WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Trade Deadline Special! 0:00:01.800 --> 0:00:10.879 De Jontay Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Bruce Brown, Bucks, Mavericks, Lakers players, teams, 0:00:11.440 --> 0:00:14.600 all the trade talk we can stuff into an episode. 0:00:15.160 --> 0:00:18.360 All that's next here on the latest edition of This 0:00:18.440 --> 0:00:22.160 League Uncut. Welcome to This League Uncut. 0:00:23.320 --> 0:00:25.560 In you rule of twenty four hour NBA news, this 0:00:25.800 --> 0:00:31.200 news you love, Chris Haynes, it's go time, work's time, 0:00:31.560 --> 0:00:32.720 it's some time. 0:00:36.960 --> 0:00:41.680 This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should 0:00:41.680 --> 0:00:47.519 be a good one. Everyone. Welcome in to the latest 0:00:47.640 --> 0:00:53.280 edition of This League Uncut. Chris Haynes and me Mark Stein. 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:59.120 Recording late on Monday night, which means we basically have 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:03.960 two days and change to go until the NBA trade deadline. 0:01:04.040 --> 0:01:10.600 The buzzer sounds at three pm Eastern Time on Thursday afternoon, 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:17.160 so indeed, two days and change to go for the 0:01:17.200 --> 0:01:22.240 remainder of NBA trade season. And I'm guessing this is 0:01:22.319 --> 0:01:25.920 math that you guys really don't want to hear, but 0:01:26.000 --> 0:01:28.640 I feel compelled to repeat it because I do think 0:01:28.680 --> 0:01:35.440 it's important for context. We've had six trades already during 0:01:35.480 --> 0:01:40.720 the season. You expand that number to eight if you 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:45.400 want to include Damian Lillard getting traded to Milwaukee right 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:48.919 before the start of the season, and the Blazers turning 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:53.960 right around and trading Drew Holliday to Boston. So six 0:01:54.040 --> 0:01:58.880 to eight trades already in season. That's quite a bit 0:01:58.920 --> 0:02:01.840 of action. But look, I know how this works. If 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:05.960 we don't have something significant this week, everyone is going 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:09.000 to say this trade deadline sucked, it was a dud. 0:02:09.080 --> 0:02:12.000 There was nothing, And like, no, I can't say there 0:02:12.080 --> 0:02:15.400 was nothing. Think about it. Just since September, we've seen 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:21.200 Damian Lillard traded, Drew Holiday traded, James Harden traded on Halloween, 0:02:22.280 --> 0:02:27.919 Toronto traded Ogannanobi and Pascal Siakam. We saw Terry Rozier move, 0:02:27.960 --> 0:02:33.840 and we've seen quite a bit of action. But Chris Haynes, 0:02:34.120 --> 0:02:39.000 you know the masses and look us two in the media. 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:43.600 Everybody loves the transaction game. We always want more, We 0:02:43.760 --> 0:02:49.280 always want maximum trade activity. So I got to ask 0:02:49.320 --> 0:02:52.600 you what kind of week you foresee. I think we're 0:02:52.600 --> 0:02:55.840 gonna get trades. For sure, there will be multiple trades 0:02:55.880 --> 0:02:59.520 this week. I have absolutely no doubt about that. I 0:02:59.760 --> 0:03:05.240 just don't know that we're going to see another star level, 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:08.800 former All Star player move. De Jontay Murray to me 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:13.080 in Atlanta is probably the best possibility, but things have 0:03:13.240 --> 0:03:18.000 certainly cooled on the Dejonte Murray front, and I don't 0:03:18.080 --> 0:03:20.720 know if there's enough time for them to spark up. 0:03:21.160 --> 0:03:24.080 Zach Lavine is another former All Star who obviously is 0:03:24.120 --> 0:03:28.919 now not getting traded after opting for season ending foot surgery. 0:03:29.040 --> 0:03:32.919 So I just don't know if we're going to see 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:39.160 a real headline move. But you tell me what you think. 