1 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: All right, welcome to the Jason Simp Podcast. Thank you 2 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: guys so much for taking time out of your day. 3 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: It's come talk some basketball with me. It has been 4 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: over two weeks since I have done one of these podcasts, 5 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: thanks to me coming down with COVID nineteen and uh, 6 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: I am happy to announce that even though statistically speaking, 7 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: I was, you know, always likely to be fine, I'm 8 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: happy to announce that it was mostly okay. Um. My 9 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: wife did end up coming down positive a few days 10 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: after me, and she was completely asymptomatic, which is wild 11 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: because she would have had no idea had it not 12 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 1: been for the fact that I got symptoms. Um. You know, uh, 13 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: I know most of you have had someone that you 14 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: know has had it, so I'm not bringing you any 15 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: new information here, but I I just came down with 16 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: some basic cold like symptoms last week on Tuesday. Um, 17 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: it really wasn't that bad. Usually when I get very sick, 18 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: I'm down and out for two or three days, and 19 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: then I'm back on my feet and everything's fine. This 20 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: was kind of like half as intense as that, not 21 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: quite as bad, but at the same time, it just 22 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: dragged on. I was I had a fever for two 23 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: or three days, and then I had this like lingering 24 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: fatigue that was crazy. If I got off the couch 25 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: for more than like, you know, five minutes or so, 26 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 1: I just had to go sit down. I slept more 27 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: than I ever have in my life. I'm usually the 28 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: kind of guy that sleeps maybe seven hours in a 29 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: day maybe, and instead I was sleeping you know, eight 30 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: or nine hours at night and then taking a two 31 00:01:54,600 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: or three hour nap every single um, every single afternoon. 32 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: And I just like I was just completely exhausted. It 33 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: was crazy how long it lasted. Um, But just about 34 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: um late in the day on Tuesday this week, and 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: then all day yesterday and then all day today. So 36 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: far I felt pretty much back to myself, which is 37 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: which is good news. And like I said, it's crazy. 38 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: It's easy to see how this stuff spreads around because 39 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: of the fact that, you know, my wife had it 40 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 1: and she's just completely fine. Um. And like I said, 41 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: never would have been a million years guests that she 42 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: had it if it wasn't for the fact that I 43 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: came down with it. Um. But anyway, I'm not gonna 44 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,399 Speaker 1: dwell on that for too long. I'm really really excited 45 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: to talk some basketball. There's so much to talk about. 46 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk about the Laker off season so far, 47 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: what we know, especially the Dennis Shrewder acquisition. We're gonna 48 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about my thoughts on what it 49 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: would be like if Harden went to Brooklyn. Then I'm 50 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: gonna talk a little bit about CP three to Phoenix, 51 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: and then what I think about the Milwaukee Bucks moving forward. 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: I'm not going to talk about Warriors too much today. Um, 53 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: there will be a conversation to have about what this 54 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 1: team looks like this year with Steph's uh you know, 55 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: Steph obviously taking on a much bigger workload with the 56 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: Clay Thompson injury. I just don't think today is the 57 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: day to have that conversation. I'm super bummed from my 58 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: friends who are Warriors fans. I'm super bummed for all 59 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: basketball fans. I personally was really really excited to see 60 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: them back and to see uh, you know what I 61 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: thought was gonna be an amazing showdown between Steph and 62 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: Lebron in the Western Conference finals, and I don't think 63 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: that's gonna happen anymore. Um, But like today, like I said, 64 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: today is not the day to talk about that. I 65 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: feel really really bad for for Warriors fans, just because 66 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: they deserved after what they went through last year, to have, 67 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, something to root for again. And most importantly, 68 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: and this is the biggest bummer to me, I was 69 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: always really bummed for Lebron in two thousand eighteen when 70 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: Kyrie went Kyrie on everybody and left. And I was 71 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: super bummed in twenty nineteen because I thought that Laker 72 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: team could have been good and they were so bogged 73 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 1: down with injuries, and I was very I thought it 74 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: was sad that a player who was an all time 75 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: great like Lebron had to miss out on two seasons 76 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: of his prime, you know, on teams that couldn't win. 77 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: And don't get me wrong, it was fun watching him, 78 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: and he had his moments last year, and he certainly 79 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: had his moments in two thousand eighteen. But you know, 80 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: for a guy who's wired the way he's wired, who 81 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: all he cares about his winning championships, it sucks that 82 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: his age thirty three and his age thirty four seasons 83 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: were basically wasted and and it's it's just unfortunate, and 84 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: that's basically what's happening to Steph here because of the 85 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: hand injury and the Clay Thompson injury last year, and 86 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: then because of the Clay Thompson injury again this year, 87 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: a small guard who's likely to age out of the 88 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: league faster than a normal superstar level player is going 89 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: to miss two full years of his prime. And I 90 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: just think that that's really really unfortunate. And and as 91 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: basketball fans, I think we should all be, you know, 92 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: pretty bummed out about that. But you don't have to 93 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: hear that for me. I know you guys already feel 94 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: that way. But let's start with the Lakers. So I'm 95 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: gonna start with Dennis Shrewder because you know it, personally, 96 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: it wasn't the exact player that I wanted with that 97 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: type of trade I was. I was higher on Spencer 98 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: din Witty than most people. Um. I know that the 99 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: three names that got tossed around the most were Shrewder, 100 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: Spencer din Witty, and Victor Oladipo. And Victor Oladipo was 101 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: concerned about his health, and then with Shrewder, I was 102 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: more just concerned about the way his style of play 103 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: would fit with the Lakers. And I'll explain what I 104 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: mean by that in just a second as a good thing. 