The Ringer NBA Show - The Lakers Remember Kobe, All-Star Game Changes, and Trade Deadlines | Heat Check

Episode Date: February 3, 2020

Instant Replay: The Lakers' touching tribute to Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard's amazing streak, and the impressive run from the Raptors (3:05). The Main Event: Trade deadlines, along with main contenders and the Knicks pulling off yet another chef's kiss (19:32). Good Call/Bad Call: Changing the All-Star game format, snubs, and Aaron Gordon getting in the action (35:31). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Haley O’Shaughnessy, Dan Devine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The heat check. You think that was coming. It's heat check time. Welcome to heat check. I'm your host, John Gonzalez. Join as I am every week by my producer, Steve Alman. Hello. Steve, the Super Bowl, we're going to, real quick.

I'm happy for Andy Reid, and you're happy that something positive happened in 2020. Finally. Absolutely. It was a fun game. I thought I was worried for Andy because Andy has a history, as everybody knows, of things not working out. Yes. And it finally works.

out for him. I was genuinely, like, it was the most wholesome Super Bowl I've probably seen in a very long time. And it's genuinely gotten me through a lot that's happened this past January. Yeah, I spent a long time in Philadelphia watching Andy sort of stumble about and was happy to see him go because I thought it was time after I believe it was 14 years. And then, you know, absence in the heart, it grows fonder. And he's gone. And I'm glad he's succeeded. And I'm glad he has a Super Bowl.

and he was, this is really funny, so you might have heard a little noise there. As old Isaac would know, my wife has this uncanny knack of calling right when I'm doing the show. It's really amazing. Like every Monday that we do the show at the same time and almost every Monday she just calls to say hello.

That's adorable. NFL Network's Colleen Wolf, who's coming back from the Super Bowl. We'll have to call her back. All right. So thanks for listening, everybody, a reminder to please rate and review us and don't forget about all the great NBA content

on the ringer.com. And also, as I just mentioned, our ringer NFL Super Bowl team killed it. Danny Kelly and Danny Hyfitz and Robert Mays and Kevin Clark. They just did exceptional work from Miami. Also, Brian Curtis was down there, read all of their stuff from the Chief Super Bowl. Palo has been all over the Kobe Bryant situation. He wrote about the scene from Friday's home game. And he also has a column up about trade deadline questions. Dan wrote about Kobe and LeBron. I wrote about Kobe and grief and grappling with his entire life and not just the convenient parts. So all of that is up on the ringer.com.

Coming up later in the show, as I mentioned, the trade deadline, we'll discuss the rapidly approaching trade deadline, which will be on Thursday. And we'll look at which teams should maybe make some moves or stay pat, which players we want to see, find new homes. But first, lots of news from the weekend. So let's bring in Dan and Haley to review the headlines. Boom, Chakalaka. He's heating up.

He's on fire. All right, one of them is in studio, one is way across the country in our NYC-HQ. It's heat check coast to coast with Haley and Dan. What's up, guys? Hey, Gons. How are you? Wonderful. We made it here.

We're doing a post-Super Bowl show. Everybody else called out, not us. We are excited to get into the trade deadline, ladies and gentlemen. Woo! Let's do it. All of that coming up. But first, a lot of news from the weekend. Let's review the headlines from around the league with NBA instant replay.

All right, so we did an entire show, or not an entire show, but a lot of our show last week was about Kobe Bryant. Thanks, thanks everybody for the positive feedback on that one. Kobe continues to be a big story. The Lakers played their first game since the layoff on Friday. They had had that Tuesday game canceled following last Sunday's tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The Lakers did a really good job with their tributes. In that game, LeBron and AD combined for 59 points.

They lost to the Blazers. Nobody cared. The tributes were fantastic. They had usher perform Amazing Grace. Boys to Men sang a very teary national. Anthem. They do that very well. LeBron and Quinn Cook, among many, were, you know, crying. And then LeBron addressed the crowd. And he had these prepared remarks. And then he tossed him away and he said, I got something written down. They asked me to kind of stay on course or whatever the case may be.

But Laker Nation, man, I would be selling you all short if I read off this shit. So I'm going to go straight from the heart. Haley, I thought it was really touching. It was. And he spoke for, what, four minutes? It's so wild, everything that LeBron takes on. Yeah. I mean, this is an extreme emotional. I've never seen anything like this before, but in just he's his entire career, things have come up that he's always been like, I'm going to go ahead and take this burden for people. And this is an extremely different one. This is not, you know, basketball related. It's not on the court related, although he's done things off the court like this too. But I thought that was incredibly strong and I wish he didn't have to be that strong for everyone, but I'm glad that

it was him. Yeah, it was really touching, as was the entire scene. I mean, it was a powerful night. They had the numbers 8 and 24 all over the arena. The players wore them. And then they left two seats open courtside for Gianna and Kobe and placed her number two jersey on her chair and Kobe's 24 on his. Dan, what did you think of that night? For me, I was sort of taken aback by like all of this stuff pregame was so powerful. And then they had to play a basketball game.

