1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: LaMarcus Aldridge wants to pull up Blake Griffin and join 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: a contender. Blake Griffin practices for the first time with 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Brooklyn what will his role be and Kyle Lowry said 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: he will retire a raptor but doesn't rule out the 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: possibility of a trade this season. Hey, I'm Tasmelis. It's 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: a little chilly in my garage and this is what 7 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: you need to know in the NBA for Thursday, March eleven. 8 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: Some of the big news on Wednesday was that LaMarcus 9 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs have agreed to part ways. 10 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: The thirty five year old Aldridge just hasn't been himself recently. 11 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: He has been a great player throughout his career, been 12 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: a great player on all teams he's played for, except 13 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: for my fantasy team this year. I forgive you LaMarcus 14 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: here thirty five. It's understandable. Seven time All Star, five 15 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: time All NBA has dropped off across the board this season, 16 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: including games played, which is a huge worry for the 17 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: San Antonio Spurs and why they're looking to trade him, 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: although it may result in a buyout sort of like 19 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: Blake Griffin, who will get to in a second. But 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: there will be suitors for Aldridge because although he's only 21 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: played twenty one games this season, a third of those 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 1: he scored twenty plus points. The rumor teams the Boston 23 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: Celtics always a hot rumor for a backup big, although 24 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: I don't really like to fit there. Their defense has 25 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: fallen off, not Aldridge's forte and that'll help when Marcus 26 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: Smart comes back this week. But you're going to take 27 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: away minutes from Robert Williams, who is a per minute 28 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: beast as a backup center, and they need a ball mover, 29 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: not a ball stopper. So I don't think Aldridge really 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: fits there. Going back to Portland, his first team in 31 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: the league, kind of makes sense, although they'd be going 32 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: all in on offense if they were to get LaMarcus Aldridge. 33 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: They already have a guy like that with nscant Are 34 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: coming off the bench. Use if Nurktt should be coming 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: back to start at center, I don't think that's gonna 36 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: happen either. I think the team that he shunned in 37 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: twenty five twenty fifteen free agency to go to San 38 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: Antonio in the Los Angeles Lakers is where he'll end 39 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: up because they already have a great defense, so you 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: can insert him there as a backup center and have 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: the team work around him to help him out defensively. 42 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: I don't mind that at all. Obviously a direct line 43 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: to a championship for Aldridge. They kind of need a 44 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: backup center still, with Marc Gasol being their starting center, 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: there are minutes to be had. Montres Harrell is kind 46 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: of their backup center along with Anthony Davis, but in 47 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: the regular season they need somebody to soak up some minutes, 48 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: so Ad will be the five a lot in the postseason. 49 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: But Alidridge can feel good about playing some minutes for 50 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: la here the rest of the season. That's just my guess. Anyways. 51 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 1: The San Antonio Spurs started their second half of this 52 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: season and forty games in sixty eight nights because of 53 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: how many postponements they had in the first half. They 54 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: lost to the Dallas Mavericks in their first game of 55 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: those forty and sixty eight. Marcus Aldrich forty and sixty eight, No, 56 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: thank you, I'm out of here. Hopefully he finds a 57 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 1: new team soon. Like Blake Griffin, who joined the Brooklyn 58 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: Nets after being bought out by the Detroit Pistons. He 59 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: had his first practice with Brooklyn. 60 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 2: What's up, guys, it's Blake checking in after our first 61 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: practice back from All Star Break. I can't wait to 62 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: get out there and see you guys in Barclays. 63 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: We'll see soon. I cannot wait to watch Blake Griffin 64 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn. But how is it going to work? I'm 65 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: still unclear. I don't know if the Brooklyn Nets are 66 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: clear either. Steve Nash had a conversation with Blake. They 67 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: were spotted out talking about his role now. Steve Nash 68 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: says he is likely to be a five. Blake Griffin 69 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: says this team needs help at the four. Maybe it's 70 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: all semantics because it's positionless basketball these days. But let's 71 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: just take it from the beginning of a game. When 72 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: the ball is tipped, will Blake be on the floor 73 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: or will he be sitting? Because throughout his eleven year career, 74 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: Blake hasn't come off the bench once, not for one 75 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: single game. And he's got to come off the bench. 76 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: Right when you've got a starting three of Kevin Durant, 77 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving and James are in a big three, I 78 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: should call him plus Joe Harris. I mean, that's where 79 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: he would fit. He'd fit in Joe Harris's spot, but 80 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: Joe Harris is just such a great shooter. Blake could 81 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: fit with those big four at the end of games. 82 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 1: That would make sense when the Nets get all knittying 83 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: gritty him start to play hard defense. KD and Blake 84 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: at the four or five could work. But I just 85 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: wonder if Blake is comfortable with coming off the bench. 