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We are starting a series of videos today 36 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: that I'm going to be doing over the next two weeks, 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: not every day, but just kind of mixed in throughout 38 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: the next two weeks where I'm going to be covering 39 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: the trade deadline. I'm going to be zeroing in on 40 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: specific teams, talking about what they have going on at 41 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: this point in the season and what I expect the 42 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: trade deadline to look like for them. As we are 43 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: now just a few weeks out. I believe it's January sixth, 44 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: so less than three weeks away at this point. The 45 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: three teams we're hitting today are the Milwaukee Bucks, the 46 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: Denver Nuggets, and the Golden State Warriors. I'm going to 47 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: hit them in groups of two or three a few 48 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: times over the next couple of weeks. You guys know 49 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: the trip before we started. Subscribe to the Hoops Tonight 50 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of our videos. 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: Follow me on Twitter and underscore jsonltis. You guys don't 52 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: miss announcements. Don't forget about a podcast feed wherever you 53 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. It's also super 54 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: helpfulf you leave your rating and a review on that front. 55 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: We also have brand new social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, 56 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: and Facebook. We're releasing content throughout the year. Make sure 57 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,399 Speaker 1: you guys follow us there, and the last but not least, 58 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: keep dropping mailbag questions in the YouTube comments so we 59 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: can hit them in our Friday mail bags throughout the 60 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: rest of the season. All right, let's talk some basketball, 61 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: and you know important disclaimer here. You know, every time 62 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: we're talking about trades, everything is unlikely. Trades are hard 63 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: to make, especially under the new CBA. Any of you 64 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: guys who are fans of a team understand that when 65 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: we discuss trades, everything is unlikely. All the guys that 66 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: I'm mentioning today, lots of teams want them. Every team 67 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 1: could benefit from having Cam Johnson on their team. Every 68 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 1: team could benefit from having Zach Lavine if it wasn't 69 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: for the salary implications, right, and there are some teams 70 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: where it still makes sense, and there may be a 71 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: few teams that are interested. Same thing goes for Jimmy Butler. 72 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: Same thing goes for all of these backup centers. You 73 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: know how many teams want a backup centers. Like if 74 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: all of you guys want Mark Williams, only one of 75 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: you guys might get Mark Williams, right. So, like, again, 76 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,399 Speaker 1: just a disclaimer off the top, We're gonna be talking 77 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: about a lot of scenarios. I'm aware that they are 78 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: long shots, but I want to try to just zoom 79 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: in on each individual team and what they should try 80 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: to accomplish as we head into this trade deadline. So 81 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: starting with the Milwaukee Bucks, a little quick recap of 82 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: their season. They're currently sitting at twenty one to seventeen. 83 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: That's tied for the ninth best record in the NBA. 84 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: They are thirteenth in offense and eleventh in defense. Since 85 00:03:55,960 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: November twelfth, since their ugly start, they are nineteen and nine. 86 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: Technically twenty and nine if you count their end season 87 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: tournament win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are thirteenth 88 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: in offense and sixth in defense. And for all to 89 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: talk about their defense last year, which was the primary 90 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: point of contention, their ability to defend at the point 91 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: of attack, their ability to hang with foot speed. In transition, 92 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: they actually have built a pretty solid foundation on that end. 93 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: They've been a good defense for a long time now. 94 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: Brooke and Giannis are defending the back line at an 95 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: extremely high level. On most nights they've had their ugly knights, 96 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: like they got just eviscerated by the New York Knicks 97 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: the other day, but like on most nights, they're defending 98 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: at a really high level. Andre Jackson, Gary Trent Junior 99 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: and AJ Green have provided some stability at the point 100 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 1: of attack at that two guard spot. Depending on the night, 101 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,919 Speaker 1: there's different guys that can go with different combinations of 102 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: traits that they need. And one of the things they've 103 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: done to help them in transition is they've just abandoned 104 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: attacking the offensive glass. They just straight up don't do it, 105 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: which has given them a better transition defense than you 106 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: would expect given the lack of foot speed they have 107 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: on the roster. So I actually think hunting for a 108 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: defensive upgrade wouldn't do much for this team because they've 109 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: kind of found schematically the best version of this that 110 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 1: they can be at this point in the season without 111 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 1: compromising their offensive identity. Right, So if there was an 112 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: upgrade to be made, it would be a talent play. 113 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: Be a talent play on the offensive end of the floor. 114 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: I do think it would need to be in a 115 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: certain context though, so obviously you can't include dam Or Janis. 116 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: The other guy I think you can't include is Brook Lopez. 117 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: I think Brook, next to Jannis, is vital to your 118 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: defensive floor in the regular season, and I think he's 119 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 1: vital for specific matchups in the postseason. He's what allows 120 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: Giannis to operate as a low man as much as 121 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: he does. He's what operates. It allows Giannis offensively to 122 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: have more space to operate because of his ability to 123 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: operate on the perimeter on offense. I just don't think 124 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: you can include Brook Lopez. So it kind of handcuffs 125 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: you a little bit in the type of guys that 126 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: you have to include and puts you into a little 127 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: bit of a predicament at the backup center spot. But 128 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: let's look get some potential examples. The two that have 129 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: been bouncing around the last couple of days are Jimmy 130 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: Butler and Zach Lavine as like just big swing talent 131 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: upgrades for the Milwaukee Bucks. Complicated because the Bucks are 132 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: a second apron team, so they would have to get 133 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: under the second apron as part of a trade. But 134 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: they can effectively do that by bringing a third team. 135 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: And essentially it has to do with their ability to 136 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: aggregate salaries their second apron team right now, so they 137 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: can't aggregate salaries, but if they structure the trade in 138 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: a certain way then they can, right And so it's complicated. 