1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: The volume, from the football playoffs to college and pro 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: basketball to the rush of hockey. What a time to 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: be a sports fan. It's all happening and you can 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: get in on all the action of the sports you 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: love at Draft Kings Sports Book. With so many sports, 6 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: every day is game day at DraftKings, that means unlimited 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: opportunities to place your first bet, and DraftKings makes it easy. 8 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: How easy? Try betting on something simple like picking a 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: team to win. Go to the Draft Kings Sports Book app, 10 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: pick your team and place your bet. 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For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, 30 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: see DKNG dot co slash audio. All right, welcome to tonight. 31 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: You're at the volume heavy Wednesday, everybody. Hope all of 32 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: you guys are having a great week. We are continuing 33 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: our trade deadline series today hitting three more teams. We're 34 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: gonna hit the Phoenix Suns as well as the Los 35 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets. We did a pack 36 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: of three teams last week. We covered the Bucks, the Warriors, 37 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: and the Nuggets. We're gonna be hitting throughout the next 38 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: two weeks. Just these little kind of like three team 39 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: sets where we kind of talked about what they should 40 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: do as they come up on the trade deadline. You 41 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: guys have the job before we get started. Subscribe to 42 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: the Hoops to Night YouTube channel so you don't miss 43 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: any more of our videos. Follow me on Twitter and 44 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: underscore jcnlts. You guys don't miss announcements forget about podcast 45 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: fore you whereverach podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also 46 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: super helpful if we leave a rating and a review 47 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: on that front. We also have brand new social media 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: feeds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout 49 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: the year. Make sure you guys follow us there, and 50 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: the last but not least, keep dropping mail bag questions 51 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: in the YouTube comments so that we can get to 52 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: them in our Friday mailbags throughout the rest of the year. 53 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk some basketball. So starting with the 54 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: Phoenix Suns. What if we got Jimmy Butler over there? 55 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: This is a trade that's been widely reported, a trade 56 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: that Phoenix would very much like to do. They conducted 57 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: a trade yesterday with Utah Jazz where they turned an 58 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: unprotected first into three first round picks, a nice little 59 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: symbolic gesture that demonstrates the gap in value between a 60 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: unprotected first and a protected first that has less potential 61 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: to net you a high level talent. Right, So the 62 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: Suns get their three first round picks, which should give 63 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: them some more flexibility. Who knows what they have to 64 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: send over to Miami. Maybe it ends up being two 65 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: of them, and then you can attach another one to 66 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: use off nurkics to try to bring something in. But 67 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: we're going to zoom in specifically on Jimmy Butler for 68 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: this specific segment. So the way that a trade like 69 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: this would work is it would be Bradley Beal for 70 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler, and probably a minimum contract could be Alec 71 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: Burks could be a couple other guys, but a minimum 72 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: contract coming back. But the gist of the deal would 73 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: be Bradley Beal for Jimmy Butler. Jimmy slots perfectly into 74 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: the Ryan Dunn spot in the starting lineup. I look 75 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: at Ryan Dunn in a similar way to the way 76 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: I look at Max Christy for the Lakers, and for 77 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: the record, not comparing them as players, they're very different. 78 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: I think Ryan's much better defensively at this point in 79 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: his career and Max is much better offensively at this 80 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: point in his career. But I think they both project 81 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: in the big picture at their specific position groups to 82 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: be two way role players, guys that you can eventually 83 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: depend on to take on a substantial defensive role while 84 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: also being a useful offensive player. I think they have 85 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: similar like kind of like long term trajectories in that respect, right, 86 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: But they both are playing on teams that have the 87 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: ultimate like win now pressure, right, and ideally you don't 88 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: want to rely on them in your best five man groups. 