WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: NBA Trade Season Give-and-Go 0:00:01.440 --> 0:00:07.560 De Jontay Murray, Bruce Brown, Kyle Kuzma, and a very 0:00:07.640 --> 0:00:11.639 talented big man whose name you haven't heard much about lately. 0:00:12.080 --> 0:00:15.200 We're gonna get into all that as we dig into 0:00:15.240 --> 0:00:18.599 the latest from NBA Trade season. Here on the latest 0:00:18.760 --> 0:00:21.000 edition of This League Uncut. 0:00:22.120 --> 0:00:26.319 Welcome to This League Uncut in the rule of twenty 0:00:26.360 --> 0:00:27.280 four hour NBA. 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:28.840 News, this news you'll. 0:00:30.600 --> 0:00:34.920 Chris Haynes, it's so time, work's time, it's so time. 0:00:39.120 --> 0:00:43.800 This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should 0:00:43.840 --> 0:00:45.960 be a good one. 0:00:46.920 --> 0:00:51.400 Hey, everyone, Welcome in to the latest edition of This 0:00:51.520 --> 0:00:56.480 League Uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes, Taping on 0:00:56.520 --> 0:00:59.480 a Sunday night. It'll be Monday morning by the time 0:01:00.480 --> 0:01:04.959 this episode drops. Where within three weeks, now less than 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:10.000 three weeks to go until the NBA trade buzzer February eighth, 0:01:11.280 --> 0:01:17.800 three pm Eastern Time. That's when the deadline sounds. The 0:01:17.840 --> 0:01:23.199 buzzer sounds. Rather, we've already seen Oganaobi traded, We've already 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:27.440 seen Pascal Siakam traded. But rest assured there will be 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:30.600 plenty more action. So Chris and I today what we 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:33.080 came up with, we are going to do some trade deadline, 0:01:33.920 --> 0:01:37.520 give and go two topics each. I'm gonna put the 0:01:37.560 --> 0:01:43.000 ball in your court first, mister Haynes, because on Friday afternoon, 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:46.440 you got everybody revved up. You did a live stream 0:01:46.640 --> 0:01:51.440 on Bleacher Report, and you reported that the Milwaukee Bucks 0:01:51.680 --> 0:01:55.320 are trying to barge their way into the chase for 0:01:55.440 --> 0:01:59.720 de Jonte Murray in Atlanta. I think, with Siakam and 0:01:59.800 --> 0:02:03.160 n and Obi off the board, with all the struggles 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:07.320 Chicago has had trying to find any sort of trade 0:02:07.360 --> 0:02:12.000 market for Zach Levine, de jontey Murray, you can definitely 0:02:12.000 --> 0:02:14.880 make the case that he is the most decorated player 0:02:15.760 --> 0:02:20.200 who is who would be classified as likely to move 0:02:21.160 --> 0:02:25.080 between now and the deadline. He is certainly more likely 0:02:25.160 --> 0:02:27.840 to move at this point than Levine, and I think 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:32.920 he is also more likely to move than Jeremy Grant 0:02:33.440 --> 0:02:37.040 in Portland. The signals from the Blazers to this point, anyway, 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:41.760 have been that Portland is not very interested in fielding 0:02:41.840 --> 0:02:46.440 pitches on Jeremy Grant. So you know you've been saying, 0:02:46.480 --> 0:02:50.040 you've come on this pod multiple times here in recent weeks, 0:02:50.880 --> 0:02:53.840 you said you thought Dejante Murray was going to be moved. 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:56.880 You said you thought Siakam was going to be moved, 0:02:56.919 --> 0:03:01.480 and that happened already. Do Jon Tay Murray? Do the 0:03:01.480 --> 0:03:04.840 Bucks have any chance here? The question I have really is, 0:03:05.240 --> 0:03:07.959 you know, Atlanta is known to want two first round 0:03:08.040 --> 0:03:11.200 picks at least for to Jon Ta Murray. That's what 0:03:11.240 --> 0:03:14.880 they're hoping to recoup after they traded so much to 0:03:14.960 --> 0:03:19.560 get him. Can the Bucks manufacture two first round picks 0:03:19.560 --> 0:03:22.280 to become a factor in this chase? 