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We're two 31 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: weeks out for the NBA trade deadline, and it feels 32 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: like there's gonna be a whole lot of turnover with 33 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: the Lakers, or maybe not, who knows, we'll see, but 34 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: there's drama, as there always is for the Lakers around 35 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 2: this time of year. And I could think of nobody 36 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 2: better than our friend Yovann Bouja to come on the show. 37 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 2: Covers the Lakers for the for the athletic and he's 38 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: going to help us get to the bottom of some 39 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: of the mysteries surrounding this team heading into the deadline. Yovann, 40 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: thanks for coming on the show I want it before 41 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: we get to the to the trade deathline. I saw 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: a mention that from you on Twitter earlier today from 43 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: I believe you were on a different podcast about Darvin 44 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 2: ham And we just recently had a situation where the 45 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 2: Milwaukee Bucks had a clear understanding internally that their coach 46 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 2: was not the right coach for this particular team, and 47 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: they did something that is really difficult, but I think 48 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: was the right decision, and they made it a coaching 49 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: change in the middle of the season, and you I 50 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: had heard say that that was most not going to 51 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 2: be the case for this Lakers team. He has had 52 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 2: some issues with Darvin ham I think he's got a 53 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 2: lot more support within the front office and the ownership group. 54 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: That said it was a similar type of situation where 55 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 2: it seems like there's a consensus around the league that 56 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: Darvin has not done a good job with the Lakers 57 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 2: this year. What are you hearing about the least Darvin 58 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: Hams has for the rest of the season, and do 59 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: you think he will still be the coach by the 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: time we get to the playoffs? 61 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 3: I do you know? 62 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: I think that he does have the support of Genie 63 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: Buss and Rob Polinka, and you know that ultimately those 64 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: are the two head decision makers with the organization. And 65 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think some of the stuff within the 66 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: locker room has improved over the last few weeks since 67 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: our last discussion. The Lakers did have three significant wins. 68 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 1: I think that Clippers win was sneakily important for his 69 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: job security. But you know, beating the Clippers, beating the Mavericks, 70 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,839 Speaker 1: beating the thunder that they had some statement wins over 71 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: the last few weeks. Now, they've also had some statement 72 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: losses with with the with the Brooklyn loss and and 73 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: losing I mean, the whole thing that kind of spurned 74 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, some of the pushback against Darvin was that 75 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: Miami loss, but they also had the Memphis loss and 76 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: they got blown out by Phoenix. And you know, I 77 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: don't really hold the Utah and Clippers losses against them, 78 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: no Lebron in either situation. But uh, you know, from 79 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: my understanding, it would things would have to go off 80 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: the rails again. Uh, but but for a more sustained 81 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: period of you know, let's say a six, seven, eight 82 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: game losing streak where it's just clear that the disconnect 83 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: is palpable. You know players are are just checked out, 84 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: and and you know, I don't think it's gotten to 85 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,359 Speaker 1: that point like that. There have been comments in the media. 86 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: I think if you look at the post game availabilities, 87 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: there's there's there's some jabs here and there, and there's 88 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: been a lot of praising of opposing coaches. No play 89 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: I mean since Shams and I reported what we did, 90 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: no player has really come out and defended Darvinham, which 91 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: I think has kind of been telling that There's not 92 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: been any comment along the lines of he's our head coach, 93 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: you know, we have his back, we have confidence in him. 94 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: Like it's really been Darvin defending himself publicly and then 95 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: also kind of saying, wellhy have the backing of Rob 96 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: and Genie and ultimately that's what matters. But I think 97 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: with the way that this season has trended, they're below 98 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 1: five hundred, they're currently in that nine to ten mix, 99 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: and if they end up missing the play in or 100 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: missing the playoffs or losing in Round one, that's where 101 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: you start that I think this conversation becomes relevant again 102 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: and the Lakers likely reevaluate things over the summer. But 103 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: until that point, I think unless things just go hey, 104 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: and they were getting there right like they were on 105 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: a four game losing streak. They had the games coming 106 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: up against the Clippers, against the Mavericks, against the Thunder. 107 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: It was like the Sun's game in there as well. 108 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 1: It was like if they go on, you know, lose 109 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: seven of nine or something like that, like it might 110 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 1: just be the time to move on about a month 111 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,679 Speaker 1: ahead of the trade deadline, but they sort of righted 112 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: the ship again. They've had some bad losses since then, 113 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 1: but my understanding is he does have the confidence of 114 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: the front office and ownership. They did view him as 115 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: a coach that would come in with championship experience, a 116 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: lot of experience under Bud, but also kind of grow 117 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: into his coaching style so that they are giving him 118 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: a leash in that regard of they still think he's 119 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: not a finished product. He can improve as a coach, 120 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: but it's a delicate dance when you have a win 121 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: now situation and you don't have I think, complete buy 122 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: in from the locker room where it's like, you know, 123 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: I think you saw it in Milwaukee where there was 124 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: several situations of Giannis checking himself into a game and 125 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: Bobby Portis calling out the team after the n season 126 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: tournament that those things, you know, ultimately built up to 127 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: a point of I mean, I don't know, if you 128 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: saw the video of the Bucks dancing before the game, 129 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: that's that looked like a pretty happy team. So I 130 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: don't know if the Lakers would quite respond in that 131 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: way if they moved on from Darvin. But I do 132 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: think there's still some issues in there, but with the 133 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: rotation and some of the lineup stuff. But I think 134 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: winning cares all, and they have won some games that 135 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: they needed to win. But clearly, I mean, they're five 136 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: and six in twenty twenty four, so it's not like 137 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: they're out of the woods here, like they are still 138 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: struggling a bit, so I think, but from my understanding, 139 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: he's most likely safe through the rest of the. 140 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 3: Season, barring things just going hey what Yeah. 141 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: I have this theory, and this is not based on 142 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: any sort of reporting, not anything you've told me, not 143 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: even anything I've talked to other people about behind the scenes. 144 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: My theory is that they were done with him, and 145 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: then what happened was is it became abundantly clear that 146 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: he wasn't going anywhere, and then everyone was like, all right, fine, like, 147 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: we got to try to make this work one way 148 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 2: or another, you know, and specifically when it comes to 149 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 2: the Lakers, like the only real Like I think Lebron 150 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 2: and Ad in and of themselves are tacticians, and especially 151 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: when it comes to the defensive end of the ball 152 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: and game planning for specific teams. I think there's a 153 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: lot of that that Lebron and ad can kind of 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: take the load of, especially over the course of a 155 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: playoff series. I think we've seen enough of that over 156 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: the years to show that those two are constantly thinking 157 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: the game and going through that side of things. Also, 158 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: you know, this offense has masqueraded as a cool five out, 159 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: make the extra pass, drive and kick offense for brief 160 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: stretches over the course of the last couple of weeks. 161 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 2: But I still think, deep down, like in their basketball character, 162 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 2: this is a stuck in the mud type of brute 163 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: force offense. I think that's the way Lebron wants to play. 164 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: I think that's the way he wants to play. I 165 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: think I think that's their kind of like natural basketball identity, 166 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: and so in a lot of ways, I don't even 167 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 2: think a brilliant offensive tactician could come in here and 168 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 2: like turn this offense around. I think it's a lot 169 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: a lot of it has to do with the personnel, 170 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: and I think you see a lot of games like 171 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: the Nets game, where they, you know, in the first quarter, 172 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 2: the ball is just flying around and everyone's making the 173 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: extra pass, and everyone's driving and kicking, and there's this 174 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: real fluidity and they just can't sustain that. They can 175 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: only do that for short bursts before they kind of 176 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: rest revert back to what their normal basketball character is. 177 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 2: When they originally hired Darvin Ham, I liked it from 178 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: the standpoint of being a motivational move, Like if you 179 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: remember Frank Vogel, Frank Vogel, the one thing he is 180 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: great at, you know, really is that defensive tactician piece. 