WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Bradley Beal Blockbuster and our NBA Draft preview 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:04.320 Welcome to this League Uncut. Can you rule of twenty 0:00:04.360 --> 0:00:05.480 four hour NBA news. 0:00:05.680 --> 0:00:06.840 This's you'l. 0:00:08.600 --> 0:00:17.000 Chris Hands. It's so time, work's time, It's so time. 0:00:17.160 --> 0:00:21.799 This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should 0:00:21.840 --> 0:00:22.439 be a good one. 0:00:24.200 --> 0:00:27.280 Hey everyone, great to have you with us for another 0:00:27.560 --> 0:00:30.760 edition of this League Uncut. 0:00:31.920 --> 0:00:34.480 A good one, we hope. 0:00:34.479 --> 0:00:38.199 So because it's a big week, a huge week, a 0:00:38.320 --> 0:00:41.239 crazy time in the NBA that is already off to 0:00:41.320 --> 0:00:46.639 a wild and chaotic start. It's Draft week Monday night 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:50.720 as we record this Tuesday morning release for this edition 0:00:51.680 --> 0:00:55.080 of this League Uncut, and we've already had a blockbuster 0:00:55.160 --> 0:00:59.920 trade Sunday, the Suns and the Wizards come to turn 0:01:00.880 --> 0:01:05.000 on a Bradley Beal deal. Bradley Beal going to the 0:01:05.120 --> 0:01:12.119 Suns for nothing more than Chris Paul's expiring contract, Landry Shammitt, 0:01:12.240 --> 0:01:16.040 a slew of second round picks, maybe another small contract 0:01:16.200 --> 0:01:21.440 or two thrown into the deal. But this thing happened quick, 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:27.800 It kind of came out. It was the weekend when 0:01:27.800 --> 0:01:32.640 we basically heard that the Wizards had zeroed in on 0:01:32.840 --> 0:01:39.520 either Miami or Phoenix. And it certainly does appear that 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:44.319 Miami was not ready to move as quickly as the 0:01:44.319 --> 0:01:46.600 Wizards would have liked, whereas. 0:01:46.200 --> 0:01:49.400 The Suns were highly motivated. 0:01:48.880 --> 0:01:53.080 To move quickly because Chris Paul's contract, the centerpiece of 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:56.280 this deal, of course, has the guarantee date on June 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.200 twenty eighth. The Suns had told Chris Paul, as our 0:02:00.240 --> 0:02:03.320 own Chris Haynes reported as our own Chris Haynes first 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:08.720 reported the Suns was it two weeks ago had informed Paul, 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:12.720 left Paul and his representatives with the clear impression that 0:02:12.760 --> 0:02:15.359 they were going to waive him if they couldn't trade him. 0:02:15.720 --> 0:02:19.359 But they did find a trade. I mean, this is. 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:23.840 You know, for the Wizards, it's really the only deal 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:26.400 they could make. It's the only way to start their rebuild. 0:02:26.520 --> 0:02:30.840 That no trade clause that they needlessly and inexplicably gave 0:02:30.919 --> 0:02:34.280 Bradley Beal a year ago, it gave Bradley Beal and 0:02:34.320 --> 0:02:38.440 Mark Bartelstein all the control. They were basically able to 0:02:39.320 --> 0:02:42.840 pick their destination. But for the Wizards to start over 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:47.240 getting off Bill's long term money, they basically had to 0:02:47.280 --> 0:02:51.120 take whatever trade they could to make it happen. So 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:55.079 they've taken a deal that doesn't look great. I mean, 0:02:55.280 --> 0:02:58.000 I don't. I frankly don't love it for either team. 0:02:58.080 --> 0:03:00.560 But you tell me, Chris Haynes, you've been covering this 0:03:00.600 --> 0:03:04.600 one as closely as anyone. What was what was your 0:03:04.600 --> 0:03:09.560 first reaction when you heard that Phoenix was the destination 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:10.480 for Bradley Beal. 0:03:10.720 --> 0:03:13.639 I thought Miami would be in the driver's seat because 0:03:14.560 --> 0:03:18.840 I felt