1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Action Network Podcast, the number one show 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: for the invested sports fan. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: Without further ado, that's what the game's all about. 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 3: All of a sudden, you feel like you can't miss 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 3: I'm gonna leave it up here. If you try that again, absolutely. 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 2: Trying to. 7 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: Hello everyone. Welcome to the Action Network Podcast. I'm your host, 8 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: Matt Moore for this episode of the NBA edition. Free 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: Agency has begun. I've slept like four hours. There's like 10 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: three point one seven billion dollars that's been dulled out. 11 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: Let's break it down. We're gonna talk about futures, We're 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: gonna talk about reactions, but most importantly, we're gonna check 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: in on how Rob Perez, Worldwide Bob, is surviving and 14 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: how he's justifying his existence as a Knicks fan. We're 15 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: also gonna talk to Sam Amck, senior NBA writer for 16 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: The Athletic and get the latest on what he thinks 17 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: about all the and how they went down, etc. That's 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: come out a little bit later, but first joining me today, 19 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: Rob Perez, senior NBA producer for the Action Network. You 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: know him as world Wide Bob. So you went through 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: the gamut of emotion yesterday when Kevin Durant decided to 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: sign with the Nets along with Kyrie Irving, and a 23 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: great tweet captured by somebody that showed all of the 24 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: different stages that you went through yesterday. Where are you 25 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: right now with the Knicks and your feelings about the 26 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: decisions that they've made with Bobby Portis and Julius Randall 27 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: and Taj Gibson and like eleven other undersized power forwards 28 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: and Wayne Ellington and Reggie Bullock and like all this 29 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: that they've done to your deals, almost all of them. 30 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: What are your thoughts on where the Knicks actually are 31 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: after Kevin Durant snubbed them. 32 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 3: I see what you're trying to do there by listing 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 3: all of those power forwards, trying to instigate me into 34 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 3: a meltdown. But I'm not going to do it. I'm 35 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 3: still the sun Rose today and the nix of years 36 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 3: passed by this point. Waking up today would have given 37 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 3: Tobias Harris Stefan Marberry in Sydney Dean from White Men 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 3: can jump max contracts because that's what they do when 39 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 3: they miss out on their original targets, the A listers. 40 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 3: They go out there and they recklessly spend they've been 41 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 3: doing it for two decades, and you can't blame them. 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 3: If the reports are true that they didn't even offer 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 3: Durant in the first place, we could argue that all day. 44 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 3: But they've been burned in the past by an uninsured 45 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: contract guarantee in the form of Amri Stottemeyer. So if 46 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 3: they trust their doctors that this could be a similar situation, 47 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 3: then you kind of just have to ride with it. 48 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 3: But in the end, it sucks, right, it's embarrassing because 49 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 3: the JV just hooked up with the prom queen in 50 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 3: the form of the Brooklyn Nets. Right, they're the main 51 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 3: attraction now, and the Knicks have always had that, regardless 52 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 3: of how much they've stunk. Is that they're the team. 53 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 3: They're New York City's team. But I see the vision 54 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: in terms of transactions and x'es and o's, I see 55 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 3: a bunch of you just listed all those names. Guess what, 56 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 3: They all come off the books in twenty twenty one, 57 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 3: and we're going to do this again in two years. 58 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 3: Where the Knicks have two MAX spots, are in a 59 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 3: position to take home star or disgruntled someone that wants 60 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 3: a trade. They're bringing in guys that clearly have no 61 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 3: initiative other than just getting paid and working hard because 62 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 3: they want to develop their young guys and Kevin Knox 63 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 3: and r. J. Parrett, Mitchell Robinson and Dennis Smith Junior. 64 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 3: So they're not bringing in these alphas that demand the 65 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 3: ball like a let's say, a boogie, that aren't going 66 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 3: to make their teammates better. So I see the vision. 67 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 3: I applaud them for continuing to follow through on it 68 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: because the Knicks have never had patients in the past. 69 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 3: But in the end, yeah, I would certainly like to 70 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 3: have Kyrie and Kevin Durant on my team this morning. 71 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: But what else the Nick's supposed to do is my 72 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 3: question back to you. 73 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: So they gotta fill out the floor somehow they got 74 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: to get the ninety eight million, and that's definitely true. 75 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: I actually don't mind what they did. A guy online 76 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: the short term deals. I like Julius Randall a lot. 77 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: Todsh Gibson is a great veteran, Like everybody in the 78 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: locker room will be better for having Todge Gibson around. 79 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: I do guy disagree that Julius Randall isn't gonna like 80 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: Julius Randall. Does think he's like a top level star. 81 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: I think he'll probably play that way, and that's okay. 82 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: They need somebody to have like initiative, and him and 83 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: Barrett will form a pretty good pick and roll if 84 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: Barrett ever passes. 85 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 2: Ever. 86 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: But my thing is when you say like they're gonna 87 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: be right back here in two years, Like that's where 88 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: I think that things go haywire. Don't don't. Don't go 89 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: towards that, like you, the biggest problem here is it 90 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: might make them too good, Like they need to be 91 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: bad again so they can get another high draft pick 92 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: and maybe like get the lottery's been flattened, so you 93 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: could be decent but still have a really good shot 94 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: at a top three pick, and there's some talent next year. 95 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: I think that's considerably better than what you had in 96 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: this draft. Like why not go that route and try 97 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: and rebuild that way versus doing this and then you know, 98 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: basically spinning wheels and in two years getting getting turned 99 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: down again. Why put yourself up for the misery again? 100 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: Why keep going back to the free the star free agent? Well, 101 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 1: prove you get your solid organization first, Like fix your 102 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 1: organization first. 