The Mismatch - The Most Interesting Players Going Into the 2022-23 NBA Season

Episode Date: October 11, 2022

Verno and KOC discuss the only potential flaw for Victor Wembanyama, before discussing Nikola Jovic’s near-perfect pairing with the Heat, and the latest going on with Jae Crowder (01:38). With the NBA starting up next week, the guys each pick five players they are most interested in going into the season (16:41). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Producer: Jessie Lopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome to The Mismatch. I'm Chris Vernon. And join as he does every Tuesday from The Ringer.com is Kevin O'Connor, A.K., Kevin O'Connor, Kevin O'Conflict. Kevin O'Climber, Kevin O'Colte, Kevin O'Corpsoe. Burdo! What's going on today, man? Well, as we are getting ready for the upcoming NBA season, we've got about a week, week and a half before we're going to have regular season games

as the preseason continues. A couple of news and notes that we can get to before we get into our topic of the day, which is going to be five players that interest us for the upcoming NBA season. First thing is, you know, we talked a lot about Victor Wimbayama last week

and about your article and about your experiencing him in person. And I was interested in taking in all of the coverage and everybody talking about it for the last week. And I think I was,

I was kind of waiting for the, hey, let's pump the brakes on this. Never happens. It really never happened. It's virtually universal, right? And it's very difficult to find anything in sports that is universal. We are made for debate now. The only thing that came up in the conversation about Victor Womayama, which is totally fair

and something that you chronicled in your article was the history of guys with that frame, the history of guys of that size, which is fair. And I think you had in your article, was it 26? I think it was 26 guys. Yeah, 7 foot 3 or taller. Yeah, 26. And like 7, 8 or 9, every more so played, you know, long careers. Yeah, you said notable, right?

Yeah, and most of them suffered injuries or had shortened careers, most of them. That's right. Well, and like one of them, like Subonis was in there, I believe, and that doesn't really count because we didn't get him in his prime. Of course. Right. It's complicated. It's like not a perfect list. And I might be missing, you know, some people you could argue notable versus a not notable, whatever.

Point is that dudes that all get hurt a lot. They're not supposed to be running up and down. You know what I mean? Or not side to side with the bigs nowadays, too. And you go back to the old days, Kevin, the little guy, he ran out there. He's the one with the spear going after the Buffalo. You get the Victor Webayana's they pick apples. That's what they're supposed to do.

You be on the lookout and grab stuff out of trees for us. You know what I mean? Like that's evolution. The little guys run around, the tall guys. That's not what they're meant to do. You don't send the tallest guy out to go do the hunting and the gathering. It's not how it works. Some natural selection stuff right here.

Yeah, seven, five guys aren't meant to be running six miles a night. That's their role. That's not their plight. Hopefully he plays 15 plus healthy years. Oh, for sure. That's the hope. And everybody is universal on him. A couple other things that have taken place.

I went and watched a NBA basketball game in person. on Friday night. I went to watch the Memphis Grizzlies play against the Miami Heat only in Jersey because I texted you during the game and I said, like it takes a lot for me to not even know you from college. And I'm watching this game and it's like Orlando Robinson and Haywood High Smith. I mean, these are all. Jamari Buya.

Just made up names. I'm like, who are? One of the guys got a contract today. Julian was, you don't remember what Benyama's team and Hoshi Fat? Yeah. Hoshi Fat. There was a guy that I saw, though. I saw he got a contract today.

One of the guys for. Oh, you fat. Yeah, ho you fat. Come on, man. Steve. Oh, she, fat. Ho she fat. Come on, bro.

Well, whatever. I made a mistake. Yeah, the guy that, the guy that got the contract. That's a great name. Great. Jamal Kane. Yeah. Grats to him.

He's the one that got the contract. And I got to see Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Neutron himself shoot the lights out. But yet, nobody played. Like, no hero, no Lowry, no, butler, no, nobody. There was a bunch of guys fighting for, you know. Who's the best player? Like Gabe Vincent got minutes? Yeah.

I mean, there's a couple guys you heard of. Look, the reason I brought this up is for no other reason, except I texted you during the game. It was my first time getting to see Nicola Jovich in person. Taller than what I expected, you know, he comes in the game. He should be in high school. He's standing next to Brandon Clark, who is not a, hulkingly tall power forward.

But, I mean, he was significantly bigger. Like just standing, when you see him standing next to Brandon Clark, you're like, whoa now. Like, this guy has got some real size. And he didn't make tons of shots, but man, the shot looks good. And I was pretty impressed. Like, it's one of those things where it's like you're looking for flashes. I saw the flashes with him.

And I do think that the kids probably in an unbelievable environment. You know, you always think that anybody, there's some of these teams that if they draft you, you think that you've got your best chance to be able to become whatever your ceiling is or that they're going to be able to turn you into your best possible version of yourself. And so I think it's special for him that that's his landing spot in that heat culture. they have proven over and over again to take even less talented players than this kid and turn them into something.

And so first impression was a good one. As far as I'm concerned, what is you like about him? Besides he's tall. Yeah, I thought the shot looked good. He's active. He got in there on the boards. You know, and he's playing,

the reason I was impressed is because he's playing against the Memphis played their players. I mean, they had like, the crowd was a lot bigger than they probably expected it to be. There's over, I think they announced 14, there's easily over 10 or 12 in the crowd, which is pretty jarring for a preseason. I mean, there was, there's a lot of people there and people were loud and into it. And Memphis played their guys. a lot of minutes.

And so that's what impressed me. Seeing him out there amongst guys that were part of a team that won 56 games, that, yeah, they're not giving it everything they've got because it's the preseason. It's more about getting in the flow, not getting hurt, getting a little sweat, playing together a little. But he didn't look wildly out of place by any means. And he was getting in there, and he's getting some rebounds, and he's knocking down some shots, and he's just in the mix.

And he's got real size. That did stand out to me as a guy that there's a real bonus to guys like that that can get there. If they've got a good shot, the guy's going to be able to get his shot off on anybody. And when you got a guy that big that can also get in the mix and can expand the court, we've just seen so many of those guys be so helpful to teams over the course of the past. couple of years, not the least of which was Maxi Cleaver last year. We just saw it, right? We can be way more skilled than Clever, too, because he can, he can handle the ball, but at a baseline, you mean, because Cleaver, three and D, all that. And I'm just saying a guy

that can, you can put as a big, and he's willing to, he can mix it up. He's not a guy that's going to get massively overwhelmed. He's not a softie. No, he's a tough, tough player. I mean, he can play tough. And I think with Miami, you're right, what a perfect environment for him to go into. And the way they're using him this preseason, including, you know, on Monday night against the Rockets, No Bamato Bio, they're using him in some of those dribble handoff actions, handling the ball at the top of the key, you know, to the shooters. And he can pick and pop for threes. He can drive. He can finish inside. He's up. He can pass. Yovich, I'm with you, Chris. You know, he's not going to be rookie of the year, but he looks like a nice fine for the Miami Heat

picking him in the 20s. And it's only preseason, but at this point, I'm feeling. maybe I should have ranked him a little higher, even though it's been up and down for him like him, any rookie. Yeah, I'm impressed with the flashes that we've seen from him. Yeah, that's all it was. It was flashes. Of course.