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:41.360 You know, Stin, I would tend to agree with you 0:03:41.400 --> 0:03:45.000 on just on how many more trades we have left. 0:03:45.040 --> 0:03:47.120 I do think they will be a few trades left. 0:03:47.320 --> 0:03:52.640 I'm not sure it will feature a All Star big name. 0:03:53.000 --> 0:03:55.880 The John Tay Murray is still a name that could 0:03:55.880 --> 0:03:59.080 be moved. But you know, we're not hearing anything of 0:04:00.000 --> 0:04:03.880 significant substance leading up to February to a you know, 0:04:04.000 --> 0:04:09.920 Zach Levine obviously that him opting for surgery kind of 0:04:09.920 --> 0:04:13.120 removes him from the market. You know, there wasn't much 0:04:13.160 --> 0:04:14.800 of a market for him in the first place. But 0:04:14.920 --> 0:04:17.440 don you know, it's really a coincidence. And I haven't 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:19.719 checked up on this. I haven't looked into this, I 0:04:19.720 --> 0:04:22.800 haven't asked around, So I'm not trying to make any connections, 0:04:22.800 --> 0:04:25.919 but you know, mighty coincidence that you know opts for 0:04:26.000 --> 0:04:28.880 surgery right now with the deadline coming up. 0:04:29.320 --> 0:04:31.440 Well, even if you're not trying to make that connection, 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:34.560 there are certainly people asking the question. I don't have 0:04:34.600 --> 0:04:37.240 the answer either, but the question is out there. Did 0:04:37.360 --> 0:04:42.760 Zach Lavine opt for this surgery now to ensure that 0:04:42.839 --> 0:04:45.800 the Detroit Pistons back all the way from the table 0:04:45.839 --> 0:04:50.880 here because Detroit was that was the one team that 0:04:51.120 --> 0:04:54.720 was engaged with Chicago to some degree. So I think 0:04:54.720 --> 0:04:58.159 the question is at least out there at some level. 0:04:59.760 --> 0:05:04.479 Yeah, yeah, mighty coincidence. But yeah, there will be I 0:05:04.480 --> 0:05:06.040 think there will be some trades. I think there will 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:09.160 be some. Bruce Brown is still a name that I 0:05:09.200 --> 0:05:13.240 think would likely be moved before the deadline. I'm here 0:05:13.279 --> 0:05:16.560 in New York. I have the I got Tuesday, I 0:05:16.560 --> 0:05:19.920 got the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks. The Brooklyn Nets 0:05:19.920 --> 0:05:23.320 have a couple of wing players that intriguing. A lot 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:28.360 of teams out there that's gunning for a title shot. 0:05:28.760 --> 0:05:33.640 Durian Finny Smith, Royce O'Neill, a couple of guys who intrigued. 0:05:33.680 --> 0:05:36.720 You know, there's a lot of teams looking for wing defenders, 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:40.960 and so Brooklyn. I think Brooklyn is asking for for 0:05:41.040 --> 0:05:44.720 those For those players, Brooklyn believes that they can get 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:49.480 a first round pick from teams. So yeah, it might 0:05:49.520 --> 0:05:54.039 not be big, splashy moves coming up, but they depending 0:05:54.080 --> 0:05:56.720 on the team, they could be moves that might have 0:05:56.800 --> 0:06:02.160 a significant that might play a significant factor in the postseason, 0:06:02.560 --> 0:06:04.000 in the regular season stretch. 0:06:04.320 --> 0:06:07.280 Yeah. So with Dejontay Murray, we know the Hawks. We 0:06:07.400 --> 0:06:10.760 remember they gave up three firsts and a first round 0:06:10.760 --> 0:06:14.040 swap to get him from San Antonio. The Hawks are 0:06:14.120 --> 0:06:17.719 not going to get that much back when they trade 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:19.960 de Jontay Murray, but they want to do They want 0:06:20.000 --> 0:06:22.560 to get as close as they can to that. So 0:06:22.920 --> 0:06:25.760 the talk has been for a while now that Atlanta's 0:06:25.800 --> 0:06:31.400 hoping for two firsts and a player of quality in 0:06:31.520 --> 0:06:34.840 return for de Jontay Murray, and to this point that 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:37.839 offer has not materialized. So the big question here is 0:06:38.560 --> 0:06:41.440 