The Ringer NBA Show - The Next Questions After the Trade Deadline | Group Chat

Episode Date: February 11, 2024

The Ringer’s Tyler Parker joins Justin and Rob to work through their biggest questions after the NBA trade deadline. They cover the Thunder’s acquisition of Gordon Hayward and ask whether they should have made a bigger move (3:34). Then, they discuss the lack of moves the Lakers made and debate whether LeBron should stay after this season (19:01). Later, they air their grievances over the teams that didn’t make any moves at the deadline and share what they would have liked to see them do (48:41). Subscribe to the 'Ringer NBA' YouTube channel! The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out theringer.com/RG to find out more or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney Guest: Tyler Parker Producer: Jack Sanders Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This might be the best quarterback draft class in years, and we have huge franchises like Chicago, New England, and Washington with a ton on the line. My name is Craig Horlebeck and I host the Ringer NFL Draft Show with Danny Kelly, Ben Solack, and Danny Hyfitz. We cover trades, free agency, the draft, obviously, everything. We'll tell you all about which quarterbacks are going to be good, which quarterbacks are going to be bad, like Kenny Pickett, and if there's a diamond in the rough like Brock Purdy. Follow us at the Ringer NFL Draft Show on Spotify.

to group chat. I am Justin Barrier and joining me as always beautifully lit in this new camera lighting. Rob Mahoney. Waz is off today. But we have an acclaimed author on set here today. Week past player ranker extraordinaire. Tyler Parker. What's up, buddy? Oh man. It's, you know, to be surrounded by men of wealth and taste such as you and Rob, you know, it's the honor's all mine. No, I'm going to try to, I, I'm, I'm going to try to, I. I can never be Waz or replace him. His talents are too great, but I am going to try to say Heartland just as much as he does. I'm going to try to reference the Heartland, shout them out, you know,

send a lot of love their way during this pod specifically just because I don't want those people to feel the love Wayne when Waz isn't here, you know what I mean? Sure. You're from the heartland, though. That's true.

No, and that's why it means so much to me when in Waz's, you know, you know, points at us. It makes me, it makes me so happy. He definitely does point at you. I don't know what the message behind that point is sometimes, but he's doing a lot of pointing in that general direction, Tyler. That's for sure.

No, absolutely. I feel it a lot. I feel the point a lot. Sometimes I'm just walking down the street and I feel something. And I like, Gochan, there's a new episode out of group chat. And it's Waz shouting out the Harlan once more.

Well, we'll certainly be talking about Teams from the Heartland on this episode. Thank you everyone who watched our live stream. Rob, thank you for coming down and talking transactions with us. I have to say, like, I think I fucked up my back from sitting weirdly on that set. It's been hurting ever since. Like, I didn't know you can get podcasting injuries, but I think I'm there. I mean, you may want to investigate the source there because I think you might have messed it up trying to pronounce Ojai Obaji's name.

Okay. I like how that one just rolled out of the tongue for you. I mean, hesitation. I hear you pronounce it so many times, and it's like, this is definitely not right. So I have a very definitive example of what not to do.

Well, that's one of your tongue, that's one of your tongue twisters that you do to get warmed up for the pod, right? It's like, Mommy made me mash my M&Ms and Ogbaagbaji, right? Those are the two that you run through.

Ocha, Ocha, Bojee. Vesely Michich is obviously in that group. I mean, I don't know if you guys have been keeping up on Vasili Mitchish, the Charlotte,

Hornet, but things are happening. Lighten it up. Big Meech. Everyone at the end of the Hornets bench is now a rotation player for the Charlotte Hornets or excuse me, the Thunder's bench is now a rotation player for the Hornets and they're instantly a professional team again.

It's funny how that works. All right. So we're going to do next questions after the trade deadline. So basically we've had a couple days to ruminate on everything that happened there. Clearly things are going to spin forward and whatnot. And so we're going to talk about kind of the fallout the aftermath. So we go into this

all-star week, this lovely all-star week of ours. But we have to start with the heartland, first and foremost, since Tyler is here. The first question I have on the docket, does Gordon Hayward give OKC the edge in the race for the West one seed? And now on the one hand, Tyler, the thunder played last night against the Mavs and they gave up 146 points. So it doesn't look good. But Gordon-Haward didn't play there. So maybe that was the difference. It's, I think you're being very generous there. And, you know, I don't know that Gordon's influence stretches quite that far to make up that gap.

But, but no, I mean, I don't, I don't know that his ad, you know, automatically gives them the upper hand, right? I don't, I think that the health has been such concern for so long. it's hard to just sort of hang your cap on counting on he's going to be there. You know what I mean? The shots look nice this year when he's played. And if he's able to play make the way that he has in the past, I mean, assist-wise, his numbers are higher than they've been in a minute. If he can help on the boards like that, I mean, he's the type of guy that it makes sense

that they would want to add, I just don't necessarily think that he's so big time that it's like, all right, well, you other three teams that have been swimming around in these one-seed waters with us, get out of here. You know what I mean?

I don't think he's on that level, but I do think it's a significant upgrade for potential closing lineups because teams have been treating, Josh Giddy like he's you know game 7 Dremond and just turning around and heading for the rim as soon as the ball hits his hands and so it's not it's not been good and so to give them an option

like that that can shoot a little bit and stretch the floor I think is great yeah that's what it's all about is the smaller samples the closing lineups the potential series against the wolves or the clippers or the suns or these really a really good Western conference teams. Gordon Hayward's impact is not going to be felt over 30-ish games in aggregate. He's just not going to be available for some of them. And they're going to rest him for some of them. They're going to play a long game with him. And I assume when he comes into the lineup, he's probably going to play a fairly marginal role, you know, plugging into the

system of guys who know how to move the ball, who know how to get everything in a blender. And we joke about Michich and Trey Mann, but like, that's what the Thunder done so well all season. Is that level of proficiency in that style of offense? And Hey, that's always been a Hayward's strongest suit is playing that way. So I have a lot of faith that he's going to be able to jump in to their style and contribute. But it's more about what he means to them as a playoff team than it is about separating from Minnesota and this kind of like glut of teams at the top of the West right now. Yeah, I think the trade-off between him and Giddy is interesting because I think you could argue

maybe he is Giddy insurance. And I do like that Hayward is more of a big wing who playmakes, whereas Giddy is a playmaker who just has really good size. And I think that the small distinction is really important because Gideon needs the ball in his hand where Gordon Hayward's probably better as a supplemental player, especially these days where he's barely playing half of the season. But I liked it for the broader sense. It was like a declaration of intent for the thunder and how they want to play.

