The Mismatch - Reacting to the CJ McCollum Trade, Wondering Whether James Harden Will Be Dealt, and Watching Myles Turner Shoot His Shot

Episode Date: February 8, 2022

Trade week is here for the NBA, and Verno and KOC discuss the most recent transaction between the Blazers and Pelicans (02:01). CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell are off to New Orleans, while Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, two other players, and draft picks are heading to Portland. The guys take a look at the trade from both sides and debate the type of move this was for each franchise (15:25). They next debate whether James Harden will get traded from the Nets (27:56). KOC believes that Julius Randle is trying to do too much for the Knicks and suggests a minor move that could possibly help (43:09). The Raptors are winners of six straight, and the guys discuss how their depth has led to a successful season (56:48). Lastly, KOC reviews the latest viral video involving Myles Turner on TikTok (57:55). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Producer: Jessie Lopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ring Your Wrestling show is getting you closer to all things pro wrestling. The Masked Show with David and Kaz drops every Thursday on the feed, along with the new show hosted by pro wrestling superfan Evan Mack called MacMania. Plus, hear instant reactions to all the biggest WWE pay-per-view events with their post-paperview shows. Check out The Ring Your Wrestling Show on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody, two quick things before we get today's episode of The Mismatch, we recorded before the Pacers and Kings made their big deal sending Demonta Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday to the Kings for Tyrese Halliburton, Buddy Heald, and Tristan Thompson.

This is a huge deal. I get a ton of thoughts on it. But Chris and I weren't able to discuss. We can't go back in time, unfortunately. I wish Woge could have reported this a couple of hours earlier. Come on, Woj! So we'll talk about that on Friday. But before that, I'll talk about it on Wednesday's episode of The Void.

Stay tuned for that one. That's out. And also, the first 20 minutes of this podcast, my microphone did not record properly. I'm having some technical issues, but I need to get sorted out very fast. Sorry about that again, especially after last week I had the same problem.

But yeah, hope you enjoyed today's podcast. It's a really fun one. We got into a whole bunch. Welcome to The Mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon. And joining me as he does every Tuesday from the ringer.com is Kevin O'Connor,

a Kevin O'Bomber, Kevin O'Chamster, Kevin O'Camper, Kevin O'Champton, Kevin O'Champton, Kevin O'Chyland, Kevin O'Consa made a trade right before. we are about to go on the air. Kevin! Verno! Yeah, baby, we got a trade.

Hell yeah. I'm glad that we were recording when we were, because a trade has just come down the pike, and obviously we have to start the podcast by talking about this. A big one. The Blazers are going to receive Josh Hart, Tomas Satteransky,

Nikiel Alexander Walker, D.D. Luzada, unfamiliar with his work. A 2022 protected first round pick, two second round picks. The Pelicans are going to receive C.J. McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell. All right, Kevin, this is a big one. First reactions. The big L for Portland.

That's my first reaction. Getting a protected 22 first round pick, they'll only receive it according to Woj, if it lands between picks 5 and 14, and if it doesn't convey. in 2022, it'll kick to the future. Getting only one first round draft pick for CJ McCollum and Larry Nance, and I guess Tony Snell too, that just doesn't seem like

enough to me for the blaze. Just considering the caliber of player McCollum is, I mean, like, knock his defense all you want, but that dude is a bucket. Larry Nair's Jr. is a highly versatile defender who can do a lot for you in the half quarter of offense with his playmaking and shooting ability. He just keeps ball movement.

I just feel like from the Portland perspective here, they didn't get as much value as they should have. And for New Orleans, that's a big time dub, getting to pair of talented players with Zion if he can come back, with Brandon Ingram, with Valanchunis, and the other good things they have going on that team right now. Now on a playing spot, after their horrible sport, despite not having Zion at all.

So they got some big boys in the room, some veterans, and I think this is a team that's ready to start trying to really win. Okay, so here's what I'll say. This is why this is a mismatch. I don't hate it for Portland. I'm a big Josh Hart fan. I mean, you can go back on other podcasts. I like him a lot, and I think he's on a great contract.

I was a huge Nikkeel Alexander Walker fan coming out of the draft. I have absolutely no reason to give up on him as a prospect. I mean, it's way too early. And he showed glimpses of much better play in his first year than, this year, but I do think that he could be a real player in this league still. And then you got some other assets. Now, the problem with this is, you know, you could go back in time. And this is the trouble when you change management because you're probably not making

the same moves with the management that you did have simply because of what you had given up to get Covington and Nance. I mean, they had given up three first-round picks to get those two guys. A lot, right? They gave up a bunch. Two first for Covington. Right. So the new guy making the moves is not going to have that stuck in his mind the same way

as the guy that gave up the tremendous value in order to get those guys. On the other side, I mean, the Pelicans are going all in to make. the play in. That's the odd thing about this, Kev. I love McCallum. Absolutely love. I do think, like so many times we talk about players in the NBA that are underrated. That guy's underrated. That guy's underrated. McCallum has been tragically underrated for the maturity of his career. This guy went to Denver, a place where they were 34 and 7 throughout their season, had to play a game 7. on the road, his team's down 17, and he drops like 37, 9, and zero turnovers. In a game 7, do or die?

I mean, it's one of the great Game 7 performances we have seen. So obviously, you know how I think. Give me that guy. I love McCollum. On the other hand, I don't know how it fits with Zion and Ingram. a back court of Devante Graham and C.J. McCollum is a defensive night. You thought Lillard and McCollum was tough defensively? I mean, Devonte Graham and C.J. McCollum in a back court?

I mean, and right now they're 21 and 32. They're five and a half back or four and a half back from the Lakers. And that's just from nine, they're four and a half back. And they're only a half game up on Portland, a game and a half up on the Spurs, two games up on Sacramento. So I just don't know if going and getting C.J. McCollum and giving up what they gave up to win right now in a desperate attempt to just make a play in. There's no question if it comes together and they get to the play in and Zion comes back, they're going to be very dangerous. But, I mean, best case scenario, they're probably going to have to win two games to even get into the playoffs. So then what?

I mean, this is a deal for the future? Is this a deal because you want Zion Williamson to feel like you are building a, you know, a title contender around him? I mean, I know we focus on the trade at hand and this is what they gave up and this is what they received. but we also have to take into context. I do think this better served Portland going forward and how they are trying to build years out and around Lillard, whereas this is a win now move for the Pelicans feels a little panicky, and they're 21 and 32 right now.