And it was the first time getting to see him in person, and I was impressed. The only news personnel-wise that we've had as of significance over the course of the past couple of days is this rumor that Jay Crowder has garnered interest from the Atlanta Hawks. Crowder, of course, wants to be traded out of Phoenix. Phoenix has not found a landing spot for him yet. And here comes Atlanta.

And the most interesting thing to me about this is looking up and down their roster and going, who do they give up? For what it's worth, Zach Lowe also said bucks and heat. And then there was another report. that said, Cavaliers. You would not give up DeAndre Hunter, would you? No. It's tough to find a deal for Crowder

because Phoenix wants a Crotter replacement. Atlanta wouldn't give up DeAndre Hunter. And Hunter's got the same contract. Yeah, I just, I don't know what the deal is. I mean, DeAndre Hunter had 35 points in the last playoff game we saw him in, I think. You know, but they're not going to pay him. So I don't know.

It's kind of a tough spot, right? Yeah. They're probably not going to pay him. a deal here. Well, I'm saying they're probably not going to pay Hunter, but I think you just play it out anyway. Fair. If you're not going to pay him, maybe you do do that. Yeah. Because they've got to think, but, man, Jay Crowder would help them. He'd help them. I don't think he's better than the Andrew Hunter. I don't either. Or what DeAndre Hunter can be. I don't. I don't either. But I do think what he brings to the table right now. Like, I think that kind of guy.

I would be good in Atlanta because you saw that team that was a young team that kind of got cracking with that NBA or that Easter conference finals thing and then they came back last year and had a supreme lack of focus. Is

Jay Crowder jumping ship at the perfect time? Is that possible or is he like just a loser? Because he's like leaving the son's team that's contending and he's unhappy about going to the bench. Like what What is it more, you think?

I think that Jay Crowder is a winning basketball player that probably has significant reasons for not wanting to be there. I would give him the benefit of the doubt. Like beyond what we understand. Yeah, I would give him the benefit of the doubt. That's what I mean. Like, he could be jumping ship. Yeah, the place is a mess.

Before it blows up. Yeah. It could be. I mean, he knows far more than we do. That's for damn sure. Yeah, you saw the only. thing. You saw the Aitin thing? You saw the way they got...

With Monty Williams? Well, the Aitin thing, not just the contract, but not talking to Monty since the end of the playoffs. Also not the kind of guy that probably was real thrilled about the way his team laid down when it mattered most. He's the kind of guy. That was a tough situation now.

And he's the kind of guy, though, that, like, I could see him being like, no, man. They did have a COVID outbreak, though. I get it. Then why haven't they said that? Yeah, I don't know. Because they let everybody say it for them? Well, I mean, yeah, they let everybody report it.

Who was an Amick and Barden who reported that on the athletic, that they had a COVID outbreak? Yeah. As their season fell apart. Yeah. Yeah, that's why I don't want to say. Because it was wildest serious is happening. They also had a Mabbs outbreak.

Yeah. Where they just got... I just found the article that they reported June 8th, the Phoenix Suns were managing a COVID-19 outbreak as their season fell apart

and multiple sources said testing positive either late in the Western Conference semifinals or the day after game seven. Right. Yeah. That's why they're not saying anything.

I mean, at this point, you see Bradley Beals in Health and safety protocols. I was amazed that came out of nowhere from Shams. I know. When are we going to be done with this? Well, that's because Beale isn't vaccinated, right?

Yeah, yeah. I don't know. They just fight overseas, right? He was in the Japan thing. Yeah, yeah. Oh, no, he didn't get vaccinated. That's right. He was in the Japan thing, right? So he was symptomatic.

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Call 1-800-2-2-4-70-0 in Wyoming, or it's 1800 gambler.net in West Virginia. All right, Kevin, we got a season coming up a little bit over a week away. And so, today we are going to do five interesting players for the upcoming NBA season. Five players that interest us. I've got my five together.

You have your five. I'm going to pray for no overlap. We have not spoken about this at all. Nothing. No prep. And there were some, there were some that I omitted from my list because I thought you would have them. Oh. Yeah.

Oh. Yeah. There was a couple that I omitted from the list because I thought you would have them. Killing and Hayes? I did not have that. Alexei Hokka. I didn't even consider those. I understand.

What I want me to start off to see if my first, first one is? It'd be funny if the first one there's overlap. Well, look, the reason I didn't include any of those guys that you just mentioned is because I really wanted people to listen to this podcast. You like good basketball players, right? Yeah. Which means you should like Mo Baba. Okay. He's underrated.

All right. What do we have for your, I'll let you go first. That's fine. Go ahead. Damian Lillard And trust me Damian Lillard number one

because here's his stat lines so far in the preseason Chris against the Clippers 16 points on 5 of 13

against the Jazz 21 points on 6 of 10 against the Kings 8 points on 2 of 10

a blowout loss for the Blazers with starters playing heavy minutes on both sides there

I'm not reading too much into those stats I just say that to say Dame hasn't had

an explosive game yet. He's not quite looked like Prime Dame yet. I wonder, will we see Prime Damien Lillard? And additionally, whether we do or not, whether we see Prime Dame or whether we don't. The situation he's in right now, it's a team that added a bunch of wings.

You add Jeremy Grant, you got Nerk there, Anthony Simons, who's making progress to see her little, hopefully continuing to progress in that team. My guy, Josh Hart. Josh Hart, good players there. The thing is, is despite all that talent, the Chonsie Billups scheme makes absolutely no sense at all.

He's still got Nurkich with his lead feet, blitzing in the pick and roll. He should be dropping. Damien Lillard and Anthony Simons, I don't care how good those guys are on offense. They're never going to work on defense. Ant is worse than CJ on defense. Grant is one of the best defenders in basketball

when he's at his best, when he's really locked in, when he has good supporting casts around him. I'm not sure he's got the pieces necessary to really reach his level on defense in this offense, the Billups offense, far too stagnant still. Far too stagnant. I think this team is a mess. How much of that has to do with Dame not being optimal levels yet?

