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In l A visit www dot 20 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: m D gambling help dot org in Maryland dial one 21 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: eight seven seven eight Hope and Why, or text hope 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: and Why to four six seven three six nine in 23 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: New York, called one five to two four seven zero 24 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: zero in Wyoming, or visit www Dot one gambler dot 25 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: net in West Virginia. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight, 26 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: presented by Fan Duel here at the Volume. Happy Thursday, everybody, 27 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: Happy Trade deadline Day. We are live on AMP. Don't 28 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: forget if you're watching this on YouTube or the podcast 29 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: fee that AMP is the very first place that you 30 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: guys can get this analysis. We're gonna be breaking down 31 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: the trade deadline at least three biggest moves and maybe 32 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: some more as well. We have two special things going 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: on today. First of all, we are going to be 34 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: giving away some free merch based on a trivia question 35 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: that I think is very interesting. We're gonna be doing 36 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: that at the tail end of the show, so stick around. 37 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: We'll be asking the question, and the very first person 38 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: to get that question right in the chat is going 39 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: to get some free volume merch. And we have a 40 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: very special guest today, somebody that I have admired and 41 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: respected from a distance for a very long time, and 42 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: that I'm very excited to talk basketball with today um 43 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: senior writer for Sports Illustrated and host of Three Points 44 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: Here at the volume, Mr Chris Mannix, Welcome to the show. 45 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: My guy, how are you? I'm good man. How you doing? 46 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: I'm doing very good. So we I had a feeling 47 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: that this was gonna be a particularly busy deadline. I 48 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: thought that the wide open Western Conference kind of made 49 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: it so that if you were in some of these houses, 50 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: in some of these front offices, that you could talk 51 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: yourself into thinking that you were one or two moves 52 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,119 Speaker 1: away from having a real chance. And I think that's 53 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: exactly what we saw, and we saw a ton of 54 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: talent shift over to the Western Conference. The Lakers make 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: a big move, the Suns make a big move, the 56 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: Warriors make a big move, and we're gonna be hitting 57 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: them all. But we have to start with Kevin Durant 58 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: to the Phoenix Suns. So the machinations of the deal, 59 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: we got Michal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jake Crowder, four first 60 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: round picks, and a swap going out for Kevin Durant 61 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: and t J. Warrens. My first question, Chris, what do 62 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,119 Speaker 1: you where's your head at with the Phoenix Suns right now, man, 63 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: you know they're taking a big swing, and it's a 64 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: It's a move that comes with a pretty significant downside 65 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,119 Speaker 1: if it doesn't work. I mean, if this team collapses 66 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: in the next couple of years and doesn't win a championship, 67 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: then they're gonna see a lot of quality draft picks 68 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: going uh Brooklyn's way. That being said, it's the right 69 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: play to make. Uh. You know, guys like Kevin Durant 70 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: don't come on the market very often. And if you 71 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: can get a transformative player without giving back a player 72 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: of equal value, with due respect to Mchael Bridges, Cam Johnson, 73 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: uh whatever, Jay Crowder is right now, Um, you're going 74 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: to take that all day long. So look, they've given 75 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: themselves one of, if not the most dynamic one to 76 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: scoring options in the entire NBA. I think Chris Paul 77 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: is the right point guards. Try to meld all that together, 78 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: and you look at that starting lineup with eighting at 79 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: the top of it, You've got as formidable a starting 80 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: five as any team in basketball. So risky, but the 81 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: move that I you know you have to make if 82 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: you're the Phoenix Suns, the shot creation is going to 83 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: be completely off the charts. I was looking at it 84 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: earlier today. Kevin Dury basically has been the best pick 85 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: and roll ball handler in the entire NBA this year. 86 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: His ability to draw multiple defenders and start those four 87 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: on threes has been highly underrated as people focused on 88 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: his scoring over the years. This is where I have 89 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: two main concerns, and I'm curious to hear your thoughts 90 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: on it. So let's start with the Chris Paul element 91 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: to this, um, how much sense does he even make 92 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: to be on the floor, particularly with closing groups, now 93 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: that you have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the 94 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: floor as shot creators. Given that Chris Paul is not 95 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: the same defender that he used to be, that he's 96 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: not the same score that he used to be, He's 97 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: going to be in a spot up position a lot more. 98 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: I like him coming off the bench, running bench groups 99 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: and things along those lines. And obviously I have the 100 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 1: utmost respect for what Chris Paul does on a basketball court. 101 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: But is there a redundancy there now? Uh? I mean, 102 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: what's the alternative? Are we talking Campaign as the point guard? 