1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: The volume. This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What 2 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: is up? Straight Fire, fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight 3 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: Fire for Tuesday, July eleventh. Again, it's MLB All Star Week. 4 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: Pickings are thin in the sports world, but Ah, Laker fans. 5 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: Laker fans, listen, this is a difficult time period approaching 6 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: for you. We're gonna dive deep into this Anthony Davis saga. 7 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: It's starting to bubble up. There's a lot of people 8 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: taking vacation now, so there isn't as much talk about 9 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: this Anthony Davis situation as there should be. We'll get 10 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: to it shortly. Also, you know Chris Paul, how much 11 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: of a big fan I am of CP three, Chris Paul, 12 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: the point God, as everybody likes to call him. Warriors fans, 13 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: just I know you're excited. Jordan Pools out of the building. 14 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put a little bit of cold water on 15 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: the Chris Paul excitement because of an interview he gave 16 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: over the weekend. But first I gotta start with Anthony Davis. 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,919 Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen. What we have here with Anthony Davis 18 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,639 Speaker 1: and the Lakers is a window at just a tiny 19 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: window into the future in Lakerland, and rob G has 20 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: been calling a certain NBA star and yes he's a star. 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: Despite what Cowhard tries to sell me on the Herd 22 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: that this guy's on a star, he is a certifiable star. 23 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: Rob G calls him future Laker, and I just as 24 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna say the guy's name, but just think 25 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: in your head, future Laker, future Laker. I'm gonna get 26 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: to him in a second. Anthony Davis can be extended. 27 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: His contract is eligibility for the extension begins August fourth, 28 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: and websites are starting to write about this that Anthony 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Davis probably is not going to get the extension that 30 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: he's looking for. They can extend him beginning in August 31 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: and it would take his deal so instead of at 32 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: the end of next season him being a free agent, 33 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: he can then get an extension with Lakers, and you 34 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: know he would stick around and be like a foundational piece. 35 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: But what you need to remember is Lebron is in 36 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: the final year of his deal and Lebron has said 37 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: to everyone, I want to play with my son when 38 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:16,959 Speaker 1: he's drafted. Now, we don't know if Bronni's gonna be 39 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: first round pick, second round pick. I can't imagine that 40 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: he's gonna be like an unsigned free agent. I don't 41 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: think it'll go that far. Someone will gobble up Lebron 42 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: because with someone will go Bronni. With Bronni comes Lebron, 43 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: and now you're instantly selling tickets. You're gonna be merched 44 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: left and right. You're gonna be on the news everywhere. 45 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a bigger than sports story. Father 46 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: playing with son like that can reach anyone. I don't 47 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: care if you're an NBA hater. That's like a pretty 48 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: cool story, right, Like Lebron and Bronni playing together. That's 49 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: gonna work wherever he goes, whether it's the I mean 50 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: Utah Jazz, do they take a flyer, I don't know. 51 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: Don't don't tell me Bronni's gonna be able to pick 52 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: where he goes unless we're talking about him being like 53 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: a top five pick. I don't see that at the moment. 54 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: Next year's draft does not look great. So maybe he's 55 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: a middle of the first round pick. But at some 56 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: point he's gonna be drafted by someone and Lebron will say, okay, 57 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: I will come there. I can't imagine the team rejecting Lebron. 58 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: I think he'll be in like a more of a 59 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: senior role. I'm not putting him an old age home yet, 60 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: but Lebron and BRONI will be gone, Okay next summer. 61 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: They're going somewhere as a package. So now Lakers, you're 62 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: left with Anthony Davis and then we got Austin Reeves, 63 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: oh ruiy Haachi Mora. I think D'Angelo Russell rob can 64 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: check this. I think he has a player option for 65 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: year two of his contract should he exceed expectations win 66 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: or title. Maybe he thinks he could chase bigger money. Whatever, 67 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: what the Lakers are doing is setting it up so 68 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: Lebron and Ad come off the books next summer. Why 69 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: would that be? Think about it? If Lebron walks. Do 70 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: you think Anthony Davis and his injury history, I've called 71 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: it up right here. Anthony Davis missed twenty six games 72 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: last season, the year before that miss forty two, and 73 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: the year before that miss thirty six. He's only thirty, 74 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: but he's aging in an ungraceful manner, mostly because of 75 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: his body. Remember this is a guy who in high 76 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: school was like a six to one guard and then 77 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: seemingly overnight, he grows like nine inches in one year 78 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: and instantly becomes like the best high school player in 79 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: the country, a shot blocking menace. So he's got some handles, 80 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: That's why he floats on the perimeter a lot. This 81 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: was a guard in youth basketball, early high school basket. 