105 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: It was. It didn't cost the Lakers anything. They lost 106 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: that draft pick, which was a late first round draft pick, 107 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: which if if you follow anything that I believe about basketball, 108 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: I don't believe that young players can really contribute to 109 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: winning at this age. And I think that, you know, 110 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: whatever they get out of Shure is going to be 111 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: ten times greater than what they would get out of 112 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: any player that was available at that point in the draft. 113 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: So the draft pick wasn't really worth that much. And 114 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 1: then Danny Green was way under performing his contracts. So 115 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: from that standpoint, giving up Danny Green and the what 116 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: was it the overall pick that was never ever going 117 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: to be a uh you know, it's it's easy to 118 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: win that trade, so to speak, because the Lakers weren't 119 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 1: giving up much of value. Um that said, you know, 120 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: I preferred Din Witty just because of the way that 121 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: the Lakers are structured. The Lakers are structured as a 122 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: team that plays a lot of average to below average shooters. Now, 123 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: they had games in the postseason where they shot really well, 124 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: but if you had to actually describe the Lakers as 125 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: a shooting team, you would describe them as like average 126 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: to below average, like somewhere in that fifteen to twenty 127 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: group in the NBA, And then they always played two bigs, 128 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: especially in the regular season, and even when they would 129 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: go smaller in the in the postseason, they were playing 130 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: Mark Keith Morris, who was basically a big anyway. So 131 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: from that standpoint, they weren't a great spacing team. They 132 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: made up for that spacing with their physicality, but they 133 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: were never a great team for driving lanes. And Dennis 134 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: Shrewder's game is predicated on driving to the basket with 135 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: his speed. And that's not to say that he won't 136 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: still have success with the Lakers, and I believe he will. 137 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: But the reason why I personally was higher on din 138 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: Witty was because din Witty is more of like a C. J. 139 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: McCollum esque super skilled player who his expertise is operating 140 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: in situations that there's not much space. And so that's 141 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: why I personally preferred that move. That said shrewders who 142 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: they got. So let's talk about what that looks like. 143 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: He's he's got great length at the guard position and athleticism. 144 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: He's not super tall, but he's tall enough. And uh, 145 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: he just flat out as a good defensive player and 146 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: he was in Oklahoma City. So that's great news in 147 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: the sense that it fits into the Lakers scheme, even 148 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: more so than either of the other two guards Oladipo 149 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: and and Din Witty. He's a great defensive player. He 150 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: will fit into the Lakers defensive scheme and their defensive brand, 151 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: which is everybody on this team who goes onto the 152 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: court works their ass off on the defensive end of 153 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: the floor, as we saw with uh With Dion Waiters, 154 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: he just flat out fell out of the rotation in 155 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: the postseason because Frank Vogel didn't trust him on the 156 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: defensive end of the floor. So that is where you know, 157 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: Schroeder is a natural fit. And then as far as 158 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: shot creation goes, I talked a lot last year and 159 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: it was my biggest concern with Rondo. The biggest thing 160 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: that they needed was somebody who can bring the ball 161 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: up the floor when Lebron was off the floor or 162 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: when Lebron was taking his on court rest. You know, 163 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: Lebron loves those stretches of the game where he's not 164 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: necessarily doing as much even though he's on the court 165 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: because he's trying to get his rest while he's playing. 166 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: You need a backup creator, and we all know that 167 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis is not quite that guy yet. He's not 168 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: a good enough passer out of double teams in the 169 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: post to really kill teams um consistently as a primary initiator, 170 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: so that we always knew that the Lakers needed that 171 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: backup guard. Now they kind of did it by committee 172 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: when Rondo was out with injury, and Avery Bradley did 173 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: really good in that role. You know, Crusoe was up 174 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: and down, but he had his moments and uh, what 175 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: really came together for the Lakers in the postseason was 176 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: Rondo had some big games in that role. So Truder 177 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: slides right into that role as a guy who is 178 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 1: a natural, uh who's used to that specific role to 179 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: as a sixth man, a guy who comes in, you know, 180 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: off the bench, you know, and is used to not 181 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: starting the game in a rhythm and trying to get 182 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: his rhythm in short order as he checks into the game. 183 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: So that's a natural fit. Like I said, my only 184 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: concerns are just that the Lakers are not a great 185 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: spacing