86 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: If he's going to Brooklyn. He had the conversations with Natch, 87 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: she had the most conversations with Kevin Durant, who is 88 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: still out, Then he's got to be comfortable with it, right, 89 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: So that would make sense. I can't wait to watch. 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,559 Speaker 1: But this is going to be a new role for Blake. 91 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: And speaking of Ken Durant being out, Durant will miss 92 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: his tenth straight game on Thursday with a hamstring injury. 93 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: He is scheduled to have more imaging done on the 94 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: injury in the next week. So Katie not coming back 95 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: anytime soon. It's got to be a bit of a 96 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: bad sign. Although the team is saying that he is 97 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: coming along very well and looking great, Blake will not 98 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: be playing on Thursday night himself. They're trying to ramp 99 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: him up as he hasn't played for several weeks with 100 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: the Detroit Pistons moving on to Kyle Lowry, another guy 101 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 1: who could be the difference in winning a championship if 102 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 1: he is traded. Kyle Lowry took to Instagram to shoot 103 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,559 Speaker 1: down the rumors coming from the ringer that he's telling 104 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: everyone that he's being dealt before the deadline. And then 105 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: he told the media that he will retire as a Raptor. 106 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: But but but that doesn't mean he's not being dealt. Listen, say, I. 107 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: Will retire as a Toronto Raptor as you know that 108 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: if I'm here, if I will retire as a Toronto Raptor, 109 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: you know that one day contract. Hey, whatever happens, what 110 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: I would like to see is, you know, finish the 111 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,919 Speaker 2: season out as strong as possible. Whatever happens happens. You know, 112 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, myself, you know my agent, 113 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 2: you know the organization. 114 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: We have to date. 115 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: Everyone has to do his best for them, right, Everyone 116 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: has to do his best for them. And in the 117 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: best situation, who knows what that is right, who knows 118 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: what that's going to be, Who knows what that time 119 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 2: is gonna tell. 120 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, who knows Kyle. I think this is clear though. 121 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: Kyle is saying that if there is a trade on 122 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: the table that benefits both the organization and Kyle Lowry, 123 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: and Lowry could approve it. He's not saying he's going 124 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: to be a Raptor for life. And whether he's dealt 125 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: in the next two weeks before the trade deadline or 126 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: he moves in the off season, the parting of ways 127 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: definitely will be am with the Toronto Raptors organization and 128 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: fan base, and he'll probably have his butt as a 129 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: likeness out as a statue outside the Air Canada Center 130 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: of the Scotia Bank Arena. So everything is all good, 131 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: but it has to be a deal that Kyle approves 132 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: in my opinion. Now the Great Michael Grange of Sportsnet 133 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: is saying that Kyle will not be dealt over the 134 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: next fourteen weeks. Maybe there's not a deal to be 135 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: had out there, although obviously teams like the Clippers or 136 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: the Sixers would benefit a whole heck of a lot 137 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: if they had Kyle Lowry on their roster. He's gonna 138 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: be thirty five soon. Maybe he wants to take another 139 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: run at it and I do not think that he 140 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: ruled it out whatsoever by his actions there. Although the 141 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: headlines are all saying Kyle Lowry's retiring as a Raptor, 142 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: it's not a done deal that he's going to be 143 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: there for the rest of his career. He'll come back 144 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: on a one day contract though, so Raptors fans have 145 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: to be pumped at the groat the greatest Raptor of 146 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: all time. We'll retire as a Toronto Raptor two weeks. 147 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: So the deadline, as I mentioned, March twenty fifth, is 148 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: coming up quick. So many names still being floated around. 149 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: A few I'm watching the Hawks John Collins, who turned 150 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: down four years ninety two million dollars before this season. 151 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. Do the 152 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: Hawks deal him before they have to negotiate? Same goes 153 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: for the Chicago Bulls and Lowry Markinen, he'll also be 154 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: a free agent come this offseason. Do the Bulls want 155 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: to negotiate or do they want to deal him? And 156 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: let's stay with the Bulls that he is young, he's 157 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: been an incredible find for them and considering that twenty 158 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: teams now make the playoffs with the play in tournament. 159 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: There should be more buyers than there are sellers. Conventionally, 160 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: the bulls are just kind of in the playoff picture 161 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: that he is young, a great vet would be dealt 162 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: in normal situation, in normal circumstances, but he's been so 163 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: good they could make the playoffs. Actually, he's been what 164 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: Blake Griffin ought to be with the Brooklyn Nets. Working 165 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: at the elbows, short roles, making places for everybody else 166 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: has been Thattius Young's forte this season. He's been so 167 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: good at it. Do they want to go for it? 168 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: Or do they cash in on what is likely to 169 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 1: be peak Thattius Young value cannot wait two weeks till 170 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. Will have plenty of programming here on 171 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: No Dunk surrounding the deadline, including a trade deadline special 172 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: as soon as time ticks down to three o'clock Eastern 173 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: on March twenty fifth. Look forward to that. Look forward 174 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: to you joining me tomorrow. I'll see you then