1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: The Volume. All right, welcome to Hoops to night here 2 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: at the Volume. Happy Friday, everybody. Happy Free Agency Day. 3 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: Obviously not the most exciting free agency in the world 4 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: from the same point of superstars changing teams, but a 5 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: lot of really high level role players either re upping 6 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: with teams giving them a chance to run it back 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: or going to new teams with the opportunity to push 8 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: them over the top. So for all of you basketball 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: nut jobs out there, still an entertaining free agency, to 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: say the least. We're gonna hit on seven different teams today, 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Chicago Bulls, and 13 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: the Portland Trailblazers. And then at the tail end of 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: the show, I'm gonna give my two cents on the 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: James Harden situation and his trade request. You guys are 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: the job. Before we get started, subscribe to the Volumes 17 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of our videos. 18 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter at Underscore Jason lt so you 19 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: guys don't miss any show announcements. And if for whatever reason, 20 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: you guys miss one of these shows and you can't 21 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: get back over to YouTube to finish. Don't forget. You 22 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: can find them wherever you get your podcasts. Under Hoops tonight, 23 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: all right, let's talk some basketball. So starting with the 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors, they had to retain Draymond and they 25 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 1: did so four years, one hundred million dollars. Shout out 26 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: to Mike dun Levy and the ownership group for recognizing 27 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: the value that is with Raymond Green. It's really the 28 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: simple to me. I know there's a contingent of Warriors 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: fans that looks at his offensive limitations and some of 30 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: his historyonics as something that's infuriating and that a lot 31 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: of you guys wanted to get rid of them. But 32 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: the reality was is you had no chance to contend 33 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: for an NBA championship without Draymond Green on your roster. 34 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: He's the kind of player that have always gravitated towards it. Yes, 35 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: he also works at the same company as I do, 36 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: but that has nothing to do with it as a 37 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: basketball fan. Those of you guys have been watching the 38 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: show for a while. No guys like this are guys 39 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: that have always valued a great deal. The guys that 40 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: do all of the little things that help teams win 41 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: basketball games and make no mistake, as Steve Kerr has 42 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: said many times, had the Warriors let go of Draymond Green, 43 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: they would have immediately lost the ability to contend for 44 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: NBA Championships once again. Last year, as has been the 45 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: case for the most part throughout this entire era, the 46 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: Warriors were monumentally better with Draymond on the floor versus 47 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: when he was off. The Warriors were fourteen points better 48 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: per one hundred possessions with Raymond on the floor versus 49 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: when he was off the floor, which was by far 50 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: the best on the team among their core rotation players. 51 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: You need Draymond Green on the Warriors to have a 52 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: chance to win. End of story. They paid what they 53 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 1: needed to pay to keep him around. I'm happy for 54 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 1: Draymond as a basketball fan. I want to see him 55 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: retire there anyway, and this gives us a very interesting 56 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: Warriors team to cover over the course of the next 57 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: couple of years. He's the fulcrum of their defense. This 58 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: is a team that's going to be leaning more heavily 59 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: on pick and roll than ever with the addition of 60 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: Chris Paul, Draymond Green's arguably the best short role passer 61 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: in the league. You needed him, you kept him. Kudos 62 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: to the Warriors. That had to be done. There's also 63 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: some reports out there that Dario Sarrich is likely quote 64 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: unquote to select the Warriors. That signing is not official yet, 65 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: but I like that as well. Once again leaning more 66 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: on pick and roll, he is a excellent short role player. 67 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: With OKC, he averaged one point three to two points 68 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: per possession in pick and pops and pick and rolls. 69 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: That was in the eighty second percentile around the league. 