82 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: It was a guard Anthony Davis could handle. And now 83 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 1: he is this giant who doesn't really like to mix 84 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: it up inside. And I can't blame him. I don't 85 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: like to go mix it up inside, and Anthony Davis 86 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 1: is I don't want to say, the fadeaway jumpers, but 87 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: like it can get annoying how he doesn't want to 88 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: go inside and body people and just dominate. And I'll 89 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: remind everybody Jokic ate his lunch in the sweep in 90 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: the conference finals. Now, obviously Jokich is the best player 91 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: in the league, but Anthony Davis is supposed to be 92 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: any lead defensive player, and Jokic kind of dominated him. 93 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: So if he doesn't get the extension, Anthony Davis will 94 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: look at the Lakers and say, oh, guys, what are 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: we doing here. I don't want to be a lame 96 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: duck without a contry. I'm still one of the top 97 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: twenty players in the league fifteen. I mean, when he's healthy, 98 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: he's the top fifteen player. But that hasn't been the case. 99 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: I just laid it out. So now you start thinking, well, 100 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: what do we do with Anthony Davis? And I think 101 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: the question is the Lakers Rob Polinka has to be firm, guys, 102 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: we want to keep our powder dry in the future 103 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: because of Lebron walks, which he almost certainly will. Now 104 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: there is the scenario what if Bronni goes to the Lakers. 105 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: Could work. I'm not ruling that out. Then I guess 106 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: you ride out Lebron and AD. But the more likely 107 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: scenario is Lebron leaves Anthony Davis. You say, Ad, sorry, 108 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: we don't want to extend you, and he opts out 109 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: of his player option so we can get a longer 110 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: term deal elsewhere. And now the Lakers books are clean. Well, Jay, 111 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: what's the endgame here? Ah? This is where you get 112 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,119 Speaker 1: smart free agents in twenty twenty four are not great. 113 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: You got James Harden, Tobias Harris Kawhi, Leonard Paul George. 114 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: I think that would be kind of an awkward fit 115 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: going after PG and Kawhi, Jalen Brown, We'll see what 116 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: happens with his super Max this summer, and Pascal Siakam 117 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: no big names, but take a look at twenty twenty five, 118 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: two Thy twenty five, Jason Tatum and Janis at Thanakumbo. 119 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum is the guy who is like the biggest 120 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: Kobe fan on earth. Rob G has been calling Jason 121 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,679 Speaker 1: Tatum future Laker for years on this podcast. I didn't 122 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: know what that was all about. And then he starts 123 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: telling me about this Kobe stuff. He did a commercial 124 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: and he was wearing a Laker jersey. Celtics fans got ticked. 125 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,119 Speaker 1: Playoff game Jason Tatum wearing a Kobe wristband Celtics fans 126 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: what gives? So like Boston Celtics fans know that something's up. Tatum, 127 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: for my money, is a top five player in the 128 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: league without question. Top five player. I'm taking Tatum over 129 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: and beat any day of the week. Like Tatum is 130 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: in that class for me with Giannis Luka, Doncic, Nicole 131 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: jokicch like Tatum for me for sure, top five player 132 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: Steph Curry I would put in there even though he's 133 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 1: thirty five. Quick reminder Kurry at thirty five, like, you 134 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: don't worry as much about his health. Ad at thirty 135 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: you worry about his health given the injury history. And 136 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 1: Tatum is still in his prime. So if twenty twenty 137 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: five comes around, Tatum has let it be known Kobe 138 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: is his favorite player. Tell me the Lakers don't swing 139 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: big and go after Jason Tatum. That makes all the 140 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: sense in the world. Could the Lakers go big, go 141 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: after Yiannis? That makes all the sense of the world. 142 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: I mean, at one point, the Lakers did sign an 143 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: at Tuna Kumpo brother. Rob probably remembers he's a bigger 144 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: Laker fan than I am. And I just, folks, I 145 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: just look at this strategy the Lakers are employing, and 146 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis has to be looking at her. Remember he's 147 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: represented by Clutch and AD's probably not feeling great about 148 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: his future in LA. He rocks up to Polinka Rob 149 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: with the extension and says, yo, guys, what are we 150 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: talking about? Two plus one three four? What are super 151 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: mag what are we what are we talking about? And 152 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Rob Polink is probably gonna look him in the face 153 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: and go TBD, AD, can we circle back next summer? Now? 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: I don't know, ad Unfortunately, he doesn't have a lot 155 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: of leverage except having Clutch in his corner. But Rob, 156 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: this to me is shaping up like Anthony Davis is 157 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: not going to be long for the Los Angeles Lakers. 