89 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: I was watching the Cavs Suns game earlier this morning, 90 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: and it's like, it's a couple of wide open corner 91 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: threes from Ryan Done that miss. This year, he's making 92 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: about a third of his wide open catch and shoot opportunities, 93 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: And so it's one of those things where like you 94 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: want Ryan Done to get reps. Him starting has been 95 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: fine for his overall gaining experience journey, right, but at 96 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: the end of the day, like, ideally, you don't want 97 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: to depend on him in a big spot. Same goes 98 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: with the Lakers for a guy like Max Christie, Right, So, 99 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: like Jimmy Butler gives you this rock solid veteran presence 100 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: with real superstar upside that slots into that role in 101 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: the starting lineup, but still leaves you with plenty of 102 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: minutes available for Ryan Done off the bench to make 103 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: sure that he continues to get the reps that he 104 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: needs to grow. The starting lineup after that sort of 105 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: deal would look like Tys Jones at the point, Devin Booker, 106 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant with Nick Richards. So immediately you 107 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: get a more shoe in fit in terms of a 108 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: star that can actually play alongside Devin Booker and Kevin 109 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: Durant without too much redundancy or without an inability to 110 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: take on dirty work. Right, Jimmy Butler can take the 111 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: same sort of defensive assignments that Ryan Dunn took, and 112 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: when he's really locked in, I think he can do 113 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: nearly as well as a guy like Ryan dunnef not 114 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: a little bit better when he's really locked in. I 115 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: don't think you'll get that level of effort consistently in 116 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: the regular season, but Jimmy is a playoff weapon defensively, 117 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: is a real asset to have in the bag, and 118 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: he gives you a really good combination of both off 119 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: ball talent and on ball talent on the offensive end 120 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: of the floor. He's a guy who can set screens 121 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: for guys like Devin Booker and KD and roll out 122 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: of it and make plays when Kevin Durant's throwing the 123 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: ball over the top, when they get blitzed or things 124 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: along those lines, or if they switch. He's got the 125 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: ability to punish Smith's He's been hitting unguarded catch and 126 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: shoot jump shots at over a fifty percent clip in 127 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: the last few years, albeit at low volume, so like 128 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: he's not a guy you can just leave wide open. 129 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: He's a very good cutter, and then he also is 130 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: a very very good on ball player. He is a 131 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: much much better on ball player than a guy like 132 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: Bradley Beal. He's bigger, he's stronger, he's a better playmaker. 133 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: He's a real switch beater. His last playoff run in 134 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, he ran over five hundred pick and rolls, 135 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 1: ISOs and post ups in that playoff run and was 136 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 1: well over a point per possession in all three play types, 137 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: including passes. He's just a massive talent upgrade and the 138 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: kind of guy that immediately makes the Suns a much 139 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: more physically imposing group, especially with the Nick Richards' upgrade 140 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: at the center spot, and it's been a little bit 141 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: of like mixed results with Nick in the early going. 142 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: Just absolutely dominated in his first appearance, just benefiting on 143 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: all the attention that the stars were gathering, but had 144 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: some moments against Jared Allen where he looked really physically 145 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: overmatched and didn't get as many of those high quality 146 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: role man opportunities. But still I think he's a center 147 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: upgrade compared to what they had in house, So like 148 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: you're changing the physical in position of the group. Just 149 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: to put it really simply, going from Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, 150 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: use Off Nurkic to Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Nick Richards, 151 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: It's just a completely different type of physical imposition that 152 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: you bring to the table as a team. I think 153 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: his ability to attack in a different way than Devin 154 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: Booker and Kevin Durant will be really useful. The Sun's 155 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: offense has been falling apart in their losses in the 156 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: last month. In their eight losses, they've posted a one 157 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: to ZH three point nine offensive rating. It's just not 158 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: resilient enough. The Cavs game, for instance, it's tie twenty 159 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: seven to twenty seven. Late first quarter, they didn't score 160 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: for three and a half minutes, zero points. For three 161 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: and a half minutes, they gave up a nine to 162 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: zero run. Right it's fifty nine to forty eight. At 163 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: one point, they didn't score for two and a half 164 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: minutes as they gave up an eleven zero run. It 165 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: was eighty two sixty eight in the late third quarter, 166 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: only a fourteen point game, very much still in reach. 