even if brad wanted to go to Phoenix 0:03:19.480 --> 0:03:23.280 first and foremost, I felt like, well, I thought the 0:03:23.320 --> 0:03:26.360 Wizards would put up a fight because you can get 0:03:26.440 --> 0:03:30.160 they can get more from Miami opposed to Phoenix. So 0:03:30.240 --> 0:03:31.560 I thought it was going to be a little bit 0:03:31.560 --> 0:03:36.080 more fighting in that regard from Bill's camp and the Wizards, 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:39.840 but there was not, which shows which tells you that 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:43.760 the Wizards were prepared with this new regime with Winger 0:03:44.000 --> 0:03:47.560 as the head of basket operations over there, they were 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:52.080 prepared to go into a rebuild at any costs. You know, 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:57.440 they looked at it, and again, you know, they didn't 0:03:57.480 --> 0:03:59.840 get much, but they got off of the salary, they 0:03:59.880 --> 0:04:02.080 got off of that contract, and now they can kind 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:05.320 of start going into the direction of doing the reset 0:04:05.880 --> 0:04:10.120 with new management. And for Phoenix, they're going all in. 0:04:10.240 --> 0:04:13.520 I mean Stein, They're not going to have a pick 0:04:13.720 --> 0:04:17.719 at all, like for a while, like they're going they're 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:20.640 still trying right now, they're still trying to figure out 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:23.880 how many second round picks are going to be included 0:04:24.520 --> 0:04:26.800 in this deal. They don't have a first round pick, 0:04:27.400 --> 0:04:29.839 so they're going to be without a pick for a while, 0:04:30.160 --> 0:04:34.120 which means they put all of their chips in. They 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:40.360 are all in. They are sold on this. It has 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:45.039 to work. It has to work, So Frank Vogel, he 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:50.680 has a work cut out on I don't think it's 0:04:50.680 --> 0:04:53.360 going to take much to build around that. That team. 0:04:53.440 --> 0:04:56.440 I think players are going to come and play for 0:04:56.480 --> 0:05:00.120 the minimum or some guys will take less money for 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:03.240 a year. I think I think it will. You know, 0:05:03.279 --> 0:05:06.240 Phoenix is not a bad place to stay, not definitely 0:05:06.279 --> 0:05:08.680 not a bad place to stay. So I think they'll 0:05:08.680 --> 0:05:12.560 accomplish accomplish that. But what the pieces fit, that's the 0:05:12.600 --> 0:05:16.599 big question. Will the pieces fit. Who's going to be 0:05:16.680 --> 0:05:20.280 the primary ball handler on this team? Do they feel 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:22.279 they have it already or do they have to go 0:05:22.320 --> 0:05:26.200 out there and find one. So there's a lot of holes, 0:05:26.560 --> 0:05:30.520 but they they definitely got the biggest three, the biggest 0:05:30.800 --> 0:05:34.440 three that this league has currently right now. So those 0:05:34.480 --> 0:05:36.719 were my initial thoughts when the trade went down. 0:05:38.440 --> 0:05:41.880 Yeah, and look, we've talked already for weeks about what 0:05:41.960 --> 0:05:45.040 the new CBA is going to do. There are some 0:05:45.720 --> 0:05:48.200 there are a few of the tough restrictions come in 0:05:48.200 --> 0:05:51.719 in year one and then after this coming season. Is 0:05:51.800 --> 0:05:55.240 really when teams that are in second apron territory just 0:05:55.360 --> 0:06:01.200 lose all flexibility to I mean, you just lose any 0:06:01.279 --> 0:06:07.120 number of roster building measures. And that's a problem. It's 0:06:07.160 --> 0:06:09.560 not just that the Suns are going to be lacking 0:06:09.720 --> 0:06:15.080 depth after making this trade. I mean it's rebounding its defense. 