The Mismatch - Pascal Siakam Trade Analysis, Plus NBA Season Midway Check-In

Episode Date: January 19, 2024

Verno and KOC react to Pascal Siakam finally being traded to the Pacers to team up with Tyrese Haliburton (03:15). They break down the trade from both sides, discuss Siakam’s fit with the Pacers, debate whether the Raptors will flip Bruce Brown, and so much more. Now that we’ve hit the midpoint of the season, the guys take a look at the overall standings, as well as the championship odds, to debate which teams have the best chances to reach the Finals (25:37). Next, they take a look at the awards odds and discuss which players are ranked properly and which are too low (40:40). Got a question for Verno and KOC? Send them an email at [e-mail]! Or you can send the guys a tweet @ChrisVernonShow and @KevinOConnorNBA! The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out http://theringer.com/RG to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Producer: Jessie Lopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's up everybody, it's Austin Rivers from Offguard, and I've got some exciting news. Offguard hosted by me and my guide Pasha Giggi is officially moving to our own podcast feed. We are now dropping two shows every week. Me and Pasha go way back and talk so much hoops already that we figured it was time to fire up the mics and let you in on these conversations. Every week, Pasha and myself will hit on the biggest stories happening around the league. Tap into the show twice a week on our new Offguard feed on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome to The Mismatch! Chris Vernon and joining me as he does every Thursday night from the ringer.com.

It's Kevin O'Connor, A.K.K.A. Kevin O.O.comber, Kevin O'Bomberto, A.K.K.K.A. Kevin O.C. Kevin O.C., Kevin O'Brien. Kevin O'Brien. Kevin O'Brien. Verdo. How are you enjoying the snow, man? You're staying safe? Yeah, we're staying safe. The South is not great for handling snow, ice, and a wintry mix. but I mean, I think there's like six plows in the city of Memphis. And so it's been snow days all week for the kids. Everybody's scratching at the walls.

And I have been able to make it to and from work most days. But today it was so bad I couldn't even. So I have been homebound the entire day. You and DeAndre Aten both. Me and DeAndre Aiton, you know, sometimes. times things are poetic that it gives me the complete inability to goof on D'Andre Aiton when I myself was in the exact same spot. There was a moment, there's a hill going into my neighborhood this morning when I was driving back home because I went out and tested the roads

to see how it was. And I thought there is absolutely no chance up getting up this hill. Because it's just like driving on an ice rink. My car spun out twice. I mean, it was terrible. terrible, because there's no way, there's no salt trucks around here. You just got to wait for it to thaw. And so today was the worst of the days. But I did make it look. It snowed over the weekend and I made it to the Monday game with the Grizzlies and the Warriors. So maybe I can goof on him for not making it to the game.

I found a way. Come on, DeAndre Yaten. All right, here's better. If they right now are 30 and 10 is DeAndre at that game? They did win the game with Adam for what it's worth. It was an exciting game. Blazers had a great comeback in the fourth quarter.

Simons hit two nasty shots over bridges in the final minute of the game. Fun game. Jeremy Grant was terrific. I mean, we'll see with Grady at 30 points in that game. Jake Fisher said it's unlikely he's traded. It does sound like that's the case. Like I said to you recently, the Blazers are in no rush to move him, but he put on a performance that would make me want to have them.

That's for damn sure. There's been big trade since we last spoke, Kevin. Yes, sir. There was a real trade. The Indiana Pacers got Pascal Seacom. Now, we have talked about Seacom trades for a long time. He has been a notable target for different teams, and we figured they're not going to lose him for nothing,

but he's probably not part of their future plans as they will build out around Scotty Barnes in Toronto. And so what is going to be his ending spot? Well, it turned out to be Indiana. Indiana got Pascal Seacom and the 2024 second round pick. The Raptors got Bruce Brown. They got Jordan Awara, Kyra Lewis Jr., which came from the Pelicans. And they end up with three first round picks, mid to late, probably all of those.

And then $10.7 million trade exception. for moving Siacom, which is not nothing. Pelicans, they got a little wiggle room. They got a trade exception for the Cairo Lewis, but most importantly, they're going to get under that line so that when the check for $14 million or whatever it is comes in from the teams they can take part in that. They needed to get under.

So they did. They also got almost a $6 million trade exception for letting him go for virtually nothing. The Raptors are an interesting proposition. now, which we will get to in a moment because of kind of what direction they take from here. But let's start with Indiana and how much do you love the fit of Siakum in Indiana? Do you think this is a good basketball landing spot? I think it's a beautiful fit. I mean, the glorious thing about Tyrese Halliburton is how he makes everybody around him better.

and he can play with and without the ball at equally high levels because he's such a potent shooter and mover without the ball. And now you pair him with Pascal Seyakum, which fills their need of a secondary creator. We've talked about that all year long where it felt like sometimes Helleberton was the only source of offense at times in endgame situations. Well, now you get Seacum who can create and pick and roll, who can isolate, who can also be a spot-up guy, who can be a cutter, who's a willing screener. he can do all of those things. And so I foresee Halliburton and Siakum being a very potent two-man combination. And I think with Seacom, the size he provides on defense, granted you lose Bruce Brown, who's a very good defender. Seacom's a bigger player. He fits what they need. And on defense, I think the size with him, like if you do keep Jaris Walker long term, if Walker works out,

you have a bunch of size and versatility in that front court. If you go out and get another guy, him with Siakum in that front court, which is one of the interesting wrinkles here, Chris. It went way under the radar. Woj said that originally the Pacers wanted to go get OG and Anobie and Seacom. Obviously, O.G. goes to the Knicks, but the fact they intended on going for both Ananoby and Seacom shows that they wanted to add two forwards to get that size and versatility and spacing and maintain their high-level offense while improving their weak defense. So clearly they're not done going for more moves here.