167 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: They scored two points over the next six minutes and 168 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,119 Speaker 1: completely lost control of the game. There's a certain amount 169 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: of like the Devin Booker and Kevin Durant can go 170 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: through these stretches where they get a little sloppy with 171 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: the ball and they start missing jump shots and the 172 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: offense can fall apart, or when the talent off of 173 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: the attention they garner is unable to capitalize and their 174 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: offense can fall apart. Jimmy Butler has a more resilient 175 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: offensive approach. He can attack from the post like we 176 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: talked about, but as a bully ball player rather than 177 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: as a shot maker, which is more resilient. He's not 178 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: going to be as dependent on make and miss when 179 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: it comes to the jump shooting side of things. He's 180 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: also much better at getting to the foul line than 181 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 1: both Kevin Durant Devin Booker, but much much better than 182 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: Bradley Beal is. And again, you're just turning You're just 183 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: turning Bradley Beal into a much better offensive player while 184 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: also being a much better defensive player. It's just a 185 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: massive talent upgrade. And when the Suns are trapped in 186 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: the situation that they're trapped in, they don't really have 187 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: a ton of flexibility. This is the kind of aggressive 188 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: move that they could make that has real upside for 189 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: them within this season. I think he's just a much 190 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: better player who's a much better fit than Bradley Beal 191 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: with this group. I think it's the kind of move 192 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: that the Suns should seriously consider. Number Two, how would 193 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: I revamp the Lakers? So obviously I prefer a guy 194 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: like Brandon Ingram. I just don't think that's going to 195 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: happen under the circumstances. So I was trying to come 196 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: up with the deal out there that best addresses the 197 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 1: three biggest weaknesses that the Lakers have outside of trying 198 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: to pursue a high level, star level offensive player. Okay, 199 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: if we remove that from the equation. So take Brandon 200 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 1: Ingram out, take Zach Lavine out, take any of those 201 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: big name star type of players. How would I go 202 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:50,719 Speaker 1: about revamping the Lakers? And I came up with two deals. 203 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: One I would call it the Utah Jazz. I'd offer 204 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: them Gabe Vincent and Jared Vanderbilt for Colin Sexton and 205 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: Water Kessler. In order to make the deal work, I 206 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: think you'd have to remove the protections from the pick 207 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: that you got back in the de Lo trade, and 208 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: I think you probably have to add another first round 209 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 1: pick that is lightly protected. Okay, so effectively, if you 210 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: account removing the protections, that's roughly worth Again, if look 211 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: at the Sun's trade, the Suns Jazz trade is a 212 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: clear demonstration an unprotected first round pick, it's worth quite 213 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: a bit more than protected first round draft compensation. So 214 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: removing protections also amounts to a form of draft compensation. Right, So, 215 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: like you get removing protections and adding a first round pick, 216 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,199 Speaker 1: and you're getting back Colin Sexton and Walker Kessler. Then 217 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: I would separately call up the Toronto Raptors and I'd 218 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: offer them Ruey Hachimura, Jalen Hoods, Schafino and Cam Reddish 219 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 1: with the other first round pick, because remember, they have 220 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: two first round picks to trade for Bruce Brown and 221 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: Jonathan Magbo for either deal. If they had to, they 222 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,599 Speaker 1: could include additional second round draft compensation if the negotiations 223 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: get tougher, but I think they have the draft compensation 224 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: to make both of the those deals happen. Those two 225 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 1: deals successfully addressed the three biggest weaknesses that the Lakers 226 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: have with their roster at this point, separate from anything 227 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: having to do with star talent. The three biggest weaknesses 228 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: were one, the backup center position, where they just have 229 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: an inability to maintain a really high floor when Anthony 230 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: Davis is off the floor. They've been getting killed all 231 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 1: season long in the eighty off minutes. They've had some 232 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: success in games where like they won a game recently 233 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: when Anthony Davis sat, but like for the most part 234 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: in recent Lakers history, they've struggled when Anthony Davis has 235 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: been out. So a rock solid backup center would go 236 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: a long way towards one, giving you a higher floor 237 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: and giving you maybe a more legitimate two big look, 238 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: which we'll talk about in a minute. Two, they need 239 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: a higher floor option at the two guard spot. Right. 240 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: I talked about this earlier with Ryan Dunn with respect 241 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: to the Suns. You want Ryan Dunn getting his reps, 242 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: you want Max Christy getting his reps. I have big 243 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: belief in those two players in the long term, But 244 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: for either the Suns or the Lakers to be depending 245 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: on those guys in their final five, like in the 246 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: five that they would go down with in a big 247 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 1: playoff series, I think is a mistake. That's not to 248 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: say that you won't find yourself in a position where 249 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: a Ryan Dunner, a Max Christie is feeling good in 250 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: a big playoff game and you end up riding him out, 251 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: But you just don't want to be in a position 252 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: where Max is, you know, two turnovers and two bad 253 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 1: miss threes in the first quarter of a pivotal playoff 254 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: game and he's your best option at the two because 255 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: he's freaking out a little bit under the stress and 256 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: pressure of the moment. Right. Totally expectable for a young player. 