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:25.640 Yeah, the only way, you know, I've heard that. As 0:03:25.680 --> 0:03:29.320 well as far as what Atlanta is seeking in return, 0:03:29.400 --> 0:03:32.200 you have to remember what they gave up to get 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:35.080 de Johonte. Again, that was a different regime, that was 0:03:35.160 --> 0:03:39.440 before Landrew Fields took over as general manager. But they 0:03:39.560 --> 0:03:42.880 got let me see, they gave away three first round 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:46.200 picks in a first and a first round pick swap 0:03:47.480 --> 0:03:51.480 in that deal, so they're not getting that back in return. 0:03:51.640 --> 0:03:55.720 So you know, I was told as well, it's going 0:03:55.800 --> 0:03:58.880 to take at least to first and I was told 0:03:59.000 --> 0:04:02.120 also a quality place layer. So with that being said, 0:04:02.200 --> 0:04:05.680 the Bucks do not have the picks. So if the 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:10.440 Bucks were really serious about getting engaged in trying to 0:04:10.480 --> 0:04:13.760 acquire the John Ty Murray, it's going to take some 0:04:13.840 --> 0:04:17.279 assistance because because they do not have the picks. Now 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:19.200 you can make the case that maybe they have a 0:04:19.279 --> 0:04:27.440 quality player that Atlanta might find attractive. But now it's 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:31.760 the tall order of finding those picks. Where do you go? 0:04:32.000 --> 0:04:35.920 Who has that, who can help facilitate? And I think 0:04:35.960 --> 0:04:40.160 that's where the Milwaukee is at right now. Again, I 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:42.400 when I when I brought up Milwaukee, there is nothing 0:04:42.440 --> 0:04:48.720 to the sentiment of their being dialogue where they're exchanging 0:04:50.240 --> 0:04:53.279 offers and nothing. It hasn't gotten to that point. But 0:04:53.440 --> 0:04:56.080 I do know for sure Milwaukee has reached out and 0:04:56.200 --> 0:05:02.240 expressed interest and trying to see what Atlanta wants to 0:05:02.240 --> 0:05:05.400 do the like because of them moving to Johntay, things 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:09.400 of that nature. So I wouldn't dismiss Milwaukee just because 0:05:09.800 --> 0:05:13.680 they lack the picks right now. They're they're calling for 0:05:13.720 --> 0:05:17.760 a reason, and that's that's the start. But I do 0:05:17.839 --> 0:05:23.320 think Steyn to piggyback on what you said, I feel 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:27.200 pretty strongly about the John T. Murray being moved before 0:05:27.200 --> 0:05:29.760 the deadline. I would echo that. 0:05:31.040 --> 0:05:33.200 And I guess, look, the reason that the Bucks would 0:05:33.200 --> 0:05:35.560 be interested is pretty clear. I mean, they are just 0:05:35.800 --> 0:05:41.560 not defensively what we've seen in recent years. Damian Lillard 0:05:41.600 --> 0:05:46.080 has certainly given the offense a gear it didn't have before. 0:05:46.800 --> 0:05:52.279 But with no Drew Holliday there, they are struggling defensively 0:05:52.400 --> 0:05:56.719 in the backcourt and something they need to address. 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:00.480 Yeah, I mean they're struggling all over the over the board, 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:05.400 but yeah, they they will. They do require a point 0:06:05.400 --> 0:06:08.839 of attack defender. And when you look at the names, 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:11.440 you know, we talked about the John Tay and you 0:06:11.440 --> 0:06:13.760 know there's a there's a lot of guys out there 0:06:13.800 --> 0:06:16.800 that fit that mold. And I know we're playing this game, 0:06:16.839 --> 0:06:19.719 but allow me Steyn to just throw out some names 0:06:19.760 --> 0:06:25.120 out there that that could help Milwaukee. You're talking about 0:06:25.160 --> 0:06:30.760 somebody like Alex Caruso, talking about somebody like Dorian Finney Smith, 0:06:31.680 --> 0:06:34.960 talking about somebody who we're going to I'll let you 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:37.000 get to that. I won't bring up his name, but 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:39.480 we get to that when you when you come about 0:06:39.600 --> 0:06:43.240 but uh, somebody like Matisse Stible. So these are all 0:06:43.640 --> 0:06:46.360 names out there that are circulating that that has some 0:06:46.520 --> 0:06:51.120 links to the Milwaukee Bucks as being that guy that 0:06:51.160 --> 0:06:54.440 they can plug in to be that point of attack defender. 