team, so it's not going to be as easy 186 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: for him to find driving lanes as it was when 187 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: he was in Oklahoma City, But then again, Oklahoma City 188 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: wasn't the greatest spacing team either, and he had a 189 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: great season. And then the other thing is just his 190 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: jump shooting. So he shot great last year in Oklahoma City, 191 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: but for the rest of his career he's been a 192 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: below average jump shooter and a pretty bad one at 193 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: some points. So the question becomes at this point, as 194 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: a twenty seven year old NBA player, was last year 195 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: an outlier or is that what the new Dennis shooter 196 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: is as a jump shooter, and that that totally remains 197 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: to be seen. So because I think it's what's going 198 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: to be important is in the minutes where Lebron is 199 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: on the court and he is engaged in the offense, 200 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: Dennis is gonna have to knock down corner threes. Dennis 201 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: is gonna have to uh command enough respect as a 202 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: spot up jump shooter that he can attack close outs 203 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: and do things along those lines. So it's it's very 204 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: important for him to replicate his jump shooting from last season. 205 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: And and and then my last concern is that Denis Trier 206 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: is what I would call a you know, uh, he's 207 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: a tunnel vision score as a sixth man. And from 208 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: that standpoint, what I mean is he will pass, but 209 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: only when he needs to, and he will pass only 210 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: when the defense essentially forces him to. He does not 211 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 1: get a lot of assists for the amount of usage 212 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: that he has in the minutes that he's playing. He 213 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: is a put my head down, go to the rim. 214 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: I'm trying to score, and if I absolutely have to 215 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: give it up, I will. The only thing that's kind 216 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 1: of unfortunate about that is his bench minutes are likely 217 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: going to be played with Anthony Davis, who's, in my opinion, 218 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: the fourth best player in the world. So you'd like 219 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: to ideally have a player who's a little bit more 220 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: of a natural facilitator in that role, someone who can 221 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: keep Anthony Davis engaged and get him quality looks. So again, 222 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: those are my pros and cons there. It was a 223 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: super low risk move because the Lakers did not give 224 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: up Kyle Kuzma, they did not give up Alex Caruso, 225 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: they did not empty their trade asset trove. They gave 226 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: up like two They gave up a basically salary filler 227 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: in Danny Green, and one UH one draft pick that 228 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: probably wouldn't help them much anyway, so it's it's a 229 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: low risk move. It could still work out. I'm just 230 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,760 Speaker 1: sharing with you guys why I'm a little skeptical and 231 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: why I'll be with the kinds of things that I'll 232 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: be paying attention to when he actually starts playing. So 233 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: a couple other Lakers things. JaVale McGee opted into his 234 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: contract at just over four million, which is a pretty 235 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 1: big number for what he brings to the table. I 236 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: think he has to be traded. I thought that one 237 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: of my biggest concerns with the Lakers last year was 238 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: that they didn't seem to have the stomach to tell 239 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: JaVale McGhee to sit, and more often than not they 240 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: ended up and key playoff moments trying to go to 241 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: him and then finally relenting as he was getting eaten 242 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: alive by Nicola Yoki or whoever it was that he 243 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: was going against. He's just not a very good NBA player, 244 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: and the Lakers were always better off going small or 245 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: playing a small center than they were playing JaVale McGee. 246 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: So having him on the roster, given his ego, given 247 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: how much he cares about playing time, I don't think 248 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 1: it's good for them to keep him around the locker 249 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: room too much. You're heading into a season where you're 250 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: trying to defend the title. You're dealing with egos, you're 251 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: dealing with the disease of more, You're you're dealing with 252 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: all the classic things that teams that just won the 253 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: championship deal with if ideally you'd like to not have 254 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: a guy like that around, and so I hope that 255 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: they can find some way to move him, and I 256 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: think it would probably be attached to Kuzma and some 257 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: type of deal for a wing because I kind of 258 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: had similar feelings about Kuzma in the sense that you're 259 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: gonna probably lose him for nothing because he doesn't bring 260 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: enough to the table to justify the kind of contract 261 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: he's going to get. So why not just get off 262 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: of those guys for guys who will be natural fits, 263 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: who will you know, be good contributions to the locker room, 264 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: who will be, you know, veteran pieces that can at 265 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: least provide some positive role when they do play, but 266 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: at the same time be professionals when they don't play. 267 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: The Lakers were literally just giving JaVale McGee minutes on 268 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: the idea that he was going to get grouchy if 269 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: they didn't play him, and that's that, to me, is 270 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: just not something that a team that has championship aspirations 271 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: should be dealing with. Um. There's been some talk about 272 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: whether or not Avery Bradley really fits into the rotation 273 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: moving forward, because the Laker fans are excited about potentially 274 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: getting Wesley Matthews, which I'm extremely excited about. I think 275 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: he's a much better version of Danny Green. He's a 276 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: much better on ball defender. He's very laterally quick, he's 277 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: very good in the ball pressure role that the Lakers 278 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: use so much as the the baseline scheme in their defense. 