1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: The Volume. 2 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 2: All right, welcome to Hoop tonight here at the Volume. 3 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 2: Happy Friday, everybody, hope all if you guys are having 4 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 2: an incredible week, have a jam pack show for you guys. Today. 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 2: We're going to be diving into some more trade deadline stories. 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: So obviously some of the dust has settled from the 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: Yanni pseudo trade requests that went down on Wednesday, the 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: trade request that wasn't a trade request. But I want 9 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 2: to dig into some additional angles, especially with teams like 10 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 2: Minnesota and New York. And I also want to dig 11 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 2: back into the Golden State angle and why I understand 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: some of the hesitation from Yannis. 13 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: Specifically, I want. 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: To talk about the rumored pivot for Golden State surrounding 15 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Davis. And then at the tail 16 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: end of the show, I want to talk a little 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: bit about some of the rumors surrounding DeAndre Hunter and 18 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: what he could do if he were moved to the 19 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Lakers, and some of my concerns about that 20 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 2: potential deal. You guys owe the drill before we get started. 21 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the Hoop sent out YouTube channels. You don't 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: miss any more of our videos. Make sure you like 23 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: this video that helps us a lot over on YouTube. 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: And then last min at least if you want to 25 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 2: get mailback questions into our mailbag. We already did a 26 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: weekly mail bag this week, but we'd be doing getting 27 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: back to them on Friday starting next week. If you 28 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: want to get questions in for that, just drop them 29 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: in the YouTube comments. All right, mail bag with a colon, 30 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: write your question that helps me sort them out in 31 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: the comments and we'll get to them in our mail 32 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 2: bag start the remainder of the season. All right, let's 33 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: talk some basketball. So with the Yannis trade saga, bear 34 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: with me. I'm feeling a little under the weather, so 35 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 2: I'm having a little trouble talking today. But there's three 36 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: additional angles that I want to get into. First is 37 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 2: the idea of Minnesota and New York and the idea 38 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: of them potentially achieving the draft compensation they need via 39 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: moving important role players. So these two teams popped up 40 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: in the sham's reporting that came from ESPN the other night. 41 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: So acknowledge, first of all, like why teams like Golden 42 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 2: State and Miami are more immediately appealing in this sort 43 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: of discussion because they just have draft picks that they 44 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 2: can throw onto the table, right. And Miami in particular 45 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: also has the means with which to potentially achieve more 46 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: draft compensation through some other higher. 47 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: Level role players. Right. 48 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: So that's why they're in the position that they're in 49 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: Minnesota New York. Neither of them have anywhere near enough 50 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: draft compensation to get into this discussion. 51 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: Right. 52 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 2: So, after doing more digging, it appears that they're looking 53 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: at multi trade scenarios or multi team constructs within a 54 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 2: single trade that involve using guys like Jada McDaniels or 55 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: maybe a McHale Bridges or an Ognnobi to bring in 56 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: the necessary draft compensation to facilitate a deal for Yannis. 57 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: This is where this type of trade can get super 58 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: complicated and very risky. Now, I will say between those 59 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: two teams, I think it makes more sense for New 60 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: York than it does for Minnesota, and we'll get into 61 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 2: why in just a minute. But with both constructs, you'd 62 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: basically have to bring back at least three first round picks, 63 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 2: and that would be tough to do for either team. 64 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: It's difficult to imagine a scenario where the draft compensation 65 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: you get for a McHale or for a Jada McDaniels 66 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 2: is also enough to get you Giannison Tennakumbo. Right, there's 67 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: a little bit of a disconnect there, like would you 68 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: have to move multiple high level role players, like would 69 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: Minnesota have to flip Dante DiVincenzo to get additional draft compensation? 70 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: Or would New York have to do something similar with 71 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 2: like a Mitchell Robinson or something to get enough draft compensation. 72 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: It just gets complicated. So I think. 