Summer League and Closing Thoughts

Theelo Ball's been traded from Charlotte to Minnesota. Tom Havishher and I hopped on to discuss This crazy crazy trade. There's so many interesting angles to this Lameello deal going to Minnesota that we get into. We also talk about everything else happening right now around the NBA. Jalen Brown. what's going on there? C why Leonard Could he be on the move and what happened in the NBA draft and a lot else? That's all coming up right now with me and Tom Havistro. It's the best time of the year in the NBA right now with the conference finals, then the finals, then the draft and summer League And on gameime, you get the advantage as a fan. It's the hack for unlocking amazing tickets and just a few taps. It's incredibly easy to use and the game time guarantee means you can trust you'll get one hundred percent authentic tickets to no matter the event that you're trying to go to. Plus Fes are always included so you get to see what you pay. I'm very thankful to get credentials to these events in the basketball world. So I will be using the game time app instead. for my summer concerts coming up. I'm very excited about it. One of the cooler features about the Gameime app is the seat views. You get to have a panoramic view of your seat in the app before you buy And I've been using that when I've been looking for tickets at venues that I haven't been to before to get an idea of what it's going to look like when I decide or what seat I'm going to have at the concerts that I'm going to. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time Download the Gameime app, create an account and use code KOC. for twenty dollars off your first purchase. Terms do apply. again Create an account and Rdeem code KOC for twenty dollars off. Download the Gameime app today. Welcome back to Kevin O'Conostro, A little bit of an emergency podcast here because I'll tell you a what, man. We got a Lomeello Ball trade joining me to discuss Tom Avastro. How are you, Tom I'm good. I'm checking in with all my friends here in Charlotte seeing how they're feeling right now with with Lameelo gone. It is a new day in in Charlotte Hornetets history when we're considering how amazing this season was last year And the city just completely lit up around Lame Mello Ball, Connippple and Brandon Miller. But now Lameella Ball shipped up to Minnesota and that is a shocking deal considering how much good vibes there were in the city I know. I mean, it was an unbelievable year for Charlotte. Lamelo played the best basketball of his life in the second half of that year. and now it's over after the trade has been made sending Lameelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timber Rlles for Naz Read an unprotected first in twenty twenty thirty three three first round pick swaps, which are a little bit complicated. We'll get into later in twenty eight, twenty nine and thirty Three second round picks in twenty nine, thirty and thirty three. Let's start out with the Minnesota side of this thing here because Tom this is the the trade for a contending team trying to take the next step after stagnating, falling short in the postseason And their're big bet Islamello Ball And it's obviously a calculated risk here for Minnesota to get somebody who's had as many injuries as Lameello, somebody who isn't much of a leader, who makes a lot of crazy decisions. It wasn't a great ending to his tenure in Charlotte either. the way things went in the play and tournament However He does raise their ceiling undeniably. the flare he plays with, the pace with which he plays with on the floor. He is an offense unto himself and the what he brings to this Minnesota team is exactly they've been missing That said, though, Tom This is a risk and it's a sell high for Charlotte. and for Minnesota, they're giving up a lot here for a guy who's no guarantee to actually make things work and Who knows? a year from now, we could be talking about them blowing things up. Yeah, K, this is this is sell high. the way to look at this from the Charlotte Hornness perspective is that they sold high at a peak value for Lameelo Ball. I'm going to read to you right now the games played by Lameello Ball since he became an NBA player at nineteen years old. fifty one games, seventy five, thirty six, twenty two, forty seven and then last season seventy two And when you look at the way that teams operate in these scenarios usually they're very conservative when they get some success like this that what you saw from this this Charlotte Hornetets team last season. B offensive ring, best net rating, five man lineup with Musa Diiaote Miles Bridges along with those other three and the three point shooting style led by Charles Lee and the offensive rebounding that you saw that they did not make into the playoffs What you saw was magic on the floor the whole entire city, the region was so excited to see Lameello Ball finally healthy. And here is the front office saying, this is the time to sell We've seen so many teams hold on to young players who are injury prone or have injury risks and just say as soon as they get a little taste of success that all the things start to click, they hold on and then they they able to get full value for that star player when things go sideways again. So they're making a bet here that Lumello Ball with all the medical intel they have, the locker room intel of his impact in in a lockerom and his leadership They've seen it over the last six seasons They have more information on LameMello Ball than any team in the NB and that includes Minnesota. They're going to do their due diligence on on medicals and talk around the league, but no team knows the Lameello Ball experience better than the Charlotte Hornets. And I think it's very telling that as soon as they got a little bit of success and he had seventy two out of eighty two games played, they said It is time to get out of the Lameello Ball business. And I think with the swaps going forward, the first round pick It is a risk from the Shot Hornets side too, because we don't know what the draft is going to look like for many of those picks in the deal. twenty thirty is at twenty thirty and twenty thirty one and the anything beyond that We don't know what the first round is going to look like. We don't know what the lottery is going to look like. And so Both sides are taking a huge risk and from the Minnesota standpoint Obviously the innovation, the playmaking, the speed, the shooting next to Anthony Edwards is going to make for an absolutely electric back court. But losing Julius Randall and losing N Reed in these two deals with the Brooklynets it's going to be expanded This is going to be a whole new look for the Minnesota Timberwolves and certainly something that the fans will be really excited about to see But with the injury history of Lameello ball The Shalte Horn has decided to sell and that is telling to me Yeah. I mean, I do think that the point you're hitting there, Tom with Charlotte society of Cell H would give me a little fear if I'm Minnesota. U, But at the same time, like you could be buying an asset that's still on the rise in value. like Lameello could now have the best season of his career