And Seacum is somebody that can play with anybody. Halliburton is somebody that can play with anybody. And they're both all-star caliber talent. So I'm very, very excited to see how these guys play together. Well, and you've got the thing that I like about it is the pace at which the Pacers play and how he fits that. They fly up and down and they're trying to score fast. Yeah. And the last thing you needed was somebody.

that might have been a clunky fit with that. And instead, if you're looking for a front court guy that's going to fly down the court with you and beat people down the court and finish, like Siakum fits that bill. He is a guy that's going to be flying up and down the court with Halliburton. And you can see that happening

where speed and the pace of play becomes a real advantage as it has been in so many different cases this year. you know, between, you know, maybe Jaris Walker or maybe Matherin and Buddy Healed and they kind of got the goods to be able to swing one for a third guy. I do think, right? They've got. And picks too. They traded two in 2024, one in 2026 their own.

So like they still can trade the 28 and the 30 plus swaps in the odd number of years. So they have flexibility with trade still too. Yeah, so I mean, you could see them adding, taking some of those salaries, putting it together, adding another big guy. Now, you got to do some figuring out on what you're going to pay Siakum in the off season because I know it is illegal to do, but you're not supposed to do it. But there had to be some assurance that we're going to work this out long term. I mean, that's just the way this stuff goes. You're not making that kind of a deal unless you think, all right, we've got. maybe not the framework, but we've got an assurance that, hey, if we make this deal,

does the guy want to stay? Because routinely agents leak out, you know, we went through it with the Sacramento thing. And this is just what happens. They say, hey, don't trade for my guy. He's not signing there for a long time. Now, he is eligible for four years, 183 million after the season. You can't do that because he's going to be. 30 years old. You can't do that. But I think what you're trying to do is still pay him a fortune.

I mean, I'm not talking about, you know, skimping him on this. But, you know, I think you're more in the 130 to 150 range and hopefully getting a little wiggle room on that fourth year rather than having that be a full guarantee when you're talking about that age. Because I don't know. He ain't flying up and down the court at 34 in the same way, obviously. But you want to have him in the fold. And so that's the other thing. You know, you're getting a third guy, Halliburton, because he's so great, so fast,

like that Supermax is kicking in, brother. There ain't no way he's not, you know, going to be getting a Supermax sooner than later. So we will see. But I like the fit. basketball wise. I guess this is one of those that we're going to have to grade completely when you get to the all season, you see kind of what they had to pay him in order to make this happen, right? Yeah. I mean, we'll see what they end up paying. Of course, that that's,

you know, a big component of it. And we'll see who else they get as well. Are they going to make another move? Are they going to sit on what they have? Are they going to do it before the deadline? Are they going to do it this off season? Because I'll tell you what, man, I've said it to you all year, this is the year to go for it. I truly believe that the windows open. Yes, the nuggets are the favorites. Yes, Yokic is the best player in the world, but it's really hard to go back to back. And plus, they're in the Western Conference. We've seen the Pacers have success against the Bucks this season. In a seven-game series with their roster, even better than it's been this year, maybe they can go toe-to-to-to-to-to against Boston. And I think with Indiana,

their one move away from being right there with a lot of those teams that have a real shot and they're going for. And I respect the hell out of them for it because I think the window's open and you got to go for it. And I tell you this, Kep, with Rick Carlisle being their coach and with them just acquiring Siakam. Like, Seacom is a win right now player. Yes. Like you're not, this is not, we always talk about timelines with a team. And sometimes teams try to truly speed up a timeline. Well, like, Halliburton is right there at the top where he can win right now.

And this is, you're in the Siakum window right now. Like, that's a win now move. And so I do think that you will, I don't think you're looking at it going, okay, we're going to try to have these two timelines and we still want to maintain our youth. But we also, what they'll do is they'll take some of that youth that hopefully is built up a reputation. And they'll be able to flip that to a team that is. on that youth timeline while attracting their good veteran player. And they might keep some of the youth because you want quality young players on rookie contracts.

Like you, depending on what a deal looks like, maybe you do end up giving up Jarris Walker, who's a rookie that hasn't really played for the Pacers and the big leagues this year. But you keep Benedict Mathurin in the deal. And Mathrin at, you know, six million from the next three years becomes a value contract for your team. That's very possible that that could happen. who, by the way, you talk about agents, you know, backchanneling, Nemhart and Siakum share the same agent. Just pointing that out there.

So maybe you keep Andrew Nemhardt in the fold as you're, you know, one of your backup point guards, backup ball handlers behind Halliburton. So I think with Indiana, you can still keep some youth while giving up picks and maybe one or two of those young guys in a deal. And besides, like if you're, like, just to follow the same logic, they went after Seacum and O.G. Inanoby, two forwards, two versatile pieces, which is precisely what they need. If they were to now go for, say, Jeremy Grant or Kyle Kuzma, guys making $20 plus million, you're talking about giving up maybe for Grant, healed plus Matherin, like that type of thing.

Like that type of deal construct is something that would make sense financially and, you know, haggle, however you want with assets and picks and all that. But that's kind of where I'm I'm thinking right now, like, who's the other forward that they want to go for since they didn't get OG? Like, I feel like that has been, I know, like, we're looking at the next deal already when we haven't seen C&C. I'm in a Pacer's jersey yet. But that is a big subplot, a big subplot of the Woage report saying that they went for both. That's huge. That was their intention. So, like, clearly, we got a couple weeks to go here. The Pacers are not done trying to get better. They're not. Yep. And on the flip set, I don't hate the Raptors return.

depending upon what happens with Bruce Brown. Well, and also, Chris, the timing, the timing aspect, too. Like, I think Raptors fans maybe you would have rather have seen this done last summer or last deadline when you maybe could have gotten more. But I don't think the return is bad. Two 2024 picks, one 2026, and Bruce Brown has first round pick value as well. And here's the truth. You're pulling the trigger now because you don't think it's getting any better.

that's why you do it right now instead of in a month. It's like you didn't think you're going to be able to take this around and say, or you may look at it and you go, hey, we might be flipping Bruce Brown again. Bruce Brown is a quality player that can help somebody that's trying to win a title right now. And he's got, like, he has a value. His contract was signed as a guy that could fit these kind of deals. and also he can be either asset or expiring or he can be both. He can be an asset and an expiring because he's got that team option that's coming up.