158 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: Well, there's a lot to unpack there and to put 159 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: into perspective. In order for Anthony Davis to get extended, 160 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: he'd have to opt in to the twenty twenty four 161 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 2: to twenty twenty five season at forty three million, So 162 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: his total number would basically be four years, about two 163 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: hundred and ten million dollars. So that's a you know, 164 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: a lot of money until you consider about fifty million 165 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 2: dollars fifty two when you consider guys like Tyre's Halliburn 166 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: and LaMelo Ball got like two sixty, So it's really, 167 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 2: I guess not that big of a deal. But right 168 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: on one hand, I love where your head's at. Look, 169 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 2: people think I'm crazy, But if if anyone's been following 170 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:47,599 Speaker 2: this podcast or you and I even way back on 171 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: the weekend radio show, my hashtag future Laker Predictions is 172 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: like seventy percent from the field. Okay, so it might 173 00:08:55,800 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 2: seem crazy now, but ultimately most of these guys ended 174 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: up coming. You go back to Lebron James called that 175 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 2: one future Laker, Anthony Davis future Laker. I'm gonna take 176 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: credit for the Dwight Howard, DeMarcus Cousins future Lakers, even 177 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: though we got them at the back end they weren't 178 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,199 Speaker 2: good anymore. Still predicted that one Russell Westbrook. Wish I 179 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: had that one back, even though I did predict future 180 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: Laker Russell Westbrook. I'm even gonna take credit for future 181 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 2: Laker Chris Paul even though he's only a Laker for 182 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: like two hours and then the ultimately got canceled. But 183 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 2: outside of like Kawhi and Paul George and to be 184 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: determined on Klay Thompson, I'm pretty accurate with these future 185 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 2: Laker things, right. And I've had my aunt Jason Tatum 186 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 2: for years, and I think that to your point, there's 187 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 2: been a lot of smoke about whether or not he is, 188 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 2: you know, conceivably an option for the Lakers. Where I 189 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: disagree with you, though, is I think in order for 190 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: the Lakers to be in the running for a Jason 191 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 2: Tatum or a Yiannis or whatever, a second tier star, 192 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: you know, Trey Young, whatever, I don't care whoever. They 193 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 2: need to keep Anthony Davis in order to be attractive, 194 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: because I've been around this entire time, and I remember 195 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 2: in the Cold War days when the Lakers would clear 196 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 2: all this cap space every single year and say, hey, 197 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 2: we got enough for two spots. We have nobody else 198 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 2: on our roster but Lebron and Carmelo. You guys can come. 199 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: And if not him, then you know, it's LaMarcus, Aldridge 200 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 2: and Carmelo. And if it's not him, then it's you know, 201 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: it's Dwight Howard and somebody else. And we have no caps. 202 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: We have nobody in a roster, but we have tons 203 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 2: of cap space. We can get one star or two 204 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 2: stars and a bunch of vet minims. And we've seen 205 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 2: repeatedly that does not work when it comes to attracting 206 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 2: free agents. These guys want to go where either there's 207 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 2: another star in place, or there's flexibility to add another 208 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 2: star when they get there. If the Lakers are serious 209 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 2: about making a run at Jason Tatum or Giannis or 210 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: anybody of that ilk, the key is having your second star. 211 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: In this case, that Davis already in your back pocket. 212 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 2: So I think they got to extend him. 213 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: You didn't mention Austin Reeves in your little rant. Is 214 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: he not a second star potentially in uh, you know, 215 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: a couple of years. I mean they, I know he 216 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: was the only gave him a fifty six million dollar deal. 217 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: But I mean you look at their contracts, Rob, like 218 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers are gonna have room for that second start. Now. 219 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: I love to go to this website, hoops Hype, which 220 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: breaks down the salaries for the teams, and the Lakers 221 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 1: they've done it pretty I gotta give it to Polinka, 222 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: like they've done a pretty good job structuring the deal. 223 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: So they purged bad contracts. The only guys after this 224 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: season locked in Ruy, Hachi Mora, Gabe Vincent, and Austin Reeves. 225 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: That's it. Hoods Chaffino the rookie, okay, but like Jared 226 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: Vanderbilt won your deal, Torrian Prince won your deal. Jackson 227 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: Hayes player option, cam Rettis player option, Max Christy, who, 228 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: by the way, is absolutely slaying in Summer League. I 229 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: haven't believed. I'm surprised you have to put him in 230 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: the Lakers rotation, him being the next in a long 231 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: line of Caru show Austin Reeves. What do they call him? 232 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: The He'll billy Kobe. 233 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 2: That's right, He'll billy Kobe Austin Reeves. 234 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: That what what is Max CHRISTI? What is his nack? Dame? 235 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 2: He doesn't have one yet, he hasn't played enough, but 236 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 2: he'll get one soon enough. 237 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna come quick. 238 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, December, by like December, he's gonna he's gonna have 239 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 2: a nickname. He's gonna be a crowd favorite by December. 240 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: So who's gonna soak up? Dennis shooters minutes? 241 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 2: Gay Vincent? 