73 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: Based on that fact alone, it's somewhat unlikely still for 74 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: both of these teams. But as a thought exercise kind 75 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 2: of similar Remember when we talked about the JDub for 76 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: Trey Murphy thing this earlier this week. I meant that 77 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: more is a thought exercise surround archetypes of players, like 78 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: would a guy like Trey Murphy fit Shay better necessarily 79 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: than a J Dubb? 80 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: It was just a thought exercise. 81 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: Similarly, if we can just pretend that New York and 82 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 2: Minnesota can get the amount of first round draft compensation 83 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 2: that they need to get Yannis, does it make sense 84 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: as a thought exercise for these teams to break up 85 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: the construct of their team to chase Jannis. So Let's 86 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 2: start with Minnesota, and that's the team in particular that 87 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 2: I hate this idea for. So let's again pretend that 88 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: you're able to get this deal done just by moving 89 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: Jada McDaniels for picks, then re routing salary and those 90 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: picks to Milwaukee for Yannis, which again I think is 91 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: pretty unlikely. You might have to trade a Dante DiVincenzo 92 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: or a nas Reed as well to get additional draft 93 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 2: compensation to actually win that type of a bidding war. 94 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: But let's say it's just Jade McDaniels. He's a twenty 95 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: five year old who's played in seventy plus games four 96 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: years in a row, played in eighty two games last year, 97 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 2: has only missed two games this season, and is having 98 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: an absurd career year. He's shooting forty four percent from three. 99 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: He's had eleven twenty point games this year. He's one 100 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: of the best perimeter defenders in the league just all around, 101 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 2: one of the best role players in the entire NBA. 102 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: After you get at like once you move on from 103 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: Jayden and Aunt, the rest of the roster is a 104 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 2: little bit on the older side. Rudy Gobert's thirty three 105 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: Julius Randalls thirty one, Dante Vincenzo's even in his late twenties. 106 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: Now you move Jaden, you bring back a thirty one 107 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 2: year old Giannis who's been having injury issues right now. 108 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: To be clear, Anton Giannis is a monster duo. I 109 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: definitely think they'd be at least a little better in 110 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 2: this short term. I'm a big believer in do not 111 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: overthink things when it comes to talent upgrades. 112 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: Like this is not. 113 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 2: Trading important role players for an older Russell Westbrook. That 114 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 2: wasn't a bad deal just because they sent out good 115 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 2: role players. It was a bad deal because they sent 116 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 2: out good role players in a first round draft pick 117 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: for a player that was a star that was incapable 118 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: of producing like a star like That was the problem 119 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: with the Russell Westbrook trade. Right, Giannis is still a 120 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 2: bona fide top tier superstar and his game compliments aunt well, 121 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: they'd be great together. But in that event, even though 122 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 2: you would be better in the short term, your chances 123 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 2: of sustainability greatly diminished. We've talked about this concept a 124 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 2: lot this week. When you've got a young superstar superstar 125 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: in his mid twenties, early twenties. You're looking for sustainable 126 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: success so that you don't have a guy get into 127 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: his late twenties and start asking for trades or seeking 128 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 2: him a pathway through free agency to find greener pastures, 129 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: and you want to have sustainable success. Jaden McDaniels is 130 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 2: the close thing on that Minnesota roster to a guy 131 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: that you feel certain can be in the trenches with 132 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: Aunt winning high level playoff games for at least the 133 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 2: next half decade. Everyone else on that list, Giannis included, 134 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: is a question mark. I don't necessarily see Rudy Gobert 135 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: being the foundational piece for a championship contender at thirty eight, 136 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 2: or Julius Randall at thirty six, or even Dante DiVincenzo 137 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: at thirty three. But I feel pretty good about Jaden 138 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: McDaniels being a dude who can be a running mate 139 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: with Aunt for at least the next five years. Trading 140 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: for Giannis now could very well be the thing that 141 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 2: has you trading Anthony Edwards in a few years, because 142 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: Gobert goes down to level and Giannis goes down to 143 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: level or has some injury issues, and suddenly you got 144 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: Aunt alongside a bunch of really old NBA players that 145 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: are under a chi in a Western conference with OKC 146 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 2: and San Antonio, that are having sustainable success, and now 147 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, you're shipping Anthony Edwards off and 148 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 2: you're stuck in purgatory. If you're Minnesota, that's the risk. 149 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: And then as soon as you have to start including 150 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: the additional guys, like if you do trade Dante, you 151 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 2: suddenly have an extremely weak guard corps after Anthony Edwards, 152 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 2: and it's already a weak guard corp after Anthony Edwards. 