two days and change to go, is that market going 0:06:41.480 --> 0:06:44.800 to change? Is someone going to step up and give 0:06:44.880 --> 0:06:49.880 Atlanta two firsts for de Jonte Murray. You still hear 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:53.240 the Nets with some interest, but I'm not sure the 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:56.880 Nets are prepared to go that far. I'm still trying 0:06:56.880 --> 0:06:59.240 to get a clear handle on that, but I think 0:06:59.279 --> 0:07:02.920 the nets are still in there to some degree. I think, 0:07:03.160 --> 0:07:06.040 you know, I reported over a week ago now that 0:07:06.600 --> 0:07:11.240 the Lakers and Hawks, the dialogue between the teams had 0:07:11.280 --> 0:07:15.160 tailed off considerably, and one source at the time, this 0:07:15.320 --> 0:07:18.520 was late January, one source briefed on the talks, one 0:07:18.560 --> 0:07:20.560 as far as telling me that they thought it was 0:07:20.680 --> 0:07:27.920 unrealistic for a Murray to Lakers scenario to materialize. And again, 0:07:28.000 --> 0:07:30.440 things can change fast. When the Lakers and Hawks have 0:07:30.520 --> 0:07:33.080 talked as much as they have to this point, it 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:35.960 only takes one phone call to get that sparked up again. 0:07:36.440 --> 0:07:40.600 But I do think it's instructive to remember that Atlanta 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:47.960 had John Collins on the trade block for literally four deadlines. 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:52.239 Four So it is by no means inconceivable that after 0:07:52.480 --> 0:07:56.960 all of this Dejonte Murray talk that we've been engaged 0:07:57.000 --> 0:08:01.120 in for a month now, it's not inconceivable that Atlanta 0:08:01.160 --> 0:08:04.000 would say, you know what, We're gonna wait Because to me, 0:08:05.480 --> 0:08:09.600 de Jontay Murray and Kyle Kuzman and Washington they strike 0:08:09.720 --> 0:08:14.040 me as two players that you would classify as difference 0:08:14.080 --> 0:08:18.800 makers who are theoretically in play this week and at 0:08:18.880 --> 0:08:22.360 least could be moved this week, because we could come 0:08:22.440 --> 0:08:24.559 up with a much longer list of players who won't 0:08:24.560 --> 0:08:28.400 be traded this week, like you're Jeremy Grants or your 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:31.600 Lowry markinins, or you're Donovan Mitchell's, you're Jared Allens. None 0:08:31.640 --> 0:08:33.880 of those guys are getting moved this week. But is 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:39.000 it a Murray trade possible? Yes? Is a Kuzma trade possible? Yes? However, 0:08:39.920 --> 0:08:44.640 both the Hawks and the Wizards are extremely motivated to 0:08:44.840 --> 0:08:48.640 maximize the draft capital they get back in a trade. 0:08:48.640 --> 0:08:51.760 If Atlanta's given up to Jontay Murray this week, they 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:54.440 want at least two firsts, and I believe the Wizards 0:08:54.440 --> 0:08:57.840 still want at least two firsts if they can do 0:08:58.000 --> 0:09:02.880 something with Kuzma, especially in Washington, because remember Washington traded 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:07.800 Bradley Beal and Christops Porzingis without getting an outright first 0:09:08.200 --> 0:09:11.679 in either trade. This is all a long winded way 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:14.960 of me trying to say de Jontey Murray's contract one 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:19.559 fourteen million over four years. Kyle Kuzma's contract ninety million 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.960 over four years, descending from twenty five million in year 0:09:23.040 --> 0:09:27.240 one to nineteen million in year four, those contracts will 0:09:27.240 --> 0:09:31.199 still have value at the draft in the summer beyond. 