103 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: A we're talking Booker playing the one? I mean, I 104 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: guess about like a defensive guard, Like what about something 105 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: like going with Damian Lee getting a lot of minutes 106 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 1: in the backcourt? Primary re you looking at that as 107 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: a defensive role? Do you think that's something that's going 108 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: to be an issue for them or do you think 109 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: they'll lean have defense? Defense is definitely going to be 110 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: an issue for them, Like you know, you don't have 111 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: a lot of plus defenders on that team right now, 112 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,919 Speaker 1: especially with Bridges out the door, and they're gonna have 113 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 1: to figure out who's now going to be in that rotation, 114 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: you know, night and night out. I just think the 115 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: upside that Chris Paul is going to bring at least 116 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 1: this season is getting these guys all on the same page. 117 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: I mean, very rarely do you see a superstar trade 118 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: switch teams in mid season and that team have championship 119 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: level success. I think Chris Paul is gonna have to 120 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: be the guy that makes sure Kevin Durant knows where 121 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: he needs to be, make sure Devin Booker knows where 122 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,280 Speaker 1: he needs to be with Durants on the floor, And look, 123 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: DeAndre and you gotta get him involved, Like you can't 124 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:56,239 Speaker 1: have DeAndre Ayton, you know, basically being John Collins in 125 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: in in in Phoenix, Like he's got to get his 126 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: touch as Russy's gonna check out on the other end 127 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: of the floor. That's where Chris Paul. I think he's 128 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: gonna bring a lot of value to this team. Yeah, 129 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: he's definitely not what he used to be defensively, but 130 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: I think as a floor general, as a playmaker, I 131 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: think most of these games he's gonna have more value 132 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: than anybody else. Yeah, and I'm terrified of like Chris 133 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: Paul running Spain pick and roll with Devin Booker and 134 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: needing to bring a third defender over to contain that 135 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: role man, and then Kevin Durant just attacking a close 136 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: out on the backside, or maybe that's Devin Booker. If 137 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: it works out the way, I am excited about that. 138 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: I'm with you. I'm I'm really concerned about the wing. 139 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: All of their wings now are very upright and slow. 140 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: Tory Craig is a little bit upright and slow. He's 141 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: more of like a power forward than he is a 142 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 1: traditional wing. Kevin Durant can struggle sometimes with quickness and 143 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: strength when he's defending on the perimeter. DeAndre at and 144 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: struggles a little bit with quickness, and so I I 145 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: worry about them against teams that are are really quick 146 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: off the dribble. So teams like the Sacramento Kings and 147 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors that are gonna try to uh 148 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: really driving kick you to death. I worry about them 149 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: against those types of teams. So this is my question. 150 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: So Fan Duel says that they are the favorites to 151 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: win the rest of the West right now. So do 152 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: you agree with that? No, I don't think so. Um. 153 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: I want to see how they play first and foremost. 154 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: And second, you're talking about three guys that lead the 155 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: team that are injury prone. You know, Kevin Durant is 156 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: not even back yet from a knee injury. Devin Booker 157 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: just sat out a bunch of games. Chris Paul has 158 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: a long history with injuries, oftentimes that occurred during the playoffs. So, 159 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: like I I'd be a little nervous about that if 160 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm Phoenix, given the fragility of my team and the 161 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,599 Speaker 1: chemistry does matter. Like Kevin Durant really is kind of 162 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: a plug and play guy because you know, he can 163 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: do it all all of his own. But you know, 164 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: the integration I think they're gonna be a lot of 165 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: nights early on where they just get you know, run defensively, 166 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: like they're just not gonna be able to get stops 167 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: or enough stops to win to win some games. Um. 168 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 1: And we'll see, we'll see. But if I'm a betting man, 169 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: I'm still probably leaning towards the Nuggets, or really just 170 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: the Nuggets, and we can talk about the Grizzlies. I 171 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: have some issues with what the Grizzlies did but or 172 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: didn't do. Um. But you know, I'd still probably lean 173 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 1: towards Denver right now because that's a team that is 174 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: on the same page with each other and is clicking 175 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: pretty well. Yeah, I would probably put them second or 176 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: third as well, because I've I've always been very bullish 177 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: on the Warriors. It's just I've always been the kind 178 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: of guy that doesn't pay too much attention to regular 179 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: season results for teams that have a championship pedigree. Um, 180 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: But that's that. I kind of look at this deal 181 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: similarly to the Dallas Mavericks going after Kyrie Irving, and 182 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: obviously on a much greater level because they have more 183 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: top end talent, But I don't look at it so 184 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: much about this year as I do about next year. 185 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,839 Speaker 1: Specifically for Dallas and for Phoenix, they can now because 186 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: they have that core top end talent look this summer 187 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: to find the complementary pieces to put around them, and 188 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: specifically with moves for guys like Kyrie and guys like 189 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant. Like you said the plug in play element. 190 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: A big part of it too is Devin Booker and 191 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: Chris uh and Kevin Duran are so good at shooting 192 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: over the top of the defense, so you don't have 193 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: to worry as much about spacing with guys like them, 194 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: and you can do things like find, you know, dirty 195 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: work guys that aren't great offensive players to put around them. 196 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 1: So I I think going into next year, I'd probably 197 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: be very inclined to pick the Suns to come out 198 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: of the West. But I'm with you this year, when 199 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: you look at continuity, when you look at some of 200 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: the physical mismatches that Phoenix is gonna deal with, I'm 201 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: a little bit worried about them. Um, what do you 202 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: think was the biggest reason that the Kyrie Kevin Durant 203 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: pairing was a failure? Look, A lot of it was 204 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: bad luck and bad timing. For all this, Like, you know, 205 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: if if Kyrie doesn't get injured and James Harden doesn't 206 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 1: get injured in this that Milwaukee series a couple of 207 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: years ago, did they beat the Bucks? Probably right? So 208 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: they were. I mean, we say it all the time, 209 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: they were Kevin Durant t o I from doing it. Anyway, 210 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: you have James Harden who was out for what almost 211 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: the entirety of that series, and Kyrie Irving who was injured, 212 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: Like yeah, that that was bad luck in that season. 