181 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 2: But you could just tell towards the end of that 182 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two season that everyone in the locker room 183 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 2: was kind of done playing hard for him. And I 184 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: think that we saw guys like em Udoka come in, 185 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: and we saw guys like tylu come in, and we 186 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: saw like even John C. Billups are seeing a little 187 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 2: bit of it with the Blazers this year. But these 188 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 2: young former player coaches, relatively young, I should say, former 189 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 2: player coaches that can look eyed eye with these dudes 190 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 2: and be like, I need you to do this and 191 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 2: them actually do. It is the driving force behind why 192 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 2: the Lakers went with Darvin Hamm because in theory, kind 193 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: of like with Adrian gre you're like, Okay, why would 194 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: you hire a rookie head coach for this job that 195 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 2: is very much a win now job or experience does 196 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 2: matter and it's more about personality management and all these 197 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: different things. And I literally think they went with darvinham 198 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 2: because they viewed him as a motivator and the problem 199 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 2: is that here we are a year and a half later, 200 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 2: and he can't motivate these guys. They're the worst effort 201 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: and energy team in the league. And so it reaches 202 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: a point where you're not getting any of the good 203 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 2: that comes with Darvin ham and some of those bad 204 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 2: pieces are starting to kind of float to the surface, 205 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: and it is what it is. I think the players 206 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 2: in that locker room have just realized that he's not 207 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: going anywhere, and I think that's why you're still seeing 208 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 2: some of that inconsistent effort. And I think we're really 209 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 2: the only hope for this team to kind of re 210 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: engage is some personnel turnover, and that personnel turnover being 211 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 2: what essentially causes the team to feel like it's the 212 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 2: first day of school again, and then maybe they can 213 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: go on a stretch. And I've said this before, I 214 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: don't think there's any chance the Lakers could win the 215 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: title unless they have a twenty to twenty five game 216 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 2: stretch where they look like a you know, sixty win 217 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 2: team basically over that stretch. They need to have that 218 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 2: kind of stretch. And so that brings us to the 219 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: trade deadline, because if there's not going to be any 220 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: sort of turnover and the coaching staff, it has to 221 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 2: be on the roster. And so here we are, I believe, 222 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 2: if I'm not mistaken. The trade deadline is two weeks away. 223 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 2: And there's been a ton of rumors surrounding the Lakers, 224 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 2: a lot of the classic the jockeying and the media 225 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 2: for like, oh well, we're actually looking to wait TI 226 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 2: this summer so we can go after Donovan Mitchell and 227 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 2: Trey Young and it's like, oh, well, they actually really 228 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: want Bruce Brown, and you know there's all this like 229 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 2: jockeying going on. So can you give us a summary 230 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: of where the Lakers are from the same point of 231 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 2: their front office and their strategy heading into this deadline. 232 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the Lakers are currently weighing three different paths. 233 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: From my understanding, one would be kind of call it, 234 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: I don't want to say punting on the season, but 235 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: sort of acknowledging like there might not be a move 236 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: out there that is going to turn this around. We're 237 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: going to have to figure this out with the fourteen 238 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: guys in the locker room, with the coaching staff, and 239 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: we've played better as of late. We've won five of 240 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: our last eight, and you know, let's stick with this 241 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: more offensive minded starting lineup. We're bringing in these kind 242 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: of you know, athletic, long, bigger players off the bench 243 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: and sort of changing up the pitches in the second quarter, 244 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: third quarter, and let's. 245 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 3: Just retain our assets. 246 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 1: Let's keep our young players, let's you know, keep our 247 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: one tradeable first shound pick, and then come draft night, 248 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: we can now move three guys and be it the 249 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 1: Trey Young and Donovan Mitchell names or just retaining that 250 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: for maybe the twenty twenty five trade deadline, like they 251 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 1: would have some flexibility there. So that's path number one. 252 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: Path number two is basically emptying cupboard and saying, Okay, 253 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: we're gonna give up you know, Delo or Ruye're willing 254 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: to throw in JHS or Max some of our young talent. 255 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: We're willing to trade the first round pick. We're willing 256 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: to add in a second round pick, a pick swap, 257 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: like whatever it takes to get a deal done. And 258 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: I think that would be a player like de Jone Murray. 259 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: I think it would be a player Zach Lavine previously, 260 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: but like that that type of salary or that type 261 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: of you know, fringe all star, you know, looking at 262 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: can we upgrade the Delo spot essentially with a better 263 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: a better third scorer, just a better third option on 264 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: this team. And then path number three is a small 265 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: to mid size move where maybe you're still moving Delo, 266 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 1: maybe you're still moving Ruie, or you can get off Gabe, 267 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: but you are basically drawing the line of like, we're 268 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: not giving up the first round pick, and maybe we'll 269 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: throw in a younger guy, or we'll throw in a 270 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: second round pick or two, but we're we're mainly trying 271 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: to swap salaries, swap a spot in the rotation, maybe 272 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: at a bench guy, but we're not doing anything drastic here, 273 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: So I think right now, path two and path three 274 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: are the more likely ones. I don't see them standing 275 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: pat and doing nothing. You have a win now situation 276 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: with Lebron and Ady. I don't think that would sit 277 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: well with Lebron, given how we know he's always looking 278 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: to improve his teams, and he has been critical of 279 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: this roster at various points of the season, talking about 280 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: the shooting, or talked about the lack of size or 281 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: the defense and whatnot. So I think if you gave 282 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: Lebron shoots, he'd want to do something at the deadline. 283 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: And I suspect that the Lakers are going to do 284 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: something at the deadline. Historically this front office has been aggressive. 285 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: It's just a matter of are they doing something big 286 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: and do they feel like they can give up that 287 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: first round pick, give up a pick, swap a second 288 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: round pick, whatever, and actually improve the roster substantially, or 289 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: are they drawing a line in the sand and saying, hey, 290 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: we're looking for a more marginal improvement, but maybe swapping 291 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: a player to will get us in the right direction, 292 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: clean up their rotation, you know, maybe plug a back 293 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: up point guard spot at another wing whatever, So those 294 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: are I think more of the two paths that they're 295 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: the siding between right now, and I think if they 296 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: have their way, it would be de Jonte Murray. From 297 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: my understanding, he is their top priority right now. But 298 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: barring them getting Murray, I think it's trending more toward 299 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: a smaller move. And some of the names out there, 300 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: you know, Bruce Brown's I think more of a medium 301 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: sized move. But Bruce Brown, Dorian Finney Smith, Tyas Jones, 302 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: Malcolm Brogdan, like, those are some of the names I've 303 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: reported on and other. 304 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 3: Others have as well. 305 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: So I think right now it's kind of empty the 306 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: cupboard for Dejonte or do a smaller move for a 307 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: role player who can maybe come in and be the 308 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: fit starter or be a key bench. 