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 --> 00:00:06,920 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 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 3: Almost you feel like you can't miss. 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 4: I'm gonna leave it up there if you try that again, absolutely. 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 3: Trying to. 7 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Action Network Podcast. I'm your host, Matt 8 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: Moore for this NBA edition. Joining me, of course, is 9 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: Rob Perez Worldwide Bob, as we try and wrestle with 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: the nuclear bomb that was dropped on us on Friday night, 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: as Kawhi Leonard and joins the La Clippers and Paul 12 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: George is traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: Clippers in exchange for every draft pick for the next millennia, 14 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: Shy Gildes, Alexander and Neil Gallinari's expiring contract. Okay, so Rob, 15 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: you're in Vegas. The news comes in. We scrambled and 16 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: put up title odds, and we've got twenty five thoughts 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: out of the pure brain tap of you, me and 18 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 1: Justin Fann looking at title odds and where everything stands 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: in the West. There's a bunch of stuff to read. 20 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: I want to start here on the podcast with you 21 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: on this one. Can we handle any more movement With 22 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook possibly being traded, can we handle any more 23 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: star movement? And do you think that we may have 24 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: finally found like a new equilibrium, has a solar system 25 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: settled after the big bang of the summer. 26 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: I don't even know where to start this podcast when 27 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: you called, like what topic do we even start on? 28 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: We're recording this just as the news drops that the 29 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: Marcus Cousins is signing with the Lakers. Their assembling meet 30 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: and team two point zero. All it needs is j R. 31 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: Smith and Carmelo Anthony to round it out. And we 32 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: have the Russell Westbrook bomb from Woach. So just when 33 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: we thought that Kawhi was done right went to the Clippers, 34 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: This is over. We can have our summers of peace, 35 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: like just thirty minutes, not even thirty days, just thirty 36 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: minutes of peace. And now Russell Westbrook is on the 37 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: trading blog and we're going to have to operate our 38 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: entire summers with this dark cloud looking over our shoulder 39 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,239 Speaker 2: that Russell Westbrook can potentially be traded. The first two 40 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: teams that come to mind in terms of like who 41 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 2: would ever take that contract? It is an absurd contract. 42 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: He is making north of forty million dollars for the 43 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 2: next two years, and there are only two players out 44 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 2: there in John wall In Chris Paul that you can 45 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: match contract or contract with. 46 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 3: Can you get creative? 47 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: Can you find a way to bring in a thirteam 48 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 2: to get to that forty million dollars number and absorb 49 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 2: the space? Sure, But if you're looking for just like 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: a player to player transaction, there's only really two guys 51 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: out there that makes sense. One of them is in 52 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 2: op Eddie curry Upalopa, I think it was the way 53 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 2: I put it, and the other is Chris Paul, who's 54 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: already proven to be a nuisance amongst his team and coaches. 55 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: So the two teams I'm thinking about are the Los 56 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 2: Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, despite what's gone 57 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: on in this free agency. 58 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 3: But here's the problem is that they've both signed so. 59 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 2: Many free agents in the past week that you can't 60 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: trade those guys until February. I believe some stipulations that 61 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: you can't trade some of those guys n till December, 62 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: some until February, depending on if they were an unrestricted 63 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: free agent. First, let's just get the benefit of the 64 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: doubt in save February. You have to wait until February 65 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: to potentially trade for him. I don't think Oklahoma City 66 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: wants Russell Westbrook on their roster that long. They just 67 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: showed us last night that they are in full rebuild mode. 68 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: Damian Lillard put them into straight from championship contender back 69 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: to the Stone Age. 70 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 3: They did a great job. 71 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: In all the picks that they acquired from the Clippers, 72 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 2: like Sam Presty once again should be praised here because 73 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: they did the opposite of the Kemball Walker. But the 74 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: fact remains that Russell Westbrook is there and they're still 75 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: trying to cut salary to get under the luxury tax. 76 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: So he's as good as gone. Like in my opinion, 77 00:03:57,840 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: I just don't know where. And this is where you 78 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 2: them in to take over the conversation. 