213 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: Then they come back the next year, it's the pandemic 214 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: and everything that kind of goes into it, and Kyrie 215 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: camp play half the games and and all that turned 216 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: off James Harden and you have to wind up dealing him. 217 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: So I think they were victims of circumstance. But towards 218 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: the end it was all Kyrie, Like that's why it 219 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: didn't work. I mean, before Kevin Durant went out, they 220 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: had won eighteen in the last twenty. They were twelve 221 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: and one in December, like what are we talking about here? 222 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: Like that was that led the look of a contender 223 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: before Kevin Durant's injury. Kyrie wants to be traded because 224 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: he wasn't getting the contract offer that he liked from Brooklyn. 225 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: I mean, he can say now that he feels disrespected, 226 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: and you know, things were ugly behind the scenes. But 227 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: if the Nets had offered him in January a extension 228 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: to his liking, whatever he signed there, he he wanted 229 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: out because he wanted his bird rights changed to another team. 230 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: And that's what Dallas has, like in DA else could 231 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: be in a position where they're so desperate to appease 232 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: Luca that they'll sign him for the kind of deal 233 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: that that he wants in the off season. So I 234 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: think I would have liked to have seen what this 235 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: next team could have done with healthy Durant, healthy Kyrie, 236 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: some pretty good defenders. You know, Royce O'Neil has had 237 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: a pretty good year on that team. I think that 238 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: they could have been a tough out in the playoffs 239 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: with those two guys playing at a high level. But 240 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: Kyrie decided to be about Kyrie in that moment, and 241 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: that was the last, you know, vestiges of one of 242 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: Like I said this earlier, like now Sports Illustrated back 243 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: in twelve did one of the most absurd in retrospect 244 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: covers of all time with Steve Nash and Dwight Howard 245 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: saying this is gonna be fun. These guys might have 246 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: exceeded the lowest of expectations that they had coming in 247 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: like that. To not be able to win more than 248 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: one playoff series with three in their prime all NBA 249 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: All Star m VP candidates is really a remarkable achievement. No, 250 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: it really is that. I'm I'm with you. I would 251 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: have loved to have seen them play, now, I I 252 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: to be clear, I think I would have. I would 253 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 1: have been a hundred percent certain that the Celtics would 254 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: have beat them. It was just such a series, like 255 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: the Celtics series last year, Like the entirety of that 256 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: series was decided about like seven points. So even though 257 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: she's a sweep, they you know, Celtics had some problems 258 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: with them, for sure, But there's kind of like a 259 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,839 Speaker 1: perimeter strength mismatch in that in that particular matchup that 260 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: that I think really worked against Brooklyn. But aside from 261 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: that matchup, I might have picked Brooklyn or given them 262 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: a very good chance to win in any other matchup 263 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: in the n b A I'm with you. I wanted 264 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: to see what they could do and from the moment 265 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: Kyrie got suspended to the moment k D got hurt, 266 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: you could make an argument that they were the best 267 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: team in the league. And so if there's one thing 268 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: that's genuinely impressive about this is I have never seen 269 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: a player blow up a championship intending bona fide championship 270 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: contending team within the season. It's it's it's seriously impressive, 271 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: and like I mean, in retrospect looking back, Uh, honestly, 272 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: this was probably the most reasonable move that Kyrie made 273 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 1: because it really did make sense. There wasn't many There 274 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: weren't many good cap space teams out there this summer, 275 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: so the bird rights thing really was his best bet 276 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: to try to get to a team where he could 277 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: sign a good deal. I'm with you, I actually, I 278 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: know there's intel that the Mavericks are still considering it, 279 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: but I would be shocked if Mark Cuban didn't make 280 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: him a MAX offer this summer. I believe. I don't 281 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: think he guess full max. I think they do three 282 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: years aligned. That aligns Kyrie with Lucas contract, which he 283 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: can opt out of after six, and you can sort 284 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: of keep them together as that goes. Look, I don't 285 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: disagree that it was the right move for Kyrie, but 286 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: he just told his teammates I'm more important than you, 287 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: like for sure. I mean, and I saw Nick Claxton 288 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: say afterwards like Kyrie is the best teammate I've ever had, 289 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: or something to that effect, like he just blew up 290 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: your season. Like you went from being a team that 291 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: in a year you, Nick Claxton, are one of the 292 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: defensive Player of the Year candidates. You are now going 293 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: from a deep playoff team to one headed for the 294 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: lottery most likely or at least the play in at 295 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: this point. So that to me is not the hallmark 296 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: of a great teammate. I would agree with you. I 297 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: do have a quick bonus question before we go to 298 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers. Do you think there's any chance in the 299 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: world that he ends up getting a sign in trade 300 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: to the Lakers