257 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: There's just too many examples in NBA history of young 258 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: players struggling when they get into that setting. So a 259 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: higher floor option at the two guard spot I view 260 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: as an important upgrade for the Lakers, and then lastly, 261 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: backup ball handling. Ever since the D'Angelo Russell trade, the 262 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: you know, the Lakers have been in this predicament where 263 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: once you get past Austin and Lebron, who's your next 264 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: best ball handler. It's Gabe Vincent. Right. It's just not 265 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 1: a lot of talent in terms of perimeter ball handling 266 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: because you sent d Low out in that trade for 267 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 1: Dorian Finney Smith, who plays a very different type of position. Right, 268 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: So if you don't get a star, the three holes 269 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: they needed to patch were backup center, an upgrade at 270 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: the starting two guard spot, and backup ball handling. Just 271 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: somebody that can handle the basketball and take on a 272 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: higher usage roll on the offensive end of the floor. 273 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: I think those two deals accomplish that by bringing in 274 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 1: Colin Sexton, who is a legitimate guard ball handler that 275 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: can take on usage, and getting a Bruce Brown, who is, 276 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: in my opinion, a starting caliber two guard in this 277 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: league if he's the fifth best player in your lineup, 278 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: which he would be in that case. And then three 279 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: a backup center in the form of Walker Kessler. So 280 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: here's what you'd be left with if the roster and 281 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: all the dust settled, you would have a rock solid 282 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: core five Austin, Bruce Brown, Dorian Finney Smith, Lebron James 283 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis. And for the record, you could start 284 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: Max if you wanted to keep him in the starting 285 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: lineup and keep him getting reps and just close games 286 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: with Bruce, if that's what it came down to, but 287 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: just for the sake of laying out the roster, because 288 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: I think Bruce right at this second is a better 289 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: player than Max, even though Max will obviously have the 290 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: ability to pass him in the long run. Austin Bruce, 291 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 1: Doran Phinney, Smith, Lebron and AD that is a good 292 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: core five. I like that as a core five that 293 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: can the Lakers could go down within a playoff series 294 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: because Bruce and Dorian are guys that have the ability 295 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: to function within a five man group offensively while both 296 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: being really useful defensive players at their position while bringing 297 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: different abilities to the table. I think Bruce is better 298 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: guarding guards. I think Dorian Finney Smith is better guarding forward, 299 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: so it's kind of like a natural, kind of like 300 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: pairing between the two of them. But at the same time, 301 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: Dorian can slide his feet a little bit. Bruce can 302 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: bang with the larger players on the floor as well 303 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: a little bit, right, So like there's some switchability there 304 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: as well. And then you've got your Austin Lebron Anthony 305 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: Davis and it depends on those three guys to carry 306 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: things offensively. But that was gonna be the case regardless 307 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: if your goal was to win the championship, you were 308 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: gonna need Lebron ad In Austin to a play great. Right, 309 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: then you'd have depth at key position groups. So Austin 310 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: has a clear backup in Colin Sexton after that type 311 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: of trade, Bruce Brown and Max Christy with regardless of 312 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: depending on which one you end up starting with, one 313 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: of those guys is a clear backup for the other. Right. Now, 314 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: backup forwards, it gets a little finn there, right, you'd 315 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: have Dalton Connect Jonathan Magbo coming back in the Raptors deal. 316 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: Just a kind of a young athletic forward. It does 317 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: some things well does He has a lot of weaknesses, 318 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: but he can just be a depth piece for you 319 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: at the forward spot. Christian Wood if he can come 320 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: back healthy, and then Bruce Brown. I think there's a 321 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: case to be made that Like, that's another upside to 322 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: the Bruce Brown trade is like, if you need to 323 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: find more minutes from him, I think he can play 324 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: a little bit at the small forward, which can keep 325 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: Max's minutes up, but supplements you in terms of depth 326 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: at the forward position. But again, the whole point of 327 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: this trade is that you're swapping forward depth to anchor 328 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: your core five and for a rock solid backups. When 329 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: you have a rock solid backup center, a guy like 330 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 1: a Walker Kessler, it