70 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: He also shot a fifty seven percent effective field goal 71 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: percentage on catch and shoot jump shots with OKC. So 72 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: there's your stretch big that the Warriors had with the 73 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: manyabe Elitza, which worked really well, and this is kind 74 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: of like a bigger, stronger version of that in Dario 75 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: sarch I like that as a potential pickup. He also 76 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: shot really well on floaters and hooks and at the rim. 77 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: I think he's a good offensive big to kind of 78 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: compliment what Kevon Looney and Draymond Green bring to the 79 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: table in the front court. All right, moving on to 80 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: the Los Angeles likers, and they're shocking signing of Gabe 81 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: Vincent from the NBA finalist Miami Heat for three years 82 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 1: and thirty three million dollars. This is definitely not the 83 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: type of player I was expecting the Lakers to go after. 84 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: I thought they'd go after a bigger athlete guard like 85 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Bruce Brown, which obviously they were priced out of. But 86 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: I thought they'd be targeting a player in that kind 87 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: of archetype, or a legit backup center, someone like Brook 88 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: Lopez or of a similar mold. That said backcourt skill 89 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: we saw last year with D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reeves 90 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: works really well with Lebron James and Anthony Davis, and 91 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: Gabe Vincent was a better playoff player in this playoff 92 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: run than D'Angelo Russell was as a two way guard 93 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: at the point of attack as well as on the 94 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: offensive end running pick and rolls. He was a very 95 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: successful pick and roll ball handler this year. In the postseason, 96 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: the Heat ran two hundred and thirteen gave Vincent pick 97 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: and rolls that led to two hundred and twenty five 98 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,119 Speaker 1: points including passes. That's one point zero six point points 99 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,239 Speaker 1: per possession, which is excellent. One point twenty six points 100 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: per possession. In spot up situation, so he's great knocking 101 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: down catch and shoot jumpers and attacking closeouts. Sixty five 102 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: percent effective field goal percentage on catch and shoot jumpers, 103 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: forty seven percent of five field goal percentage on pull 104 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: up jumpers, and forty four percent on floaters. So not 105 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: what I was expecting, but more offensive skill around Lebron 106 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: James and Anthony Davis in a very good compliment to 107 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: Austin Reeves, and so an interesting signing to say the least. 108 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: I wonder if it's gonna give them a little bit 109 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: more leverage to potentially get a discount on D'Angelo Russell, 110 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: because if you get Gay Vincent at eleven million, which 111 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: might seem like a little high, but you get D'Angel 112 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 1: Russell for less, because you're effectively demonstrating to him that 113 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: you don't need him, so to speak, that might end 114 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: up working out in the long run. It's definitely a 115 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: bigger number then I would like for a team like 116 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers to spend on a player like Gabe Vincent. 117 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: That said, I'm very happy for Gabe Vincent and for 118 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: Bruce Brown, who signed for the Pacers at two years 119 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: forty five million. Is a great example of the fact 120 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: that doing things within a winning concept will always get 121 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: you further than putting up numbers in a different type 122 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: of situation. This goes beyond the NBA to all of 123 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: you kids out there that are playing in high school, 124 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: playing in junior college, trying to get the right type 125 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: of college scholarship. You will get more looks in a 126 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: winning concept, So finding a way to help your team 127 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: win basketball games, playing for a winner will always go 128 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: a longer way towards getting you to the next level 129 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: as a basketball player than doing things within a losing concept. 130 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: Bruce Brown and gate Vincent neither of them put up 131 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 1: fantastic numbers in this postseason run, but they both played 132 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: viol roles in the backcourt for teams that won three 133 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: playoff series or four in the case of Denver, and 134 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: as a result, they've amassed what's this seventy eight million 135 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: dollars worth in salaries that they've signed this summer. So 136 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: it's a good lesson for young basketball players. Focus on 137 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: winning first, not your numbers. Focus on winning. That's how 138 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: you're gonna get that perfect college scholarship. That's how you're 139 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: gonna get to transfer to the school you want to 140 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: go to. That's how you're gonna get that good deal 141 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: if you're playing overseas, and that's how you're gonna get 142 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: more money when you're playing