153 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: If you trade nas Reed, all of a sudden, your 154 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 2: front court depth disappears, or some of the lineup versatility 155 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 2: you have building lineups around a center that can shoot threes, Like, 156 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: there is a lot of potential downfalls that come with 157 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: that kind of move for a short term upside at 158 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 2: almost certainly a sacrifice of your long term sustainability. And 159 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: you guys know how I feel about Minnesota. I like 160 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 2: this Timberwolves team because ant has gotten so much better, 161 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 2: because Jada McDaniel's having a career year on offense, because 162 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: Rudy Gobert is catching finishing around the basket better than ever. 163 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 2: I view them as a top tier contender. I know 164 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 2: Oklahoma City's dealing with a bunch of injuries, and obviously 165 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: when AJ Mitchell and Jdubb are out, they struggle to 166 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 2: generate offense when Shay's off the floor. But I've completely 167 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 2: changed my opinion about the Minnesota Oklahoma City matchup compared 168 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: to how I felt after the postseason last year. They've 169 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 2: They've had enough internal improvement that I actually think they 170 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: have a real shot to beat Oklahoma City, even just 171 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 2: within this season as currently constructed, even if they don't 172 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 2: even make a smaller trade for like a Kobe White 173 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: as a guard or for some sort of role player 174 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 2: upgrade somewhere on the roster. Like I really like this 175 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 2: Timberwolves team, and I think they have some sustainability. So 176 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 2: I don't love the idea like all you need is 177 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: Baron Jay to hit, and you know, like if just 178 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 2: Baron Jay hits him, Jayden and Aunt are a pretty 179 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 2: strong foundation three four years from now after some of 180 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 2: these guys age out, Like they have some possibility for 181 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 2: sustainability as is. So I don't like the risk reward proposition. 182 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 2: I don't think it's just you add Giannis and then 183 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 2: it's happily. Ever, after from there, there's a short term 184 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 2: risk in the form of lost depth and a long 185 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 2: term risk in the loss of sustainability. So I do 186 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 2: not like this for Minnesota Adult. I'm super excited to 187 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 2: tell you guys about our partnership with Viori. Those of 188 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: you guys who are familiar with Viori, you've noticed I've 189 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 2: been wearing it on the show a ton over the 190 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 2: last few years. It's become a workhorse for me. Today, 191 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: I'm wearing the Seaside pullover hoodie, one that I just 192 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 2: got that I've really enjoyed. I wore it out on 193 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 2: a cold, windy day the other day and it was 194 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: super warm and comfortable throughout. 195 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: They make all. 196 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: Sorts of stuff. 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Now the Knicks conversation more complicated. 223 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: It depends on how you view the Nicks this year. 224 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 2: I don't view them as a top tier contender, but 225 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 2: at the same time, I do think they have by 226 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 2: far their best chance to win the Eastern Conference compared 227 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 2: to the last few seasons. 228 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, I still think. 229 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 2: If I had to make a pick today for who 230 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: is going to win the East, I'd probably pick the Knicks. 231 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: I'm not super confident in that pick. 232 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 2: I don't think they're a runaway favorite or anything, but 233 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 2: among a bunch of flawed candidates, I think they have 234 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: the best overall playoff package for ability to win three 235 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 2: rounds in that Eastern Conference. But I didn't even view 236 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:41,680 Speaker 2: them threats as threats at all in previous seasons. So 237 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 2: I do think that this is a better landscape for 238 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: the Knicks than the previous years. But the East is 239 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: super open. They definitely can win it all. This year, 240 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 2: they've won four in a row. They're starting to look 241 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 2: good again. They've had strong metrics, so I've been less 242 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: worried about them and their slump than most so. The 243 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 2: risk for this particular situation with New York is the 244 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: exact same sort of risk that we talked about with Minnesota. 245 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,719 Speaker 2: If you give up multiple high level role players to 246 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 2: bring in the picks that you need to get Yannis. 247 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 2: Let's say you do have to give up, you know, 248 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 2: some version of out of Michale Bridges, Josh hard O 249 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: g and Obia Mitchell Robinson. Let's say you have to 250 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: give up two of those guys, just as an example. 