after this season. I think there's a chance. Um, 301 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: I think Phoenix remarkably might actually be in play as well. Really, 302 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 1: although if Kevin Durant hitches himself to Kyrie again, I 303 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: don't I'd have to question the sanity of that decision. Um, 304 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: I do think there's a chance, Like I don't think 305 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: the look whatever we however, we play this out, Kyrie 306 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: is gonna do whatever it takes to get the contract 307 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: that he wants. And if the Lakers, who could still 308 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: decide that, you know, D'Angelo Russell's not for them, uh 309 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: rui hashi more is not for them, and they could 310 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: clear the necessary space to give Kyrie the deal or 311 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: close to the deal that he wants. I could see Dallas, 312 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: in an effort not to lose him for nothing, do 313 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: a deal that gets something back in return. Yeah, someone 314 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: like D'Angel Russell to basically be a backup shot crater 315 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: kind of like a double signing trade type of deal Russell. 316 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: If they give 'angel Russell big money, Like, you know, 317 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: I don't know how that apieces Luca. I don't know how, 318 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: you know, Like, hey, Luca, like, here's our solution to 319 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: your problems. You know. We let Jalen Brunson go, we 320 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: let uh to Kyrie go, but here comes d'An angelo 321 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: Russell to be your you know, backcourt made for the 322 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: next three years. That's I'm not sure how well that's 323 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: gonna go over with Luca do Yeah, the worst guy 324 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: of the three. Um So we're looking back at the 325 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: Lakers deadline. They basically turned Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and 326 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: a second round pick and a lightly protected first round 327 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: pick into D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jared Vanderbilt, and Mo Bamba. 328 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: So my question for you this and I have some 329 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: strong opinions here, but I want to hear. I want 330 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: to hear your take on it. Did the Lakers do 331 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: enough to make themselves a legitimate threat to get out 332 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 1: of the Western Conference? Look, I thought they had a 333 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: great deadline. I do, and you extend the deadline back 334 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: about a week when they made the Hashi Moor trade. 335 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: That's kind of part of it. They are operating like 336 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: a team that has Lebron James should operate. They are 337 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: putting shooters around him. That's what Miami did, That's what 338 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: Cleveland did, That's what l A bizarrely the last couple 339 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: of years refused to do. They are now doing that 340 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: so Beasley can shoot. Russell January, he shot from three 341 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: this month, He's at like fort um. You know, Ruey 342 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,679 Speaker 1: Hashi more from certain spots on the floor is a 343 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: pretty efficient three point shooter, and guys that can shoot 344 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: traditionally thrive playing off of Lebron James, like, how many 345 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: extra years did Kyle Korver get on his career because 346 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: he was playing with Lebron James like, he just he's 347 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: looking to find guys and because of the attention Lebron draws, 348 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: these guys get open looks, so they're doing the right thing. 349 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: I thought that Thomas Bryan deal was interesting because Bryan's 350 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: played really well for them. And I don't know if 351 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: Davon Reid has a spot in the rotation, but maybe 352 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 1: they needed a guy that can play defense with that group, 353 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,719 Speaker 1: so he might be it. But I thought they had 354 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: a really good deadline. I thought they got measurably better 355 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: UM overall, and if Anthony Davis is healthy, if Lebron 356 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: is healthy, if they can get a spot in that 357 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: final late UM, I like their chances of of knocking 358 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: off one of the top four teams in the West, 359 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: They're gonna be dangerous. I think that the two biggest 360 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: weaknesses that I had for the Lakers coming into this 361 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: season was athletic size, like size that could move and 362 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: backcourt skill uh specifically pull up jump shooting and spot 363 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: up jump shooting. And D'Angelo russell affective field goal percentage 364 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: on pull up jump shots this year. He's been very 365 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: good in pick and roll this year. Did you know 366 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 1: that D'Angel Russell has been the best isolation player in 367 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: the league to run at least fifty this season. He's 368 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: averaging one point to nine points per possession. Classic contract 369 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: year stuff, you know, as he's been probably working harder 370 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 1: than he has in recent years. Malik Beasley actually is 371 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 1: having a down year in terms of his ability to 372 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: convert spot up possessions. But he's been gunning in Utah 373 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: in a way that he probably won't with the Lakers, 374 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: and he'll get better. Um uh, he'll get better opportunities 375 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: with the Lakers. I really like Jared Vanderbilt. He's actually 376 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: my favorite guy probably in in in these deals because 377 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: I think of him is just a much better version 378 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: of when you and Gabriel the Thomas Bryant thing um. 379 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: And I really appreciate what Thomas Bryant did over the 380 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: last couple of months with Anthony Davis getting hurt and 381 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: just him playing his ass off to to help build 382 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: the Lakers stay in games. But he's kind of like 383 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: another Montrese Harold, a guy that I genuinely think would 384 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: be disastrous for the Lakers in a playoff rotation, and 385 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,719 Speaker 1: so I think the idea there was you move Thomas 386 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: Bryant to bring in Davon Rudy probably won't ever play 387 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: with how much depth they have on the wing now, 388 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: But what you do is you make it so that 389 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 1: Darvin ham has no choice but to go to Jared 390 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba, and when you in Gabriel in 391 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: those front court minutes, and Mo Bamba is like interesting 392 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: to me. He's been very good in spot up situations 393 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: this year, but he's never been as good defensively as 394 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: people hoped he would be. Overall, I do think that 395 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: Rob killed it this deadline. But here's my question for you. 396 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 1: My concern before the season when Rob and Geennie decided 397 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: to kick this can down the road was I do 398 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: believe you can get marginally better trade packages than you 399 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: could over the summer, but I was concerned that it 400 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 1: would cost them in the standings. And here we are 401 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: in their twenty five and thirty. There are four games 402 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: from getting out of the plan, two games to even 403 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: get into the plan, and here Lebron's gonna miss tonight. 