in the NBA. Another big 143 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: signing for the Lakers for the bi annual exception. Torrian 144 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: Prince to me, just the textbook like league average wing, 145 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: kind of like that like replacement player type level wing 146 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: in the NBA. He's not a great athlete, but he 147 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: has good measurables. He's six foot eight with a six 148 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: to eleven and a half wing span. Shot forty one 149 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: percent on catch and shoot jumpers last year, sixty one 150 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: percent effective field goal percentage when you wait that for three, 151 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: So he's a very good catch and shoot shooter, a 152 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: little bit of an in between game. He's got a 153 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: little bit of that extra scoring chops. Like I always 154 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: talk about scoring ability is almost a natural ability. It's 155 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: like a creativity mixed with audacity. Torrian Prince has a 156 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: good amount of that. It's why he was up over 157 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,559 Speaker 1: a point per possession in isolation situations last year, although 158 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: in low volume, so he definitely brings just a little 159 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: bit more offensive punch for the position. Not a fantastic 160 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: defender at the position like he used to be when 161 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: he was younger. But he's a good piece for depth, 162 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: and depth matters in the NBA, especially for teams like 163 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: the Lakers, because let's say Lebron or Ad you have 164 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: to miss a game and all of a sudden, your 165 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: aggregate size takes a nose dive. Right when you have 166 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: guys like Austin Reeves and Gabe Vincent running pick and 167 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: rolls all night, well, guys like Torrian Prince and Ruy 168 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: Hatcham and Jared Vanderbilt are flying around on defense, you 169 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: give yourself a decent chance to compete, especially at home, 170 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: playing in front of the energy of your home crowds. 171 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: So and whereas when you're tiny and you lose guys 172 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: like Lebron James and Anthony Davis, you're just completely hopeless. 173 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: So definitely like the Torrian Prince signing, just for depth 174 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: on the wing, the Lakers have a legit core of 175 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: forwards now that they did not have in previous seasons 176 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: moving on to the Suns, so they resigned Joshakogi and 177 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: Damian Lee. Definitely a couple of decent backcourt pieces. Leads 178 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: an outstanding shooter, A Koch's an outstanding point of attack defender. 179 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: They get you to Wana Navi, I'm guessing from his 180 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: friendship with Kevin Durant from when they were teammates one 181 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: point two six points per jump shot last year with 182 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn Nets. That was third out of two hundred 183 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: and fifty three players to attempt at least one hundred 184 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: and fifty jump shots. So one of the best knockdown 185 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: spot up shooters in the league with outstanding length for 186 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: his position, loved that signing. They also picked up Timezi 187 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: Metsu Andrew Eubanks, couple of big athletic forwards at discounts. 188 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: So again, this is what the Suns had to do. 189 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: They had to find discounted talent, preferably guys that had 190 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: motor and length and athleticism in the front court, and 191 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: they did that. So kudos to the Phoenix Suns. Will 192 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,959 Speaker 1: it be enough to bang with Nikola Jokic and the 193 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: rest of the Nuggets roster for a seven gamer that 194 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: remains to be seen, but given the situation after they 195 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:26,080 Speaker 1: made the Bradley Beal trade, this is pretty well done. 196 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: At that point, the MAVs signed Kyrie Irving for three 197 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: years and one hundred and twenty six million dollars, so Kyrie 198 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: gets his paycheck. Not completely surprising, especially when you consider 199 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: the fact that Kyrie's really freaking good at basketball. You know, 200 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: the talking point that gets most frequently overlooked when we 201 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: talk about Kyrie Irving. Really take a deep look at 202 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: the way the Mavericks played after the Kyrie Irving trade. 203 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: They were better with Kyrie on the floor than they 204 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: were with Luca on the floor. He is still one 205 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: of the most outstanding high pick and roll in isolation 206 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: shot creators in the league. He brings a great deal 207 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: of variety that makes I'm very difficult to guard. He's 208 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: an underrated passer. When he competes defensively, he can be 209 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: a good defender as well. I'm a huge Kyrie fan. 210 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: I know the off court stuff is an issue. Don't 211 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: get me wrong. I wouldn't be surprised if at some 212 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: point in the next three years Kyrie tried to force 213 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: his way out. Kyrie, generally speaking, is devoted when he's 214 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: happy and looking to to mess shit up for lack 215 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: of a better term, when he's unhappy. But the MAVs 216 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: did what they had to do. They flipped a bunch 217 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: of assets for Kyrie. They had to re sign the asset. 