242 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: Okay? Vincent Russell reeves as like the combo and then so. 243 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: The Max, the Lannie Walker, Max Christy Okay. 244 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 1: I think Christy is going to be a factor in 245 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: the rotation. I know who Chaffino is nice, but again 246 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: that's a bit of a longer term deal. So you know, 247 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: you look at these projects that they have on the books, 248 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: and it's not that bad. Rob Like they're gonna be 249 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: able to afford two stars Vincent and Hatchie Moura, you know, 250 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: combined their twenty eight in two years, I'm sorry, twenty 251 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: eight next no, No. Twenty five this year twenty eight 252 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: and then twenty nine that's manageable. That's movable. Now. The 253 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: one thing that I found interesting, Rob, is this draft 254 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: pick situation that gets If I was the Lakers, I'd 255 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: be a little concerned. In the Anthony Davis Steele, they 256 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: gave up the rights to their twenty twenty four pick 257 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: to the Pelicans, who can say we don't want your 258 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. We're gonna punt and take twenty twenty five. 259 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: If they do that, then they have to take the 260 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: twenty five regardless. There's no like, oh, we'll take twenty six. 261 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: So next season, Ad and Lebron, let's say they're healthy, Rob, 262 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: what are they four? What do you think they're win totals? 263 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: Like in the forty six to forty eight range? How 264 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: many they win this year? 265 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 2: Well, I mean this year was hard because they had 266 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: a whole new rosterft that trade deadline. But I think, 267 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 2: you know, factoring health and all that stuff, I think 268 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 2: anywhere between forty five and fifty sounds about right. 269 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: Fifty seems high man, Lebron and well. 270 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 2: They went eighteen and eight down the stretch with a 271 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 2: new roster. 272 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 1: Right, they also did have a deeper playoff run the 273 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: year prior. They had no playoffs, that's right. So it's 274 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: like that's an extra twenty games and those are hard games. 275 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: You know, AD's minutes are up, Lebron's minutes ruw. So 276 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, I think they would slow play. I'm 277 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: gonna go ahead and guess like they're a forty five 278 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: win team, okay, And so the Pelicans will say, we 279 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: don't want that draftick, We'll take twenty twenty five. Well, 280 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: what happens if Lebron and Ad leave next summer and 281 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: you get nobody and you you're waiting on Tatum and 282 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: waiting on Yannis? Is there a world where that two 283 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: thousand and twenty five season is really ghastly and they 284 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: have to give up the pick? Now, it's not the 285 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: end of the world if you get Tatum Marihanna's but 286 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: you gotta get Tatum Marihanna's first, right, So there is 287 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: a little bit of shaky roll of the dice. I 288 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: don't know, You're you want you love to get in 289 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: Pelinka's head when it comes to future Lakers. More likely 290 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 1: for the Lakers to land Yannis or Tatum. 291 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 2: I think I think if you would have asked any 292 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: reasonable Laker fan when Darvin Ham was hired. They're gonna 293 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 2: say the reason he was hired was because they think 294 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 2: they have a shot of Yannis. Yep, and that's you know, 295 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 2: call that tea leaves, call that rumors, call that being 296 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 2: an unreasonable fan. But that's what it was, seeing the way. 297 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: All the lot of go ahead. Well, I know a 298 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: lot of people will say, oh, Yannis, why would he 299 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: want to leave Milwaukee? He signed the extension to stay there, 300 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: won a title, what's it. Let's just settle down. Okay, 301 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: these players grow, they mature, Like Jannis is a great 302 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: run of Milwaukee. Yes, he won a title, but do 303 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: you wonder, huh, maybe I could dip my toe in 304 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: some other interesting things in life. I don't know. Maybe 305 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying he wants to go Hollywood. They did 306 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: make that movie about him on was it Disney Plus? 307 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: I thought it was good. Like I think there's a 308 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: world where Yannis just decides, you know what. I'm a 309 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: little more mature, I'm a little grown up. I'm ready 310 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: to go. Like Shaq started in Orlando, loved it. They 311 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: had a great team, went to the finals, and the 312 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: Lakers came calling, and he was like, yo, Hollywood, Okay, 313 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: here I come. I don't know Rob was Yiannis at 314 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: that that white party in the Hamptons. 315 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 2: I don't think so, I don't. I don't know if 316 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: I saw, don't. 317 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: I don't think he was either. Wonder you know you 318 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: feel a little fomo missing out on that. Maybe Tobias 319 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: Harris got a freaking invite. Maybe I know, Michael Rubin 320 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: obviously has a connection to the Sixers. You's stolen the team. 321 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: But like a lot of a lot of stars there 322 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: a lot of Yannis is a massive star. And I 323 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: and again I don't I don't want to say the 324 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: wrong thing here, but when you watched what Denver has 325 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: built around Jokic, I think there's got to be players 326 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: around the league who are kind of pissed off, Like, 327 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: holy cow, Denver did it that quickly, Like they've got 328 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: the perfect supporting cast. They did