139 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: It's a long shot. I'm not trying to sit here 140 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: and pretend like this is a sure thing, but these 141 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:35,239 Speaker 1: are actual possible deals under certain machinations in the CBA. 142 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: So let's start with Jimmy Butler. There's a lot of 143 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: posturing going on in Miami with like who Jimmy's willing 144 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: to play for, things along those lines. I saw a 145 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: report that said that there's nothing that says Jimmy wouldn't 146 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: want to play with the Bucks, So like, it is 147 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: a possibility that I think is worth exploring. What would 148 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: the deal look like. It would involve a third team, 149 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: and it would involve Chris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and probably 150 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: Pat Connitton going out in the deal. And again there's 151 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: multiple steps there. That'd be draft compensation, there'd be bringing 152 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: the third team. It'd be complicated, but that would be 153 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: the gist of the outgoing salary for the Bucks Chris Middleton, 154 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: Bobby Portis, and Pat content That would leave you with 155 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: if you pulled off that deal, if you send out 156 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: those three guys and got back Jimmy Butler through all 157 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: of the machinations, your starters. If you're gonna start Jimmy Butler, 158 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: he's been a good catch and shoot guy for a 159 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: few years now, but he's not a hyper aggressive catch 160 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: and shoot guy. He's not like a what I would 161 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: consider to be an off ball score. He's kind of 162 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: just like a guy who will take him sometimes when 163 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: he feels like it, when he's got lots of space. 164 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: And so with that being the case, I think i'd 165 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: prefer to have Jimmy next to at that two to 166 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: three spot, another elite catch and shoot guy. So I 167 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: don't think i'd start Andre Jackson next to Jimmy Butler 168 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: for that reason. I think you could have some spacing issues. 169 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: I'd either go with Jimmy at the two next to 170 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: Torrean Prince and just have those guys kind of pick 171 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: perimeter defense responsibilities based on the matchup, or I'd start 172 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: AJ Green, who's been shooing shit out the basketball, and 173 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: I would just put Jimmy Butler at the three next 174 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 1: to AJ, knowing that Jimmy can take at least certain 175 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: types of perimeter defense defense assignments that AJ Green would 176 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: struggle with, and AJ's jump shooting would just be really 177 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: valuable in that context. So let's call it AJ Green. 178 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: Your starting lineup at that point becomes Damian Lillard, AJ Green, 179 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: Jimmy Butler Johannisontena, Antenna Kompo, and Brook Lopez. I don't 180 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: really have concerns with that lineup. I just think that's 181 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: an awesome lineup with a lot of defensive talent, with 182 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: still quite a bit of shooting. Again, Jimmy's the guy 183 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: you can't leave wide open at least Dames lights out 184 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: shooting aj Green's lights out shooting Brook Lopez again, Like, 185 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: if you leave him open, that could get your beat. 186 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: I like that kind of structure. It's the bench where 187 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: things get a little tricky, and it's not the perimeter. 188 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: You actually have a pretty decent amount of perimeter talent there. 189 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: Torrian Prince, solid bench wing. Andre Jackson Junior. We know 190 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: what he can do at the point of attack. Gary 191 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: Trent Junior. That's a solid bench guard piece. You still 192 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: have Delon Wright, you still have Ryan Rollins. A bunch 193 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: of guards, right, But losing Bobby Portis puts you in 194 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: the predicament of having to stagger Giannis in Brook at center. 195 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: You're gonna have groups that just have Brook at center, 196 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: just have Giannis as center, not as many as many 197 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: groups with the two of them playing together. You might 198 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: have to look at making a separate deal for a 199 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: backup center or in the buyout market, something along those lines. 200 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: So there's definitely a downside in terms of depth at 201 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: the center position and in terms of just what things 202 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: could look like in terms of energy. A big downside 203 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: someone might point out is like, Hey, an injury to 204 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: Brook Lopez, all of a sudden, nuke's your season. And 205 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: I don't disagree, but I would say that was already 206 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: the case regardless of whether or not you make a trade, 207 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 1: Like if you don't do anything this deadline and you lose, 208 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: if you lose Brook Lopez and you start having to 209 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: start Bobby Portis, you're gonna run into similar issues down 210 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: the line. So I don't really think that makes that 211 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: much of a difference, and I think it undercuts the 212 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: real upside. I still think Jimmy Butler in a playoff 213 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: context is one of the highest impact players in the league. 214 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: He'd be a force multiplier for the Bucks defense if 215 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: you layer him with Brooke and Giannis. There's just a 216 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: lot of physicality that but you can see in that 217 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,719 Speaker 1: specific spot. Like one of my recent playoffs, the last 218 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 1: time I watched Jimmy Butler to play playoff basketball was 219 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: him doing a pretty damn good job guarding Jamal Murray 220 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: in the NBA Finals, at least at stretches. I mean, 221 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: he was a big part of how they won Game 222 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 1: two in that series. So, like Jimmy Butler is still 223 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: such a useful defensive player on the perimeter, but also 224 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: in off ball situations. I think there's just a lot 225 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: of upside on the defensive end of the floor, and 226 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: then he just gives the Bucks another option for half 227 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 1: course shot creation an interesting kind of ball handler slash 228 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: two man game partner with Damian Lillard. One three pick 229 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: and roll is one of the most difficult actions to 230 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: defend in the league when you've got a really good 231 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: pull up shooting guard that can beat people off the dribble. 232 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: We saw this with Stephen kd Because you need to 233 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: guard these big, matchup attacking forwards with a certain type 234 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: of guy, and you need to guard these quick pull 235 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: up shooters with a certain type of guy. And there's 236 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: not a lot of translatability between those two types of defenders, 237 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: and so if you get any of them switched, there's 238 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: just a lot of opportunities to attack on either side 239 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: of that action. That's you know why inverted ball screens 240 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: work so well in any contact even when Giannis runs 241 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: them right, So like there's there's and it doesn't even 242 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: necessarily have to be inverted. Even if Jimmy is just 243 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 1: screening for Dame. There's a lot of good that can 244 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: come from that if Jimmy's defender lingers and he gets 245 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: an opportunity to drive, or if he gets a switch 246 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: that he can exploit. He also just has a certain 247 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: level of translatability to the playoffs because he's a big, 248 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: physical wing who thrives when things get nastier and more physical. 