404 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 1: So it might even be even worse after tonight. And 405 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: so the Ruey Hatcher Mura deal was unrelated to the summer. 406 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: They could have made that at this deadline, no matter what. 407 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: The Mobamba deal was unrelated to this summer. They could 408 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 1: have made that deal no matter what you. I believe 409 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 1: that Buddy Healed is a better player than Malie Beasley. 410 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 1: I believe Myles Turner is a much better player than 411 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: Jared Vanderbilt the swing piece. There's D'Angel Russell, who's interesting. 412 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,280 Speaker 1: So I would say that our arguably it was a 413 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: little bit better than what they could have done this summer, 414 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 1: and you saved one first round pick. Uh as a result, 415 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis and Lebron James now from the middle of 416 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: February all the way through to whenever they lose and 417 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: or the middle of June have to hit the Jets 418 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: while Denver can chill, while Memphis can chill, while Boston 419 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: can chill, you know. And so as a result of that, 420 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: I I again, results are going to tell the story, 421 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: and maybe this all works out. But my concern is 422 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: that the real urgency here was Lebron's late prime and 423 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: your twenty and maybe you're twenty one if you're lucky 424 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: and so I'm I'm worried that this gamble might have 425 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: put them in a position where it wasn't worth that 426 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: extra bit of trade capital. So what what's your take 427 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: on that? Do you think the Lakers made the right 428 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: decision by waiting? Uh? Hindsight, Look, the Lakers have made 429 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: some bad non calls in the past, like one they 430 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: should have gone and gotten Kyle Lowry. You can debate 431 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: whether they should have gotten out this past summer and 432 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: made that deal or whatever. The deal was available for 433 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 1: Turner and healed. Uh, they were holding out and had 434 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,720 Speaker 1: been holding out for one of the big names to 435 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: come available today. Basically, they were looking for Bradley Beale 436 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: hit the market. They were hoping that Portland's pulled the 437 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,880 Speaker 1: shoot on the Damian Lillard experiment. None of that happened, 438 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: so they couldn't turn Russell Westbrook into the star player 439 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: that they were looking for. Given that, again, I think 440 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 1: they did pretty well here. I think they built a 441 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: team that you're right, is going to have to claw 442 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: to get into the playoffs and are one bad Lebron 443 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,120 Speaker 1: game or one Anthony Davis ankle turn from getting beat 444 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: in the play in tournament. That's a huge risk. But 445 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: if that team gets into the playoffs, I'm not gonna 446 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: bet necessarily that Denver is gonna beat them four at 447 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: a seven. I'm not gonna bet that Memphis is gonna 448 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: beat them four at a seven. Like, if that team 449 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: gets in the playoffs with those two guys healthy and 450 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 1: the guys around them making shots in a weird season 451 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 1: where the number one team is a lot is pretty 452 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 1: close in terms of overall talent and potential. As the 453 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 1: number eight team, I like the Lakers chances in that position. 454 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: So it's really about the next couple of months, you know, 455 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: jelling getting into that play and mix getting into the playoffs. 456 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: But once they're there, to me to look out, because 457 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: that would not be the team I'd want to play 458 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 1: in the first round, that's for sure. I agree. I 459 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: Like I said earlier with the Warriors, I've always been 460 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: very bullish on championship cores that i've seen win it before. Um, 461 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: and you can always make up ground, Like say, for instance, 462 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,160 Speaker 1: it's you get into the first round and you get 463 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: Memphis and and Lebron and a d are just on 464 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: level one hundred and they beat Memphis in five games. 465 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: Then you get that rest and things could work out. 466 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 1: I'm not saying it can't work, but I do think 467 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: it was a risk to put them in that position 468 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: to have to gun the way they will the rest 469 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: of the season and then a d going against Steven 470 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: Adams one round and then Yokich and you know what 471 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: if he has to play zoo Bach in the second round, 472 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, like it could be one of those things 473 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 1: where physically it gets difficult for him. But I do 474 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: agree with you, and I think you hit the nail 475 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: on the head, like, regardless of what you feel about 476 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: what they did this summer, in the last couple of weeks, 477 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,000 Speaker 1: Rob Linka has done an excellent job and and and 478 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: they like moving Westbrook was the right move because it 479 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: was getting bad there with the last couple of days, 480 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: especially not just the report to blow up in the 481 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,400 Speaker 1: locker room, but you know, Lebron has been out there 482 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: basically saying do something or you know, talking about roster 483 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: moves for for weeks, if not months down and any 484 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: roster moved Russell Westbrook knows involves him, like it knows 485 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: he's got to