Yeah, the idea that you would go from, I mean, you could see just people's eyes looked like they'd been crying for days, you know, and the idea that now you have to go out and muster your, you know, the focus and the attention to detail to be able to play NBA basketball at a successful level. It was really hard to sort of imagine anybody doing it. You could sort of see, I felt like in the early going, LeBron was just, just didn't seem like he was all the way there. And how could you be going right from what he went to to playing? And, you know, things picked up as it went along. It seemed like the person who was most dialed in, most able to sort of deal with the emotion of the moment was Damian Lillard,

who has been on this hellacious run, which we'll talk about. But the idea, the idea of that anybody got, that was like a game you just have to get through, rather than a game where you're trying to, you know, you're reaching for the top of your potential and that the Lakers were able to get through it and sort of start their new normal. You know, that's what sort of you take away most. It felt like, you know, the fans had to get through it too, right? I mean, you mentioned this, Dan, on Twitter that L.A. Live, the crowd was super somber and it was sort of the opposite of, say, a Jurassic Park that we saw in the playoffs in with Toronto last year. it was just like just a bunch of people

who had gathered together to publicly mourn. And then, you know, LeBron and AD, they both got Mamba-inspired tattoos on their thighs, which I thought was a nice touch. And, you know, playing that atmosphere would be awfully difficult. I mean, Mello said he couldn't do it. He didn't play.

Damien Lillard, though, as you mentioned, because we do want to talk about some of the basketball, he did play. He's cooking right now. You know, no easy transition for this, but we should talk about some basketball here. I thought that the tribute was really well done and really tasteful, and I think, like, helped a lot of people grieve

because the grieving process has been difficult. And I wrote about that and you wrote about it. And there's plenty of stuff for people to read. But to the Damien-Lillard point, we do want to talk about the basketball component, he looked so good in that game. He has looked so good, period, for this last week and a half, two weeks now. Against the Lakers in the win, he had 48 points, nine rebounds and tennisists.

He's the first player in NBA history to have 35, five or more points, five or more rebounds, assists, and threes made in five straight games. It's been kind of a rough season for the Blazers. They have won four in a row. They're coming up on the Grizzlies. They're just a game and a half out of that last playoff spot in the Western Conference. But I feel like because of the way, Haley, that this season has gone for the Blazers, we've kind of overlooked Dane. He's still killing it.

This is where we appreciate Dame is it's over halfway through the season. They're fighting for the eighth seed. He's the one who's going to step up and do this. He is the classic, like, movie, savior, hero. sports guy. He had an incredible finish to the season last season. He is always the guy who takes the big shot. I mean, that was his iconic playoff performance. Probably the best he'll ever have in his life is that moment and that'll define him. So this is very much him. He's like, okay, I'm going to put everything on my back now. He's looked fantastic. In his last five games, he scored 48,

36, 50, 47, and 61. I love to watch him, Dan. That's it. That's some total of my analysis. That is an extremely hot take. We are on heat check. That's true. I mean, the thing with Lillard, with Lillard, it's that he's always sort of got the pulse of what the team needs him to give. And that's not like a hard thing to imagine this year's because they need everything. They need absolutely everything that he can provide to the point where I think he scored 50 earlier in the season and they lost. You know, like they've, in the games where he's even given the most, they're barely squeaking by because they're just so hard up for production.

But this is why you, you know, so you keep your eye on where the Blazers are around New Year's Day and heading into February. Like, they can put together a couple of weeks of basketball that'll get them sort of righted because it seems like everybody pulls in the right direction. And now you keep an eye on. Yusuf Nirkis just got back to practice. And so maybe he's able to come back a little earlier than people expected or maybe able to hit the ground running to a degree maybe that we didn't figure. And if all of a sudden the Blazers then become a team that, you know, it's not just woe is them and how disappointing, have they been? It becomes, are they one of those teams that you just do not want to see in round one? Because Lillard can do this to you for two weeks straight. He's streaking. They're playing

better. Other streaks I want to run past you guys. The Raptors have won 11 a row. I can't, I don't know how many more times I can say I didn't expect them to be this good this season, but I didn't expect them to be this good this season. They've tied a team record. Are they the biggest threat to the bucks in the Eastern Conference, Haley? There's an argument for that. The thing about the East is that I feel like those teams are so even. Interchangeable. And week to week, I just changed my mind for the last, like two weeks ago, last fortnight. Oh, nice. Hello.

Excellent. Been reading. Wait to use words for a living. I thought it was Boston. I was like so slow on Boston. You know, it's just different stretches. The heat at multiple times the season. I've been like, wow, this is really exciting because they could be for real.