251 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,599 Speaker 2: In that scenario, you run the risk of rebuilding the 252 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 2: Damian Lillard, Gannison, Tennacoopo Milwaukee Bucks having an elite guard 253 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: plus Giannis and nowhere near enough two way talent around 254 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 2: them to win for playoff rounds. I'm not saying that's 255 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 2: guaranteed to happen. To be clear, Brunson is a better 256 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 2: basketball player than Damian Lillard was when he went to Milwaukee, 257 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: and the Knicks should at least be able to keep 258 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 2: one of OJ and McHale in this instance, so they'll 259 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 2: have some two way talent on the wing. But the 260 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: risk is similar in that they could get a second 261 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: star and still not be good enough. So I bring 262 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 2: it back to the very beginning. It comes down to 263 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 2: how you feel about this version of the Knicks. If 264 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: you're sitting there thinking this team is going nowhere, Fuck it, 265 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 2: let's just try something, then yeah, I think it makes 266 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 2: some sense. If you think this team's going nowhere, why 267 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 2: not pair Brunson and Giannis and just see what happens. 268 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: You know, compared to Minnesota where totally different because I 269 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 2: actually think they're a top tier contender this season as 270 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: currently constructed, even without any trade. If you feel differently, 271 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 2: if you're like, hey, we can win the East. Who 272 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 2: knows who will limp out of that Western Conference blood bath. 273 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 2: We've seen Oklahoma City if they lose one of their 274 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 2: ball handlers, they suddenly become very beatable. We've seen that 275 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 2: Denver has a bunch of guys that are injury prone. 276 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: Steven Adams is down. Now for Houston, you see San 277 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: Antonio offense that can go really cold, that New York 278 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 2: has demonstrated the ability to beat like there is there's 279 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: a chance that somebody limps out of the West and 280 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 2: the Knicks can beat him. If you feel that way, 281 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: then do not mess with it. Don't go and do 282 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 2: something that risky and blow your opportunity potentially to compete. 283 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: So again that the best way I can kind of 284 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 2: synthesize that down is trading for Yannis is not like 285 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 2: trading for twenty six year old Luka Doncic. It's not 286 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 2: like trading for thirty five year old Paul George either. 287 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 2: It's in the middle of there, somewhere extremely high upside, 288 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: but some real age and injury risk. This guy who's 289 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 2: missed eight of his team's last sixteen playoff games, He's 290 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: had multiple calf injuries that have taken him out for a. 291 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: Month plus this season. 292 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 2: Like it is a different level of risk reward factor 293 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 2: than some of these other younger superstars around the league. 294 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: So again, if you don't think the Knicks have any chance, 295 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 2: by all means, go after Yannis, but just be aware 296 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 2: that there's a lot of risk there. For Minnesota in particular, 297 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: I think it's nowhere near worth it, even though it 298 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: can be tantalizing to think about Anthony Edwards and Yiannis 299 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 2: and Tenna Kombo playing together. Second thing I want to 300 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: hit on the Yannas trade front. There's a lot of 301 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 2: buzz surrounding the idea that the Bucks might wait until 302 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 2: this offseason. There are some teams that can't really get 303 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: involved until then because of various factors, whether it's you know, 304 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: poison pill contracts or everyone gets access to an additional 305 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 2: twenty thirty three first round pick when you get to 306 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 2: the off season, right, so that could be an extra 307 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: pick for everybody to include. I've talked about like a 308 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 2: random deal involving like Orlando's flipping Palo Bancaro for Giannis 309 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: Andtenakombo as an option. They can't do that really feasibly 310 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 2: until this coming summer, right, So, like maybe this off 311 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 2: season is the situation where you could get a little 312 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 2: bit more for Yanni's. If I'm Yannest, I am raising 313 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 2: hell behind the scenes to make sure that doesn't happen. 