How's a panicky, though, when they gave up only one first round hit? in two second round picks. I mean, like, Josh Hart is a nice role player, but let's not, you know, be doing car wheels. But that's what you need. That's what you need. You know.

Yeah, but he shoots 35% for his career from three. He's a 32% this year. It's not like he's some knocked down three-point shooter. And it's not like he's this lockdown defender. He's not. He's a good defender. He's good. He hustled.

He makes winning plays. Like, Josh Hart is a good. player but they didn't give up like a fund here to get you know cj but call him to your point everything you just said about him was what he can do in postseason settings you're adding that guy i mean on paper i'm not saying the pelicans are going to be like some threat i'm not saying this let me just preface what we want to say this but like you look at their potential starting lineup once zionn gets back if he gets back yonis valentrudeus who you know chris he's talking to memphis he's talking to he's been excellent for New Orleans.

Excellent. Zion, you add him. Herb Jones, I don't care he's a rookie. One of the best defenders in all of basketball right now and blossoming on offense. I don't know what Fred Benson does down there in New Orleans as a shooting coach. When you get Ingram, you've got Lonzo Ball. Now Herb Jones suddenly becomes an 89% free throw shooter after shooting like 65% in college.

He's a reliable three-point shooter. You add an Ingram with McCollum. This is a lineup here that balances with Herb Jones, the defensive ability, balance trueness to side. Ingram can lock in when he needs to. Zion and CJ and Ingram together can counter on that offense by committee. They don't have a traditional point guard here unless they bring them off their gram, either have him in the starting five or have him come off the bench. I like the mix here if Zion is the same top 10 to 15 guy that we saw.

last season. What's the pecking order? I think you I mean, Zion's your number one. Okay. Because he's Zion. But like it could bear. McCallors are two?

No, I can give my very night to night. Who has a better matchup? Is it CJ in the back court or is it Ingram at the wing? And then Valat, Valencius becomes a fourth option. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I like that personally.

I'm saying that's a lot to ask for changing within a season. You know what I mean? Bringing back your number one option, having a guy who has been getting all the shots or getting a lot of shots one night. Like I said, you got your first person. Like on paper, on paper I like the mix.

Does it work in real life? I don't know. But on paper today, minutes after the trade became official, I like the mix on paper for New Orleans. And at some point, I know everybody thinks just because Zion has gotten hurt and miss all these games and he's 100% can assign that rookie extension.

No, it is not 100%. And even if it was 100%, the Pelican still should be taking advantage of the time they have while he's on his rookie contract, on a cheaper deal, and try to win as much as they can with this group. I mean, like, I feel that

way about Zion that he's one of those players. You got to try to win with. You don't play slow with Zion. Try to win with him. And then you factor in Ingram playing better basketball than he ever has. Like, these guys together could win a lot of games. So I like New Orleans being aggressive here. And they only gave up one first round pick.

One. Only one. That's a dub for me. If I'm a Pelicans fan, like, this is a huge win. And then you get Larry Dance. Another good role player. I didn't even mention him with their potential rotation. They can play big, they can play small.

Versatility is the name of the game. And the Pelicans got it. Larry Nance is also a duplicate of what you just got, you know, in Herb Jones. There's a lot of... Hey, man, give me 15 of those guys on my team. Yeah, my problem is the lineup and the fact that we know that there have to be guys that play roles. And those are all guys that have been the options or in many cases carried the load. Yeah, but like the piece, I don't know, like what question, all that's about is the sacrifice between Engram, CJ, and Zion.

Well, they don't know anything about sacrifice. They don't know shit about winning. They didn't want anything. Now it's time to learn. This is the stage to learn here, man. Usually it's a lot easier when you pair together the veteran guys that have been through this, right? Like we're seeing with Levine Vouch and DeRosen, you mature and you grow into that. Well, that's what this is about.

What do you want the Pelicans do? Not give up one first round pick against C.J. McCollum and Larry Nance. because they also they also gave up the 17th pick of the draft you know a year and a half ago and they also gave up their best role player so let's not act like they just gave up a first round pick they gave up two of their rotation guys he's not their best role player herb joes is better than josh well fine no fine look josh harris for that matter he's he's not a real player with all due respect to josh hard he's okay 30,

or something for him's career, like I said. He's okay. Okay. Look, we're going to just disagree on Josh Hart because as soon as I would, as soon as I started bringing up Larry Nant's stats, you would have every excuse in the world. So there's always guys that you like. There's guys that I like. And I'm not going to spend my time defending Josh Hart the same way that I would,

I would expect you to defend Larry Nath. Listen, but you want to hear my reasoning? It's because they're full in it way. They have C.J. McColl now getting this. They have interim. They have Herb Jones. Like they have a number of guys who are going to play that spot. But whereas with Larry Nance, I like to fit more for that.

They don't have one perimeter defender. Yeah, they didn't when they had, they didn't when they had Judge Hart. Josh Hart is the best defensive perimeter defender on that team. No, Herb Jones is the best permanent defender on their team. You can't say Herb Jones is the best point guard on that team too. I mean, good grief. No, I mean, no, Herb Jones is not the best point guard. of that team, but he is the best permanent defender and he is the best role player on that team.

Herb Jones is ridiculous. What he's doing as a rookie is crazy. Herb Jones is clearly the best. But like for this team, they have guys that can do those things. They don't have a guy that can do what Larry Nance does. And I don't know with that. I would add, if Zion is going to be in and out of the lineup, doing different things, now they have multiple guys that you can slide into that and have them do some type of, you know, bring the ball up sometimes like Dan's can do, have them do some stuff in the half court, have them being in a similar position

or role defensively. Nance can do that. Jones can do that. So the versatility of this roster has just been bolstered to another level now. So while you do lose a good role player in Josh Hart, I think overall the depth of this team becomes greater and the versatility of this Pelicans team becomes much greater.