I think you heard a lot about them going out and getting a big. And they did go and get Biz Mac Bionbo. Yeah, watch yourself, Justin. They got a big. Have you seen Bizz? is huge. He's a big for sure. He's a large person, but pretty much picked him up off the scrap heap because that's kind of how they view that position. They want to be just spread out and they want to

attack off the dribble. And Hayward fits that to a T. And so they didn't do what I think a lot of people wanted them to do, which was add size for a playoff run. They really just doubled down on their overall approach, Tyler. And so I guess I'm curious what you think overall about Hayward's fit and like the move. Did you like them going out and getting someone that fits what they do? Or were you one of the people that wanted to see them get a little bit more size in the front court?

The way that I looked at it always was I didn't want to sacrifice the things that the team does well in favor of going out and just getting big X so that you've checked this box, right?

A big who, to go out and spend assets of, you know, significant value on a big that can't play the way that the team has declared, this is the way that we operate, and this is the thing that makes us special and hard to guard. It just never made a ton of sense for me that they were going to go out and expend a bunch of assets to go get a marginal big that. can't not because I think it's it's one thing to get a big that you know could sort of play a version of a five out where he's a shooter but that's it they kind of don't even want that you

know they're not trying to spend a bunch of good stuff to go get a guy that winds up feeling a little bit limited it doesn't seem like that's what they're trying to get their powder web. You know what I mean? Like, if they're going to go get somebody, it's going to be a guy who fits their playstyle to a T, some, you know,

Nas Reed type figure who is a big and can also do a lot of stuff with the ball in his hands. So it, that they went and just got Bismack for nothing, kind of makes total sense for how they've been building the team and how they've been operating, you know, really sense this kind of,

rebuild started. It didn't surprise me. As far as Hayward's fit, I think it's, again, he's got to be healthy caveats. I feel like I should just be spraying them throughout this conversation. But like, as a second side creator, especially in some lineups where when Shay's not out there,

and him and Jalen Williams can kind of operate and play off each other, Hayward's going to be able to be a screener in a lot of these situations and the Thunder really value that. That offense works because even SGA will go screen, even Jalen Williams will go screen. They'll run inverted pick and rolls where Chats the ball handler. You know what I mean?

It's an equal opportunity offense and Hayward's going to get to have the ball in his hands a fair amount because that's the way that they operate. Shea's not afraid to get off the ball. Williams, same thing. I think he's going to find that he can get into his rhythm. It's not going to be some situation where you're sitting in a corner and waiting to touch it, and it either goes up or you keep it moving, you know? It's kind of a perfect spot in that way,

because he's going to get a shot to play for a winning team. It's a pretty low responsibility role in the grand scheme of things. Like, if the Thunder don't win, it's not really Gordon Hayward's fault. You know, he's not going to be the guy on a $30 million contract. who's like weighing everything down with his presence. This is icing on the cake. This is a guy who you're bringing in for that extra playmaking. You know, for, you know, Kason Wallace for these lineups where it's like,

okay, our guards aren't the most traditional point guards, but everyone knows how to play together. Everyone knows how to build off of momentum. And that's what you're hoping for. And I think the clearest vision of that is what we've been talking about. Like him in place of Josh Giddy in some of these groups, as assured you have to respect. But I'm as interested as the lineups where he's plugging in for Jalen Williams.

you know, just spelling other playmakers in ways that keep the thunder dynamic and that bring a little bit of a different version of that, right? Something that's a little more experienced, that's a little more balanced, that's a little less explosive, certainly compared to someone like Jalen Williams, like the jittery isolation stuff. That's not where Gordon Hayward is. But he's able to give you a lot of other really meaningful contributions to your offense, plus the fact that he fits this kind of, you know, malleable, switchable,

three, four mold that can work for them defensively, too. A little worried about the shot these days with Hayward. So 34% roughly on low volume 3s. Over the past two seasons, which is 75 games, so it's not a small sample. It's also the type of thing where he's had so many lower body injuries and injuries overall. You start to worry that like maybe that is affecting the shot there. Obviously, we'll see. Probably wasn't getting a lot of open shots there off of kickouts from whatever like third string point guard was playing with

Hornets, but that's a mild concern. I guess the other concern, if you want to play devil's advocate to everything that we're saying is like, the Thunder have a lot of assets to the point where they literally traded a first round pick for a swap. So the potential for a pick, they could just give away for a pick. So they could have done something a little bit more dynamic. But I like what they have. They don't really need much.

And to that point, they just gave away three players that the Hornets are like, these are some of our best players. So it's very true. It, and I hear you with the Hayward shot stuff. I think the reason that it doesn't spook me quite as much is because Giddy could make eight threes in a row in some playoff game, and on the ninth three, they're still probably going to guard him like there's no chance it's going in. And if the threat of Hayward is even an inch greater than that.

that, right? Like, it's a win. And so I think it just, it's, it's, it's how teams will guard him to. It, the, there, I think there will be at least more of a respect factor when you're closing out on him than you are closing out on Giddy right now in my, in my head. But that, but it's, but I, you know, who knows? Well, Rob, who do you like in the one seed race for the West? Is there one team that jumps out to you maybe based on the deadline or just in general? not really. I mean, it's going to be pretty gummed up, I think, down the stretch. If I had to pick one, I would say maybe the Clippers slow play things a little bit down the back half of the season. That's definitely the more veteran team of these groups, the team that might have more incentive to try to ease their way into the playoffs and not push their guys too hard. The Thunder, I think we've seen wobble a little bit, but they're a team that tends to course correct pretty effectively. If I had to pick one, I think Denver might snatch it.

I could see that kind of, okay, let's rev up into playoff mode from them over these last 30 games, especially because we've seen when the Nuggets have needed to show up, when they get a marquee game, when they get a good matchup, they show up for those games. And if they treat the backstage of this season as a preparation for the playoffs, as like a planning platform for the playoffs, then they're going to be the number one seed. It's just a matter of like how much that matters to them. Yeah. Tyler, what about you? I think a lot of this will be decided based off of what the back half of the West looks like

and these teams that are jockeying for play in position and things like that and you could definitely I mean the Clippers have had a history of this I think even the Nuggets have had a history right of like if a loss is beneficial later on down the line to not You know what I mean? Neither of those teams have been afraid to pull that lever before. I don't think I don't think I'm speaking out of turn. I know the Clippers have done it. I don't think I'm speaking out of turn on the Nuggets.

I might be. But I do think that that has potential to happen for sure, especially if that log jam stays so tight up there and it does stay a thing where it's like, hey, if we lose two here in this last week, we're going to get the Kings or whatever the team, whatever organization X decides, you know, is who they want. I trust the nuggets more than any of those other teams.

There is also, and I can't even believe I'm saying this, something about these clippers. And I still don't have any faith that both Kauai and Paul George are going to stay healthy, but the buffer that Hardin provides you is that maybe that doesn't matter as much now. So I really want to say Clippers, honestly. I'm saying Nuggets because I, honestly, because I feel I owe it to Waz. Yeah. But you're going to see, like, you have to go Nuggets, I think.