anchors you physically in a way 331 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: that allows you to be smaller at other positions. Remember, 332 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: like Walker's just like one of the most physically imposing 333 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: players in this league. He at this point in time 334 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: is leading the league in offensive rebounds per game at 335 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: four point three offensive rebounds per game, and he's second 336 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: in the league in blocks behind Victor wembin Yama despite 337 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: playing less than thirty minutes per game in both of 338 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: those categories. Right, So, like a really big, physical player 339 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: that creates an easier physical responsibility down the roster. Right, So, like, yes, 340 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: there's you're trading to address those weaknesses. You're creating a 341 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: new thin spot in terms of forward depth. But I 342 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: look at it more in terms of playoff rotation. In 343 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: regular season rotation, right in the playoffs you can scale 344 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: up minutes. Do I think that the Lakers would have 345 00:16:55,760 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: an eight man rotation that could all be reliable? Libel 346 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: is a hard word, but like, at least be playable 347 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: playoff players. Austin Bruce, Dorian Finney Smith, Lebron, A D, 348 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: Colin Sexton, Max Christy, Walker Kessler. That's your eight guys 349 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: right there. You got a wing, a guard in a 350 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: center off the bench. You could see so like in 351 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: the playoffs, you can see a playoff rotation take shape. 352 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: You start the game. Let's say let's say you start 353 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: with Max. You start Austin, Max, Dorian Lebron, and a D. 354 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 1: When Lebron checks out, you can have a Lebron off 355 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: group that's like Austin Bruce, Dorian Finney Smith, and then 356 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: a two big look with Anthony Davis and Walker Kesler. 357 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,959 Speaker 1: When Ad comes off the floor, you can see a 358 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: Lebron led group that has Walker Kessler with Lebron at 359 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: the four, with Bruce Brown at the three, Max Christy 360 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: at the two, and Colin Sexton at the one. You 361 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: can see how they can piece together lineups where even 362 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: your your ad off group with Lebron and a guy 363 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: like Walker Kessler. That's a really big front line. Bruce 364 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: plays bigger than he is at the three. You're going 365 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 1: against bench groups with that lineup two, so like you 366 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 1: can kind of see a playoff rotation that makes sense. 367 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: And then there's still a closing five there, which is like, oh, 368 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: it's a big spot. We're on the road at ok See, 369 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: it's game two. It's ninety five ninety five with five 370 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,760 Speaker 1: minutes left in the fourth quarter and we're down one zero, 371 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 1: but we have a chance to steal home court advantage. Here. 372 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: You have a guy like Bruce Brown that you can 373 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: go to in the closing group that is a higher 374 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: floor veteran experienced playoff player that's won a championship that 375 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: you can slide into that spot. But then in the 376 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: regular season you have depth options. Like that's the upside 377 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 1: to getting a guy like Magboback because he's a guy 378 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: that can play some ford minutes in the regular season. 379 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: Christian Wood when he gets healthy, can play forward minutes 380 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: in the regular season, even next to a guy like 381 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: Walker Kessler. Dalton Connect is a guy that can play 382 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: minutes in the regular season that can carry you through 383 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: those stretches. You just have more a better playoff upside 384 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: in my opinion because of that rock solid core five 385 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: and a big look. That is an important flexibility for 386 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 1: specific matchups in the playoffs. Like, let's I want to 387 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: like kind of take a little bit of a step back, 388 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: and I want to zoom out and I want to 389 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: look at what this move really creates for the Lakers 390 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: in terms of their playoff upside. Right, So, like we 391 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: can all acknowledge that this team isn't winning anything unless Lebron, James, Austin, Reeves, 392 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: and Anthony Davis are all playing at a super high 393 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: level on offense. It goes without saying we just have 394 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: to acknowledge that, right, we kind of removed the possibility 395 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 1: of a superstar trade. Once you take that out of 396 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: the equation, It's like, if this team's going anywhere, Lebron, Austin, 397 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: and Ady have to reach a certain level offensively. I 398 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: think they can. As recently as last year in the 399 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: playoffs in that first round series against Denver, I thought 400 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: they were playing at that level. It was the surrounding 401 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: talent around them that let them down. They struggled tracking shooters, 402 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 1: they struggled rebounding. There were a bunch of like specific 403 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: issues with role players. That's where I really liked the 404 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: idea of Bruce Brown. He will embrace a bench roll, 405 00:19:57,600 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: meaning if you want to start Max, you still have 406 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: that option. He's a monster rebounder for his size. It 407 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,159 Speaker 1: gets seven rebounds per thirty six minutes so far the season. 