0:06:15.680 --> 0:06:20.320 It's coping with Jokic and Anthony Davis, which you have 0:06:20.400 --> 0:06:22.560 to do if you want to get out of the West, 0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:26.359 like the tools to change their team. Like basically, the 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:29.880 decision the Sun's made was, Okay, we're we've got a 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:31.440 crazy high payroll as it is. 0:06:31.560 --> 0:06:33.280 We went all in on Kevin Durant. 0:06:33.360 --> 0:06:35.760 Then the rules changed, so we're gonna go even farther 0:06:35.920 --> 0:06:39.279 all in while we still can. And just the problem 0:06:39.320 --> 0:06:43.400 with that strategy is if it doesn't work, if this 0:06:43.480 --> 0:06:47.599 thing gets off to a rocky start after year one, 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:50.719 or even especially if it goes two years, it's going 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:53.279 to be so hard for them to make changes. So 0:06:53.320 --> 0:06:55.680 that's why around the league, so many people are expecting 0:06:56.200 --> 0:06:59.520 that DeAndre Ayton has to get moved, if not immediately, 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:03.800 between now and the February trade deadline, because if the 0:07:03.880 --> 0:07:07.840 Suns keep him, it's gonna be much harder to trade 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:13.080 him and get back pieces that work. They just to 0:07:13.080 --> 0:07:16.040 be able to pull off a trade because of all 0:07:16.080 --> 0:07:17.440 the restrictions forthcoming. 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:22.240 So you know, what can they get for Ayton? I mean, 0:07:23.320 --> 0:07:25.400 I just have I don't know. 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:27.280 I guess to me, I'm less worried about, Like I 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:30.640 kind of feel like between between Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, 0:07:30.680 --> 0:07:33.119 they'll figure out the ball handling, but everything else man again, 0:07:34.000 --> 0:07:40.320 you know, wings, defense, rebounding, I mean, there's so many 0:07:40.760 --> 0:07:45.080 holes they still have to fill as good. You know, 0:07:45.280 --> 0:07:47.760 even if you think that these three stars are going 0:07:47.840 --> 0:07:49.760 to just snap together fantastically. 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:54.400 Yeah, Phoenix initially try to include Ayton in the deal. 0:07:56.120 --> 0:08:00.800 It was gonna be Ayton, and believe Sammon, the Wizards 0:08:00.800 --> 0:08:05.280 didn't want that. The Wizards wanted Chris Paul's expiring contract 0:08:05.280 --> 0:08:08.360 in that deal. So I mean, I honestly think, you know, 0:08:08.440 --> 0:08:14.280 that's probably a little bit more flexibility for for for 0:08:14.360 --> 0:08:17.600 defitting Sons, because I think there's a there is a 0:08:17.600 --> 0:08:20.280 good chance that Aiden could be moved, could be moved 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:23.600 before the season starts. So that's definitely an option out 0:08:23.600 --> 0:08:27.160 there where the Sons probably feel like they can get 0:08:27.200 --> 0:08:30.760 a couple of pieces, a couple of quality pieces back 0:08:30.800 --> 0:08:34.600 in return for DeAndre Aiden, which which will help with 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:37.280 their depth and help with the holes that you said, 0:08:37.520 --> 0:08:41.720 wing perimeter guys, three D guys, those type of prospects. 0:08:42.320 --> 0:08:48.280 So again, kudos to Matt Ishpia, James Jones. They went 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:53.280 all in. They went all in, and you know, we'll 0:08:53.320 --> 0:08:56.840 see how it fares from here. But stein the process 0:08:56.880 --> 0:08:59.839 of going all in, there's a little bit of co 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:06.000 troversy on how how and how they handled going all 0:09:06.080 --> 0:09:13.040 in and how they handled sending out a player. That 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:16.080 player is Chris Paul. What did you think when you 0:09:16.080 --> 0:09:18.600 saw Chris Paul's let me see, he went on Good 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:22.280 