0:09:31.559 --> 0:09:34.960 Those teams do not have to trade him this week. 0:09:35.400 --> 0:09:37.680 There is a case to be made, both for the 0:09:37.760 --> 0:09:40.960 Hawks with Murray and for the Wizards with Kuzma. There 0:09:41.040 --> 0:09:43.439 is a case to be made that, you know what, 0:09:43.800 --> 0:09:47.240 wait till June. There might be more first round draft 0:09:47.240 --> 0:09:51.600 picks in play in June at draft time than there 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:54.880 is right now. Bobby Marks from ESPN had the amazing 0:09:54.960 --> 0:09:59.600 stat the other day that eleven teams control seventy five 0:09:59.640 --> 0:10:03.000 percent of the tradeable picks in the coming June draft. 0:10:03.040 --> 0:10:07.480 It's just manufacturing first round picks right now is not easy, 0:10:07.559 --> 0:10:10.880 and Toronto is finding that out. You mentioned Bruce Brown. 0:10:11.120 --> 0:10:14.559 The Raptors made their trade. They sent Siakam to Indiana 0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:18.079 in mid January. Part of the reason they did it 0:10:18.160 --> 0:10:21.280 was because they wanted to get Bruce Brown as early 0:10:21.320 --> 0:10:24.640 as they could and give themselves as much runway to 0:10:24.720 --> 0:10:28.040 try to trade Bruce Brown for another first round pick, 0:10:28.120 --> 0:10:30.960 and so the Raptors could say we got four firsts 0:10:30.960 --> 0:10:34.520 for Siakam instead of just three. But you know, they're 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:37.439 down to two plus days to get that done. The 0:10:37.520 --> 0:10:40.520 Raptors do not yet have the first round pick that 0:10:40.559 --> 0:10:43.079 they've been trying to get for Bruce Brown. Not easy 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:45.120 to do in this marketplace. 0:10:45.440 --> 0:10:48.280 And when it comes to the Hawks, you know, I said, 0:10:48.360 --> 0:10:50.400 I believe it was last week or two weeks ago. 0:10:50.679 --> 0:10:53.160 You know how the Hawks they don't feel any urgency 0:10:53.440 --> 0:10:57.080 of making a Jante Murray deal at the deadline. They 0:10:57.120 --> 0:11:01.679 feel mighty comfortable keeping them going through the season and 0:11:01.720 --> 0:11:06.559 reassessing over the summer and seeing if there is a 0:11:06.720 --> 0:11:09.680 stockpow of first rounds out there available to be had. 0:11:09.720 --> 0:11:12.760 At that point where you see teams like, you know, 0:11:12.920 --> 0:11:15.120 just just throw the Los Angeles Lakers who have been 0:11:15.160 --> 0:11:18.520 tied to the jihnte as well, like, how desperate, how 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:21.560 more desperate will they be if their season doesn't end, 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:24.040 you know, end up the way that I'll just say 0:11:24.040 --> 0:11:27.720 this the way Lebron James wants it to end. You know, 0:11:27.800 --> 0:11:31.640 you have to think about what moves will he ask 0:11:31.720 --> 0:11:33.760 to be made, or he don't even have to ask 0:11:34.240 --> 0:11:36.960 what type of mood will he be in? Which will 0:11:37.160 --> 0:11:41.360 lead to the Lakers going out there and trying to 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:45.440 see what can be done and getting other teams involved 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:51.160 to try to to satisfy the Atlanta Hawks for a 0:11:51.240 --> 0:11:55.840 package that would include de Jhonta. So you know, another 0:11:55.920 --> 0:11:58.400 thing with the Hawks as well, is that you you 0:11:58.520 --> 0:12:02.200 reminded everybody about how long John Collins was on the market. 0:12:02.200 --> 0:12:05.200 It seemed like for four straight summers. He was on 0:12:05.200 --> 0:12:09.520 the market during the summer trade deadlines and they kept them. 0:12:09.520 --> 0:12:12.000 But this is a new regime, you know, this is 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:15.800 Landry Fields in charge, but the ownership group still holds 0:12:15.800 --> 0:12:20.360 a heavy hand. And so you wonder if Landy will 0:12:20.440 --> 0:12:24.840 be that, if he's willing to go that route. I 0:12:24.880 --> 0:12:31.040 don't know, but you know, it seemed just just from 0:12:31.280 --> 0:12:38.000 what little I'm hearing on substance, I just say, right now, 0:12:38.040 --> 0:12:42.200 it's not looking it's not looking like as of right now, 0:12:42.440 --> 0:12:48.000 we record this with Monday, February fifth, Monday night. If 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:50.839 you ask me if Murray's going to be traded by tomorrow, No, 0:12:52.120 --> 0:12:55.280 and which would lead me to think that I don't 0:12:55.320 --> 0:12:57.360 know if anything can pick up by the end. It could. 