a little 256 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: bit and we're not that good. It's like you bottom 257 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: into the bottom ten defensively in the league. And when 258 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: that happens, it's it's curtains. It's just curtains for you. 259 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: If you're trying to compete in the Western Conference without defense. 260 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 4: So let me ask you something real quick. When are 261 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 4: these teams And when I say these teams, I'm referring 262 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,080 Speaker 4: to the LA Clippers, I'm referring to the LA Lakers, 263 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 4: I'm referring to the Houston Rockets. When are they going 264 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 4: to pay for the sins? Because what they've done, what 265 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 4: these three teams have done is specifically Houston tonight, is 266 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 4: they didn't go to the bank and take an eight 267 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 4: percent mortgage out. They went to Pauli Gutieri on the 268 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 4: corner and did a loan shark deal where they have 269 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 4: to pay back double in three years or they're gonna 270 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 4: get their legs broken. They have so much at risk 271 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 4: that they can't even rebuild for the next four years 272 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 4: if this fails. 273 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 3: So one of these three teams potentially can win. 274 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 4: Let's say that happens, the other two aren't, and are 275 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 4: they going to be able to come back from this? 276 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,679 Speaker 4: Because I feel like Morey's been playing on borrowed time 277 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 4: forever here, but to his credit, it feels like it 278 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 4: should have expired two years ago with him just doing 279 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 4: whatever he can to win this year, it still hasn't 280 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 4: caught up to him. 281 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 3: So my question to you is will it ever? 282 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: I don't think so, because like Daryl has always been 283 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: so good at managing the margins and getting the most value. 284 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: And I think to consider here is like quite simply 285 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: this that this crashes and burns and it does not work, 286 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: and next year they trade Westbrook, or two years from 287 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: now they give it two years and then they trade 288 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: Russ and then it's like, all right, things are starting 289 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: to go downhill. 290 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 2: And know PJ. 291 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,719 Speaker 1: Tucker's gone and Clickapella wants out, Well, they're gonna be 292 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: an OKC spot and they're gonna be the ones shopping 293 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: James Harden Prime MVP to whoever is gonna have them 294 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: if we're gonna have forecast right now, and look, things 295 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: can change the CBA. Like there's a lot of noise 296 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: now at about teams not being happy about how this 297 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: has gone down. But I genuinely wonder if this isn't 298 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: gonna stop maybe next year because there's not as many 299 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: free agents on the market. It's just not like the 300 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: freegency market next year is is horrible. 301 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: But two years from now it's bonkers. The twenty twenty 302 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 2: one for free agency is nuts. Everybody's in on it is. 303 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 3: Musical chairs good for the league? I think it is. 304 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 4: I don't know why yet, just because look at how 305 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 4: much people are paying attention to all this. 306 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 2: See that's the thing. 307 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: The problem when we have these conversations about good for 308 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: the league is you can't define it through one prism. 309 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: You have to be able to very clearly define good. 310 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:07,160 Speaker 1: Is it good for attention to draw sponsorship and money 311 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: for the league, Yes, it is good business for the league. 312 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: We are at July eleventh, Summer league is over, and we. 313 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 3: Are still the A block in every show, the A. 314 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: Block in every single show. Training camp starts in three weeks. 315 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: Everybody's talking NBA tomorrow. Everybody's talking NBA tomorrow when the 316 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: season's been done for a month. 317 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 2: And I've made this kind of point of the day. 318 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: We got two weeks and then Westgate win totals will 319 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: be out. That's a day of content. We got two weeks, 320 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: and then the schedule is probably coming out in mid August, 321 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: and that's two to three days of content. We've got 322 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: six weeks. There's FEBA, which I don't really care, but 323 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: that's technically going to keep the NBA in the conversation. 324 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: You got about four weeks to the end till mid September, 325 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: and then it's Muscle Watch season up. Guess who's in town. 326 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 1: Guess who's been working out? He added a three. You 327 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: got two weeks and that's media Day and then we're 328 00:14:59,040 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: off to the races again. 