Morning America First he's doing his tour the name of 0:09:22.320 --> 0:09:25.320 his book sixty one, so doing his book tour. Story 0:09:25.400 --> 0:09:28.520 is in New York right now, Good Morning America First 0:09:29.120 --> 0:09:34.959 City basically said he was surprised of the News and 0:09:35.920 --> 0:09:39.480 he found out that he was traded via his son, 0:09:39.679 --> 0:09:43.000 which I knew about. That son was at a basketball 0:09:43.040 --> 0:09:47.559 camp at the time, and that's how he That's how 0:09:47.600 --> 0:09:49.839 he found out, and then he went out on Then 0:09:49.880 --> 0:09:52.160 he did the story with the did an interview with 0:09:52.200 --> 0:09:54.480 The New York Times. Stein, Can you elaborate on that 0:09:54.520 --> 0:09:55.400 one please. 0:09:57.280 --> 0:10:00.400 Yeah, So the New York Times, my former Employeyers and 0:10:00.440 --> 0:10:04.920 my former teammates, Soapandeb did a great piece touching on 0:10:04.960 --> 0:10:08.400 not just the book, but how everything went down with Phoenix. 0:10:08.440 --> 0:10:12.880 And in that interview with Soapin Chris Paul twice referred 0:10:12.880 --> 0:10:18.040 to Matt and Isaiah as the Sun's decision makers, and 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:23.240 Isaiah of course refers to Isaiah Thomas. You reported at 0:10:23.240 --> 0:10:25.640 the time, just as Ishbia was going to be formally 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:29.120 introduced as the Son's new owner, about the influential voice 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:34.000 that Isaiah Thomas was going to get in the Sun's 0:10:35.080 --> 0:10:40.319 revamped organization in the Ishbia era taking over the franchise 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:44.000 from Robert Sarver and Matt Ishbia had a press conference 0:10:44.000 --> 0:10:49.559 and denied those reports pretty strenuously, and people around the 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:54.680 league have continued to whisper since that Isaiah does have 0:10:54.920 --> 0:10:59.920 a very strong advisory voice at the least with Matt. 0:11:00.400 --> 0:11:02.480 Of course we saw him sitting next to Ishba at 0:11:02.480 --> 0:11:06.760 some playoff games. But Chris Paul really kind of put 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:10.439 the spotlight on it with the way he described it 0:11:10.480 --> 0:11:13.360 to Soapan in this Times piece that that you know, 0:11:13.440 --> 0:11:17.080 he basically made it sound like Isaiah was co making 0:11:17.120 --> 0:11:21.080 these decisions alongside Matt Ishbia. So something tells me that 0:11:21.080 --> 0:11:23.920 we're going to be talking a lot about that as 0:11:24.200 --> 0:11:26.520 we go forward here with the son. 0:11:26.640 --> 0:11:28.760 Chris Paul kind of dropped, kind of dropped the bomb 0:11:28.760 --> 0:11:35.360 there right there. Unexpected a little bomb there right there. Yeah, 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:40.200 what was not expecting that during his book tour? Was 0:11:40.280 --> 0:11:46.560 not expecting that at all. What I will say about 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:51.120 Chris Paul, and there's really I believe he has another day. 0:11:51.160 --> 0:11:53.800 I believe tomorrow, which would be Tuesday to day that 0:11:53.920 --> 0:11:58.120 this pot is dropping. He's doing another round of book tours, 0:11:58.360 --> 0:12:01.240 a few more rounds of book tours. So I hope, 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:07.280 I hope whoever is interviewing him really go ahead ask 0:12:07.320 --> 0:12:09.679 them some questions, ask them some really good questions. I know, 0:12:10.320 --> 0:12:13.480 I know that an interview is about the about the book, 0:12:14.160 --> 0:12:17.080 but you know this, Chris Paul is in the news. 0:12:17.320 --> 0:12:20.360 You got to do your job, journalists, journalists, you gotta 0:12:20.400 --> 0:12:23.760 do your job. Ask some questions, Ask some basketball questions. 