408 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: He's averaging six point one rebounds per thirty six minutes 409 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: in his career, so at his size, a very good rebounder. 410 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: He's good at defending opposing guards, but he has some switchability. 411 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: He's actually hit five out of ten on guard to 412 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: catch and shoot jump shots so far this year. Again 413 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: that's a low sample size, but he's a I think 414 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: a guy that can be functional on the offensive end 415 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: of the floor. So you're bringing back a playoff rotation 416 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: piece in Bruce Brown for a guy in Ruey Ho. 417 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: Chamurro really struggled in the Nuggets series last year, so 418 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: it's kind of a swapping a less reliable playoff player 419 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: for a more reliable playoff player. Walker Kessler, though, is 420 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: the option where I see a real upside in terms 421 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: of playoff optionality. Right, So when you look at the playoffs, 422 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: and you look at the types of teams that have 423 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: massive front lines, whether it's the Nuggets with Aaron Gordon 424 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: and Nicola jokicch with Michael Porter Junior, or it's the 425 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: Clippers just with how big zoo botches right and what 426 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard can do, the Grizzlies who run a lot 427 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: of two big looks, the Timberwolves who run a lot 428 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: of two big looks. There are specific teams that you're 429 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: run into in the playoffs where you might have to 430 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: match up with size in physicality. Some of those teams 431 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,120 Speaker 1: have centers that Anthony Davis has struggled with straight up. 432 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis has struggled with Zoobot straight up, He's struggled 433 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: with with nikolea Jokic straight up right. So like, by 434 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,640 Speaker 1: having a bigger look, by having the ability to put 435 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: together frontlines of Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Walker Kessler together, 436 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: you at least give yourself an option in those settings 437 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,479 Speaker 1: to match physicality for physicality. You may be better off 438 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: going small, but at least you'll have that optionality. An 439 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: example that I would give you is like, do you 440 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 1: remember when the Lakers tried putting Ruey Hachi Mura on 441 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: Nikola Jokic, and Jokic has dealt with the center guarding 442 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: Aaron Gordon before, and he's dealt with that well. So 443 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: I want to sit here and pretend like it's some 444 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: sort of magic fix for how to deal with the 445 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: Denver Nuggets. But Jokich was just too good at shoving 446 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,479 Speaker 1: Ruey Hachimura wherever he wanted to get to and just 447 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,719 Speaker 1: scoring on right, if you try Walker Kessler in that 448 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: spot and Walker Kessler is on Jokich, he's gonna have 449 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: a better opportunity to fight Yokich off of spots with 450 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and help on the back line. It's a look. 451 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: It's about having a look. But Walker Kessler also provides 452 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 1: that optionality in the regular season, right, like the ability 453 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: to rest Anthony Davis. Walker Kesler can be a starting 454 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: center in this league. He immediately gives you a better 455 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: floor in the regular season when you rest ad, which 456 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: brings me to the final piece of this. There's a 457 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: real regular season upside, especially when you factor in the 458 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: Colin Sexton edition. So Colin Sexton is a guy that 459 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: can step into a high usage roll. He gives you 460 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: a better chance to win if you give Austin Reeves 461 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,679 Speaker 1: a night off or if you give Lebron James a 462 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 1: night off. So if I look at these two deals 463 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: in the short term, in the regular season, we need 464 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:57,400 Speaker 1: to get to April mid April with Lebron and AD 465 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: and Austin ready to go. I needs a night off, 466 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: Lebron needs a night off, Anthony Davis needs a night off. 467 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: Colin Sexton and Walker Kessler give you a substantially better 468 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 1: option to win on those nights when you're giving guys 469 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: a night off. Fast forward to the postseason. Bruce Brown 470 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 1: gives you a clear closing five when the shit hits 471 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 1: the fan, and Walker Kessler gives you a big look 472 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: that you can use against some of the massive frontlines 473 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: around the NBA. So again, it anchors the core three, Austin, 474 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: Lebron and AD with the best possible group of role 475 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 1: player talent that you can within the short term, because 476 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: this might be your last best chance to win a title, 477 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: and right now it looks like a very very slim chance. 478 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: Right this might be your last chance that anchors those 479 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: three with solid role player talent that puts the outcome 480 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: of the season in Lebron Ad in Austin's hands. It's 481 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: on them to figure it out at that point. I 482 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,360 Speaker 1: think that's the responsibility that the front office has here, 483 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: is that least put the out come in their hands, 484 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 1: and with the giant holes in role player talent, it 485 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: doesn't really feel like it's in their hands. This is 486 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: a way to appease that now. I would rather have 487 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: had this sort of deal done last year when Lebron 488 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: and Ad looked like better players, but better late than never. 