103 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 3: Well, when I'm talking about the space available in twenty 104 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 3: twenty one. Let's remember that the only players on the 105 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 3: books for the New York Knicks are going to be 106 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 3: Kevin Knox, RJ. Barrett, and there'll be options on Julius 107 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 3: Randall and Mitchell Robinson team options, so the Knicks have 108 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 3: team control there, and they'll have their two to three 109 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,559 Speaker 3: draft picks. Let's assume they just keep the same picks 110 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 3: that they have. They'll have two lottery picks and the 111 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: Dallas Mavericks first rounder as well on the roster, so 112 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 3: they're going to have no choice but to one either 113 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: give those guys the extensions. 114 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: Right. 115 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 3: Are they going to pay out Dennis Smith Junior after 116 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 3: his rookie contract is done. They're going to do the 117 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 3: same with Nili Kino. Those are question marks even if 118 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 3: they get paid though, There's only so many players there 119 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 3: and they will have that space available, so it's not 120 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 3: so much that the knickser I don't think their mindset 121 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 3: is we'll just tank, tank, tank, and get rid of 122 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 3: all our guys and do this again. I think they're 123 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 3: going to be bad. I think they're going to develop 124 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 3: three to four main young guys that they do eventually 125 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 3: want to pay one day and they're going to work 126 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 3: towards having that flexibility in twenty twenty one, revolving hopefully 127 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 3: around these kids that are the nineteen twenty year old kids. 128 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 3: Now we're going to be twenty two, then it might 129 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 3: be let's say, just legitimate NBA borderline stars. I think 130 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: that's the best case scenario here, and having that cap 131 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 3: space shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. I see 132 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 3: it as options and flexibility. 133 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they've still got some space left. I just 134 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: one thing I would keep in mind is like they 135 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: should keep at least enough cap space open to do 136 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: what the Grizzlies have done, like with the Warriors deal, 137 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: where it's like, yeah, no, sure, well you need to 138 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: dump a contracts, No problem, we got space. We'll take 139 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: them on. Oh yeah, we're going to need a first 140 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: round pick with that. They need to be doing that. 141 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: That's something that they need to be pursuing is is 142 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 1: I've come to refer to as cap laundering. They need 143 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: to be laundering their cap space in order to get 144 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: more assets for a young rebuild. 145 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's my only critique of the process of clearly 146 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 3: what the Knicks are intending to do here with these 147 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 3: two year deals is I would have liked to see 148 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 3: them potentially take on Gorn drag It or Jeff Teague. 149 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 3: You know they heat are desperately trying to create space 150 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: for Jimmy Butler. Why not take Gordon Dragon, who's in 151 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 3: expiring contract, isn't necessarily a guy that's like a super 152 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 3: ball dominant that you have to worry about in a 153 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 3: locker room, and get a protected first round pick in 154 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 3: a couple of second rounders from Minnesota that wants to 155 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 3: clear tigue to eventually get DiAngelo. Like, I felt like 156 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 3: there was an opportunity out there, and the Knicks need 157 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 3: to have cap space to your point, to do so 158 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: so versus just filling it all up on strictly free agents. 159 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 3: When you have cap space, and I'm talking about these 160 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 3: flexibility and options, one of those options is the ability 161 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 3: to take on these bad expiring deals like the Atlanta 162 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 3: Hawks have been the face of, like, give us your 163 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 3: Allen Crabs, as long as there's a pick with it, 164 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: we'll take them. I would have liked to see the 165 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: Knicks do that. Maybe the market isn't as strong as 166 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 3: I think it is, but as long as someone like 167 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 3: Draggage is out there, I feel like the Knicks should 168 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 3: be the team putting themselves in a position to continue 169 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 3: to stack assets for that twenty twenty one future. 170 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: Now, as we go forward, obviously there's going to be 171 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: We knew this going in that we're recording this podcast 172 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: on Monday morning. We want to get reactions to Sunday night. 173 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: But there's a lot of deals there off the table. 174 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: But things are shifting every minute. So just keep that 175 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: in mind as you listen that we're recording this on 176 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: Monday morning and around eleven to fifteen Eastern time. I 177 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: have kind of a more existential question for you. Okay, 178 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: so the Clippers looks like they're gonna lose out on 179 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: Kawi Leonder because he doesn't have anybody to team up 180 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: with with the Clippers. There's nobody left. Kyrie's gone, Katie's gone, 181 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler's in Miami once they figured that three way 182 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: trade out, Kimball Walker's in Boston, Tobias Harris is back 183 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: in Philly. There's no other star for Kauie. A team 184 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: up with and going to the Clippers seems like a 185 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: really good idea if you're like, we're gonna come in 186 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: as this superstar duo and take over this new team 187 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: and build it. It's a lot different if it's like, 188 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: oh yeah, it's gonna be me and Andrew Shammitt and 189 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: Zubac Gallo, the Dead does not seem like the same 190 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: kind of deal. So it looks that there's still gonna 191 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: be the Clippers while the Lakers are gonna be the Lakers, 192 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: despite the Lakers being infinitely more questionable in their decision making. 193 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: Let's just say that, over the last couple of months 194 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: with Brooklyn, are you of the opinion that, like, this 195 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: is New York's never going to be a Nets town, 196 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: It's never going to be closed, It's always going to 197 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: be a Knicks town. Is that? Am I correct in that? 198 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 3: Then the Brooklyn Nets could go eighty two and zero 199 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,439 Speaker 3: in sweep the playoffs and not a soul will show 200 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: up to their parade at the Canyon of Heroes. They're 201 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: gonna have to do their parade on Flat Push Avenue. 202 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 3: This is a New York Knicks town through. 