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:01.960 All it takes is one folk call to start changing 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:07.320 the situation. But you know it's the heat is not 0:13:07.400 --> 0:13:11.000 as burning as what it was a month ago, even 0:13:11.040 --> 0:13:11.920 a few weeks ago. 0:13:12.559 --> 0:13:14.760 One team, I think a lot of people are curious 0:13:14.800 --> 0:13:20.040 about is Chicago and what the Bulls might do. Obviously, 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:25.520 a Levigne trade now is unrealistic in the extreme, in 0:13:25.559 --> 0:13:28.640 the wake of him announcing that he's going for season 0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:32.920 ending foot surgery. I would say in recent days, the 0:13:33.040 --> 0:13:36.800 chatter about the Bulls has been Andre Drummond is the 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:40.680 most likely current Bowl to be moved. I think that's 0:13:40.720 --> 0:13:44.760 the way most rival front offices see it. And there 0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:48.120 is a lot of demand for Drummond. I mean, who 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:54.120 doesn't need another big man if you have playoff aspirations 0:13:54.440 --> 0:13:59.319 in a league where Nikola Jokic's team they're the reigning champions. 0:14:00.160 --> 0:14:03.720 Drummond has very quietly had a very productive season in 0:14:03.840 --> 0:14:07.520 terms of rebounding in short minutes for the Bulls, So 0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:11.000 I don't think Chicago will have any trouble moving him 0:14:11.120 --> 0:14:14.760 for some draft capital. And this is hilarious, folks. While 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:19.720 we're literally while we're taping this episode, Chris Haynes just 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:23.400 tweeted that Tyrese Maxi will be competing in the three 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:28.560 point contest at All Star Weekend in Indianapolis, looking away 0:14:28.560 --> 0:14:31.320 from the screen, ignoring producer Ryan and I as I'm 0:14:31.400 --> 0:14:34.600 rambling on here about Andre Drummond. But now that you've 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:36.400 put that tweet out, I guess I can get around 0:14:36.440 --> 0:14:39.200 to my long winded question. You know the Bulls, well, 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:44.160 you know DeMar DeRozan. Well, what DeMar Derozen is headed 0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:47.400 for free agency? Could that be one of the surprises 0:14:47.480 --> 0:14:51.760 this week, that out of the blue something happens where 0:14:51.880 --> 0:14:56.240 Chicago trades DeMar Derozen. It certainly doesn't sound like that's 0:14:57.080 --> 0:15:00.440 in the ether. But I know that you know Damar 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:03.600 in his situation pretty well, So give me your forecast 0:15:03.640 --> 0:15:04.280 on DeRozan. 0:15:05.040 --> 0:15:08.680 Yeah, what I'm hearing is that I'm not hearing really 0:15:08.720 --> 0:15:11.960 anything on a DeMar DeRozan trade front, which leads me 0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:15.040 to believe he will be kept through the deadline, and 0:15:15.680 --> 0:15:18.840 I would think that both sides will get back to 0:15:18.880 --> 0:15:22.160 the table and start trying to talk about an extension. 