79 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you have to kind of identify the teams 80 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: whose cultures are gonna be are gonna say themselves, Russell 81 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: Westbrook's a guy that we want to get. It's gotta 82 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: be a team that is confident about winning now, because 83 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: like there are good organizations that are on the way 84 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: up right that are gonna be like, well, no, we're 85 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: not there. Yet, Like, I'm not gonna trade for Russ 86 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: because my young guys are not ready to compete yet. 87 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 1: That doesn't make any sense for us. I'm just paying 88 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: a lot of money for us to kind of toil. 89 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: It's gotta be a team that wants to win now. 90 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: It's gotta be a team that feels like it can 91 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: handle Russ. It's gotta be a team that can't do better. 92 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: That's a very narrow sliver. There's a couple of teams 93 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 1: that came to mind, Like the Sons are gonna be 94 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: mentioned a lot, because the Sons want to point guard 95 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: and the Sun's need a big name, and the Sons 96 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: have all these things that they can trade. I just 97 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: don't know if the Suns literally have any of the money. Like, 98 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: are you gonna trade Devin Booker? 99 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 3: No? 100 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: Like, are you really gonna trade Devin Booker for Russell Westbrook? 101 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: I don't think much of Booker, and I'm still like, 102 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: you can't do that. He's too young, he's got too 103 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: much ahead of him. You have this really good core. 104 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: Do you want to go down that road? 105 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 3: Now? 106 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: Starver may just be like I'll show them I'm cheap 107 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: and be like trading for Russell Westbrook and then we'll 108 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: sell tickets and that will be good. The Heat are 109 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: the one that came to my mind. They have all 110 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: these contracts that are gonna be expiring. They have all 111 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: these different assets. And if you're Presty with a Thunder, 112 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: You've just got Gilgess Alexander Gallo's expiring contract, you have a. 113 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 4: Million picks, you have all this combo. 114 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: If you trade Russ and you get back Dragas and 115 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: then like whatever else you want to fit a Kelly olynok, 116 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: and then you swap those pieces out throughout the year, 117 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: you could essentially own the next two to three drafts 118 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: and just be like, we're just doing what we did 119 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: with KD. We're just gonna start completely over. We're gonna 120 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: tank out, we're gonna hope to get the number one pick, 121 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: and then we're gonna try and just do this over again. 122 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: I'm going for Katie Russ, Harden Abaca, Jeff Green over again. 123 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna try and do that again, because that's 124 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: like the best way to kind of pull it off. 125 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: I do kind of wonder if they don't find it, 126 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: if they don't find an option, because I think it's 127 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: gonna be difficult to find these kind of solutions like 128 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 1: Dallas might make a little bit of sense even with Luca, 129 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: just from the perspective of Dallas will say this is 130 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 1: an opportunity to get a star, we should do it. 131 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 4: But again, I just don't. 132 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: Think they have the contracts in order to move them 133 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: to be able to feel the team. If they do, 134 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: porzingis takes up too much, and then you're talking about 135 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: we have gone in on Luca. 136 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 4: You don't want to disrupt that. 137 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 1: For Russ, I don't think if they can't find a 138 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: market for him. I do wonder if Presley starts looking 139 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: at it and being like, Okay, seriously, Calves, what if 140 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: I give you two first round picks and X like 141 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: Galla's expiring contract so you can clear the books for love, 142 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: or like they're gonna try and get Beal. Nobody has 143 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: any real sense for what the Wizards want. The Wizard's 144 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: been adamant from what I've heard that they're not trading Beal. 145 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: They're going down with the ship. There's just like, no, 146 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: we're keeping Brad Beal and we're building around him. Even 147 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: though I wrote on Action Network it's like you're a 148 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: snake eating your own tail. If you maxim, you can't 149 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: sign anybody else, you can't add pieces, and if you 150 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: trade him, you're still stuck with Wall Like, there's just 151 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: not a really good combo here for them, But all indications. 152 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 4: Are that they're not trading Beal. 153 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: So I wonder if eventually that Thunder are going to 154 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: be like, all right, let's get love and then we've 155 00:06:58,240 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: got Russ and Love and we'll be good enough. 156 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 4: Maybe we can make another move later. 