309 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that makes sense to me because I just to 310 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: be quite frank, I think I don't think Lebron's circling 311 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: year twenty two is as his opportunity to win the title, right, 312 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: And like, I just think if you punt on this season, 313 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 2: I think that's essentially the end of the Lebron ad era. 314 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 2: I think at that point you're probably gonna be looking 315 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: to move on unless you can bring in some bona 316 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 2: fide superstar next year. And again, like if a superstar 317 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: becomes available, there's just a lot of teams that have 318 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 2: more to offer than what the Lakers have to offer. 319 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 2: So like to me, that just doesn't really seem tenable. 320 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 2: But there's a lot of interesting names that have been 321 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 2: thrown around, and I want to kind of dive into 322 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 2: the basketball of each guy, but also take a kind 323 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 2: of at least a snapshot of the realistic nature of 324 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: some of these names at this point in time. So 325 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 2: we're gonna play game. I've got seven names. Excuse me, 326 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 2: six names, No, it is seven. We're good counting, a 327 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: little struggling to count. Get just getting back from vacation, 328 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 2: It's taken me a minute to get up to speed. 329 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 2: So I got seven names for you, and three of 330 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 2: them are non Lakers right now. Four of them are 331 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 2: Lakers right now, and I'm gonna ask you what the 332 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 2: percentage chance you think is that they are that they 333 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 2: are Lakers two weeks from now, after the deadline. That 334 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 2: first name, what is the percentage chance that de Jonte 335 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 2: Murray is a Laker in two weeks? 336 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 3: What is the percentage chance? 337 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: I would say forty five percent, So right under that 338 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: fifty percent mark, I think naturally you have to be 339 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: a bit more conservative when projecting trades. This was a 340 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: deal that I reported on was very close two weeks ago, 341 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: and the framework of that deal was D'Angelo Russell, Jalen 342 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: Hoods Chaffino a for the twenty twenty nine first round 343 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: pick and additional draft capital. 344 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 3: Be it. 345 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: They're still trying to figure out is that going to 346 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: be a pick swap, is that going to be a 347 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: second round pick? But that would be That was the 348 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: framework of that deal, and part of the pushback on 349 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: Atlanta's end was they want Austin Reeves if they're going 350 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: to do a one for one deal, which the Lakers 351 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: obviously aren't interested in doing, and then they're kind of 352 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: the second wave of pushback was, Okay, well, we don't 353 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: want d Lo, so you have to find a third 354 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: team to facilitate this. So the Lakers over the last 355 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: couple of weeks have been canvassing the league trying to 356 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: find a potential third team, most likely a lottery team 357 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: that would be looking to take on de lo salary. 358 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: Lakers give up, you know, second round pick or maybe 359 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: a couple to kind of appease them, maybe get back 360 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: another player and you know, add a couple pieces potentially, 361 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,959 Speaker 1: you know, expanding the deal. But you know that that 362 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: was so that's been happening. You know, those talks got 363 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: really close a couple weeks ago. Since then they've stalled, 364 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: But the Lakers have been canvassing the league. So from 365 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: my understanding, the Jonte is their top priority. That is 366 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: the guy that they've targeted as someone who could be 367 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: a better fit next to Austin Reeves in the back court. 368 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: You know, he has regressed defensively since his San Antonio days, 369 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: but they still I mean, he's still a better defender 370 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: than D'Angelo Russell. Like, yes, you take a little bit, 371 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: I mean you take a solid hit in the shooting 372 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: and playmaking department, but he does have that downhill verve 373 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: and athleticism and speed that the team has been lacking 374 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: sin losing Dennis Shruder last year. So I think looking 375 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: at Murray, I mean, he's got four more years. His 376 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: extension kicks in next season. He does have a thirteen 377 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: million dollar trade kicker which could be spread out over 378 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: the next. 379 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 3: Four years, so his salary is a little bit. 380 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,479 Speaker 1: Higher than it appears on paper, but I think it's 381 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: someone who late twenties he can grow with the ady 382 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 1: Austin Core. I think he does compliment Austin pretty well. 383 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: And the Lakers have identified more so the perimeter speed 384 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: and athleticism at the guard spot as the need that 385 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: they want to improve upon. I think you and I 386 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: are in agreement. It's probably more of a three and 387 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: D wing. It is probably the bigger need, but those 388 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: guys are hard to come by. If you do swap 389 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: d Lo out for a three and D wing, you 390 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: are potentially creating a different hole at the point guard spot. 391 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: You're not replacing that playmaking and that level of just 392 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: you know, ball handling and command that he's had over 393 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: the offense recently. So I think they view it as 394 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: we are trading some strengths for different strengths. But it 395 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: is just a more natural fit with Dejonte and Austin. 396 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 1: And then on top of that, you have this guy 397 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: now for four years, whereas Dillo has a player option, 398 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: and that kind of puts you in an interesting predicament 399 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: depending on how the rest of his season goes. So 400 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: I would say Dejonte wouldn't put it in above fifty percent, 401 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: just because with these situations, like once you have talks, 402 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 1: get to the eleventh that you know, the one yard line, 403 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: five yard line, whatever, and they fall through, there's always 404 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: the risk that they don't get back to that point again. 405 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: But you know, again, from everything I've heard, Lakers are 406 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: prioritizing Dejonte and therefore I would say about forty five 407 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: percent feels right to me. 408 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I to be clear, I like the Dejonte Murray 409 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 2: move in the sense that it obviously makes the Lakers better. 410 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 2: I mean, we don't have to we don't have to 411 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 2: galaxy brain this like to me, the D'Angelo Russell has 412 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 2: a ton of playmaking value in the regular season. But 413 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,080 Speaker 2: I do think that there's a pretty extensive history that 414 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 2: shows that when the athleticism and physicality goes up a level, 415 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 2: D'Angelo Russell's impact as a primary on ball guy goes 416 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 2: down a level. Once you turn into a guy who's 417 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 2: working off the ball a lot, you're there, there's a 418 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: diminishing return compared to like a like a really skilled 419 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 2: offensive player versus a kind of skilled offensive player. There's 420 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 2: a diminishing return versus an on ball roll. Right, Like, 421 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 2: even even when it comes to the Austin Delo debate, 422 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: Like there's no doubt that, Like Austin's not capable of 423 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 2: having a twenty seven and seven stretch over a over 424 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 2: a six game stretch like this where he's just picking 425 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 2: teams apart as this primary offensive initiator, and Delo has 426 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 2: been awesome over that stretch. That said, like when we 427 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: get to the postseason, it is going to be more 428 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: Lebron and ad. It is going to be more posting 429 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 2: up and more in the mud kind of like bully 430 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 2: ball type of basketball, and in that off ball roll. 431 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: Even though Delo provides a ton of value there, he's 432 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: been one of the better spot up players in the 433 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 2: league this year. His value there is a fishing return there. 434 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: De jon Tain Murray absolutely can play alongside Austin Reeves 435 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: two close playoff games. I have no worries about that whatsoever. 436 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: Dane de Jontay Murray is a better defensive player than 437 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: people remember him being from his time with the Hawks. 438 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 2: And you know, even last night in the Warriors game, 439 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,680 Speaker 2: like in that first half in particular, did a really 440 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 2: good job on Steph and was a big part of 441 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 2: getting him off to a rough shooting start, He's got quickness, 442 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 2: he's got length in particular is a big one for him. 443 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 2: That helps a lot, and it's more just about whether 444 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: or not he can kind of recapture that effort and energy. 