This feels counter... That's my perspective here. Okay, that's fine. It just feels counterintuitive to everything we've talked about for five years. Typically, you would say the best thing for a team that is 21 to 32, at 21 to 32 is not to make a win now move, but rather to take a step back. And on the Portland side, you know, you have advised blowing it up for a long time. And then they finally do, but you don't like it. You know what I'm saying? They are taking a step back because they're

right now in a good position to get to the play in. And they just decided it is better for our future to not make a rush to get into the play in. Meanwhile, on the Pelican side, this is your consummate win now move for a team that is 11 games below 500 and is probably at best having to win two games just to get into the playoffs. I think the thing for Portland here, Chris,

is two years ago they could have gotten more for CJ and they didn't because Dane wanted to keep CJ. He wanted to keep the roster together. But they did have opportunities over there. the years to flip CJ for other players. And right or wrong, they pass on those opportunities. And now they're in a spot where CJ's value is diminished in the, and there just isn't a ton of interest.

There aren't a ton of teams that need point guards or shooting guards. It's a strong position in the NBA right now. So for Portland, I say it's an L because I just don't like the return they ended up deciding on. I think for them, as Woj tweeted out, everybody's saying, like, oh, Dame's next. Lakers is going to go for Dame and everything on NBA Twitter and all that, but Wode just came out and said as we're recording, Portland's plan is to fully reshape roster around Damian Lillard now. Portland created a 21 million trade exception today, potentially 60 million in salary cap space this summer. Multiple draft picks and assets via Pelicans and Clippers trades.

Plan is to pursue high-end talent now, not retreat. And that's why, like, even with this Blazers deal, I don't look at it as. blowing it up. This isn't blowing it up. This is all about reshaping the team around Billard. They're keeping Damien Lillard. Unless something dramatically changes during the offseason, they're going to keep Damien Lillard. And so I think for them, I just look at it, like this is part of them putting a team around him and hearts a nice piece. But only getting the one first round pick is really the point that I'm sticking to here where like I have a hard time. I have a hard time with them getting only one first. That that's my my number one feeling.

If all that is so, you know, then if they have a $21 million trade exception now and they've got $60 million in salary cap space, that's a pretty quick way in order to, you know, rebuild around Lillard or restock around Lillard, right? Like, you got to let the thing play out. But if the goal was, hey, we want to give ourselves a lot of, you know, wiggle room here where. we can now, like, we now have the money and the space to be able to reshape. Now, you got to nail it for sure. But if you've got that kind of a trade exception and you've got that kind of salary cap space, that gives you the real opportunity to go and shape the roster however the hell you want to around Damien Lillard. You could potentially, like, you could give a whole bunch of draft picks and absorb Subonis, for example. Like, Sabonis makes $19.8 million. He

would slide into that. Like that's just a theoretical example, but something like that, and that would dramatically change the way in which the deal is viewed for Portland, because that would kind of be an extension of it. But I still wish they would have gotten more first now, which is why I feel like it's an L.

Where his father once played. How about that? Yeah, how cool would that be, huh? It would be cool. That would be cool. And that would be a great basketball fit with Damien Lillard. with the way those guys could play together, the pick and roll,

dribble handoff actions around the elbows. I think there's a lot of creative ways that you could have a subonis Lillard core in your team. I mean, we're just talking very theoretically here. But, yeah, I mean, they're not done. They're not done. If the Pelicans don't make the playoffs this year, do you still like the deal?

Yeah, sure, because I think it's about more than just the season. Okay. It's a pretty, you know, that feels like, save my job deal, you know, that they made in order to. I mean, because they're not on the same. I think, I think that that is an element of it.

I do. That, I do believe that is an element of it. I believe an element of it is like, you do have to build this team around Zion and make it appealing. You need to, you do need to make this a place that players want to be and compete and win. And that is part of it for a small market team that nobody ever wants to go. no free agent i mean to say ever wants to go to look dude like it's complicated for the pelicans they're in a tough position here and i just think brandon ingram is at the level of a player

uh zion has already been an all borderline all nba guy um like i think this is a team that they can they can win they can compete this is a stage where tanking that does have appeal absolutely has appeal, but you can't tank if Zion is coming back. It's not an option. You're going to start competing more. I just,

maybe I'm just higher on what the Pelicans could be than a lot of people are than what you are. I mean, I just like the mix. I also wonder if this is any kind of an indication of when Zion returned. I think it's got to be part of it. It's been quiet with him. But could it be that

he's not going to return when they thought he was going to return. And so this is, okay, we're not getting him back when we thought we were getting him back. We still want to try to make the playoffs and we don't have enough right now. We need to make a move to make sure we make the playoffs. And then whenever we get him back, we get him back. Because obviously this is not, you know, I don't know. Whatever you think the pinnacle of what this team can reach right now is, you know, you're really behind the eight ball no matter.

Even if you play very, very, very well, where you are within the standings right now, it's going to be tough to get up high enough to where you're not going to have to win twice against a pretty good team in order to even get your playoff spot. And so, and you are competing. We don't know what the Kings are going to do.

We don't know what the spurs are going to do. We don't know what Portland. I mean, we know that they're probably going to take a step back. None of them. None of them. None of them are catching the pelicans. None of them. Well, I mean, they're within two games.

This is like. None of them are going to catch the pelicans. We just don't know. Well, I mean, if I tell you that Sacramento got Ben Simmons tomorrow, maybe you change your mind, you know? Maybe. Yeah, maybe. I mean, you're right, you know.

As of today, I'd be surprised. As of today, let me clarify that there. I'd be surprised. And also, one other thing here, Chris, with C.J. McCollum going there. At $33 million in the 23, 24 season, that is the first year of Zion's new deal, you have the versatility at that point to go get somebody else. That's part of the reason why I like this for New Orleans, because you get that $30 million contract that will be expiring in a couple of years.

In addition to all the other first round picks that you still already retain, the Pelicans will be in a position in a year or two, flip CJ elsewhere, if they want to, if they want to. I just think having that versatility and that type of contract on your books, when you're a team trying to build around Zion and Ingram, that's going to have value in a couple of years. That's just a small part of it, but just something on my mind when it comes to, whenever Zion you hope is entering his prime,

and hopefully his prime hasn't already happened. No, I'm sure that he's probably, I mean, look, I'm hopeful on the Zion front. I also, I would have just kept, in retrospect, I would have just kept Lonzo. I'd have just paid him. Yeah, I mean, Lonzo, Lonzo I'd love to have. And it fits your timeline with your other two guys. Yeah, he does. I love Lonzo, and I think he fits in New Orleans, but I also, I think that the ideal,

the ideal point guard or playmaking presence in the perimeter with Zion is somebody who who can shoot threes up the bounce at a high level. Yeah, because that's what allows Zion to become a weapon on the short role. When he's setting a screen for C.J. McCollum, there could be a situation in which teams are trapping, and that makes Zion a major weapon as he's rolling towards the basket. And, like, Lonzo's not that type of point guard is what I'm saying. If we take a snapshot of a year ago, they had a lot of young talent, right, whether it's McKeel, Alexander Walker, whether it's Lonzo, Ingram, Zion, all these guys, Jackson, Hayes,

on and on and on, right, all these different guys. and they traded a lot of it in to have Jonas Valchunus, who's, you know, upper 20s now, and McCollum, who's 30, right? Like, so I just, I don't, I mean, typically you have these young teams that grow together and that they, you know, are able to achieve success together, and they grow as a team together.