0:15:23.600 --> 0:15:27.640 You know, the Bulls and Tomorrow's and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, 0:15:27.760 --> 0:15:31.120 they had some they had some contact early on in 0:15:31.120 --> 0:15:33.680 the season. Both sides are far apart and that still 0:15:33.800 --> 0:15:37.920 is the case. But I think past the deadline they'll 0:15:37.920 --> 0:15:39.640 get back to the table see if anything can be 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:43.120 hammered out, Because, as you mentioned, steinmar DeRozan will be 0:15:43.120 --> 0:15:46.240 an unrestricted free agent and they can risk losing him 0:15:46.280 --> 0:15:48.960 for nothing. I don't know. I don't know that they 0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:51.720 want to put themselves in that situation. I don't know that. 0:15:51.880 --> 0:15:53.880 You know, there are plenty of teams who have done it, 0:15:54.480 --> 0:15:57.680 have surprised us and went along and let a big 0:15:57.720 --> 0:16:01.200 fish just leave. But yeah, I think they will get 0:16:01.240 --> 0:16:05.640 back to the table at some point and see what 0:16:05.760 --> 0:16:08.600 can be done from there. But yeah, no, I don't 0:16:08.640 --> 0:16:11.160 foresee it, Jamar. The rolls and trade occurring. 0:16:11.880 --> 0:16:15.960 Man, the bulls are fascinating. Like their strategy what they 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:20.320 are so hard to figure out? Man, they came into 0:16:20.360 --> 0:16:23.920 the seat. We've been hearing about potential Levine trade since November, 0:16:23.920 --> 0:16:28.200 and obviously, look, the market wasn't there in today's NBA 0:16:28.960 --> 0:16:31.360 with the first apron and the second apron and the 0:16:31.400 --> 0:16:34.840 tax consequences for teams that have high pay rolls. I mean, 0:16:34.840 --> 0:16:37.880 that's just gonna limit the kind of trade market there 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:41.800 is for a player like Zach Lavine. Who if you've 0:16:41.800 --> 0:16:44.160 already got two max players and he's your third guy, 0:16:44.200 --> 0:16:47.040 I mean, you are just setting yourself up for an 0:16:47.080 --> 0:16:50.320 incredibly expensive payroll to bring him in, and that certainly 0:16:50.360 --> 0:16:54.360 limited the trade options but I just I don't know 0:16:54.440 --> 0:16:56.680 if we would have gone back to opening night when 0:16:56.720 --> 0:17:00.280 remember the Bulls were reputed to have a player's only 0:17:00.400 --> 0:17:04.480 meeting on opening nights. I just don't I was there. 0:17:05.320 --> 0:17:08.679 I don't know. I don't know what the Vegas odds 0:17:08.720 --> 0:17:12.720 would have been on Opening night that after that team meeting, 0:17:13.359 --> 0:17:18.480 that Levine and de Rosen and Vucevic, that they're all 0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:21.760 in Chicago after the trade deadline. I'm not smart enough 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:24.479 to know what the odds would have been. But that's uh. 0:17:24.880 --> 0:17:25.919 That seem like. 0:17:28.440 --> 0:17:30.480 I got a question to posed for you that did 0:17:30.520 --> 0:17:32.600 not seem like the likes of scenario. The likely scenario 0:17:32.680 --> 0:17:35.280 would have been that we thought that Chicago would blow 0:17:35.280 --> 0:17:39.840 it up. So my question to you is Levine, at 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:44.200 the time when all this is going down, Levine, at 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:47.760 the time we thought had a trade market. We thought, 0:17:47.840 --> 0:17:50.639 you know, DeMar DeRozan, would you know be able to 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:53.200 hit the market. He would have trade value as well 0:17:53.200 --> 0:18:01.000 as vou Do you feel like Chicago down too long 0:18:02.119 --> 0:18:07.479 and you know past their time? Do you think they 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:08.280 played this right? 0:18:08.840 --> 0:18:11.679 Where are they going? Where is this team going? Like 0:18:13.400 --> 0:18:15.600 if you re signed to Margaret Roseen, I mean, this 0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:18.440 team has been scuffling for a playing spot all season long. 0:18:18.520 --> 0:18:21.639 I just you know. I mean the silver lining to 0:18:21.680 --> 0:18:24.400 the season is what Kobe White has become with Levine out. 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:30.080 Kobe White has looked fantastic, But I don't know what 0:18:30.359 --> 0:18:34.560 the end goal is. They still draw fantastically well. But 0:18:34.680 --> 0:18:37.040 where is this team in the East? Where is this 0:18:37.119 --> 0:18:39.560 team going? I would love to have I would love 0:18:39.600 --> 0:18:42.480 to tell you that I have a handle on their 0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:45.119 long term strategy, but I do not. 0:18:47.840 --> 0:18:50.119 Yeah, I think that's what we've we've been trying to 0:18:50.240 --> 0:18:52.440 gauge for this this first half of the season. Is 0:18:52.680 --> 0:18:53.960 what are they doing? 