249 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: He's just a kind of guy who thrives in that 250 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: type of environment. Again, the downsides you understand, an injury 251 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 1: to brook nukesture season Jimmy Butler also comes with several 252 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 1: other considerations, like his attitude and willingness to accept a role. 253 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: I'm personally not super concerned about that, but that's something 254 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: that's at least worth bringing up. The desire for a 255 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: new deal is where I would get concerned, Like, he's 256 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: gonna want a multi year, fifty million dollar plus deal, right, 257 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: and so even with the projected ten percent annual increases 258 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: in the cap that we're going to see through the 259 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:57,839 Speaker 1: end of the decade, as they've smoothed the new TV 260 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: deal into the picture, that's still a lot too account for. 261 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 1: So to me, Jimmy Butler represents your best chance to 262 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: win the title in the short term, but probably represents 263 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: an all in type of move that within a year 264 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: or two could end to this entire deal, this entire 265 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: roster being blown up. Right, So let's say you try 266 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: this year, and you try next year, and even if 267 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: you do win the title, but let's just say for 268 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: the sake of argument, you don't win the title. You'd 269 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: go for it for two years, and you're sitting at 270 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: it the summer of twenty twenty six and you're like, 271 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: what do we do. Jimmy would be thirty six by 272 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: the start of next season, thirty seven by the start 273 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: of the following season. Dame thirty five the start of 274 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: next season, thirty six the start of the following season. 275 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: Both players next year would still have multiple years left 276 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: on their deal if Jimmy signed a new deal, right, 277 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: and both deals would be pretty difficult to trade as 278 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: stars that have had injury concerns in the late part 279 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: of their career, and you're also just left with little 280 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: in the way of assets. If you lose Dame and 281 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: Jimmy to retirement, that trades, whatever it is you lose, 282 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: then they get out of the picture. You just don't 283 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: have a lot with which to pivot around Yiannis for 284 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: another phase. Because remember, Yiannis is thirty, so like there's 285 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:12,280 Speaker 1: still a lot of time for Yannis to be playing 286 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: at extremely high level. Jannis, in my opinions, playing the 287 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: best basketball of his career right now. So like, if 288 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: you do make a Jimmy Butler trade, it's by far 289 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: the most aggressive. I think it also gives you the 290 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: best chance to win the title. But the flip side 291 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: is is it's like it is the gamble of all 292 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: gambles because if it works, in the next two years, 293 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: you have a second title with Yannis. Yannis cements himself 294 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: as an all time great, the Bucks cement themselves as 295 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: an ultra successful NBA franchise. All of that's there, and 296 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: that's just the thing that makes it all worth it. 297 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: But no matter what, if you win or lose either 298 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: next summer or the summer after, you're likely blowing things 299 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: up because you're not gonna have the assets to rebuild 300 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: around Yiannis, which is going to force you to likely 301 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:58,599 Speaker 1: have to trade him and start from scratch. This is 302 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: why I see a guy like Zach Levigne as more 303 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: of a long term, viable type of move. He's twenty 304 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: nine years old and he's playing some of the best 305 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: basketball of his career, if not the best basketball of 306 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: his career. Yes, he's had some injury concerns, but I 307 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: do think they're a little bit overblown. He only played 308 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: in twenty five games last year, that's true, but he 309 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: averaged sixty five games played in his previous five seasons, 310 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: which is not terrible. I mean, he's missing seventeen games 311 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: a year, but nothing insane. Insane, right, And he played 312 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: in seventy seven games last year or the year before 313 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: he got hurt. Excuse me, So he played in twenty 314 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: five games last year, he played in seventy seven games 315 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: a year before, and he's only missed five games so 316 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: far this year, so sandwiched around that nasty season last year, 317 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: he's actually been very available. He's missed ten games total 318 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: in both and basically a season and a half, so 319 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: I would argue his availability is better than his reputation 320 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: would lead you to believe. Another way to look at 321 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: it for Bucks fans would be like this, Chris Middleton 322 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: has averaged fifty seven games played in his last five season, 323 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: so you'd be effectively turning one injury concern in Chris 324 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,680 Speaker 1: Middleton into another. It was Zach Lavine, except for Zach 325 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: Lavine is currently healthy. Chris is playing, but Zach is 326 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: currently healthy, playing at a higher level than Chris, a 327 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: substantially higher level than Chris. The trade would look in 328 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: terms of the machinations, roughly the same as the Butler trade. 329 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: You're still sending out Portis and content. You're still sending 330 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: out Chris Middleton right still involves a third team. Still, 331 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: probably there's draft compensations. Probably not quite as crazy was 332 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: zachly Levine's deal, but it still is a similar type 333 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: of machinations in order to make the trade work, Except 334 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: for the Bucks would save a little bit more money. 335 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: I think you'd save about ten million dollars on that 336 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: deal in their current cap situation. I actually like the 337 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: offensive fit with Zach Lavine a bit better. I think 338 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: Zach would be able to more seamlessly transition between off 339 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: ball and on ball scoring roles. I could see entire 340 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: games in the postseason where he functions as just a 341 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: hyper aggressive spot up player, but they can. I also 342 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: see entire games where it's like Dame has a rough matchup, 343 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: entire series where Dame has a rough matchup. Zack has 344 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: a better matchup and you lean on him more in 345 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: shot creation responsibilities. But Zach is just not in the 346 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: same stratosphere as Jimmy Butler as a defender. Now there's 347 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: some tree, there's some different stuff there. Like I think 348 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: you could get away with playing in Andre Jackson Junior 349 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: next to Zach Lavine, so that still gives you the 350 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: Andre Jackson Jannis Brook kind of foundation defensively, but certainly 351 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: not the level of playoff defense that you could reach 352 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: with Jimmy Butler in the picture. He also is just 353 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: not anywhere near his experience as Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler's 354 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: played in the NBA Finals twice, He's been in so 355 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: many big playoff moments. He's gone toe to toe with 356 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: some of the best players in NBA history in a 357 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: postseason series. So like all of that needs to be addressed. 