But also, you know, this is also a real, you know, fuck you to vary or you from me too. But it, but it is also a vote of faith in Yokic just being a freak of nature. and Murray's showing up every time that he needs to. I will say the Clippers past two games haven't been very confidence building. Like the Pistons gave them a good run the other day. And now Fentecchio is in there. So they're a completely different team in Oregon. Yeah.

Feistier than ever with big tech involved. Feistier than ever. Fandals putting the ball in your court for the rest of the NBA season because right now new customers get $200 and buy. bonus bets with any winning $5 bet. That's $200 if your bet wins. So we're looking at Monday night in the NBA, and we're looking at the Charlotte Hornets.

That's right, plus 12 at home against the Indiana Pacers. Did you see that game against the Grizzlies? We got Mietich almost going for a double, double. We got Trey, man. We got Bertans off the bench. I think he was three for five in like nine minutes. Lock it in Hornets, plus 12 against the Pacers. and with Fandul bet on the NBA with a wide range of bet types,

including quick bets, live same game parles, player props, and more. So visit Fandual.com slash Ringer MBA and make your first bet a layup. Fandual, official sportsbook partner of the NBA. Must be 21 plus and present in select states gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler or visit the ringer.com slash RG, $10 first deposit required,

bonus issued as non-witrable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt, see terms at Sportsbook. at fandal.com. All right. Speaking of NBA legends, let's talk about LeBron James. Here's the question I have on the docket. If you're LeBron,

do you stick it out in L.A. past this season? And now, on the one hand, where would he go? On the other hand, I have to say, this was the first deadline that I could remember in a very long time

where a team said no to LeBron, basically. He was putting out the emojis, the vibes were not great and they did nothing. And so, Tyler, we talked about this on Wednesday. Were you surprised that the Lakers did nothing first and foremost?

And do you think long term, this team makes the most sense for LeBron, given where he is in the stage of his career? I was surprised that the Lakers did nothing because, like you say, typically when LeBron says jump, people start hopping around, you know?

that's a good question about when the last time someone said no it wasn't his last year in Cleveland didn't they have kind of like the maybe seventh pick in that upcoming draft and he was wanting them to use it and they never did there was some hesitation to part ways with that pick for sure and they traded everyone else basically a couple times over it turned out yes yes it's

in terms of does it seem like that this is where LeBron should stay. I mean, if I'm him and I look at that roster, it doesn't, I'm not filled with warm and fuzzies, to be honest with you. Like, it doesn't, it's,

if, if he has a finite amount of time left and he's trying to go find some true blue contender, that's not what's there right now. Now, if they are able to go get some, third monster to join up with him and AD at the end of the season okay. My joke answer for him is embrace everything people have ever said about you and hit up the new Charlotte owners, Gabe and Rick. Yeah, Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schenal, which are the two fakesest names I've ever heard in my life.

There's no way those are their real names. But I hit them up and I say, look, give Cup Check the Bounce. You want instant relevancy. Name me your GM, your coach, and a player. Yeah. Go to where Jordan couldn't win one. Say, look here. Ricky, Gabe, boys.

I'm going to do. I'm going to call Steph Curry. and I'm going to talk him in to doing a little homecoming and we're going to go make some magic happen for y'all. But I'm in charge of everything. This has been a nothing organization with very little to look forward to. Like, I can be the thing with feathers here.

Let me, you know, let me take over and let me be the first GM player coach. He gets a bunch of new firsts and it's hard for him to get any of those now. That's my joke answer, but I also think he should kind of do it. Do you think there's room for LeBron on Trey Man's Hornets, though?

Look, I do think, I do think you're going to see some problems taking the ball out of Mitch's hands. I don't want that. But if it's me and I'm thinking how LeBron thinks, if you have an opportunity to go play with Grant Williams, you know, how are you going to say no to that? I will say Brandon Miller these days, he could just glom on to the next generation as he's done over and over again.

Kyrie Irving wasn't much of anything before he got there. Why not just do it again? Eric Collins, the Hornets play-by-play announcer, would float into the heavens like Willy Wonka. And it would just, there's, he's screaming like humdiddly D. on like Seth Curry threes against the Grizzlies now if LeBron was there there would be like he would have like five orgasms a game I mean it wouldn't

the stuff wouldn't stop but yeah that's what that's what I think LeBron should do I'm gonna be honest I did not expect us to go hornet so quickly on the LeBron checklist of potential teams that's that's if you want to do something that Jordan never did if you want to go out with a

spectacle and a bang and assure yourself that you're going to get to play with your kid because if there's one thing that's for sure like wherever he goes next they're taking his kid in the draft lebron has lebron wouldn't have been so outspoken publicly about that being a goal of his if he wasn't willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen so it like if there's anything that he's shown us over the course of his career is that if he wants something to happen, he'll do everything in his power to make it so. And so if, you know, I, I think that'll be a bargaining point with whatever team he decides to sign with next. I think that'll absolutely be something he touches on. So, hey, take the decision out of the, out of everybody else's

saying, just go be the GM yourself somewhere, make it happen and go out with me, you know. It's good. I mean, I guess personal motivations probably weigh in more for LeBron. at this stage of his career than anything else. This is why partly he went to Los Angeles to begin with. Bronny seems to be a legitimate factor, although if he comes out in this year's draft, which seems unwise just considering he hasn't played much, it seems like he's only playing a bit role for USC.

The Lakers might not even have a first-round draft pick to spend in order to get him. So that could be a factor. But I have to say, like, I asked the question, but I'm slowly becoming convinced that the Lakers, as currently constituted, aren't that far behind the rest of the other teams

in the grand scheme of things like next year, for instance. This year seems like I would be doubtful. But the raw resources that they have available, Rob, they'll have the three first round picks. And I don't know if you've seen DeAngel Russell these days, but he's been absolutely on fire. He just, I'd never seen someone look as good while on a heat check run as him.

He's like in the top percentile of a league when things are going right. And right now they're going very right. He's playing great. But if DeLo is the top line item of why you should stay with a team, I think you should reinvestigate the premise a little bit. Well, it's Anthony Davis, but like he's down the checklist somewhere. He's down the checklist. But I would flip the question and say, if you're LeBron, what's keeping you here?

Because it's not the roster. It's not the coach who hasn't done a great job with that roster. it's probably not the front office that just chose not to trade for anybody and that opted to put its future in the hands of Spencer Dinwiddie who I'm sure is going to bring this whole thing together

and so what are you putting your confidence in if you're LeBron? Anthony Davis, absolutely one of the best players in the league this season. That's no small thing. The rest of the roster is pretty flawed. Laker prestige is real and I think has to be accounted for especially when you're talking about getting that third star, trading picks,

who wants to come here. Coming to play with LeBron is one thing. Coming to play with LeBron and AD is another. Come to play with both those guys as Lakers. That's an appealing pitch. And so I understand the parameters from that point. But I find it hard to believe that LeBron as a free agent could not find a better situation than this.