203 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 1: So why this is my question is why are the 204 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: Clippers always going to be the Clippers no matter what 205 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: they do? And why are the Nets always gonna be 206 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:29,959 Speaker 1: the Nets no matter what they do? When both the 207 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 1: Knicks and the Lakers are run worse and haven't done 208 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: the things that should get fans more excited for them. 209 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 1: Even though it's like it's the same city. 210 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: It's the separate histories for both teams. I mean, the 211 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 3: Lakers have championships and banners and they have show time. 212 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: I understand that the Knicks haven't won a title, and 213 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: god knows even before I was born, But there is 214 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 3: a history there, you know that was they built the mecca. 215 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 3: You know, Masisdon Square Garden is the symbol of the 216 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 3: basketball Mecca. We could argue about that all day, but 217 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 3: that's a fact of the matter, at least to me 218 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 3: and anybody here on the East Coast. And there's just 219 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 3: history there. So that doesn't mean the Nets can't get 220 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 3: to that point. We have to remember they just recently 221 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn, so they're trying to 222 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 3: build an identity of their own, you know, expansion teams, 223 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 3: unless they start in a city, unless there the Seattle SuperSonics, 224 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 3: they have to build an identity in the city and 225 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 3: the culture that they're starting in. So the Nets can 226 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 3: certainly appeal to younger audiences that are growing up right 227 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 3: now looking for a team. If I'm between the age 228 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 3: of ten and eighteen and I'm born in the Tristate area, 229 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 3: New York, of course I'm going to be attracted to 230 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 3: the Brooklyn Nets over the next because they're better, they 231 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 3: have the star power, they're local, and I wasn't born 232 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 3: with the Walt Clyde Frasier's and the Monros and the 233 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: Ewings and the Starks like. They don't have that history yet. 234 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 3: So that's the audience I think that the Brooklyn Nets 235 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 3: can capitalize on. But that's going to take time, right 236 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 3: They need to show years and years of success before 237 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 3: they start eating into a market share the size of 238 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 3: the Knicks. It's the same way you come up with 239 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 3: something that can compete with Facebook. Facebook is Facebook, whether 240 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 3: people like it or it's doing well or not, and 241 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 3: it's going to take time to overthrow it if you 242 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 3: think your product is good enough, regardless of the type 243 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: of product that it is. I'm sure they're out there 244 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 3: companies that can take down Facebook, but you don't know 245 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 3: about them. And that's for a reason. 246 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's always interesting just that, and like 247 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: this off season is kind of playing out that way, 248 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: Like everyone was hyping the Clippers all year and for 249 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: good reason, Like they do have a smart front office, 250 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: they have managed thing as well. Balmer is the kind 251 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: of owner you want to play for because he's going 252 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,559 Speaker 1: to spend as much as it takes to win a 253 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: championship and he's gonna put put you in a new 254 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: building that's going to be your own and it's like 255 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: a fresh start. And yeah, it's just like yeah, but 256 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: they're the Clippers. It's like, yeah, other than the Nets. 257 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: And I think it's really interesting that there's just somebody 258 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: in our slack comment on the start of the playoffs, 259 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: and it's really stuck with me that he was talking 260 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: about betting it and he was like, the NBA is 261 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: the only sport in which I bet narrative because it 262 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: winds up being true more times than not. And that's 263 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: stuck with me. That's so often it seems like we 264 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: have a narrative and then reality forms around that narrative, 265 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: regardless of the actual facts of the situation. I think 266 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 1: that's a really weird part of the sport that we cover. 267 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's more of a testment to just the NBA, 268 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 3: where there's always where there's smoke, there's always fire. The 269 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 3: saying is there's usually fire. I think in the NBA 270 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 3: there's always fire. Right. So when we're looking at the 271 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 3: current Lakers Clippers situation, that the Lakers are all in 272 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 3: on Kauhai obviously, but for both of these teams, one 273 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 3: of them is going to miss out on the dude, 274 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 3: even if the one that gets them, Like, what are 275 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: we doing here after Kawhi signs? There's nobody left out there. 276 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,719 Speaker 3: There's all the clutch clients, the Morris brothers and the 277 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 3: contavious calledwell popes. But how are you filling out a 278 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 3: roster right now? If you're one of those two LA 279 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 3: teams and the Clippers are in this situation that it's 280 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 3: very similar to the Knicks that we just are going 281 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 3: to have to sign as many guys as possible to 282 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 3: get us to the salary cap floor, guys that can 283 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 3: complement our young dudes, and then we'll try this again 284 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 3: either next year or in twenty twenty one as well. 285 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 3: And is part of the reason for that is that 286 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 3: we're the Clippers and they're the Lakers. I can't say 287 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 3: yes to that until we see where Kawai goes, because 288 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 3: if he ends up choosing the Lakers, then you can 289 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: pretty much say, yes, the Lakers having that reputation and 290 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 3: that brand may have influenced him regardless of what type 291 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 3: of person he is. But we're not there yet because 292 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 3: he could still technically sign with either or go back 293 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 3: to Toronto and spurn both of them. So narratives certainly 294 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 3: are playing a big issue here for free agents, let 295 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 3: alone teams. 296 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: Okay, so I should have something these to you before, 297 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: but we're only going to talk about few, so the 298 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,439 Speaker 1: numbers will be Okay, I'm going to give you the 299 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: Eastern Conference title ods. I just like conference title logs 300 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,839 Speaker 1: better than title odds. I feel like that's like, let's 301 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: see where you're at when you get into a matchup 302 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: in the finals, and you know, the Lakers are part 303 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: of this and all this, but the East is basically destabilized, 304 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: Like it's destabilized rapidly because the Bucks are losing Brogden, 305 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: they're keeping Middleton and Brook. But I think it's hard 306 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: for them to get back to that same level next year. 307 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: I think there's a natural level of regression we can 308 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: count on. We'll talk about Toronto in just a second. 