How much of that has to do with Chauncey Billups having a scheme that makes no sense? And in a year, whether you have Victor Wenban Yamma, one of the best prospects we've ever seen enter the NBA draft. Could the Blazers reach a point when they're just, you know, on the playing bubble, say, you know what? We don't need Dame to say, I want to go to a winner. We're going to pull the plug on this. Well, that happens.

So I'm interested in Damien Lurd for a long list of reasons. Totally fair. And I am interested in Lillard too because I think we kind of looked last year at, man, where's Lillard going to go? where could Lillard end up? And then it was like he committed to the Blazers. Blazers committed to him. They gave him that huge extension once again.

But we might get into if it's two consecutive, like really bad years. Let's say, you know, you're right on this where they could really struggle again. It's a second straight year while he still got some good, basketball left in him, it might be the first time where he's like, all right. You know, because you remember we did, he did get a little wishy-washy on it last year, where he did the whole, how long do you stay loyal kind of stuff and whatever else? But, I mean, then they gave him a billion dollars. So that's how long you stay loyal.

But he's got his billion dollars now. He's got it. And he said he wanted to be a part of it. And I think everybody earnestly believes he wants to win in Portland. He does, which is why, like, it's hard to even suggest. That's right. Trading this lifer, this guy who's been there forever who. He wants to do it.

He wants to be there. But he may come to the reality that, okay. Or will the Blazers come to that reality before he does? Well, and they've had, you've got to remember. He's signed through 2026, 27. I got it. He got his contract now, though. So I'm saying that thought process might change.

You know, the names have changed around him. He's seen CJ go. He's seen, you know, Neil Loshy ain't there no more. He's seen the owners change. He's seen the GMs change. He's seen the players all change. He's seen the coaching change. He may just say.

Ownership change. Yeah. Yeah, but now he's, now he's secure. Now he's got the money, so that's not part of it. The other part is, am I happy? You know, is this what makes me happy? Doing this, playing here, playing it out here. Would I rather have my jersey go in the rafters and be the best blazer ever to these people and the leading scorer and everything else?

or would I rather go try to take a run at winning big? And if it's not going to be the case there, I think we do come to that crossroad sooner than later. And he could make that choice, as you're saying. He can be traded. I think the date's January 5th. He's eligible to be traded. He can make that choice.

But if he doesn't, he doesn't have no trade costs. Portland could decide, you know what, we're going to trade them for the best available offer. That could happen because if you're Portland, you need to be looking at your situation and thinking to yourself, well, we love Dave. Yep. But he's 32 years old, may not be the same prime level guy that he was before.

And even if he is, he still has his weaknesses on the defensive end of the floor that have always caused problems for the Blazers in the postseason have been a partial contribution to their annual early exits. That's possible. They might look at it and say, we will pull the plug on this and go full rebuild and trying to tank our way to Victor Wenban Yama, who was well worth the risk for a 14% odd or whatever percent chance you get,

rather than being a playing exit or a first round exit at best. I'm sorry, like Portland, Portland, maybe you could make an argument for them to be a second round team, but beyond that, they're not even close, man. And unless Shaden Sharp or any of your young guys go boom, they're not going to be in a position to trade a bunch of assets or be in a position to pounce on a free agent. I just don't see Portland as a team that's going to be winning in a finals

anytime soon with Damien Lillard, whereas tanking could potentially lead to a brand-new clean slate for this reshaped front office to build it their way. Well, and very fascinating angle to that, Kevin, is a name that was mentioned on our Friday podcast. Mike Schmitz, is that where you're going on with? Called Wembenyama, best prospect he ever scouted. And he is now part of that

Portland Brain Trust. An integral voice in that organization. Right. And he was sitting right there a couple of rows back watching Victor. Oh, he was? You saw him? Yep.

My first guy. Kauai Leonard. Oh, yeah, that's a good one. I mean, look, he played nine games his last year in San Antonio. He played 60 in Toronto. He played 57 with the Clippers

the first year, 52 the second year, and did not play it all. last year. He has played 109 games for the Clippers. He has also only played two seasons in his career

over 70 games played, which I think would shock people. You know, we knew that he has not, he has not been the beacon of health by any means, but only two of his seasons with 70 plus games, and he's only

played 109, and there are these recent quotes from Paul George having no problem being the Robin. Kauai is the one. Well, all of this got put together in L.A. with visions of titles. And they've sold out. I mean, they've got the payroll.

They have got the players. They've got wings on wings on wings. They have depth for days. But if they are going to be a championship caliber team, It all rides on this guy that we've seen play 109 games in three seasons. 109 games in three seasons. And the crazy thing is when he does play, we all acknowledge he is one of the very best players in the NBA. One of the five or ten best.

And so the question now is, A, how much does he play? But maybe more importantly, B, is he still that? You know what I'm saying? Like he's played 109 games in three years. We didn't see him at all last year. And he's now into his 30s, right? Is Kauai Leonard still, we have these visions of what he is? But is he still that guy that just, like, we've seen him just take over completely.

We saw him go nuclear against Dallas. We saw him do it against Philly. But, I mean, like, that stuff's now. We're distancing ourselves from these Kauai Leonard take over the game and just easily be the best player on the floor by a wide margin guy. And what happens when you miss an entire season of basketball and now come back? and how many games does he play for the Clippers? And how good is he?

Because if he is one of the top 10 players, it's in the cards that they could have two of the top 10 players in the league. And if you've got that, you've got a chance in a title. It's in the cards that he's one of the best five players in the NBA. If you've got that, you've got a chance to be a championship team. but we have absolutely no idea. Not only, I think it's beyond the how many games will he play. How good is he when he does play?

Is he still one of the very best players in the NBA? Because if not, then this was truly the booby prize for the Clippers. When they put that together, I mean, it's been a epic feat. failure. Epic. I mean, they had the worst collapse ever against a nugget, and the rest has just been injury marred. And so we never have gotten to see. And who knows it will ever get to see it. But I'd like to think that Kauai Leonard could like finish out a career. But the history tells you, he doesn't play that many games anyway. He hasn't since he was a young player in the league. league and now after these injuries and everything else is he still one of the best five,

ten guys in the league. So the whole Kauai thing, just him being absent from the league completely all of last season, even though there were some rumors that he might show up for the playoffs, we never saw him play basketball. I feel like it's been forever since I've seen him play basketball. And yet there he is one of the best players in the world. who I haven't watched play for over a year. It's not like John Wall or something.

It's Kauai Leonard. I haven't seen Kauai Leonard play basketball at over a year. And even then, he only played 50-something game. So Kauai's at the top of my list, for sure. 100%. 100, Chris. We don't know how long he'll be able to last or what peaks he could reach

if we can still see that prior, you know, prime level Kauai Leonard again. How many do they even have him play? You know what I mean? Well, all the matters is April, May, June. That's right. If they can get them to their health. So maybe we see him load managed during the year or whatever.