And a lot of it comes down to what kind of deal is he willing to take, what kind of team construction is he willing to allow? if LeBron is opening his mind to potential Hornets level suggestion, I think there's so many good fits for him out there. I mean, he's a player who could do all sorts of things. Yes.

Although, like, are there teams with cap space that would go out and sign him or he would sign with? Because for instance, I think Philly, Tyler is a good counter example. Would you rather play with AD, Austin Reeves, maybe Russell, maybe somebody else, or

Maxie, who has been incredible but Joelle coming off of yet another knee injury. And so is that a better situation, the blank slate with Joel and Maxie better than AD and I guess Reeves just for the sake of conversation? I mean, if those are my two options, I think I would lean Sixers there, if only because I think Embedd is better than Anthony Davis

and they both have his injury histories that are, extensive and can pop up out of nowhere, right? And I think, and give me Maxie over Reeves at this point, you know, like pretty easily. So it's, I would say that if you're giving me those two options, Philly for sure right now, if only because maybe LeBron being there can, and another year of Maxi to kind of elevate and mature and get used to having, you know, the ball in his hands and a lot of high volume work and stuff like that. It stands to reason that he's going to improve. And if you bring LeBron in, you've got a situation where maybe there isn't so much on Embed's shoulders. He's not taxing himself quite as much that they can kind of take turns resting maybe.

You know what I mean? Like it maybe has a chance to kind of. take some pressure off of Embed a little bit. And yeah, I mean, it would be fun to watch Nurse, like, play with LeBron. Like, to give Nurse that kind of toy and, like, what he would try, what he would figure out there. That would be fun.

We would need a minutes limit written into the contract, though. It would be necessary. We need something codified around that. Yeah, yeah. You don't want to, you don't want a Lou Olding situation. But, uh... Flikers are interesting.

Are they? that. I think the problem is the West is just too good at this point. But go to a better team. That's a great point. That's a great point, Justin. Part of it is get out of this bloodbath. Go east. Like, go east where, like, it's way more top heavy, and those top heavy teams are a little bit fragile in one way or another. Either there's not a ton of, you know, chemistry has been developed yet or injury histories, right? And so it doesn't, it doesn't behoove him to stay in the West anymore at this point to me. I like it doesn't, I can't see why he would, especially because the teams that right now are at the top of the West, you know, it's, it's, they're going to be there. Theoretically, they're going to be there for a minute.

You know what I mean? it's not like it's these old teams that are about to age out. You could say that about the clippers maybe, but, you know, depending on health, who knows? So it just, to me, it makes way way more sense for

him to get the hell back east. Pelicans right now are in seventh at 31 and 22. They would be fifth, I believe, or sixth in the east. It's just like it's a completely different situation, Rob. Yeah. And the teams that

at the top of the West. I'm not saying they would turn their noses up at LeBron, but they wouldn't prioritize a LeBron chase, given, you know, if you're the Clippers, for example, trying to shoehorn LeBron into that already complicated situation is not necessarily what you're bargaining for. The Thunder, yeah, LeBron as supercharged diesel Gordon Hayward. Like, yeah, I think we just illuminated the reasons why that would be great

if LeBron James is a member of the Thunder. But I wouldn't paint it as a particularly realistic scenario. I think the options for him do point east. It's more about the Knicks, the Sixers, another reunion with the Cavs, another reunion with the heat. These are teams that could make a lot of sense for him. And when you have all those options available to you, yes, you could play with Anthony Davis again

and run it back with what I would hope would be an improved roster after a full off season of work. But I don't know how confident I would feel in that whole process after I'm putting up an all-NBA year at 39 and my front office basically chose to punt on that season. I'll say this. A lot of the options that you're mentioning, some of them are clearly better fits.

The Lakers, I don't think, are so far behind the pack than I think that they've played thus far. I think they haven't played well most of the season as their roster has been kind of injured. LeBron and AD have been as healthy as they've been probably ever together, but the guys around them have kind of, kind of been shuffling here and there. And to that point, Spencer Dinwiddie, for instance, has not been good.

And most biote guys typically don't make an impact. But having said that, the Lakers are playing Skylar Mays now as their third guard off the bench, a two-way guy who was previously the season in Portland, I think somewhere else in between. Outside of Russell and outside of Reeves, there really hasn't been much garbed up. Gabe Vincent hasn't been there. And so I do think, like, they're kind of hitting a stride at the right time. They're starting to fill certain spots here. And they do look pretty good if you watch the past few games as Russell's come together.

A lot of it depends on Russell. But like he could just be a second half player like he was last year. And this all of a sudden makes a certain sense. I wouldn't expect them to get into the top five mix, for instance, in the West. But like I could see them getting out of the play in if things go very, very well, especially as teams like the Kings, for instance, struggle teams like the Mavs will see. You know, it's just the Lakers aren't as bad as I think they've played. That's all.

The aspirational goal you just laid out was they might make it out of the play in. LeBron is 39 and one of the greatest players ever. He's not out here trying to make it out of the plan. He's been doing that for like four years now. That's literally what he's been doing. So maybe it's time to go somewhere else where you don't have to haggle to get out of the plan. Certainly. Yeah, I could see it.

All right. Why don't we flip now? Well, actually, I do have like kind of a sub-question to all of this. So a lot of the action that we saw at the deadline are expected to happen at the deadline pretty much is getting pushed into the office. And so the point where I see the off season being pretty frantic in terms of like just trades and we'll see here. But in terms of like the guys left on the board, Tyler, which one of the star sweepstakes

most interests you? And I'm going to name a few here just to refresh the memory. I have McHale Bridges, Donovan Mitchell, Paul George, still hasn't signed an extension, but it seems possible. Dejante Murray or Trey Young for the Hawks. LeBron, as we just talked about. DeMar de Rosen.

Kyle Kuzma, even. Just all of the Trailblazers. Which one of these is like most intriguing to you? You know, it's when you sent the list, the guy who I, for some reason,

couldn't stay away from was Trey. And it's because he's at a very weird crossroads at this point. Like he's clearly not going to be the guy who can be the 1A on a team and get you to the promise land. And you wonder at what point he will have to kind of accept that. It seems like he is every now and again tried to kind of prime the pumps a little bit for, you know, going elsewhere.

And it seems like he would be open to that. And you could see the season not, obviously, not going the way that, not ending in the way that he wants it to and him asking out. That just feels like a distinct possibility at this point. And his combination of playmaking, and shooting I don't think that the playmaking stuff gets enough

buzz as a live dribble passer I think he's just a magician and can like dime guys up from across the court with his weak hand

you know through four arms you know with his weak hand on that that wiry tray young frame I still don't understand how he generally

rates the momentum for those passes, to be honest with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. It's crazy about torque on this podcast. No, we should. Y'all should up your torque. That was what I was good. I had that written down actually. I was going to bring that up after we went off Mike. But yeah, there should be more torque talk. Let me ask you this.