314 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: If it's all just a ploy, and I like a 315 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: method with which to negotiate, you know, to get more 316 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 2: leverage so you can get some better offers. Fine, But 317 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 2: if I'm Yiannest, the idea of sacrificing yet another year 318 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 2: of my prime, wasting a playoff run for a Bucks 319 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 2: team that has literally no shot, just so the Bucks 320 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 2: can like maybe get a different young player they like, 321 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: or maybe get a better draft pick, I think that's 322 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 2: downright disrespectful, to be honest. He brought a championship to Milwaukee, 323 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 2: asking him to delay his opportunity to compete in real, 324 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 2: high leverage basketball When he's in his thirties just so 325 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 2: you can get an extra first round pick, or maybe 326 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 2: a better first round pick. It's just not a sure 327 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: thing if you knew for sure, like if it was like, oh, 328 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 2: if I wait till this summer, I'm going to get 329 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 2: aj DEBONSA. Yeah, it's a different discussion. But like when 330 00:17:55,160 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 2: you're talking about specifically a chance at something slightly better, 331 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 2: I think that's unfair to put Giannis in that position. 332 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 2: If Jannis wants to go now, if he wants to 333 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 2: go play and play meaningful basketball right now, the Bucks 334 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 2: should facilitate that. Similarly Kneche options. So let's say a 335 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 2: team like, you know, Atlanta wanted to get involved or Brooklyn. 336 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 2: I saw Brooklyn get thrown around like Brooklyn has a 337 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 2: million draft picks. You know, they could throw something in 338 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 2: the insane for Jannis. And look, Brooklyn has some young 339 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 2: players that I really like. But if I'm Yannis, I 340 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 2: have no interest in wasting my early thirties trying to 341 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 2: carry a Brooklyn Nets team or an Atlanta Hawks team. 342 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 2: And again they have Atlanta in particular, like Atlanta wouldianness, 343 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 2: they'd be feisty, they'd be a decent team. But they're 344 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 2: not competing in this loaded top tier in the NBA. 345 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 2: So like anything that sends Giannis to play more low 346 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: leverage basketball, whether that's in a Brooklyn or in Atlanta, 347 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 2: or it's still in Milwaukee. If I'm honest, I'm like, 348 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 2: hell no, man, if we're doing this, let's do this. 349 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 2: And it's like the Bucks are headed for a substantial 350 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 2: rebuild no matter what. It's not like, if you make 351 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 2: a deal this summer, you're moving your contention timeline up 352 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 2: multiple years, like you're headed for a three to four 353 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: year rebuild no matter what. So do right by Yannis, 354 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 2: a guy who put his body on the line for 355 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 2: the better part of a decade to win you a championship, 356 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,800 Speaker 2: Do right by him by sending him to a place 357 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 2: where he can play meaningful basketball in the short term. 358 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 2: Last thing on the honest front, this Golden State upcoming rebuild. 359 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: Steph turns thirty eight in March. I like Golden State 360 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 2: the most out of all the available possibilities. I think 361 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 2: Giannis and Steph are a beautiful basketball fit. I think 362 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 2: they'd play the type of basketball that all of us 363 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: basketball fans would love to watch. I think that team 364 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 2: would contend but not be some sort of unbeatable juggernaut 365 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 2: that would, you know, leave basketball fans feeling hollow if 366 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,040 Speaker 2: they won. I just think it'd be great for Yiannis, 367 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 2: great for Steph, and great for the NBA. But I 368 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: do understand why Janis would have some concern about sustainability there, 369 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 2: even though I do love Golden State is a short 370 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 2: term option in this particular case for Yannis. If Jannis 371 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 2: goes to Golden State, he's probably getting traded again in 372 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 2: two or three years when Steph retires, because if Steph 373 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 2: turns forty and he decides I'm not playing anymore, or 374 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 2: if he experiences some sort of dramatic drop off, the 375 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 2: Warriors do not have the type of foundation to keep 376 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 2: Jannis in the Bay. 377 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: They don't have enough talent. 378 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 2: So I understand why Yiannis would look at partnerships with 379 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 2: the Jalen Brunson or an Anthony Edwards and go like this, 380 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 2: this is an opportunity for me to potentially finish my 381 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 2: career in this spot, and I could see why that 382 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 2: would be an upside for him. That doesn't change the 383 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 2: fact that I still think Golden State is the best 384 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 2: place for Yannis and It's definitely what I'm rooting for 385 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 2: as a basketball fan. But if I saw a report 386 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 2: come out on Tuesday next week that was like Yannis 387 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 2: has scratched Golden State off of his list of preferred 388 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 2: destinations because he doesn't want to have to be traded 389 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: again in two or three years. I would at least 390 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 2: understand that my thing is go in a title with 391 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 2: Steph and stamp yourself in basketball eternity. Don't worry about 392 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 2: the next part of it. That's just kind of my perspective. 