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:26.679 You know, just there's some answers that need to be 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:28.920 be put out there, and I think Chris Paul has 0:12:28.960 --> 0:12:31.880 a lot of those answers. So I please encourage y'all 0:12:32.280 --> 0:12:36.000 to ask some questions, see what you can get. But 0:12:36.840 --> 0:12:39.280 you know, I think right now you're looking at what 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:46.280 what is the future for Chris Paul. So I reported yesterday, Well, 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:49.480 it would have been Sunday that the Los Angeles Clippers 0:12:49.480 --> 0:12:55.000 are trying to get in position two, get a reunion 0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:59.600 going with Chris Paul. So the Clippers right now Marin 0:12:59.720 --> 0:13:02.680 talk with the Wizards, and we don't know if this 0:13:02.800 --> 0:13:05.600 is going to be expanded to a three team trade 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:09.400 or if this is or if it would be a 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:14.120 second trade that would get Chris Paul out of Washington. 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:17.320 Chris Paul would not be a member of the Washington 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:19.880 Wizards for long. I just don't know if it's going 0:13:19.920 --> 0:13:21.600 to be a part of a three team trade or 0:13:21.600 --> 0:13:24.520 except for the trade or wave or wave. 0:13:28.600 --> 0:13:33.520 Naturally, it behooves the Clippers to try to swoop in 0:13:33.760 --> 0:13:37.920 and complete a trade where they acquire Chris Paul without 0:13:38.000 --> 0:13:41.880 letting him hit the market as an unrestricted free agent. 0:13:42.000 --> 0:13:46.680 If again, the initial the initial word from the Suns 0:13:46.920 --> 0:13:50.960 to the Chris Paul camp was we're going to waive 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:54.880 you if we can't trade you. They ended up finding 0:13:55.800 --> 0:13:58.800 the trade to where the Suns don't have to make 0:13:58.800 --> 0:13:59.960 that posit that to see. 0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:02.920 But now the Wizards are in the same position. 0:14:03.240 --> 0:14:07.920 They either have to trade Chris Paul between now and 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:12.839 June twenty eighth, or guarantee his salary for the rest 0:14:12.840 --> 0:14:16.320 of the season knowing Chris Paul wouldn't want to play there, 0:14:17.120 --> 0:14:22.080 or waive him, buy him out, release him, however you 0:14:22.120 --> 0:14:22.760 want to term it. 0:14:23.200 --> 0:14:25.040 So, can the Clippers come. 0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:27.640 Up with a trade to where they acquire Chris Paul 0:14:28.120 --> 0:14:31.000 or are we going to see what? Just you know, 0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:36.200 I would be really interested to see, just out of curiosity, 0:14:36.240 --> 0:14:42.000 Like if Chris actually can negotiate his release and becomes 0:14:42.680 --> 0:14:48.760 a unrestricted free agent, what then happens? You know, is 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:51.760 it the Lakers? Does he Are the Clippers still an 0:14:51.760 --> 0:14:54.840 option in that scenario? Is there some other team that 0:14:54.880 --> 0:14:58.000 we don't know because Chris Paul is an unrestricted free agent? 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:04.040 Wouild certainly attract a good amount of interest if you 0:15:04.160 --> 0:15:07.600 have to forecast it. If I forced you to register 0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:14.200 your very educated guess, how do you think it turns out? 0:15:14.240 --> 0:15:16.280 Can the Clippers pull this off by trade or do 0:15:16.320 --> 0:15:20.040 you think he ends up hitting the open market and 0:15:20.080 --> 0:15:21.000 giving the Lakers a. 0:15:21.040 --> 0:15:24.320 Chance to I answered that start. I want to say 0:15:24.360 --> 0:15:29.160 I was very surprised to learn go to State had 0:15:29.560 --> 0:15:30.800 interest in Chris Paul. 0:15:31.360 --> 0:15:33.760 That's right. I left that, I left them out. You're right, good. 0:15:33.960 --> 0:15:35.760 I'm glad you brought that up, because that's a that 0:15:35.800 --> 0:15:37.440 would be hard. 0:15:37.800 --> 0:15:42.080 That is very hard to man. Yeah, that was that 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:44.600 was surprising. I was like Chris Paul, I was surprised. 