So I can look at it and I can evaluate it and I can say, all right, I am going to need that money after all. And then I could just decline the option. Or so that's why I think he's probably getting flipped because I don't know if you're Toronto. if it's wise to be picking up that option. He has more value somewhere else with the timeline that he is on right now. And so I think this is one of those situations where you're probably going to see Bruce Brown flip for something else. Maybe. Maybe.

I mean, I can see it either way. Like, he does fit the vision of how they're building that thing out with quickly and bonds and the movement and the motion. He does not fit with RJ, though. He doesn't. I think there's too much. You can't have six, five guards that can't shoot, bro. Bingo.

And that's why I think flipping him makes the most sense. But I could see if they had a vision for him as part of the short-term future. I just think if he's 27, he's a championship player. A contender right now is going to be calling up that Raptors front office like, yo, what do you want for Bruce Brown? Like, we view him as the final piece. He is the final piece for some teams. Why would you not go get Bruce Brown, especially considering all those X-factors you said.

Like, yes, he's a championship level role player, but also he's on just a team option deal for next season. There's flexibility on top of everything else. It's a movable contract. Like, it's a lot of reasons why you would want Bruce Brown. And I take your expiring back and then you give me possibly young asset and or, you know, some second round picks or whatever I can get in the deal. I kind of see how that works. Now, it doesn't make, like, you would think, like, maybe Toronto could go the opposite way now. But the truth is, it would take too much work.

I mean, at best you got, like, the sixth or seventh worst record. And they owe that pick to the spurs. It's like top six protected, the one, the Yakup portal deal pick. So that's top six protected. And so I don't think it behooves them to try to tank it out because at best, I mean, I don't think you could tank hard enough. So I don't think that's going to be the plan. Well, the one thing I'll say there, Chris, is with the lottery odds, there's been a team that's like outside the top six that's moved into the top four basically every year since the odds changed. I know, but you're still like less than 50% on that.

No, but even right now, like with the seventh odds at the moment, they have a 32% chance of moving into the top. But Kevin, here's what I'm saying. A, you know I hate tanking. B, I would make the case that it would be insane because what's the best case scenario that you get to keep that pick? Now you're keeping that pick in a bad draft and then give it and then you give up next year's. No, that's not true. It's top six protected next year, too, in the year after that. Like, so, so, like, if you're, if you're the next year's draft is a way better draft.

I know, but, like, you can still keep it next year is what I'm saying. Like, if you, if you, if you, if you, if you really, I'm, I'm not planning on doing that. Well, maybe you are. I mean, I don't know, maybe you are. No. Maybe you are. With Scotty Barnes and Emmanuel quickly and R.J. Barrett, and I didn't build, no, I didn't make that.

trade to be terrible. It's tough. It's tough, though, because, like, the league is really, really good right now. You can build from being pretty good. Yeah, but as much talent as they have on their team, they're 16 and 25. As much talent as we're talking about, they're still not a good team. I understand, but you're going to get to the offseason. And let's say I move that Brown contract and now I've got an expiring coming back, right? Let's say I let Gary, uh, Gary, uh, Gary, Trent walk. He's 18.6. I mean, I'm damn near Max Capspace. Man, not really. You still got Pertil. You still get R.J. You get Schrooter. So you still get other guys. Barnes as well.

Bro, I'm letting 40 million walk out the door, though. I got a lot of money to spend and maneuver, and I got some good young talent. I know. I know. I'm with you, but at the same time, at the same time, the league is really good right now. This is a win for the Spurs. This is a win for the Spurs. Because they, they're going to get that pick. They're going to get two top picks.

That necessarily, though. I mean, that depends on lottery. Now, like, it's 30% odds are really good. Those are really good odds. A team has moved up every year into the top four. One team. That's not how odds work. Yeah.

I know, but eight, I'm just, I'm just saying it's not. That's how odds work. That's one on the one. teams that could possibly move up. I'm just saying those odds are not bad. Those are still good odds that you move into the top four. If you have a 35% chance of anything, those are good odds that you're moving up.

If you have what record. That's why teams aren't straight up tanking and why they're pushing for the playoffs because your odds are better. You don't need to completely bottom out in order to move up in the draft anymore. That was the point of the change that they made. So your odds are much better of getting a top four pick. So yes, the Spurs in all likelihood the Raptors will end up with the eighth best odds. And yesterday will probably be like a 70% chance the Spurs land that pick.

But like you say that's a win for the Spurs. In some respects, it is a win for the Spurs. And others maybe rather than the- In all respects, they gave up Yachta portal. No, because in other ways, the Spurs would rather the Raptors, keep their pick this year in this weaker draft and then have the chance to get the Raptors pick at number eight or number nine next year or in 2026.

Like you might rather get the pick next year if you're the Spurs than this year. No, I'm talking about it for the trade. The trade, the fact that pick could end up. Yeah, but it's top six protected this year. It's still be a lot better than what you expected it to be. I don't, yeah, but I know. I'm saying the pick is the same next year.

It's top six protected next year. and its top six protected the year after that. So if you're the Spurs, you might rather have the chance at the eighth pick next year than get the seventh or eighth pick this year. Like that might not actually be a win for the Spurs if they get to pick this year.

Assuming the Raptors are going to be bad next year, to me is far-fetched. That has been generally a good franchise, and they got a good GM and they're making deals. We'll see. Masayi Jerry's wanted to rebuild ever since he was running the Nuggets, So we'll see. Yeah.