157 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: But if they do move him, the only other teams 158 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: I can think of the kind of when I was 159 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 1: going through this in my head of who are teams 160 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: that would feel confident they could do this that. 161 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 4: Would be an upgrade. 162 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: One is the Denver Nuggets, which sounds crazy, and the 163 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: Nuggets might yell at me if I were to suggest this, 164 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: because they love Nicole Yokic so much, But if you 165 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: really tell them, they can give up, say Jamal Murray, 166 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: a first round pick in Malik Beasley along with Paul millsaps. 167 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 4: Thirty million expiring, which gets the job done. 168 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: That gives the Thunder a building block in Murray along 169 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: with Gilgess Alexander. It gives them an expiring contract with 170 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: Paul Millsap to get off the books. It gives them 171 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: a talented player they've liked a long time in Malik Beasley. 172 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: That gives them like a lot of what they would 173 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: be looking for. And the Nuggets would probably have to say, 174 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,559 Speaker 1: is Russell Westbrook an upgrade on Jamal Murray? 175 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 3: Yes? 176 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: Am I paying Jamal Murray a lot of money over 177 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: the next five years. Yes, Okay, let's go do this now. 178 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: I don't love how Jokic and Russ fit, but Denver 179 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: doesn't get to choose. They tried to get a meeting 180 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: with Lebron swung out, try to get met with Katie 181 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: swung out, couldn't get Kawhi, couldn't get Paul George. They 182 00:07:58,320 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: have to take what they can get, and if they 183 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: want to win with Jokic, Russ would represent a major 184 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: upgrade at the point guard position, even if there's a 185 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: lot of baggage that comes with it and the final team. 186 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: As much as this sounds crazy, this is just theoretical. 187 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: I really do think the San Antonio Spurs will take 188 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: a look at it. I believe that based off of 189 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: what I know about them. You've got a pre existing 190 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: relationship with Sam Presty and the Spurs front office. Because 191 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: Presty came out of the Spurs, they have a good 192 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: relationship there. Russ will be able to be as mean 193 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: as he wants the media and know them with Karen 194 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: San Antonio. They could send Demarja Rozen's expiring contract along 195 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: with either de Jonte Moury or Derek White along with Picks, 196 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: and the Spurs would be able to say, Okay, we've 197 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: got a guy that can get us to the next 198 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: step and we'll try and figure it out from there. However, 199 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: it would also be a short term move from the Spurs, 200 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: which is very unlike them. This is going to be 201 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: a really tough one for them to manage. 202 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 4: We're talking about all this, but we've even got to 203 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 4: the fact that Kawhi Leonards a Clipper. 204 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: Before we even get to that, I mentioned the team's 205 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: most likely just what everyone's going to perceive. 206 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: It's the Lakers and Knicks because they want start turn. 207 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 2: I haven't mentioned who my perfect fit is, and it's 208 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 2: going to come as a little bit a shop, but 209 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: it works, and the answer is the Orlando Magic. Okay, 210 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 2: this team was already in the playoff contender, at least 211 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 2: in the Eastern Conference at the bottom of it. 212 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 3: Say what you will. 213 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 2: But with Grusovich on the books, you put together a package. 214 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 2: You got to match contracts here, so we got to 215 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 2: start with Moscov obviously big expiring contract sixteen point seven million. 216 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 2: You throw in Markel Folts, you give the Thunder their 217 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: option of Jonathan Isaac or Mobamba throwing whatever pick they want, 218 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 2: and you take on Russell's salary. You would put a 219 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 2: lineup out there Russovich, Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Evan forty 220 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 2: a DJ Augustine, one of Jonathan Isaac and Mobamba Wes 221 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 2: innuendo however you pronounce it. 222 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 3: That's not a bad team, my friend. 223 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 2: And if the Alanto Magic want to be relevant and 224 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 2: something they haven't been since the Dwight Howard days, why 225 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: does that not make sense? 226 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: It makes sense from a Magic perspective that they don't 227 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 1: get to be choosers either, right, Like you get the 228 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: chance to get Russell Westbrook, you take the chance on 229 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: getting Russell Westbrook. They'd be able to send talent. I think, 230 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: okay see would appreciate, especially if they can get a pick. 231 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,240 Speaker 1: But I think John Hammond smart enough to know I 232 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: do not want to deal with Sam Presty in this position. 