358 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: But again, I think Zach Levine unlocks the ability to 359 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: play more of a defensive minded player at the two. 360 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: I also think Dame and Giannis's playoff experience and their 361 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: ability to kind of be comfortable in those situations will 362 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: help Zach in those situations. So I'm not overly concerned. 363 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: So like, I don't think this deal has quite the 364 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: champ being ship potential is the Jimmy Butler deal, But 365 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: I just think it's more prudent while still giving you 366 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: a legitimate upgrade and improving your chances to win the 367 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: title in the short term, it's prud in the long 368 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: term because let's look at it this way. We talked 369 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: earlier about the what it would look like if if 370 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: you traded for Jimmy Butler and things went south right, 371 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: and just how you'd probably have to blow things up 372 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 1: if you let's say you've made a trade for Zach 373 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 1: Lavine and you flamed out bad in the postseason this year, 374 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: and you're like, Okay, we just need to just completely 375 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: revamp this thing. You could probably trade Dame this summer 376 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: for a pretty decent haul of role players and picks, 377 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: and then you could rebuild around Zach Lavine and Giannis 378 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: and Tenacumpo, who would both be in their early thirties. 379 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: That is a potentially viable path to pivot while still 380 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: maintaining enough belief from Giannis that he's not gonna want 381 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: to run out the door. Right, Like, if Zach continues 382 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: to play at this level, it's he's playing a lot 383 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: closer to the Dame Lillard's of the world than a 384 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: lot of these other shot creators around the world around 385 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: the league. Right. So, like, I just i'd be lying 386 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:10,719 Speaker 1: if I didn't say, I just want to see what 387 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: it looks like to see Jimmy Butler in Milwaukee. I 388 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: think it'd be so much fun. But I think Levine 389 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: is the more prudent option if they're looking for a 390 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: big swing talent upgrade on the offensive end of the four. 391 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 1: I've seen a lot of talk about trading for a 392 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: backup center. I keep saying the same exact thing with 393 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: this sort of thing with Bobby Portis, and like, I 394 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: get it. I've watched Bobby Portis a lot, and his 395 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: defense can be so abominably bad at times that it's 396 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: destructive to what a team is trying to accomplish. But 397 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: he also legitimately does a lot of good and he 398 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: has nights where it functions better defensively. That is the 399 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: backup center experience. Guys backup centers in the league are 400 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: backup centers for a reason because they're too inconsistent or 401 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,719 Speaker 1: they have too many weaknesses to function as a starting 402 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: center in this league. So I'm going to say the 403 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,360 Speaker 1: same thing about the backup center spot that I would 404 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: say about anyone. Let's say you don't make that hyper 405 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: aggressive trade and you're just looking to upgrade Bobby. Or 406 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: let's say you make the up the massive trade, Bobby's 407 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: out of the off the roster now and you need 408 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,159 Speaker 1: to find someone to anchor that spot. I'm gonna say 409 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: the same thing I would say about any other team 410 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: in the league. I would not give up real assets 411 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: for a backup center. If you can get into the 412 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: picture where you find a decent like whether it's a 413 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: Mark Williams, or it's a Dayron Sharp, or it's a 414 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 1: Robert Williams, or it's a Jonas valanceiunas, and I don't 415 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: like Jonas. I don't think he could play in the playoffs. 416 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: But like, if you can get a guy like that 417 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: without having to give up much, by all means, jump 418 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: on it. I just think that sort of thing it 419 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: needs to be more of a trade of circumstance, a 420 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: trade of opportunity rather than like we're hunting for a 421 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: backup center when push comes to shove, especially on a 422 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: team with Brooke and Giannis, who are both capable of 423 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: anchoring units as a center, I just don't think it's 424 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: worth giving any sort of asset return for. And frankly, 425 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: the options that we've been presenting I don't think are 426 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: that materially better than Bobby. They are materially better than 427 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: Bobby on defense, but not materially better than Bobby as 428 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: overall basketball players, because they're backup centers that come with 429 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: flaws and that's just the reality of that position group 430 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: another way to look at it, Guys like I feel 431 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 1: like Christian KloCo for the Lakers has been doing a 432 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: pretty decent job at backup center, and I've seen a 433 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:18,159 Speaker 1: lot of Lakers fans that are like, we should go 434 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: get this guy, we should go get that guy, and like, 435 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm not saying they shouldn't if the opportunity presents itself, 436 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: but like the gap between Christian KloCo as like a 437 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: guy they signed off the street and another traded for 438 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: backup center is pretty small in my opinion, and certainly 439 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: not big enough to justify the price in a lot 440 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: of these cases. So again, if there's a trade to 441 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: be made for Milwaukee, I think it's a big swing 442 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: for a perimeter talent to try to get up into 443 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 1: the talent level that you see at the top of 444 00:20:46,000 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: the Eastern Conference. All right, let's look at the Denver 445 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: Nuggets big win in Dallas last night. Jamal Murray had 446 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: his best game of the season. Just an absolute shot 447 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: making display, really really impressive stuff from Jamal. Looked really comfortable, 448 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: was hunting aggressively from the three point line early. I 449 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: had the mid range shot going at his tough shot, 450 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: makee going. It was just it was beautiful to watch. 