I mean, I guess we'll see which way they go. I mean, he is rebuilding now. He is rebuilding. That's what's happening. They are rebuilding. But he didn't get the 10 first rounders for Seacob and OG. I know that. It's tough to be good right now.

Like there's just a lot of good teams. That's my point. Like, there's a lot of good teams. So. Yeah. On the other side, it's also hard to be horrendously bad because we've got so many that are. You know what I mean?

But one of the reasons why they're horrendously bad is because so many teams are trying to be good. Like, I don't think. That's true. You know why else? You know why else that's happening? Player participation. And I say this is someone who has covered a bad team before. Players sit out.

Players sit out against bad teams, a lot. And it has happened more often over the last several years. and it is not happening nearly as much this year. It's like, oh, we got a game against Charlotte. Okay, we'll take that one off. Next thing you know, you got two or three-year starters sitting out. I mean, it's happening all the time, dependent on an opponent. And now with guys having to play 65 games,

I think it is having an impact on teams, you know, the bad teams, like get their ass kicked all the time now because those, you're not sitting your guys. You're not sitting your guys against bad teams. So they don't even get, they don't even catch those wins on the night where they get to play the teams without one or two or three of their best players. And I think that happened probably more often. That would be my guess in the past. That's just a theory.

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not a drawable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt C terms at the portsbooktop fendul.com All right, we got midseason stuff to do. Now you have been calling the season at the midway point for at least three or four weeks now but we are truly there Kevin. We have made it. Well, here's the thing.

We were midway through the season prior. Now we are at the midpoint of the season. We are at the midpoint. We were midway. Now we're at the midpoint. Okay. We'll make sure the podcast title. Midpoint.

Midpoint. Midpoint. All right. Right now in the east, we got Boston, Milwaukee, Philly, Cleveland. as a right now as we're recording this before the uh thursday night games uh new york five miami six indiana seven orlando eight so those are the top eight those would um and obviously seven and eight would get to host and have pole position and making the playoffs odds wise i thought this was interesting regarding winning the eastern conference the odds follow the current

standings exactly except for Miami and Cleveland being flipped, which makes all the sense in the world, right? I mean, Miami's been in three of the last four finals and you're giving them, right? You certainly would want to hedge your bets on Miami when it comes playoff time. But yeah, like those teams right now, and the reason I bring this up, is because the West, completely different than the standings. The West, it does not mimic. The odds, if you wanted to go bet on who's going to win the Western Conference,

they do not represent the standings right now. Number one is Minnesota, number two is OKC. Number three is Denver. Four is the Clippers. and then five Pelicans, six, sack, seven Dallas, eight, Phoenix. Odds-wise, the number one team is Denver. We both agree, right? Yes, they should be prohibitive favorites.

Number two is the Clippers, and I agree with that. I told you they, I saw them last week. I didn't even think they were trying, and I thought they were awesome. And I know they're going to be without Zubats for some amount of time. And you're also a bigger bet to try to bet on them all being healthy than anything else. But they have the second best odds. Do you think that they should be considered more likely to win the Western Conference than Minnesota and Oklahoma City? Yeah, for sure.

Those are the teams they are ahead of in the odds, but not in the standings. Yeah, I mean, like the Clippers, the bet against them is health. And I mean, Kauai looks great right now, Hardin looks great right now. Paul George looks great right now, especially the other night. He looked amazing. So I think the clippers are two are very, very, very, very fair because they have the experience as well over Minnesota. Minnesota hasn't proven anything in the postseason together. And is still young as well.

And the clippers have a way better defense than the suns. So the sons are next. Now, I think you and I might be on the same page on this. I'm not sure the sun should be ahead of the Timberwolves and the Thunder. Because of their defense. At the same time, like, you remember back in the offseason when they traded for Nerkich, and we were going back and forth about that, and I was like, yeah, but like during the postseason, they're going to go with Katie at the five.

They're not going to be playing their center as much. Well, that's what they did the other night in their 22-4th, 22.4th quarter comeback against the Kings. We saw Kevin Durant go to the five. Kings are too small though They have sub bonus They have sub bonus at center Small You know that

I do know that But okay so like you You ain't pulling that off Against somebody else Well who Okay so you do it against the clippers You do it against the clippers Zubbots will wear you out

Yeah Subonis Should wear you out I'm not saying you do it for 48 minutes I'm saying you do it for a 10 minute stretch and that 10-minute stretch, maybe you score the heck out of the ball, and Katie's playing like he did the other night on defense. He stopped Subonis.

He defended the pick and roll out of drop. He switched screens on ball. He blocked Malik Bunk. He blocked Deer and Fox. He was absolutely unbelievable on defense. He looked like the Kevin Durant of the five like he did for the Warriors and the finals. And so I think, like, all the other guys around him put in great effort, whether it was a Kogi when he was in there or Grace and

Allen when he was in there, Eric Gordon. Beal had a great interception on a play in the pick and roll. Booker was put in an effort. Everybody was in the Sun's defense. And it was like, okay, this was a reminder probably to themselves of what they can be when they use that son's death lineup with Katie at the 5. So I think that's just something that I'm going to be keeping in mind after I've said. I'm not sure that they belong in that same level, considering they have that car that they

can pull. Katie at the 5. Only against the Kings can they pull it, though. I don't think that's true small they got one big guy they literally have one big guy they play like Barnes they play like Keegan Murray they have no four I agree

which is why I've said the Kings need to get bigger they need to get bigger yeah try that shit against the nuggets try however however if you are the flip side of that is if you are going with Katie at the five against one of those bigger teams and you're drawing those guys out to the perimeter

and they need to not they're not closing out against Miles Turner they're closing out against Kevin Durant. There's a big difference there. So I think that's where the sons, they're betting on offense being so spectacular that the defensive shortcomings they have don't matter as much. And I think the defensive shortcomings will matter.