309 00:13:56,960 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: The Sixers obviously made the changes. Let's assume that they 310 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: get the way figured out with Jimmy going to Miami. 311 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: They get Horford and Josh Richardson along with Tobias Harris back. 312 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: The Nets obviously pick up Kyrie Catie's out for the year. 313 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 1: They got DeAndre Jordan, they got Karris Lavert, they got 314 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: Spencer Dimwiddie. Celtics have got Kemball Walker. Let's let's the 315 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: Celtics are likely to get a big with their remaining 316 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: cap space. We don't know who that's gonna be. There's 317 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: nobody left on the market that's like a There's nobody 318 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: that really moves the needle. So let's say it's basically 319 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: the team that they've got now. And then the Pacers 320 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: did what they did. You got Bucks at plus one eighty, 321 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: you got Raptors at plus three hundred. You've got six 322 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: Ers at plus three point fifty, Celtics plus nine hundred 323 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: Nets plus nine hundred Pacers plus fourteen hundred. If I 324 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: tell you that Kawhi signs with the Lakers tomorrow or today, 325 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: or at some point Kawhi is going to la who 326 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: do you like? Who do you think has the best 327 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: value amongst these teams for Eastern Conference the futures. 328 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 3: Okay, so if Kawhi is gone, I want to I 329 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 3: want to go through my tears before I give you 330 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 3: an answer. So if no Kawhi is there, the Raptors 331 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 3: fallout of that top tier in the Eastern Conference, you 332 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 3: would have Philadelphia in Milwaukee. I think it's the two 333 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 3: teams that are clear head and shoulders above the rest. 334 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 3: Let's just do the Raptors the benefit of the doubt 335 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 3: and knock them down to the second tier, not the 336 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 3: third tier, just because they're world champs. And I'm going 337 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 3: to give him that credit. In that second tier, I've 338 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 3: got the Raptors. The Celtics is kind of just this 339 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 3: team that's there that's going to be a top four seed, 340 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 3: but I'm not taking seriously in terms of winning a championship. 341 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 3: And I also have the Indiana Pacers there, and that's 342 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 3: probably my answer to your question. Especially at plus fourteen 343 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 3: hundred their addition of Brock, there's no like sexy names here. 344 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 3: But this team was really good before Oladipo got hurt. 345 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 3: I mean, they were like top tier defensively, they have 346 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 3: a guy that can close. They check the all the 347 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 3: boxes in terms of like can this translate to playoff basketball. 348 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 3: It was usually a yes for me, and I would 349 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 3: continue to ride Miles Turner until he develops into the 350 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 3: All Star that he should be. So the Indiana Pacers, 351 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 3: without a doubt, would be my betting value for sure, 352 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 3: especially at that number. And I would even think they 353 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 3: actually have a legitimate chance, regardless of the odds, to 354 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 3: come out of there, just because of the way they're structured. 355 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 3: And then there is that third tier, which is the 356 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 3: Brooklyn Nets, and I think it's just that's a tier 357 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 3: of potential that they have a big name, that they 358 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 3: have young, they have this system, they have this culture 359 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 3: that they could potentially be really good one day, but 360 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 3: they are most certainly not there with Kevin Durant on 361 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 3: the bench. 362 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think I'm with you. The Pacers have to 363 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: be the best value at plus fourteen hundred, that they're 364 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: just undervalued by that market. I probably want to get 365 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: a position of taking like the Bucks as an easy, 366 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: you know, front load, and then taking and then using 367 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: as a hedge against a long shot bet both the Pacers. 368 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: I do like the Sixers a lot here. I've been 369 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: thinking a lot about the Sixers because I was low 370 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: on them, all year. You've been high on them because 371 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: you love Jojo. I was really impressed by their performance 372 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, and the other thing that I kind 373 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: of that it took me a while to kind of 374 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: put into words. What I realized is I was I 375 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: was really thinking while I was watching. I was like, 376 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: they're really good because of Mbeid. And when they realize 377 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: that they're really good because of EMBIID and everything is 378 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: built around EMBIID, this team is going to be scary good. 379 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,719 Speaker 1: And I think these moves actually do that for them. 380 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: I don't think that's what they want to think. They 381 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 1: want to keep Butler, but that if you look at 382 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: it all right, they're now going to have their their 383 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 1: main unit is going to have Simmons a point Josh Richardson. 384 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 1: You know, Tobias Harris, Al Horford at power forward and Embiid. Okay, 385 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:29,479 Speaker 1: so you're looking at now three shooters in Richardson, Harris 386 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: and Horford. Horford can shoot from range around EMBIID, and 387 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: NB can shoot as well. So you're really done about 388 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: like four shooters with one non shooter. And as far 389 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: as defensive players, Richardson's a good defender. Simmons is a 390 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: great defender. Embiad's a great defender, and Horford's a great defender, 391 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: So you only have one defensive weakness in Tobias Harris. 392 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: They've only got one guy on the floor at all times. 