The timelines don't feel, the same, you know, for when do you win with McCallum and Valatunus versus when you win with Ingram and Zaya, who you fancy as to your two best players, possibly, right? If you like both of them. And so now you brought in a veteran shooting guard who's totally got his bona fides and one of the best offensive centers in the league in Valachunis. But they're both, you know, they're significantly ahead in the timeline of when a team with them, you know, is ready to win versus what the Pelicans had. And so we'll see how it plays out, you know.

I hope the guy keeps his job, you know, because he certainly made the splash move. And they're trying to, you know, catch a cheat code in order to get into the playoffs. There's no question with that kind of offensive firepower. They can be very, very dangerous when it comes. You wouldn't want to see them when it gets to the play in. But they need to get a point card. you know, beforehand. They can't have that as their back court.

They can't. They'll get absolutely shredded by the opposing guards in the Western Conference if they're going to run Devante Graham and McCollum out there as a tandem. Yeah, I mean, defensively, her Herb Jones, Val-Sherb. You better hope that you better hope he turned into Super Herb. Yeah. They get a lot on their shoulders for sure. But I don't know, man.

Like, when Dane was 22, 23 years old and C.J's a rookie, they're winning 50 games because they got Lamarcus Aldridge and, you know, Nick Batum and Mo Williams back in the day, West Matthews. And they were winning early. And those guys' careers, like sometimes the timelines don't line up, but sometimes winning. Like, you're all about, I'm surprised you don't like this, Chris. you're always about winning, always about winning and competing. Because they're 21 and 32. That's why.

Yeah, but they're trending up, though. They are trending up. And Zion will return. I shouldn't say will. If Sacramento, you know, sacrifice some future or possible, you know,

some younger players. You're right. I would be ripping them. To try to win right now, you'd be ripping them. Yeah. How about they went out and got my column? Yeah,

well, they don't have Zion Williams. who was one of the 10 to 15 best guys last year. They don't have Brandon Ingram, who's an all-star. They don't have that talent that's worthy of building around. So, no, I would be ripping them. It's totally different circumstances. Just because the records are one game different doesn't even factor into my thought process.

Finally got the hardened crap off the front page, right? Because this hardened stuff has been. Oh, yeah, right? My God, it's everywhere. I swear to God, I feel like I'm reading a damn update on the same damn situation every five minutes. You know, they've lost all these games in a row. They went to Sacramento. We have four points at 37 minutes.

A lot of people took that as a trade me performance. I don't know. You know, there's these stories. It's like one day I look and it's Steve Nash comes out and he says, we're not trading James Hardin. Brooklyn says, you know, James, every time he talks to us, he's happy here. And they love it. He loves it here. And he's staying here. And then on the other side, it's like, they might be open to trading James Hardin. And now it's like, oh, well, they, you know, the nets are open to it, but they want curry too. And then, I mean, it's just, there's like a new

update and some new posturing every five minutes. I don't know what to make of all of it. The funniest outcome would be if Hardin did get traded and it wasn't to Philly. That would be the funny. If he goes to the Kings, that would be the funniest outcome. Right? Like if there's been, I guess you can't even say ink, if you've had all these keyboards been smashed into the ground with people trying to figure out a debt sixers deal. And then they just, they trade him somewhere.

They say somewhere else for some kind of different return. And the Simmons thing isn't even there. I honestly, like I'm lost on this, Kemp. I really am, totally lost on this. I do think, you know, I saw our buddy Nick Wright. He posted this whole, you know, he did his, you know, every once a while, he talks down to the media, right? What the media doesn't understand because the media, you know,

like the media didn't understand that Patrick Mahomes, is gold, you know, and then he lost. And the media doesn't, the media, the media doesn't understand that LeBron James, you know, is God's gift to earth and is a descendant of God himself.

But then this new media doesn't understand was that Philadelphia is getting James Harden no matter what. That Darry is getting him no matter what. But he left out the fact, and this is a major piece of this to me,

that James Hardin knows, and this was reported when he didn't sign with them in the offseason, that if he signs an extension with them, this off season, it's the $223 million one, which puts his last year at damn near $62 million. He becomes, in one season, he gets paid $62 million. All right. And if we've learned anything about these guys, the mode of operation to secure the bag and then force your way out. And I have a hard time.

So to act like, you know, the nets don't have any leverage because they got to move him now or else they'll get nothing for him. And like there's no penalty to Hardin for doing that is assonine. James Hardin, if he wants to be an unrestricted free agent and walk away, he'll leave $62 million on the table in order to do that. That's a lot of frigging money. And you can say, what does it matter once you got $100 million? I mean, you're getting paid $62 million to play basketball when you're 37 frigging years old.

That's the deal. I guess it depends if you want to be, you know, more like Dirk, who took what, $110 million of cuts and payments that throughout his career. if you want to be more like Dirk and take a paycat or Tom Brady who took pay cut from the Patriots. Stars have done it. They've done it, you know, so it's not, it's not unheard of by any means. But like you're also losing it, you're leaving another winning team. It's not like you're going from a losing team to a winning team.

You're going from a winning team to another winning team. You know, so that, I'm sure that factors into it, but Hornin's going to do what he wants to do. And that's why for the Nets here, they are in a strange position. right now for the Nets, there's two things that they don't want to happen. They don't want Harden to meet with them to discuss this future. And they don't want that to become public.

If he were to meet with Sean Marks and Josai, Nets front office, ownership, and say, hey, yeah, there's a strong chance I actually do leave this offseason. You don't want that to happen because then that puts them in the same position or a similar position that the Sixers are in with Simmons by having a guy who doesn't want to be there long term. That's the first thing. The second thing is if the Sixers have a place to trade Tobias Harris. If they're able to move Tobias Harris, say to Oklahoma City, which is a team that has the cap space to absorb him by only giving up like a small salary of $2 to $5 million.