0:15:45.560 --> 0:15:51.400 So so but if if if I'm forced to pick, 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:54.840 I think the Clippers work out of trade and get 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:57.800 Chris Paul, and I think the trade would probably have 0:15:57.920 --> 0:16:04.960 to involve Robert Covington deal in that might maybe maybe 0:16:05.000 --> 0:16:08.880 even Marcus Morris, but I think Robert Coventon for sure. 0:16:09.600 --> 0:16:12.080 And so that's that's the way I that's the way 0:16:12.120 --> 0:16:13.280 I envision it planned out. 0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:17.920 And so today I checked to see how what would 0:16:17.920 --> 0:16:20.520 be the chances if the Clippers can pull this off 0:16:21.240 --> 0:16:24.600 and they acquire Chris Paul from Washington via trade, either 0:16:24.600 --> 0:16:27.400 as a separate trade or by becoming the third team 0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:30.760 in this deal. Does that leave any room for Russell 0:16:30.800 --> 0:16:34.280 Westbrook to re sign with the Clippers. The word I 0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:38.040 got from a source close to the process today was 0:16:39.480 --> 0:16:44.160 possibly so. By no means yes, but it was also 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:48.160 not a no. Do you think could the Clippers have 0:16:48.240 --> 0:16:51.200 a team with both CP and Russ together? 0:16:52.240 --> 0:16:58.160 I think they could. I wouldn't be too confident in 0:16:58.320 --> 0:17:03.240 the I wouldn't be too confident in it working out. 0:17:03.480 --> 0:17:06.560 I just think if you're going to have one of 0:17:06.560 --> 0:17:08.680 those guys on the team, you have to allow them 0:17:08.720 --> 0:17:12.240 to do what they do. I don't know that you 0:17:12.280 --> 0:17:16.520 can have to two point guards. Point guards of that 0:17:18.200 --> 0:17:21.200 point guards that hand the ball a lot, point guards 0:17:21.240 --> 0:17:24.000 that are used to setting up the table. Chris Paul, 0:17:25.080 --> 0:17:29.639 I think, plays better off the ball than Russ. I 0:17:30.000 --> 0:17:32.480 just don't see. I don't see I don't see them 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:35.480 being able to even at times. I don't see them 0:17:35.480 --> 0:17:38.440 being able to work well together in the back court. 0:17:38.680 --> 0:17:41.840 So it'll be tough. But I think Russ played so 0:17:41.960 --> 0:17:44.159 well for them. He was a big bright spot for 0:17:44.280 --> 0:17:46.800 them towards the end when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.440 went out. You know, he was a great locker room leader. 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:53.960 He really became the voice of that team the lot 0:17:53.960 --> 0:17:57.000 of stages of that season, and so he does have 0:17:57.119 --> 0:18:00.480 value within that within that ball club on the court 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:02.679 and what he provides in the locker room. But I 0:18:02.680 --> 0:18:06.920 don't I personally, I wouldn't like it, Starn. I don't 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:08.360 know what the Clippers are going to do. I really 0:18:08.400 --> 0:18:10.119 don't know how they feel. I haven't really checked on 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:15.200 it out myself. You say possibly, I mean by them 0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:19.560 just saying possibly, that lets you know they have some 0:18:19.560 --> 0:18:23.560 some form of reservations about having a two on the team. 0:18:23.920 --> 0:18:27.199 But again, some teams believe in that, you know, you 0:18:27.280 --> 0:18:30.600 acquire as much depth as possible, work it out later 0:18:30.640 --> 0:18:33.480 because you know, guys get injured, things happen throughout the 0:18:33.480 --> 0:18:35.800 course of the season. So it's better to have talent 0:18:36.080 --> 0:18:38.360 than not to have talent. So, you know, I guess 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:39.240 we'll just have to see. 0:18:39.359 --> 0:18:41.919 So before we move on to the draft, let's circle 0:18:42.000 --> 0:18:45.199 back to the Bradley Beal trade, just because there was 0:18:45.280 --> 0:18:48.560 one angle to this that I think we started going 0:18:48.600 --> 0:18:51.359 down that road and we got a little bit derailed. 