Like, if you're the Lakers, now that you have the runway here in a little bit more of a package to trade for a star, do you try to push for Trey Young as opposed to Dejante Murray? Did the hawks just open the door to a possible Trey Young trade? And they actually, when they could have gotten out of this and maybe built around Trey. If I were, if I were LeBron, because this decision is in my head, this decision is not getting made without him signing off on it. And it's a choice between Murray and Trey.

I'm taking Trey because it takes a lot of the playmaking. do I can rest a little bit more I think if Trey is on like LeBron has shown that he likes that combination a guard even if he's not like defensively going to be able to be all there for you you know the the marriage that he had with Kyrie was extremely successful for a time because he could just throw the keys to Kyrie for multiple possessions and just kind of hit the brakes himself and relax and conserve energy and then wait until the fourth and start to pick apart people. I could see it working in a similar way. And I think that Anthony Davis would just flourish playing and picking roles with Trey. I mean, to give to give someone like AD an even bigger diet of easy

shots, which is what would come for sure, I think. Yeah, I think that could that could elevate things for them. I think all the defensive issues are real and problematic, but I also think that teams have been able to make up for that on the other end in certain situations if the offense is good enough, and I think his could be. So it did it, yeah, that's where I'm at. And that's where I think the Dejante Murray Lakers stuff, it always felt pretty short-sighted. It always felt like a move to shore up the roster now in the, the splashiest way that the, the, the shanty-st way that the Lakers could afford. But when you're thinking about the

moves that the Lakers need to make, whatever star they are targeting has to be a star who makes sense in a world without LeBron as a co-star for Anthony Davis, taking the Lakers into the future. Let me tell you, Deshante Murray is not that player. But Trey Young could be.

And I think there's a little bit of awkwardness in terms of navigating the LeBron, Trey Young overlap when they are on the floor together. Tyler, I'm completely with you as far as him taking stuff off LeBron's plate is really helpful. Him playing the other minutes. But I think this is totally fair

what you're saying. I think that's totally fair. And they would have to navigate that. But you navigate that when the talent is Trey Young. Like that's the kind of problem you sign up for. Not when the problem is like, how do we make DeJante Murray, you know,

a fringe all-star type talent at best makes sense with the group we already have. That's what I hope that they were hoping for by not using their potter at the deadline to be reaching for the stars, so to speak. And I mean, in my head with Trey, it's not even, I wasn't even necessarily thinking of it as like a, hey, let's force our way out and let's, and let's go to the lake. If I'm Trey, I'm trying like hell to get to San Antonio, to be honest with you.

A dream fit. Honestly. If that, if just speaking specifically about him, like, go find a way to play with Wimbunyama and then your, whatever defensive issues you have can be well papered over, like with that guy behind you and Sohan. And so it, assuming snow hand doesn't go out in the deal. But it, yeah, that's, just thinking about it from a Trey Young perspective, I'd like to see him make it work in Atlanta because I like it when guys stay where they are.

If it's, if the breeze is blowing this way, it stands to reason that he's not long for that place, especially if the season ends the way it looks like it's going to. And it would kind of make sense, like if I'm Atlanta, throw a million resources Jalen Johnson's way. Like give him all the magic elixirs. Like that guy's unbelievable.

Like I think he could bloom if they let him initiate even more. You know what I mean? Like I think that the more they can clear the runway, the better. But yeah, that's where I'm at with Trey.

I would like to see him get somewhere where his playmaking talents can be used, but there are people in place that are established, a shot count slash talent hierarchy that he has a hard time refuting. You know what I mean? That's what I, that's like I think the combo he needs.

Spurs fit is definitely intriguing. I mean, the Spurs missed out on putting Jason Kidd with Tim Duncan. Why not get a magician passer and try to go with Victor Webbenyama? That would be great there. I am just kind of baffled, I think tangentially about the spurs at the deadline because after the dust, kind of cleared.

Yeah. It bore out that they had actually sold from this team that was already kind of an abomination. What did you want them to do? I would like them to actually have actual NBA basketball players to play basketball next to Victor Wehmaniama. And I know this is a lost season. They're probably thinking forward, yada, yada. And it's just Doug McDermott, who was like a bench player playing 15 minutes a game.

So not a huge thing in the grand scheme of things. And a bench player playing 15 minutes on an expiring contract, who you're probably not going to bring back. They're just really testing the limits of what it means to be a Spurs fan that like you really have to just deal with whatever shit we put out there

and you're going to love it because we're the Spurs and we just know the right answers. These are the motherfuckers that came up with load management. Like I think if you trace everything back like they are the patient zero for all of the problems in the NBA.

Okay. All right. Jesus. Just like sell from that team. I was like, oh my God. Like how why not just like have actual players play in games? That would be nice. If you are a Spurs fan out there and you are personally aggrieved by the Spurs

trading Doug McDermott, get at us. I want to hear from you. I do really want to know. Your editor, Isaac, is not happy with this. We talked about it. About the Doug McDermott deal? Well, just the fact that like they're just. they're bottoming out from the bottom.

I've never seen that before. I just find, look, if you're already knocking on the door of a historically bad season, why not take a little Pratt fall for a second round pick? What's the harm at that point? You know who doesn't do that?

The pistons. They're gearing up for the next wave. They've gotten them, Justin. They've gotten Fetkeo. I don't know if you saw it. Hey, big tech's only been there for a few days. Give them a month. Give them a month.

I'm going to back up and let Fontecio cook. the culture's changing baby okay I would also say on this list of players who I'm interested in Mikhail Bridges is a really interesting one for me seemed like there was some like buzzing about him even like the past two deadlines or past two transaction windows

just because I don't know what the nets are doing there like it's fun to see Ben Simmons like 80% like making gorgeous passes and then not stepping inside the three point line but Bridges to me clearly a two not a one probably is best suited to be playing alongside someone else. And so sending him to a team would make a lot of sense there.

And so I could see it. But at the same time, I don't know what the Nets are doing, Rob. And so at the same time, maybe they have some third dimensional chess game going that I just can't see at this point. Yeah, I'm very curious to kind of trace back some of the deadline smoke around them. Because I was surprised, too, how much we were hearing Mikhail Bridges' name, just because he's so clearly the best thing the Nets have gone. and not just that, but the kind of star who fits with whoever you want to bring in.

And so getting rid of the jack of all trades type when you're trying to find the next cornerstone of your franchise, maybe they just don't like the timeline. Maybe this was more coming from other teams who were interested in bridges and there's, God knows there's certainly a lot of them. He fits all sorts of places. And that's what makes him similarly interesting to me, Justin.

Like the idea of him as a player who elevates a winning team, that's something that I think we could see a lot of this offseason, especially in an offseason where the free agency is kind of evaporating. Kauai Leonard is already off the market. Pascal Seacum is a pacer. O.G. and Nobie is a Nick. Paul George is probably going to get his extension done. James Hardin was going to be a free agent.