445 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 2: But the big thing for me is de Jonta can 446 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 2: just beat people off the dribble like he just can't. 447 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 2: There is a play in the first half of the 448 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 2: Warriors game last night where he's coming up the right 449 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 2: side and he's got Andrew Wiggins on him in a 450 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 2: straight iso and he just hits him with the right 451 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 2: to left crossover and toasts him off the dribble and 452 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 2: draws a foul at the basket. It's like there's nobody 453 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: on the Lakers that can do that this year. There's 454 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 2: literally not a single guy on the roster, Like even 455 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 2: Lebron it's way more bully ball. Even with Anthony Savis, 456 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 2: it's way more bullyball. Austin and Dilo need screens, like 457 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: there's a huge value that comes there to Jontay. Murray 458 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 2: is having a much better shooting season that he has 459 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 2: in the rest of his career. A lot of people 460 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: say outlier, but I would say that in my time 461 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: watching the Hawks the last two years, Dejonte's got a 462 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 2: lot better playing off the ball, just as he's had 463 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 2: to play next to Trey Young. So like I like 464 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 2: de Jontay Murray, but I prefer Bruce Brown. And I'm 465 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: going to break it down, but I want to start 466 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:30,680 Speaker 2: by talking more about the realistic nature of that type 467 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 2: of deal. So what is the percentage chance that Bruce 468 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 2: Brown is a Laker in two weeks? 469 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,199 Speaker 1: I'd say twenty percent, so a significant drop off. I 470 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: think there's a couple of things there. You know, One, 471 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: the Lakers have had interest in Bruce Brown dating back 472 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: to last summer. I reported on it where there's about 473 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: a forty eight hour window before he ended up signing 474 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,239 Speaker 1: with Indiana where the Lakers were confident he was going 475 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,719 Speaker 1: to sign with them for the non time expayer mid 476 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: level exception because at that point that had been his 477 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: reported market and he was wearing the Lakers, the Mavericks, 478 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: the Knicks, that there were several teams interested in him 479 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: at that you know, eleven twelve million dollar price point. 480 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: But all of a sudden, you know, a few hours 481 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: before the fre agency starts, Indiana decides to back up 482 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: the Brins truck and offer him this interesting two year 483 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: you know, forty three forty four million dollar deal with 484 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: a team option on the second year, so really it's 485 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: a ballooned one year deal, and you know, he ends 486 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: up signing that, and now you know, they're able to 487 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: flip that ultimately for Pascal Siakam and really improve their roster. 488 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: So with Bruce Brown, it's an interesting situation just because 489 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:51,679 Speaker 1: he does have a team option for twenty three million 490 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: next season and on paper probably not worth that amount 491 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: of money. But if you don't pick that up, you 492 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: are risking him, you know, potentially leaving for for nothing. 493 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, then you just traded an asset 494 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: in de Loo or Ruey for Bruce Brown and then 495 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 1: you're kind of just losing that asset this, you know, 496 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: upcoming offseason. So I think for the Lakers, there's definitely 497 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: interest in him. You know, he in my opinion, he 498 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: had his best series of the championship run against the Lakers, 499 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: so they saw up close and personal like what he 500 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: could do. But just his versatility offensively, you know, function 501 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,399 Speaker 1: basically as Denver's backup point guard for a lot of 502 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 1: that run. But as we know in Brooklyn and Detroit, 503 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: he's played small ball center at times, so he can 504 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: really play one through five in some regards, And just 505 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: imagine slotting him next to Lebron and Ad and you 506 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: could go bigger with Ruy if if they're able to 507 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: keep him in that deal, or Van Doo or you 508 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: could go smaller and Bruce can guard up. So like, 509 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: you just have so much versatility adding him into the rotation. 510 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: They haven't really had a guy like this, maybe since 511 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: Kyle Kuzma off the top of my head, like that's 512 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: maybe different players, of course, but like just that versatility 513 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,719 Speaker 1: to do several different types of things, both offensively and 514 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: defensively from the wing spot. You know, it's been a 515 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: while for them. So I think Bruce is going to 516 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: have a lot of league wide interest. He is, I 517 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,679 Speaker 1: think a lot of teams, Like I look at Philly, 518 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 1: I think he would be a great fit there. So 519 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: I think there could be more of a bidding war 520 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: ultimately for Bruce Brown as a temporary win now move. 521 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: And once you get into a bidding war, the Lakers 522 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: don't have the assets really to outbid most teams. So 523 00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: I think whereas Dejonte Atlanta wants essentially two first round picks, 524 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 1: that the Lakers so far have really been the only 525 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: suitor interested in giving up that much, with JHS kind 526 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,920 Speaker 1: of counting as a first round pick in that scenario. 527 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: So I think with Bruce, it's just going to be 528 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: so much league wide interest that I don't know if 529 00:26:57,240 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: the Lakers can outbid a Dallas or a philid or 530 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: New York once it really comes down to offering your best. 531 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,400 Speaker 2: Well, I think. I think also it's a very non 532 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,199 Speaker 2: Laker thing to do, Like I mean, like go for 533 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 2: the big name or go for the guy who's the 534 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 2: dirty work guy. Like it's just it's a very no, 535 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: it's a very non Laker thing to do. And that's 536 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: why I'm with you, Like I'm super skeptical about the 537 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 2: realistic nature of a Bruce Brown to LA move. Why 538 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: I like it is is really simple to me. It 539 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 2: comes down to, like some of my core basketball beliefs, 540 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 2: Like right now, I think the Lakers are are being 541 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,080 Speaker 2: hurt by something that is a consistent issue that we 542 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 2: see around the league, which is it doesn't really matter 543 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 2: how much athleticism and size you have in the front 544 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 2: court at like power forward and center, if you don't 545 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,959 Speaker 2: have that in the back court to complement it. I mean, 546 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 2: we literally see this with with Milwaukee. It's like, okay, 547 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 2: here you go. You've got Joanniston brook Lopez. Well, they 548 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 2: literally can't protect the paint because they've got two of 549 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 2: the worst point of attack defenders in the league and 550 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: two you know, smaller players at the one In the 551 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 2: two Miami's there's a big part of why they went 552 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 2: after Terry Rogier. They have this real athletic and force 553 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 2: at the power forward spot and at the center spot, 554 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 2: but they don't really have it at the guard spot. 555 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: So they go after a guy like Terry Rozier, like 556 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 2: de Jontay Murray to me, is fast and he is long, 557 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 2: but what he's not is strong. He doesn't bring a 558 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: real a real force to the position. To me, Bruce 559 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 2: Brown is one of those guys in the same way 560 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 2: that Alex Crusoe did in the twenty twenty season. When 561 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: you put him next to Lebron James and Anthony Davis 562 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,560 Speaker 2: at the same time in a playoff setting where you're 563 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 2: getting engaged Lebron, there's a certain amount of like wave 564 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 2: after wave of like unbelievable force and power at every 565 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 2: position group. I think Bruce Brown at the two makes 566 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 2: it so that Austin and Torreon, as you're one in three, 567 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 2: is no longer an athleticism issue. 568 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 3: I think. 569 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 2: I think there's a Dejonte Murray scenario where he comes 570 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: in and he looks more or less like Atlanta Hawks 571 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 2: de Jontay Murray, and he gets your twenty something points 572 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 2: a game and has some defensive moments, but he's kind 573 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 2: of if he I think there's a question mark as 574 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: to whether or not Darvin and Lebron and Ad will 575 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 2: be able to look at Dejonte and be like, look, dude, 576 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 2: we need you to be one of the best perimeter 577 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 2: defenders in the league. That's what we need from you. 578 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: Whereas I think if they looked at Bruce Brown and 579 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 2: asked of that, ask that of him, he'd be like, 580 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 2: that's what I do in this league. That's what I've 581 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 2: always done in this league. Of course I will do 582 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 2: that for you guys, you know what I mean. And 583 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: I think there's a lot of upside there. So like 584 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 2: when I look sheerly from the perspective of the basketball, 585 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 2: then when you add this simple fact that in the 586 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 2: playoffs there's gonna be a lot of Lebron James and 587 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,959 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis with the ball, so all of a sudden 588 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: that all of those dirty work things and that off 589 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 2: ball cutting and screening and stuff becomes so much more 590 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 2: important than in the regular season. Like there's no doubt 591 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 2: there's gonna be games Dejontay turns up turns out to 592 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,440 Speaker 2: be a Laker. There's gonna be games in March where 593 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 2: he has thirty five points and you win and it 594 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 2: looks great, and that's amazing. But I do think there's 595 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 2: something to he said about. We all agree the Lakers 596 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 2: aren't winning the title unless Lebron and AD get near 597 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty level, and if they do that, it's 598 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 2: more important to have a Bruce Brown than it is 599 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 2: to have it to Jontey Murray. Dejonte would help a 600 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 2: struggling Lebron and AD, but a struggling Lebron and AD 601 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 2: aren't winning any titles to begin with. So that's kind 602 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:19,360 Speaker 2: of like my reasoning behind it. 603 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:19,760 Speaker 1: I am. 604 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 2: I am just a big believer in really good two 605 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 2: way role players around Lebron James and Anthony Davis, and 606 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 2: I always have been, which brings me to another two 607 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: way role player. What is the percentage chance that Dorian 608 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 2: Finney Smith is a Laker in two weeks. 