218 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: And here's the thing. If Kyrie is unhappy at the 219 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: deadline and they flip him to some other team, you're 220 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,839 Speaker 1: gonna get assets back and that's all that matters. They 221 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: needed to resign him to maintain the asset. They did, 222 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: so my guess is they give it a go, but 223 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: if they're underwhelming around the deadline, don't be surprised if 224 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: Kyrie tries to force his way out again. He really 225 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 1: did this all for the payday. As we know, the 226 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: Brooklyn Nets at the deadline last year were kicking everybody's ass. 227 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: They were in great shape other than the Kevin Durant injury. 228 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: Kyrie forced his way out strictly because the Brooklyn Nets 229 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: would not re signed him to the dollar amount he wanted. 230 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: This was a purely financial move. As long as the 231 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: MAVs are valuable on the court, I think he'll be 232 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: fine and I think he'll be devoted, But you know, 233 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: this is the business, and don't be surprised if during 234 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: that deal he's playing for another team. The Cavaliers resigned 235 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: Arris Lavert. But the interesting one is they signed Georg's 236 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: knee from the Philadelphia seventy six ers for three years 237 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: and twenty six million. I love this signing, particularly because 238 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 1: they are so damn athletic in the front court with 239 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: Evan Mobley and with Jared Allen and Evan Mobley can 240 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: guard three, so you don't need Georgia Kneeing to fly 241 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: around on the perimeter guarding quicker players. But they desperately 242 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: needed a reliable wing shooter to open things up and 243 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 1: pick and roll so that teams could stop guarding the 244 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: Cavs pick and rolls of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland 245 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: three on two, and Georgia Knieing is a deadly spot 246 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: up shooter in this league, so I love that signing 247 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 1: for them as well. The Chicago Bowles signed Javon Carter. 248 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: Now they have a very interesting defensive back court between 249 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: Alex Cruso, Iyo Dessunmu and Javon Carter, they are going 250 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: to be a frightening ball pressure team, especially since Alex 251 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: Crudo Acruso and Iyo Desunmo are both big, strong athletes 252 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: for their position. They can play three guard lineups now 253 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: and don't be surprised if that team is devastating defensively 254 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: in the regular season just because of their point of 255 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: attack defense. And then again, like you know, I always 256 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: talk about rim protection as a product of two different things. 257 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: Rimp protection is a product of your size and athleticism 258 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: around the rim, but it's also a product of your 259 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: perimeter contained. If you can contain ball handlers on the perimeter, 260 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: you shut down driving lanes. If you shut down driving lanes, 261 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: then they're not getting all the way to the rim anyway. 262 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: And we saw kind of a version of this set 263 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: the just before Lonzo Ball got injured when he first 264 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: signed with the Bulls. When you saw Lonzo and Alex 265 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: just picking up guards full court and just making life 266 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: hell for them on the perimeter. I really like that 267 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: signing for the Bulls. They are going to be a 268 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: frightening perimeter defense team, which is going to keep them 269 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: in a lot of games over the course of the 270 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: regular seat. And last but not least, on the free 271 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: agent son a free agent front, the Portland Trailblazers resigning 272 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 1: Jeremy Grant for five years one hundred and sixty million dollars. 273 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 1: Now it seems like a lot of money, but I 274 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: actually like this move. I think it's smart regardless of 275 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: what the Blazers decide to do whether they decide to 276 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: get rid of of Damian Lizard and go full rebuild, 277 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: or they decide to or they decide to keep Dame 278 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: and try to compete for a title within this window. 