393 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 2: But I at least understand Giannis's point of view there 394 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 2: if he were to decide to look elsewhere. Today's show 395 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 2: is brought to you by a presenting sponsor, hard Rock Bet, 396 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 2: Florida's sportsbook Listen. We talked a lot about hoops on 397 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 2: the show, but everyone's locked in on next Sunday's big game. 398 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 2: I cannot wait to see see Hawks versus Patriot. Hard 399 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 2: Rock Bet has all the different ways you can get 400 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: in on Sunday's action. If you haven't signed up with 401 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 2: hard rock Bet, there's never been a better time. 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Terms and 419 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 2: conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call one eight 420 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: three to three play Wise. In Indiana, if you or 421 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 2: someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, 422 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 2: call one eight hundred and nine with it gambling problem 423 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 2: called one eight hundred gambler in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, 424 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 2: New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia. Lastly, on the Warriors front, 425 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 2: the idea of the Warriors pivoting through two separate trades 426 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 2: for Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Davis has been floating around 427 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 2: over the last couple of days. Should the Jannis saga 428 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 2: get pushed to this summer. If it gets pushed to 429 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 2: the summer, all of a sudden, it makes even less 430 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 2: sense for Golden State. Right, you have better trade packages 431 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 2: that could be offered by other teams. When you get 432 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 2: to the summer, Steph will turn thirty nine before last 433 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 2: year next year's playoff run. It gets even more complicated there. 434 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 2: So when it looks when you look at like Andrew 435 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,239 Speaker 2: Wiggins and Anthony Davis as a pivot, I love it 436 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 2: as a backup plan. Before the Jannis news came out 437 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 2: on Wednesday. If you guys remember we had a Western 438 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,160 Speaker 2: Conference trade preview earlier in the week. In that pod, 439 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 2: when we got to Golden State, I discussed the idea 440 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 2: of Anthony Davis being the obvious best trade target for 441 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 2: Golden State. If Giannis is off the table, he just 442 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 2: provided the best combination of affordability and real championship upside, 443 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 2: a guy you can bring in who when he's healthy. 444 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis is still when he's healthy, strictly as a 445 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: playoff player, top seven or eight in the world because 446 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 2: he's such a good defensive rebounder, such a good defensive foundation, 447 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:32,880 Speaker 2: and a guy who's going to score twenty five points 448 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 2: per game on sixty percent your shooting in the postseason 449 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 2: like you just do. 450 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:37,640 Speaker 1: There's not many. 451 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 2: Players that have that level of floor in terms of 452 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 2: night to night impact in the NBA postseason if he's healthy. 453 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 2: I also think he's a very good compliment to Steph Curry, 454 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 2: So getting that level of talent affordably because of his 455 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 2: injury history, and again, you wouldn't even be able to 456 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 2: look at Anthony Davis as an option unless you wanted 457 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: to pay Yiannis prices. If ad had not missed any 458 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 2: games since twenty twenty four. Right two, he had that 459 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 2: brilliant year, played a bunch of games, looked fantastic in 460 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 2: the first round series against Jokic. Then he started getting 461 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 2: hurt again last year and it's been a problem this season. 462 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 2: If he was healthy that whole time, he would cost 463 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 2: close to what Yiannis would cost, not quite close. He's 464 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: affordable because of his health issues. You take the risk. 465 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 2: If he happens to be healthy, all of a sudden, 466 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 2: you have a top seven or eight playoff player in 467 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 2: the world. Even just in that construct, I would look 468 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 2: at Golden State back in the second tier of contenders 469 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,439 Speaker 2: if Ad could stay healthy. You hadd Andrew Wiggins to 470 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: that mix. I'm a big Andrew Wiggins fan. Guys who 471 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 2: are apex athletes who rebound like crazy, who can guard 472 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:48,159 Speaker 2: multiple positions well while also hitting forty percent of their threes, 473 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 2: and he's a guy who can put the ball on 474 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 2: the floor a little bit. I think him and Anthony 475 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 2: Davis and Steph that's a hell of a trio to 476 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: build a lineup around. 477 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: Clear. I think they have a real shot at Yannis. 478 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:03,120 Speaker 1: That's what I'm rooting for. 479 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 2: But should they miss on Yannis, if the Bucks do 480 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 2: somehow convince Yiannis to waste another year, or if they 481 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: end up making a deal with Miami or a New 482 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: Yorker Minnesota, I do like that as a potential pivot 483 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 2: for Golden State capitalizing on the urgency of the STEPF situation, 484 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 2: focusing on players that are relatively affordable to their talent. 