489 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: I suppose number three are third trade of the day. 490 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 1: What if the Houston Rockets got Zach Levine, The way 491 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 1: this deal would look is Fred van Vliet for Zach Levine. 492 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 1: Straight up, It shouldn't take much of anything in the 493 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: terms of draft in the way of draft compensation, just 494 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: simply because Fred van Vliet has one fewer a year 495 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: on his deal. But even if the Rockets did have 496 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 1: to include some draft compensation, they just have so like 497 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: I think they have ten first round draft picks between 498 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: now and twenty thirty one, so they could throw in 499 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: some secon around draft compensation, or maybe a heavily protected 500 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: first or something like that if that's what they wanted 501 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: to do to make something like this happen. But I've 502 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 1: talked all this year about how the Rockets have a 503 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,439 Speaker 1: shot creation problem. I think they're a bit closer to 504 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: legit championship contention than people realize. They're so big and 505 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: physical on the perimeter, and that's just such an important 506 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: part of playoff basketball. Pressuring the ball, being physical, rebounding, 507 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: all those sorts of things are what carries you when 508 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: you get into the postseason and things get really ugly 509 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 1: and physical. The Rockets are the third best defense in 510 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: the league. They are the very best rebounding team in 511 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: the league. All of that translates to the upper levels 512 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: of competition. They're eleven and four this year against teams 513 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,399 Speaker 1: that are in the top ten in point differential. That 514 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: ranks just second in the league to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 515 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: They have the second best record in basketball against the 516 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: top ten teams in the league. They're top five in 517 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: both offense and defensive efficiency in those situations. There's a 518 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: lot of upside, but there's one big downside. Their offense 519 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: has had a tendency to break, especially in clutch situations. 520 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: They are twenty fifth in fourth quarter offensive rating and 521 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,919 Speaker 1: eighteenth in clutch offensive rating. They've dropped nine games in 522 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: the clutch this year, and in those nine losses, they've 523 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: had just a ninety four offensive rating in clutch time 524 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: in those games. There's been a pretty consistent through line 525 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: with their offense between the success of Fred van Vliet 526 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: and Jalen Green and whether or not they can win games. 527 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: When Jalen Green scores thirty or more points this year, 528 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: they're undefeated. I think he has eight thirty point games 529 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: this year. Just look back through their recent losses. When 530 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: they lost to Detroit, Fred van Vliet and Jalen Green 531 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 1: thirty nine total points on thirty six shots. The loss 532 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: of Sacramento, Fred van Vliet didn't play, although that was 533 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: more of a shootout between those two teams. The loss 534 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: of the Boston Celtics, fred van Vliet only had eight points. 535 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: The lost to Miami, fred Van Vliet and Jalen Green 536 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: combined for thirty five points and thirty seven shots. You 537 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 1: guys get the point. This is an elite, physical, playoff 538 00:26:55,680 --> 00:27:00,439 Speaker 1: built roster, but they have shaky perimeter shot creators, especially 539 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: when things show slow down at the end of games. 540 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 1: A Zach Lavine trade accomplishes two very important goals for 541 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: the Rockets One. It capitalizes on the short term opportunity 542 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,760 Speaker 1: while also maintaining the long term flexibility. In the short term, 543 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: Zach is just a much better offensive player than Fred 544 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: van Vliet. Fred is averaging fifteen points per game on 545 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: below forty percent from the field field goal percentage fifty 546 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: two percent true shooting. Zach Lavine has thirteen thirty point 547 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: games this year. That is four more than Fred and 548 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: Jalen have had combined. This season. Fred's had won, Jalen's 549 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: had eight, Zach Levin's had thirteen. He's averaging twenty four 550 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: points per game on sixty four percent true shooting. How 551 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: many players in the league this year do you think 552 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: there are better? Averaging at least twenty four points per 553 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: game on at least fifty percent from the field and 554 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 1: at least forty percent from three pretty low parameters. Twenty 555 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 1: four points per game fifty to forty. There's three guys 556 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: in the entire league, Nicole Jokich, Karl Anthony Towns, and 557 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 1: Zach Lavine. He is the type of offensive threat that 558 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: could give this group, this elite defensive and rebounding