279 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: That's a tradable contract. It's only thirty two million dollars 280 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: per year. You've got a new TV deal coming in 281 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five that's going to dramatically increase the salary cap, 282 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,959 Speaker 1: making that look a lot more like a twenty million 283 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: dollar deal or a fifteen million dollar deal per year. 284 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: That's going to be a deal they can move. And 285 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: here's the thing with Jeremy Grant. He's a big, strong 286 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: athlete with excellent physical tools. He's over a point per 287 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: possession and pick and roll and in post up situations 288 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: he can guard multiple decision positions, and he's an outstanding 289 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: catch and shoot player. So guess what, Like, for the 290 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: same reason that Andrew Wiggins is worth that much money, 291 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 1: Jeremy Grant's worth that much money too. And whether he 292 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,600 Speaker 1: ends up helping the Blazers within this window or getting 293 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: flipped for assets to help some other team down the line, 294 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: just like we were talking about earlier, You've got to 295 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: maintain the asset, and the Blazers did so by re 296 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 1: signing Jeremy Grant. All Right, last, but not least, before 297 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: we get out of here, let's talk about this James 298 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: Harden thing. So obviously I read the Athletic report last night. 299 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: I believe it was Sam Amck. I'm not one hundred 300 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: percent sure who wrote it, but I also kind of 301 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: texted some of the people that I know that are 302 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: connected around the league and just tried to get a 303 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: feel for the situation. And the best that I could 304 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: figure out is that James Harden wanted to go to Houston, 305 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: but it was really a leverage play, and so he 306 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: was putting out all these reports, leaking all these all 307 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: this information to the media about how he was gonna 308 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: go to Houston. He was gonna go to Houston. It 309 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: started as far back as Christmas Day and all of 310 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: these Easter eggs that he's dropping about how he's going 311 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: to Houston, basically with the intention of trying to leverage 312 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: Dale Darryl Moury to give him the deal that he wanted. 313 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: Right as it turns out, from what I've heard from 314 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: behind the scenes, I'm not sure Houston was really all 315 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: that interested in him to begin with. For obvious reasons. 316 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: It didn't make a ton of sense even when it 317 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: was originally getting reported, right, they had all this CAF space, 318 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: but they have these young guards that they're trying to develop. 319 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: It didn't make a ton of sense. Well, it turns 320 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: out that Darryl Moury basically called his bluff and was like, Okay, 321 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: go out and get yourself a deal and whatever it is, 322 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: we'll discuss a deal for you at that point, And 323 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: turned out Houston didn't want him, As was reported in 324 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: the Athletic report. It looks like he wanted to potentially 325 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: be the guy that got traded to Phoenix instead of 326 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: Bradley Beale, and then that didn't work out, and then 327 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: suddenly there were no suitors in his best situation was 328 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: just to opt into the contract and to demand a trade. 329 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: There was this interesting report that came out last night 330 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: that James Harden was frustrated with the way that the 331 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: Sixers front office handled this whole situation. But again, from 332 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: what I've heard about the situation, it feels more like 333 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: it was James Harden who overplayed his hand. Now on 334 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: the trade front, here's the thing, with James Harden. I 335 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: went back and looks, because you know, I've been a 336 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: big defender of James Harden in this particular season, and 337 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: he had some really good moments in this playoff run. Again, 338 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: like he hit two game winners in the Celtics series, 339 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: like these straight up won two of the games. But 340 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: as you look a little bit closer, these are crazy stats. 341 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: Six of the eleven playoff games that James Harden played 342 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: in he shot below thirty percent in four of those 343 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: six games. He had five plus turnovers and the sixers 344 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: went to and four in those six games. And that 345 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: outweighs some of the top end that you saw in 346 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: the better moments of James Harden's playoff run. So here's 347 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: the thing. Do I think James Harden is some sort 348 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: of star player that can push your team to championship 349 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: contention when you're at some tier below that probably not. 350 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: His inconsistencies are just too much of a threat there. 