a great job with 329 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: Jamal Murray, they did a great job with KCP Aaron Gordon, 330 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: Like every move they're making is hit. They draft Christian 331 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: Braun and he's a factor. And now there's a lot 332 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: of chatter about the young kid Watson being the next 333 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: guy coming up, and it's like, damn Denver's doing a 334 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: good job. And then Giannis looks around. He's like, what's 335 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: going on in our front office? And Jason Tatum's like, guys, 336 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: I mean I've been to like, what is even a 337 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: five conference finals and he's won one of them, or 338 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: maybe it's four. I know he's been around for a 339 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: while and he was young, and one team was Isaiah 340 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: Thomas's and you know, Marcus Smart's been in the building 341 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: is the leader. It's like, I don't know. I think 342 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: we got to consider like Tatum and Giannis looking around 343 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: and being like, all right, well are we getting better? 344 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: I mean, the Miami Heat just lapped both those teams 345 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: shockingly this past year. Now, who the hell knows what's 346 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: gonna happen. You know, I have an affinity for the 347 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: Atlanta Hawks. I think I was a little I loved 348 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: them irrationally last year. They did not deliver, but I 349 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: was probably early on them. They got a new coach, 350 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: Quinn Snyder. I'm gonna stick with the Atlanta Hawks. I 351 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: think they're probably top four seed next year in the East. 352 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: I said a little bit of a surprise, but I 353 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: like them a lot. You know, I'm a Trey young guy. 354 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: I really liked Janta murrit that rosters sick, Like, are 355 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: the Hawks gonna pass him? Arrow? Morey's cooking up something. 356 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 1: I don't know what they're gonna do. But like, if 357 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: there's a world where Jannis and Tatum look around and 358 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: suddenly like teams have passed them in the East, I 359 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: don't know. If the Knicks have a massive war chest, 360 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: can they get Karl Anthony Towns Cleveland Calves have put 361 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: something together nice like, I don't know if they could 362 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: take the next step. But I don't know. Rob you think, 363 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: and it's tough to get in the head of Tatum 364 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: and Giannis, But do you think those guys are looking 365 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: around being like damn, Because I know that's what Lebron did. 366 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: I know that's what Kevin Durant did. Like those are 367 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 1: guys who saw teams and players past them and get 368 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: angry and they're like, I'm out of here. 369 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what. I don't think right now they're 370 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: looking at that kind of stuff. I think right now 371 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: both of their teams are at worst what the top 372 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: three or four teams in the NBA, and in terms 373 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 2: of chance to win a championship, where I think it's 374 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: gonna get interesting is if in Milwaukee's specially in Milwaukee, 375 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 2: if Drew Holliday is serious about retiring as soon as 376 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 2: his contract is up here in two years, that's gonna 377 00:18:55,000 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 2: be a big thing in Boston if it turns out 378 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: that this Joe Missoula all Gas, no breaks transition that 379 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 2: they're making, where they're loading up on offensive players, getting 380 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 2: rid of their defensive identity and stacking up oft injured 381 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 2: players in the rotation, getting rid of Grant Walees for 382 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: no good reason. Because if it's a salary dump, if 383 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 2: this backfires, which you know a lot of Boston Celtics 384 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 2: fans think it could because they don't like the way 385 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 2: that the culture has shifted in Missoula, then you start 386 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 2: having that wandering eye a little bit. Then you start saying, 387 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 2: if you're Jason Tatum, look I've reached the precipice or 388 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 2: right up to it in Boston and they've totally changed everything. 389 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 2: This coach is kind of in over his head. It 390 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 2: seems like me and Jalen Brown were good friends, but 391 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 2: we're not exactly a great fit on the court. We 392 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 2: don't have a point guard still that we feel real 393 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 2: confident about. Maybe it's time for me to link up 394 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: with a star big man or a star point guard 395 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 2: that can really accentuate what I do well. Maybe then, 396 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 2: but until then it's just you know, wishful thinking. I'm 397 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 2: still confident at some point case they'll be a laker. 398 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 2: I don't know if it'll be twent twenty five. 399 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: The last word here. It's interesting. I was reading about 400 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: this Celtics idea that they're like stockpiling picks and how 401 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:18,239 Speaker 1: they're maybe big game hunting. So it sounds like, and 402 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: I could be wrong, some of these Boston Beat writers 403 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: believe that Grant Williams was some for some reason in 404 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: Missoula's doghouse, like they didn't get along. He just didn't 405 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 1: like him, and that's why he wasn't playing him a lot. 406 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: And then eventually he starts playing against the heat. And 407 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: it sounds like Marcus Smart was one of these like 408 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: I gotta listen to this guy, like you know, and 409 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: I think there was an instant where he checked himself 410 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: into a game. The Boston writers are painting it like, listen, 411 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: Missoula was a young coach, probably in over his head. 412 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: But the two guys who he maybe beefed with, in 413 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: the locker room. I don't know, Beef might be too strong. 