609 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: I'd say about thirty percent. He's someone that they've also liked. 610 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: That there's kind of a trend here of several of 611 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 1: these guys that Lakers have had their eyes on for 612 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: quite a while. But DFS was someone that they were 613 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: interested in dating back to last season over the offseason 614 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: again that there was interest in, you know, trying to 615 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: find a way to trade for him. But I mean, 616 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 1: I I don't know what what you thought of his 617 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: performance against the Lakers in the Brooklyn win, but like 618 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: I thought he was defeating such a good job on 619 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: n such a good job, like as well as anyone 620 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:14,600 Speaker 1: has defended Lebron, uh to my you know recollection this season, 621 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 1: and you know he didn't. He didn't have the best 622 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,960 Speaker 1: shooting night, and there's people complaining about it on Twitter 623 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 1: of this is the guy you want to trade for. 624 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: But like, if I could find a way, if I'm 625 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: the Lakers and I can upgrade uh, you know, BRUI 626 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: to DFS, And now all of a sudden, you have 627 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:36,479 Speaker 1: that slotting of DFS is you're starting uh you know, 628 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 1: starting small forward. You still have the the Austin and 629 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: and Del back court, and now you know Torrian's coming 630 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: off the bench. It just everyone's kind of aligned in 631 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: more natural roles. And I think he is the type 632 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: of guy who you know, can make the the Austin 633 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: Del pairing work. And you know, Vanda has been the 634 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: other guy, of course, but with the shooting and it's 635 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:00,600 Speaker 1: been a little bit better recently, he's been more of 636 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,719 Speaker 1: an offensive weapon. But that's the Lakers hesitation is just 637 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 1: you know, is he going to tank the offense to 638 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: an extent where it's sort of negating having our four 639 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 1: best players or four best offensive players you know, out 640 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: there together. 641 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 3: Where's a guy like DFS. He's basically just going to 642 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 3: do the dirty work. 643 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: He's going to rebound, he's going to spot up, he 644 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: can finish in transition, and he's going to defend an 645 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: opponent's best one through three or or one through four players. 646 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: So I think, honestly, among the options, like he's again 647 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 1: he's not the sexiest name, but DFS to me, might 648 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: just be the best fit with like the contract, not 649 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: having to give up as much potentially as certainly as Dejonte, 650 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: but even potentially as a Bruce Brown. Now, there was 651 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 1: a report that Brooklyn's looking for two first round picks 652 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:47,960 Speaker 1: for Dorian. 653 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 3: I think that's pretty high. But again you hear. 654 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 1: Similar things with Alex Caruso, Like so the price point 655 00:32:54,480 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: for these three and D guards and wings is pretty high. 656 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 1: But if there's a way for the Lakers to say, 657 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: let's say they do the Jonte trade, but they loop 658 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn as the third team, Like if you could 659 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 1: get Dorian and Dejentte and now you are giving up Delo, 660 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 1: you're giving up RUI, you're giving up the pick. Maybe 661 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 1: you have to giving up Jhs, maybe even have to 662 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: throw in Max. But if there's a way to get 663 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: both of those guys, like I would love that starting 664 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: lineup of Dejonte, Austin, Dorian, Lebron and Ad with you 665 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: know Christian Van Do doh Torrian and you know Gabe, 666 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: or maybe you can get a buy out point guard. 667 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: And now all of a sudden, like that nine man 668 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: rotation makes a lot more sense to me. You have 669 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 1: a lot more UH defense in the starting group, you 670 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: have more athleticism, better rebounding, and that that five man 671 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: I mean that that's a five man unit you can 672 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: actually close games with as opposed to I think the 673 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: current starting lineup. So I think the Lakers have had 674 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: interest in Dorian Again. He's another guy who I think 675 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: there's gonna be plenty, Like every team could use a 676 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: Dorian Finney Smith in my opinion, So I do think 677 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: there's gonna be a lot of interest in Again. You 678 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:14,399 Speaker 1: know that Dallas potentially reuniting with him, but Philly and 679 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: so the Lakers are kind of in the market for 680 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:18,799 Speaker 1: a lot of these guys that are going to have 681 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: multiple suitors. But to me, Dorian is at a slightly 682 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:25,879 Speaker 1: lower price, is probably more realistic than Bruce Brown. 683 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:26,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 684 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 2: With Dorian Phinney Smith in particular, I love I should 685 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 2: say this with all these deals. I like all these 686 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:34,879 Speaker 2: deals in the context of additional deals, like I think 687 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 2: that ideally, what would cause me to have a lot 688 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 2: more optimism about the Lakers and their championship potential within 689 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 2: this season would be to have a clear five. And 690 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 2: one of the problems that kind of materializes with any 691 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 2: of these deals is like you it's like, Okay, let's 692 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,279 Speaker 2: say they just trade for Dorian Phinney Smith. You're like, Okay, 693 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 2: maybe that makes the Austin di Lo backcourt more tenable. 694 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 2: I personally don't think it's tenable at all under any circumstances. 695 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 2: Like I just think I don't think you can beat 696 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 2: the best teams in the league starting Austin and Dlo together. 697 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,359 Speaker 2: I think it's cute for the regular season. I think 698 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 2: it is the right move for right now in the 699 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 2: short term to get to the deadline. But the bottom 700 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 2: line is you got to have some sort of athleticism 701 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:17,640 Speaker 2: and power in your back court. It's just too vital 702 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 2: of a position, especially in the Western Conference when you're 703 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:23,319 Speaker 2: looking at the types of teams that you have to 704 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 2: get through to get out of the conference. So like 705 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:28,480 Speaker 2: you bring in Dorny finnih Smith. During finnih Smith, you 706 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,200 Speaker 2: have issues in the backcourt. You bring in to Jontay 707 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 2: Murray and it's like, Okay, I'm really Austin Dejonte. 708 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 3: Torreon is a very thin group. 709 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 2: Even though Dejonte changes the length and speed at that 710 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 2: two guard spot, it's still very thin. 711 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 3: Right. 712 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:42,719 Speaker 2: You go after Bruce Brown, You're like, okay, well, what 713 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 2: about the offense. Now we still have these offensive issues 714 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 2: when you get Delo out of the picture, So there's 715 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 2: still these question marks. So again, if you're in a 716 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:54,440 Speaker 2: situation where you're needing to redirect a guy like D'Angelo 717 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 2: Russell in a deal that brings back at de Jontey Murray, 718 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:00,880 Speaker 2: I would be doing everything in my power to bring 719 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:03,919 Speaker 2: back some sort of upgrade of Torrian prints in some way, 720 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 2: shape or form as part of that deal. Maybe I 721 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 2: don't know, Sadik bay is into contract year, maybe maybe 722 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,799 Speaker 2: you can get Atlanta in part ways with him too, 723 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,879 Speaker 2: Like maybe you like, there's got to be some sort 724 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,799 Speaker 2: of like smaller upgrade out there that kind of coincides 725 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:19,439 Speaker 2: with these two. Because at the end of the day, 726 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 2: this Laker team is so convoluted in their rotation. You 727 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,840 Speaker 2: have to make especially with Darvin Ham staying on board, 728 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 2: you have to make really easy decisions for him, Like 729 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 2: you got to make it so that Darvin has no 730 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,280 Speaker 2: choice but to play the the you know, these specific groupings, 731 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:38,920 Speaker 2: and I think I think by by kind of simplifying 732 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:41,319 Speaker 2: that process at the one, two, three, you you can 733 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:43,799 Speaker 2: accomplish that goal. So, now that we've kind of hit 734 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,719 Speaker 2: the the three guys that they'd be targeting primarily, let's 735 00:36:47,719 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 2: talk about some Lakers. What is the percentage chance that 736 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 2: D'Angelo Russell is a Laker in two weeks. 