go. Um I thought, I mean the 486 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: report that day mcmnhimon said on ESPN, where he's like 487 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 1: and he with the vampire sucking the blood out of 488 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: locks somewhere. Like I'll tell you what. I didn't get 489 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: that exact quote from people in that involved there, but 490 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: I got some version of it like that. You know, 491 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 1: this is addition by subtraction. Russ was sucking the life 492 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: out of that team. Like I got some version of 493 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: that from from people in and around that organization. Uh So, 494 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: the knives are out for Russell Westbrook right now. And 495 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: it just tells me that, you know, taking him off 496 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: that roster and plugging D'angela Russell, in, plugging Milik Beasley, 497 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: in plugging the guys, they're gonna add to that group 498 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: in um that that's gonna relieve some tension that was 499 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: going on within that team. Yeah, you don't have to 500 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: tell me, man I. Uh I. In my time being 501 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: a basketball fan, I can't remember many things like rooting 502 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: for Russell Westbrook has been. It has been one hell 503 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 1: of an experience. But let's move out to the Gold 504 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: State Warriors. So there are a bunch of different uh 505 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:40,640 Speaker 1: details in this trade, guys getting rerouted like Seek Bay 506 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: and Kevin Knox. But the gist of it is is 507 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: the Warriors managed to flip James Wiseman for Gary Payton. 508 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 1: A second. I had somebody very close to the Warriors 509 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: tell me this morning that, uh, Steph basically made an ultimatum. 510 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 1: Uh not really. Ultimatum is probably the wrong word, but 511 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: he made his voice hurt. Apparently he went to the 512 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 1: front office and said, I want Wiseman out of here. 513 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: I don't think he fits with us. I don't think 514 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: he's made the efforts to try to to become a 515 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,199 Speaker 1: winning impact player with us. There's a conversation to have 516 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 1: about Wiseman, but the gist of it is they have 517 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: flipped him for Gary Payton. The second, So my question 518 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: is does this renew any optimism for you with the 519 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors. Well, in Gary Payton, they at least 520 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: they're getting a guy that they know they can count on, 521 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: who knows the system, who knows how to play opposite 522 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: Russ or Clay or whoever else he's on the floor with, 523 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: who can play defense at a high level. And that's 524 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 1: the piece they were missing. I mean, they people inside 525 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,040 Speaker 1: the Warriors would liberally bring it say it that they 526 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: know they needed something as while they publicly say, you know, 527 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: we just need these guys to develop, give them time, 528 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: commend to all that stuff. They knew they needed a piece. 529 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: They were going to get a piece at this trade deadline, 530 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: and it was Wiseman was an obvious candidate to go, 531 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: and you knew they'd have to sell low on him 532 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: to get anything back in return. I'm just a little 533 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: surprised they sold this low. Whatever you think of James Wiseman, 534 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:08,639 Speaker 1: he is the former number two pick in the draft, 535 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 1: and I know summer leagues not the end all be all. 536 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: When you watch him play, you can see there's talent there, 537 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: and he's had a couple of moments with the Warriors 538 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: during this season where it's like, Okay, I know that guy, 539 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: that guy, that guy can play. So I thought maybe 540 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: they'd sell for like Alex Caruso, who is more of 541 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 1: a two way player, a little bit of a juiced 542 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,040 Speaker 1: up version of Gary Payton with championship experience to sell 543 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: for effectively Gary Payton also to throw five second round 544 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 1: picks in there, that's a lot of picks um to 545 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: do that. You know, I guess if that's the only 546 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,239 Speaker 1: thing they could possibly do, and you needed to get 547 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: something to upgrade that bench, it is what it is, 548 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: But I thought Wiseman would be able to bring back 549 00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:55,719 Speaker 1: more in a deal for Golden State. Yeah, you're right, 550 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 1: it's the desperation thing. Um. Them selling low, everyone knew, 551 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: but they had to do something and the only guy 552 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 1: they could use to do that would be Wiseman or 553 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: maybe Moody. Um. I thought the Warriors made two huge 554 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: mistakes in the in the in this last couple of years. 555 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: From the front office standpoint. First of all, James Wiseman 556 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: was a star potential big, not a dirty work big. 557 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 1: And what they needed from that second overall pick was 558 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,959 Speaker 1: a dirty work pig uh big. So I thought from 559 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:25,679 Speaker 1: a strategic standpoint that pick was such a huge mistake. 560 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:28,920 Speaker 1: Then obviously Gary Payton the second. I mean, if you've 561 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 1: watched the games, you could see it, but it especially 562 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 1: showed up on the scoreboard in the playoffs last year. 563 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 1: The Warriors were plus three per one hundred possessions when 564 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 1: Gary Payton was on the bench, and they were plus 565 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: sixteen per one hundre possessions when Gary Payton was on 566 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: the floor. They played at their best when he was 567 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: out there, because, like you said, he's that connective tissue 568 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: piece within the Warriors. He's such a good cutter, he's 569 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: such a good you know, uh passer he makes keeps 570 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: that engine moving while at the same time being able 571 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: to do the things that he does on the defensive 572 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: end of the floor. I thought letting him go was 573 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: a serious mistake. But to Joe Macop's credit and to 574 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: Bob Meyer's credit, they acknowledged it. We messed up. We 575 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: messed up on Wiseman, we messed up on Gary Payton, 576 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: So why don't we clean this mess up? And yes, 577 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: in retrospect, you can look back and be like, man, 578 00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: you could have had both, you know, like, obviously it's 579 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 1: an issue. But at the end of the day, within 580 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,080 Speaker 1: the urgency of this season and how good stuff is 581 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: right now, I respect the fact that they just had 582 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: admitted that and decided to move on at that point. 