But I'm just speaking from how they're looking at things and how I said that they would look at it during the off season. But we saw a glimmer of it against the Kings. That was amazing. That fourth quarter was incredible. I didn't watch that live. So I washed it back. And like they trailed by 22 with eight minutes left.

They trailed by 18 with five minutes left. They still trilled by like 10 with three minutes left. I couldn't believe how they managed to pull it off. It was unbelievable, though, the way they did, especially from Kevin Niren. It was one of the better quarters I've seen from anybody this entire season. I would pick the Timberwolves, the Thunder, the Mavericks and the Lakers over the Suns. All of them. Yes.

Even the Mavericks and the Lakers? Yes. Wow. Yes. So with the Lakers, you put them ahead of the suns right now. You like the switches in the lineups that Ham has made recently. The switches, you mean just going back to what they had? He reverted that.

Yes, sure. Yeah, he went back to what had worked with him. He should have just done that. I mean, you know, he got, he got antsy because the first couple weeks, Reeves was sucking. So, you know, and obviously that people jump on D-Lo. But, I mean, they need to, they need some more. guys that could dribble and playmaking in that lineup and they had it on the roster.

I mean, I get it. They're not as good as you want them to be, but the better than what you got is better in what you were rolling with. And it's guys that you can pass the ball to and might make another pass or might drive or might. And these seems like all simple things, but those guys can dribble pass and shoot. And you were playing a lot of guys that can't dribble pass and shoot. when you're throwing tarim prints and cam radish out there together and Jared Vanderbilt,

it's like, yeah, there's a reason why you saw LeBron's numbers be good, Anthony Davis's numbers be good, and everybody else's numbers be crap, and they weren't any good. Like, at least those other guys can dribble past and shoot, and they'd be better off when they get Rui back in the mix. I mean, it did get to the second round of the, you know, they did get to second round of the playoffs last year. and then they got to the third round last year before they got wiped out by Denver.

But, I mean, they were good enough to do that. I'm not saying they don't have to augment it, but it's kind of crazy how it's not like they didn't have the guys that did that. And then they just switched it and it didn't make them better. And now they've gone back to that and did some internal improvement. And they've gotten a little bit more healthy for sure. but I mean that's the team we saw but yeah you would pick you would not pick the sons in a

in a series against the Lakers no way I think so no I think you would do that no don't think so plus the Lakers can make more moves like their roster's not finalized right now they have ways to improve the Suns not so much they are out of picks

out of young players the deal they don't have the flexibility yeah so then the sons are third in the odds and then the Timberwolves and then the Thunder and then the Mavericks and then the Lakers and then the Kings. So the most disrespected by the odds makers are the Pelicans. Can you foresee a circumstance where they have moved themselves up there fifth in the standings right now? So they aren't that far off from being able to be home court advantage. Where are we in terms of Kevin O. Pelican?

how are we feeling towards the beloved team? Is confidence growing? Is confidence high? Or is confidence wavering? I mean, confidence is definitely not wavering. That's for sure. It's not wavering one bit. I mean, Zion had a play against Lamello ball

the other night. The Pelican's team account tweeted it out where he just, like, completely locked down against Lamello, defending him in isolation. and it's like, this is the way. Like, this is what you're going to do. Put in this effort and you get a chance to be the best possible version of yourself. And he's been amazing lately.

Granted Ingram until that game against the Hornets, you know, had fallen off recently. I think the Pelicans need to make a move. I think they've got to consolidate. Maybe trade one of their young pieces and some of their picks and look for upgrades. I think they need to make a move. I think they need a point guard. Yeah. If they really want a chance of winning at all, I think they got to make. And I know they have to make some moves. I know they do.

But it's a matter of how much do they want to rush it versus waiting until another year. But like we're talking about going for it. That's a bet on Zion's health. Is Zion going to get healthier? Is Zion going to be as healthy as he seems right now, even though he's still not in the shape that you'd want him to be in? Is this as good as it's going to get? they are the highest like ceiling floor too because I could see them

drawing somebody in the playoffs and just being a horrendous matchup for somebody oh for sure like the Kings they destroyed on the other for sure and on the other hand

you could see somebody being a horrendous matchup for them like there are times where they look like the best team and then there are times where it's like what the hell

this doesn't fit you know they've got the most variance to me in terms of what I could see as their possible outcomes. You know, at midway point of the season, you usually got a pretty good read

on a lot of these teams, and it will change, dependent on moves. And I think there's some of these teams that will for sure improve. There's some of these teams that will for sure decline. But you've got a, I think we've got a pretty good measure

of what they are. I don't know. You could tell me that team's going to end ninth or tenth, or you could tell me they're going to end third, and neither of which would make me go, what? I don't know. I don't know what to make of it.

I also think they need to tweak their style a little bit, too, because they're 27th in the NBA and three-pointers attempted per game, but number three in percentage. They have Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins, two of the best shooters in all of basketball. and Tray Murphy should be taken nine threes a game. Jordan Hawkins doesn't even play every night. And when he does, he's taken five or six threes a game.

Hawkins should be taken nine threes a game as well. I just think they're going to be feeding those guys even more touches, even more minutes to just get the most out of what is one of the most efficient plays for them in the half court, which is simply these 40% knockdown movement shooters taking a three out of actions with Zion as drawing too. Ingram is isoing or C.J. McCollum's running pick and roll. Get those guys more three-pointers, in my opinion.

That's huge for that. Yeah, because there's a lot of four guys that don't shoot it from any distance. And so you then becomes 80s pack it in. And that's why I say, you know, they're just going to pummel you if you're small. Like you were talking about with the Kings thing, they're going to pummel you for being small because you're just never going to get the ball and they can two point you to death. But there's times where it's like Ingram's eye on, Herb, Jones and Valentunis, and it's like, okay, who's shooting?

CJ? You got one guy out there that's going to be stretching it out for you, and the rest of this stuff is taking place from the elbow down for the most part. That's why I think that those space are guys when they augment their lineups. You know, so many times they just look so much better. It's better balance. Yeah, well, because it also creates a space for, Ingram is as good scoring individually as there is.