393 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: That is kind of questionable, and Brown, I think can 394 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: build the schemes to optimize them. So I like the 395 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: Pacers a lot for the value at plus fourteen hundred 396 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: because of how unstable the West is. But I think 397 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: I'm probably good to be pretty high on the Sixers 398 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,959 Speaker 1: and probably hitting their over on win total by the end. 399 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: By the time that those numbers come out from the 400 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 1: Westgate next month, they're already out of some of the books, 401 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: and they got him in the low fifties. I think 402 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: there's good value I think on the Sixers. I think 403 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: the Sixers are going to be really good. 404 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 405 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 3: The only thing I'm worried about, like I was with 406 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 3: them in the playoffs, is their bench, just because they 407 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 3: had a six man rotation and that six man was 408 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 3: Mike Scott and that was it. Like they couldn't even 409 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,199 Speaker 3: play bobon. So they need some help because they have 410 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 3: some injury prone guys on that team, and if one 411 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 3: of them goes down what are we doing. But I 412 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 3: will say that seventy six Ers fans, there's no way 413 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 3: they're losing a minute of sleep after Jimmy Butler's departure 414 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,639 Speaker 3: because what you just got in return Josh Richardson his 415 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 3: first team All NBA defender. If that's not an actual fact, 416 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 3: he should be so Jimmy Butler's defense is taken care of. 417 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 3: There's a reason why all these teams were offering so 418 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 3: much money and scrambling to get Al Horford with him 419 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 3: having two hundred thousand miles on the odometer, is because 420 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 3: he's such a great compliment to having another star on 421 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 3: the team. We saw this in Boston like he was 422 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 3: arguably the most important player on Boston, not because he 423 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 3: was the best, but because of the way he plays. 424 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 3: So he can make Embiid so much better because he 425 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 3: can one stretch the floor, he's a great defender, he 426 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 3: can go get you those in the paint buckets if 427 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,879 Speaker 3: you need it. He's just so transferable, and that's exactly 428 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 3: what Embiid needs, is a little less pressure because when 429 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 3: it all came on his shoulders, he clearly wasn't ready 430 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 3: for that moment in terms of having to do that 431 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 3: in a seven game series every other night. Al Horford 432 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 3: is a massive stress relief that may be in a 433 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 3: better version of Jimmy Butler just because he doesn't need 434 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 3: the ball as much. I have a really good feeling 435 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 3: it's going to work nice. 436 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: All right. That's Rob Brez you finally on Twitter at 437 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: World Wild Wold. He's the man, Rob. Thanks for joining me, 438 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: man got it. Join me next on the Action Network 439 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: podcast NBA Edition. Sam Amox, senior writer for The Athletic 440 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: in NBA. He's gonna join me. We're gonna talk about 441 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant, who he covered for a long time. He's 442 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: just had a long experienced talking to Kevin. Had a 443 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: great feature with him at USA Day a few years 444 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: ago about that decision. He had a great piece on 445 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 1: Lebron James and how Lebron is pitching taking a step 446 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: back from being as much of a focal point to 447 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: let Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard shine. That's part of 448 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: his pitch to them, or about those things, and a 449 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: little bit more about free agency and what's like to 450 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: cover the league. So all right, Sam, you had a 451 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: big piece last week about Kawhi Leonard and Lebron James 452 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,959 Speaker 1: and how Lebron's pitch was going to be notable in 453 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: that Lebron's basically this was the underreported I thought like 454 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: people didn't pick up on the story, which I thought 455 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: was huge from you. That Lebron's basically saying like, I'm 456 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: willing to take a step backwards. That him giving the 457 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: jersey Anthony Davis is a signal that he's willing to 458 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: take a step backwards in terms of his role on 459 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: the team. What do you think that that means for him? 460 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: Look at how do you define like taking a step 461 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: back to let Kawhi if he comes and Anthony Davis 462 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: kind of shine more. 463 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 2: Great question, my friend, Thank you for having me listen. 464 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 2: It means my understanding anyway exactly what it sounds like, 465 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: which is a willingness to take a step back in 466 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 2: terms of the opis of the franchise. And I listen. 467 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 2: We know Lebron's brand and his icon status and everything 468 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 2: that comes with him is not going to change. But 469 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 2: the idea that he would focus far more on elevating 470 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 2: ab and Khi and maximizing their talents than he would 471 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 2: you know, individual nomination and kind of eternal alpha male status. 472 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 2: You know what I mean. And it's funny because I 473 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 2: wrote what I wrote, and certainly it was an informed 474 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: column in terms of, you know, getting very accurate intel 475 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 2: from his side of things. But my colleague at The 476 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: Athletic who covers the Lakers, Bill orm I, thought they 477 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: had a nice follow up where he also highlighted just 478 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 2: the start contrast between the way lebron Is is indicating 479 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 2: that he's going to spend his twilight years with the 480 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 2: Lakers in comparison to Kobe Bryant and the fact that 481 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:49,240 Speaker 2: years and years ago is you know, it's the Dwight 482 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: Howard free agency meeting where he comes in kind of 483 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: just like this is my team, my town, you better 484 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: catch up. Let me teach you that type of thing 485 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 2: and a very different vibe. And lebron Is he's just 486 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 2: a different cat, and he knows where he's at age wise, 487 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 2: he knows where he's at in the league and how 488 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 2: he needs help, and he knows that Kawhi is not 489 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 2: coming unless he feels comfortable. So as we sit here 490 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 2: talking the weight continues. We don't know if and when 491 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 2: those conversations are happening and what's coming next, but I 492 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 2: do think it's a pretty massive factor. 493 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting because he talked about how he's willing 494 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: to be more of a playmaker. I have and when 495 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,640 Speaker 1: I saw that, because one of the things that I'm 496 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: not sure that Lebron is gonna be comfortable with is 497 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: the most natural progression for him as he gets older 498 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,719 Speaker 1: is gonna be off ball. Is he needs to be 499 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: more of a big like he needs to be more 500 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: of like the Draymond Green type, set a screen, catch 501 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,679 Speaker 1: the ball, make a play, finish at the room. Like 502 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 1: He's still gonna be Lebron, So he's gonna be a 503 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: better finisher than dreymwond will ever be, and a better shooter. 