group, 559 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: real championship upside, especially in the context of how well 560 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: Jalen Green's been playing as of late. He's averaging twenty 561 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: nine points per game on fifty two percent from the 562 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: field forty nine percent from three to ninety two percent 563 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: from the line in his last nine games. Give Zach 564 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: and Jalen that type of group of athletes that defend 565 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: in that rebound and you have some real upside in 566 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,360 Speaker 1: the short term, the same upside that we've seen manifest 567 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: in this regular season as they've been beating a lot 568 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 1: of really good teams this year. So I really like 569 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: it as a short term gamble, but in the long run, 570 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: you're still staying committed to the long term potential of 571 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: this group. You're not trading Jalen Green, who's been playing great. 572 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: I talked about him the other day. Like Jalen Green, 573 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: to me, represents the kind of player that's really difficult 574 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: to give up on as like a bigger freaky athlete 575 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 1: show creator. There's this thing where like these small freaking 576 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: athlete guards that have a certain ceiling when they get 577 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 1: into the NBA. But when you're like Jalen Green, like 578 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: when you're over six ' four and you're freaky athletic 579 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: like that, it just comes with another layer of the 580 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: ability to get free from elite NBA defenders. And that's 581 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: really the thing that I noticed when I watch it. 582 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: When things get really tight, Jalen Green can get to 583 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: his spots, and he's got the ability to make shots, 584 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: as he's demonstrated in this recent stretch right and throughout 585 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: the season from time to time. Right. So, I like 586 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: Jalen Green as a guy that the Rockets should continue 587 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: to take a bet on, But you're giving up a 588 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: guy in Fred van Vliet that does not fit into 589 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: the long term potential of this group. Now, I've heard 590 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: some talk behind the scenes from people that think that 591 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: it's more likely that Houston tries to re up with 592 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: Fred at a discounted deal something in that like twenty 593 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: million dollar range for a certain number of years, and 594 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: maybe that's the direction they decide to go. I think 595 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: that's just as punting on this season. What I like 596 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: about the type of a deal that exactly deal does 597 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: for you is, yes, you take on one additional year 598 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: of salary over what the Fred van Vliet deal has, 599 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: but you might be able to first of all, you 600 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: might be able to negotiate a similar type of extension 601 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: with him that you could with Fred van Vliet. And 602 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: then secondly, you're not giving up any sort of big 603 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 1: picture asset that's going to alter the long term potential 604 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: of this team. So you're not including one of your 605 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 1: really nice young players like a Men Thompson, You're not 606 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: including massive amounts of first round draft compensation. You still 607 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: have the flexibility to make a home run trade for 608 00:30:34,360 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: somebody like Kevin Durant or something like that down the line. Hell, 609 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: you might be able to use Zach Lavine's salary to 610 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: pull that off if you end up in that position. 611 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 1: It is an instant upgrade that gives you the ability 612 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 1: to win in the context of this season while maintaining 613 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: the big picture flexibility you have as a team that 614 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: has a ton of potential, a team that's the second 615 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: seed in the West, with a ton of talent and 616 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: a ton of draft picks in the hopper ready to 617 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: go in the time incomes. I like that as a 618 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: deal that capitalizes on the short term potential while maintaining 619 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: the long term flexibility. All right, guys, that's all I 620 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: have for today. As always, I sincerely appreciate you guys 621 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: for supporting me and supporting the show. We'll be back 622 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: tomorrow with some really good game reaction content, several really 623 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 1: interesting NBA games on tonight. The Celtics are on the 624 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 1: road in Los Angeles against the Clippers. I think the 625 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 1: Warriors are on the road in Sacramento against the Kings. 626 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: I want to say it's Calves Rockets is another one 627 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: that we got. Like, there's a lot of really good games, 628 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 1: So we're going to switch back towards game reaction content tomorrow. 629 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 1: But that's all I have for you, guys. Appreciate it. 630 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: I'll see you tomorrow the volume. What's up guys? As always, 631 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,480 Speaker 1: I appreciate you for listening to and supporting OOPS tonight. 632 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 1: They would actually be really helpful for us if you 633 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: guys would take a second and leave a rating and 634 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, 635 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:53,959 Speaker 1: but if you could take a minute to do that, 636 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: I'd really appreciate it.