0:06:54.640 --> 0:06:57.560 So they definitely look need help and I will say 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:00.640 this stein Milwaukee is being very aggressive about there. That's 0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:04.440 what I've heard. They're being very aggressive and surveying the market, 0:07:04.960 --> 0:07:08.159 seeing what's available, seeing what players are available. So they're 0:07:08.680 --> 0:07:11.040 John Horst, the GM over there with the Bucks. He's 0:07:11.760 --> 0:07:13.280 he's working those falls for sure. 0:07:13.600 --> 0:07:16.080 And that's probably, I guess the most important takeaway here 0:07:16.160 --> 0:07:19.720 that we know the Bucks are obviously limited what they 0:07:19.760 --> 0:07:22.920 have asset wise, after all, they gave up to trade 0:07:22.920 --> 0:07:28.280 for Damian Lillard, but the realization that they do need 0:07:28.320 --> 0:07:31.000 to make a move, they still need more. The way 0:07:31.960 --> 0:07:37.360 this first half of the season has unfolded, yes, the 0:07:37.360 --> 0:07:43.480 Bucks are incredibly potent offensively. Yes, as an offensive duo, 0:07:44.120 --> 0:07:47.400 Damian Lillard and Gianna Santetokumpa have a very high ceiling. 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:53.360 But even though the gap and the standings between Boston 0:07:53.400 --> 0:07:58.560 and Milwaukee is not significant, not that significant, clearly the 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:04.800 Bucks feel like they need something else in season to 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:07.560 make sure that they can get out of the East. 0:08:07.760 --> 0:08:14.280 Because Boston has been tremendous. Philadelphia has not made its 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:18.640 major post James Harden move yet, but the Sixers are 0:08:18.760 --> 0:08:23.520 right there and now even the chasing pack in the 0:08:23.600 --> 0:08:27.800 East is tougher given that Indiana has just upgraded significantly 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:33.160 by bringing in Pascal Siakam and giving Tyrese Haliburton a 0:08:33.280 --> 0:08:40.199 max player sidekick. Cleveland has been fantastic, resilient to really 0:08:40.280 --> 0:08:45.560 hang in there without Garland, without Mobiley. They've weathered their 0:08:45.600 --> 0:08:48.760 injuries and you know they're still in the mix for 0:08:49.040 --> 0:08:53.280 a top four seed. The Knicks look better since getting Anonobe. 0:08:53.320 --> 0:08:56.480 We know the Heat are always on the prowl. So 0:08:58.960 --> 0:09:01.760 you know, the whole East at least the top half 0:09:01.760 --> 0:09:04.960 of the East ladder with Orlando still at number eight 0:09:05.040 --> 0:09:07.240 as one of the surprise teams in the league this season. 0:09:07.280 --> 0:09:11.880 But the East overall one to eight is better than 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:14.520 it was. And so just the fact that the Bucks 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:18.280 are so aggressively looking that does say something. 0:09:18.320 --> 0:09:21.720 For sure, give me a name that you're hear as 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:24.920 far as who you think could be moved, or just 0:09:25.040 --> 0:09:27.040 give me a name that you think, well, give me 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:30.120 a name and what you're hearing about this particular player 0:09:30.160 --> 0:09:33.160 that could be dealt by the trade. 