451 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: A big question that the Nuggets have to confront before 452 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: they do anything with the trade deadline is what to 453 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,520 Speaker 1: do with the starting lineup because you have this situation 454 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: here right Russell Westbrook has slotted into the starting lineup 455 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 1: as Aaron Gordon has been out with his calf injury, 456 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,160 Speaker 1: and Russ has looked great, and the team has looked great. 457 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: Right Like. They're thirteen and five since December eighth. That's 458 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: the fifth best record in basketball. They're second in offense 459 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 1: and eleventh in defense. Over that span, the Nuggets are 460 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: playing really good basketball. Aaron Gordon, though, is one of 461 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:49,479 Speaker 1: your most important and best players on the team, one 462 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: of your best players. He's got to eventually start. I 463 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: think that the defensive back line simply needs him out there. 464 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 1: Not the Dallas game last night, but the previous Dallas game. Guys, 465 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 1: remember the one Denver almost lost. There was a lot 466 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: of like these possessions where Jokic was coming out to 467 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: the level and Lively was rolling. And when he was 468 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: rolling and getting the catches, they were tagging him from 469 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 1: the weakside, but they were tagging in with smaller players, 470 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: and Lively was able to quickly go to post moves 471 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: and just easily finish over those guys on the top. 472 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: That's where Aaron Gordon is so valuable. Aaron Gordon is 473 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: the defensive anchor that makes Jokic viable in the big 474 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: picture context of contending with the best teams in the league. 475 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: So I think that Aaron Gordon's got to be out there. 476 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: So it gets complicated. I would continue to start Russell 477 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 1: Westbrook though, meaning I would move Christian Brown out of 478 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: the starting lineup, and I'd go Jamal Russ. Michael Porter 479 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,479 Speaker 1: junior Aaron Gordon, Nicole Yokich. The reason why is, like 480 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 1: Russ is playing the best basketball. He's by far the 481 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 1: best basketball he's played since giving up that top tier 482 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 1: superstar role when he left the Washington Wizards, Right Like, 483 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: he struggled so much with so many different things over 484 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: the last few years on so many different teams, and 485 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: it seems to be clicking for him right now. He's 486 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: hitting the open jump shot at a substantially higher rate 487 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: than he has in any recent season. He's finishing at 488 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: the rim at a substantially higher rate than he has 489 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 1: in any other season, specifically doing really well with Jokic. 490 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: Right So, there's some lightning in a bottle there that 491 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: I wouldn't want to mess with if I was a nugget, 492 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: if I was in the Nuggets organization. I also think 493 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 1: Christian Brown's pro without an ego. Who will be accepting 494 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 1: of event role, who's played an event roll before, And 495 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: you can adjust down the line. If you stick with 496 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: starting Russ and it falls apart, you can always move 497 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 1: Russ back to the bench. But while this lightning in 498 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,960 Speaker 1: the bottle is captured, I would try to stick with 499 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: as much Russ in the starting lineup as possible to 500 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: continue to just kind of breed that continuity and try 501 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: to just further explore that concept. So again, I would 502 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 1: just move Aaron Gordon in, I'd move Christian Brown out, 503 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: and I'd keep Russell Westbrook in the starting lineup. Now, 504 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: what about the deadline again, Verse twenty four and fifteen. 505 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: So far this season, they have seventh best record in 506 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: the NBA, fourth best offense, sixteenth best defense since December eight, 507 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: thirteen to five, fifth best record in basketball, second and offense, 508 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: eleventh in defense. I am completely out on the Nuggets 509 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: making a big swing trade for an offensive star. Frankly, 510 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: I think it's just unnecessary. They've been the second best 511 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: offense in all of basketball for almost six weeks now. 512 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: They have a one to twenty six Clutch offensive rating, 513 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,920 Speaker 1: which is absurd, and we all know that their offense 514 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 1: scales well to the postseason because Jamal Murray shot making 515 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: works in the postseason, Nikola Jokich best player in the 516 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: world that works in the postseason. Everything about what Denver 517 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: does works in the postseason. So I just trust that 518 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 1: group to score the basketball when it matters. End of story. 519 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: I do not think that there is a reason to 520 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: make a big swing trade for an offensive star. So 521 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: if there is a play to make, it's a smaller 522 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: trade for bench depth, right, But any perimeter based player 523 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: will lead to issues with the important context of the 524 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: big picture for Denver, which is making sure you continue 525 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: to get reps for guys like Julian Strawther, for guys 526 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: like Peyton Watson. So, for instance, let's say if you 527 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: were like, we just need a rock solid, you know, 528 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: perimeter guard to come in to help the situation, right, 529 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: Like if you were like, oh, let's go get Josh 530 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,639 Speaker 1: Green or something along those lines, like just a just 531 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: a solid bench guard, and that that's gonna eat into 532 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: Julian Strather's minutes, That's gonna potentially eat into a Peyton 533 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: Watson's minute. So like, I I think those guys need reps. 534 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 1: So I wouldn't miss mess with that, especially when you're 535 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: gonna just scale up the starter's minutes when you get 536 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: into the postseason anyway, and those guys will probably play less, right, 537 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: at least straw there will probably play less, right, So 538 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 1: I think you got to go for a low salary 539 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: point your high salaries Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and MPJ. None 540 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: of those I can afford to be traded in my pay, 541 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: and so pretty much comes down to Zeke Naji and 542 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: Dario sarch which is roughly about fourteen million dollars worth 543 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: of salary. Zeke Nagi's Contract's gonna be somewhat tough to 544 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: trade because he has three years left on his deal. 545 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: He's just not a very good NBA player, and teams 546 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: will be hesitant to take on that type of long 547 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: term commitment under the circumstances. So without being the case 548 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: like Zeke's deal is just gonna be really difficult to offload. 