279 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: And so if Wesley Matthews comes in and Dennis Shrewder's 280 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: coming in, and Alex Crusoe is going to play and 281 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: uh and contagious call while Pope is going to play, 282 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: you've got four guards there. So the natural, you know, Inclintion, 283 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: is to think that Avery Bradley is not as important anymore. 284 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: But I entirely disagree. I think that he's one of 285 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: the few guards on that Laker roster who's every bit 286 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: as good offensively as he is defensively. And the Lakers 287 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: are always the type of team that at any given 288 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: moment can shift down and play small. They can put 289 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: Lebron James at the four and Anthony Davis at the five, 290 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: and now it's not two guards, it's three guards. And 291 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: so from that standpoint, having Avery Bradley as a fifth 292 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: guard is super important in their death. And then above 293 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: and beyond that, just injuries. Just over the course of 294 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: the season, guys are gonna go down with injuries. You're 295 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: gonna have load manage from the Lakers as they're trying 296 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: to watch minutes because of just how quick the turnaround is. 297 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: And so I think it's so important for them to 298 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: have that fifth card. Depth is going to be especially 299 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: important for the Lakers. Yes, well their rotations. Will their 300 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: rotation shrink in the playoffs, Sure, but they're about to 301 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: play seventy two games in short order after just taking 302 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: two months off from a championship runs. So you're gonna 303 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: have guys like Contavio's called baal Pope when he has 304 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: n tendonitis need to sit out for three or four 305 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: games in a row. Same thing. Alex Crusoe has had 306 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: some back issues in the past. So, like it's so 307 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: important to have that guard depth that I think you 308 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: have to at least try within reason to bring Avery 309 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: Bradley back. The only case where you wouldn't do so 310 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: is if he ends up getting some crazy offer in 311 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: free agency that just takes you out of the mid 312 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: level exception type range. UH for a guy like Serge PoCA, 313 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: that would be the one time that I would not 314 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: be okay with with overpaying for Avery Bradley. But if 315 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: you can get them, if you can bring it back, 316 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: even if you got to give them a little bit 317 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: of a raise, I think you gotta do that. So 318 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 1: the last Laker thing I want to talk about is 319 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: this uh mid level exception and Sergebaca as a potential signing. 320 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 1: So for those of you who don't understand the hard cap, 321 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: and I only barely understand it, But when you have 322 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: these these exceptions, which are essentially loopholes in the c 323 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: b A that allow you to sign a player going 324 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: over the salary cap as long as you stay within 325 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: certain parameters, and then there are a bunch of additional 326 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: rules that come into play, and one of them is 327 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: the hard cap. So if they use enough of their 328 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: mid level exception, if they cross a certain threshold, it 329 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: triggers a hard cap, I think at like a hundred 330 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: and thirty two million or a hundred and thirty six million, 331 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: where you literally cannot sign anybody, even if it's a 332 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: veteran minimum contract, which severely limits your flexibility later in 333 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: the season when a situation like what happened last year 334 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: with the r Keith Morris, where a player comes down 335 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: the pipeline who gets waived by another team and is 336 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: available to join the Lakers on a veteran minimum contract 337 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: and he ends up playing a big role, plays huge 338 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: postseason minutes like closing lineups in the NBA Finals, and 339 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: that's a player that they signed with the veteran minimum. 340 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: So if you dip into the hard cap, if you 341 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: dip into the exception so far that it triggers the 342 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,880 Speaker 1: hard cap, you limit your flexibility later in the season 343 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: when these buyout guys come down the pipeline. So from 344 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: that standpoint, the only player that I think is worth 345 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,199 Speaker 1: triggering the hardcap for is Serge Baca, because Serge Ibaka 346 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: is such a ceiling razor for this team because he 347 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: is every bit as good defensively as a as a 348 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,879 Speaker 1: Dwight Howard or as a JaVale McGee was for the 349 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: Lakers last year, but he can also shoot the ball 350 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: and he's far more competent as an offensive player. Plus 351 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: he's had huge moments in huge playoff series. He was 352 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: amazing for the Raptors when they won the title in 353 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen. Surge Baca is an excellent back of 354 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: NBA player. He instantly gives the Lakers by far the 355 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: best starting lineup in the n b A. He is 356 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 1: a he is a can't miss opportunities. So if Sergebaka 357 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: comes to the Lakers, and I believe, if I believe, 358 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 1: the way that it would work is is the Lakers 359 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,719 Speaker 1: would be able to offer him like three years, twenty 360 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: seven million or something along those lines. Again, don't quote 361 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: me on that. I am not a cap expert. I'm 362 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: very average in my knowledge of the cat. But if 363 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: they signed him for three years and twenty seven million 364 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: and he comes to the table, it triggers your hard cap. However, 365 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: at that point your depth cerns. Later on in the season, 366 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: you're basically saying to yourself that you would rather have 367 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: Serge Baca and what he brings to the table. Then 368 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: whoever could potentially come down the pipeline in the future. 