737 00:36:55,239 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 1: I'd put it at around forty percent, So more likely 738 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 1: than not that he traded. I mean again, we've discussed 739 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: this multiple times, Like, let's go back to the offseason. 740 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 1: That Delo contract was structured to be traded. Uh, you know, 741 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: he waived his de facto no trade clause, which was 742 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 1: a new stipulation in the new CBA, and the Lakers 743 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 1: sign that with the thought of this is, you know, 744 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 1: we can keep him, of course, and see how the 745 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,520 Speaker 1: season goes, see how he plays, see how things fit together. 746 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: But with him having a player option on that second year, 747 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 1: it's not this albatross contract where you're committing, you know, 748 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,439 Speaker 1: a bunch of money to d Lo and you can't 749 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: move it. But the thing I've been trying to convey, 750 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:45,160 Speaker 1: because I know Delo and Austin naturally get pitted against 751 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,400 Speaker 1: each other within the fan base. I see it on 752 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:51,399 Speaker 1: a nightly basis. You know, anytime I tweet anything, it's 753 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,399 Speaker 1: always like, well, why not trade Austin or why trade Dlo? 754 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:56,680 Speaker 1: And you know, one thing that I think people have 755 00:37:56,719 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 1: to remember is the Lakers are kind of in a 756 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 1: lose lose proposition right now with de Lo, with his 757 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,880 Speaker 1: contract because in having a player option for next season 758 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 1: eighteen point seven million, Either he's opting in because he 759 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:14,640 Speaker 1: doesn't have a market and you know, maybe the season 760 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 1: hasn't gone as well, you know, he progresses a little bit, 761 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: or he has another rough postseason series and now all 762 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,359 Speaker 1: of a sudden he's looking at the market. There's just 763 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 1: not really a clear suitor for him, so he opts in. 764 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,360 Speaker 1: And then in that case, it's it's not the you know, 765 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 1: the worst case scenario, but necessarily but it is like, Okay, 766 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 1: now we have a guy who probably isn't worth the 767 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:37,600 Speaker 1: money that we're paying him, or like he opted in 768 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: because there wasn't a market, this isn't a great asset 769 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:43,840 Speaker 1: for us, or option too is Dealo continues playing like 770 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 1: this for the rest of the way, the Lakers keep him, 771 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:49,640 Speaker 1: and now of a sudden, there are several teams looking 772 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 1: at him as Okay, you know, Delo has put it together. 773 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 1: He's been consistent for a large stretch of a season. 774 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 1: Maybe he had a good first Round series or whatever, 775 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,800 Speaker 1: and now it's like, okay, well, if you're the Lakers, 776 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 1: you either have to pay him for multiple years and 777 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:10,600 Speaker 1: probably give him a solid raise or you risk losing 778 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:12,680 Speaker 1: him for nothing, and then you had this asset that 779 00:39:12,719 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: you could have flipped at the trade deadline. But now 780 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:17,759 Speaker 1: you've lost him and you have really no way of 781 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,600 Speaker 1: replacing him given the other salary you've already committed. 782 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:24,320 Speaker 3: So to me, like, sure, there is a middle. 783 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: Ground where Youlo just ends up staying and he plays 784 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:28,960 Speaker 1: really well and like, but that to me is a 785 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:31,320 Speaker 1: little bit of a fantasy land. It's either he's playing 786 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 1: really well and he's opting out and you're probably losing 787 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:38,440 Speaker 1: that asset or having to really commit to just lebron 788 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:41,960 Speaker 1: Ady d Lo Austin, like that's our core. And as 789 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,279 Speaker 1: we're discussing, like I don't know if you can really 790 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:48,560 Speaker 1: win with that foursome together or again you are now 791 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:52,480 Speaker 1: you know, having him opt in as a potentially you know, 792 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:56,879 Speaker 1: negative asset. So for the Lakers, again, this was a 793 00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:59,920 Speaker 1: contract that was designed to be moved. It was supposed 794 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,799 Speaker 1: to be a tradeable, mid sized contract that you could 795 00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:05,440 Speaker 1: pair with another one like say a Ruey Hachimora or 796 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 1: Gabe Vincent or just one kind of separate for again 797 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,440 Speaker 1: a dejonte of Bruce Brown, one of those guys making 798 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:15,880 Speaker 1: like eighteen to twenty two million, so to me for 799 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:19,120 Speaker 1: people kind of wondering why Delo and not Austin, Austin 800 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:21,720 Speaker 1: has two more years and it's a very team friendly. 801 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:24,399 Speaker 1: You know, he's making about twenty five twenty six million 802 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:27,600 Speaker 1: dollars total over the next couple of years, and to 803 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:31,479 Speaker 1: compare that to potentially having to hey, de Lo twenty 804 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,120 Speaker 1: plus million next year if he opts out, Like you know, 805 00:40:34,440 --> 00:40:36,359 Speaker 1: even if you think Dealo is a better player, he's 806 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:39,400 Speaker 1: not worth double Austin reeves. And that's how the Lakers 807 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 1: view it, and that's kind of the tricky spot they're 808 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:44,920 Speaker 1: in right now with Delo, where again, it was designed 809 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,399 Speaker 1: to be traded, and that's ultimately why I think it's 810 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,440 Speaker 1: more likely than not that he has moved, by the way, 811 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 1: So I'm. 812 00:40:49,719 --> 00:40:51,239 Speaker 2: So glad you broke that down because I think that's 813 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 2: a really really important piece of information for Laker fans 814 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,000 Speaker 2: to understand. Like it is not just a straight up 815 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:02,160 Speaker 2: basketball conversation between Austin and Dilo. They're real, uh cap implications. 816 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,000 Speaker 2: I want to I want to give my two cents, 817 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:06,400 Speaker 2: but I want to ask this question first because I 818 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,799 Speaker 2: think it kind of relates to the two So let's 819 00:41:08,800 --> 00:41:10,960 Speaker 2: talk about Austin Reeves real quick. What is the percentage 820 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 2: chance that Austin Reeves is a Laker in two weeks? 821 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 1: I put it out about ninety five percent, which is 822 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:21,560 Speaker 1: really high. And you know, everything I've heard, like Genie 823 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:23,080 Speaker 1: bus loves him. 824 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 3: And again, as we're talking. 825 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 1: About matter, if you have the you have the approval 826 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:31,359 Speaker 1: of the owner, that goes a long way. There's also 827 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:35,320 Speaker 1: a sense of h he's the latest Laker discovery. The 828 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 1: Lakers pride themselves on their scouting department and finding these 829 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 1: hidden gems late in the first round, second round, undrafted. 830 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,600 Speaker 1: So to have Austin I mean, look, this guy was 831 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,160 Speaker 1: just named a finalist for the Olympic team and obviously 832 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,480 Speaker 1: played for TEAMSA over the summer. Like and there's a 833 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:56,520 Speaker 1: reason why every conversation the Lakers have, you know, one 834 00:41:56,520 --> 00:41:59,400 Speaker 1: of the first asks is we want Austin Reeves, Like, 835 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:02,000 Speaker 1: you know, put Austin Reeves in this deal. They're not 836 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:05,200 Speaker 1: saying that about Delo And I know, again, I think 837 00:42:05,239 --> 00:42:07,359 Speaker 1: Delo has been the better player for the last couple 838 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:09,719 Speaker 1: of weeks. You could argue that in the aggregate of 839 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:12,520 Speaker 1: the entire season, Delo has had the better season. But 840 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,759 Speaker 1: just from a league wide perception perspective, Austin has a 841 00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:21,280 Speaker 1: much better league wide approval rating compared to D'Angelo Russell. 842 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:24,200 Speaker 1: And that's even taking out the contracts all that stuff. 843 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 1: Just like how they are viewed as players, Austin is 844 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:30,960 Speaker 1: viewed as a winning player, whereas Delo is much more polarizing. 845 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:34,239 Speaker 1: So I think from that perspective of having a guy 846 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:36,560 Speaker 1: under contract for at least two more years, it's a 847 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:40,160 Speaker 1: homegrown talent who you know, I mean, Lebron loves him. 848 00:42:40,239 --> 00:42:45,200 Speaker 1: Lebron can't speak highly enough of Austin, well regarded teammate, 849 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,680 Speaker 1: you know, beloved in the locker room, all those facts. 850 00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:50,440 Speaker 1: And then of course he's a fan favorite and he's 851 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:53,160 Speaker 1: super popular. He's just one of those guys that he 852 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:56,319 Speaker 1: moves the needle and you know, I don't know how 853 00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:58,399 Speaker 1: much you factor that in, but he is someone who 854 00:42:59,480 --> 00:43:01,640 Speaker 1: you know, is a very popular player, and I think 855 00:43:01,640 --> 00:43:04,879 Speaker 1: for the Lakers that matters to some extent. So I think, 856 00:43:05,360 --> 00:43:08,080 Speaker 1: you know, from my understanding, it would have to be 857 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:12,000 Speaker 1: a clear cut third all star level guy like a 858 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:14,440 Speaker 1: Lori market In. If Utah is putting Lori market In 859 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: on the table, the Lakers can get in that conversation. 860 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:20,560 Speaker 1: Sure they would consider throwing in Austin Reeves in that situation, 861 00:43:21,120 --> 00:43:23,680 Speaker 1: or if it's maybe one of these bigger deals where 862 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,560 Speaker 1: they're getting back two or three, you know, high level 863 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:30,040 Speaker 1: starters or rotation guys and Austin is kind of the 864 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: difference in it, they would consider it in that scenario. 