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:39.120 That line, well, look, since the Siakam trade and Toronto 0:09:39.160 --> 0:09:43.439 made the trade when it did for multiple reasons. On 0:09:43.440 --> 0:09:49.440 one level, the Raptors, they did the deal with Indiana 0:09:50.240 --> 0:09:53.320 because I think they realized that they weren't going to 0:09:53.320 --> 0:09:57.480 get a stronger offer anywhere else. The Pacers were very 0:09:57.520 --> 0:10:03.120 motivated to bring in Pascal Siakam. They had the leverage 0:10:03.160 --> 0:10:06.560 to do it without including guys like Benedict Maturin and 0:10:07.000 --> 0:10:14.240 Jarris Walker, Jalen Smith Andrew Nebhard. It was a deal 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:16.640 for the Raptors to be able to acquire multiple first 0:10:16.720 --> 0:10:19.640 round picks. But they got Bruce Brown in that deal, 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:23.920 and they knew that if they got Bruce Brown with 0:10:24.679 --> 0:10:27.080 three weeks to go before the trade deadline, which is 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:31.360 basically when they acquired him, they knew that they could 0:10:32.760 --> 0:10:38.640 potentially trade Bruce Brown on his own and potentially recoup 0:10:38.880 --> 0:10:43.160 further assets, which would certainly change the way that the 0:10:43.240 --> 0:10:45.360 Raptors are being graded for this trade. There is so 0:10:45.559 --> 0:10:49.040 much talk in Toronto, and Messiu Jerry sat the other 0:10:49.120 --> 0:10:53.000 day for an hour taking every single possible question from 0:10:53.080 --> 0:10:57.640 the Toronto press pack because Massiu Jerry's getting questioned louder 0:10:57.640 --> 0:11:01.560 than he ever has since he's been running the did 0:11:01.600 --> 0:11:05.560 you hang on to og Anobi and Pascal Siakam and 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:08.840 Fred van Vliet too long? These are the questions that 0:11:09.240 --> 0:11:13.120 Messiau Jerry is facing louder and more frequently than he 0:11:13.160 --> 0:11:17.960 ever has. But again, we might have to reevaluate how 0:11:18.000 --> 0:11:21.440 we grade this trade and the Raptors haul for trading 0:11:21.440 --> 0:11:26.320 Pascal Siakam might look different if the Raptors can get 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:30.839 another important asset or two by moving Bruce Brown before 0:11:30.920 --> 0:11:33.920 February eighth. So that was my long winded intro to 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:37.480 the Bruce Brown situation because I wrote about this on 0:11:37.520 --> 0:11:40.800 my sub stack on Sunday. What I'm hearing is the 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:44.160 Raptors are telling teams they want at least a first 0:11:44.240 --> 0:11:48.560 round pick and a quality player in exchange for Bruce Brown. 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:53.280 And what is motivating the Raptors to pursue that kind 0:11:53.360 --> 0:11:58.040 of asking price is their belief that multiple contenders want 0:11:58.080 --> 0:12:01.079 Bruce Brown, and with that very trade friendly contract that 0:12:01.160 --> 0:12:05.040 he has, he is very movable. The Raptors cannot aggregate 0:12:05.080 --> 0:12:08.880 Bruce Brown with any other Raptor between now and February eighth. 0:12:08.960 --> 0:12:11.880 They can only trade him on his own. But Bruce 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:14.960 Brown is making twenty two million this season next season 0:12:15.040 --> 0:12:18.360 is a twenty three million dollar team option. It's just 0:12:18.440 --> 0:12:21.319 like the Evan fourty A contract in New York. So 0:12:21.440 --> 0:12:25.000 basically a team can trade for him, and if they 0:12:25.080 --> 0:12:28.959 want to avoid the cap hit completely next season, they can. 0:12:29.120 --> 0:12:32.320 So the question is who will ultimately trade for Bruce 0:12:32.360 --> 0:12:37.040 Brown between now and the deadline. I think the expectation 0:12:37.160 --> 0:12:40.360 around the league is that there will be another trade 0:12:40.360 --> 0:12:43.719 that he would be on the move, and I do 0:12:43.760 --> 0:12:47.000 think there are multiple contenders interested. I'm not even sure 0:12:47.000 --> 0:12:49.360 we know them all yet. The Lakers and the Knicks 0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:53.319 have been mentioned the most frequently, but I think the 0:12:53.360 --> 0:12:57.720 field will expand, and the Raptors certainly believe that if 0:12:58.400 --> 0:13:01.960 they're expecting to get a first and the player as well. 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:05.920 We'll see if in the end they can actually meet 0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:07.600 those lofty ambitions. 