485 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 2: Andrew Wiggins is better than Herb Jones. He's a better 486 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 2: basketball player right now than Herb Jones, but he's less 487 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 2: expensive because he's in his thirties. Right That's a distressed asset, 488 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 2: so to speak, because he's expensive. He makes thirty million 489 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 2: a year and he's in his thirties. That's why he's affordable. 490 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,359 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis is a superstar level talent who's dealt with 491 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 2: injury history, who makes over fifty million. That's why he's 492 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 2: available at the price point. So Golden State kind of 493 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 2: has to operate in that arena should they miss out 494 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 2: on Yannis, And we even talked about this in the 495 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 2: Wednesday Night Pod, like Giannis's calf injuries are the only 496 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 2: reason Golden State has a shot here. If Yannis had 497 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:05,239 Speaker 2: played in every game this season and looked like a 498 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 2: healthy MVP candidate, you would see one of those other 499 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 2: teams that has a lot of draft picks. You would 500 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 2: see somebody else jump in and just grandfather offer and 501 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,160 Speaker 2: get him. You'd see a Houston jump in you'd see 502 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,919 Speaker 2: a San Antonio jump in. It is the injuries to 503 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 2: Giannis in conjunction with his previous injury history that caused 504 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 2: him to miss playoff games that is scared off some 505 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 2: of the younger, richer teams in the league and open 506 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 2: to the door to teams like Miami and teams like 507 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:37,199 Speaker 2: Golden State and teams like New York and Minnesota. But 508 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,959 Speaker 2: in the event that Jannis, if they miss out, I 509 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 2: like Wiggins and Anthony Davis as a pivot. Last segment 510 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 2: for today, should the Lakers make a trade for DeAndre Hunter? 511 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 2: So the Cavs have DeAndre Hunter on the books for 512 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 2: this season plus one more additional season at twenty five million, 513 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,120 Speaker 2: and he's viewed at somewhat as somewhat of a negative 514 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,640 Speaker 2: asset right now because of that twenty five million dollar 515 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 2: contract next season at injury issues. He's shooting the ball 516 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 2: poorly this season relative to previous seasons. He's not exactly 517 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 2: the scrappiest three and D guy type, you know, in 518 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:10,439 Speaker 2: terms of dirty work guy in the world. We're going 519 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,640 Speaker 2: to get into that more in a minute. But he's 520 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,200 Speaker 2: viewed as somewhat of a negative asset. You got twenty 521 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 2: five million dollars on the books for next season. The 522 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 2: Calves are dealing with some cap constraints, so they could 523 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 2: potentially be looking to move him at this deadline. I'm 524 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 2: not super high on DeAndre Hunter. We'll get into that 525 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 2: more in a minute. But my take as to whether 526 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 2: or not the Lakers should make a move for DeAndre 527 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 2: Hunter is pretty simple. If it's just expiring salary, let's 528 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 2: call it Gabe, Vincent, Maxicaliba, and Dalton connect. Gab and 529 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 2: Maxie are expirings. Dalton has two team options the next 530 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 2: two seasons, so he's effectively in expiring, but you can 531 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 2: keep him if you want to keep him at a discount. 532 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: That's all solid. That would be a way for. 533 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 2: Essentially the Lakers to be like, here's a bunch of 534 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 2: money that comes off your books at the end of 535 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 2: the season, we'll pay take. 536 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: Back DeAndre Hunter. 537 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 2: All that twenty five million disappears from the Caves books 538 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 2: next year, buys him financial flexibility. If that's all the prices, 539 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 2: then sure why Because those three guys are providing next 540 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 2: to nothing for the Lakers right now. Dalton and Maxie 541 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 2: are basically out of the rotation. Maxie will only play 542 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 2: if one of the centers is hurt, Gabe Vincent plays 543 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 2: a little, but he's just not very good. So if 544 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 2: you can add DeAndre Hunter into your rotation for basically nothing, 545 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 2: no draft compensation and a bunch of expiring salaries and yeah, 546 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: young player on a rookie contract in Dalton Connects, but 547 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 2: one that also is not very well valued around the league. 