Yeah, sure. I'd buy the rappers. They look good. There was some talk earlier in the season, Dan, about like what the Raptors would do. whether or not they'd hold on to Abaka and Gasol. Now it looks like that roster, if anything, if they do anything, it would be maybe ad pieces because they're pretty well set up. Yeah, that was actually Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks on their sort of trade

deadline primer podcast. We're talking about the, you know, that Toronto's probably not going to look to sell expirings for core players, guys like Abaka or Gasol, because like there's no real value in a low first round draft pick for them because they could find guys anywhere. They could find, they've shown. They can find players undrafted Fred Van Vleet and Terrence Davis. They found guys at the bottom of the first round. They found guys overseas.

You know, they sort of bring guys in via trade. So there's a lot of ways for them to build a roster. So why take apart a team that's succeeding so well? And the interesting thing is Woj suggested that their week is probably going to be more about looking to make a run. Like, what can you add? And so then the question is, what are the kind of players who might make sense with what that roster already is? I am currently, as we speak, being crushed on social media. It's so good.

Because when I think about playoff players and guys who might, you know, who Missai Ujiri might look at and say, okay, well, that's the kind of guy you'd want to bring in for April, May, June. I was like, oh, well, Andrea Aguadal is one of those kind of guys, right? So how would the Raptors organize a deal if they wanted to? And the closest financial, in terms of contract, the closest guy they can put in there is Norman Powell. So I was like, all right, well, we know that the Grizzlies want to pick. You've got to make the money work out. All right, like Norman Powell, Stanley Johnson, and a pick.

And that gets you, Andrea Godala. and I was like, hmm, that's something to look at. And Raptors fans instantly freaked out about it. Wait, you're telling me that Raptors fans reacted to something that's so unlike them. In fairness, I mean, I certainly get it. Norman Powell's been awesome this season. He provides a shooting compliment and a playmaking compliment that it's a little bit different from what Igodala does at 35.

Who knows what Igodala is after all this time off? You're also giving away a pick in the situation. I get the trepidation about it. I was just sort of trying to figure out who a playoff player might be that would make sense as you go for it. But the Raptors, the reality is, they might not have to do a whole heck of a lot because now that they're finally getting healthy and in Powell's hurt again, but the idea of getting that roster healthy, they could be as good as anybody in the Eastern Conference. Yeah, and they are. They continually remind us that they're

very good as is and who knows what they'll do there. So they're streaking in one direction. The jazz on the other hand, Haley, are streaking in the other direction. They've lost four in a row. They put my kindly back in the starting lineup. They haven't looked very good. They have had a difficult schedule lately, but concerns about the jazz? No. Is this a take? No, I don't. No, I don't.

Because Mike Conley looked good in his return against Portland. He had like 22 points, a 9 of 20 shooting. He's fine. The other thing about the jazz is that they've had an ever-changing rotation. Yeah. Because they've had to, and it's fine. Things will settle down. I'm sticking with this from week one to week four.

That's your team. This is, no, let's not go there. But I think they'll be fine. All right. They'll be fine. Nothing to worry about. about in Utah. I wanted to run this past you. This was fun. We, the top two picks finally got to play against each other.

John Morant and Zion Williamson, the Pelican smashed the gris by 28. It was a season high for New Orleans and points. Zion had a game high 24 points, six rebounds, three assists. Jolly looked okay, not as, not quite as dynamic, but pretty good. 16 points in three assists. They swapped jerseys after the game. Turns out that I didn't know this. I was reading about it. They had been previously on the same AAU team. And Zion had said, said that at the time they were sort of role players on that team and they never imagined the two of them going one and two. And then afterwards, somebody had asked John about exchanging the jerseys. And he said, you know, the media tries to make it me versus Zion.

And like, don't get, don't get me started on the media, those guys. Is that you or him? Trying to get them to like, you know, be butted up against each other is just despicable. So, Dan, pick one. Who do you like better between John Zion? I like them both better than the media. Yeah. because that's, and it includes myself in that situation.

I like John Morant. I like the style of play more personally. But the thing that matters most to me is everybody needs to just chill out a little bit. Like we had Jackson Hayes, Zion Williamson's teammate. Oh, we're going to get there. Okay. So, like, there's a lot of stuff that people are like really high pitched right now about voting and media and who's putting out. Everyone just needs to kind of take a deep breath and chill out.

That's my number one thing that I would love for February. Let's just chill out. Everybody relax. I love that as well. The Rockets, the Rockets are interesting. We're going to talk about the Rockets when we get to the trade section here, but as a little primer, they had a small ball win on Friday. They beat the Mavs.

Elias Sports Bureau said that they're the first team to play the entire game without a player listed, taller than 6'6. The last time it happened was the Knicks, who did it in 1963, but the Nix lost to that powerhouse Chicago Zephyrs team back then. So as it turns out, even back in the 60s, the Nicks were still the Nicks. are the rockets on to something here? Because we've seen a report from Wojj. He dropped a bomb in the middle of the Super Bowl because, of course, he did,

saying that the rockets were possibly shopping, Clint Capella. But, Haley, are the rockets on to something here with going small moving forward? First of all, if anyone has any Chicago Zephyrs gear? I bet it's really cool. Please, please let me know. I was out of necessity that they played this small ball lineup that they've been doing this because Clint Capella has been in and out. But it really opens up the floor for them.