329 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 2: Like it's good. 330 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: However, I don't know that it's good for the league 331 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: in terms of like Howard Beck I thought was talking 332 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: about this with Rachel Nichols on the Drunk with Power 333 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: podcast with Low. I thought it was really good because 334 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: Beck was making the comment about what this means for 335 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: the fans, and I do think this is a problem. 336 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: One of the things that's happening right now is everybody's 337 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: like star players are finally taking control of their power 338 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: and agency. There are other people, human beings. If you 339 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: don't care about the owners, fine, if you don't care 340 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: about the gms, even fine, even though the gms are 341 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: like mostly just normal dudes who worked in some capacity 342 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: in basketball and worked their way up, But fine, you 343 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: don't care about them. But guess who also gets hurt 344 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: by this stuff? Like Andre Robertson, Terrence Ferguson, Steven Adams. 345 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: Those three guys were high quality players on a team 346 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: that had serious title aspirations, and now they don't know 347 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: what's going to happen to them, Like Jeremy Grant's in Denver, 348 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: like they don't know where they're gonna be or what's 349 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: gonna happen. And that's all because Paul George said I 350 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: want to go play at home. There's collateral damage to 351 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: all of these moves and unforeseen implications. And that's before 352 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: we get to the fans where I was going to 353 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: have this question to myself today, Like my kid's not 354 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: in the basketball alldest, but my youngest kind of has 355 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: a capacity for she's real into sports. I seriously don't 356 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: know if I want to encourage her to get super 357 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: into like liking a player in the NBA, because if 358 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: she draws an attention to the player and the team, 359 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: how long is that relationship gonna last? Like imagine you're 360 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: a new Thunder fan and you get all in, You're like, 361 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: Paul George is my favorite player. You got two years 362 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: and he's gone, Like they're gonna lose that fan. There's 363 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 1: damage to this stuff that's not seen in the casual 364 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: eyeballs and casual conversation and the casual money that comes 365 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: in the NBA hurts itself with I think building long 366 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: term sustainable fan bases. 367 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 4: I don't feel bad for the players. I agree with, 368 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 4: like your mindset of having a daughter or something that 369 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 4: likes a franchise because of a certain player, not the 370 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 4: other way around, and they end up be lieving. 371 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 3: You know that stinks. 372 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 4: But these guys are the players themselves are compensated tends 373 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 4: sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars to be a part 374 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: of this business. And there's you sign up knowing that 375 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 4: you potentially could be in a new city tomorrow. 376 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: But the star players are ignoring that, like Paul George 377 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: on a five year contract with the Oklahoma four year 378 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and then just decided 379 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: I don't want to be obligated that anymore. 380 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 4: Well, let's talk about that real quick, because I can 381 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 4: certainly argue both sides of it. There are I'm gonna 382 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 4: count my head, I'd say maybe fifteen to twenty players 383 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 4: in the league that have the actual right and I 384 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 4: need to define right as well, but they have the 385 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 4: right to demand a trade and people will listen. And 386 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 4: that's simply because they're good enough So if Paul George, 387 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 4: Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, all guys 388 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 4: that have been either disgruntled stars or involved in trade 389 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 4: talks or wanting to switch locations, people are going to 390 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 4: listen because they have the value, because they are such 391 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 4: prominent names that it warrants a conversation. But you also 392 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 4: brought up the likes of Jeremy Grant, Robson my guy, 393 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 4: Kelly u Bray Junior. If they ever demanded a trade, 394 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,959 Speaker 4: they're gonna get laughed at by the fans, but by 395 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 4: the franchises and organizations. And we've seen in the past 396 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 4: when Kobe Bryant went to the Lakers, this beloved Laker, 397 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 4: lifetime Laker, he went public demanded I don't like playing 398 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 4: with Smash Parker, trade me. He wanted out of Los Angeles. 