549 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: You're almost gonna have to include more draft compensation just 550 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: to do that. So what I look at is the 551 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: best option for Denver to be exploring in this deadline 552 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: is packaging just Dario Sarche or maybe Dariosarch in a 553 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 1: minimum something like that for a backup center, because that 554 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: takes minutes away from the Dariosarge DeAndre Jordan group without 555 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:48,959 Speaker 1: affecting the Julian Strawther Peyton Watson group, while not messing 556 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: with the offensive continuity that we talked about with some 557 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 1: sort of big aggressive swing. Right. So with that being 558 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 1: the case, the first guy I look at his guy 559 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 1: like Nick Richard's out of Charlotte, really nice fit salary 560 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: for salary. Both make five million dollars right Yonas valentiunis. 561 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 1: I think one he makes too much and then two, 562 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: I don't think he can play in the playoffs, so 563 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 1: I'm like completely out on him. The Lakers have been 564 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: really high on Yonas Valentunas. I don't understand that either. 565 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 1: Walker Kessler is an interesting option. He'd be expensive, like, 566 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 1: he probably costs you the twenty thirty one first round 567 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: pick and a couple of second round picks, and it's 568 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:24,959 Speaker 1: just a lot of money or excuse me, a lot 569 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 1: of compensation to spend on a guy that would just 570 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: be Yoki's backup. It also handcuffs your ability to make 571 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: trades in the future because you wouldn't have any other 572 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: first round picks to trade. But there's real upside there. 573 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: He's the best player out of all the guys that 574 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: have listed so far at that center spot. He gives 575 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: you a legit chance to anchor a real and competent 576 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 1: bench group, and he has a team option for five 577 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:46,439 Speaker 1: million dollars next year, so by the time you have 578 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: to pay him, you could very well see a twenty 579 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: percent increase in the salary cap. But as intriguing as 580 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: a Walker Kessler type of deal is, I still think 581 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: the Nuggets should stay cheap, stay as cheap as possible. 582 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: I think this window they're in is relatively short, but 583 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: Jokic will be the best player in the world for 584 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 1: several years after that, so I think there is some 585 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: form of more substantial pivot for the Nuggets that is 586 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: coming down the line in like a year or two, 587 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: and when that happens, I think they'll be glad they 588 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,640 Speaker 1: have that extra first round pick, especially since a guy 589 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: like Walker Kessler doesn't materially affect their chances of winning 590 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: the title this season. So if I had to pick one, 591 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 1: I think i'd go with Mark Williams. He's averaging twenty 592 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:32,000 Speaker 1: three points and fourteen rebounds per thirty six minutes, so 593 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: he's really active in his minutes. He's been excellent at 594 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: finishing as a role man this year. He is pretty 595 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: decent touched when he gets a few feet away from 596 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: the rim. I think he's a really nice fit. But 597 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: I also would not trade a first round pick for 598 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: him with all these backup center trades. As I said, 599 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: I don't think it's worth including real substantial draft compensation, 600 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: so like as I kind of zoom out. Even with 601 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: even if the Nuggets don't make a single trade this year, 602 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: I still like them as a rock solid second tier 603 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,040 Speaker 1: championship contender with a real chance to beat anybody. They 604 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: currently on DraftKings have the fifth best odds to win 605 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:09,760 Speaker 1: the title. I used to look at it as you know, Boston, Cleveland, OKC, 606 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: and then a small gap and then Dallas was my 607 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 1: next team. But with the back injury for Kyrie and 608 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: Lucas still being out, I think Denver probably has a 609 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: better case there. So I'd say off the top tier, 610 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: Denver's probably the most likely team to win the championship. 611 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: So there's a real solid foundation regardless. But if you're 612 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: gonna do something at this deadline, I think it would 613 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: be a sarch centered deal without any first round draft 614 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: compensation for a backup center if it's possible. But it's 615 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: very possible that a guy like Mark Williams gets that 616 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: you just get out bid for it, and maybe that's 617 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: what happens. But if I was to look to make 618 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: a deal for Denver this year, that'd be what I'd 619 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: be looking at Golden State. Both Draymond Green and Steph 620 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 1: Curry went off in recent interviews will interview postgame pressers 621 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: about how they don't want to make some sort of 622 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,719 Speaker 1: hyper aggressive deal, that it would be irresponsible to do it, 623 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: and they got kind of dramatic about it like that. 624 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: I can't remember whether it was Steph or Draymond, but 625 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 1: one of them talked about like how they'd be giving 626 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: up draft control for seven years or some shit like that, Like, honestly, 627 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: that's just a massive exaggeration. From what I understand, the 628 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: Warriors control all of their first round draft picks except 629 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: for the twenty thirty first rounder, and they have four 630 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: second round picks available between now and the twenty thirty draft, 631 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 1: So you have six first round picks in the next 632 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: seven drafts and four second round picks in the next 633 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 1: seven drafts from what I understand, if I'm reading the 634 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: tea leaves properly, so you could include two first round 635 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 1: picks in a trade and still have four first round 636 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: picks between now and twenty thirty one, not even counting 637 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 1: any first round picks you could get in return from 638 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 1: sending out players after you decide to rebuild, and so 639 00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: When I hear things like, oh, it could mortgage the 640 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: next seven years of the draft, It's like, yeah, there 641 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: are occasionally star trades out there that asks for three 642 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: first round picks and three picks and crazy stuff like that, 643 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 1: But aside from like Kevin Durant, there's not really a 644 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: deal like that out there. The Jimmy Butler's and the 645 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: Zach Levines and the Cam Johnson's, like, that group isn't 646 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: gonna pull an insane hall of like three picks three swaps. 647 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: It'll mostly be about matching salary. Maybe Cam Johnson gets 648 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: two first round picks Jimmy and Levine, who knows, Like 649 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: the Levine's contract, it might be no draft compensation. With Jimmy's. 650 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: It might be one maybe two. Like the I don't 651 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: think it's gonna reach that level of expense. So frankly, 652 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: the idea that the Warriors would be mortgaging their future 653 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: with an aggressive trade at the deadline is just inaccurate. 