And that's exactly what they as a whole, but especially James Hardin needs. His game is so simplistic not to downplay it. It's fantastic. But he's good from really, really far out and really, really close in. So this is exactly what they need. Also, you know, that's kind of the same with Russ, except for he's better from the midrange, but being open theirs. Dan, we saw last year in the playoffs when Capella was sort of marginalized.

Is this like sort of maybe a preemptive thought towards that? Well, I also wonder in part if it's like just Russell Westbrook is basically their offensive center right now. He's not taking a ton of threes anymore. And, you know, Charks has written before about the idea that he's, like, functionally the best way to use him might be as, like, small Draymond Green now. So then, like, if you're already using a guy that way in your offense, you need to have other players that make sense in other positions.

So maybe there's an argument for that. But if he's not giving you, like, they're not a great defensive rebounding team. They're not great at protecting the rim, even with Capella. And those are, like, the things he does best. So then if he's not giving you that, then go all in the other direction. I can kind of see it. It feels a little bit more to me, though, just like Houston seems like it just needs to do something. And Darry can't is like perpetually in search of the next thing.

So I don't know. I'm a little bit skeptical about how a 6-6-and-under team works in the playoffs. But if they're going to get there eventually, I guess maybe might as well try to start with it. Something for us to monitor. We'll discuss it further a little bit when we get into the main event in our trade deadline conversation. I want to wrap up with some injuries here. Trey Young had a right ankle sprain versus the Mavs. He was seen in a walking boot.

He didn't know the severity of it. He was asked about it. He said, we'll see. Steph Curry, his hand, will be re-evaluated in four weeks. There was some thought that maybe he might get back sooner rather than later. Turns out that's not going to happen. He's going to miss all of February so much for the early return. And finally, and this is interesting for the Brooklyn Nets as well.

Kyrie Irving, medial ligament sprain in his right knee. He'll be re-evaluated in a week. That could also change what they do going into the deadline. That was NBA instant replay before we go to the main event. Let's take a quick break for a word from our sponsors. Today's episode of The Ringer NBA show is brought to you by Microsoft Teams. Hey, NBA show fans, we all know meetings. Struggling to pay attention, files seem impossible to find.

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All right, let's do the main event. So the trade deadline is rapidly approaching. It's this Thursday. We're all watching the Super Bowl. And Adrian Wojian Wojianke cares not for your football game, America. Drops a bomb on everybody as the trade deadline looms. This is from Woj. Houston is engaged with several Eastern Conference teams,

including Atlanta on Clint Capella. League sources told Woj, Capella could be a way for the Rockets to get draft assets and then and then flip for a wing player per sources. This is interesting. Atlanta's been in on a number of different bigs or attached to different rumors that apparently have also reportedly talked to O'KC about Stephen Adams. And then, of course, we had talked previously on this show about them interested,

being interested previously in Detroit's Andre Drummond. From both sides here, do you, let's start with the Atlanta side, Haley O'Shaughnessy. Do you like Atlanta adding a big podcast? Possibly Kempel. Yeah, Clinton Capella would be good. I mean, honestly, the Stephen Adams and Andre Drummond thing, too, I always think of them as a lot older, but they're both just 26. And I like Stephen Adams a lot more than I like Andre German, but both of their contracts expire next. They have one more season after this season.

He's got a player option, but he's going to be a free agent this offseason. Yeah. Everybody expects him to opt out and test the free agent mark. I don't think he should opt out. This is like probably a take, but I do not know who is paying him. more than he's going to make. I love this. It's like an intervention,

and you're doing a one-man show over here because Andre Drummond... You know who really loves Andre Drummond, Dan? Andre Drummond really loves Andre Drummond. And he is convinced he's going to get paid, possibly by, I don't know, let's just say if there was a team in New York with a weird hierarchy,

front office structure that spends irresponsibly. Maybe they might be interested. Yeah, the Knicks of apparently knows around that deal. they're according to Woj, they're not, they have not put a first round pick on the table. Blessed B for that. But, you know, the week is young. We'll see where it goes before the trade deadline.

Andre, the argument for Andre Drummond getting out there is that he is going to be like the only all-star, or one of maybe the only all-star level free agents out there and somebody might pay him. But no one seems to know how much to pay him, to Haley's point. Like, what is his value? What is he really worth on a good team? And no one seems to know that. Also, all the teams that have money are not good teams.