399 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 4: You know what the Lakers did. They said, Nope, you're 400 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 4: gonna play here, or you can just sit on the 401 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 4: bench and be nothing. I irrelevant for the next two 402 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 4: and a half years. He ended up coming back playing 403 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 4: and eventually winning two more titles. So I've seen it 404 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 4: work out that franchises don't have to trade these players 405 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 4: if they don't want to because it's worked in the past. 406 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 4: But when Anthony Davis has the leverage of a contract 407 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 4: potentially expiring or someone that holds the value through the 408 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,719 Speaker 4: two years that they have left on their deal, Anthony 409 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 4: Davis is so good that guys would be willing to wait. 410 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 4: Even if he sat out this current upcoming season, he 411 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 4: would still get a complete full max contract because he's 412 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 4: one of, if not the best or the best, most 413 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 4: talented player on Earth. There are only so many guys 414 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 4: that have that leverage and they've earned it because they 415 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 4: are that good. But on the contrary, again with the franchises, 416 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 4: they're in no position. Look at what the Hornets did 417 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 4: with Kemball Walker. It was stupid, but they didn't trade him. 418 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 4: They let him just go through the contract in a 419 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 4: completely mediocre, no win situation and it was terrible once again, 420 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 4: But that's an example of he's still under contract and 421 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 4: probably wants to go somewhere else, but we're not going 422 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 4: to do it. So you have to always mention both 423 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 4: sides in this conversation, and there really is no right 424 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 4: and wrong as far as I'm concerned. 425 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: I don't think they're right and wrong, but I do 426 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: think that we need to start having a better conversation 427 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: about we're very desperate to basically take power back from 428 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: teams because they have control over the players without really 429 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: understanding that. Like, you know, look, the players have guaranteed contracts, 430 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: which is exceptional in the sports world. There's only a 431 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 1: handful of leagues that have those kind of deals. And 432 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: I don't think that that's wrong. I think it's absolutely 433 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: imperative every contract for a professional athlete, because of the time, effort, 434 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: skill and injury risk, deserve to have those contracts. But 435 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: I think we've gone too far in want of the 436 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: empower players without thinking that there's anybody else that gets hurt. 437 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,479 Speaker 1: The only people that most people think got hurt by 438 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: the Anthony Davis trade situation where he asked out not 439 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: a year, well a year and a half, early a 440 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: year and a half. I was saying about this today. 441 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,360 Speaker 1: I remember that the Clippers and Spurs had not hit 442 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: their stride in early March. They needed a late win 443 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: streak in order to secure their playoff positioning as a 444 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: Lakers tail spun out of existence. If Davis had just 445 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 1: kept playing and they and they kind of they just 446 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: regulated and then hit a five game winning streak in March, 447 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: they would have been in prime position for a six 448 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: to seventh seed. Like that's just reality. And all those 449 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: supporting players around Davis got denied that opportunity, including, by 450 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: the way, the money for a possible playoff appearance at 451 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: least the ability to compete for it, because Davis tanked it. 452 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: And when we talk about it, all we talk about is, well, 453 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: Dell Demps was an idiot and he traded for bad 454 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: contracts and signed Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon who were 455 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: really good players, but got hurt, Like that's his fault. 456 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,719 Speaker 1: And when we're ashik and that was a mistake, and like, 457 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: oh they did all these like short term mistakes, and 458 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: so he deserves it. And I have no sibody for 459 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: Gai because she's a billionaire NFL owner. Fine, take Dell 460 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 1: Dempson and Gail Benson and put him aside. But I 461 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: got a lot of sympathy for Drew Holliday that did 462 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: not get a chance to compete in the playoffs or 463 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: at least have an opportunity to keep trying to make it. 464 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: For Julius Randall, for the training staff, for Alvin Gentry, 465 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: and for the fans like there's more to the buy 466 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 1: in for the social construct of the NBA than just 467 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: the owner, the GM and the superstar. There's just more 468 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: folks involved in this thing. 