369 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: And so he's the one guy that I think that's 370 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: worth it. If if if search Abaca is off the table, 371 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: then you dip into that exception to bring back to 372 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: White and to bring back Avery Bradley or whatever it is. 373 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: And you stop right at that five million number or 374 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: whatever it is that doesn't trigger the hardcap, and you 375 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: just play it safe and you hope that something comes 376 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: down the pipeline in the future when the when the 377 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,320 Speaker 1: buyout candidates start coming to the surface. But the surge 378 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: Ibaka is the only guy that I would trigger that 379 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 1: four you can get. You guys can only imagine all 380 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: of the basketball things they could do with the Baka 381 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: and with Anthony Davis together. Anthony Davis is on the bench. 382 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: Now they can go five out and Lebron can have 383 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: all of his driving lanes, Dennis Schroeder can have all 384 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: of his driving lanes. Anthony Davis is on the floor. 385 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: There two bigs there shot blocking all over the floor, 386 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 1: and you can do high low actions with Ibaka and 387 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis. You can have Anthony Davis spot up. You 388 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: can have Sergebaka spot up and have Anthony Davis work 389 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: on the low block. As you guys remember last year, 390 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: there were all of these plays or Anthony Davis is 391 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: trying to work from the post and Dwight Howard is 392 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: just camping in the dunker spot and his man's just 393 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: not even guarding him. And Anthony Davis wasn't a gifted 394 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: enough passer to really, you know, draw that guy a 395 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: little closer, to throw lobs to Dwight or any of 396 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 1: that stuff. So it kind of hampered the ability of 397 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis to be a post up player. Sergebaca completely 398 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: solves that problem. In addition to just depth, at that point, 399 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: you're talking about between Lebron, Kyle Kuzma, Sergebaka, Dwight Howard, 400 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis, you're talking about just a bunch of front 401 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: court depth of really good NBA players. So, like I said, 402 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: uh Ibaka is the only player that I would trigger 403 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 1: the hardcap for. Alright, let's move on to this potential 404 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 1: James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets trade that has been discussed, 405 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: And first and foremost, if I was Houston, I would 406 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: just bring Harden and Westbrook back to camp because they 407 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,159 Speaker 1: don't really have anything that they can gain here. The 408 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: amount of talent that would be on that Brooklyn team, 409 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 1: Especially for as good of a regular season player as 410 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: James Harden is, It's hard to imagine them conveying really 411 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: high quality picks anyway over the over the next few years. 412 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: I don't like it at all. UH And if for Houston, 413 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, Harden has to guaranteed years on his contract, 414 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,919 Speaker 1: and the third the third year guarante UH player option 415 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: is like almost fifty millions, So why in the world 416 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: would he turn that down anyway? So realistically, you've got 417 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: three years of control of James Harden anyway. The same 418 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: thing goes for Russell Westbrook. You hold the cards. I 419 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: do believe in player empowerment. I understand the arguments for why. 420 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: I understand the arguments for why. You know, like the 421 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: NBA owners can ship players off in the middle of 422 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: their contracts all the time. I agree with all of that. 423 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: I just also believe that the team has the right 424 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 1: to flex their muscles within the scope of what the 425 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: cb A allows. So you know, James Harden absolutely is 426 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: within his rights to demand a trade to UH to Brooklyn, 427 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: but he has to understand that his leverage is less 428 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: than that of a player. In his final year, Anthony 429 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:32,159 Speaker 1: Davis tried to force his way out of out of 430 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: New Orleans, but they didn't trade him until he had 431 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: one year left because at that point the leverage shifted 432 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: in the sense that the Pelicans could have lost him 433 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: for nothing. That's not the situation Houston is in that 434 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: there there's there's always an understanding that leverage is a 435 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: moving scale, and in this case, the leverage is in 436 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 1: the hands of Houston. So if they want to look 437 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: these guys in the face and say, hey, come to 438 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,720 Speaker 1: training camp like we're not just gonna uh, we're not 439 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: gonna do this right now, then they have every right 440 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: to do that. And and then Harden and Westbrook are 441 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: in the situation where if they choose not to play, 442 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 1: they could be in you know, they could be in 443 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 1: a situation where they don't get paid, and they could 444 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: be in a situation where the contract is automatically voided. 445 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: I know, you guys remember some of this from the 446 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard fiasco when he threatened not to play if 447 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 1: he got traded to certain teams when he was with 448 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: the Spurs. So like from a player empowerment standpoint, I 449 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,360 Speaker 1: would just I I understand and give them the right. 450 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: I just if I was Houston, I'd bring them back. Now, 451 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: let's pretend that Brooklyn and Houston have come to some 452 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,479 Speaker 1: sort of agreement and they're going to make this trade. 