351 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: That said, James Harden is still one of the very 352 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: best advantage creators in our league. He's very good at 353 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 1: warping the defense one way or another, getting multiple defenders 354 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: to pay attention to him. That creates advantage situations, for 355 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: your spot up players, for your role men, for all 356 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: of your role players on the court that will struggle 357 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: to attack a set defense. So there is still value 358 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: in having James Harden on a basketball team. The problem 359 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: is he cannot be the guy that's deciding every possession 360 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: for you at the end of basketball games, and that 361 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: kind of fundamentally was the issue for the Sixers. Is 362 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: because James Harden has his offensive limitations and inconsistencies, and 363 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: Joel Embiid struggles so mightily to handle double teams and 364 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: to score in the physicality of the NBA playoffs, where 365 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: his efficiency takes tanks and his volume tanks every single season. 366 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: That pairing doesn't work. But what if James Harden was 367 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: on like a team like the Miami Heat, or suddenly 368 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: he's playing advantage creator for forty five minutes a game 369 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 1: and then incomes Jimmy Butler to close the game at 370 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,959 Speaker 1: the end, where he's going to be a more reliably 371 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,679 Speaker 1: great player in that setting. I'm not even saying necessarily 372 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: the Heat, but there's got to be some team out 373 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 1: there that sees value in James Harden, especially if they 374 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: have the ability to take the keys away from him 375 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: in late game situations when he does not have it going, 376 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: which is gonna be about half the time when you 377 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: get to the NBA playoffs. So again, he overplayed his hand. 378 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: But he's gonna get a suit. There's gonna be someone 379 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: out there who trades for him. I've heard that the 380 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: Clippers are interested. I've heard that the Knicks are potentially interested. 381 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: Don't hate any of those options for the Clippers in particular. 382 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: Here's what would concern me. Why are you giving up 383 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: Terrence Mann. Terrence Man's a really really good basketball player, 384 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 1: like an outstanding basketball player, and it kind of fits 385 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: into that mold of the Bruce Brown type of stocky 386 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: guard that succeeds so much in the NBA playoffs. And 387 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: so it's not so much that I dislike the James 388 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: Harden fit with the Clippers, because it makes a lot 389 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: of sense. He's a game manager when Paul George and 390 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: Kawhi struggle with game management. He's a guy that you 391 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 1: can take the ball out of his hands in late 392 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: game situations and give it to Kawhi. Right. There's a 393 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: lot of advantages there. But if you're giving up Terrence 394 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: Man and Norman Pale, if you're giving up that kind 395 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: of depth. I started to get a little worried about it. 396 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: So again, for the right team, without having to give 397 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: too much up. I think James Harden can still help 398 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: a team win, and still even at a championship level. 399 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: It just wasn't working in Philly. The dynamic between him 400 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: and Joel Embiid was too inconsistent in the NBA playoffs, 401 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 1: and he overplayed his hand and so he didn't get 402 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: the deal he wanted and now he's gonna have to 403 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: play one additional season. But here's the other thing too, 404 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 1: And this last thing I'll say about it, like, if 405 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: you're the team that gets James Harden, you're getting him 406 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: in a contract year, and you're getting him in a 407 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 1: contract year after an offseason where he disappointingly did not 408 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: get the deal he wanted. So you might get the 409 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: most motivated version of James Harden next season. And that 410 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: is appealing on a bunch of different levels. All right, guys, 411 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: that is all I have for right now. As news 412 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 1: continues to pour in over the next couple of days, 413 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: I was supposed to fly out to Texas this morning. 414 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: Long story, but travel staffho I'm actually flying out this 415 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning, but I get back just about three pm 416 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: Pacific time tomorrow, so if anything goes down over the 417 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 1: course of the next day or so, we'll have another 418 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: video on Sunday evening. As always, I sincerely appreciate you guys, 419 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: and I will see you at some point in the 420 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: next couple of days. The volume