That's all the funder would have to give up to take on Tobias Harris's $35 plus million deal. If the Sixers were able to pull something like that off, say Harris and picks for Kenrich Williams from OKC, if that were to happen, then the Philadelphia would have a path towards easily opening up cab space to outright sign James Hardin over the summer. So for Brooklyn, if that were to happen, if Harris gets moved, suddenly you're in a position where Hardin could outright sign with the sixers. They just made one of the moves.

So look, dude, that's scary. He also leaves $60 million on the table. Yeah, I mean, that's, it's nothing. What do you mean? That's nothing. I really mean it's, I really mean it. That's my, the way I feel. If I, I, I can only speak about myself, if I were an NBA player and I've already made $200 million in my career.

Yeah, $60 million. If it means I could live where I want to live, play with the people that I want to play with, win with the team that I want to win with. Yeah, I'd give that up. That is, if shit, that is generally, you look, you give up a couple million. You don't give up 62. you. That's crazy. I mean, I always loved the Dave Chappelle quote when he was talking to David Laderman years ago and he's talking about giving up the $50 million.

And it's like, what's the difference between $10 million and $50 million in terms of lifestyle and the way you live? The difference is $40 million. Yes. That's it. That's the only difference. And he's like, yeah, sure, you'd love to have those $40 million. dollars, but the difference in lifestyle and the amount of jet planes you can, you can fly with

and places you can visit and trips to space that you can take on Elon's rockets, you can only do that so many times. And the difference in the money doesn't make a dramatic difference at that point for a lot of those guys. It's about winning, man. It usually, it's not just about winning, you know? Yeah, definitely not. When you are an NBA player, you have a finite amount of time.

to make as much money as you possibly can. And look at the position Bradley Beale's in right now with the Wizards. Beal, it's been heavily reported that he wants the five-year supermax, the five-year supermax from the Wizards. Do you think the Wizards are 100% going to give him that money? 100% are going to give him that money? Yes, they're going to give it to him. Because you can always move it.

You can always move it. You can, we have seen that it can always move, but it's not always easy to. And even if you can move it, it doesn't mean you're going to get back something good. I'd be afraid. I'd be afraid of going into free agency if I'm the Wizards with Beal. Because either you give him probably too much money based off his production this year, or he just signs elsewhere and you don't get much in return and you're screwed. My opinion is, and I heard you guys talk about it the other day on Bill's thing.

and I know I could get clouded by my buddy house too, but I think people have gotten way too down on Beal. I do. This guy led the NBA in scoring until the last week of the season last year. Let the league. There's only one guy that scored more points, and that was Curry. And it took until the last week of the season to overtake that. What happened this year, though?

What happened? 30% from three this year. He needs Russ back. He needs Russ. He's got no, they don't have a point card. Yeah, but he did it, he did it with Ish Smith and Shabaz Napier and who else was on that team? Isaiah Thomas, I think, the year before that, when the wizard stunk and he's had 30 points per game for the first time. And like it was, Ish Smith was his most frequent backcourt partner.

I mean, it's not great with Dinwiddie right now. He has not been good for that team, unfortunately. And as he returns from the torn ACL, but like, like only 30% from three, he's, He's lost his shot with he's not getting to the line or the basket nearly as often. I know. He's not playing a, he's not playing a lick at defense either, man. I love Beal. He's got a lot longer track record of being awesome than being this.

And so I bet on the track record rather than whatever is going on this year. I don't know. I don't know what's going on this year. I don't. I don't have a great explanation for it. Yeah, I don't either. I really don't. They change personnel.

They change coaches. You know, they change a lot of personnel, a lot. You know, he's playing with Kuzman now. He's playing with Montres now. They revamped that thing. And they also went from Brooks to Wes Ansel Jr. And so there's been, you know, when you're changing a lot of personnel and you're changing the coach, things can, you know, change. Sometimes negatively.

And I do think that's the case with him. But to the original question, at his age for his price. Yeah, I'd give it to him and you're not going to have, there's going to be a long time until you've got a lack of teams that want Bradley Beal. And so then if you decide to move it, you can move it. But you certainly, what's your other option? Let them walk? I mean, at least you could get, even if you signed him with the Supermax and you decide,

hey, I want to bail on it after the first year, then you're off the hook for it. I've just seen way too many guys that we have gotten really down on after a season come back and be awesome, including. Can I be clear? I'm not, I'm not like all the way down on Beale because of half of a season of him shooting 30% from three and not playing defense and not getting into the line. I'm down on it for the Wizards, like for considering their place in the league right now and where they're at. I'm just concerned about, like you mentioned Harden making $60 plus million dollars in the last year of his deal. For Beal, it'll be like $55 million.

And I know salaries go up, salary cap goes up, blah, blah, this and that. But he just, you haven't won with him. And that would be tough to move, not impossible, but tough to move. So like for the Wizards, they're also in a tough spot because even if you did decide to move him now, let's just say you decide to shop beel, there's only going to be so many teams that are even interested. One of them, New Orleans,

they had interested Beale. They just got C.J. McCollum. They're not going to be interested in Beal anymore. So, like, that's one less team that would have interest in him. I just, it's a tough position to be for the Wizards

because you're going to have to pay him a ton. He's either going to walk into sign and trade or outright sign elsewhere, or you try to trade him now, but there's not a lot of interested parties. So that has been, whether it's been hardened, there's a lot of reporting that says

Bradley Beal, and he's got the wrist injury now too, is going to stay in Washington. So we can move past Tim. You know, the original name and the one that's been out there the longest is Jeremy Grant. You know, I know Windhorst did a little bit reporting on this,

saying that the Pistons might want to see where their draft picks fall before deciding what they're going to do with Grant. Obviously, that would take it into the offseat. But if there is a good Jeremy Grant team in your mind, who would that be? I mean, I'm not expecting a Grant deal to happen. I think Utah Jazz, we've talked about them a ton as the number one team I'd have in my eyes for Jeremy Grant. They need more defense.