So is he going to make you? better when that hasn't, we haven't seen that really happen in Detroit. All that to say, Atlanta, the idea of giving Trey Young a pick and roll center makes a lot of sense and a guy who can maybe bolster their defense. The question is, though, is that going to be a meaningful improvement over John Collins? Because we haven't even gotten to see a ton of that this season due to the 25 game suspension. And so then are you sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul in that deal? The other thing is, we have to know that he's going to fit with John Collins, whoever the he is. Yeah. I mean, well, also like, what does Atlanta want to do with John

Collins, right? I mean, like, I was listening to the WojPod and he was saying, well, you know, potentially if they were going to unplug John Collins, maybe that gets them something. But I'd rather hold on to John Collins. Hold on to John Collins. That doesn't make sense. Right. And then with Andre Drummond, I mean, it feels like to your point, Dan, about that first round pick that the Knicks haven't put a first rounder out there. It feels like nobody has dangled a first rounder for Andre Drummond. If there had been a first rounder offered for Andre Drummond, it feels like he'd already be in a different location. And if you're a team that, you're a team that knows that Andre Drummond plans to test the free agency market, why would you give up something

for him now when you could just sign him in the offseason? I don't know. I wonder about what happens with Andre Drummond. I wonder what happens with ATL. And back to the Capella part, I get why maybe they want to unplug him a little bit, but they just paid him all that money, Dan. And like, in theory, on paper, it's been different in the playoffs, but in theory on paper, he should be exactly what the doctor orders in Houston because he's a rim running big, who also, protects the rim. I mean, like, he should be the ideal fit there, but it hasn't really worked out that way. Yeah, and I wonder if some of that is, as we mentioned, sort of the, just the geometry being different. He was that perfect fit on a team where everything was five, oh, is a four out,

and Chris Paul was the sort of dangerous shooter and secondary playmaker there. Now that Russell Westbrook has been more of a north-south threat and not, he's not taking as many threes anymore, the floor just looks different. And Capella has not become like a defensive player of the year-calibre, interior deterrent. So his value gets minimized a little bit on offense. His value is not as stark on defense as you would like it to be. So then if you're looking for places to make an adjustment, you're not trading James Harden, you're not trading Russell Westbrook because I don't think you're going to find a value in that deal at this point. You can't trade Eric Gordon after the extension that he had this summer. You're kind of sort of running out of pieces to move.

And if you have to move off of one, either Clint Capella or PJ Tucker, stylistically, the Rockets make more sense with Tucker. So I don't know. I think they're sort of stuck between a rock in a hard place right now. And it's more just like, what can we get from him and then figure it out later? Let's run through some other teams and players that we think might be making some moves or maybe we want them to make some moves. So let's go with the Knicks.

Let's go with the Knicks because they're always fun because they're a disaster. I would like to see free Frankie smokes. Free Frank Nilakina. That would be wonderful. I thought, you know, what was fun, Dan. In addition to the Andre Drummond rumors from earlier in the season, the persisted. the Knicks don't look like they want to trade Marcus Morris rumors are just so delightful chef's kiss for me.

Just today before, as I'm driving in to do the show, another Woj report that the Knicks are, quote, enthusiastic about signing him this summer. Incredible. Dan, just give me your thoughts on them, maybe not moving Marcus Morris when his value could not be higher. Yeah, the thing that drives me crazy about this idea is for eight years, Marcus Morris has been a pretty good forward who shoots like 36. percent from three. This year, he's averaging 19 a game. He's shooting 44% from three. He's getting all

the shots he wants because he's the number one option on a shitty team. So now it's like rather than cash out on that, just like, no, no, no, no, give that guy like three years 51, four years 70, something like that. It's going to drive my blood pressure through the roof. And I'm honestly concerned for you guys as my friends and for my family in terms of what might happen here. Yeah, your face is looking a little peaked, little red. So, Kay, yeah. I like this about you. We'll see what happens on Thursday. Haley, the Grizz are in a weird spot because they're holding on,

they're head of schedule. They're holding onto that last playoff spot as we record this. They're a game and a half up on the Portland Trailblazers. They've got this young youth movement, but they also have some pieces that they could move if they want to. We talked about Andre Aguadala. He's going to be in high demand. Also, Jay Crowder is having an okay to better than okay season.

Although Zach Lowe reported that the Grizz want a first round pick for Jay Crowder, which I think, like, you know, good luck with that. Which way would you go if you're the gris? Would you hold on to those pieces, maybe try to convince Andre Aguadala to get back into the fold or would you unload these guys? I have the answer. Please tell me.

I have the perfect answer. I love it. Do you think they're listening? This is the Grizzlies podcast. This is the Grizzlies podcast. Everybody listens to this for Grizzlies content. Talk Andre and Adela into playing. This is exactly what they could use.

And also, everything's working. This is the thing that I think we underrate so much about rebuilding team. is something that I wish the wolves would have done. There's a lot of teams, well, I mean, it would have been hard for the wolves. But give these young guys experience winning. I'm telling you that is the most important thing that we overlook with rebuilding teams. Give them this experience winning. If they can get into the playoffs, they have won playoffs under their belt.