I don't give a shit what a number says. I don't care about ISOs or whatever. I'm talking about I put him, I put a defender on him. He's one of those guys where I'm like, all right, this guy is a bucket. Like the degree of difficulty of the shots,

the way he's so tall and could lean back and hit him, it's, he really is like a bootleg KD. it's something to behold because it's all jumpers too it's all jumpers it's just dude is wet let's get to some of the awards

I was a little surprised that on Fandthul the MVP favorite is Yokic it's very slight I thought Embed who has gotten so much attention recently for this crazy ass streak that he's on

with 18 games in a row of 30 plus points and 10 rebounds. You know, it's the longest streak. I saw the other day since the merger. Hardin had a 32-game streak where he scored over 30. That's crazy. Wow.

That's great. 32. They could have been on the same team, Kev. But 32 games in a row. He scored over 30 at one point. But anyway, he's like up to 18 and, you know, that his team is certainly not as good built around him. They moved off of Hardin and brought back role players.

And Maxi's obviously they got to bump up. But, I mean, he is delivering night in, night out. And some of the historical stats that he's been putting up, I just figured would kind of put him in the forefront with team success and individual success. But it's Yolkut right now. Here's the thing. Ambide has played 29 out of 39 games. he's on pace to play just over 60, but not quite 65.

So I think that's got to be a part of it here. Yeah. If you're making odds, it's fair. I think that's got to be a component here for him. You remember my semi-boldt prediction. This will be one year. I think one year and they're done with it. I think they're done with it.

I think they've gotten their desired result. They have come out with their study saying it doesn't help. They've gotten everybody on board with the player of participation. they'll get their new contracts, right? This is all about TV, get our new contracts, but the first time it screws over a huge player, done. Done.

There will be controversy galore. Or maybe it's the opposite. And they say, well, guess you get to play more next year, Joe L. Embedde. No way. And then the next year everybody does. No way.

Because, look, he's not sitting out for funsies. he's not just like, you know, taking these rest breaks and stuff. And he's not like sitting out big, you know, TNT games and stuff like that. Like this is what it is. He's a seven-foot guy that he plays big minutes and, you know, you're going to get banged up some. I don't think that that's been a thing with him this year. He's been rather durable. You know who I'm surprised is too low, in my opinion, with the odds.

Who do you think I'm going to say? Who's too? No. Luca. Okay, so here, let me just, let me just for everybody out there. It goes Yokic M-B'd SGA, Luca, Janus, Tatum. Now, everybody up to Janus is less than plus 1,000. So Janus is the longest shot of those that I mentioned, plus 800.

Tatum is next. He's plus 2,900. So there is a huge gulf between the top five and, everybody else. So are you going to say one of those top five that you think is too low? No, I think Kauai Leonard at plus 15,000. Oh. It's just really low, in my opinion. He's missed only four games and yet he's behind Booker, who's missed more time, Halliburton, who's currently out, Fox, who has not been, you know,

better overall than Kauai. Duran has plus 7,500. Kauai is plus 15,000. thousand. Edwards is plus 5,000. Kauai is plus 15,000. Like to me, the odds for Kauai is not going to win it, so it's not the right to make. But plus 15,000? That seems really, really low for a guy who's just averaging like 28, 7,

and 6 ever since they acquired Hardin. So if he continues on that pace for the rest of the season, his averages are going to be way higher than they currently are after his slow start. while shooting 50 yeah shooting 52% for the field and having a yeah and very well may be on the you know one or two seed

yeah he's amazing he's been absolutely incredible he has been absolutely amazing I'm trying to look up here to see how what is the highest kawai leonard has ever finished in in terms of voting like MVP voting

to see he has one he's won six awards. He obviously he's got the finals MVP. He's won defensive player of the year a couple of times. He's got another finals MVP. He's an all-star most viable player a couple years ago, and he's got that 75th anniversary. MVP, the highest is, it appears second.

In 1516, he was second. Oh, wow, yeah. But that was but Curry but Curry got 131 first place points. He was unanimous.

Wow. Nobody else got a first place vote. Curry at age 27, that was his, yeah. And then Kauai was second in MVP voting that year. And then Kauai was third the year after

in 1617. I'm seeing Westbrook one, Harden 2, Kauai 3. Wow. Yeah. Those are the only two years? He was in the top three. Top five.

He had one other top five. 1920. 1920. Okay. Yeah. He was. In 1920, he was behind Janice, LeBron, Hardin, and Yokic. No, Luca that year.

I'm saying. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Yeah, you're right. You're right. Luca. That was, was that his first? first year with the Clippers?

1920? Yeah, first year. Okay. So his first year, his first year with the Clippers. Wow. So he said three years in the top five had a second, a third, and a fifth. P.S.

I mean, I mean, that year, hey, hold on, hold on, that year, you ready for this one, Kev? That he was fifth in MVP voting? Mm-hmm. 57 games. Oh, wow.

57 Wow 57 games well that was also the short in season too oh okay okay oh yeah I forgot

there was a global pandemic that year oh so I guess he played a ton yeah okay actually played quite a bit that year okay that was 70 something games is that right or 70 game

oh is a 72 that year yeah it was reduced but yeah you're right well I mean look if a look In fairness to me, the other numbers that surround it are 60 and 52 and 50.

So it's not like it mattered. It was a shortened year, Kevin. It's about the range that we're talking. He usually plays somewhere between 50 and 60 games. Yeah, Yonov had 63 that year when he won. 63 games played? Yeah, in 1920. Oh, I think I agree with you.

You know what? I didn't even notice. I didn't even think about. Kauai, but he is he's only low. It is love. It is love. I mean, what if one of the favorites

or two of the favorites missed extended time? It's possible? I mean, like, or aren't eligible. Yes. Yeah, or, yeah, exactly. That's right.