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:53.119 And we should cover this. 0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:56.280 So, as Chris put it, you know, Phoenix has gone 0:18:56.359 --> 0:19:00.320 all in whatever it had left in terms terms of 0:19:00.359 --> 0:19:04.200 trade assets to acquire Bradley Beal. They've surrendered it all. 0:19:04.240 --> 0:19:08.480 Now the Sun's basically they cannot make. They cannot have 0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:12.159 a more expensive trio than they have now with Durant 0:19:12.760 --> 0:19:16.400 and Devin Booker and Beal and everything they've given up 0:19:16.560 --> 0:19:20.400 to get Durant and now Beal in there. Miami did 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:25.080 not go all in with its Bradley Beal pitches, even 0:19:25.119 --> 0:19:29.120 though Miami was thought to be right at the top 0:19:29.320 --> 0:19:33.520 in terms of Bradley Beal's preferred destinations. And with that 0:19:33.600 --> 0:19:36.439 no trade clause that he and Mark Bartlestein negotiated a 0:19:36.480 --> 0:19:41.680 year ago, they had this uncommon control of the trade process. 0:19:41.760 --> 0:19:45.159 The Washington was basically going to have to accept the 0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:49.800 destination that Bradley Beal picked because of that no trade clause, 0:19:49.840 --> 0:19:54.400 the only no trade clause, only full no trade clause 0:19:54.680 --> 0:19:57.399 active in the league at this point, only the tenth 0:19:57.480 --> 0:20:01.000 no trade clause that's ever been nego shed in the NBA, 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:07.040 because they're really hard to get in the NBA. But look, everybody, 0:20:07.040 --> 0:20:10.320 I think by now understands the working assumption here. The 0:20:10.440 --> 0:20:13.879 belief is that Miami didn't want to go all in 0:20:14.600 --> 0:20:19.800 for Bradley Beale now because on the you know, basically 0:20:19.920 --> 0:20:24.600 waiting out the possibility that Damian Lillard that this would 0:20:24.600 --> 0:20:28.679 be the off season that Damian Lillard actually urges the 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:32.159 Portland Trailblazers to trade him, because if it gets to 0:20:32.200 --> 0:20:35.639 that point, Miami would be at or near the top 0:20:36.119 --> 0:20:39.520 of Dame's list with Brooklyn and potentially some other destinations. 0:20:39.520 --> 0:20:42.400 But Miami would have an excellent. 0:20:42.080 --> 0:20:45.080 Chance in the Dames sweepstakes. They would be one of 0:20:45.080 --> 0:20:49.600 the betting favorites, no doubt. But I mean, Chris, aren't 0:20:49.640 --> 0:20:52.479 the Heat taking a huge risk here? Because we still 0:20:53.080 --> 0:20:55.360 you know again, we're recording this on Monday night, this 0:20:55.400 --> 0:20:56.840 podcast is dropping Tuesday. 0:20:57.040 --> 0:20:59.760 There is still not a sentilla. 0:20:59.760 --> 0:21:04.199 Oh evidence or hints to point us in the direction 0:21:04.359 --> 0:21:07.840 of thinking that Dame is close to pushing his way out. 0:21:08.119 --> 0:21:12.440 I'll say this, for Miami to take this approach, they 0:21:12.560 --> 0:21:17.880 must feel like they got some sense, some knowledge that 0:21:19.560 --> 0:21:24.119 this could be the offseason that Dame request out, like 0:21:24.480 --> 0:21:28.359 they believe they feel like this could be the year. 0:21:29.119 --> 0:21:33.200 And the reason is Dame has made it clear that 0:21:33.280 --> 0:21:36.840 he wants to compete for a championship. He wants to continue, 0:21:37.000 --> 0:21:39.639 He wants a roster that can get him there. He 0:21:39.680 --> 0:21:42.439 wants that now. He does not want to wait, He 0:21:42.480 --> 0:21:45.160 does not want to go through a rebuild, doesn't want 0:21:45.200 --> 0:21:49.480 to continue to play with younger guys to help them 0:21:49.560 --> 0:21:51.680 grow and get to that point. He wants to win. Now. 0:21:51.760 --> 0:21:54.520 That's why you know, I've been saying this for the 0:21:54.640 --> 0:21:58.680 last couple of weeks. What Portland does with that pick, 0:21:58.960 --> 0:22:03.520 number three pick Thursday's draft, that's going to be so important. 