414 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: But let's just say didn't see ey'd I with Smart 415 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 1: and Williams. They're now gone, so Missoula kind of has 416 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: his locker room. Porzegis is gonna slide and be like, 417 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: you know, let me know how high to jump, coach, 418 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: because he ain't never won anything, and he's certainly the 419 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: third banana behind Tatum and Brown. So there's a world 420 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: where the Celtics are fine and don't lose ground. But 421 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: I you just that's why the NBA is so fascinated 422 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: Rob like this idea that teams can the Warriors literally 423 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: came out of nowhere. I mean you have to go 424 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: back about ten years. But Lob City was the jam 425 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: in the NBA. It was Chris Paul, Blake Griffin. I 426 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: remember being on the East Coast and I would have 427 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: to stay up late because the Clippers were playing. I 428 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 1: remember fact like, Blake Griffin was such a big deal, 429 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: so fun to watch. It's such a good dunker. I 430 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: got a Clippers T shirt, Blake griffind T shirt. This 431 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: is way back. I have since cut the sleeves off, 432 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: you know where when I'm doing yard work, but I 433 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: don't do yardwork, so I never wear it. But like 434 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: they had next Blake and Chris Paul. They were supposed 435 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: to be the next great team in the West, and 436 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: the Warriors come up and zoom past him and Blake Griffin, 437 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: you know, never won. Chris Paul still hasn't won. So 438 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: NBA moves fast man the league. The ground is shifting constantly. 439 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: And I did mention Chris Paul, Rob, because I want 440 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: to quickly wrap up with this. Not a lot of 441 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: people want to pay attention to what's happening in Summer League, 442 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: and that's fine. A lot of it's overblown. But Rob 443 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 1: an interview caught my eye over the weekend where a 444 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: reporter asked Chris Paul, so, how do you feel coming 445 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: off the bench and working with the second unit something 446 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: along those lines, and Rob, Chris Paul turned and looked 447 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: at her and goes, you coaching, And it was like whoa, 448 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: you know. It wasn't in a like a derisive manner. 449 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: It was kind He had like this smirk, like you coaching. 450 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 1: I haven't talked to the team about what's going what 451 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: the game plan is, you know, like I don't know. 452 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: And then someone else else followed it up with have 453 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: you had that conversation? Blah blah blah. You know, he's like, 454 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: you know, we'll probably sit down before the season and 455 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,639 Speaker 1: talk about it. But this idea that Chris Paul was 456 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: going to lead the second unit, walk in and be 457 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: a good soldier's Le's just remember Chris Paul was in Houston, 458 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 1: got James Harden to push the Warriors very hard, and 459 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: that was the good Warriors. The KD. Curry Warriors pushed 460 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: him hard. Couldn't get over them. Then he goes to 461 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: ok see, like from the jump, Chris Paul's like, we're 462 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: not We're not taking here. We're not gonna stink get 463 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 1: some I think they got to the Bubble playoffs right 464 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: with Lou Dort or maybe it was yeah, Bubble playoffs, casey. 465 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,919 Speaker 1: Chris Paul then gets moved to Phoenix, goes right in. 466 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: This is the guy, the wingman Devin Booker needed. They 467 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: go to the NBA Finals. Chris Paul's bounced around a lot. Okay, 468 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: everywhere he's gone, he's been a game changer, an infusion 469 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: of talent, energy, leadership, great stuff. But now he goes 470 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 1: to a place that doesn't need that. And this is 471 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: why I go back to I didn't understand the trade, Rob. 472 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: It never made sense, Okay, this idea that they needed 473 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: Chris Paul to like save them the Steph Curry minutes 474 00:23:54,880 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: on the bench, Like what that was working with Jordan 475 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: Poole before Draymond Green sucker punched him, And yes it 476 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: was a sucker punch. This idea that Chris Paul's gonna 477 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: be like come in, never come off the bench once 478 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 1: in his entire career over thirteen hunderd games, and now Rob, 479 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: He's supposed to just come off the bench, Like, are 480 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: we really to believe that that's gonna be Chris Paul's 481 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: m O with the Warriors. Hey, guys, I'm gonna be 482 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: a cheerleader for much of the game, probably gonna play 483 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: sixteen to twenty minutes, and they're gonna save me for 484 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: the playoffs. Like, I don't see how that works for 485 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: Chris Paul. Now, Chris Paul's a very proud individual. He's 486 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: accomplished a lot. This idea that he's suddenly coming off 487 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 1: the bench for a Warriors team that has a stack 488 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: starting lineup, Like maybe eventually he concedes, but it's pretty 489 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: clear from that interview Rob, He's essentially saying that's not determined. 