453 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: I am one of the few people out there who 454 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: doesn't really understand why everybody would be that intimidated by 455 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: that particular Brooklyn Nets team, and that UH that for me, 456 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: UH comes down to just the way that I believe 457 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 1: teams win NBA championships. You guys have heard me talk 458 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: about this literally million times, but the UH, I believe 459 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,239 Speaker 1: that there is a there are certain pillars that a 460 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: team needs to win an NBA championship. You need elite, 461 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: high end offensive creation that can create offense against elite 462 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: defenses that you will inevitably face as you get to 463 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: later playoff rounds. That's one, and then two, you need 464 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: elite defensive versatility, so you need the ability to guard 465 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: those high end offensive teams to the best of your ability. 466 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: And then third and finally, you need I talked about 467 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: this all the time, you need an alpha, somebody that 468 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: can go head to head with the other stars in 469 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: the league, look them in the face, understand in their 470 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: head that they can beat them, go toe to toe 471 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: with them and win that matchup in any given head 472 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: to head matchup. A great example of that is Jimmy 473 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: Butler versus Janis Antenna Coumbo. Jimmy Butler is not as 474 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: good of a basketball player as Janice Antenna Cumbo, but 475 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: Jimmy is an Alpha and Jimmy was able to go 476 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: head to head against the Honest in close playoff games 477 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: at the end when everything was up in the air, 478 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 1: and he was able to take the Honest down in 479 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: that head to head matchup. So as long as you 480 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: have those three basses covered, I believe you can win 481 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: a championship. And when it comes to that Brooklyn Nets 482 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: team as currently constructed, they have two of those boxes 483 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 1: checked really well. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are are 484 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: two of the very best playoff elite offensive creators that 485 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: we have in the game today, and they are two 486 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 1: of the very best alpha's. I have seen Kyrie Irving 487 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,719 Speaker 1: look Steph Curry in the face and be better than 488 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: him in an NBA Finals playoff series. I have seen 489 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant look Lebron James in the face and be 490 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: every bit as good as Lebron James in a playoff series, 491 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: in an NBA Finals series. So from that standpoint, they 492 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 1: already of the alpha's and they already have the elite 493 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: offensive creation. Harden is a redundancy in that regard. They don't. 494 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 1: He's not even as much of an Alpha as the 495 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: other two. And then more offensive creation isn't what they 496 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: need where they are where they are coming up short 497 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: in these matchups. Right in my head, as I'm envisioning 498 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: a Brooklyn Nets run to the title, They're going to 499 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 1: eventually run into Miami. They're gonna run into Philadelphia, They're 500 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: gonna run into Milwaukee. All of these teams that can 501 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: defend the hell out of the basketball, and if they 502 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: don't have the ability to do that, they won't be 503 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 1: able to outscore them over the course of a series 504 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 1: because those teams also have elite offensive talent. Those teams 505 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: have the things that they need to create enough offense 506 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: that if they get into a rock fight with Brooklyn, 507 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 1: they can win. But Brooklyn has absolutely nothing in the 508 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: way of elite defensive versatility. Kevin Durant is an average 509 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: deep pensive player who has never shown the ability to 510 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: really take command to that end of the floor. He 511 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,640 Speaker 1: did it in two thousand seventeen with Golden State, but 512 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: he was on a team that was already a top 513 00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:15,640 Speaker 1: tier first or second best defensive team in the league, 514 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: and he was sliding into a role. Now he's the 515 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 1: best defensive player on his team, and now he has 516 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: to set the tone on that end, and now the 517 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: entire team is going to go as he goes. That's 518 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,399 Speaker 1: an entirely different role than what he was doing in 519 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen in Golden State. And now you're bringing 520 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: in James Harden, who is probably like one of the 521 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 1: worst defensive superstars that we've seen in the history of 522 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: the league. He's there there. There was a little bit 523 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: of a of a a reputation repair that they did 524 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: trying to say he was a good post up defender, 525 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: but his overall focus and effort on that end has 526 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: never been there. And then Kyrie Irving same thing. He 527 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: had some he had some moments in two thousand sixteen 528 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: with the Calves, but for the most part has been 529 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: a bad defensive player. So, in my opinion, the Nets 530 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: are much better off letting James Harden go. Let him 531 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: be miserable in Houston, let Philly trade for them or 532 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 1: trade for them or something along those lines, and find 533 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 1: a way to leverage your assets into versatile defensive players. 534 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: Try to trade for p J. Tucker, try to like 535 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: sign every conceivable wing that you can so that you 536 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 1: can have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving focus on what 537 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: they're best at, which is scoring the basketball and staring 538 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: these other alpha's in the face and potentially being better 539 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 1: than them. That is the pathway to a Brooklyn Nets title. 