865 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:35,919 Speaker 1: But really, I just don't see that playing out that way. 866 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:38,800 Speaker 1: I think a lot of fans, despite some fans starting 867 00:43:38,840 --> 00:43:40,160 Speaker 1: to kind of sour on Austin, I think a lot 868 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 1: of people would be upset if they traded him again 869 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:45,080 Speaker 1: given the contract, Like to me, that's one of the 870 00:43:45,080 --> 00:43:47,560 Speaker 1: best role playing contracts in the league considering the next 871 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:49,880 Speaker 1: couple of years of how much they're paying him. So 872 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:52,480 Speaker 1: I think Austin is going to be a Laker past 873 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:56,520 Speaker 1: the deadline. It's really de Lo, Ruy Gabe. Those are 874 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:57,279 Speaker 1: the three names to one. 875 00:43:57,320 --> 00:44:00,759 Speaker 2: Yes, I think the strip like bo with Austin and 876 00:44:00,800 --> 00:44:03,919 Speaker 2: Di Lo have had multiple phases where they've struggled this year, 877 00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:06,120 Speaker 2: and I think a big part of that is their 878 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,800 Speaker 2: own redundancy. Like it's like, oh, Austin's hasn't been playing 879 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:12,560 Speaker 2: super well in the last couple of weeks, it's like, yeah, 880 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:15,560 Speaker 2: and guess who has been del you know, like that, 881 00:44:15,719 --> 00:44:17,680 Speaker 2: this is kind of how this works in a lot 882 00:44:17,719 --> 00:44:20,400 Speaker 2: of cases, Like you when you're a skill guard and 883 00:44:20,440 --> 00:44:23,239 Speaker 2: there's another skill guard on the team and so there, 884 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:24,360 Speaker 2: you know, the ball kind of has to be in 885 00:44:24,360 --> 00:44:26,240 Speaker 2: your hands in a certain way for you to impact 886 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:29,160 Speaker 2: winning to or, I should say, put up the numbers 887 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:31,279 Speaker 2: that you're accustomed to, like, of course there's going to 888 00:44:31,320 --> 00:44:33,040 Speaker 2: be an ebb and flow there. To me, there are 889 00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:35,719 Speaker 2: three reasons why d'angela Russell is the obvious guy to 890 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:38,600 Speaker 2: trade instead of Austin. One, you mentioned the contract. Just 891 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 2: from the standpoint of salary filler. Austin makes twelve million 892 00:44:41,719 --> 00:44:42,960 Speaker 2: dollars this year, so if you want to go get 893 00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:44,920 Speaker 2: a really good player, you've got to give up Austin 894 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:47,440 Speaker 2: a and more, whereas d Angela Russell makes more than 895 00:44:47,440 --> 00:44:50,800 Speaker 2: seventeen million this year. It's just a little bit easier 896 00:44:50,800 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 2: to match salaries with them. Secondly, the contract is just 897 00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:55,759 Speaker 2: better for the future of the Lakers. It's a like 898 00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:59,040 Speaker 2: you mentioned, it's a discounted deal for a high quality 899 00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:02,440 Speaker 2: role player in this league. So to be honest, like 900 00:45:02,920 --> 00:45:05,120 Speaker 2: it just makes more sense to use d Lo because 901 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:07,560 Speaker 2: you might end up using Austin in a trade down 902 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,799 Speaker 2: the line to go get a better player, or like 903 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:13,160 Speaker 2: you might have a point three years from now where 904 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 2: you're really glad that Austin makes what he makes as 905 00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:18,680 Speaker 2: you're building a certain type of roster around him and 906 00:45:18,760 --> 00:45:22,319 Speaker 2: Anthony Davis, right, and then the last piece. It's really 907 00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 2: this simple to me. Every game during the playoffs last year, 908 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:28,080 Speaker 2: you wanted Austin on the floor for any sort of 909 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 2: important moment. With d Lo, it depended on the night. 910 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:34,560 Speaker 2: Some nights you were like, oh, man, like he saved 911 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:37,520 Speaker 2: our ass against Memphis in Game four, you know not 912 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:39,719 Speaker 2: you know, there were a couple of Warriors games in 913 00:45:39,719 --> 00:45:42,000 Speaker 2: there too where he looked really good. But then there 914 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:43,719 Speaker 2: were these others where you're like, oh, Delow doesn't have 915 00:45:43,760 --> 00:45:45,040 Speaker 2: it tonight. You got to get him off the floor. 916 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:47,319 Speaker 2: He's downright destructive to us right now. 917 00:45:47,480 --> 00:45:48,319 Speaker 3: That was what it was like. 918 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:51,120 Speaker 2: And so like Austin, I would just call I caught 919 00:45:51,160 --> 00:45:56,279 Speaker 2: like matchup like resiliency, Like Austin is just capable of 920 00:45:56,320 --> 00:45:58,880 Speaker 2: being on the floor in those five man groupings against 921 00:45:58,920 --> 00:46:01,399 Speaker 2: more different types of plays off opponents. And so when 922 00:46:01,440 --> 00:46:05,360 Speaker 2: you combine those three things. It makes it pretty pretty 923 00:46:05,360 --> 00:46:10,120 Speaker 2: simple and straightforward from that. From that standpoint, and you're right, 924 00:46:10,200 --> 00:46:12,359 Speaker 2: like Lakers fans have just kind of pitted the two 925 00:46:12,360 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 2: of them against each other, and it's it's they're both 926 00:46:14,719 --> 00:46:17,239 Speaker 2: really good basketball players who do very different things. I 927 00:46:17,239 --> 00:46:19,880 Speaker 2: know they're both skill guards, but even within that context, 928 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,080 Speaker 2: they're very different, right, Like I mean, even just Dlo's 929 00:46:23,160 --> 00:46:25,360 Speaker 2: way way better off the ball, I think, or on 930 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:27,879 Speaker 2: the ball. I mean, I think Austin is a better 931 00:46:27,960 --> 00:46:31,600 Speaker 2: connector off of Lebron and Ad than d'angela Russell is. 932 00:46:31,600 --> 00:46:34,920 Speaker 2: So like there's all these like different kind of elements 933 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:36,480 Speaker 2: between the two of them, and they're kind of stepping 934 00:46:36,480 --> 00:46:39,160 Speaker 2: on each other's toes a bit, and you need upgrades 935 00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:41,879 Speaker 2: at the two and three. D'angela Russell is just kind 936 00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:44,120 Speaker 2: of like collateral damage there in a lot of ways. 937 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:46,840 Speaker 2: And like I almost feel bad for Delo because he 938 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:48,719 Speaker 2: has been such a good leader this year and he 939 00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:52,279 Speaker 2: has had such you know, impactful stretches, and like there's 940 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:55,480 Speaker 2: just there. I said before the season with you on 941 00:46:55,520 --> 00:46:57,640 Speaker 2: this show that I thought Dangela Russell getting traded was 942 00:46:57,680 --> 00:47:00,120 Speaker 2: the safest bet in the NBA this year. And I'm 943 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:03,200 Speaker 2: actually surprised that it's only sixty percent at this point, 944 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:05,399 Speaker 2: but I think you and I would agree, Like six 945 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:08,160 Speaker 2: games since joining the starting lineup twenty seven and seven 946 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:11,480 Speaker 2: on fifty to fifty ninety, like the dude's hoopin right now, 947 00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:13,080 Speaker 2: and I think that that's kind of added a little 948 00:47:13,080 --> 00:47:14,560 Speaker 2: bit of a question mark to it. But I think 949 00:47:14,560 --> 00:47:17,759 Speaker 2: when the cooler heads prevail, everyone's going to remember that's 950 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:19,479 Speaker 2: the best option. All Right, We're going to go rapid 951 00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,239 Speaker 2: fire through these last two because we're going a little 952 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:24,280 Speaker 2: long today. What is the percentage chance that Ruy Hachimura 953 00:47:24,400 --> 00:47:25,120 Speaker 2: is a Laker in two. 954 00:47:25,040 --> 00:47:30,920 Speaker 1: Weeks, I'd say sixty five percent, so more likely than not. 955 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:34,040 Speaker 1: I do think the Lakers are going to look into 956 00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:37,480 Speaker 1: moving Rui in a couple of names we just mentioned, 957 00:47:37,520 --> 00:47:41,479 Speaker 1: Bruce Brown Junior, Dorian Finney Smith. I think in those 958 00:47:41,520 --> 00:47:44,440 Speaker 1: types of trades they would prefer to put Ruey as 959 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:48,600 Speaker 1: the centerpiece rather than de lo and, you know, again 960 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:51,960 Speaker 1: keeping de lo and putting them next to DFS, or 961 00:47:51,960 --> 00:47:54,360 Speaker 1: even putting them next to Bruce Brown like, I think 962 00:47:54,719 --> 00:47:56,800 Speaker 1: they would view those guys as as plugging some of 963 00:47:56,840 --> 00:48:01,319 Speaker 1: the wing holes and maybe being a cleaner fit. With 964 00:48:01,360 --> 00:48:05,360 Speaker 1: that backcourt in comparison with Ruey, who, you know, despite 965 00:48:05,600 --> 00:48:08,680 Speaker 1: I think playing much better as the season has gone on, 966 00:48:09,040 --> 00:48:11,879 Speaker 1: has still kind of had his minutes capped. He's sort 967 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:14,720 Speaker 1: of been in just this eighteen to twenty two minute 968 00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:18,279 Speaker 1: a night bench role, despite however well he's playing. And 969 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:21,160 Speaker 1: I think you were mentioning making things easier for Darvin. 970 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:23,920 Speaker 1: I think if there is a way, like you know, 971 00:48:23,960 --> 00:48:28,279 Speaker 1: we can we talk about how great Ruey is as 972 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:30,919 Speaker 1: an asset or this or that, whatever we like about 973 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:32,920 Speaker 1: his game. But like if Darvin and the coaching staff 974 00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:35,560 Speaker 1: just isn't viewing him in the same way and you 975 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:38,239 Speaker 1: can go out and turn him into a player that 976 00:48:38,280 --> 00:48:41,480 Speaker 1: they will view in that light, that's where I think that, 977 00:48:41,600 --> 00:48:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, the Lakers are considering some of those things. 978 00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:47,279 Speaker 1: So with Ruy, I think now the flip side is 979 00:48:47,760 --> 00:48:50,800 Speaker 1: Ruey is a polarizing player. He's been a polarizing player 980 00:48:50,840 --> 00:48:53,960 Speaker 1: since Washington. There are a lot of people who scoffed 981 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:57,279 Speaker 1: at the Lakers paying him the contract that they did 982 00:48:57,280 --> 00:48:57,960 Speaker 1: this offseason. 983 00:48:58,040 --> 00:49:01,879 Speaker 3: I think that's crazy. I think it. Yeah. 984 00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:04,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I obviously am I'm more on the Lakers 985 00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:06,799 Speaker 1: side with this, but there are Ruey to me, is 986 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:09,040 Speaker 1: more of an I of the beholder asset of There 987 00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:11,440 Speaker 1: are people who will look at the playoff run and 988 00:49:12,840 --> 00:49:15,040 Speaker 1: some of the highs with Ruey, and then there are 989 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:17,600 Speaker 1: people who will look at the Washington stint and like, 990 00:49:17,840 --> 00:49:19,880 Speaker 1: I mean, if you look at his regular season production 991 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:23,640 Speaker 1: before breaking out in Game one against Memphis, he was 992 00:49:23,680 --> 00:49:26,160 Speaker 1: pretty inconsistent, and part of that was his role, and 993 00:49:26,200 --> 00:49:27,759 Speaker 1: part of that was the way the Lakers used him. 994 00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:30,560 Speaker 1: But part of that has just been, like Ruy's been 995 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:31,719 Speaker 1: somewhat inconsistent. 996 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:34,440 Speaker 3: He has dealt with a lot of injuries in his 997 00:49:34,920 --> 00:49:35,480 Speaker 3: short career. 998 00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:38,520 Speaker 1: He's dealt with multiple injuries this season. So I think 999 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:42,160 Speaker 1: Ruey is a little bit more of a it's more 1000 00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:45,040 Speaker 1: of a negative asset than Delo is. He does have 1001 00:49:45,080 --> 00:49:47,239 Speaker 1: two more years on his deal, so that's another thing. 1002 00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:52,520 Speaker 1: Whereas Delo could be technically and expiring if he opts out, Ruey, 1003 00:49:52,800 --> 00:49:55,640 Speaker 1: you're committing not just this season, but two more years. 