233 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: There's a good chance that I'm gonna wind up on 234 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: the bad end if Sam Presty's selling, I don't want 235 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: to buy because the last time that did not work 236 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: out great for the Magic. The other thing is I 237 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: love Vojevic, I like Terrence Ross a lot. I like 238 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: a lot of their guys have I think that they 239 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: can be good down the line, like Jonathan Isaac a lot. 240 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: Russ would tear that locker room to shreds. He would be, 241 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: I think, so mad and frustrated to be on that 242 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: kind of a team with those guys, and like he's 243 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: a really great teammate, So maybe he would just like 244 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 1: take it in stride and do the best he can, 245 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: because Russ really is a great teammate. But there's also 246 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,439 Speaker 1: a chance that he just like burns over into this 247 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: magma bomb of just lava spewing everywhere, and then you're 248 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: locked into that money with that situation, trying to figure 249 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: out how to make him happy in Orlando, which look, 250 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: he was in ok See and he liked it there, 251 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: but that's kind of his thing, is like he wanted 252 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: Oka See, Like he chose that to be like his 253 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: kingdom and too much so, and so I said, I 254 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,199 Speaker 1: just think it's gonna be really tough to find teams 255 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: that are willing to pay the amount, that are going 256 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: to give up the assets for the right to pay 257 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: Westbrook what he's at. Given his knee situation, his contract, 258 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: and age and personality, he's just not a guy you 259 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: can plug and play with. And that's I think what's 260 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: going to make this fascinating. Okay, do you agree with 261 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: the books that the Clippers should be the favorites to 262 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: win the NBA title. 263 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: I don't. 264 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 2: They're the favorites because of overreaction and people are running 265 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 2: to bet Paul George and Kawhi Leonard together blame them. 266 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 2: But there's tall towers here in Las Vegas for a reason, 267 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 2: and that's partly because people are actually. 268 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: Going to bed the Clippers plost three hundred. Let's go 269 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 3: through their rotation real quick. 270 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 2: We have Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Montres, 271 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 2: Harrold Landry Shammitt. They just resigned Zobots a couple of 272 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 2: minutes ago, the same way that what we just saw 273 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 2: from the Lakers, and I know is a completely different 274 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: roster and a completely different team. But just because your 275 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 2: champions on paper, does that mean it's going to translate 276 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 2: to the court. I need to see them actually play 277 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 2: first before I lay plus three hundred on a future 278 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 2: that is gonna be violatal from now until next June. 279 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 3: And that's assuming there's no injuries. 280 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: And you're talking about two injury riddled guys in Paul 281 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: George and Kawhi Leonard. It makes great sense on paper, Matt, 282 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: But am I running to the windows considering them the favorites. 283 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely not. 284 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 2: It is an absolute pleasure now to see all of 285 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 2: the NBA has no parody. You know who's gonna win 286 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 2: the title? Like they're gone forever. Those voices are gone forever. 287 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 2: And I wrote how Kawhi is the balance in the force. 288 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 2: That is going to be his legacy no matter what 289 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 2: happens from this point forward. He ended the Miami Heat 290 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 2: Big Three dynasty, he ended the Warriors Hampton's five dynasty, 291 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 2: and he ended the Lakers super team before it even started. 292 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 2: So it is this almost socialism of assets here in 293 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 2: the NBA. I don't mean to get political, but just 294 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 2: everyone being equal is just jaw dropping for a laite 295 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 2: that has been dominated by the complete opposite. 296 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think it's really fascinating. 297 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: One of the things I'm gonna be writing about is how 298 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: I think that there's more of value in the futures 299 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:02,199 Speaker 1: market now. Like I've got a thing coming up that's 300 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: basically taking different positions. Like, all right, let's say you 301 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: take one hundred bucks and you want to split it 302 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: up between three teams. You can get pretty good return 303 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: on value and get pretty close to a solid percentage 304 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: return on ROI if you split your bet up between 305 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: three teams, and there's various ways to do that with 306 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: either the Clippers or the Lakers. 307 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 4: I do think you have to choose one, though. 308 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: I think you have to choose, like I'm either riding 309 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: with Lebron and Ad or I'm riding with the Clippers 310 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: with Paul George and Kawhi. And this is gonna be 311 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: fascinating because narrative is always kinda went out, and the 312 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: narrative has always been that the Lakers are a superpower. 