490 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: We'll see. And now that surprises me because I thought 491 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,119 Speaker 1: he would just say, Okay, hey, I'm coming to a winner. 492 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna help this team anyway, but we could get 493 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: back to the finals. Blah blah blah. He said nothing 494 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: of this. I'm on record, I don't love this move. 495 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, the whole situation was kind of funny. It reminded 496 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 2: me of the Carmelo Anthony introductory press conference with OKC 497 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 2: and they asked him about it and he starts laughing. 498 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: He's ape. 499 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 2: They wanted me to come off the bench, and he's 500 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,520 Speaker 2: just cracking up. And then like a year later, he 501 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 2: was a bench player, like because that's just what it 502 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 2: was in his career. That's what it felt like with 503 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: Chris Paul, and I agree with you. I didn't like 504 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 2: the move at first. I knew that they had to 505 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 2: get rid of Jordan Poole, and that seemed like it 506 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 2: was more of an addition by subtracting situation, because the 507 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 2: vibes obviously weren't good there in Golden State. If I'm 508 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 2: Golden State though, and I needed to make a trade 509 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 2: with Washington to get rid of Jordan Poole. I would 510 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 2: have tried to get tyas Jones before I would have 511 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 2: went with Chris Paul because it's a guy who you 512 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 2: know knows's role, is a similar type of player. And 513 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 2: maybe I don't think it's good as Chris Paul, but 514 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 2: he's a very similar style of player. But most importantly 515 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 2: that to your point, the Golden State Warriors starting five 516 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,919 Speaker 2: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Jmond Green, Kevin Looney 517 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:05,440 Speaker 2: according to Cleaning the Glass plus twenty two point one 518 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 2: net rating, that's ten points per one hundred possessions better 519 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 2: than the vaunted Denver Nuggets starting five. Like that, Warrior 520 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:19,959 Speaker 2: starting five is fantastic. Their problem was as soon as 521 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 2: Steph Curry left the floor, things all went to shit. 522 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 2: In an ideal world, Chris Paul will come off the 523 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: bench and just stabilize. You don't got to win those minutes, 524 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 2: but just tread water. But I don't know if he's 525 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 2: that a point in his career yet where he's able 526 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 2: to accept coming off the bench. And this I'm not 527 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 2: gonna say it's gona get ugly because he's too professional, 528 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 2: but this I don't think is gonna work out too 529 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 2: well for Golden State. 530 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I think mostly the year prior, Jordan Poole 531 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: had come off the bench in that Energizer roll six 532 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,439 Speaker 1: man and he was fine. The problem was his teammate 533 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: punched him in the face, and the friction in the 534 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: locker room. They couldn't get past it and it ruined 535 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 1: the season. To your point about the stat with the 536 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,360 Speaker 1: best starting lineup, Rob, I do wonder is there a 537 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: lass half full option where you're like, hey, you know what, 538 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins missed like twenty five thirty games, Steph Curry 539 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 1: missed a few weeks, Klay Thompson was coming off the injury. 540 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: We're gonna be okay, We're gonna be fine. We get 541 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: our great starting five back. But then you look at 542 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: the bench and you're like, all right, who are the 543 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: top three guys off the bench? Devincenzo's gone, Jonathan Kuminga, 544 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 1: we'll see. I like him, but I don't. We'll see 545 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: Chris Paul. They have nobody on their roster over six ' ten. 546 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: And then don't tell me that this rookie's gonna come 547 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 1: in and be the eighth guy. Like all of a 548 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: sudden this, I guess Moses Moody would be ahead of him. 549 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: But it's just I don't see how this Warriors team 550 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:48,920 Speaker 1: is better. 551 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:49,120 Speaker 2: Man. 552 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: And we'll we'll do a full post wartem once the 553 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: Dame deal is done and the Hardened deal is done. 554 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: But right now I don't have the Warriors top six 555 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 1: in the West. 556 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 2: Wow, that's shocking because you are like one of the 557 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 2: biggest Steph Curry fans in North America. I think you 558 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 2: would expect that him by himself would be able to 559 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 2: keep him in the top six. 560 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: Not at thirty five, Rob at thirty five. I mean, 561 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: by the way, we got the screener early for the 562 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 1: Steph Curry documentary that's coming on Apple. I've watched about 563 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: half of it. Very good stuff. I don't know if 564 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: it's gonna be for everybody. Nothing really earth shattering yet. 565 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: We'll see when it gets later in it. But you 566 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:31,919 Speaker 1: guys know, I like Curry. The problem is, Rob, if 567 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 1: you talk a top six, I would certainly go Denver 568 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: Phoenix for sure. I think Sacramento is going to be back. 569 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: I think they're going to be very good. I don't 570 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: know if Minnesota will be there. I mean Memphis was 571 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: the two seed and they'll be okay without John Morant. 