504 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: But I think that's part of it. Is like Kawhi, 505 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: I think is gonna want the ball because he's a 506 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: great isolation scorer, and Davis is gonna need the ball 507 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 1: because he's Anthony Davis. So my thing is like, if 508 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,159 Speaker 1: if Lebron's like, no, no, yeah, I'm going to take us 509 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: that back. I'm just gonna set you guys up, then 510 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: he still has the ball the time. And that's where 511 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: I start to be like, I don't know how that's 512 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: gonna function, because Lebron's just been surrounded by He's basically 513 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,479 Speaker 1: been surrounded by weapons for him for so long. I 514 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 1: wonder about his willingness to like alter and play differently 515 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: because we heard last year it was like, oh, yeah, 516 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: Lebron's gonna play center. Yeah, no, he's gonna play off ball, 517 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: and none of that stuff happened. 518 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,439 Speaker 2: Well, it's fair, but it's also like what were the 519 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: stakes and what was the context? 520 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: Right? 521 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: Like who were his teammates? And that's where, you know, 522 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 2: it's one thing to bait and switch Raison Rondo and 523 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 2: Michael Beasley and Lan Stephenson. It's another to bring Kawhi 524 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 2: Leonard to town and tell them one thing and do another. 525 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 2: You do that, then we're going to be eventually writing 526 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 2: about locker room problems, relationship problems, and the type of 527 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 2: stuff that impacts Lebron's legacy, the stuff that you know, 528 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 2: where Kawhi's voice in that hypothetical situation would matter as much, 529 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 2: if not more than Lebron's. I mean, that's just you know, 530 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 2: but that's where there's a ton of nuance here. But 531 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: you're right, like I mean, Amin al Asan, you know, 532 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 2: a friend and buddy from ESPN, had retweeted the lebron 533 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 2: column and exactly what you just said yesterday, which was, 534 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 2: you know, off season promises from Lebron should be taken 535 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 2: with heavy pises of assault. And I get it, you know, 536 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:11,199 Speaker 2: I do, one hundred percent. So that being said, it 537 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 2: is very deliberate on le Bronze part at this point. 538 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 2: That jersey number was, you know, the giving it to 539 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,160 Speaker 2: a d was definitely meant to be symbolic, not only 540 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: for him, but to send that message kind of plant 541 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,479 Speaker 2: that flag that I'm going to be, you know, not 542 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 2: me first mode. So we'll see where this goes. I mean, listen, 543 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 2: even as you and I sit here chatting, somebody just 544 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:33,560 Speaker 2: texted me a tweet, you know, and indicating another national reporter, 545 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 2: Rick Dukier of Bleacher Report, claiming that, you know, Kawhi 546 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 2: is leaning towards a one year deal with the Raptors. 547 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 2: So that's where the Lakers are over their skis right 548 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,879 Speaker 2: now and just waiting on the edge of the cliff 549 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: to see if it's a you know, boom or bust. 550 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: The weight continues, and we'll see this podcast hits out 551 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: before has made his decision. The other team that obviously 552 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: mad like the most cataclysmic shifts. I think yesterday on 553 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: the first day of free agency was definitely the Golden Warriors, 554 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: as Kevin Durant joins the Brooklyn Nets along with Kyrie 555 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: Irving and they facilitate a deal to pick up D'Angelo Russell, 556 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: which had like, I don't know about you, but I 557 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: got a bunch of like huh texts from folks around 558 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 1: the league that were like, what do you think this is? 559 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: And I'm like, I have no idea what this is. 560 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: It's the Warriors, you know, and there's a lot of 561 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: reasons for them to be able to do it. Your 562 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: colleague at the Athletic, Danie LaRue, and about comes some 563 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: of the options that they could do. There's some great 564 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 1: cover to have Katie out of Athletic San Francisco. Yesterday 565 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: about you know, Markus Thompson had a great column comed 566 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: of that touched on how he and Katie and Steph 567 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: never quite had the moment the run that they deserve 568 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,639 Speaker 1: together and how it just didn't quite ever come together. 569 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: My question for you is you've covered Katie a long time, 570 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: like you've done some in depth profiles of Kevin before 571 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,959 Speaker 1: you've known him in his camp a long time. Do 572 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: you think, as much as you can know this, do 573 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: you feel like he and his camp will be happier 574 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: and more at peace and will be satisfied with this 575 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: decision to go to Brooklyn. 576 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 2: Good question. I really don't know the answer. It sounds 577 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 2: I just I don't know. I mean, I'm a little 578 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 2: bit I got Recncy biased from the marathon that was 579 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: covering him in this final year with the Warriors, And 580 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 2: so my lasting memory right now is just like perpetual frustration, 581 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 2: you know, and to the point where it was not 582 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,200 Speaker 2: to be melodramatic, but it was kind of exhausting even 583 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 2: to cover you know that, Hey, the mood's good. No, 584 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,920 Speaker 2: the mood's bad. Hey, the mood's good. Hey the mo's bad. 585 00:26:30,440 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 2: Not always clear why, you know, I'm a big I'm 586 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: a sucker for like, as long as I like understand 587 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 2: why certain things are happening in life, I'm good. But 588 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 2: once you start looking at a you know, at a 589 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 2: pretty nice looking rose and having somebody tell you that 590 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 2: you know that the pedals are falling off and it's 591 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 2: actually you know, dead already and your eyes are playing 592 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 2: tricks on you, it doesn't make sense and that's I know, 593 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 2: that's a weird analogy, but like that was at times 594 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 2: covering these Warriors where it was like, man like, y'all 595 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 2: got a good thing going here, and you can keep 596 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 2: it going. All these weird dynamics keep popping up. So 597 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 2: how does that change in Brooklyn? I mean, Marcus Thompson 598 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: wrote a great column. I know, I keep plugging athletic people, Matt. 599 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: It's okay, you know, they the personal dynamics were such 600 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 2: where I'm really fascinated by it. This is overly simplistic, 601 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 2: but it's like, listen. Part of what Marcus hit on 602 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,360 Speaker 2: was that by the time Kevin got to the Warriors, 603 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: Steph Curry was a married guy with family for years 604 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 2: and years. Clay's a single guy, but he's also in 605 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 2: his old lane and you know, and they's got his 606 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 2: kind of friends that he's had forever around him, like 607 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: with Kevin, you know, and Andre's an older guy. Draymond 608 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 