469 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,239 Speaker 4: Yeah, I like that view because I'm just stuck on 470 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 4: maybe I'm just too much of a businessman that I'm 471 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 4: thinking of the scene from mad Men when Peggy walks 472 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 4: in and asks for a raise and she says she 473 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 4: deserves it, and I do so much for you and 474 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 4: you never say thank you. That's kind of like the 475 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 4: situation Drew Holiday is in and then Don screams at 476 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 4: the top of his lungs, that's what the money's for, Like, 477 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 4: that's why you get paychecks, because that's the thank you 478 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 4: for doing good work. So just thinking like that, that 479 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 4: these guys are compensated with such high contracts in millions 480 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 4: of I forget the human element of it. 481 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 3: And I forget the human element of. 482 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 4: It because when I see this bs of unfinished business, 483 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 4: when Paul George is putting that up there with his 484 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 4: cigar and he's at the concert that Westbrook through for him. 485 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 4: Then you've got Darryl Morey going public after the Chris 486 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 4: Paul Hardened rumors of their falling out and he's like, 487 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 4: Chris Paul will be a rocket next year, and I'm 488 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,719 Speaker 4: here to stop. I don't trust anybody like he went 489 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 4: public with that man. And I say it all the 490 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 4: time that loyalty is just award in the dictionary, and 491 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 4: that is always going to be. In the case of 492 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 4: the NBA, with the musical chairs swapping as much as 493 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 4: they've been, this is clearly a business first, not only 494 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 4: for the owners and for the franchises, but for the 495 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 4: players as well. 496 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 2: Okay, we got yeah here. 497 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:46,719 Speaker 1: We're not going to touch on the thunderside of this 498 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: because you and I are both waiting to see what 499 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: they do with Chris Paul. We do not know at 500 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 1: this time, Like, what's going to happen in the next 501 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: twenty four hours. 502 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 3: Do you think it's a Thunder player tomorrow? 503 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: Well, this is going up on what Friday, So by 504 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: the time that you hear this, what I've heard is 505 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: is unlikely he's with the Thunder. But look, I heard 506 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: the same stuff about the Clippers being out that a 507 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: lot of people heard, where it's like, now, I don't 508 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:07,479 Speaker 1: think it's going to be the Clippers. I heard that 509 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: with Kawhi around the same time, and I'm reported because 510 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't know the people I'm talking 511 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 1: to who don't really know. So it's like the same 512 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: kind of stuff where it's like, look, there's the leagues 513 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: will always talking, Leeds always whispering. I will say though that, 514 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: like I guess the other thing is I still think 515 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: there's good players to be pillaged. If you're if you're 516 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: a team and you're like, we really need a wing defender, 517 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: we really need a wing defender. Go get Andre Robertson. 518 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: Take the risk on his injury recovery because like I 519 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: was dpo y in my opinion before he went down 520 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: a year and a half ago. Go get Steven Adams. 521 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: Like his defense a lit a little bit is very 522 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: possible for him to get back up. Go get like 523 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 1: the Celtics should be beaten down the door to get 524 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: Steven Adams for like the Memphis pick, Like Memphis is 525 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: going to be okay this season with John Moran, Jaron Jackson, 526 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: the other guys, Like use it either that one or 527 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: the or whichever pick you want to use. There's still 528 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: parts left on Okac and Presty, to his credit not 529 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: trying to compete. Presty didn't do the thing to say 530 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: I a will This is the thing I will say 531 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: about Presty. He didn't do the things his job, like 532 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 1: a lot of guys in his spot would have been like, yes, 533 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: I will take on your decent, not great veteran, Yes 534 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,120 Speaker 1: I will take on to Marta Rosen, Yes I will 535 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: take on these players that are limited because I want 536 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: to keep my job, because if I could just get to 537 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: the next step, maybe I could figure something out. He 538 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: did the full thing. He was like, Okay, the run's over, 539 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: We're going to start over. Okay, no half measures. That 540 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: was Sam Presty. 541 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 4: Sam Presty should win Executive of the Year if he 542 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 4: finds a way to trade Chris Paul to Miami for 543 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,239 Speaker 4: even more draft picks. Like we were talking this whole time, 544 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 4: what he's going to get back from Westbrook from just Miami. 545 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 4: First he fleees Houston and then he gets back almost 546 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 4: the equivalent of Russell Westbrook. Then he goes back to Miami, 547 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 4: who was holding firm on we're not trading our young. 548 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 3: Guys for Russell Westbrook. 549 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 4: Well, we don't need your young guys anymore, but we 550 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,400 Speaker 4: will take that first round draft pick for Chris Paul 551 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 4: and we'll match contracts like it. 552 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: In a half decade from now, the thunder are going 553 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: to be really great. In like eight years, they're going 554 00:24:57,560 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: to be really awesome again. 555 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 2: All right, get out of here. 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