572 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: I think you've got to put Memphis younger, less injury risk. 573 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: I think you have to put them out of Golden State. 574 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they're better, but they were the number 575 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 1: two seed. Rob Am I missing. 576 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 2: Someone, Lakers, Clippers. I mean the West is pretty Dallas. 577 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: Oh, Dallas. Dallas is certainly better than Golden State. Dallas 578 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: is a slam dunk home run, whatever you want to say. 579 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: Hat trick of an offseason. It has been incredible. They're 580 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: certainly top six. I don't think the Clippers have gotten better, 581 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: and I just I'm just gonna pencil in twenty five 582 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: games out for Lebron, twenty five for ad and that's 583 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:28,720 Speaker 1: why I only have them at like forty five wins. 584 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: Forty five wins maybe seventh or eighth. You know, Yeah, 585 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: are you like too low on the Warriors? 586 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 2: I mean, when you frame it that way, I guess 587 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 2: not that the issue with this Western Conference. It's not 588 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 2: like the Western Conference of the early two thousands, where 589 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 2: there were eight teams with fifty plus wins. The issue 590 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 2: here is that now that when Benyama is in the 591 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 2: Western Conference, outside of Houston. I can't think of any 592 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 2: team we're like almost gonna roll over like they're one 593 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 2: through thirteen is competing at least. So that's where it 594 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 2: could get tricky where I think you're gonn to see 595 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 2: you know, spots even one through five I think is 596 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 2: going to be really tight heading down the home strengs sation. 597 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: Wait, wait, let's back up a little. Did you just 598 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: say Houston. You think Houston's the worst team in the West? Probably? Wow? O. 599 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 2: Who do you think is worse than that? 600 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: I've got Houston like ninth or tenth? 601 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:20,120 Speaker 2: Wow? 602 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: Okay, I mean, dude, I know that's irrational, you know whatever. 603 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: I just think this email. Udoka is an incredible higher 604 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: I think he's the most significant coaching move in the 605 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 1: NBA this offseason. I don't want to hear about Nick 606 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: Nurse and Philly the new Phoenix guy. Whatever. I think 607 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,600 Speaker 1: this Udoka. Remember what he did in Boston with a 608 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: pretty damn good team that was floundering. He got them 609 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: to clean up their act, spoke to the young guys, 610 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: call people out, help people accountable, and then turn that 611 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: team and they went to the finals. Like, I think 612 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 1: he's at least worth ten wins just him, and then 613 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: you toss in Van Vliet. Will he be able to 614 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: control Dylan Brooks. I like a Green a lot. Sengoon 615 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: is pretty damn good. Jabarti Smith opening eyes in summer League. 616 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: Now you finally get Kevin Porter coming off the bench, 617 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: who's ridiculously talented, but you know, has his issues. I 618 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: like Tarry Easton. I'm just telling you if you're looking 619 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: for a sleeper over wins total, I haven't seen it 620 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: yet the number, but I'm going over on the sun 621 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: on the rockets for sure. Like I didn't think there's 622 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: any doubt they're gonna be good. Now. I know the 623 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:28,560 Speaker 1: West is stacked, but this to me, at thirty five 624 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 1: to forty five wins. Now, before you scoff, the Kings, 625 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: I believe made a leap of like eighteen wins year 626 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: to year, and that was good coach Mike Brown and 627 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: Daron Fox, who was there, Sabonis was there. The only 628 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: addition was basically Keegan Murrayliknk, I mean, Malik Monk was 629 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: an addition, but like the coach really matters in the NBA, 630 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: and I'm all in on. 631 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,760 Speaker 2: Nudoka and they were healthy. Sacramento their guys all played 632 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 2: over healthy. Yeah, so you know we'll see. But this 633 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 2: Western Conference is going to be a bear next season. 634 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 2: I don't think even Denver as good as they are, 635 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 2: and as you looked in the postseason, I don't think 636 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: you're going to see any runaway one seed no this 637 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 2: upcoming season at all for anyone. 638 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: I would agree. And the parody in the league is like, 639 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: like you said, eight teams of fifty plus wins. The 640 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: bottom of the league back then was horrible. Yes, I mean, listen, 641 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 1: I don't want to make this a Jordan Lebron think. 642 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 1: Go look at the bottom of the league in like 643 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: the early nineties. It was putrid. I mean, there were 644 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: some laughably bad teams. Now there's really nobody bad in 645 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: the West, like wee, Ben Yama, the Spurs, I don't 646 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: I think. I wonder if there's a world where like 647 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: the team that wins the West has like fifty two 648 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: wins and the worst team in the West has like 649 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 1: twenty six, like the Spurs win twenty six games or. 650 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 2: Something that's possible. I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if 651 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 2: it was that tight. Absolutely, yeah, for sure. 652 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: All right, We've run really long here on a Tuesday. 653 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: Everybody talk to you tomorrow.