He's probably going to stick around with the clippers, I would imagine. And so then you're looking at Tyrese Maxie, who's going to get his extension, just hasn't for logistical reasons. LeBron, who we talked about. Anyway, yeah. Sure. And beyond that, it's Drew Holiday and DeMarter Rosen. those are kind of the big prizes

in terms of what you're using your cap space for and so the idea of oh we're just going to sit all that out and instead we're going to go after McHale Bridges who's going to make our team better, I could see a lot of teams talking themselves into that. Yeah, I mean a big wing that can shoot and guard those guys are gold.

I mean, every team needs them even if they have a ton they need another. And the plug and play ability with Bridges like he can fit in any offense. And I mean, you could even, he seems like the type of guy, like, even if he found himself in a situation where, like, hey, we got stars, these two big stars here that need 19 shots

and 15 shots a game, you're going to get 11. Sorry, but that's what you're going to get. Like, I think he's, that's, and all these reps he's got being the number one dude, kind of polishing up his iso package, he's the type of guy now that you could at the end of a playoff game in a pinch if you needed to go to him, you know, he has further experience there, which a lot of guys, you know, if he had stayed at Phoenix, he's probably not getting, you know, no, those, that number of cuts in the cage

unless there's just a lot of injuries happening, right? So it's, he seems prime. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, with y'all he seems prime to if he does get moved that team you know can take a big step forward very quickly because it's not he's not going to be somebody

who you've got to take a lot of time to get assimilated to things and I would even take it a step further in that direction where if you are the team with the two guys who are taking 19, 20 shots Bridges is the guy you trade one of those guys for sometimes of like alleviating whatever incompatibility

exists in your roster and so The watch teams for Bridges to me, all the teams that are like good winning teams that can't quite get over the hump, whether it's down these last 30 games or maybe they flame out a little earlier than expected. Bridges is the kind of guy who opens the door. Like he takes some things off the table

in terms of what is causing you problems, and he creates a lot more possibility in terms of who he can guard and how he can play. We'll probably end up on the Knicks, just because he went to Villanova. Apparently that's the basis of their entire team building strategy, but we'll see.

Cuts in the cage. Is that a saying? Yeah, baseball, baby. Oh, I was thinking of like, Cuts in the batting cage. Tigers or something. I mean, that would be much cooler if it was like, yeah, you know,

you got to, like he's got to go through a few more tiger fights before he's ready to, before he's ready to run more pick and rolls, you know. All right, since we're kind of rethinking some of things at the deadline here, I do want to take a second look at some of the team. that were inactive in addition to the spurs who were my biggest grievance.

Rob, anyone that jumps out to you, we talked about some of the big players, Lakers, Warriors on the other show. Is there anyone now that you've had seven, two hours, you're like, oh, that was weird. Less weird and more just, I think I got my hopes up that the magic might do something fun. They're just a team that they have a lot of guys, an abundance of guys, some pretty defined weaknesses. And I think we'd all like to see them, you know, get, change kind of the complexion of their of their guard rotation a little bit. They were linked to all these different veteran guards, not just at the deadline, but over the course of the season. It didn't even have to be that.

I just kind of wanted to see what they would do to elevate one of what's already one of the most fascinating rosters in the league. And it's perfectly fine for a team in their position to sit back. Like, Orlando is knocking on the door of six in the east right now. That's great. No, no urgency, see no reason to make a move, I just would have loved to see it. I would have loved to see this team get a half degree more sophisticated, round out what they're doing, just a little more beyond what they already have. And I know that sometimes takes things off the table in terms of developmental opportunities for Paolo or Franz or Jalen Suggs or whoever you want to allocate those out to. I'm just ready for this team to take off. And they feel like they're right there on the cusp

in a way that makes me want to see them do something. Yeah, it would have been interesting to see them get in the mix for some of these guards that didn't end up going. Like a Malcolm Brogden would have made like a nice half measure step. And then maybe you play him for this year. Then he becomes expiring. Then all of a sudden you could maybe flip him for your next Anthony Simons or someone else that would fit long term there. And that kind of brings me to the Portland Trailblazers, who I'm kind of pretty disappointed

in. And now on the one hand, they don't have to go full scale rebuild in order to build the next sort team. There are enough young guys, interesting guys in that team. And or maybe like if you have some veterans around, they can take each of the next step. Seems like a really invoked thing to say on Twitter now. It's just like, no, sorry, I just want to, I just want to watch basketball. I want to watch a okay team. But have you seen the Blazers lately?

I think there's less credence to that belief because the team is a soft. Were you literally making that argument about the Spurs like five minutes ago? Was I? No, I think there's like a base. line for competence that the spurs aren't even at. Okay. Okay. And I would also say that the Blazers have enough of those guys left over that they could

trade three or four away and they would still have adults in the room to rear the youngans. On top of that, there's just the financial problem with this team where this isn't like a cheap young rebuilding team. Like, for instance, the magic have a lot of cap space that they could just keep rolling over and keep adding assets, etc. next season alone DeAndre Aiton, Jeremy Grant, Anthony Simons, and Malcolm Brogden make $112 million. So this is like a tax team that is awful to begin with, yet you're giving all these reps to older guys rather than trying to find other guys that could potentially fit your future. Like that's the sort of situation, Tyler, that like I for one, I think that is enough of an evidence to like maybe start dealing some of these guys.

What do you think? no i agree with you there i don't i don't understand teams who clearly have um who they want to be the guards of the future already in place and um it's not like it's not like the blazers think they're going to make some push here late to you know get into the play in right like it the thing to do now if i was a blazers fan and i'm watching the times that I'm most excited are, oh, scoots out there with Simons, like, let's see how this works, right? Like, you're wanting to see how the young guys are developing. You're wanting to have them take their licks now, right? And so I, I, I, while I get wanting to have to have

some adults in the room. Yeah, it is interesting to watch a Blazers game and see Malcolm Brogden taking the biggest shot of the game. You know what I mean? Where it's like, okay, yes, maybe Brogden has closed this fourth quarter well here and maybe he has earned this. But if I'm a Blazer fan, I'm like, I don't need to have this moment with Malcolm Brogden here. Like, I want this to be a time where Simon can see if he can attack this 1A defender that's guarding him. And you know what I mean?

Like those are the, those are the moments that I'm looking for. So I was, I was, the Blazers weren't my team like that where I was confused. The team that for me is just sort of depressing at this point is the Bulls. And to see them do absolutely nothing. and I guess they want to keep DeRosen around long term, but there still has been, you know, no extension signed, and he's still around. He's going to be a free age.