Look, the front office has surprisingly shown that they are capable of building a team. I'm serious. Just do it right now. keep this team. This is the Grizzly podcast. We know that the Grizzlies are listening. Haley's already figured that out for them. Dan, you're our resident New York expert. We already talked about your next.

Let's talk about the other team in New York as well, the Nets. ESPN is projecting them to win 41 games and be right on that playoff bubble, as we mentioned a little bit earlier. Kyrie Irving is out with a medial ligament sprain. Since Karas Lever came back, he has not been good. Bobby Marks on ESPN and floated, maybe Aaron Gordon. They do have a lot of ammo. the Nets, they have four first rounders that they could send out.

They've got Dinwiddie who's got a player option next year. Joe Harris is on an expiring. They're one of nine teams with an open roster spot. Which way would you go if you're the Nets? Because they are still waiting for KD to come back. But, you know, you've got all these things that you could dangle. So you could potentially bring somebody back in if you're trying to add your big three piece now. See, I think that that's, the question is, is there anybody out there that's like a big three piece that makes sense to bring in?

like are you going to package, you know, Laverton a pick or whatever for Kevin lovers? It doesn't sound like, or would that even raise your ceiling? You know, like, who is the really good guy under contract for multiple years that makes sense? Because you can't do anything that is going to, like, that is going to complicate the process when Kevin Durant comes back. Whoever comes in has to work within the framework of Kevin Durant plus Kyrie Irving, plus, I guess, DeAndre Jordan, plus, you know, whatever else they have that they've sort have built this structure around.

So if Levert is considered a foundational piece of that, and he's something that can maybe get you something else on the market, do you move him? Dinwiddie has been part of that sort of foundational group, you know, the group that went Kyrie says, we're going to have to add multiple pieces. Dinwiddie was one of the pieces that was named there. You know, it's hard to see where they line up because it's still, they're in a holding pattern. Everything has to wait until they see what they have next year. and the marginal improvement of like an eight seed now versus a seven seed now versus even a six seed now

doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as far if it limits what they can do in terms of their flexibility this summer and into next season. Yeah, I'm really interested to see what they could go in so many different directions with that team. Fascinated to see what will happen there. I'm not like totally sold out. Everybody keeps throwing Aaron Gordon out there. I'm sure it would be a better fit for him. I think that the Orlando experiment has run its course and moving him on to somewhere else would be beneficial for him, but I'm not entirely sure that that moves the needle all that much for the Nets. Another Eastern Conference team, I don't even really want to do this, but we're going to do it

anyway. The Sixers, I have no idea what to make of this team. They've been up and down all season as we record this. They're in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. I think that it would be fair to say that this is not the way that they wanted this year to go. They are, what, three games out of a home court spot, as Haley mentioned a little bit earlier, that whole second tier group after the Bucks and the Eastern Conference has been jostling all season long. Sixers are nine and 17 on the road. They're at Miami and at the Bucks this week. A lot of people keep waiting for them to make a big move.

We've got a fake trade deadline piece coming out this week as a group post. And I drew the Sixers. And again, a lot of people are waiting for something to happen. I'm here to tell you that them making a major move is highly unlikely for a number of reasons. One, they've got a ton of money invested in the, their top four guys. They paid Tobias Harris and Al Horford for a ton of money. I think they invested $290 million this off season and those two guys.

Obviously, Embed already got paid. Ben Simmons's contract kicks in this summer, which basically just leaves you the Josh Richardson tier and down. Josh Richardson's on a great deal. He's making a little over $10 million. I don't think he's going anywhere. So now you go down below that. And you're looking at like a Mike Scott and, you know, a Zaire Smith, you know,

and maybe you throw in a couple of second rounders. I don't think that really moves. or gets them too much in return. And there had been reports that the Sixers were, say, interested in Danilo Gallinari. Well, for that to happen, I was told that that's way off, that they're not, they're not looking at Denalillo Galanoi because to get Gallo, they'd have to move out like a Tobias Harris.

And they're not going to do that. They just signed Tobias Harris. So I think that they're pretty much locked in. And if they're getting, if they do anything here, it would be a smaller move or maybe they could shake, say, like, a Robert Covington free from Minnesota and bring him back into the fold. But for the Sixers, I'll ask the two of you because I'm a little too close to this. If they don't make a quote-unquote Robert Covington level move, what do you think about this team going to the playoffs?

Robert Covington is the perfect level, which is hilarious. I don't know if they can't because they can't because Minnesota sounds so insistent. I mean, he tries the hardest night in, night out for them still. I think that they will end up move, Minnesota will end up moving Robert Covington. And my point was that I don't know that Mike Scott, Zaire Smith, and like a second rounder, because they've got a couple of second rounders in the high 30s, like one second rounder or maybe even two is enough? I think they could do better. That's what I was saying is that I think Minnesota wants to move him, but they realize that this is the piece.