313 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: But the Clippers are challenging this. The Nets are gonna 314 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: challenge that next next year in terms of being the 315 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: little brother that's finally making good. I think it's it's fascinating. 316 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: I do think one thing that we're definitely seeing is 317 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: the really good teams that we know are good, that 318 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: we've seen. 319 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 4: Like we know Utah is gonna be good. 320 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: Like we know that Utah is gonna win, you know, 321 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: fifty two plus games and gonna be great on defense, 322 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: and their offense will be better than last year. Like there's 323 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: a lot of reasons to get Utah, but they're just not. 324 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: It doesn't make much sense in the narrative history. Like 325 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: one of the guys that we work with, we're nameless 326 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: for now, mentioned this during the playoffs, and it's stuck 327 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: with me that he said the NBA is the only 328 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: sport I bet the narrative because that's what usually winds 329 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: up happening. I don't know if we're seeing a realignment 330 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: of that like this this is gonna be a fascinating year, 331 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: because the narrative should say Lebron James got Anthony Davis 332 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: to join him in LA with the Lakers, and that's 333 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: a continuing the great history. But there are all these teams, 334 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: the Utah Jazz and honestly the Houston Rockets who won 335 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: two titles. 336 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 4: But that was twenty years ago, the Utah. 337 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: Jazz, the Houston Rockets, the Denver Nuggets, I think at 338 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: least have some value given that they're plus fourteen hundred. 339 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: And then you've got the Bucks and the Sixers. The 340 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: Bucks were the best team all year where two wins 341 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: away from the finals, got hit with Fred van Vliet 342 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: Junior being born and wound up on the outside. They 343 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: return everybody but Brogden. And then you got the Sixers 344 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: who are at plus nine hundred at one of the 345 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: books today, rob plus nine. If you ask me for 346 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: my favorite number to day on the board, it's six 347 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: Ers plus nine hundred. That's awesome value for a team. 348 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: I think that is poised to optimize Embiid going into 349 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: what should be his ascendants to the real MVP conversation. 350 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, Jazz and Sixers are at the top of my 351 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 2: leg if I'm putting, well, I'm here in Las Vegas, 352 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: who should I be betting on? 353 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 3: Because again, if. 354 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 2: You're listening to this, remember if you bet a future 355 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 2: in the NBA, not only do you have to survive 356 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,440 Speaker 2: the entire regular season of the team that you proceed 357 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 2: making it through unscathed. In terms of not only like 358 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 2: win projections and seeding, but injuries as well. But if 359 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 2: you get to the playoffs and they go down two 360 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: in a series, you're gonna get twice that number to 361 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 2: win the title at some point. 362 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 3: It's just the way it is. 363 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 2: If they go down in just simply one series, you 364 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: may get the same number on what you had to 365 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 2: win the NBA Championship. 366 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,359 Speaker 3: For just that series alone. 367 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,119 Speaker 2: And we've seen even the teams as great as the 368 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 2: Hampton's five Golden State Warriors with odds that are just 369 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: unprecedented if you were to just wait, if you are 370 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 2: wagering on the NBA moving forward, the likes of the 371 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 2: Jazz and the Sixers had that sustained value that it 372 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: can hit like shit can hit the fan, but and 373 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 2: you can still survive and still have a number that 374 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 2: holds some value. Because the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los 375 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: Angeles Lakers, the Brooklyn Nets, these numbers are so worn 376 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 2: out that even if you win, it was a terrible bet. 377 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: I know that's impossible to say that if you win 378 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: a bet, how is it bad because you could have 379 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 2: had it so many different ways, and so many ways 380 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 2: could have missed. 381 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 3: Just my personal opinion. 