540 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 1: Not foregoing all of your depth and flexibility for another 541 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: star that is redundant, That doesn't that doesn't bring anything 542 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: different to the table that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving 543 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: already bring to the table. So I think they're on 544 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 1: the verge of potentially making a catastrophic mistake. Now, who 545 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: knows it's I've been wrong before. I'd be the first 546 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: person to admit it if it ends up in a 547 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: different direction. But the the and when I'm laying these 548 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: scenarios out in my head, it seems far more likely 549 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,719 Speaker 1: that they'll have success if they follow a proven method 550 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: of winning titles, which is find a way to defend, 551 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: find a way to create shots against teams that defend 552 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: and have a guy that can look the other team's 553 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 1: guy in the face and be better than him. That's 554 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 1: the way you win, alright. Moving on to UM, this 555 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: U two quick ones, this CP three to Phoenix and 556 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: then the Milwaukee Bucks. So with CP three in Phoenix, 557 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: UM I, I love this trade, and I was really 558 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:39,520 Speaker 1: disappointed in Milwaukee for not going after CP three, especially 559 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: given what they did decided to give up for Drew 560 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 1: Holiday because, like I said when I did my podcast 561 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, of the top ten players 562 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 1: in the NBA, our top fIF team players, I think 563 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: Chris Paul is in that you know, third or fourth 564 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: tier of stars and is one of the best players 565 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: in the league. Still the second team All NBA this year. 566 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: He's an automatic, massive talent infusion into any roster, and 567 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: he only has two years left on his contract, so 568 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: there was no reason in the world to be scared 569 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: of that contract and not be scared of a Drew 570 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,160 Speaker 1: Holiday contract or any of these other contracts that are 571 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 1: out there. He at this point, he's one year away 572 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: from being an expiring deal that can be flipped for 573 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: cap space, and so so Phoenix gets him. They give 574 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: up Ricky Rubio, who would have been a redundancy next 575 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: to CP three. Anyway, they give up Kelly Ubre, which 576 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 1: I like Kelly Ubre. He's a player that I hope 577 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 1: ends up in l A. He's a great player. But 578 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: with the rise of Cam Johnson as a three D 579 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: player and with Michael Bridges, they didn't need Kelly Hubre 580 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: as much and uh uh, and then then they can 581 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: build around DeAndre and Devin Booker too. So I think 582 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,640 Speaker 1: this automatically puts them right beneath the two l A teams. Now, 583 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 1: given that Golden State has been essentially you know, if 584 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about them in another day, but they've 585 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: been essentially taken out of the mix here. I think 586 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 1: CP three, even Booker and DeAndre Ayton, is that that's 587 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: the third most talent in the Western Conference behind the 588 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: two l A teams. So it's a no brainer. You're 589 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: automatically putting yourself right there in the mix. CP three 590 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: is an alpha that can go toe to toe with 591 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: any of these stars. You've got lots of defensive versatility 592 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 1: with Cam Johnson, Michail Bridges, DeAndre eight and Chris Paul, 593 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: Devin Booker, is gonna have to learn how to defend. 594 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: That's the best That's the best part about this particular 595 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: move is we're now finally going to get to see 596 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: what Devin Booker looks like in a winning role on 597 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: a winning team. We're gonna get to see how much 598 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: he can impact winning, you know, on a night tonight 599 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: basis in the regular season and then and then again 600 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,479 Speaker 1: in the postseason. This is where we find out if 601 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: Devin Bookers the seventeenth best player in the league or 602 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:47,480 Speaker 1: the seventh best player in the league. So that's the 603 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: exciting part as a basketball fan, is getting to see 604 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 1: what he can bring to the table, last of not 605 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: least the Milwaukee Bucks. So there's a lot up in 606 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: the air here because, as you guys have heard, there 607 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: have been some reports coming out from uh some a 608 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: lot of NBA writers that the a bunch of executives 609 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: around the league are upset that this was a potential 610 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:17,120 Speaker 1: tampering incident involving bog Down Bogdanovich. And you know, let's 611 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 1: just I I have heard that this is a cover 612 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:23,719 Speaker 1: up from somebody who works at the athletic and so 613 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: I'm under the impression that this is gonna eventually get done. 614 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 1: And there's been a lot of talk Sham Sherannia called 615 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,480 Speaker 1: it a super team. There's been a lot of talk 616 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 1: from you know, Bucks fans of of this being you know, uh, 617 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: this being a monumental success. And don't get me wrong, 618 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: it is a monumental success in the sense that reports 619 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: are showing that Janice is planning on resigning. So that's awesome, 620 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:51,800 Speaker 1: And on behalf of all of NBA fans, I'm happy 621 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: for Milwaukee fans that they're going to get to hopefully 622 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: keep your honest now as a result of all of this. 623 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: And if that if it costs all those X, who cares. 624 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,479 Speaker 1: You're not trading those picks for Drew Holiday. You're trading 625 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: those picks for uh, for Jhannice, Antenna Coompo, Andrew Holiday. 626 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,520 Speaker 1: It's kind of like what happened with the Clippers. Everybody's like, oh, 627 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: they paid all this stuff for Paul George. No they didn't. 628 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 1: They paid all that stuff for Paul George and for 629 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: Kawhi Leonard because he wasn't coming unless they got all 630 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: of George. So you gotta look at the total package 631 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: of what they were able to put together by making 632 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 1: these deals. But let's go back to what I talked 633 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: about earlier in the proven ways to win a championship, 634 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:34,400 Speaker 1: the three pillars that you have to build a team around. 