This is like their only piece that they're comfortable moving, but also will bring in a huge return. I mean, I'm with you. I just don't think that the Sixers have enough. Minnesota really, really, really needs to get something out of coming to. The story of the Sixers season, Dan. They keep saying that they're built for the playoffs. I guess they have to find out and wait for the playoffs. But they've been bad on the road so if they don't get a home court advantage, this thing could look really ugly.

Yeah. What you see, it's so weird that a lot of the same problems, the things that are fundamental about the team of change, so many of them. But there's also so many other things that are the same. Like, we just saw Trey Young and the Hawks dice them up and pick and roll. And that's something that was a problem all season last year for this. Sixers. And they still don't, I mean, Ben Simmons is great, maybe an all defensive player, but they still have trouble dealing with pick and roll coverage and high scoring pick and

roll guards. They still have trouble running pick and roll, and they don't have a high volume pick and roll, high efficiency pick and roll guard. They don't have guys that can, a back court player who can shoot well enough and handle well enough to kind of link together Simmons and Embed and Horford. And it makes it, everything feels claustrophobic, no matter how much change is. So I think Covington, the idea of getting Covington, the idea of getting Covington back, even though he is not a ball handling creator, like, as a vibes guy, that kind of makes sense to me? Like, like, bring it back to the vibes. Just try to make everything a little chiller there. Again, we go back to February, just try to

chill out, everybody. It was a lot of fun when he was there. I would love it if they brought him back. Let's wrap this up with the LA teams, because I think, like, some of the main pieces that we were talking about, like, like a Kevin Love, I spent all weekend trying to figure out what would happen with Kevin Love. That contract is a really, we're off one, and it's going to be awfully difficult for people to match up without and like, what do you have to sacrifice for it? I, Woge also reported that it seems unlikely that he's on the move. So let's wrap

up with the two LA teams. The Clippers won't be able to trade a first rounder after this deadline until after the 2021 draft because of the way those components move. So they're sort of, um, they have an inclination here to go ahead and like add a piece. The Lakers obviously

also have some difficulties in maybe moving some pieces around the board because the Pelicans own their draft, uh, basically until global warning ends the earth. So between those two teams, which team, let's just do it this way for both of you, quick answer, which team do you want to see make a move more?

And what would you like to see them at? The Lakers, but it's not going to happen. Yeah, it's tough for them. It's not going to happen. But the clippers just don't give up too much, please, for the love of God. Get like a thad young. A fad young would be interesting.

Dan Devine, what do you think for the two LA teams? I think we can all agree that the move that the Los Angeles clippers have to make is to attach a first round pick and to Mo Hartless's contract to send to the New York Knicks for Marcus Morris. I think we can all agree that it's the most,

it's the most logical move on the board, and it's one that the clippers have to make if they want to compete in the postseason. The clippers to save the Knicks from themselves, maybe that'll happen. We'll keep an eye on that. Make sure you listen to the Ringer NBA show all week as the trade deadline approaches.

That was the main event, and now it's time for our favorite segment. Good call, bad call. What a bold call here. All right, this is an all-star edition of Good Call, Bad Call. There's a change to the All-Star format. The way that they're going to do the actual game this year, for the first three quarters, they'll start at zero-zero, and it'll be 12-minute quarters,

and there'll be a charity component for each one. For the fourth quarter, there'll be no game clock. A final target score will be set, and it will be determined by taking the leading team's total cumulative score. This is incredibly confusing. Through the first three quarters and adding 24 in an untimined. fourth quarter. So the first team to reach the final target score wins. So initially I read this like like I was it scrambled my brain. I didn't understand it. But the way that it will work is if when we get to

the fourth quarter, the score is 194, then the leading team, because 24 points for Kobe Bryant, his jersey number, the leading team would need to score 24 points. And then the trailing team would have to score 30 points. So it's whoever reaches that first. So it's a nice Kobe tribute, though very confusing. So good call or bad call on the tribute, but also scrambling my brain in the process, Haley. I love Weird. And the All-Star Game already isn't good anymore. And there's no harm in this. And if you make it about Kobe, guys are going to try. So good call. Good call. Dan Devine. That's a good call. I mean, the argument that I've seen outside of it's like too confusing is like the fourth quarter might be short. It's like, well, yeah, it's the fucking All-Star game. Who gives a

shit if you're out of there in five minutes? Like, all right, bye, bye, everybody. give someone a Kia and then host a choice to trophy. Then you leave and it's fine. Like, that's okay. Good call, everybody. Change things or don't change things. It's the All-Star game. Nothing matters.

Nobody cares. I was told there be no math, Steve. What say you? It'd be less confusing if the Kia just had a 24 on it rather than the actual like shot clock. I mean, I'd say bad call actually because this is just going to be more confusing. Can we just play to 24? I'll go a good call just because it's a Kobe tribute.