0:19:02.680 --> 0:19:05.960 Let's stay in the Central Division. Because earlier on Monday, 0:19:06.080 --> 0:19:10.560 I reported that there have been some exploratory talks between 0:19:11.119 --> 0:19:16.240 the Bucks and the Mavericks that would have featured Bobby 0:19:16.320 --> 0:19:20.360 Portis in exchange for Grant Williams. After my story published, 0:19:20.720 --> 0:19:25.119 I subsequently heard that Milwaukee would not be willing to 0:19:25.240 --> 0:19:28.200 do that as a one for one exchange, which does 0:19:28.280 --> 0:19:31.440 work salary cap wise, but Milwaukee would not do that 0:19:31.640 --> 0:19:35.200 trade unless there was more in it for them. I 0:19:35.400 --> 0:19:40.040 was told that that particular trade conversation would not progress 0:19:40.119 --> 0:19:44.440 to something serious without some additional names added. But look 0:19:44.560 --> 0:19:47.520 What it did underline is what I think you've been 0:19:47.640 --> 0:19:51.040 reporting as loudly as anyone in the league, how aggressive 0:19:51.520 --> 0:19:55.320 the Bucks are trying to find players who can help 0:19:55.400 --> 0:20:00.280 them defensively. The appeal there would be Grant Williams a 0:20:00.359 --> 0:20:04.400 disappointing first season in Dallas. Grant Williams, as a versatile defender, 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:08.880 can guard a lot of positions, and Milwaukee's interested him 0:20:09.000 --> 0:20:11.720 naturally would stem from the fact that they need to 0:20:11.800 --> 0:20:15.920 improve on the defensive end and Williams could theoretically help 0:20:16.000 --> 0:20:19.000 them there. But we know the Bucks are trying a 0:20:19.040 --> 0:20:21.480 lot of things, and the reality is they can't do 0:20:21.640 --> 0:20:25.680 anything substantial salary wise unless they're willing to part with 0:20:26.240 --> 0:20:30.600 Bobby Portis and or Pat Conaton. So because they're obviously 0:20:30.760 --> 0:20:34.240 they're they're they're not. They're trying to strengthen the core 0:20:34.480 --> 0:20:38.760 around their four main guys we know, Jannis Dame, Chris Middleton, 0:20:38.800 --> 0:20:41.920 Brook Lopez. Nothing is happening with those four guys, but 0:20:42.119 --> 0:20:45.240 just the Bucks continue to be described to. 0:20:45.359 --> 0:20:46.720 Me as. 0:20:48.280 --> 0:20:51.240 Super, super aggressive. I cross paths with them in Dallas 0:20:51.800 --> 0:20:54.440 on Saturday night, and even though they came back from 0:20:54.480 --> 0:20:58.200 twenty five in Dallas and one there was an unmistakable. 0:20:59.680 --> 0:21:02.280 There's something going to happen with these guys. Vibe. When 0:21:02.320 --> 0:21:03.480 I was around that team. 0:21:03.960 --> 0:21:05.960 Mm hmmm. What was it like being a runner of 0:21:06.000 --> 0:21:08.840 team Start? Well, you got you got them, you got 0:21:08.920 --> 0:21:12.840 them in Dallas and then they went and laid the 0:21:12.880 --> 0:21:13.760 egg the next day. 0:21:15.080 --> 0:21:19.480 Like I said, it just it just felt me like something, 0:21:19.680 --> 0:21:22.240 some something's gonna happen there. There is going to be 0:21:22.320 --> 0:21:25.320 at least one move between now and Thursday at three 0:21:25.400 --> 0:21:28.560 pm Eastern, and I think I think they know it. 0:21:28.880 --> 0:21:30.520 I think they know something is coming. 0:21:32.520 --> 0:21:35.720 Well on something else. Sticking with the Bucks, Stein, you 0:21:35.880 --> 0:21:39.480 reported it, You reported it, but we'll lay it on here. 0:21:39.600 --> 0:21:42.000 What is Doc? What is Doc planning on doing? Because 0:21:42.040 --> 0:21:47.040 I believe Doc is one in three as a head 0:21:47.080 --> 0:21:49.720 coach of the Bucks right now, but he is going 0:21:49.840 --> 0:21:50.960 to represent. 0:21:50.680 --> 0:21:53.160 Yeah, and you know what it looks. Just to be clear, 0:21:53.680 --> 0:21:56.639 like so before the game, I had a chance to 0:21:56.720 --> 0:21:59.720 interview Doc Rivers, and the full interview it's a short 0:21:59.760 --> 0:22:02.160 inter but he actually we got into some pretty good 0:22:02.160 --> 0:22:06.000 stuff just about his return to coaching and championships and everything. 