654 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: And like, if you did do it for a guy 655 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 1: like KD, I think he immediately vaults you into contention, 656 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: makes you bigger, it makes you better defensively, he fixes 657 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 1: your offense. That's a no brainer. So let's just explore 658 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 1: what Kevin Durantea would look like. The Sons are obviously 659 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: still hemorrhaging the loss again to the Hawks last night, 660 00:31:57,680 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: So let's say things get super nasty for those Sons 661 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: and the blow things up at the deadline. What would 662 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant to the Warriors deal look like? It would 663 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,400 Speaker 1: look something like Kevin Durant Osoigadaro heading to the Warriors 664 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: with Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kaminga, Buddy Healed, and Gary Payton 665 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 1: the second heading back to the Suns and again sending 666 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: out Kaminga and Wiggins I think actually would help lessen 667 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: the draft compensation issues because of their value. Like Kaminga 668 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: obviously is a prospect in this league with some upside, 669 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,239 Speaker 1: and I think Andrew Wiggins is a good player at 670 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 1: his salary, Like I take him at that number in 671 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: a heartbeat as the Lakers rooting for the Lakers right 672 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: like especially moving forward, like the cap is going to 673 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: keep increasing by about ten percent a year moving forward, 674 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: Like Andrew Wiggins is deal. It's just a really good 675 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: player at that number. So that might soften the soften 676 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: the draft compensation element of it. But let's say you 677 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 1: make that deal. So again, Katie and OsO Agudaro are 678 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,480 Speaker 1: coming back, Wiggins Kaminga healed, and Gary Payton all heading 679 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: out to the Suns. You'd be left with Steph Curry, 680 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: Dennis Schroeder, Kevin Durant, Raymond Green, Trace Jackson Davis as 681 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 1: your starting lineup. There's a version of that where you 682 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: move Trace Jackson out and you move in, take a 683 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 1: guy like Moses Moody or a third guard and put 684 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 1: him in the lineup, but I think they'd probably start 685 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: big and off the bench, you'd still have Kyle Anderson, 686 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 1: Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, Brandon Pajemski, Lindy Waters, Gie Santos 687 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: and Ohso Guitar. You have two guys who can play 688 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: backup Big minutes. You have two guys who can play 689 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 1: backup Ford minutes, and Kyle Anderson and Moses Moody, And 690 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 1: you've got guards like Brandon Pajemski and Lindy Waters. Gizanto's 691 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: can play some backup Ford. He's been playing some decent 692 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 1: minutes as of late. So like you're just you're still 693 00:33:33,560 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 1: pretty deep. And then like you have Dennis that can 694 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 1: help with backup ball handling. You can stagger Stephan KD, 695 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: so your offense is more stable throughout the game. Kevin 696 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 1: Durant is just an he still this year, some of 697 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: the most impressive defensive sequences I've seen have come from 698 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant as he cleans up messes on that garbage 699 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 1: Phoenix Suns. Team like KD would instantly anchor your defensive 700 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: front line alongside Draymond and make you a real championship 701 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,160 Speaker 1: level defensive front line. And you still have plenty of 702 00:34:01,160 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 1: perimeter defense. Dennis Schroeder can guard on the perimeter, Moses 703 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: Moody can guard on the perimeter. Podit Pozemski's not bad 704 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 1: out there. Draymond and KD can guard on the perimeter, 705 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 1: plenty of length on the back line. I think that 706 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:13,960 Speaker 1: would immediately vault the Warriors into the same tier with 707 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: Dallas and Denver with a real shot to win the title. 708 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 1: And I don't want to count on Steph Curry and 709 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant in the big playoff series, would you. I 710 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: think if you could do that deal, you do it 711 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,760 Speaker 1: ten times out of ten. Now it's a long shot. 712 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: KAD might not even want it after some of the 713 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: hang ups he has, after he left the Warriors. Matt 714 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: Eshpia may have no desire to trade him at all whatsoever. 715 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:36,960 Speaker 1: It's a long shot, but if you can make that deal, 716 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:38,879 Speaker 1: I think you'd do it any day of the week. 717 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 1: Let's talk about some smaller, more prudent moves, though. This 718 00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:45,920 Speaker 1: idea of getting Cam Johnson without Jonathan Kamina has been 719 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 1: something that I've been intrigued with a little bit. There's 720 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 1: different variations of that. I would also try to get 721 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:52,760 Speaker 1: Dayon Sharp in the deal. You guys want a backup center. 722 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: I think he's a decent option there that shouldn't cost much. 723 00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: So if you got Cameron Johnson and Dayron Sharp, you'd 724 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,919 Speaker 1: have to send out something like Kyle Anderson, Buddy Heeld, 725 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:05,799 Speaker 1: Kevon Looney, Kylie Anderson, Buddy Heeld, Gary Payton second, something 726 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 1: along those lines. I still think i'd want Gary Payton 727 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 1: in my playoff rotation, so I think I'd go with 728 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: like a Kyle Anderson, Buddy Heeld, Kavan Looney type of deal. 729 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,680 Speaker 1: You may even decide that you prefer Looney over Dayn 730 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:17,439 Speaker 1: Sharp and want to make some sort of different version 731 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: of that deal, But there are versions of it where 732 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: you can get Cam Johnson without including Jonathan Kaminga. I 733 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: like that deal. It unquestionably makes you better. Cam is 734 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,879 Speaker 1: a high level offensive player. He's shooting forty three percent 735 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: on jump shots this year, both off the catch and 736 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:34,040 Speaker 1: off the dribble, shooting sixty nine percent at the rim, 737 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 1: which is excellent for a perimeter player. He's ran one 738 00:35:36,719 --> 00:35:38,399 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty eight pick and rolls, ISOs and post 739 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: ups including passes, for one hundred and sixty six points. 740 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: That's one point zero five points per possession. That's good 741 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 1: self creation. And that's with him getting the other team's 742 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 1: best defender. As of late on the perimeter, his life 743 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 1: is going to be easier next to Steph. Not just 744 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:53,759 Speaker 1: being guarded by lesser defenders, but he'll be less emphasized 745 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,360 Speaker 1: in the scheme action with Steph. That could be effective. 746 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: There's just so much good there offensively, and he's become 747 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,320 Speaker 1: a really useful defensive player point of in his career. 