Let me say something about the Utah Jazz because I was watching that Jazz Knicks game last night. they put the headset on Ingalls. I want the jazz. Look, he's out with the blown knee. It was sad to hear him telling the story. He talked about, he openly talked about he and his wife, you know, being all torn up about it, crying after they got the news and whatever else about how,

you know, it was torn ACL. But, man, Utah, and I think it's Craig Bolerjack, I believe, put the headset on this guy, as many times. as he's willing to do it, put the headset on Joe Engels. It was great. I would love to see him get to, you know, they did this with Clay in Golden State, right? Every once in a while they put the headset on him, and if you happen to be watching the game, it was hilarious.

Number one, I love Engels' voice. You know, the Australian voice is so great on the broadcast. And number two, he's funny, man. Legitimately funny guy. And he's perfect for it. So as much as they can. And, you know, if you're watching that game, I don't know if you, Wob posted this clip last night.

You know, my poor buddy, Wobb, he's dying. He's just dying. He's putting up these damn videos every night just crying about the Knicks. I feel so bad for him. But Wobb had this, if you saw, you know, it's like a five-point game. Randall drives in, guy flops. he's at like the free throw line. He won't even look at the basket, Kevin.

He won't even look at the basket. He waits, turns around and throws it back out to the top of the key to R.J. Barrett, who goes in and takes a kind of a wild drive. I mean, this is a five-point game. He didn't even want to look at the basket. And I feel like that New York thing and all that talk and all the chatter and all the questions and being the man and everything. you know, last year was just like this Cinderella story this year, I feel like it's super gotten to him.

And you saw this, you know, like paralyzed moment last night where that's all the voices. I don't think so. He's been like that since Kentucky. He can't pass. He doesn't have vision. He's not a playmaker. No, no, no. But I'm saying he wasn't even looking to.

That's a shot. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I mean, I, you know, it's funny. like I saw that moment and it's it might have been frozen in the moment like the pressure and everything I saw it as a guy like trying to be a playmaker even though that's not what he is like he's trying to be something that he's that he's not he's more of a score and like he didn't if he and like he's he's like trying no no no no no I mean that's the way I look at it this shit ain't

going to be my fault that's what I mean because I I tweeted out the same clip and I I mean, maybe that's what it is. I'm not going to argue that. But for Hanley, if he just simply looks at the basket, if he just looks at the basket, he's got Azabuki inside protecting the room for the jazz. Not Rudy Gobert, Azabuki. And behind him is Mitchell Robinson ready to catch and finish.

And all he's going to do is look at the basket. And he's either going to bucket or a pass to Robinson for an easy two-pointer to cut the lead from five to three. And instead, or not only that, maybe instead he draws a help defender from the side and he's going to kick out for a wide open three in the corner. Instead,

he picked the worst possible option, kicking it out to RJ Barrett with nine seconds left in the shot clock, who took, like you said, kind of a wild floater in the paint. And he should have probably kicked it back out to Randall, but that's a whole other time. Randall took all those shots last year. Yeah, he did.

And like I said, like for him, he's just he's just not a guy that should be running the offense down the stretch that the Knicks need a point guard they need playmaking They need Deer and Fox Some Knicks fans are with me

Some Knicks fans aren't Yeah it's definitely mixed It's definitely like I have Knicks fans friends Like some of them want them some don't Miles McBride Their rookie second round pick Can you imagine if the Bulls With IOT DeSumu

Had him ride in the bench all year or if the Pelicans with Herb Jones, as we talked about earlier, said, yeah, you're a rookie. We're not going to play 30 minutes a night. We're not going to put you on the opponent's best player. We're going to play in the G league. I just, like, it's not like, I'm not saying, I'm not saying Duke Bride is necessarily a guarantee to be a success in the NBA.

I'm not saying that. But he's averaging 30 points in tennisists in the G league. He looked dominant. He's had some good moments for the Knicks, whether it was in the regular season, preseason, summer league. like Tom Timido, you know, love them or hate him, like you gotta give this kid a chance.

You need playmaking. Last night's loss of the jazz showed it, dude. RJ Barrett, 23 points on 25 shots. And Randall, whatever the reason for that play we're describing down the stretch, Chris, whatever the reason. He's not the guy who can be running your offense in the fourth quarter.

They need to find somebody who can. Look, and I guess it's sometimes you have to, the lessons you learn are hard lessons. They effed up that off season. Bad. They really did. Fornier. Yeah, Fornié, Kemba, Derek, Alec, Berks, you know, Nerlands Noel.

I mean, you go look at all those deals that they put on. And the other thing is last year's team had such great chemistry. They really did. They had great chemistry on that next team. That was a fun watch. It's just a joyless enterprise with a stressed out, screwed up Randall. RJ hasn't taken the step. he wants.

They're talking about clearing the way, you know, trying to move off some vets so that they could get some young guys time because you know that is, if you got the vets on your team, that's who, that's who he's going to play. That's who Thibodeau was going to play. He did it last year, you know, when you had, oh, what was the guy's name that drove everybody crazy that was a New York fan, Peyton, Alfred Peyton. What the hell happened to him? Where is he now?

He, he, uh, Tibbs loves his veterans. Where is he? Alfred Payton right now is with the sons. He plays by the campaign? I swear to God, I haven't seen Elford Peyton's name one time. He doesn't play that much. He started. Yeah, he started for the next year.

Every game. I mean, like, how crazy is it? How crazy is it? Like, you give up Cam Ratish. Camerich could be the worst player in the world. And I wouldn't understand giving up a first round pick for the player and then only having him appear in four of the eight games since then. And last night in the loss of Utah, he played his career high with the Knicks of 15 minutes.

And after missing four of the eight games, it's just like the disconnect between Tibbs and the coaching in the front office. It's not the first time we've seen this happen, right, Bruno? No. No, it's sure not, right? And this is, look, find the Tibbs when it's winning. When it's winning, it's all good. It's when it's losing.

When it's not, it's you're playing Randall and RJ for 40 minutes a night. You're running him into the ground. You're not playing the young players. It's so funny how it can get to this point, isn't it? Yes. I mean, this has been commonplace, right? And he'll start pointing fingers and saying, you know, I can't. Because guys like him, they, you know, and this is true of a lot of better coaches.

they would rather play the inferior player that is going to do what they, you know, want them to do, right? They're going to be in the right place on office. They're going to, and with him, especially be in the right place on defense, which makes it all the more, you know, frustrating, I'm sure, for him. Because you got a defense first coach and you went and assembled a back court of Kimball Walker and Evan Fornier, who me and you could score on. I mean, it's just, it's crazy. Yeah, I'm not, I'm not sure I can score on them. I won't go that far, Chris. You can say you'll score on them.