382 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: No, and I get that and like that, like locking 383 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: up that money is a reason why a lot of 384 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: the big betters don't do that, right, They're just like 385 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to lock my money up for a year. 386 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: The only thing I'll say is if you're saying to yourself, 387 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: I want to bet the NBA title, like that's a 388 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: future that I want to get into. Well, actually, and 389 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: I didn't go further enough in this in the article 390 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: I wrote, But I think there's actually value in saying 391 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna take three teams and I'm gonna bet two 392 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: of them now because I think these are the two 393 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: numbers I'm going to get the best of. Like I 394 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: don't think you're gonna get bucks better than plus six 395 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: hundred now until they're down two in a series. And 396 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: at that point, I don't know if you want to 397 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: bet on them at that point, because then you're gonna 398 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: be pretty scared off of that. Like plus six hundred 399 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: is a really good number. I know you're you're not 400 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: gonna get plus nine hundred on the Sixers. Like the 401 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: Sixers are going to be really good team this season. 402 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: They're going to be in the top of the East. 403 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: The rest of the East got much worse, this is 404 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 1: the best that you're gonna get that number. So if 405 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: you want to do those two and then wait to 406 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: see which of the Clippers and Lakers kind of establish 407 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: themselves or which one you look at and say, this 408 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: team is gonna win the title, and then you can 409 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: wait till they hit a slump and then they drop 410 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: back down. Like I've advocated since Ad went to the Lakers, 411 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: I've written this in every column I've done on it. 412 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,959 Speaker 1: Wait until November. They're gonna start off eight and seven. 413 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: The twenty ten, twenty eleven Heat started off eight and seven, 414 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: the twenty fourteen Cavaliers started off eight and seven, and 415 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,920 Speaker 1: the Lakers. I think we're within that range this year 416 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: as well, which obviously would not have paid out. But 417 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: if you were gonna bet them, like you wanted to 418 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: wait until they struggled. Whenever Lebron puts together a new team, 419 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: there's a little bit of struggle. These guys have to 420 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: get used to playing together because none of these guys 421 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 1: have really played together outside of Rondo, KCP, Kuzma and Lebron. 422 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: The rest of these guys, you know, Rondo, Boogie and 423 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: Davis have some history, but there's a lot of stuff 424 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: they got to figure out. 425 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 4: If you want to bet the Lakers, wait till mid season. 426 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: They're gonna hit a stretch where they're gonna slump, and 427 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: then that's when you can I think there's ways that 428 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: you can put together the position that you want using 429 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: these numbers now, but you have to be very selective 430 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: and decide, Okay, I'm going to take. 431 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 4: Like I'm going to take this position here. 432 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to try to get my long shots here 433 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: because I know that they're going to go up, and 434 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: then I can bet something later once I see him 435 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: more of how the season shakes out. 436 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 2: And then on the other side of the town, or 437 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 2: at least the other side of the hallway in Staples Center, 438 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 2: you've got a Kawhi Leonard who is going to without 439 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 2: a doubt load management. 440 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 3: Again. He talked about how if he. 441 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 2: Didn't take those games off in the regular season because 442 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,360 Speaker 2: he was banged up throughout the playoffs. It was even 443 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,719 Speaker 2: noticeable for the viewers that if he didn't take those 444 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:37,360 Speaker 2: nights off, he wouldn't be playing like he wouldn't have 445 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: what he had in the tank. And with the injury 446 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: history that he has with Paul George, you can assume 447 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 2: that they're both probably going to play between sixty and 448 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 2: sixty five games would be my guess, which means they're 449 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 2: taking off twenty plus games. 450 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 3: I think that's fact. I'm not even afraid to say that. 451 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,400 Speaker 2: So if you're betting like over under season win totals 452 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 2: and trying to predict seating, and we're talking about plus 453 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 2: three hundred futures, which you sure as hell want that 454 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 2: team to be the number one seed, if you're laying 455 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 2: plus three hundred, I don't know if the Clippers get 456 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 2: there simply because of one, they haven't played together, and two, 457 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 2: those guys are gonna miss a lot of time. We 458 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 2: take for granted because this is in real life. Is 459 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 2: not NBA two K where you can just assemble the 460 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 2: best roster and it all works together. It's gonna take time. 461 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 2: Like you said, with the Big Three, they struggled. Anytime 462 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 2: Lebron joins a new team, they always struggle out of 463 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: the gate. They'll figure it out, but let's not act 464 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 2: like they're gonna come out of the gates. Writers of 465 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 2: the Apocalypse, I would be stunned if it was that way. 466 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: Even when the Warriors went seventy three and nine, like 467 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 2: they've played together all those years to get to that point. 