We'll find out. I thought it was interesting today, or rather Monday. Paul George said how, you know, everybody says, you know, Kauai is one and you're 1A, 1B. He's like, no, I'm the number 2. He's like, he's saying I'm the 2 behind Kauai. Kauai is the 1. He's embracing that role and publicly admitting that. I'd hope so.

Yeah, you would hope so. I mean, did he finish the quote by saying, I'm the what? Did you see me hit the side of the damn bagboard? What? It's just nice to see an acknowledgement of the hierarchy for this team, that Kauai is indeed the number one. And Kauai has that one,

if he can handle that workload and everything that comes with it, as we talked about what left go on Friday, damn, they sure as hell have the personnel around him to make a deep run, don't they? No question. Morris, Conard, Covington, Batum, Jackson, Zubots, Wall, Terrence, man. They're loaded. Even young guys like Jason Preston,

maybe he figures it out in his second year old. Brandon, Boston. Yeah, you never, like, they're loaded. Loaded. Loaded. We didn't even mention a mere cotton. You could do worse. You can do worse as like a 13th guy in your roster.

Yeah. All right, who's your second one? Second one, let's go with this guy. Clay Thompson. Clay Thompson wasn't the same guy last year for the Warriors. Not the same level defensively, not even same level offensively. What level does he reach this season? Will he reach prior clay levels?

And in some ways, it doesn't matter considering the Warriors just won the NBA finals with Clay looking not like Prime Clay. but I'm interested because of Jordan Poole, who obviously has been in the news for different reasons this past week, is this the year Jordan Poole is better than Clay Thompson? Should Jordan Poole surpass Clay Thompson in shots? Will he? If he should?

Clay didn't want to pass full the ball sometimes last season. Will he take on, you know, being a sixth man or taking a backseat, whether he's starting or not? How does that affect the team this season and moving forward? Clay's making $40.6 million this year. Next year, the final year of his contract, he'll be making $43 million. I just am interested in this, you know,

with the ripple effects for how this could affect the Warriors. This season, with Poole's emergence, with how he's ascending, and what it could mean for them in the years to come because Poole's coming up for money. Sounds like they're going to pay him. Steve Curry backed him said we're going to pay him. He's going to be part of our system for years to come.

Are you going to empower Jordan Poole? with the opportunity and the minutes and the touches and the shots that it seems like he deserves as he continues trending up. And what does that mean for Clay Thompson and how does he handle it? I think my bet would be that we see a much better version of Clay this year than we saw last year.

I hope so. He looked good last year for what it's worth, but it's just not peak level Clay. Not 37 points in a quarter. Yeah. Or, you know, or lockdown defender. Or lockdown, you know, all the guy. I think a year removed from that injury

if he is if he is going to be able to reclaim a very high percentage of what he once was then we're going to know rather quickly because now he is farther removed from really two injuries that was a hard year to come back last year no I know you know after the two

consecutive injuries very very difficult two full seasons I know So, yeah, I think you'll certainly see a better Clay Thompson than we saw it last year. I hope so. That's what I guess. I love Clay. Isn't he one of the funnest players in the league to watch?

For sure. Next one. My number two. Michael Porter Jr. That's a good one. The reason it's Michael Porter Jr. is because there's a lot of people that are very, very high on the Nuggets. And I do think a lot will hinge upon Porter Jr., being able to be available and be good.

This guy was on a trajectory where it looked like he was going to be one of the great stars in the lead. You know, once he finally got through the injury stuff and we saw him playing basketball, that first year, even when he played that first year, he's 55 games. He shoots 51% from the field and 42% from three. Then he plays 61 games. He averages 19 points a game, 54. points, or I'm sorry, 54% from the field, 45% from three. And then after nine, you know, miserable, disjointed, injured games last year, we never

see him again. He's gone. But the last time we saw him, he was awesome. And then the other night in the preseason game, he dropped 20 points at 22 minutes. Sure looked good. And it was like, okay, like maybe this guy. You know, he has this freaky ceiling at his size. Like 6'10 clay, we were just talking about it.

Yeah, I mean, just the percentages are there. He shoots the shit out of the ball. I mean, we've seen him two seasons. He shot 42 and 45% from three. And he can take you off the dribble too, and he's got that size. But if they're going to make the most out of, we'll see what they get out of. Murray and what Murray looks like. But Porter has the opportunity to be a very special player in this league, and that would

make it so even if Jamal Murray, who is coming back from a very difficult injury, even if he's not what he was, and maybe that bubble thing was just that bubble thing, like this is the other guy that goes along with a guy. that's won some MVP awards, and they need that, right? In the absence of knowing for sure what Murray is, and I guess you can just say, well, Murray's going to come back and Murray's going to be amazing. Like, this guy could be an amazing player in the league. And everything just got ripped away last year with the Murray injury and the Porter injury.

They've lost some guys that have been a part of that team for some time now. I like some of the stuff they've added. I thought the guy that got from Brooklyn, Brown, it's a steal. Yeah, I love Bruce Brown. It's a kind of guy I won on that kind of team, too. Bruce Brown's my type of guy. You know that, Chris. Cutting to the rim, hard nose on defense, tough guy, does all the little things.

I love Bruce Brown. Will Barton. Oh, they have a lot of those guys. Montemores, those guys are gone, though, no. But they've been a part of it. But all of them over the years. They keep finding Gary Harris, right? The past regime guys, like they keep finding new ones.

They do keep finding new ones, but they've got some replacing to do, and they need Murray to be good again, like really good again. And the Porter thing, look, the Porter thing takes you to a level where now all of your, all of your dreams can be realized if you're a Nuggets fan. Oh, yeah. if that guy is available and continues on the trajectory. He's got this insanely disjointed trajectory. But he's never, you know, we talk about this as I am,

he's never not been good. He just doesn't play. But when he does, you see it. I mean, and he's showing. shoots just these crazy percentages. And when you're playing with Yokic, you want to talk about being able to hit a ceiling. And so if Murray is not the kind of guy that can pour in

a lot of points every night, like I think you could, you could see an ascension where Porter Jr. is the second best player on that team. Quickly. Quickly. So that's number two for me. Number three for me,

Ben Simmons. Oh, his game against the Miami Heat last year is one of the most cowardly preseason performances I've ever seen. Cowardly preseason! I knew that. What is wrong with you? I knew that would make you laugh. What?

What? Everything's just trying to break a sweat, you nerd. I knew that'd make you laugh. Coward. But, but. You're wild. He didn't put any first-year-old. on the rim, Chris.