548 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 2: It's a simple talent upgrade. You're taking two guys that 549 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 2: don't play and a guy that probably shouldn't play, and 550 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 2: you're replacing him with the guy that say what you 551 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 2: want about him, he'd play twenty minutes a night for 552 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: the Lakers. If you can do that, jump all over it. 553 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 2: But I wouldn't include anything in terms of higher level 554 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: rotation players or draft compensation for it. Like if the 555 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 2: deal requires you to include Ruey Hatchimura, I hate it. 556 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 2: I only would send out Ruy Hachamura for a bona 557 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 2: fide starting small forward or starting center that you know 558 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 2: is going to be in the trenches with Luca for 559 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 2: five plus seasons as a starter and a guy that's 560 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 2: gonna close every big playoff game. If you can do that, 561 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 2: by all means, send Rui out, because I don't think 562 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 2: Rui's one of those guys. But Rui right now is 563 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 2: a good enough player as a rotation scoring power forward 564 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 2: who can hit threes on kickouts to the weak side, 565 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 2: who can drive a close out and hit a mid 566 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 2: range pull up, do some work as a bigger athlete 567 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 2: on the team. You can't afford to send him out 568 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 2: for another player that may or may not be better 569 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 2: than it. 570 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: And DeAndre is maybe. 571 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: A little more natural as a three. Although my thing 572 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 2: with threes is I want scrappers at the three. I 573 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 2: want guys that can really guard on the perimeter. I 574 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 2: want guys that really rebound, and Deandre's just. 575 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:56,320 Speaker 1: Not that guy. 576 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 2: But he's a little bit more natural as a three 577 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 2: than Ruin, so there's that tiny bit of upside. But 578 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 2: I don't think he's particularly good enough at that position 579 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: to justify a swap that involves Ruey or if you 580 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 2: have to include draft compensation that prevents you from getting 581 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 2: other players. Again, my issues with Hunter is he's basically 582 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 2: not a scrapper. He looks like a three and D 583 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 2: wing because he's got this big physical frame, but he's 584 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:25,479 Speaker 2: not a very good rebounder, not a very good on 585 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 2: ball defender, not a very good off ball defender. Think 586 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 2: of it like this, This is a player who's having 587 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 2: a down year, but he's averaging fourteen points per game 588 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 2: on fifty five point four percent true shooting. Again, not 589 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 2: super efficient, but not horrible horribly inefficient. It's like a 590 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 2: little below league average, and there's a volume there. He's 591 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 2: scoring fourteen points every game. He has seven games this 592 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 2: year where he's scored twenty plus points. If he was 593 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 2: even remotely considered a good, dirty work guy, like a 594 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:03,320 Speaker 2: guy who like really could guard in multiple facets of defense, 595 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 2: both on and off the ball, and really scrapped for 596 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,600 Speaker 2: rebounds and sprinted and played hard all the damn time. 597 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 2: If he was that, nobody, not even the Calves in 598 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 2: their current predicament, would let him walk over twenty five million. 599 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: Like if it was Jaden McDaniels. 600 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 2: Instead of DeAndre Hunter on the exact same contract, there's 601 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 2: no chance the Calves trade him. They are trading him 602 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 2: not because he's less efficient than usual, though that's part 603 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 2: of it. If he's making a ton of shots, it 604 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 2: overcomes some of those issues, but it's because he's not 605 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 2: nearly as good as Jalen Tyson, as an all around 606 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 2: role player. Tyson rebounds Jalen Tyson plays his ass off 607 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 2: as a defensive player every single possession. So again, if 608 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:58,280 Speaker 2: you can turn useless players into DeAndre Hunter, if you 609 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 2: can turn a bunch of guys that are out of here 610 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 2: rotation and Gabe Vincent in the DeAndre Hunter, then great, 611 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 2: you just add him to your bag, right. He's another 612 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 2: tool you can use some nights, he can play a 613 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 2: big role. Some nights, he can start, some nights, he 614 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 2: can come off the bench, some nights he can play 615 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 2: a smaller role. He's just talent for a team that 616 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 2: needs talent. But if you have to include Ruey or 617 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 2: draft compensation for him, it's just a bad idea in 618 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 2: my opinion. And if Rob Polinka ends up flipping ruy 619 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 2: Hat Tamura for DeAndre Hunter this year, I think that 620 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 2: would be a huge mistake for the Lakers and detrimental 621 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 2: to what their goals are over the coming seasons. All right, guys, 622 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 2: that's all I have for today. As always, I sincerely 623 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 2: appreciate you guys for supporting us in supporting the show. 624 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 2: We will be back on Monday with our normal Power 625 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 2: Rankings pod. I will see you guys, then