1004 00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:58,800 Speaker 1: So I think I don't think it's a bad contract personally, 1005 00:49:59,120 --> 00:50:01,359 Speaker 1: but I do think around the league there are people 1006 00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:04,240 Speaker 1: who view it that way, and I think Ruey trading 1007 00:50:04,280 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: that contracts a little bit harder than getting off of 1008 00:50:07,320 --> 00:50:09,279 Speaker 1: Saydlo who just has a player off. 1009 00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:13,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm so surprised by that perception around the league 1010 00:50:13,680 --> 00:50:15,960 Speaker 2: just because like the thing, the thing with Ruy that's 1011 00:50:15,960 --> 00:50:19,160 Speaker 2: so simple to me is like he's a big, strong 1012 00:50:19,239 --> 00:50:23,960 Speaker 2: athlete that can actually impact games or impose his physicality 1013 00:50:23,960 --> 00:50:26,360 Speaker 2: on a playoff game. Like to me, that that that 1014 00:50:26,360 --> 00:50:29,319 Speaker 2: that is. If that's not worth in the teams of 1015 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:31,440 Speaker 2: millions in the NBA, I don't really know what is. 1016 00:50:32,440 --> 00:50:36,399 Speaker 2: I'm genuinely surprised by that. There's offensive inconsistency with him, 1017 00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:38,360 Speaker 2: but a huge part of that is his role and 1018 00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:40,759 Speaker 2: some of the way that that is fluctuated. To me, 1019 00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:43,560 Speaker 2: Ruy Hachamurr is a guy that I think like at 1020 00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:45,400 Speaker 2: the dead giveaway for this, by the way, is if 1021 00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:47,520 Speaker 2: the Lakers traded Ruey, half the fan base would be 1022 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:50,560 Speaker 2: pissed off about it. That's how you know Ruy's really good. 1023 00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:54,920 Speaker 2: And to me, like he's another redundancy. He plays the 1024 00:50:54,960 --> 00:50:57,080 Speaker 2: same position as Lebron. That's why he doesn't get a 1025 00:50:57,120 --> 00:51:00,000 Speaker 2: lot of minutes. Darvin clearly views him as a guy 1026 00:50:59,880 --> 00:51:01,759 Speaker 2: that he can't play on at the three next to 1027 00:51:01,840 --> 00:51:04,839 Speaker 2: Lebron and Ad especially in specific matchups. So again, like 1028 00:51:04,880 --> 00:51:07,680 Speaker 2: you said, why would you pay that much money for 1029 00:51:07,719 --> 00:51:09,520 Speaker 2: a guy that you're only gonna pay twenty something minutes 1030 00:51:09,560 --> 00:51:12,239 Speaker 2: an I sit on the bench for every closing group, right, 1031 00:51:12,360 --> 00:51:14,480 Speaker 2: And I do think there are teams out there that 1032 00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:16,680 Speaker 2: would be like, oh, like, he's a good help defender 1033 00:51:16,719 --> 00:51:19,560 Speaker 2: and rebounder who has shown that he can knock down 1034 00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:21,799 Speaker 2: spot up threes and attack mismatches in the post. Like 1035 00:51:21,840 --> 00:51:24,719 Speaker 2: that's a useful archetype, especially if you can make sure 1036 00:51:24,719 --> 00:51:26,360 Speaker 2: he's the fifth best player in your lineup. And there 1037 00:51:26,360 --> 00:51:29,399 Speaker 2: are gonna be teams out there, like you don't think 1038 00:51:29,480 --> 00:51:31,520 Speaker 2: Sacramento could use a guy like grew Hotcha Muraw. You 1039 00:51:31,520 --> 00:51:34,200 Speaker 2: don't think a team like Well Indiana before the Siakam trade, 1040 00:51:34,239 --> 00:51:36,560 Speaker 2: a team like Oklahoma City could use a guy like 1041 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:38,800 Speaker 2: grew Hotcha Muraw when they don't have a real four man, 1042 00:51:38,840 --> 00:51:40,520 Speaker 2: Like there are a lot that he plays a very 1043 00:51:40,560 --> 00:51:44,560 Speaker 2: important archetype. I think he has real value and I 1044 00:51:44,760 --> 00:51:47,359 Speaker 2: like him. I like to me, if you can turn 1045 00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:50,279 Speaker 2: d Lo and Rui, which is two redundancies that you 1046 00:51:50,320 --> 00:51:52,680 Speaker 2: want to bench at the end of games, into two 1047 00:51:52,719 --> 00:51:55,239 Speaker 2: guys that are obvious guys that you'd play at the 1048 00:51:55,320 --> 00:51:57,799 Speaker 2: end of games, why not, and so from there, like, 1049 00:51:57,840 --> 00:51:59,640 Speaker 2: I don't even understand why it's not on the table 1050 00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:01,720 Speaker 2: that the Lakers don't do a de Low centered package 1051 00:52:01,719 --> 00:52:04,040 Speaker 2: towards Atlanta for de jon Tey Murray and then turn 1052 00:52:04,080 --> 00:52:06,840 Speaker 2: around and do a rue Hachamura centered package to Brooklyn. Brooklyn, 1053 00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:08,640 Speaker 2: by the way, another team that does not have a 1054 00:52:08,719 --> 00:52:11,640 Speaker 2: power forward. They just don't have one. So like, like, 1055 00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:14,600 Speaker 2: you don't think that that guy couldn't look good next 1056 00:52:14,640 --> 00:52:16,440 Speaker 2: to Nick Claxton in a help side role. Is a 1057 00:52:16,440 --> 00:52:18,560 Speaker 2: guy that can shoot in attack mismatches next to their 1058 00:52:18,600 --> 00:52:23,360 Speaker 2: thin wings like to me? To me either, I'm genuinely 1059 00:52:23,360 --> 00:52:26,400 Speaker 2: surprised by that, But I do think, I do think 1060 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:28,080 Speaker 2: that they have to do their due diligence to at 1061 00:52:28,160 --> 00:52:29,799 Speaker 2: least look to see if you can turn him into 1062 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:31,719 Speaker 2: a player that fits in the starting lineup. All right, 1063 00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:33,400 Speaker 2: last guy, before we get out of here, what is 1064 00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:35,840 Speaker 2: the percentage chance that Gabe Vincent to the Laker in 1065 00:52:35,840 --> 00:52:37,040 Speaker 2: two weeks? 1066 00:52:39,480 --> 00:52:43,480 Speaker 1: I would say about seventy percent. You know, he's I mean, 1067 00:52:43,600 --> 00:52:46,719 Speaker 1: he's the most negative of these three in terms of 1068 00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:48,600 Speaker 1: lewd perception right now, just because he's coming off a 1069 00:52:48,680 --> 00:52:52,440 Speaker 1: knee surgery we saw not too long ago what happened 1070 00:52:52,440 --> 00:52:55,400 Speaker 1: with Kendrick Nunn and that bone bruise turned into a 1071 00:52:55,560 --> 00:52:59,280 Speaker 1: season ending injury. And with a guy coming like already 1072 00:52:59,760 --> 00:53:03,400 Speaker 1: a a guy who's more of a bench player, you know, 1073 00:53:03,400 --> 00:53:07,600 Speaker 1: probably a seventh eighth man ideally in like a contending 1074 00:53:08,080 --> 00:53:11,000 Speaker 1: uh you know, pecking order, but that guy coming off 1075 00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:14,319 Speaker 1: a knee injury, and you have two more years on 1076 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:17,480 Speaker 1: his deal for about twenty two million or so over 1077 00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:19,759 Speaker 1: the next couple of years. Uh, you know, Gabe is 1078 00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:22,200 Speaker 1: someone that, uh, I think the Lakers would have to 1079 00:53:22,239 --> 00:53:25,120 Speaker 1: attach an asset to be it either a younger player 1080 00:53:25,560 --> 00:53:26,640 Speaker 1: or you know, second. 1081 00:53:26,400 --> 00:53:29,360 Speaker 3: Round pick or two or or whatnot. 1082 00:53:29,440 --> 00:53:32,600 Speaker 1: So I think more likely I see Gabe as like 1083 00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:35,640 Speaker 1: if they are expanding a deal and they have to 1084 00:53:35,680 --> 00:53:38,600 Speaker 1: match salary and there's a way to add him in 1085 00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:43,360 Speaker 1: and you know, add in again whether it's a younger 1086 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:46,640 Speaker 1: player or or a second round pick something like that, 1087 00:53:46,640 --> 00:53:49,000 Speaker 1: That's where I could see Gabe getting moved. I mean, 1088 00:53:49,160 --> 00:53:52,840 Speaker 1: you could argue that with that eleven million dollars salary 1089 00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:56,400 Speaker 1: or so that you could flip him for you know, 1090 00:53:56,440 --> 00:53:58,560 Speaker 1: could you go get tyas Jones and and you you 1091 00:53:58,600 --> 00:54:00,960 Speaker 1: would have to you know, attach sets to make that 1092 00:54:01,400 --> 00:54:06,240 Speaker 1: enticing for Washington, but like, is that enough for Tias 1093 00:54:06,320 --> 00:54:09,840 Speaker 1: Jones or someone in that kind of twelve to fifteen 1094 00:54:09,840 --> 00:54:13,479 Speaker 1: million dollar range, And again, maybe you add in Max 1095 00:54:13,560 --> 00:54:16,160 Speaker 1: or Jhs to kind of make the salary work and 1096 00:54:16,280 --> 00:54:18,719 Speaker 1: entice them, say, you know, here's a young player that 1097 00:54:18,760 --> 00:54:21,520 Speaker 1: can be part of your future core. But Gabe, right now, 1098 00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:24,640 Speaker 1: the Lakers are looking into moving Gabe. You know, I 1099 00:54:24,680 --> 00:54:26,640 Speaker 1: think that's that's kind of the most natural upgrade of 1100 00:54:26,760 --> 00:54:30,360 Speaker 1: just a player who's injured at not contributing right now, 1101 00:54:30,600 --> 00:54:32,759 Speaker 1: and if you can add a rotation player like that, 1102 00:54:32,760 --> 00:54:33,560 Speaker 1: that's a home run. 1103 00:54:34,239 --> 00:54:35,759 Speaker 3: So they're looking into it. 1104 00:54:35,760 --> 00:54:39,760 Speaker 1: It's just right now, no one's really you know, bending 1105 00:54:39,800 --> 00:54:44,120 Speaker 1: over to to you know, trade for a player who's 1106 00:54:44,120 --> 00:54:46,160 Speaker 1: injured and has two more years left on his deal 1107 00:54:46,200 --> 00:54:48,000 Speaker 1: with kind of an uncertainty of like, what what are 1108 00:54:48,000 --> 00:54:51,120 Speaker 1: the long term ramifications of this this knee injury that 1109 00:54:51,160 --> 00:54:54,120 Speaker 1: has now clearly become serious enough to keep him out 1110 00:54:54,160 --> 00:54:57,000 Speaker 1: for a couple of months. He comes back, it immediately 1111 00:54:57,800 --> 00:54:59,400 Speaker 1: isn't feeling right, and then he has to have surgery. 1112 00:54:59,760 --> 00:55:02,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, the reason why I brought it up is he's 1113 00:55:02,880 --> 00:55:05,400 Speaker 2: got a good mid sized salary to throw into trades 1114 00:55:06,520 --> 00:55:08,879 Speaker 2: and the reason why, the main reason why I brought 1115 00:55:08,920 --> 00:55:11,280 Speaker 2: it up is like I actually view it as pretty 1116 00:55:11,320 --> 00:55:16,640 Speaker 2: low as well, simply from the standpoint as of in 1117 00:55:16,719 --> 00:55:19,719 Speaker 2: the event that you trad d Angela Russell, you could 1118 00:55:19,760 --> 00:55:22,080 Speaker 2: probably still use the skill guard off the bench, and 1119 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:25,239 Speaker 2: I do think there's I would imagine he can still 1120 00:55:25,239 --> 00:55:26,839 Speaker 2: come back in a month or so, Like I don't 1121 00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:29,040 Speaker 2: think he's done for the season, right, So, Like from 1122 00:55:29,080 --> 00:55:31,080 Speaker 2: that standpoint, it's kind of like a shoe in. It's 1123 00:55:31,080 --> 00:55:33,560 Speaker 2: almost like you're trading for Gabe Vincent after the deadline, 1124 00:55:33,560 --> 00:55:36,719 Speaker 2: if that makes sense. But then again, like that's where 1125 00:55:36,719 --> 00:55:39,000 Speaker 2: I look at it. If if you could somehow package 1126 00:55:39,080 --> 00:55:41,839 Speaker 2: him with, you know, a couple of second round picks 1127 00:55:41,880 --> 00:55:44,720 Speaker 2: and get Tias Jones, it's like, okay, now you're upgrading 1128 00:55:44,760 --> 00:55:47,400 Speaker 2: that backup skill guard position. And Tias Jones is a 1129 00:55:47,440 --> 00:55:50,239 Speaker 2: guy unlike d'angela Russell who's super comfortable coming off the 1130 00:55:50,280 --> 00:55:52,680 Speaker 2: bench and running bench units and just kind of being 1131 00:55:52,680 --> 00:55:55,000 Speaker 2: in that specific role. But I thought it was worth 1132 00:55:55,080 --> 00:55:58,200 Speaker 2: asking given his contract information. All right, yo, Van, I 1133 00:55:58,239 --> 00:56:01,400 Speaker 2: thought you did an incredible job today breaking down for 1134 00:56:01,480 --> 00:56:03,839 Speaker 2: us not just the types of targets the Lakers are 1135 00:56:03,840 --> 00:56:06,680 Speaker 2: going after, but also just the reasoning behind it, and 1136 00:56:06,680 --> 00:56:09,920 Speaker 2: I think that'll help Laker fans understand a lot about, 1137 00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:13,520 Speaker 2: you know, how this process works. Is there any thing 1138 00:56:13,560 --> 00:56:15,680 Speaker 2: that you can shout out in terms of articles that 1139 00:56:15,680 --> 00:56:17,280 Speaker 2: you've been working on and other stuff with The Athletic 1140 00:56:17,360 --> 00:56:17,640 Speaker 2: right now. 1141 00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:23,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have a mail bag coming out Friday morning, 1142 00:56:23,800 --> 00:56:27,200 Speaker 1: so by the time you're listening and watching this, you 1143 00:56:27,239 --> 00:56:27,400 Speaker 1: know it. 1144 00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:28,040 Speaker 3: Should be out. 1145 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:31,120 Speaker 1: So I'll be diving more into some of these trade 1146 00:56:31,200 --> 00:56:34,200 Speaker 1: questions and different things to watch for ahead of the deadline, 1147 00:56:34,280 --> 00:56:36,640 Speaker 1: so be on the lookout for that on The Athletic 1148 00:56:36,680 --> 00:56:39,000 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow me on all social platforms. 1149 00:56:39,040 --> 00:56:41,320 Speaker 2: All right, thanks as always for supporting the show everyone. 1150 00:56:41,360 --> 00:56:43,839 Speaker 2: We'll be back tomorrow with some game breakdowns and then 1151 00:56:43,880 --> 00:56:46,239 Speaker 2: we also have an instant reaction video on Saturday night 1152 00:56:46,280 --> 00:57:15,880 Speaker 2: for Lakers Warriors. I will see you guys tomorrow. The 1153 00:57:16,000 --> 00:57:16,440 Speaker 2: volume