Oh, for goodness. He had a play in the first quarter where he received a pass on a cut to the rim with only Kyle Lowry and room protection. And he passed out of it instead of trying to attack and lay the ball up. And he passed it to a corner shooter who shoots sub 35% Watanabi. Ben Simmons looks like he's still in his own head on the offensive end of the floor and all that to say, I'm worried. I'm worried for the Nets.

I want to see Ben Simmons embracing his inner Dramont, being tough, not throwing punches, but setting screens for Kyrie and Patty Mills and all their perimeter players. And he's not doing any of that. How much of that is his fault? How much of that is Steve Nash's fault? I don't know. I'd lean towards it being Ben Simmons' fault because it typically has been over the years because of his own stubbornness. you being critical of a preseason performance

might be my favorite. Why would I not be? It's preseason. Because that's ridiculous. It's not just breaking a sweat. It's building new habits. He had Kyle Lowry. The guy's coming back.

He didn't attack. The guy's coming back from back surgery and you want him to go to the ramp and see it sets screens. Yeah, I do. Let him get to the regular season. He played so packed. massive dude. I'm telling you, watch last Thursdays, watch the Nets Heat game last Thursday. Bro, I just told you I was at a game with Haywood Highsmith in it. Shut up.

Well, that game, Butler and Bam and Lowry, all those guys played. No, they didn't. For Miami, Brooklyn, they did. Oh, okay. Well, I did. And I'm saying, you're like, no, it's not just breaking a sweat. It's a whole new team coming together trying to mesh. and they got smacked. Who are you talking? You're laughing. I'm telling you,

I'm alerting you, Chris. The Nets are frauds unless Ben Simmons starts being the guy that he can beat. All right. You're giggling as if this isn't going to happen first week of the season. Just let it, let me at least criticize him for regular season play. Number three. But wait, this preseason, can we at least see him set a screen for Kyrie or Patty Mills or Cam Thomas? I'll settle for Cam Thomas.

I don't care if you set him set a screen for these guys. You go give me a triple double and I don't care if you set a screen. Okay, enjoy your first round exit. Oh, like they did last year without him? What does it matter? That'll be new. If he's not screen it for Kyrie, I'm going to lose it. I'm serious.

It'll be absurd If he's not channeling his inner dream on With Kyrie being the Steph It'll be absurd if he's not It'll be absurd if he's not setting on ball screens For Kevin Durant to get mismatches on the floor To force a switch against the defense It'd be the dumbest thing ever if that's not happening

If I say dribble handoffs him dribbling Diddy-Dally around the floor Doing nothing not attacking the pain I'm going to lose my shit Chris And that's what it's been like in pre-season Let's get up Let's get to the regular season. We'll see if that's the way it is.

Number three, Deeran Fox. Oh, that's a good one. I was going to have him, but I didn't. Look, I got all my Deeran Fox stock, like, sitting over here. And like every other stock in the world, it sucks. So it's so down. It's so down. Everything was so green and now it's all red.

I'm buying up more, though. Like, it's so low right now. No, it's really low. Everybody's out on the Kings and Fox and everything else. King sure looked great against the Blazers. I love him. I've always loved him. I think he got drafted by this rat franchise

that has had crap coaches and mismanagement just all around him. He's average like 23 and 24. Yeah, like choosing your guy Bagley over Luca? Well, then they, look, they had five. Fox healed and Bagley at one point, and like Dave Yeager is the coach, and like they're onto something. And then, of course, they screwed that up. And then everybody got down on Fox because the golden child, Michael Jordan reincarnate Tyrese Halliburton showed up. And then as soon as Halliburton left, both Fox and Mitchell turned awesome.

I like Davy on, but the Steer and Fox, I think he's one of the best point guards in the league possibly. I really believe that. I've always believed that. And I think now he's got some guys. I don't dislike their roster at all. Murray has looked season during this deal. They've got guys that can pass the ball. And most importantly, say whatever you want about Mike Brown.

Mike Brown has only had one losing season ever, which was that injury riddled 13, 14 Cavs year. The guy has won a boatload of games. He's a real basketball coach who has real credibility and has been part of that Golden State thing now for three or four years. And I think guys like that can have a profound effect on a team. And I think that that's when a coach can really, really, really make a difference. We saw it when Nate McMillan originally came in and took over Atlanta from Lloyd Pierce, right? It's like this, oh, you know, and I'm not saying that it's going to win

you titles. I'm not saying that it's going to turn you into something spectacular. What I am saying is this base level of competency is reached. And now all of a sudden, guys feel like they are well prepared to go into games. They know that they have a guy that has been part of championship, whether it's from San Antonio to go into the finals in Cleveland and winning 66 games, to being part of these Golden State runs. This guy has like real credibility. Like you look at like, they had Alvin Gentry coming in there, then Luke Walton, that disaster. And like, you know, ever since the Malone and then Yeager thing, it's been a debacle. They have a real coach that I think they're going to respect.

I like the vibes coming out of there. They've got it for all their faults, they may have to score 135 to beat people. But they might can score 135. Like with Fox and Sabonis and Harrison Barnes and Davey on Mitchell and Herder and Monk and they've got some fun stuff. And they've kind of got players at all the different positions. and I think they got a competent coach, and they really just need one team to drop out.

I'm not talking about making the top six. That's not in the cards. But you've got four teams that aren't going to be in it at all, San Antonio, Oklahoma, City, Utah, and Houston. So that leaves 11. And last year, we saw the Pelicans get the eight seed. You know how many games the Pelicans won? 36. They won 36 games. And they were the 18. They played their way into it. And so if you can get there to 8, 9, or 10, you at least got a puncher's chance it may be ending that futility. They have the longest streak now after the Mariners ended their streak of ineptitude. And so I've been a Fox fan. He's got a real coach now.

he should be hitting right into his prime. And so, you know, if he's going to ever be what I thought he was going to be, which is an all-star caliber point guard in this league, then this is the year. And so I've got the stock. I have held on to it this long. And I think that this is the best chance it may be living up to what I think. A lot of us thought he was going to be after his first couple of years in the league. I hope the Kings are able to break the streak like the Mariners.

I do. I'm rooting for the Kings. That Mariners thing is unbelievable. Did you see the video of the guys working at Toyota in Seattle? No. I'm celebrating watching the game on TV and the Service Center. And they're all just like bouncing around. They're just all having a good time.

Like three guys are dancing in there. And then a fourth guy comes skipping. in and they're all this kind of huddle. That's like men are men or men celebrating right there. Just boys are going to be boys, that type of thing. Being down 8 to 1 to Toronto and coming back. Oh, what a way to do it. Fantasy stuff.

That is just a dream. I know. I still can't believe that happened. I know. It's crazy. Awesome for them. I wish I still love baseball the way I used to. Playoffs are always fun.