2: became a family guy in the time that Kevin was 609 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 2: there going to Brooklyn. It's legitimately like Kevin's two best 610 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 2: friends in the league, or two of his best friends, 611 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 2: and Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan, and they are single 612 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 2: and they don't have strings attached, and it's like, you know, 613 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 2: that element I find fascinating, Like you just wanted guys 614 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 2: who were at a more similar spot of length than you, 615 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 2: which he would probably cringe at because I hadn't. You know, 616 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 2: I didn't even mention the basketball. So yes, I understand 617 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 2: he probably thinks they can win a title once he 618 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 2: gets healthy, But I'm still surprised because of the business 619 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,160 Speaker 2: side of things. You're talking about a team with terrible attendance, 620 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 2: a team that doesn't move the needle like the Knicks do, 621 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 2: as bad as they are. You know, the shoe contract 622 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 2: stuff is not the same if you're on the nets 623 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 2: versus the Knicks. All of it that we know he's 624 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,640 Speaker 2: tried to grow in terms of his off court business. 625 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: You know that needle gets moved more, far more with 626 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: the Knicks than it does with the nets. So I mean, 627 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: how all that plays into his happiness will see. But 628 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 2: you know, he's decided what he wanted to do. 629 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: I'm optimistic for him after years of being like, you know, 630 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: I always said I didn't blame Kevin at all for 631 00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: the decision of gold Golden State. I was just like, 632 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: I was disappointed because it made the league very difficult 633 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: to compete in to a point where it felt irrelevant 634 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: for a lot of teams. And now it definitely feels 635 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: differently balanced optimistic. I think that that Kevin can, I think, 636 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: you know, maybe get the best of all worlds. I 637 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: do wonder. I think it's kind oftioning in that I 638 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: think with this Warrior team at En taught us is 639 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: that there's diminishing returns to winning that if you win 640 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,200 Speaker 1: so much for so long, it just can't have the 641 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: same like a dopamine effect on your brain as it 642 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: does early on. I think they were hungry and happy 643 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: and thrilled in twenty seventeen, and after that it was like, 644 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: all right, we've done this, that's okay. 645 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 2: I mean also know, like I was there the night, 646 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 2: you know, like the night they beat Houston in the 647 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 2: second round. Right, there was plenty of dopamine that night, 648 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 2: you know what I mean, Like adrenaline was pumping. They 649 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 2: were digging it. I hear you, you know, and I 650 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 2: also think it. You know, you and I have had 651 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 2: fun off air banter, you know, mainly over text messages 652 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 2: about did they need Kevin Durant to the nod and 653 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 2: the whole debate about the Super Team Warriors. I get 654 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 2: everything you're saying. I do think and this is admittedly 655 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 2: again over simplistic, but the fact that this franchise will 656 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 2: go down as having you know, gone three and two 657 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 2: in the finals, it's funny because it doesn't really reconcile 658 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 2: with the idea that they were invincible and that they 659 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 2: were unstoppable and that the league was boring and that 660 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,000 Speaker 2: that everything was prede I mean, three and two doesn't 661 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 2: say that. But to your point, there was an exhaustion 662 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 2: factor with success, not only physically but emotionally. And you know, 663 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 2: the media plays a part because every day they're talking 664 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 2: about all the ups and downs, and you know, exhaustion 665 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 2: and fatigue are the words that have come up around 666 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 2: the Warriors a lot over the past five six months. 667 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: Last thing on the Warriors and where they go from here. 668 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: So my thing has been for a long time, as 669 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 1: everyone's kind of started, I thought it was odd that 670 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: there has been so kind of like, oh, well, I 671 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 1: guess the Warriors time in the sun is over, and 672 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: I'm like Joe Lacob is moving into the Chase Center. 673 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 1: Joe Lacob is not done, Like Joe Lacob is not. 674 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 1: That's not why he pays Bob Myers what he does. 675 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: That's not why he takes the approach that he does. 676 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: Like that ownership group has been pretty transparent about their 677 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,479 Speaker 1: desire to not settle, Like they are not of the 678 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: old guard of the NBA. They're like, oh, I had 679 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: a run and we won some titles, and all right, 680 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: it's time for a rebuild and you know, a round 681 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: and they announced our ceting corners And that's why I 682 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: look at this D'Angel Russell deal and that's it sets 683 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: off alarm bells in my head because I'm just like 684 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 1: Joe Lako does not pay one hundred and forty one 685 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: million dollars to be like, oh, yeah, we got a 686 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 1: good player in D'Angelo Russell. That's nice cover. It's a 687 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: nice bailout option. But to me, the Screams of the 688 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: Warriors have a brander design somewhere down the line for 689 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: what it is that they want. And I think that 690 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: that's going to be the emerging story over the next year, 691 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: is the Warriors are going to plot to do something else. 692 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 2: I would definitely agree with your general premise that I 693 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 2: know it's a tired cliche, but call it light years, 694 00:31:35,320 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 2: call it, you know, chess, not chess Nott checkers. You know, 695 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 2: there's an element of that with them, and they are 696 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 2: at least going to attempt to be that way. Doesn't 697 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 2: mean it's going to work out, but it's not as 698 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 2: simple as Hey, look, we secured a young asset who 699 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,280 Speaker 2: we overpaid to get something out of Kevin Durantield. I 700 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 2: think that D'Angelo, to use your phrasing, provides cover for sure. 701 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 2: With Clay Thounpson out, they plan on being compared next year. 702 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 2: I mean, you're still talking about now losing Iguodalen matters 703 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 2: for sure, but you're still talking about, you know, when 704 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 2: Clay's back, which they are optimistic, and this is probably 705 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 2: overly optimistic. But if it's February, if it's March, Steph 706 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 2: Clay and Draymond being the core and the Angelou is 707 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 2: a guy who can help you