I don't, you know, it seemed like teams were probably clamoring for Caruso and we're calling about him. And, you know, they just decide to stand completely, Pat. I haven't known what Arturis is doing for a while. I mean, and I don't think Bulls fans have either. I mean, going back to the Vucevich trade, really. I mean, like, it's, it, uh, the moves don't make sense. And now in a situation where like you do have this like lightning that's striking with Kobe

White and it's extended now. You know what I mean? It hasn't been like this little blip. Like he's had a nice little run here. and has rewarded the team for giving him the ball more, I don't know why you wouldn't try to do what you could to set him up for as much success as possible sort of in the back half of this season.

Like I don't understand any of the moves the Bulls are making. Yeah, Justin, I feel like we're equally mystified. We've gone around the bend with the Bulls so many times. And I can understand with Caruso specifically why they would wait and try to juice the market and try to find the exact right offer potentially to deal him. But there's so many other moves they could have made, right? Yeah, Damar seemed like an obvious one for me. Caruso, honestly, I think would have made the most sense to trade from an asset standpoint because I can't see his value getting any higher than it was. He's healthy and making threes and has his full defensive reputation for sure.

Right. And if you're trading for him, you get two playoff runs with him because he expires after next season. So as opposed to this one half season potentially if you trade from a next year's deadline. So they're really perplexing to me. But since we're talking about the East, I want to get to the next question, which is which team you're betting on for the two seed in the East. And so on the one hand, I think the Knicks made what we would probably all agree is probably the biggest or most impactful move at the deadline getting Boyon and Alex Berks in there. On the other hand, you got this sneaky, like, news dump as the trade deadline was ending, where O.G. Annanobi is all of a sudden going to be out for a month.

Now, on the one hand, it seems like it is a minor surgery. On the other hand, I don't think there is such a thing as minor surgery, like when you're going into someone's human body and fixing something. So loose bodies in the elbow never sound good. Like when your elbow is rattling around out there, I don't like the sound of it. I don't want anybody's loose. I would just, I want everything. I want all bodies tight, you know. Keeping it tight. Yeah. Yeah. ABT.

All body's tight. I would say the Knicks, if I knew everyone was going to be healthy, Julius Randall also, we'll see about what is his elbow, I believe. But on the other hand, like, I don't know about that, Tyler. And so for you, which of these two C potential teams, assuming that the Celtics make the one seed, are you betting on? on the stretch. I mean, not to be boring, but the team that's there now, the cab, like, I'm a, I'm a full-blown believer in the calves now, especially in how they've been able to

rework in Garland and Mowgli since they've come back from injury. And they haven't, they haven't taken away from the, uh, the vibes. You know what I mean? Like the team's, the team is still playing well. And, um, it, it, it doesn't seem like there's, there's, there, it doesn't seem like there's, to, you know, magnets that won't go together because you're two, you know, south side magnets pushing against each other that won't, you know what I'm? Like sometimes that's how the offense

could feel every now and again. And it just feels more cohesive to me now than it has before when you watch them. And yeah, I mean, defensively, they've just been stellar. I mean, it's, I think that they're super scary. I mean, what they've won nine in a row. They've been, they were.

And then eight. a row before. I think they're 17 and one over their last 18 games. They've lost, they've lost only twice in 2024. Like this calendar year they've lost twice. They're just running over

everybody. Sam Merrill's a flame thrower. Like they, shout out Danny Chow. They're running over everybody. And so I don't like they put up 136 on the Kings the other night. Like they have been beaten up on some bad teams, but they beat the Clippers. They beat the Clippers.

they beat the bucks by 12 during this little run. Yeah, and just torch the Kings. So I really like what I've seen. And they seem very confident to, like, we don't have to make any moves here. You know, and I like, I like what that says about them. I totally understand people who are still spooked by the playoff performance against the Knicks last year. But, I mean, they've answered the bell thus far.

And to have Mitchell and Allen run the table the way they did while Mowgli and Garland were out, like, I'm not the first person to say that that was super impressive, right? And so it just, they've, whatever test they've been given so far, like, it's Aces. And so it's hard to, as much as I like the Knicks. and I think like Bogdanovich is a huge ad and I think he's going to bloom but like just in terms of a team that

I see no sign of them slowing down you know what I mean? It doesn't feel like they're playing above their heads really you know like and in terms of a team that can be have consistent offense and consistent defense like they're just locking people up now too it's just it's fun to see.

Yeah. The thing I really like about them now And I was kind of on the fence as Garland got back in there, as Mobley got back in there, is that it seems like the hierarchy they established while they were out, those guys were out, seems to have carried over to where this is the Mitchell show and Alan is anchoring that defense. And I do think that's important because Garland hasn't done too much there. And so it's felt additive in a way that I was worried was going to start to clash a little bit, that magnet thing that you were talking about. And so I am very confident in the Cavs, going forward this year, especially as the two seed race, a lot of these teams do start to ding up. I will say as we talk about this, the Bucks play like shit and they have Pat Beverly

pretty much leading huddles just two hours after showing up. Still 3419 right in the mix there. And I don't know how, but if they just get things together for like a week or two, it feels like they might just go on a run there. So I put them in the same sort of category, Rob.

I can't quit the bucks. I know the roster. issues. I know the record with Doc so far. I know that scraping up Pat Beverly to be the leader of your team at the deadline is not great. Things are not good on the ground in Milwaukee. I still think they're going to be the number two C in the east. And I do think having the All-Star break to reset the scheme, reset the roster. I think that will be a meaningful thing.

And we have an important development, which is Doc Rivers has discovered he is allowed to play at least one player who is under 30 years old. Shout out to AJ Green. Congratulations. you are the chosen one. Now if we can just get some consistent Andre Jackson minutes, we're really going to be going somewhere. In the playoffs,

those guys aren't sniffing the full. Those guys, those guys won't get out of the locker room in the playoffs. Hopefully they're allowed to get on the team plane. That's all I'm hoping for at this point. But honestly, with the calves, you really can't say enough good things about them.

Like, they've been exceptional. They've redefined their team. And to build off what you were saying too, Justin, not only has the pecking order kind of carried over from that injury stretch. But I think it really helped guys like Max Struce

get their legs under them. He looked like he was in kind of an awkward spot and couldn't quite find his fit earlier in the season, but he played some of his best basketball during that stretch where guys were out. And now he's kind of fit in really nicely alongside a starting lineup where he was kind of finding himself earlier in the season.

So I like the idea of this kind of this synergy, this like apotheosis moment for the calves where all these elements are coming together for them. Apotheosis moment. I'm trying. Were you excited for the apotheosis moment, Tyler? I was very, I, around the third syllable, I got super excited. I was like, where are we headed?

We're going up a mountain here. This is great. All right. Let's flip to our last question here. We don't have to talk about bio guys because the biomarket is particularly shallow. Like, the biomarket in general is kind of a fake thing that we make something up. But like this year, it's particularly bad unless anyone wants to get to killing Hayes talks. So which team or player will surge after the All-Star break?