As a Cardinal fan, let me tell you, you're okay. It would kill me. This past weekend absolutely killed me. I'm sorry, Chris. Yeah. Look, that's the hard part about baseball. You spend 162 games rooting for something.

It's over in an instant. The new format is pretty good, though. I like the best of three. If you win. But it's pretty cool, though. Like, the concept is nice, isn't it? The best of three instead of the one-off? It's cool until you're up two to nothing in the,

Ninth inning. If game one of that, then you blow it. Give up six runs. And you won your division too, right? Yeah. So it's not a lock anymore to get in. That's for sure. Sorry about that, Chris.

All right. There's your number four. Zion. That's the one I skipped. I knew it. Yeah, I mean, this might be an obvious one, but I think the Pelicans can win the finals if he's healthy. What finals?

The NBA finals. Can they win a playoff series first? I mean, God bless. I'm not saying that, God, Chris, take into account they get 400 first round picks. The roster, what it is today, may not be what it is post-deadline. If they're good or great for one of the top four or five teams in the West and some good players become available,

they got more than enough picks to trade those in for that play. They're not like Utah who have a bunch of picks. They're not going to trade for star players. They're not going to trade for established players. They're not like Utah or any other team with a bunch of picks. They're New Orleans, a team that's competing and they have a whole bunch of draft picks. Some good value draft picks as well from the Lakers. So if you're the Thelicans right now and if Zion Williamson comes back as great as he was before

or even better considering the shape he's in now, and if Brandon Ingram keeps getting better, Herb Jones keeps getting better, all these young guys with the vets surrounding them, Jonas Fallon Chunis, C.J. McCollum, you got so much young talent on this team. Murray coming off the bench for that matter, too. The Pelicans are deep.

They have star talent, young star talent that can keep getting better, and a lot of draft picks. So I'm watching Zion because of the ripple effects of what that could mean for that team if they're big buyers entering the deadline. So it's like maybe, maybe like I'm ahead for here, Chris, with them being a finals contender.

Maybe I'm way ahead here. They won 36 games. Maybe I am. But they didn't have Zion. I get it. And they got CJ halfway through the year. They're mega talented. They're certainly going to be a playoff team.

What I tell you is, I mean, we've talked for years and years and years about teams getting there and the trajectory and getting your scars. They were 12 and 8 with CJ. And they went for the first time to the playoffs last year and, you know, played pretty well against Phoenix without Devin Booker. 12 and 8 with CJ, that's a 50 win pace. I mean, do we know what those 20 games were? And they did well in the playoffs too. Yeah.

I mean, they did well against Phoenix without Devin Booker. They did, for sure. But it didn't win the series. I mean, again, I'm just recoiling at the whole NBA football. finals. What the hell? Let them win a playoff series first. But like, okay, you disagree

with me. But do you see where I'm coming from when I talk about the roster as is? The upside of the stars and the possibility to add more with all their draft picks and young talent

that they could also trade as well. They have the flexibility more than any other team in the league to make a big move, more than anybody. You're talking about with moving players or with the draft picks? With the picks, with the players, whatever combination you want to talk about.

I mean, if you're right, though, and they're awesome, the picks become less interesting. Well, what about their Lakers picks they have? I mean, I guess we'll see. I guess we'll see what the Lakers pick, you know, maybe the Lakers are good this year. I don't know yet. If Anthony Davis looks like you did the other night, then the Lakers are going to win more games than I thought they were. He looked pretty damn good to me the other night. And they still got LeBronid AD.

I don't know. But I just haven't, we haven't seen the Pelicans as currently constructed. They've got a lot of talent for sure. But if we haven't seen McCallum and Ingram and Zion and Valencius and all of them playing together. Didn't even mention Larry Nance. Larry Nance. And my guy. Dyson Daniels are a rookie.

He looks really good defensively. What's my little guy that I love? The Alvarado. Alvarado scored like 20. eight the other night. I love him. He looks so good. Good compazo. I know it's just preseason. You say with Ben Simmons, don't overreact

the Pelicans. I said it months ago, man. Like they could be great this year. I'm telling you, they could be great this year. They could. Watch out. Look, you say this every year. You love the Pelicans. You love them. I don't say this every year with them, do I?

Yes. Oh, God. When have I said this to the Pelicans before? The Pelicans nerds are the most active in my Twitter. Well, I mean, you know I. Well, that's because you're anti-Zion, anti-N. I love Zion. You are pro-Mephous. I have been infinitely higher in my praise.

Even though you got the second most talented player on that draft, unfortunately. I have been infinitely more praise. I've given infinite more praise to Zion than you have. You're just over-competiting for the true hatred in your heart. Everybody sees through. Well, here's what I tell you. Memphis won 56 games. Oh, here we go.

And the Pelicans won 36 games. And I have to come on this podcast, listen to you, talk about how awesome New Orleans is all the time, when the best player in the NBA might reside in Memphis, Tennessee. And you hate that with the fire of seven hell. He's not going to be the best player in the NBA. Hey, what has he done in the playoffs? What has Zion done? I mean, this is, Zaya's been hurt. Of course he hasn't done anything in the playoffs.

And that's why what I just said, the Pilicans can win the finals, if it's the biggest if in the room. Oh, it's the biggest if? I don't have as big of an if. Yeah, it's a pretty big if still. I don't have one. Guy that averaged 27 and 6 last year and was all NBA, but no big whoop. What did you think about Bill Simmons having Victor Webb-Ban-Yama

head of John Morant on his trade value rack and from his pawn last week. It's just dumb. Just dumb. Bill tried to trade Jason Tatum for Brad Beale three years ago. You're telling me you wouldn't trade Morant for Webbenyama? Are you serious? Get out of my face.

Would you at least think about it? Why is John Morant not one of the five best players in the NBA? But would you at least think about it? You make the argument to me. Why? I'm asking you, would you at least think about it? No. Okay, you wouldn't.

Okay, that's fair. That's fine. But you know how I feel about guys that are the track record of all of these taller than seven footers. You know what I mean? And it's totally fair. It is. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I want the most electric point guard in the league. Who has this burning desire to be the best player in the league? Would you throw some names at you? Would you take jaw over Trey? Are you serious? Jaya over Booker? Yes. Jow over Tatum?

Yes. Yes. Jaya over and Bede? For one year? Or for like next five years? Let's say the next five years. No, I would take Jai. Jaya over Kaua, yes.

There's very few. Moran, I think the only one I would take the, the only one I would trade him for would be Yonnas. Yonis. How about Luca? No. Wow. I wouldn't personally.

Well, that's because of your attachment, the connection with Memphis. I mean, he averaged 27, 7, and 6. Oh, I know, he's nasty. But you wouldn't trade him for. for Luca? 56 games. How about Yokich?