0:13:08.720 --> 0:13:11.079 The way it was explained to me starying on Bruce 0:13:11.120 --> 0:13:15.160 Brown's that the Raptors are receiving an apt normal amount 0:13:15.160 --> 0:13:20.280 of calls regarding bb Now, that that which is amazing 0:13:20.400 --> 0:13:22.520 considering the fact that, I mean Bruce even said it 0:13:22.600 --> 0:13:28.040 himself last free agency he really didn't have a market, 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:30.839 you know, before he went to before he signed with Denver. 0:13:31.600 --> 0:13:34.560 He I forgot how he said it. I'm paraphrasing, but 0:13:35.000 --> 0:13:38.360 he said nobody wanted me. And now now he's in 0:13:38.400 --> 0:13:43.440 a situation where team, some teams feel like he's the 0:13:43.480 --> 0:13:45.800 difference maker. He's going to be that guy that that 0:13:45.880 --> 0:13:48.640 puts them, puts him over the top, push them over 0:13:48.679 --> 0:13:51.440 the top, I should say. And so, uh, kudos to 0:13:51.960 --> 0:13:58.200 Bruce Brown for just improving his game, stick sticking with 0:13:58.320 --> 0:14:01.800 it and have in the market. Now, now with that 0:14:01.880 --> 0:14:05.760 being said, Bruce Brown is also a guy that you know, 0:14:05.800 --> 0:14:09.200 we're talking about the Milwaukee Bucks point of attack defender. 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:13.080 That's him. It doesn't you know, it doesn't get any 0:14:13.120 --> 0:14:16.040 better than the the than the skill set of a 0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:19.320 Bruce Brown. And so I would be he's another guy 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:23.720 I would be surprised if Toronto kept I think they 0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:28.080 won't have a problem at all getting a first and 0:14:28.600 --> 0:14:31.720 a player of value back in return. I don't see, 0:14:31.880 --> 0:14:35.440 I'll be surprised. Again, I haven't. I haven't heard anything 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:39.040 concrete outside of the Lakers and Knicks interest, but I 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:40.880 know there's a lot a lot of other teams that 0:14:41.280 --> 0:14:46.080 have that definitely have reached out and I think Toronto, again, 0:14:46.400 --> 0:14:49.920 Toronto won't have any problem getting what they want to return. 0:14:50.160 --> 0:14:53.600 Bruce Brown is that hot of a trade candidate. 0:14:55.680 --> 0:14:58.280 Well, it's interesting with the Knicks, you know that they 0:14:58.280 --> 0:15:01.600 were a team that was interested and Brown in the summertime, 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:06.160 but now you know they have again. They've since since 0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:09.120 the Siakam to Indiana trade went down. The Nicks have 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:11.400 been mentioned frequently when it comes to Bruce Brown. 0:15:12.160 --> 0:15:15.920 To me, Stein, before you say that, before you go 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:19.520 any further, I did want to say this I have. 0:15:19.240 --> 0:15:24.560 I was told the Denver Nuggets would love to have 0:15:24.600 --> 0:15:28.920 Bruce Brown back, But again, they're in a similar situation 0:15:29.400 --> 0:15:34.960 like Milwaukee where they just don't have the picks. They 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:38.000 don't have the picks to try to do that, but 0:15:38.280 --> 0:15:42.000 they Bruce Brown knows how they feel, is what I've 0:15:42.040 --> 0:15:46.200 been told. So that's something to keep an eye on, 0:15:46.320 --> 0:15:47.760 even down the road. Not even talk. 0:15:48.000 --> 0:15:51.240 I've heard the same thing that Denver would absolutely love 0:15:51.440 --> 0:15:53.480 if there was a way, if it was in any 0:15:53.520 --> 0:15:56.920 way feasible, Yeah, for them to try to get Bruce 0:15:56.960 --> 0:15:59.760 Brown back. They would love to do so. But when 0:15:59.760 --> 0:16:03.560 you look at the Nuggets contract situations, it's just hard 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:06.800 to see a feasible pathway for them to be able 0:16:06.840 --> 0:16:11.840 to trade for him now without messing with their their rotation. 