0:22:07.440 --> 0:22:10.200 That discussion will run on my Saturday radio show. But 0:22:10.240 --> 0:22:14.000 it's like Doc didn't walk into the Building announcing his 0:22:14.240 --> 0:22:18.760 plan to relinquish his All Star coaching share. I asked him. 0:22:18.920 --> 0:22:21.359 I asked him about it. He was responding to my 0:22:21.600 --> 0:22:24.760 question about it, because the Bucks came into that Saturday 0:22:24.840 --> 0:22:29.399 night game against Dallas needing a win to clinch the 0:22:29.560 --> 0:22:33.160 All Star coaching spot, because of course, the Celtics lead 0:22:33.240 --> 0:22:36.160 the East, but Joe Mizzoula and his staff they went 0:22:36.240 --> 0:22:38.840 to the All Star Game last season, so they're not 0:22:39.080 --> 0:22:42.680 eligible to do it this season. So the Bucks came 0:22:42.760 --> 0:22:46.920 to Dallas on Saturday night knowing that a win would 0:22:47.000 --> 0:22:49.440 send their coaching staff to the All Star Game. And 0:22:50.280 --> 0:22:52.320 I asked Doc about it before the game, and he 0:22:52.440 --> 0:22:56.320 was very sheepish about it. He said it's ridiculous and 0:22:57.560 --> 0:22:59.800 he doesn't feel good about it. And he actually told 0:22:59.880 --> 0:23:02.360 me again you'll hear the whole interview on my Saturday 0:23:02.440 --> 0:23:05.680 radio show. He told me that he asked the league, 0:23:06.600 --> 0:23:08.680 can I not do this. I've only coached this team 0:23:08.720 --> 0:23:11.440 three or four games. He doesn't feel right being the 0:23:11.480 --> 0:23:13.560 All Star coach. And the league told him, Doc, here, 0:23:14.400 --> 0:23:16.920 if the Bucks clinched the second best record in the East, 0:23:17.000 --> 0:23:19.760 you will be coaching. You will be coaching the East 0:23:19.800 --> 0:23:23.000 All Stars. So Doc Rivers will be there, but the 0:23:23.200 --> 0:23:26.720 coaching share and the all star ring he is going 0:23:26.800 --> 0:23:29.440 to make sure that Adrian Griffin gets those. But I 0:23:29.520 --> 0:23:33.400 think again, I think people reacted to it like Doc 0:23:33.520 --> 0:23:37.240 walked in, you know, announcing this plan for effect, and 0:23:37.600 --> 0:23:41.040 no I asked him about it. And postgame the Bucks won, 0:23:41.160 --> 0:23:42.920 so obviously he was asked about it. 0:23:43.520 --> 0:23:46.920 Okay, well, I'm glad you set that straight, starn So. 0:23:47.200 --> 0:23:50.920 Bucks right now going through a tough period, adjustment period. 0:23:50.960 --> 0:23:53.639 I think we're seeing Doc Rivers starting to, piece by 0:23:53.760 --> 0:23:57.880 piece implement his own schemes. And you know, he implemented 0:23:57.920 --> 0:24:02.280 a defensive scheme that worked on Dallas, particularly on Luca 0:24:03.040 --> 0:24:05.480 down the stretch. One thing I want to know, You know, 0:24:05.880 --> 0:24:11.120 Dame was questionable for that last game at Utah. Didn't 0:24:11.160 --> 0:24:14.480 play well at all. His ankle, his ankle was he 0:24:14.600 --> 0:24:17.480 was questionable with an ankle injury. He shouldn't have played. 0:24:18.000 --> 0:24:20.639 He probably you shouldn't have played. You know that what 0:24:20.760 --> 0:24:24.479 I was told that that ankle, it was bothering him. 0:24:24.560 --> 0:24:27.719 So we'll see how he moves forward with that injury 0:24:27.920 --> 0:24:30.639 in the games ahead. I'm not ready to report on 0:24:30.720 --> 0:24:32.879 if he's going to miss miss any games right now, 0:24:33.000 --> 0:24:35.520 But I just wanted to just say that, you know, 0:24:35.640 --> 0:24:38.520 that's an ankle injury he's dealing with. That just came 0:24:38.600 --> 0:24:39.080 up recently. 0:24:39.640 --> 0:24:41.840 What about the three point contest. I thought your guy 0:24:42.000 --> 0:24:45.320 Dame was he won it last year, And remember he 0:24:45.440 --> 0:24:48.320 did an interview with us the morning of the three 0:24:48.400 --> 0:24:52.800 point contest when this league uncut was just in its 0:24:52.920 --> 0:24:56.880 infancy stages. Dame goes out wins the three point contest 0:24:56.920 --> 0:24:58.240 and I thought that that was going to be the 0:24:58.320 --> 0:25:01.640