635 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:39,439 Speaker 1: Milwaukee was already an elite offensive team or defensive team. 636 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: Excuse me. They were the best defensive team in the 637 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:44,800 Speaker 1: league last year by defensive rating, although I would argue 638 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: that l A was The Lakers were a better team 639 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 1: on the defensive end, but they had that that that 640 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: base is covered. Then from the from the standpoint of 641 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:58,799 Speaker 1: an alpha dog, you know, Janice has been outplayed in 642 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:02,280 Speaker 1: his last two playoff by other Alpha Dogs, but theoretically 643 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 1: Janice can fill that role. But their biggest problem was 644 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:13,959 Speaker 1: elite high end offensive creation. A guy that can when 645 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,640 Speaker 1: things really bogged down in the half court of a 646 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: late round playoff series against the Lakers against a Clippers, 647 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: against the Philadelphia, against the Boston, against the Miami, against 648 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn. Who if they've managed to figure out the 649 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,919 Speaker 1: defensive end. A guy that can in those half court 650 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 1: settings consistently generate quality offense. And that's what got them 651 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:40,280 Speaker 1: killed against Miami, and that's what got them killed against Toronto. 652 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 1: So the question I have for you guys is how 653 00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 1: does Drew Holiday instead of George Hill and Bogdan Bogdanovich 654 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: instead of Eric Bledsoe solve that problem? It doesn't. They 655 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 1: have the exact same flaw today that they had last season. 656 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,840 Speaker 1: They just have marginally better versions of the players that 657 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: were already feeling those roles. If anything, Eric Bledsoe wasn't 658 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,360 Speaker 1: as good as an offensive player as bog Don, but 659 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,920 Speaker 1: he's a much better defensive player. So there's a give 660 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,800 Speaker 1: and take to all of this stuff. So my worry 661 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:14,920 Speaker 1: for Bucks fans is they're going to find themselves in 662 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:18,719 Speaker 1: the exact same situation in this next playoff run that 663 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: they were in the previous two, even if this Bogdan 664 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: Bogdanovitch deal goes through. And that's why it was so 665 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 1: much smarter for them just to give a little fewer 666 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: assets for Chris Paul, You're you have the same issue 667 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 1: with a long contract, You have the same issue with 668 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,399 Speaker 1: having to give up some form of assets to get 669 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 1: the deal done, but you get a much better player 670 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:45,040 Speaker 1: who actually fills that role of a lead offensive creation 671 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:49,040 Speaker 1: and a better alpha and another option at an alpha 672 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 1: who could go ahead to head to head with these 673 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:52,800 Speaker 1: guys in these playoffs series, So I thought it was 674 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:58,880 Speaker 1: a catastrophic mistake from Milwaukee going that route. Now there's 675 00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: one scenario where this could all be pointless and the 676 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: Bucks could be absolutely fine, and that is the scenario 677 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 1: where Chris Paul excuse me, where Jannis Antenna Kumpo finally 678 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: takes that leap and becomes that guy. If Johannas Antenna 679 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 1: Cumpo becomes an elite, high end offensive creator, and if 680 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,439 Speaker 1: he becomes the alpha that can go head to head 681 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:26,880 Speaker 1: with a Lebron or with a Kauai, or with the 682 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler or with the Ben Simmons or whoever it 683 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:34,400 Speaker 1: is and and beat them, then he then that solves 684 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,320 Speaker 1: both of those problems and all of a sudden, Milwaukee 685 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 1: becomes a bona fide contender. But my question is when 686 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,239 Speaker 1: in NBA history have we seen that big of a 687 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: leap in one summer, a shortened summer at that, Because 688 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,799 Speaker 1: not only was you, honest, not that guy last year, 689 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:55,759 Speaker 1: he's not even close to that guy in his last 690 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:58,240 Speaker 1: two playoff series, is that he's been eliminated. He averaged 691 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:02,000 Speaker 1: twenty three points against Toronto, twenty two points against Miami. 692 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 1: That's not a, Uh, that's not even like you know, 693 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:09,319 Speaker 1: look at Jayson Tatum, who was considered a middle of 694 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: the pack superstar in this playoff run. Even he was 695 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 1: getting twenty six points a game, you know, he was 696 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:18,560 Speaker 1: performing at a much higher level as an offensive creator 697 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:22,040 Speaker 1: than Janice was. So my worry would be, how in 698 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:24,160 Speaker 1: the world is that going to change over the span 699 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:27,399 Speaker 1: of three months or whatever it's been since Johanna's last 700 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:30,400 Speaker 1: played basketball, And how is that not just going to 701 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 1: be the exact same problem in this next postseason run. 702 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 1: So that's why I thought they should have gone after 703 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 1: CP three. I thought it was a big mistake already. 704 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 1: That's all I have for today, So I have uh, 705 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 1: two other podcasts on the schedule as of right now. 706 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 1: I have uh probably next week Roger is gonna come 707 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 1: on and we're gonna do basically just a reaction to 708 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,360 Speaker 1: all of the Laker postseason moves, assuming at that point 709 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 1: by the end of next week or so, that um, 710 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:00,640 Speaker 1: that all of the the dust will have settled on 711 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:03,680 Speaker 1: this off season. Uh. And then I was supposed to 712 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:05,719 Speaker 1: last week on Thursday, but covid gotten the way. I 713 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,040 Speaker 1: was planning on doing a special, little just for fun 714 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:12,000 Speaker 1: Star Wars Pod with my buddy Jackson. I'm gonna be 715 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: working on rescheduling him that with him probably early next week. 716 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,799 Speaker 1: But as usual, thank you guys so much for tuning in. 717 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 1: The numbers that have come from these things have been 718 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:26,240 Speaker 1: amazing and I'm so uh you know, shocked and honestly 719 00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:28,600 Speaker 1: just thankful that you guys care enough to take time 720 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:31,359 Speaker 1: to listen. Um, but enjoy the next couple of days. 721 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure we're gonna have lots of news pop up 722 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:36,400 Speaker 1: and like I said, until next time. Thanks guys,