0:16:12.000 --> 0:16:14.960 I just don't think they can do it. And back 0:16:15.000 --> 0:16:18.200 to the Knicks, Yes, they have had interest in him 0:16:18.440 --> 0:16:21.640 in the past, but the Knicks have really been looking 0:16:21.720 --> 0:16:24.800 for a scoring guard since they were forced to put 0:16:24.840 --> 0:16:29.240 Emmanuel Quickly in the og Annobie trade. And so to me, 0:16:29.560 --> 0:16:32.760 again this is this is not this is more analysis 0:16:32.800 --> 0:16:36.360 than reporting. This is my observation of the situation. I 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:39.120 did report last week that the Knicks are a team 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:43.880 with interest in Jordan Clarkson. That part is reporting. To me, 0:16:44.640 --> 0:16:48.120 a pursuit of a Jordan Clarkson or a Malcolm Brogden 0:16:48.800 --> 0:16:52.320 would make more sense for the Knicks than trying to 0:16:52.360 --> 0:16:56.400 get Bruce Brown, because again I think they are looking 0:16:56.480 --> 0:17:03.600 for some backcourt scoring punch to try to replace, to 0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:07.480 replicate in some way what Quickly used to give them. 0:17:07.680 --> 0:17:10.320 And so I do wonder. You know, the Knicks have 0:17:10.440 --> 0:17:13.760 one of the strongest reserves in the league in terms 0:17:13.760 --> 0:17:17.440 of trade assets, so they can get in the trade 0:17:17.480 --> 0:17:21.760 mix really for anyone they'd like to, depending on how serious, 0:17:21.800 --> 0:17:25.040 how far they want to go. So I imagine with all 0:17:25.040 --> 0:17:28.320 the winning that Utah has been doing lately that Danny 0:17:28.400 --> 0:17:31.840 Ainge has regained some leverage when it comes to Jordan Clarkson. 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:35.800 Colin Sexton, who's been great as a starter for the Jazz, 0:17:35.920 --> 0:17:40.119 Kelly Olynnick if anybody wants any of these Jazz veterans, 0:17:41.080 --> 0:17:44.040 it's going to be costlier than it was when this 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:48.160 team was seven and sixteen compared to the five hundred 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:53.200 team they were entering play on Sunday. But yeah, I'm 0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:57.640 just my senses. The Knicks need a scoring guard more 0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:01.639 than they need Bruce brown particular skill set. And then 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:05.399 the Lakers, you know, the Lakers thought they were going 0:18:05.440 --> 0:18:08.359 to be leading the chase in free agency for Bruce Brown, 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:12.119 and then that's when Indiana, you know, the teams chasing 0:18:12.119 --> 0:18:15.640 Bruce Brown were mid level exception teams. The Lakers probably 0:18:15.720 --> 0:18:20.000 win that race if Bruce Brown was only commanding the 0:18:20.040 --> 0:18:23.040 mid level exception last summer. But then all of a sudden, 0:18:23.040 --> 0:18:27.080 Indiana came in with salary cap space, and that just 0:18:27.160 --> 0:18:30.280 has to go down as such a smart trade because 0:18:30.320 --> 0:18:33.600 not only did they manage to outbid the competition with 0:18:33.680 --> 0:18:36.560 a year one salary for Bruce Brown of twenty two 0:18:36.600 --> 0:18:40.159 million as opposed to twelve million in the mid level range, 0:18:41.000 --> 0:18:43.320 they tacked on that second year where it was a 0:18:43.359 --> 0:18:47.720 team option, which made his contract so tradable. And the 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:52.080 Pacers that was such smart business for them, the way 0:18:52.119 --> 0:18:55.840 they handled Bruce Brown's free agency last summer. We'll see, 0:18:55.880 --> 0:18:58.760 now if the Lakers decide, you know what, Bruce Brown 0:18:58.880 --> 0:19:01.800 is the guy we should go for. Is Bruce Brown 0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:06.240 more gettable? Is Bruce Brown available at a price that's 0:19:06.280 --> 0:19:08.960 more palatable than it would be for the Lakers to 0:19:09.000 --> 0:19:11.919 try to make the run at de Jontay Murray. Because 0:19:11.920 --> 0:19:13.960 when it comes to the Lakers trying to get de 0:19:14.040 --> 0:19:16.600 Jonte Murray, to me all right, we know the Lakers 0:19:16.640 --> 0:19:19.080 do not want to include Austin Reeves in that deal. 0:19:19.480 --> 0:19:23.880 The Lakers are pretty much all but treating Austin Reeves 0:19:24.480 --> 0:19:28.880 as untouchable. Even if the Lakers are prepared to use 0:19:29.440 --> 0:19:33.879 their last available first round pick in an offer for 0:19:33.960 --> 0:19:37.080 Dejontay Murray, it's basically impossible for them to do that 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:42.280 deal without including Di'angelo Russell. And my senses, the Hawks 0:19:42.320 --> 0:19:46.520 really aren't interested in DiAngelo Russell, and I don't know 0:19:46.560 --> 0:19:50.560 that even with a Laker first thrown in, are the 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:53.560 Hawks going to be willing to take a deal that's 0:19:53.560 --> 0:19:57.760 built around DiAngelo Russell's contract. So making a play for 0:19:57.840 --> 0:20:01.639 Bruce Brown it might be easier for the Lakers than 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:12.240 trying to win the race for de Jontay Murray. All right, 0:20:12.800 --> 0:20:15.680 in this trade deadline give and go. Now, I pitch 0:20:15.720 --> 0:20:19.960 it back to you, who is the player or team 0:20:20.640 --> 0:20:22.640 whose trade situation you want to get into. 0:20:22.920 --> 0:20:27.359 It could be a big name and could hold significance 0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:32.320 next season. But I'm going to tell people about the 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:36.800 Portland Trailblazers. They are There are some teams that are 0:20:36.840 --> 0:20:42.919 pondering making a move for Robert Williams. Now, I know 0:20:43.040 --> 0:20:47.960 Robert Williams is he's out for the season, had another 0:20:48.080 --> 0:20:53.359 surgery on his right knee. But teams feel like he 0:20:53.480 --> 0:20:57.440 would be somebody that can get on the cheap right 0:20:57.480 --> 0:21:05.040 now and allow him to continue recovering, continue rehabing, and 0:21:05.040 --> 0:21:10.280 and hopes that next season he would be he can 0:21:10.680 --> 0:21:15.520 blossom back into the Robert Williams that we've seen when 0:21:15.520 --> 0:21:17.240 he was playing at at a high level with the 0:21:17.240 --> 0:21:21.400 Boston Celtics. And so you know that is a scenario 0:21:21.440 --> 0:21:24.200 that could play out. There are teams, are a couple 0:21:24.160 --> 0:21:29.440 of teams that I that I'm not quite ready to reveal. 0:21:29.960 --> 0:21:33.399 I want to. I want to make a few more calls, 0:21:33.400 --> 0:21:36.679 but I know there are teams that are pondering making 0:21:36.680 --> 0:21:39.399 a deal, trying to trying to make a deal with 0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:44.080 the Portland Trailblazers to get Robert Williams where his market 0:21:44.160 --> 0:21:46.679 value is just not what it what it used to be, 0:21:47.200 --> 0:21:48.960 so they feel like this is a good time to 0:21:49.560 --> 0:21:53.200 make a move in hopes that it can work out 0:21:53.280 --> 0:21:56.679 for that for that team and Robert Williams in the future, 0:21:56.720 --> 0:22:01.840 as early as next season. So that's something that, yeah, 0:22:01.920 --> 0:22:05.000 something that won't you know, won't be a big significance 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:10.639 in the short term, but long term very well could be. 0:22:11.119 --> 0:22:13.200 Well tell me this. I know you said you can't 0:22:13.240 --> 0:22:16.399 reveal the teams that you've heard could be interested in 0:22:16.480 --> 0:22:18.920 such a trade scenario, and I understand that you've got 0:22:18.960 --> 0:22:23.159 more reporting to do before you can identify those teams. 0:22:23.240 --> 0:22:26.720 But do we have any sense about the Blazers and 0:22:26.760 --> 0:22:31.280 how willing they would be to actually trade Robert Williams 0:22:31.320 --> 0:22:36.560 when he's out for the season and by all accounts, 0:22:36.560 --> 0:22:38.439 we're not going to see him until next season. 0:22:38.840 --> 0:22:42.000 Yeah, the Blazer will be very open. That's that's not 0:22:42.080 --> 0:22:45.520 up for debate. They'll be very open if they feel 0:22:45.520 --> 0:22:47.480 like they can they get the right deal in place. 