And I'm going to call my own number here because I have to say one game of the Luca Donchish experience with 48 minutes of quality big men play was something to behold. And that was without Derek lively too. They didn't even have their full compliment of quality bigs. And while I can't really stand for the asset play necessarily in order to get both Gafford and PJ Washington, in there for Dallas. I think you saw that this was very much a Luca, please stay. We will surround you with as many above average players as we could really cobble together here. And I just thought Gafford, a player that I've honestly always been kind of mixed about, instantly made an impact just by going up and getting it as Luca tossed it up there.

And so I could see Luca taking off and maybe taking the MAVs a step or two forward. I can see them getting in to like the five, six range, probably not into the top four. They're a very good team. They're my pick, too. The funniest post-deadline response from a player or coach or general manager was Luca Donchich saying, I've been asking for a backup center for three years. Man, shots at Maxie Claibor and Dwight Powell. Okay, you just butcher that one.

Claver? Don't do Maxie like that. Kleba, come on. Kleba? I see, I watched too many games with, like, podcasts in my ears as I'm watching it. So I never actually hear the pronunciation. And so me saying out loud is often the first time I see it. Hashtag listen to the games.

No. Look, it's a night and day difference. Just having not only these guys in uniform, having great debuts, but having a healthier roster to begin with. And that's what the Mav season has told us. Like, Kyrie and Luca on the floor together is usually a pretty good formula. You put actual length and athleticism around those guys, including two new additions who are finishing lobs,

who are being threats defensively. PJ Washington, especially, a guy who can not only hit the three, but to your point earlier, Tyler, attack the closeout, get into the line who can respond when people guard him. Such a meaningful thing for him and for them.

I hesitate to put too much weight on it, but there is an incredibly powerful premise here, which is what if the Mavs just had more players who could score more than 10 points in a game? And when you have Luca and those guys, that's really formidable. no i mean they were a buzzsaw yesterday and i think i mean i think it's it's it's it's not um i think it's worth mentioning you know the vibe uptick when grant williams leaves your team i

think you know like we see the celtics of sword and now the mabs in one game i mean it's like you know the they've they've grown wings um i think it's the like what you said rob the 48 minutes of quality center play and it's like gafford's really springy and was playing with so much energy there and was really because lucca's getting so much attention gaffords really loose on the boards right now and i think that that's going he plays in a way where because his guy is going to have to pay so much attention to lucca he's just going to be flying free a lot and someone like him i mean it's going to get like it's going to be the easiest basketball's ever been for him, right?

Yes. And so it, I mean, he, he flourished quite a bit on that, that Beal-Westbrook Wizards team that kind of went on that late-season run. He was part of that that, you know, just constantly playing with energy and just doing his job, you know what I mean? Like in ways that the Mavs have not had guys that will do that. And so, no, I mean, I think that's a. That's a sterling pick by y'all.

My guy was, I think, even, even though all the bodies are loose, as we were saying, I think Bogdanovich is going to thrive with the Knicks. And I think all the attention, even during the injury time, and I think it's probably, it might not be a terrible thing that Randall is still out, as Bogdanovich gets the rhythm of things in this new offense. Just because the ball can stick with Randall a little bit, I think it's good that not just for Bogdanovich's game, but also for the Knicks to see like,

okay, these are all the ways that we can use this guy. You know what I mean? There's more of an opportunity for that with Randall out. and especially with OG out too. But like the guy's shooting 41% from 3 this year on seven attempts a game. The Knicks have not really had anybody, like other than Brunson, right, who's been shooting lights out of it this year. But like to add that new element to this team and a guy who can work out of the pick and roll,

you could make him the screener with Brunson and have him popping, or you could give him the ball and do picking rolls with Randall or with O.G., right? Like, there's stuff that you can do. Those two guys become pretty interchangeable, I think. You know what I mean? Like, it's a good combo there. And he's, like, he's 6'7, he's a big boy. Like, he doesn't, he's not some, you know, defensive ace, right?

but I don't think he's going to stand out so much as like a weak link where Tibbs isn't going to play him, right? Like, it may be. Shut down LeBron. We need a different buzzer for the shutdown LeBron, William Buckdanovich comp. But I think those jazz, I think those jazz, are you talking about those Pacers teams?

Yeah, that's right. The Mighty Pacers. Yeah. Yes. The Mighty, mighty Pacers. But if you think about those jazz teams that he was on, like, you know, kind of similarly constructed, right? Like Mitchell running the show, he's going to play off Mitchell,

and then he had Connolly there too, right? And he's figuring out how he fits with that. You've got Gobert, who's complaining for touches, right? Like, there's, he's, he's fit into this sort of shot structure before, I think. You know what I mean? Like, it's not, like, he's, he's not going. to be confused on where he lands in the hierarchy.

And so I think that that's a benefit of it too. It's not something he hasn't been asked to do before. And another one of these guys who has compound value, as the Knicks get more whole, he's going to be really successful and really effective in that role for them. But for this moment in time,

this moment where Precious Setsua is playing 40 plus minutes every night, where Tosh Gibson, who I say with the greatest, possible respect. It's cooked beyond cooked. Like smoke is coming out of the oven. Yeah, you're throwing the turkey out. You're going to Denny's. It's, yeah, it's rough.

It's disaster zone territory. And that's a starter for the Knicks right now, given their injury situation. And so, Boyon's in the door, playing big minutes, basically right out of the gate. It's going to be a mixed bag

as he kind of figures out what his shots are in that offense. But I had seen enough possessions, especially with the Knicks' second unit, where they were like, can somebody please dribble, who's not us, that I'm just happy

to have another guy who can create around there. And so as he gets more comfortable, he's going to be valuable while these other players are out, he's going to help at least stabilize things a little bit, help them keep their heads above water

while some of their most important players are out with injury, and then ultimately can make this team even better and more formidable for a playoff series. All right. Well, I think we're smoked. We have to go to Denny's.

Yes. Tyler, thank you very much for joining us. as a true privilege. Y'all are nice for having me. If you could add in even more stutters, that'd be great. We got it. But you know, moons over Miami for everybody.

There you go. All right. Thank you to Jack Sanders on production. Thank you to Ben Cruz. We're back on Wednesday this week. And then we get the live show on Saturday. So we will see you then. Must be 21 plus and present in select states.

Fandul is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement. with Kansas Star Casino LLC. Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler or visit Fandul.com slash RG in Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Call 1-800 Next Step or text Next Step to 533-4-2 in Arizona. 1-888-889-77-7-7 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. 1-8009 with it in Indiana.

1,800 522470470 or visit KSgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1877770 stop in Louisiana. Visit MD gambling help.org in Maryland. Visit 1-800 gambler.net in West Virginia or call 1-800 522470 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit gambling helpline, MA.org, or call 800-327-50-50 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts or call 18778 Hope NY or text Hope NY in New York.