468 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 2: Cohesion in chemistry is such an underrated stat that there 469 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 2: is no advanced analytic four. 470 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 1: Okay, before we get out of here, I have one 471 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: more hot take for you. The biggest loser of last 472 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 1: night is not Russell Westbrook. It's not Sam Presty, it's 473 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: not Messida Jerry, and it's not even Rob Polinka, and 474 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: it's not Lebron James. 475 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 4: Anthony Davis. 476 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis is the biggest loser of last night because 477 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: Davis goes from being able to be maybe the more 478 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: impactful guy that nobody really appreciated, the guy that gets overlooked, 479 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 1: and everybody loves that guy. Everybody loved Chris Bosh by 480 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: the end. He took a lot of heat, so to speak, 481 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: the first two years, but by after they won that championship, 482 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: everybody's like, oh, this is awesome. Like Bosh went from 483 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: crying and now he's just like this really fun, kind 484 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 1: of nerdy dude that's really good at basketball. Like he 485 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: was their second best player in the twenty thirteen title, 486 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: and he was really appreciating. He's loved in Miami. Anthony Davis. 487 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: He goes from that now to be in the second wheel. 488 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: He's going to be the one that a lot of 489 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: guys think that, like, oh, well, you know, if we lose, 490 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: it's gonna be on Lebron. 491 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 4: No, no, no, no. 492 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: Some people will blame Lebron because some people blame Lebron 493 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: for everything, and they will clown on Lebron. But there 494 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: will be a large, large number of both media and 495 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: fan personalities that are going to blame any Lakers struggles 496 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: on the supporting cast and particularly Anthony Davis. 497 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 4: Is he doing enough? 498 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 2: Is it? 499 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: Why is the defense bad with Anthony Davis? Why is 500 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: this so difficult? He's going to have to step up 501 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: up and when Lebron needs time off because he's thirty 502 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,719 Speaker 1: five years old, Davis has got to stay healthy. And 503 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: you've talked about this a lot, like if he continues 504 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: to be Anthony questionable to return, Davis, he's going to 505 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: start getting heat for not playing through injuries or not 506 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: being tough enough and all those things, which I don't 507 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: think are fair, But he's going to catch that heat. 508 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: Kawhi would have taken the most pressure off of Davis 509 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 1: and put him in the best position to succeed because Honestly, 510 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,920 Speaker 1: Lebron and ad are kind of a weird basketball fit. 511 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: Lebron doesn't throw a lot of pick and pop passes. 512 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: It's just not how he plays. And unless he dramatically 513 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: alters that, without a true point guard beyond Rajon Rondo 514 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: to take the ball and kind of work things, there's 515 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: gonna be a real trouble. I think Anthony Davis was 516 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: a big loser. 517 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 3: Yesterday before we go. 518 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 2: As always, I would like to sprinkle just a little 519 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 2: anarchy and make everything become chaos, and I want you 520 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 2: to figure it out. Okay, you just mentioned Anthony Davis. 521 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: What about Anthony Davis's unique coming into this season? What 522 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: do we soon. 523 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 4: Forget He's going to be a free agent next summer? 524 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, if it doesn't go well, what if he leaves? 525 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: I have one for you because I wrote a column 526 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: about this and not specifically mention it, but I'll mention 527 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: it here. What if he gets the end of the 528 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: year and he's frustrated and doesn't like playing with Lebron? 529 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,200 Speaker 1: What team has a clutch client who's going to be 530 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: a free agent next summer. What team has D'Angelo Russell, 531 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: former Lakers star on their roster? 532 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 4: For a max deal. 533 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: What team has always said that they will be light 534 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: years ahead and will not be complacent to just watch 535 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: the core age. What team has had their eyest on 536 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis for years? If you pay attention to Tim 537 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: Kawakami and Ethan Strauss and Marcus Thompson. 538 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 4: Just something to keep in mind. 539 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 3: I think I speak for everyone listening to this. I 540 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 3: hate you That. 541 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 1: Wrap it up of the Action Network podcast. Make sure 542 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: to check out actionnetwork dot com for the best of 543 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: all sports coverage, especially if you like action. We'll talk 544 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: to you guys again next time on another edition of 545 00:22:52,040 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: the Action Network podcast, Wait to Be d