0:22:48.080 --> 0:22:51.360 You know, they're they're open. The Blazers as we as 0:22:51.400 --> 0:22:53.840 we know they're they're in the youth movement right now, 0:22:53.920 --> 0:22:58.200 so they have they have nothing but time on their side. 0:22:58.320 --> 0:23:03.240 And you know, some players don't fit the development arc 0:23:03.800 --> 0:23:06.879 of most of the the youth they have on that team. 0:23:07.040 --> 0:23:12.840 So Robert Williams is somebody who is definitely available given 0:23:12.880 --> 0:23:16.160 the right price. And now I will say this, em 0:23:16.320 --> 0:23:21.359 Uduka is has always and still remains very fond of 0:23:21.480 --> 0:23:25.520 Robert Williams. And so I wouldn't be surprised if if 0:23:25.560 --> 0:23:28.320 Houston could be in a mix for something like that. 0:23:28.800 --> 0:23:31.600 No firm reporting on that, but just knowing he may, 0:23:31.760 --> 0:23:34.320 knowing the relationship he has with Robert Williams, how he 0:23:34.560 --> 0:23:37.639 how he feels about him still to this day, wouldn't 0:23:37.680 --> 0:23:43.560 wouldn't be surprised if if if Houston, you know, went 0:23:43.600 --> 0:23:45.639 out there and tried to try to make something happen. 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:48.399 So maybe down the road in a in a in 0:23:48.440 --> 0:23:51.760 a in a podcast very soon I have more firm 0:23:51.840 --> 0:23:55.560 reporting on what I'm hearing on Robert Williams. 0:23:55.920 --> 0:23:57.960 All right, sounds good. We'll take that. 0:23:59.200 --> 0:24:03.280 All right, Stein, give me your final guy team player, 0:24:04.040 --> 0:24:04.720 what you got. 0:24:04.960 --> 0:24:09.479 I want to talk about Kyle Kuzma in Washington, a 0:24:09.520 --> 0:24:13.919 player who I've always rated very highly, not that my 0:24:14.080 --> 0:24:18.840 rankings really factor in much here. But I think kuzma 0:24:18.920 --> 0:24:25.440 situation is incredibly interesting and bears monitoring, not just now 0:24:25.480 --> 0:24:29.560 before this deadline, because he might not move in this 0:24:30.320 --> 0:24:37.120 transaction window. But Washington resigned Kyle Kuzma to a really 0:24:39.119 --> 0:24:43.040 good value contract ninety million over four years. This is 0:24:43.160 --> 0:24:47.600 year one. Kuzma's in the twenty five million range this season, 0:24:48.240 --> 0:24:51.280 but the value of the contract descends, it goes down 0:24:51.320 --> 0:24:53.800 all it goes all the way down to nineteen million 0:24:54.720 --> 0:24:58.680 in year four. And he is. I think he could 0:24:58.680 --> 0:25:02.440 be such a product, active player on a good team. 0:25:03.080 --> 0:25:06.679 We've seen that before in stretches with the Lakers. You know, 0:25:06.720 --> 0:25:09.080 obviously I'm not I'm not gonna pay too much attention 0:25:09.200 --> 0:25:13.680 to what's going on with a really bad Wizards team. 0:25:14.600 --> 0:25:17.440 You know, he's not gonna win Defensive Player of the 0:25:17.520 --> 0:25:21.959 Year playing in Washington. I think that's clear. But he 0:25:22.080 --> 0:25:25.280 is he can do a lot of things on the court. 0:25:25.680 --> 0:25:28.600 I think Kyle Kuzma is a much better defensive player 0:25:28.600 --> 0:25:33.080 than he's given credit for. And I know I reported 0:25:33.080 --> 0:25:35.159 this on my sub stack Sunday as well. I know 0:25:35.240 --> 0:25:39.639 that the Mavericks have inquired with Washington about Kuzma's availability. 0:25:39.720 --> 0:25:43.840 I reported that on my sub stack as well on Sunday. 0:25:43.920 --> 0:25:50.119 I know the Sacramento Kings remain very strong admirers of Kuzma. 0:25:51.080 --> 0:25:55.200 And though when you think about those kind of teams, 0:25:55.640 --> 0:25:59.840 you know, Dallas has Luca and Kyrie, Sacramento has Darin 0:26:00.080 --> 0:26:04.800 Fox and Demonta Sabonis. Pascal Siakam, who was in the 0:26:04.840 --> 0:26:07.439 market for a max contract and by all accounts is 0:26:07.440 --> 0:26:10.520 going to get a max contract from the Pacers or 0:26:10.520 --> 0:26:14.439 something close to it. He's a very expensive player to 0:26:14.560 --> 0:26:18.639 add to your team. But Kuzma on the deal he's on, 0:26:19.800 --> 0:26:23.359 I mean that deal in the current marketplace, in today's 0:26:23.480 --> 0:26:27.480 NBA is an absolute bargain to me because of how 0:26:27.560 --> 0:26:32.560 productive and how versatile Kuzma is. And that's why the 0:26:32.600 --> 0:26:35.560