583 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: And I forget what it was like at the time 584 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: because moving Wiseman actually saves them money at the time 585 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: bringing back Gary Payton would have cost them like thirty 586 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: million dollars or something like that in luxury tax penalties. 587 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 1: Like I I know it's we we always say that's 588 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 1: not you know, billion their billionaire owners. They can do 589 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: whatever they want. But the Wars have been spending the 590 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: last few years. They have highest salaries I believe in 591 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: NBA history, highest payroll. Rather when you factor in luxury tax, 592 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: Like I almost don't blame them for not, you know, 593 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: giving Gary Payton that that contract because of what it 594 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: would have cost them on the back end. Yeah, I agree, 595 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: And it's not it's not like the Crusoe thing or 596 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 1: they're a little bit in the tax and they absolutely 597 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: could have afforded to bring him back. Like this, I'm 598 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: with you. I understand Crustal Wiseman would have worked straight 599 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: up like you could do that deal. And I mean, 600 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: look Chicago, it's a different story altogether. Like they are 601 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 1: in that weird place where losing doesn't do anything for 602 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: them because Orlando gets that draft pick. So they weren't 603 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: from what I know, they weren't eager to make a 604 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: significant deal at the deadline. But you know that. I 605 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: look back like Caruso two years up in his contract, 606 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,720 Speaker 1: manageable money, really good two way player, that's the guy 607 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: would have done everything to try to extract out of 608 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: the bulls. I agree. I'm as big a Crustal fan 609 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: as you'll find I I I really, really enjoyed covering 610 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: him when he was with the Lakers. So I got 611 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: two quick questions for you before you get out of 612 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 1: here today, Chris, who was the biggest winner of the 613 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: trade deadline in your opinion? I mean, Phoenix got Durant, 614 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: So like it's it's oftentimes the player that that makes 615 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: the biggest impact, and the Sun's what they forked over. 616 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: The highest value was probably those four first round draft picks, 617 00:30:57,200 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: which five years from now we'll be able to look 618 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: back gone and say, you know that right or wrong 619 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: move at that point. But Kevin Durant for the next 620 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: three years is now a member of the Sons. He's 621 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: going to be with Devin Booker for at least this year, 622 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 1: possibly next. He's going to be with Chris Paul. And 623 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: they've given themselves more than a puncher's chance to win 624 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: a championship this year. And you know that that to me, 625 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 1: you know that represents the biggest winner. Yeah, it's really 626 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: that simple. They went from a team that I thought 627 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: had zero chance to win the Western Conference to the 628 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: team that's the Fame Dual favorite. I think that automatically 629 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: makes you the winner at the deadline. Who do you 630 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: think was the biggest loser of the trade deadline. Oh, 631 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:36,120 Speaker 1: that's easy, Memphis. Memphis was a loser with a capital 632 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: l you know, they like I can't criticize the organization 633 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: because they have built something there, like not just drafting 634 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 1: high with John Rant and Jaren Jackson Jr. But you know, 635 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: getting the Desmond Baines, getting the Dylan Brooks. Like they're 636 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 1: one of, if not the best drafting team in the 637 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: entire league. But they should have been operating with the 638 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: same mindset that Phoenix was. Like Phoenix is sitting there 639 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: right in the middle of the Western Conference, playing for 640 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: the playing field behind Memphis, and they took a big swing. 641 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: Like Memphis has all their draft capital, They've got one 642 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: extra pick from Golden State that they could use in 643 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: a deal. They've got some intriguing tradeable young talent on 644 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:25,320 Speaker 1: their bench, Zie Williamson probably the most marketable. They have 645 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: the contract of Dandy Green, and all they walk away 646 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: with is Luke Kennard. And I like Luke Kennard. But 647 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 1: there's a reason that the Clippers, who just totally shredded 648 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 1: their bench, We're willing to deal Luke Canard in every 649 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: trade permutation possible, like they were everything you talked with 650 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: the Clippers, including Luke Nard going out, that tells me 651 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,440 Speaker 1: something that that maybe Luke Nard is not the answer 652 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: that that some teams think. Look on paper, I get 653 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,200 Speaker 1: it because Luke Canard shoose the three that teams a 654 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: bottom third in the NBA three point shooting team. Um 655 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: doesn't defend the three. They're also bad at that, but 656 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 1: that that can help them at the back end of 657 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 1: their rotation. But I'm telling you, if this team goes 658 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: out in the playoffs and gets cooked by Kevin Durant 659 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: or cooked by Luca don Ch or cooked by the 660 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: Kauai PG transformer out in l a Like, they're gonna 661 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,600 Speaker 1: look back and say, gee, maybe those three first round 662 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:17,720 Speaker 1: picks they're all gonna be in the twenties might have 663 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: been worth it to get o Gianna Nobi out of 664 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: Toronto or to get Michael Bridges as part of a 665 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:24,920 Speaker 1: multi team deal with Brooklyn. Brooklyn was sitting out there. 