Why did he win 56 games? Would you trade him for Yokish? You don't mean? The guy who just won two Mvipis? Oh, yeah. Come on. So Janus and Yokic. Probably.

That's it. Not Stafka's the age. Or would you? No. No. I mean, I think Morant, for whatever reason, and I don't know, I guess it's just resent. People don't like that he's in Memphis, whatever else. Like, I mean, the downplaying of what he has done in his career.

thus far is insane. You even putting Zion in the same sentence as him is laughable. Laffable. In what way? It's laughable. One has transformed an entire franchise. One has done jack shit. Except average 27 points on a rat team.

Nobody's taking that away. Nobody's taking that away from John. How about this guy transforms a franchise and then we'll decide. Yeah, but me complimenting science. on is not insults me. No, but you went out of your way to say, oh, you got the second most talented player in that draft. And it effectively gone under your skin.

This is so annoying. So annoying. Nobody discredits Luca Donchitz like this. I mean, they were, they had the second best record in the NBA. And he's the lynchpin. You know what I mean? John's amazing.

What do you want me to say? Jaws incredible. He is the face of the Memphis. I want you to start talking up Memphis and get off New Orleans nuts. Why would I get off New Orleans? Because they won 20 last games in Memphis. I might as well be one of the teams. Do you think Memphis got my favorite players?

Brandon Ingram, Larry. Do you think the Grizzlies can win the NBA finals? Yes, I do. You do. I do. Okay. You don't believe that for one second. You won't even have them in the top six.

I don't think I will. But you do. think they can win the finals? Yeah, because the West is flat. Like, they might be two, they might be eight. We'll find out. We will find out. And I haven't finalized our projections.

Are you going to have higher? Grizzies or pelicans. Pelicans. Yeah. Okay. My next one, Donovan Mitchell. Oh, that's a good one. Story of the summer was what happened with Utah Jazz and that fracturing.

Now, Rudy Gobert. your beloved is in Minnesota to go ruin that. And Donovan Mitchell is in Cleveland. Donald Mitchell's in Cleveland. You probably have Minnesota ahead of Memphis, too. Oh, I do. Of course you do. Moron.

Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland. I think Cleveland could be a top four seed. I really do. I really believe that. and if that is so, you know, they've got about a two-year window with Mitchell now. That was a two-year deal. They moved off at Sexton. They moved off of Marking and, you know, their draft pick, etc.

They've really got this two-year window with Mitchell to make it happen. He's right in his prime. He has been a prolific playoff scorer. And I think it's going to work. I think Kim and Garland is a back court When you are flanked by those two bigs Mowgli and Allen I think it can be something really special

I like the vet stuff with Rubio and love I'm a little worried about the wing thing With Dean Wade and Karras Levert They need a small forward They need to build that Why don't they go after Jay Crowder They're small

Well I mean they are one of the teams Let that happen. If they got Crowder, oh, wow. I don't love the Garland's Mitchell Lavert. No, I don't either. Or Dean Wade or whatever. Yeah, yeah. I just, no, they need some, they need to do something.

And Okoro, you know, they tried it. I don't know. I just. He can't shoot. I know. I want, yeah, like the Crowder thing would be perfect for them. Yeah, I mean, Crowder. as streaky as they come to. He's not solving

anything. Yeah, but he keeps a ball moving. He only takes nine shots a game. Yeah. Seven shots a game. Oh, Coral could do that too, minus the, you know, the productive, the average shot at least. Yeah. And like, for us, or them not having Mobley this preseason makes it hard

to gauge who they are. It does. It does. But the Mitchell, it's Mitchell. We've seen him in that context playing for Utah, and we've never seen him elsewhere. He's been like a 25

point per game guy. And so what all transit? Is Mitchell just, does that game just travel? And now Donovan Mitchell with, you know, playing alongside maybe

you know, the best point guard. I mean, he had Conley for the year right after he left Memphis. But I mean, I think Garland is going to be a big, big star in this league. And I think those two on a perimeter could be devastating. And so I think, you know, maybe the numbers aren't as gaudy as they were in Utah.

But I think it, I think his game does travel. And I think he's going to have a new lease on life and probably be a lot happier in that environment and kind of plug and play and fit with them. That team didn't have anything like Donovan Mitchell last year. and they were like a four or five seed before injuries just destroyed them last year. So I think Cleveland's going to be awesome. I do. And so Mitchell is, I'm going out of my way to believe in.

I mean, one thing you can say about him this preseason is he's been way more engaged defensively. Put in better effort, blocked a layup attempt on helpside defense on Monday night. I mean, he's small, though. I mean, at least he's going to put in effort. I think having Mowbly, like we talked about, him not being out there. But he's got a freaky wingspan. Yeah, the thing is,

is though even if he's more engaged, he's still not. Great. On that end, I just worry about the Garland Mitchell, even forget about Levert. I do worry about those two defensively with what their peak can be.

Their defense was so good as a team, though, last year. I know, I know. But playoffs are a different monster. I get it. Yeah. But the whole just seeing the guy. And also like offensive spacing, if you get a lineup with Mowbly and Allen and Lavert or instead of Lavert O'Coro, the lack of spacing there, they're a flawed team.

They're a very flawed team on both ends of the court. The Cavs are. All right. Well, I'm going to be a lot higher on them than you are for sure. Your last one. I mean, I want to say Rudy Gober. Of course you do. I'm not going to do it.

it though. Of course you do. I'm just going to go with a guy that we very briefly mentioned last week. I wrote about him on the ringer. Christian Wood. Christian Wood currently coming off the bench for the Mavs, which is absurd. He should be starting over Jabel McGee. There was a play with Dallas's most recent game where Luca made this beautiful kickout pass to the corner three to Jabel McGee who bricked it. Christian Wood shoots that shot at near 40%. He should be the the guy on the floor, majority of the time with Luca, pick and pop combination, pick and roll combination, would one of the best rollers in the NBA,

a guy who can pop, he's like 80 light out there. He is not Anthony Davis, to be clear, but he can do some of the things as a guy in a seven-foot body, pick and pop, attack off the dribble. Last season, according to Second Spectrum, he was one of only 17 bigs to log 200 isolation possessions. He was sixth out of those 17 players. is an efficiency scoring the ball.

He gives them a more efficient guy who can get a bucket for you than Chris Stap's Porzingis. He can offer everything they hope to have in Porzingis with better shooting, better efficiency as a score. Christian Wood is the guy who could help elevate that Maverick's roster.

I think that it is not as much about a strategy right now is I would bet that Jason kids trying to see what that guy is made of. Mind games. How much are you about team? How much are you about yourself?