That's fine. But like I said, it baked my noodle and it hasn't recovered. average sense. Another all-star game thing, Aaron Gordon is in the dunk contest. Zach Levine said that he was bummed out that he didn't make it to the actual game, but he's still thinking about joining the dunk contest. Haley, good call or a bad call on Zach getting in now. Yes.

Do it. Please. He's not 34. He's not Dwight Howard. He's athletic. He's still got it. Please, for the love of God. She's on board with a Dan Devine.

Yeah, good call. Zach Levine is one of the coolest dunkers I've ever seen in my life. yeah, sure. He's great. Aaron Gordon's great. Dwight Howard, as we've mentioned, is excellent, and is a great inspired choice. Pat Connaton, also in the mix, as of this morning, as far as I understand. So, like, we're getting the athletic guys involved. Like, more cool dunkers. Great. Good Call. He'd check Chicago Bureau Chief Steve Alman. Absolutely good call. This is your guy. Yes, my man is going to get back into the saddle for the dunk contest, and I love this. Yeah, good call, sweep it up. He's super fun. It would be fun if those two guys got in there. But everybody

knows it's Dwight Howard's contest to lose. Last one for you. Snubs. Snubs. Zach Levine was bummed that he didn't make it. He said it sucked, but he handed it like a pro. Meanwhile, others did not. Bradley Beale called it disrespectful. His agent issued a lengthy

statement, and his fiance got in there and said for everyone saying it's about teams are winning, that's what the fucking playoffs are for, exclamation point, all caps. All-Star game is about individual players. Wow, his fiance came in She was not alone here.

Bradley Beal, obviously, and all his friends and family, pissed off about the actual All-Star game. There were two other people who were pissed off about the Rising Stars game. Matisse Thibald didn't make the Rising Stars game. His agent issued a statement in which he attacked assistant coaches, and he spelled the ass part in all caps. And then Jackson Hayes. I mean, Jackson Hayes, my guy really, really killed it.

He also missed the Rising Stargast game. And then afterwards, he said the NBA is a bunch of bullshit. The NBA can suck my dick for all I care. Wow. Go on desktop. Called it a political league and said he hopes they see it and find him. My guy, good chance of that happening. So he had second thoughts about that.

And he later apologized for all of this. Now, I just want to point out before I ask you guys my question, that Hayes and Matisse Thibel, after saying, yo, I can't believe you disrespected me like this, we're so good. Jackson Hayes had four points and three rebounds and 15 minutes against the Grizz, and Matisse Thibble had three points and two rebounds and 17 minutes against the Hawks. This is heat check.

Haleo Shaughnessy, good call or bad call on getting heated on All-Star stuff. The best possible call. This is the best. Please get mad and get spicy because this is the only way that the All-Star game's going to matter is if people really care about whether or not they're getting in. Also, I'm glad that the latter two that you talked about defended themselves. But I love when other people are defending you. If I ever have an agent and he doesn't issue releases for me, or if my future husband doesn't know when I'm pushing at the gym, it's over.

She knew his stats. That is incredible. She knew, like, point. That's what the fucking playoffs are for, as she said. That's a good call from Haley O'Shaughnessy. Dan Devine. And big picture, this is a bad call because you can't just be angry all the time. There's so many things to be angry about in the world.

We can't be angry all the time. In the specific instance, though, Haley's exactly right. call for all the people in Bradley Biel's life. It's a good call for me realizing, I need a fucking agent. I need somebody who's going to have my back on this. It's a good call for me wondering, actually, where is my wife at when Toronto, when Raptor's Twitter is coming from my head? Where is my wife?

And saying that, you know, issuing statements on my behalf. It's a good call for support structures in your life and people that are going to have your back. It's still a bad call for Jackson Hayes. You should not say, you should not say on camera ever that someone should suck your day. It's a bad idea. Yeah, he did it on camera. He filmed himself.

I hope they see it. My guy, they are going to see it because you put it on fucking camera. Of course they're going to see it. That was incredible. It was so good. Also, Sarah, call the arms here. Come and support your guy. She's not listening, God.

Don't worry about it. She's a big fan of heat check. Everybody knows this. Steve Allman, what do you think? Good call for true love. I would be so lucky to have a wife that runs my stats and yells on social media about me not getting something. I would absolutely call this a good call.

Jackson Hayes being in the NBA for a minute and a half and pulling the Deezes and Miro, the NBA can suck my dick. Such a good call. This kid, I hope this kid keeps doing it for the rest of his career. We've got a long way to go with him. That was super fun. Steve Alm and Dan Devine, Haley O'Shaughnessy, thank you as always. Thanks to all of you for listening to Hecheck. We really do appreciate it.

Please rate and review us. Read all of our content on the ringer.com. Listen to the Ringer NBA show on the Ringer podcast network. and be sure to check out our YouTube channel as the trade deadline approaches. We're going to have all kinds of trade deadline content for you. Heat check will be back on Monday, gang. Bye.