I'm not, I'm not going to say that. I don't know. You might. You might get, you might get a, ah, bucket, ah, bucket. Yeah. I don't know, maybe, maybe. Yeah, I don't know, I don't know where they are.

Like, they got in no man's land that feels like, but we'll see if they can write some wrongs here at this trade deadline. Play McBride. That's what they get to do. They, they should play Miles McBride. I like Grimes too a lot. Grimes are sick, man. He is so nice.

They got a player. They've hit some draft picks. We still never even get to see Obie play. I mean, Obi-Ton hardly plays at all. It's a damned thing. And he's devastating on the break. He really is.

I wish he could shoot threes. Yeah, I mean, I wish he could shoot threes too. But, you know, there's a lot of guys in the, league that don't have to shoot threes that can still be, you know, extremely relevant and very efficient, you know, Montres Harrell's been a six man of the year, and he ain't shooting threes. I cover one here in Memphis and Brandon Clark.

Well, because he has a point guard. I mean, like, all those guys, they have point guards to use them. You know, he tried to last year, like, stretch the floor guy, and it was like, all right, that ain't it. But do everything eight feet from the basket. That's fine. There's a place for those guys in the league. that have great energy and that not everybody has to space the floor.

Oh, yeah. You're right. You're right. But with Obie Topping, a guy who at Dayton, he was a screen and roll threat, he doesn't have the point guard, to your point about, like, De Aaron Fox, if you're able to get a downhill point guard, playmaking presence, that could open up new dimensions of Obie Toppin's game as a guy that rolls towards the rim. Because as of now, they both lack the plane.

and the spacing to optimize him in his ideal role. And I'll tell you this, Fox is while he, I think that Sacramento thing is just beat everybody down there. I mean, it just kills your value, beats everybody down. For the first two months, we all thought Halliburton had taken a massive step back. And then we change on that when he gets more opportunity. And now people are high on Halliburton again. I mean, that whole thing. And Fox is not a, he's not a athletically deficient.

a defender. I think that fire is gone. And something that would be able to, you could get back. And if there, is anybody that could drag it out of you? It's tips. That's for sure. Because I do think he's a mega athlete who could be a very good defender in this league. It's just, I do kind of give some sack guys a pass. One last thing, Chris, the Knicks are the team that should be, we mentioned with New Orleans, how maybe they should go the other way. I think the Knicks are the team

that it could be a blessing in disguise for them to go the other way and get another high pick. Because last year, they overperformed everybody's expectations. They were supposed to be a team with a top pick. Maybe this year they'll get the top pick.

Draggits' name is out there a lot. Looks like Toronto is packaging him with a draft pick to get something. Did you see the Jake Fisher report about that about Dragage? Jake Fisher said that they could go for Miles Turner. Yeah. That's interesting.

That's interesting. Did you see the Miles Turner TikTok that's everywhere this morning? No, he asked this girl out on TikTok. Oh, really? She said when you're a Laker and he said, well, not, you know, I'll do you one better, whatever. And then he like showed like a knife and a fork at his house, whatever. but the damn knife is dirty. Oh, so she, she commented,

she commented, come to the Lakers and he responded, come to dinner with me. Yeah, but look at the, but look at the damn knife. You can't do, we can't be doing that with a dirty knife, Miles Turner. He's getting kind of raked over the coals over that.

Can you imagine being an NBA player? And asking chicks out on TikTok? No. I can't either. Red, it's a red flag. she's a gamer and sports fan that's crazy like she's got one million followers on tictox one million followers on ticot yeah the raptors look you know they're gonna get something for that for that dragger's deal they're rocking too you know they're up to sixth after last night

and you know i've had some raptors fans you know hit me up and say like oh yeah you're wrong about the Raptors. You didn't follow your own credo. Don't play guys that don't suck. You know, whatever. Well, I'm going to, I think I need to get a little bit of a pass here. All right. When I say stuff like that, I'm looking up and down your roster. And I never have the expectation that your coach is only going to play six, maybe seven guys. And he's going to play everybody 40 minutes a night. All right. Like, Nick Nurse has figured out a way to not play anybody that's not good. But unfortunately, the answer, well, fortunately,

he's playing every damn game like a playoff game. You know, this is not sustainable when you're playing these guys 42 minutes every damn night. But they are winning. They're winning like it's a playoffs. And Nick Nurse is extracting the absolute most. But they do need a little more depth. They need some more guys that he's willing to play. Because right now, he's only playing six, seven guys.

you know, go look at their box scores, like every night. They win, but you think Tibbs is bad. This guy's playing everybody 40 minutes. And they don't, like, I guess I didn't suspect that players, you know, eight through 15 just weren't going to play basketball. But sure enough, he's figured out a way for eight through 15 to most nights not play basketball. And it is worked to their grand benefit. it, they're now solidly, at least as of this morning, in the playoffs with that six seed.

And if they can get some stuff for Dragich, you know, you get a couple more players. You need at least two more that Nick Nurse is willing to roll out there. Just so you guys don't have to play third. You're going to burn them out playing them 38, 40 minutes every damn night. Look at the NBA leaderboard for minutes per game. Number one, Fred Van Blee, number two, Pascal Seacum, number three. OGN and O B. Number nine,

Scottie Barnes. Like, it's a lot of Raptors on the NBA minute leader board. Yeah, it's the whole league. Gary Trends 24.

They have five guys in the top 24 for minutes per game. It's kind of crazy. But yeah, this Raptors team is, they're winning. Yeah, it's working.

They're winning. Pascal Ciacan is playing the best basketball of his entire. life. I absolutely am in love with watching this Raptor's team. They bring me so much joy. I love watching Fred Van Bleed is the only little guy out there. Everybody else

is just big. It's just a fun team to watch. It's a good time. Yep. Let me ask you about... By the way, Turner, if they were able to pull Turner, like that'd be a nice. That'd be a great addition for them because they could retain spacing but also get the size

that they lack. I'm into that for Miles Turner. I hope Hopefully his new TikTok girlfriend that she can get through the border and go to Canada. Good luck to him. You said something about like a knife. Like what was what are you talking about with the video? I didn't see that. Did you see the video?

I didn't see the video. No. Can I watch it real quick? Can I just take a quick 25 second timeout and watch it? Are we going to fast forward so all of you do not have to wait 25 seconds? But now Kevin O'Connor has taken the time out and he has watched the Miles Turner TikTok video that was going around this morning. your immediate reaction upon seeing the video, Kevin.