748 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 1: Most importantly, he addresses a very specific area of need 749 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:08,200 Speaker 1: and shot creation for the Warriors. I also just think 750 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:11,360 Speaker 1: he's very clearly a positive asset. His two more deals 751 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 1: years on his deal with like we talked about ten 752 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 1: percent increases in the cap He's only twenty eight years old. 753 00:36:17,160 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: You could make a deal for Cam Johnson and you 754 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: lose in the first round this year, and then turn 755 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:26,160 Speaker 1: around and trade him this summer and immediately get whatever 756 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 1: you sent out back for him. One compromise your future 757 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:34,919 Speaker 1: in any way, and it would bring back a backup center, 758 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,400 Speaker 1: and that Darren Sharpropson, like we talked about, Darren Sharp's 759 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:39,640 Speaker 1: been getting sixteen points and thirteen rebounds per thirty six 760 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,960 Speaker 1: minutes this season. The one thing that I think would 761 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,800 Speaker 1: be absolutely foolish is a really tiny deal on the margin, 762 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: something like let's just get a backup center. First of all, 763 00:36:49,960 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 1: everybody wants them, but nobody wants to pay for them, 764 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: so it's gonna be weird negotiation anyway. By the way, 765 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:56,320 Speaker 1: no one really should, as I've been talking about throughout 766 00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 1: these other segments today, and frankly, I just think trading 767 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: for only a backup center would be embarrassing. It's the 768 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,719 Speaker 1: most two timelines move I've ever seen. Let's pretend to 769 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:09,920 Speaker 1: support the present while not actually giving them any capability 770 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 1: to raise their ceiling, while still not having any real 771 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 1: obvious future to speak of. All of these other teams, 772 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:22,160 Speaker 1: they're confronting it in different functions or different fashions because 773 00:37:22,200 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 1: of where they're at in their development. If you have 774 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: like this clear like two three years from now, we 775 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:33,480 Speaker 1: have this on the horizon, it's more complicated, right, But like, 776 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: like for instance, when I look at Denver, you can't 777 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,719 Speaker 1: trade something that compromises the development of Julian straw the 778 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:43,760 Speaker 1: or Peyton wantson when Jokich is his age and probably 779 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: still going to be the best player in the world 780 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: for two or three more years, in a top five 781 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,839 Speaker 1: player for even longer after that, maybe even the best 782 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: player in the world for longer. So like there's a 783 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 1: real pivot that they're going to have in one to 784 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: two years that they have to be super cognizant of 785 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,880 Speaker 1: the Warriors. There's nothing on the horizon. John can being 786 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 1: a not leading a team to success in the Western Conference, 787 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:05,799 Speaker 1: not anytime soon. He's five plus years out from being 788 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 1: able to like anchor a dominant Western Conference team at best. 789 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 1: There's no future. So like, with there being no future 790 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: and you being so far away in the present pretending 791 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:19,799 Speaker 1: to support the present with some little move on the 792 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,880 Speaker 1: side for a backup center, I think he's insulting Steph Curry, 793 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,760 Speaker 1: and it's just the most classic representation of their strategy 794 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years that they've been straddling 795 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:32,560 Speaker 1: these two timelines. Last thing I'm gonna say about the Warriors, 796 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 1: you will not have a player like Steph for a 797 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: long time. If ever, again, it's rare. Even through tanking, 798 00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:43,560 Speaker 1: you're not guaranteed to go get a number one pick. 799 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 1: Who's gonna be the best player in the league. Who 800 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 1: are the best players in the league right now? Nicole 801 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 1: Joki's second round pick, Giannest wasn't a top ten pick. 802 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 1: Shay wasn't a top ten pick. Even Luca was passed 803 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 1: on by two teams who didn't think he was a superstar. 804 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: Like it's there's a lot of luck involved in this. 805 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 1: You happen to have Steph Curry. He's a unicorn in 806 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:08,480 Speaker 1: NBA history. When you're lucky enough to have one of 807 00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 1: those guys, you should make the most of it while 808 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 1: you can. Any competent organization can pivot through taking on 809 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:20,120 Speaker 1: bad money for draft compensation, drafting well, developing well, establishing 810 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: a quality basketball culture that will quickly pivot you into 811 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: a positive future while you wait for maybe getting one 812 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:29,120 Speaker 1: of those best guys. Trading a couple of first round 813 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:33,480 Speaker 1: picks to support Steph Curry while he still has a 814 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:37,680 Speaker 1: fighting chance is not going to affect materially your future. 815 00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:41,879 Speaker 1: That is the fact. And so even beyond anything having 816 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:45,000 Speaker 1: to do with my feelings as a basketball fan wanting 817 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:48,400 Speaker 1: to watch Steph play in high leveraged basketball games, I 818 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:52,319 Speaker 1: would just argue that the discussion over like what you're 819 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:54,960 Speaker 1: giving up versus what you're getting in return, is so 820 00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:58,279 Speaker 1: heavily focused in an inaccurate way on what you're giving up. 821 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:02,040 Speaker 1: It doesn't make any sense to me. We haven't even 822 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,640 Speaker 1: had like an honest conversation about what these price tags 823 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 1: look like relevant to what the Warrior's future would look 824 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:10,560 Speaker 1: like in their asset trove, not to mention like anytime 825 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:12,520 Speaker 1: you decide to blow it up, it's like any quality 826 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,400 Speaker 1: role player you have can be moved for draft compensation 827 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:19,320 Speaker 1: to refill the troph So I don't think they should 828 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 1: make some small move on the margins. I think they 829 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:23,520 Speaker 1: should go for the home run swing, because the home 830 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:26,719 Speaker 1: run swing is not three picks and four swaps. It's 831 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:29,719 Speaker 1: probably two picks, maybe one pick and a couple second 832 00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:32,880 Speaker 1: round picks for a guy like Cam Johnson, and that 833 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:35,320 Speaker 1: guy can easily be turned around for the same return 834 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:37,480 Speaker 1: down the line. All right, guys, it's all I have 835 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:39,640 Speaker 1: for today is always sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting 836 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:42,239 Speaker 1: me and supporting the show. We'll be back tomorrow with 837 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:45,800 Speaker 1: a couple instant reactions. I'm also recording another trade deadline 838 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:48,239 Speaker 1: preview with Jovann Buja on the Lakers. I don't think 839 00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:49,759 Speaker 1: that's gonna run tomorrow. I think we're gonna run it 840 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,240 Speaker 1: on Saturday. But we'll have that coming later this week 841 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:54,799 Speaker 1: and then again periodically throughout the next couple weeks. I'm 842 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:57,560 Speaker 1: gonna be doing more trade deadline centric content that you 843 00:40:57,560 --> 00:40:59,600 Speaker 1: guys will see again. I appreciate you guys for rocking 844 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:05,239 Speaker 1: with me. I'll see you tomorrow the volume what's up guys? 845 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:08,080 Speaker 1: As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting 846 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: Hoops tonight. It would actually be really helpful for us 847 00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 1: if you guys would take a second and leave a 848 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:15,279 Speaker 1: rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys 849 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: supporting us, but if you could take a minute to 850 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:18,799 Speaker 1: do that, I'd really appreciate it.