15,000 just seems really low for Kauai considering the level he's playing at on defense and the numbers he's putting up. The pace he'll be at by the end of the year. The place the Clippers could be in the standings. What if they end up taking the one seed. I don't know.

I'm going to tell you this. Look, Halliburton comes back healthy and starts playing like he was when he left. People are going to, no, I'm saying he's not going to get the, he's not going to get to 65. And people are going to be pissed about that one too. I'm telling you, and I'm telling you, this is going to last one year, one year, this 65 game thing. They're going to amend this in the off season.

Because some of these guys like, you know, the intent was to, get guys to play, but punishing guys that, like, hurt themselves and have amazing seasons, but have to sit out, you know, 18 games with an injury, you know, that's not the intent. Rookie of the year. Chet's a pretty big favorite right now, minus 180. And then Wembe is plus 115. So for everybody out there, if you hear minus and plus, minus, minus. 80 means I would have to bet $180 to win 100 on if I bet Chet.

If I bet 100 on Wembe, I win 115. So the next best odds is Jaime Hamehakis at plus 2,800. So this is truly a Jet Wembe race. I'm 28,000. Oh, it's 28,000? 28,000. Oh my God. You know, this is demented, but, I mean, is it worth putting a buck on just in case they both get hurt?

You know. A buck to win $280. You never know. I mean, you're probably throwing your money in the fire, but what if it's, it's a then it's like, all right. I mean, those guys are going to get to 65, yeah, they're not going to get to 65 games, bro. Yeah, they shut them down for the season,

play an extra cautious. Like the OKC, like brings Jet back for the playoffs. Spurs shut down Wemby for the remainder of the season for like an ankle turn. I guess, but you never know. It's, and then,

and then, and then, and then Hamé Hockes gets his Michael Carter Williams, Malcolm Brogden, rookie of the year. Oh, man. Can you imagine?

Right? Yeah. You remember when people were trying to say it shouldn't be Malcolm Brogden, it should be Joel and Bede that played 30 games. Yeah. And B played like one fifth of the season. And people were arguing that he should be the rookie of the year. Like, what are we going to do?

Give it the eight point of game, Malcolm Brogdon. This is dumb. You know, so how many I guess plus 28,000? I don't know, Kim. Who would you vote for it today? Right, Chet or Victor. Chet? I'd vote for Chet today, but I think Victor is going to take the lead and win it.

I think so, too. The run he's on right now. I think I agree with you on this. Unbelievable. If these stats that he's putting up, you know, hold, brother. He's like 20 and 10 and what, three blocks or something right now. Yeah, in 24 minutes per game. So if slash when they lift the minutes restriction, like per 36 minutes.

Like this is like always funky to project the head. But per 36 minutes, he's averaging 35.5 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks, five assists over his last 10-ish games. And look, I think we need to make clear like we always do. We're never trying to tear one down to build up the other. Never. To me, this is that. They are both absolutely amazing. And Oklahoma City, like, again, you put the ballot in front of me right now.

I am betting Chet. I mean, I'm voting Chet. If we're, what did you call it? Midpoint. At the midpoint, I'm giving this to Chet.

This is just what happens the last 41 games. And I don't think it is any slander to Chet Holmgren, like to think that, I would say, buddy, if it was any other year and you weren't having to deal with this, you know, freak of nature

that's just unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. I mean, what if he ever makes some shots? He doesn't make nothing. He doesn't make shots yet, Wembe. If he starts making shots, shit. Well, his three point percentage is trending up.

Like, it's been better over this recent stretch. He made some tweaks to his shooting mechanics. He's still shooting over 80% from the free throw line like he did last year. That's encouraging. Like, if he, if he, if he, becomes a 37%, 38% guy from three and over 40% on the tough mid-range jumpers he takes.

Like the guy is going to be absolutely unstoppable. Defensive player of the year, your boy Rudy Gobert is the prohibitive favorite. Chet is actually second on that at plus 800 and then AD behind him at plus 1,500. I'm a little surprised Chet's second. I thought AD granted the Lakers defense as a whole wasn't good, but 80 individually is been outstanding. Yes. Bam should probably be a little higher on that, too.

Yep. But I think it's Gobert's award to lose right now, for sure. Well, I would certainly bet on anyone else. I'm not biased at all, not even a little bit. Yeah, right. Sixth man of the year, I was surprised by this. Tim Hardaway, Jr., after all of the, After all these years is the favorite right now to win six men of the year.

I haven't lined up the stats for all of these different guys. My immediate reaction was that there's value on some of the lower guys. Nas Reed. Yes. Cole Anthony. Norm Powell. You know, if the clippers keep on humming along. Trey Murphy.

Yep. He, again, games thing's going to get him. The game is going to be the tough one for Murphy. Yeah. for sure. But Hardaway Jr., it was kind of neat to see him getting the respect that he's getting for that. Malik Monk is obviously, he, Malik Monk feels like the kind of guy that could do like the Jamal Crawford, Jordan Clarkson type thing.

And like that's he is, Malik Monk is what we have thought of when we think of six man of the year. Yeah. For so long, right? this is your consummate. This guy flips the game for you. Comes off the bench and pours in buckets and gives you energy. And games, you're kind of dragging. You ain't got much going on.

And this guy comes in with just a lightning bolt. And I think Monk, it plus 310s is a pretty good value. Just because he's, I know Hardaway shot the hell out of the ball, though. So, yeah, but Hartaway could slip. The three point percentage could potentially fall. Yeah. They also could move him. Yeah.

Right? They're trying to get loaded up for Bear and they think they need to, I think he would be a candidate to get moved given his contract, right? Whereas probably a lot less likely with somebody like Monk. Coach of the year, Dagnol right now. Tailu's too low. I told you. Ty Loo.