I just don't get the public attempt at this dinner here. It's like you're putting this dirty knife on screen and I've never been afraid to shoot my shot, trying to sign on cool. I don't know, man. Just slide in the DMs. The dirty knife, just dirty night. Just slide in the DMs privately. Stick to the DMs.

I'm going to tell you something. This might be a hot take. I can't win with. you. I can't win with you. You can't win with them? I can't win with you. I can't trade for him. I can't trade for him. Too horny. Just as a poor decision maker. Doing it publicly, not even cleaning off the damn knife before you film the video. You got peanut butter or whatever the hell you got on your knife. This is a beautiful girl that you're trying to ask out in front of the world. And you sound a little simplistic in doing it, you know,

I've never been scared to shoot my shot. Like, I don't know. I don't know. I mean, he's a nice kid. He's, you know, a good guy. Miles Turner is a good guy. He's just trying to, you know, go on a nice date. Hey, I never like to be in my day guy, but my God.

You are testing me, boss. You are testing me most. Turner, you know, back when you were, could you threw rocks at windows and a boom box, right? Now Miles Turner's, I mean, only, by the way, only 10,000 likes. How many TikTok followers does Miles Turner have? Because, like, that's not a lot.

Like, she has a million. She gets 10,000 likes in a heartbeat when she posts a selfie on there. Yeah, she's more popular, unfortunately. Last one, this Dennis Schrooter stuff's out there. with Boston and it seems like we've got the other side. Nothing's been consummated, but there's been this reporting out there about DeVicenzo. They weren't able to come to an extension with him in Milwaukee. You like DeVincenzo as a return?

If you, would you like, if that is the, if those are like the pieces that are involved, if you move off a Shruder, if you're Boston and move him to Milwaukee and you get DiVincenzo as part of the return. Obviously, some more stuff has to happen. You like it? You like a DeVincenzo fit on the Celtics? Do you like a Shrewder fit in Milwaukee? Someone commented on that TikTok video, bro, you're in the NBA.

You can get her without our help. And he says, Miles Turner says, I'm trying something new. You're going to help or not? I'm trying something new. Oh, my God. Let's get out of the comments, Miles Turner. Get out of the comments. Anyway, Dante Divencenzo, yeah, I've heard the Bucks don't want to pay him,

which is understandable when they already have multiple other guys who fill that same role, and he could bring more value to another team. Because, you know, for Milwaukee now, like, we've talked about this before, Chris. The fact they have Devenchenzo and Connaton and the ability to play. play Grace and Allen there too. For them, they don't need DeVincenzo anymore. So it's about flipping pieces. The question's going to be for Boston.

I believe it was multiple people. Maybe Jake Fisher was the first owner report that Grant Williams could be a guy that Boston would send back on that situation too. But Grant Williams has been playing really well for Boston. Yeah, he's one of the very few young players that gets the play and has been pretty damn good. I like the DeVicenzo fit there, though. I do too.

I do as well if they're able to get. him. You do hope DeVincenzo is able to get back on track to the guy that we saw pre-injury, because he just hasn't been good so far the season for the Bucks. But he's also barely played and played 15, 16 games at this point. And for the Bucks, they, you know, getting a backup point guard, like Dennis Schroeder, say what you want about him with some of his deficiencies as a player, but he's not horrible. It's not like he stinks. He can add something to your team. He can, especially the Bucks. This is what I think. I think Schroeder's an outstanding backup. and I wouldn't want him as my starter.

That's what I think. That's a perfect, simple way to put it. You know, like that, that sums it all up, you know? Yeah, flip the game. You know what I mean? Like, I need him. It's kind of like how I viewed Reggie Jackson. Even though Reggie Jackson showed out in the playoffs last year,

I still, in the end, like, I like those guys as change of paces, you know, on a night where I don't have much going, can come in, fill it up, and maybe flip a game for me. but game in, game out, I don't necessarily want them to be my 35 per minute a night point card, you know? You're really rattled by the Miles Turner stuff I could tell. Yeah, if you see the smile on my face, it's just funny to me. I'm trying something new.

You wouldn't trade for it. Look, look, you had to paraphrase the wire. You know, he always said the price of the brick's going up. The price of the brick has gone down. Whoever is, if you're Kevin Pritchard, you have to be like, take that shit down. I'm trying to trade your ass. This is, this is not helping. This is not helping the God.

I just get a kick out of the fact that, like, everybody is hating on him in the comments. It's just funny. It's just really funny. Everybody. Trying something new. I mean, I appreciate the experimentation. But the experimentation.

Clean off the knife. Clean off the knife. Yeah. Yeah. And it's weird to even be there with a fork on a knife anyway. Weirdo. I can't wait for the trade deadline. It's a bonus or Turner.

Do we expect either of them, either of them to get traded in all seriousness? Turner now. Turner now, yeah. Now I'm sure of it. Toronto would be an amazing basketball fit for him. I legitimately get excited about the idea of Turner on that Raptors group with all the other guys that they have. have there because that that's all they lack all they really lack is is a big i mean this and also with turner he's not an elite rebounder um but if you do that that's like a team with a ton of good

rebounders at guard and wing and forward and turner like i don't think it would matter as much he doesn't need to swallow 13 rebounds per game no but he would be he would be a really good fit with them dude that would be really that would be really nice for the raptors if they could pull miles turner I wish them all luck. And maybe they can. Kevin, by the next time we speak, we are going to be talking about a league that's probably going to have

a tremendous amount of personnel changes. We've already had some pretty significant ones take place by the time we've recorded this on Tuesday. So I am really looking forward to the trade deadline. And I do think there's going to be a lot of movement this year.

I really do. I think this is a sign of things to come because you've already seen people getting a head start on it with the Lavert deal, with the Norm Powell deal. This morning we had the McCollum thing, and there's just so much smoke out there. I got to imagine there's going to be

a significant amount of fire when it's all said and done. I can't wait. We'll get to revisit all of it and go through it on Friday. Thanks to our executive producer, Jesse Lopez, as always. Kevin, I'll talk to you later this week. I'm really looking forward to her, Chris. This is a big deadline week.

I'm doing The Void on Wednesday, Bill Simmons Pod Thursday. They got you on a Friday. We're going to be talking and debating about a whole bunch on Friday. I hope we get a busy week.