666 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: That deal wasn't official till like a couple of hours ago, 667 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: because they were looking to expand that deal to maybe 668 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 1: get more draft capital back in return. I think Bridges 669 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: was available for an high price, but a price uh 670 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:38,280 Speaker 1: and the Grizzlies don't do it. I'm not saying they 671 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 1: didn't try, but this was the year they should have 672 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: gone all in. That team might be one piece away 673 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: from being, if not the favorite to win the conference, 674 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: maybe the favorite to win the whole damn thing. So 675 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 1: if they get into the playoffs and they get beat by, 676 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: you know, one of these top tier teams because they 677 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: can't defend on the perimeter at the level day to defend, 678 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna look back on February nine as maybe the 679 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: day that that they should have done something. Yeah, I 680 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:08,799 Speaker 1: don't take Memphis seriously. I think in the half court defensively, 681 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:10,840 Speaker 1: they have too many entry points that you can attack 682 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:13,759 Speaker 1: them from. And then offensively in the half court, they've 683 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 1: never been able to score because John Ran it's the 684 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: only guy on the team that can really warp the 685 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 1: defense the way that he does. And then you mentioned 686 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:21,879 Speaker 1: the three point shooting, and I mean, maybe they're looking 687 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:24,400 Speaker 1: to be aggressive sometime in the in the future, but 688 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 1: I was concerned with them as well. My biggest loser 689 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:29,080 Speaker 1: to tread that on is Portland' um. I really don't 690 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 1: understand how turning Josh hart um by, how getting back 691 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: tees sty Bowl and Kevin Knox and Cam Reddish for 692 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: basically what was it Josh harden Um, Gary Payton the 693 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,240 Speaker 1: second how that improves them. I don't understand what exactly 694 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: their vision is for the future. I don't Portland is 695 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 1: the team that I can't figure out. I I genuinely 696 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 1: don't know what direction they're looking to move here in 697 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: the next couple of years. You know, they're like their 698 00:34:56,520 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: goal is to like immortalize Damian Lillard is like on 699 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,960 Speaker 1: solo kind of you know whatever they call that carbon 700 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,439 Speaker 1: fiber or whatever the hell is carbonite. Yeah, Like it's 701 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:11,479 Speaker 1: just like at the end of when he's finally done playing, 702 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,760 Speaker 1: they'll just preserve him and put him outside the Modus 703 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: Center there, Like I've never like and Damian Little is 704 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 1: one of my favorite players, Like he is unreal, But 705 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: I'm just wondering if there's ever gonna be a time 706 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:24,879 Speaker 1: Little is like what are we doing here? Like it's 707 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: a year after year where a five hundred team or worse, 708 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:30,520 Speaker 1: and you know, unless Shaden Sharp turns out to be 709 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:33,800 Speaker 1: this superstar in the next two years, the clock is 710 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:36,280 Speaker 1: ticking a little. It's like what early thirties at this point. 711 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:38,759 Speaker 1: You know, he's had some injury history the last couple 712 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 1: of years. Like I just I'm with you. I don't 713 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 1: know exactly what their players And I I actually kind of 714 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:47,920 Speaker 1: tried to pick Joe Cronin's brain on this at Summer 715 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 1: League briefly when they announced the Lilid extension. And I 716 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: still don't get it. I still don't know what the 717 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: plan is except to be competitive and to make Damian 718 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 1: Little the face of that competitiveness. It just it does. 719 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 1: And I come, look, I'm from Boston, so I've I've 720 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,880 Speaker 1: grown up in journalism around Danny h and Danny always 721 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 1: operated with the same kind of mindset, like you're either 722 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:12,360 Speaker 1: really good or you're really bad. There should not be 723 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,920 Speaker 1: any in between. What is the point of just making 724 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: the playoffs? Like what who gains anything out of that? 725 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,359 Speaker 1: And that's how he's conducted himself during his time as 726 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:23,960 Speaker 1: executive including it right now, just gutting that that Jazz 727 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 1: team before the deadline. So I don't Maybe it's because 728 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 1: Portland's a smaller market, Maybe this is what Lillard wants, 729 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 1: But just being like a playoff contender year after year 730 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:37,320 Speaker 1: with one of the great players of this generation just 731 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: doesn't make any sense. Yeah, they've been healthy and bad 732 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,719 Speaker 1: for a long time. Um, that's the thing. This year 733 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,800 Speaker 1: healthy healthy, Like, you know, they haven't had significant remember 734 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,279 Speaker 1: looking this up, you know a couple of weeks ago 735 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 1: where like most of their starting guys or minute high 736 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: minutes players that played forty plus games like Lillard was 737 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:57,919 Speaker 1: in the mid thirties at that point. But they can't 738 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,799 Speaker 1: point to like, oh, if this guy came back, they'd 739 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: be a lot better, or that they've been healthy and 740 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 1: they've have been a middling team. Yeah. I was looking 741 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 1: at the date of the other day and it was 742 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 1: like Dame Anfrey Simons and uh Jeremy Grant all on 743 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 1: the floor at the same time, and they were barely 744 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: positive this season, which is just insane. He deserves he 745 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:17,120 Speaker 1: deserves to be like and look, he never do this 746 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:21,520 Speaker 1: because he is so committed to that city, so committed 747 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: to that organization. But I just hate to see a 748 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:28,719 Speaker 1: situation where he's like thirty six and not at the 749 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,920 Speaker 1: level he used to be, kind of hoisting jump shots 750 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,440 Speaker 1: in Portland. Like, I just he deserves better because he 751 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 1: is one of the generation's great talents. Me too, man, 752 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: that would be so sad um, but bonus points for 753 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 1: the Star Wars reference. Chris, You're someone I've respected for 754 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: a very long time. I had so much fun talking 755 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 1: basketball with you today. I sincerely appreciate you hopping on 756 00:37:48,880 --> 00:38:01,280 Speaker 1: The show Man anytime. Jason the Volume