Oh, I know. He'll never, he's plus 2,000. So it's Dagnolt, Finch Carlisle. Those are the top three favorites. And then Mosley, Missoula, but Lou behind them,

strange. Like, why is Lou so low? Yeah, plus 2,000? Yeah, that's strange. Look,

as much as the media has found, you know, Westbrook and Hardin to be sometimes difficult over the years, say they should have the greatest respect

for Ty Lou. Oh, yeah. I don't think, they're not taking into consideration the fact that Ty Lou's got every media member's phone number.

every media member loves tyloo for good reason he's evidently i don't know him personally he's he's evidently he neither dude yeah uh so okay i take it back he doesn't have our phone numbers but everybody else necessarily on the west coast oh and i'm oh i meant to ask you this you know how you were like you've been going on and on about the sphere and how amazing the sphere is and everything bro i know you've been going on about the sphere in Vegas and everything But did you see them renderings that came out this week of the Clippers Stadium? Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, my God.

Looks cool, doesn't it? That thing looks like the greatest basketball arena ever, truly. Like, from the future, it looks so awesome. I am 100% going to take a trip out there to see that. I look the double-sided screen inside the, the goes around the arena. It looks so cool. The wall of sound thing? I know. Yeah, yeah.

They kind of like go straight up like a college. And requiring people sitting in that section to wear clippers attire. And if you have season tickets, you can opt in to have, you know, you're getting up out of your seat and your voice, your cheering track to give you discounts in the store and all that. It's pretty cool. It's innovative stuff. I like it. Yeah. For people that haven't seen it, you got to go look this up because it is absolutely positively.

Unbelievable. Yeah. It looks pretty cool. Yeah. And I guess the renderings I saw them come out like earlier this week. How far away is that going to be from like where you are? I don't know. Probably like depending on the time of day, it could be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.

Is it farther from you than Staples? Yeah, it'd be about the same distance, to be honest with you. Like pretty much identical distance. Oh, it is. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So it's not like way out of the way.

I don't have any, I, I don't have any, uh, sense of direction when it comes to. Yeah. Like, like right now,

if I were to leave, you know, this would be a little late to leave for media stuff. If the game were an Intuit dome tonight, it'd take me 56 minutes. 56 minutes. Yeah, which isn't so bad.

Is that how long do you think it would take you to get the staples? It take you an hour? Yeah. Really? Right now it would. Yeah. Jeez. It's not so bad.

Just throw on full self-driving and the time disappears. Yeah, I'm kind of jealous of that. It's a game changer for the stop and no traffic. It is. Like that's the biggest benefit. Like stopping out traffic, sometimes I like traffic now, to be honest with you.

I know, Kevin O. Musk. Here come. Here come the tweet. All right. Lastly, before we get out of here, and this is,

while we've been goofing around and talking about everything at the midpoint way of the season, I do want to I know We do want to take a moment to be serious and send our heartfelt condolences to everybody while we goop about everything

while we talk about all these teams and everything else you know sometimes it's you know it can't get lost not only are these real humans

that we cover and talk to and in many cases have relationships with around the league it really shows when when something like that tragedy with the Warriors has taken place with

Dejan Milovich, Melijovich, and I know I'm butchered his name, but everybody that I know that knows him loves this guy. You know that I covered Darko, who is now the head coach at Toronto. and he gave this very heartfelt his thoughts about him

whether it's Yonkid The opening play of the game Yeah Look it out of his playbook as a tribute Whether it's Yokic Whether it's Bogdanovich You know obviously he worked with so many names That you are familiar with

Bobon Zubots Gogo Badazzi like all kinds And anyways he is He's not far off from my age and the guy's got a wife and two kids and you know he for those that don't know an assistant coach for the for the Golden State Warriors

who had a heart attack and then within by by yesterday we found out that he had passed away it's 46 years old yeah 46 years old and it's horrible and I cannot imagine you know those those teams they become families you know they're around those people

more than they are their own family in many cases. And you're traveling everywhere and you're going out to dinner with each other. And so they lost what feels like a family member to them. And I know people within that Warriors organization

and I know this is just absolutely gutted them because he is the guy that was the, isn't it great to be here? Positive. Sports is supposed to be fun. Always smiling. Like he's that guy. And I saw,

I think that's why you saw, outpouring of love for him. But just thoughts with everybody. I know we've got a lot of people that listen. I've even heard from people within that organization that listen. And we want to send our heartfelt condolences because though we talk about this stuff all the time, we certainly know that in the end, you know, whatever is going on with the season pales in comparison to what is going on with that organization. with that organization right now,

which is, this is a true tragedy. And it sucks. We've talked about it 100 million times where you need to value every day and stop and smell the roses, and don't sweat the small stuff, and all this never got to stuff. And it's like, man, you never know.

But you still, in many cases, conduct your life like you do know. You never think that it's gonna be your last day. And then you see something like this, and this guy's not far off from my age. And it is petrifying to think about that. And to think about what his wife and children, you know, are going through as well as everybody within that organization. Just sucks.

I know. It's heartbreaking. And, you know, like you said, he seemed like one of those guys that every day he made it clear to others and to himself, like, this is a blessing to be alive and got to make the most of this. And, you know, for him, basketball and family being two of the centerpieces of that. For him, he was a player. He was an MVP playing in the Adriatic League. He was a champion playing overseas. and to go on and have a successful coaching career

and make a difference and pass on all the lessons he learned to, you know, players coming through and obviously his family as well. It's heartbreaking for a lot of people around the world right now. And I didn't know him, but everything I've heard about him, similar to you, Chris, he sounds like he was just an absolutely magnificent human being. So, you know, sending our best to everybody that knew him and everybody that felt a connection to him, whether it was him as a player over the years or as a coach knowing him directly.

Obviously had a profound impact on a whole lot of people within the NBA community. Thank you to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. Kevin, I will talk to you next week. Have a good weekend. Must be 21 plus in present in select states. Fandul is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with the Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling problem.

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