0:22:04.200 --> 0:22:09.560 And we'll see if all indications are Portland is going 0:22:09.600 --> 0:22:12.640 to keep that pick. As of right now, all indications 0:22:13.080 --> 0:22:17.199 are leaning that way, and then Dame will have a 0:22:17.240 --> 0:22:21.400 decision to make at that point. Does he feel comfortable, well, 0:22:21.440 --> 0:22:24.680 you know that that pick being say Scoot Henderson, Does 0:22:24.720 --> 0:22:29.080 he feel comfortable going into another season where you got 0:22:29.080 --> 0:22:32.520 a rookie, rookie coming in, a rookie who's ultimately going 0:22:32.560 --> 0:22:35.879 to be the next franchise point guard for that team 0:22:35.920 --> 0:22:41.119 over the next possibly the next decade. How is he 0:22:41.160 --> 0:22:46.080 going to feel about that? So these are all questions 0:22:46.960 --> 0:22:50.320 that we won't have answers to until after the draft. 0:22:50.400 --> 0:22:53.600 Or until after the Portland makes makes that pick. Portland 0:22:53.600 --> 0:22:56.480 also has a twenty third pick as well. They can 0:22:56.960 --> 0:22:59.840 try to use that twenty third pick and package it 0:22:59.840 --> 0:23:02.040 with Anthony Simons to try to get some help. But 0:23:02.640 --> 0:23:04.879 you know, these are things that we won't know until 0:23:05.440 --> 0:23:08.720 Thursday or after Thursday. So I think that's why that's 0:23:08.720 --> 0:23:11.680 why Miami feels like, you know, if they're going to 0:23:11.800 --> 0:23:14.760 go all in, they want to go all in on 0:23:15.200 --> 0:23:18.280 an all NBA point guard. They feel like that's a 0:23:18.280 --> 0:23:21.280 dire need. That's more of a dire need for that team. 0:23:21.840 --> 0:23:25.360 And you know, I think that's why we saw them 0:23:25.440 --> 0:23:27.560 kind of reverse course on Bradley Beal. 0:23:29.400 --> 0:23:32.159 So how meaningful do you think it is that you know, 0:23:32.280 --> 0:23:35.000 Dame has been seen in the Blazers practice facility and 0:23:35.080 --> 0:23:40.240 it looks like he's taking an interest in Portland's draft 0:23:40.359 --> 0:23:41.560 night machinations. 0:23:42.000 --> 0:23:43.960 I guess that's kind of the curve ball here. 0:23:44.000 --> 0:23:48.440 Okay. I would say that he's there working out himself, 0:23:51.760 --> 0:23:54.879 and that's it. That's what I would say. It happens 0:23:54.880 --> 0:23:55.600 to work out. 0:23:55.640 --> 0:23:58.080 Well, we know we know who the there's only one 0:23:58.160 --> 0:23:59.879 Dame ologist on this podcast. 0:24:00.320 --> 0:24:01.320 If if if. 0:24:01.160 --> 0:24:04.119 We're looking for a dirkologist. Then I think, you know, 0:24:04.280 --> 0:24:06.880 then it's my turn to speak. But when it comes 0:24:06.920 --> 0:24:10.800 to when it comes to Dame ology, we defer to Haines. 0:24:11.440 --> 0:24:15.040 So I'm going with what you read, just my read? 0:24:15.960 --> 0:24:17.520 All right, well your read is very well. 0:24:18.080 --> 0:24:24.280 Say this. My reads often get mistaken for being something 0:24:24.320 --> 0:24:27.639 that Dame told me. That happens a lot if I 0:24:27.720 --> 0:24:32.040 say something my read, my sense what I think a 0:24:32.080 --> 0:24:34.960 lot of people think Dame is telling me this, This 0:24:35.000 --> 0:24:37.919 is my read. I'm telling you. You know, sometimes I talked to. 0:24:38.200 --> 0:24:40.520 Yeah, like recently, you were you were either on the 0:24:40.600 --> 0:24:43.720 dam Show or Colin Coward Show, and you were asked, 0:24:43.880 --> 0:24:48.040 you were asked about Boston. You gave your opinion on 0:24:48.720 --> 0:24:52.480 what you would project Dame to do based. 0:24:52.200 --> 0:24:53.479 On covering his whole career. 0:24:53.640 --> 0:24:56.280 It's not like he told you, Chris, will you please, 0:24:56.680 --> 0:24:58.640 will you please register my display. 0:24:59.240 --> 0:25:02.399