offensively, defense is going 708 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 2: to be a struggle, certainly. But then whether it's at 709 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 2: the fourth coming trade deadline or at some point thereafter, 710 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 2: you know, then you decide, how are we feeling about 711 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,160 Speaker 2: paying this kind of coin to a guy who you 712 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 2: know wasn't really supposed to be part of our program 713 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 2: in the Angelo. You figure that out later, but now 714 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 2: you got another piece. Now you've got a guy who 715 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 2: is his developmental arc continues. I mean, even if he 716 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 2: plateaus from last season, that's pretty good. If he continues 717 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 2: to get better, that's even better. So I do applaud 718 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 2: them for you know that aspect of the deal. They 719 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:51,959 Speaker 2: gave up a lot. When you're talking about a first 720 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 2: to Memphis for Andre, you know, another first to Brooklyn, 721 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,360 Speaker 2: and you know, so the cost was higher than I 722 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,720 Speaker 2: think some people would if it's but but yeah, they're 723 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 2: going to keep maneuvering and trying to figure out what's next, 724 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 2: because not only does the Chase Center print money, but 725 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 2: it's certainly you know, this payroll cost money big time, 726 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 2: and they got to keep winning games and getting those 727 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 2: playoff checks. They're not looking to fade off into a relevancy. 728 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: Before I let you go, what's your favorite time of 729 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: the year to cover the NBA? What's like your what's 730 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: like the moment that you're like, I really love doing this. 731 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 2: A very good question, you know what it says that 732 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,479 Speaker 2: I don't have an immediate answer. I mean, I enjoy 733 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:33,640 Speaker 2: the you know that listen. It's it's it's an honor 734 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 2: to be at the NBA Finals. I have like a 735 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: personal thing where, you know, I think any media member 736 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 2: who's been lucky to be there. I don't know what 737 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 2: my streak is now, but it's like, you know, for 738 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 2: X amount of years in a row, that's a big deal. 739 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 2: I used to cover the Sacramento Kings for the Sacramental 740 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 2: b and I covered one playoff series and five seasons 741 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 2: on the beat. Like I it was a time when 742 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 2: I got pretty jacked up to see a second round 743 00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 2: playoff game. So the you know in arena stuff is 744 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 2: is kind of an honor and flattering and humbling. So 745 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 2: that stuff, for sure, while you know, talking to a 746 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 2: Bill Russell after the Spurs beat the Heat in whichever 747 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 2: year that was, and Bill's handing out the hardware talking 748 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 2: about his conversation with Tim Duncan and legacy, those are 749 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 2: the times, you know, when it's a lot of fun. 750 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 2: Free agency is a funny one because it's just like 751 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:24,479 Speaker 2: you know, mental like fireworks everywhere all around the league 752 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 2: because of the movement. But the drama does not reconcile 753 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 2: with your regular life. I'm standing in my office with 754 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 2: the bag of tortilla chips on the ground and in 755 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 2: a wide open you know, in a wide open window 756 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 2: staring out to a sleepy little street in my town, 757 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 2: you know where there's nobody out there, and it's just 758 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 2: a regular day. So it's weird. Like my kids are 759 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,239 Speaker 2: home for summer, and you know, Matt, I've got two 760 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:51,359 Speaker 2: young sons and my wife and boys are doing their things. 761 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 2: So it's like you mentally feel like you're part of 762 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 2: this incredible NBA drama in July, and then it's just like, oh, yeah, 763 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 2: I gotta go take out the garbage. I forgot to 764 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 2: with it. Like that's kind of a weird existence. So 765 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:07,279 Speaker 2: I enjoy free agency. But by the time, as you know, 766 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: by the time the fourth of July gets here, we're 767 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,320 Speaker 2: all kind of done, like all right, and y'all figure 768 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,799 Speaker 2: out where you're going so we can go enjoy your show. 769 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:18,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's wrap it up. Yeah, last night, like a 770 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: bunch of things were coming down and they're trying to 771 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:23,240 Speaker 1: figure out the Warrior signing trade. And my daughter, who's three, 772 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: is yelling down the stairs to day Puppets because I 773 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: do shadow Puppets with her at night before she goes 774 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 1: to bed, and she was just like, Nope, don't care 775 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: who's signing, don't care who's getting traded, and you're doing 776 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: shadow puppas on me. And that is the end of 777 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:38,719 Speaker 1: the conversation. 778 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 2: Here's a fun real quick to take you back on that. 779 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 2: I think this is harmless enough. People know that. You 780 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 2: know that we talked to everybody in the league, right, so, 781 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 2: you know, I got a little of a like a 782 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:50,960 Speaker 2: break the other day in terms of, like, you know, 783 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:55,239 Speaker 2: the workloaded. We uh, I barbecue some steak and made 784 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 2: dinner and everything, and a lot of times you have 785 00:35:57,640 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 2: phone calls out you don't know when the phone's gonna ring, 786 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 2: and so it's like weird, serene home life and things 787 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 2: are good and I'm looking forward to eating my warm 788 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 2: steak and then my phone rings and it's Rich Paul 789 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,040 Speaker 2: and it's just like, okay, now I'm gonna Now I'm 790 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 2: gonna eat cold steak. You know That's that's kind of 791 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:14,800 Speaker 2: what we end up dealing with. 792 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:17,120 Speaker 1: And that's the left, all right. You Sam's work over 793 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:18,880 Speaker 1: the athletics. Sam, thanks for taking a few minutes. I 794 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: really appreciate you joining us on the Action Network podcast. 795 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 2: You got it Thank you, Matt. 796 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: Wrapping up with this NBA edition of the Action Network Podcast. 797 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,359 Speaker 1: Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Check out all 798 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:30,719 Speaker 1: that stuff. Go to actionnetwork dot com. Check out the 799 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: best of information on dfs and gambling and all sorts 800 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:37,520 Speaker 1: of free agency analysis and baseball and football and fantasy 801 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:39,480 Speaker 1: and all sorts of awesome stuff. Check it out actionnever 802 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 1: dot com and download our free app. I promise you 803 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,399 Speaker 1: will not be disappointed until next time. I'm Att Moore. 804 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:46,719 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining me on the Action Network Podcast