Because you have built this career contributing literally nothing to winning. People call, people still in the league today call him a loser. Yeah. I've had executives this year after the Babs got him to say, Wood's a loser. He's not going to help him. Yeah. So what are you made up?

How do you handle this? I agree with you. We're going to make you earn a winner. earn it. That's what they want to do. I guarantee that's what it is. And so it's, yeah, I mean, it might be goofy on the surface, but I mean, he's going to find out what that guy's made of. This guy walked out on the team last year with Porter Jr.

You know what I mean? It's not exactly like the, he set the greatest example and gave himself the best reputation even last year. And he's just, he's put up a lot of really good numbers. He is mega talented, but he has done it in a losing competition. over and over again. He's never been a part of winning. And so now he's walking into a team that played for the,

in a West finals last year. And almost made it. Yeah. And so I think that kids probably trying to find out what this guy's made of, you know? And if he's got the stuff, then he'll be playing a lot and being a part of winning, you know, very soon.

It's an ideal situation. I wonder, I wonder if. Chris Wood is in a great situation. You can't be in a better situation than getting to be that pick and pop partner with Donchich and the attention that he gets. I wonder if it reaches a point that it's undeniable. Like you have to start this guy.

Or along with what you're saying, Chris, will it be the type of thing where he's playing more than Javille McGee? It doesn't matter who's starting or not. He's finishing games. He's playing 30 minutes per game off the bench. That's very possible too. And he becomes a leading sixth man of the year candidate. I just think at some point, even given McGee's injury history,

that would at some point will inevitably become the starter for them. My last one, number five, I wanted to throw in a rookie. Okay. We had a year of unbelievable size, Apollo Bancaro and Chad Holmgren and Jabari, and you know I loved Jaden Ivy. and Jaden Ivy is as interesting as it gets for me because our beloved bright future pistons,

Cade looked like he really started to figure stuff out at the end of last year. And I always respect these teams that play it out. And they played it out and they didn't get the number one pick, but they might have still gotten their back court for the future. And that's why it makes it so interesting because if Ivy is what I think he's going to be, which is immediately just the top 1% athlete fastest down the court, he is going to produce amazing highlights within the first two weeks of the season.

Mark my words, Jaden Ivy will become massively viral within the first two weeks of the season for something just crazy he did. I see a guy like that with the space that is afforded him in the NBA. And if he is a hit, now in Detroit they got something like, you got Cade and you got that kid as your back court who could both handle the ball and both can play off ball. Now all of a sudden they are going to be my league best team that is never on national television, for sure.

I was very, very impressed by his playmaking against New Orleans the other night. He had this pass late in the game where I think it was a left-handed, you know, the hesitation dribble, you know, kind of stopped himself near the free throw line and then just fired a 90-mile-per-hour fastball with his left-hand to Kate Cunningham on the right wing for a three-pointer. And it was just the perfect example of what you just said with both of those guys having the ability to play on the ball or off the ball. And that entire game, Ivy's playmaking was just on point. Well, and, you know, he's impressive. Guards are so much more exciting than bigs. They just are.

And so he's the guard. You know what I mean? And they're more exciting than wings. I'm not saying he's going to be the best guy. Paolo may have a better rookie year. Geegan Murray might have a better rookie year. Dr. Smith, he could. But they ain't exciting like this guy.

This guy is electric, electric. and does like, he's got the flare too where he'll crack on somebody, he'll make that kind of a pass, he'll cross somebody over. And he's also got that thing. And I saw it the other night in a preseason game I was watching. I think it was the Knicks, maybe.

Yeah. And he didn't have some kind of great game. But, I mean, he snatched one off the defensive rebound. And he just beat everybody down the core. I mean, you know, it's one of those where it's like everybody, there might be seven guys between him and the other basket, and somehow he's right at the rim.

Was that the one he grabbed it underneath the basket? Yes. And then just zoomed past everybody early in the game. 94 feet! Yeah, yeah, yeah. And just bullyballed. And he went through like four Knicks defenders. Unbelievable. It was really nice.

I'm like, yo, this guy, like, let him get into open space in the first couple weeks of the season. He's going to kill somebody. Yeah, he had to pull up three early in that game, too. He's showing a lot of goods. Yeah. So Ivy, he's going to be the rookie I go out of my way to watch the most.

I thought that was going to be Chet. Obviously, we got that torn away from us. Yeah. But, I mean, if I'm, like, going out of my way, I think he's the most fun to watch, for sure. There's so many big guys this year. you know and they got to wait for somebody to pass it to them most of the time palo probably has ball in his hands a little bit more

but the home good thing was going to be so fun I got depressed thinking about that all over again the other night that chet thing was going to be so fun this year it's too bad sucks sucks but ivy for sure all right so I had uh kawai leonard Michael Porter Jr. Deerran Fox, Donovan Mitchell, Jade and I had Dame,

Clay, Simmons, Zion, Wood. And you didn't like my Ben Simmons inclusion for whatever reason. No, I don't mind you being intrigued with Ben Simmons. I thought being hypercritical of his preseason performance was a bit far. Yeah, yeah. I'd like to see things that will translate.

and all I saw was more of the same. And allow me to make it clear. Under your whole Zion point, I have a tremendous investment in Zion Williamson rookie cards, so I need him to be awesome. Trust me when I tell you, I am a Matt'ser, Zion. The Kyler Murray thing went the wrong way for me.

I spray the board with the young. guys. I need some of these guys to pop. What's happened with Kyler Murray? He wore that Hillary Clinton outfit yesterday to the game. Oh, that was something else, that green outfit? What's he thinking? Man.

Who's given advice to these players to dress like this? Like Ben Simmons and the clown outfit? They are the stylist. They are these stylists. I mean, these guys. Who were you hiring? Stylus that are two on Twitter? Jesus. Yeah. I guess blind stylist.

I don't know who they're hiring. I'm serious. Like, there's no way you really like to wear that. There's no way you look in the mirror and think, I look good. They're just trying to stand out, have their own thing. Oh. I don't know. To each their own.

Kevin? I have no style. I have none. I don't buy new sneakers. I got an old pair of sneakers that people made fun of me for wearing with Kevin Clark. What do they say? What are they call them? What are those?

What are those? those? What are those? The grass cutter ones. Yeah, yeah. I have no style. So I can't be speaking about style, but that Hillary Clinton suit for Kyler Murray or something else for you. There's too much for you. That's something else. I agree with you. It was bridge too far for me also, Kevin. As I do appreciate style, I did not appreciate that. You are a stylish man, yes. I did not appreciate that outfit. I must say. Thank you to our executive producer Jesse Lopez. Kevin, I'll talk to you on Friday. Have a good one.