and still after the doubts after what he did this last year in Charlotte, he might prove people wrong again and have an even better season of his career. So that's always possible. He' still in his mid twenties and I'm not just saying that because I have a big baller brand shirt on that I bought like when he was a young player earlier in his career. But I think for Minnesota, one thing I'm curious about here, obviously Anthony Edwards He has been open about this, very tired of facing two, seeing double teams all the time, sometimes as soon as he crosses the half court at happening very early. This mitigates that for Minnesota's half court offense. Lameello, the creation he brings resigning Ayotosumu as well. They have more outlets more places they can put the ball in the hands of certain players and have them initiate offense and attack from different points. I think we're seeing Minnesota shift towards that a bit more often. It's going to be a team that They're relying on old man Mike Conley and You can't rely on a thirty eight soon to be thirty nine year old player and calmly. So I think they help out there. However, Tom They traded Julius Randall That already happened. They just traded Naz Reed a very, very good player who I thought was possibly going to be in for a big season in Minnesota before this deal happened. I thought for the first time he was going to get starter opportunities and a really good team It's not happening And now you look at Minnesota's front court It's Rudy G go Bear. they Joan Berenig they get some youth on the bench, but they don't have the size that they once had and were very reliant on in their serious wins against Denver. the size they needed against Yokich and what was valuable for them in some regards against the Spurs. They seem to be going the other way now with a smaller team And I wonder if would that they have the taxpayer mid level exception six million dollars It's a very shallow free Asian class. We're talking like Por ingus. I mean, there's just not a lot out there. You know, Larry Ananch Junior for that six million dollars. I don't I don't get the impression that Minnesota is quite done yet but they've depleted their assets at this point. And so I think any moves from here on forward would be more around the edges to add a little bit more depth in that front courore, which I am a little concerned about when you look at how small this team is Oh yeah. and Rudy Gubert is not a spring chicken. likeike we're talking about a guy who's on the wrong side of thirty here. So if something happens to Rudy Gubert who's been super healthy as as healthy as it comes when when you look around the league and Bigs, he takes care of his body. He's always in great shape. So I just I just say that. They're very thin in that front court But the bet is if you're going to have Lameello Ball on your team, you're going to want Rudy Guberert. that is a perfect fit in terms of the offensive and defensive deficiencies of both of those players They compliment each other so well. and LMellelo Ball is going to get Rudy Gobert on Lobs way more than any player that he has played with. Rudy Gobert. He's an incredibly innovative passer A guy who's always looking for Miles Bridges or Brandon Miller on the weak side. and he's always a live lob threat wherever he is on the floor. As soon as he enters the halfct, even beyond. I think defenses are always going to have their mind on whereere's Goberar on that lob And we sure he's going to be there Tom. Are we positive Are we go behond the timberwalls you're saying? Yeah. Are we sure about that? Becauseuse like I don't get the impression that Minnesota is totally done here in my conversations. I've heard even prior to this trade happening that Minnesota Explorer deals with Boston for Jalen Brown, according to my sources. and so I don't think that there's any other deal to be done with Boston. They depleted their assets. likeike it's just it's not going to happen. I'd be shocked if anything were to happen there. However, there were the rumblings about Boston Boston having interest in Rudy goo Bear. I'd imagine there are other teams with interest in Rudy Go Bear. He doesn't have much time left on his contract. It's not like you have a very long term commitment to him. And so I think for Minnesota, I know for a fact They really are really, really, really, really high on Yan Bereonjay They really think Joan Baron J could play an important role next season, whether it's as a backup to goo Bear or possibly as a guy getting more starter level minutes. And so maybe the Go Bear move is next where they just Totally blow it up around Anthony Edwards just totally shuffle this entire front court, change the roster with Aunt being the centerpiece of it. And J and McDaniels it does seem like they want to keep him as well where you just have all these attackers Then you have Yoen Yoan Baring your as your center And then you flip Gberare into some type of like, more of traditional power forward type of guy, a big forward I wonder if that could be something we see happen, Tom. because I don't I just don't get the impression that the wolves are done I think there could be more moves to be made for Minnesota. So I'm not I don't want to like totally judge the team for what it looks like today where it is a smaller team where yes, there are some roster construction questions about this team. I think offensively there's no doubt this offense is going to be awesome. But they got to figure out the balance there and I just don't think they're done. I just, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think Minnesota's done yet Kev, I'm feeling a lot of yonness in Milwaukee vibes right now is just the front office if they're making a complete with Annt Yeah, is the desperation of we got to two conference finals and another run last season and then we're blowing it up completely You got to make sure that Anthony Edwards is happy with all this that it has to be coming from Anthony Edwards that I don't want N. I don't want Julice Rand. I don't want Rudy Goubert and I don't want any of this to come back next season because I feel like we need a complete change of the future And unless Rudy Goberer is moved to a piece that really changes things for them. And I don't know what that deal is like you said U teams in the Eastern confference, whether it's Toronto, Cleveland that are trying to and get better defense. Where is the Rudy G Bear spot going to be if you are looking to completely blow things up. It is shocking to me. Kev, you said it earlier I was so looking forward to Naz Reed being the starting point power forward next to Rudy Gubert alongside Ant and Iyoda Sumu next season. And now that's not even a reality. The fact that they've already moved off of Julius Randall and Nas Reed and decided to bring in a very volatile player in Lomeello Ball, the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows in terms of off court and on court issues that he brings that you've got to be extremely careful when even before this trade Even before the Julius Randall trade, people around the league were looking at a Anthony Edwards could be the next disgruntled superstar megastar in the NBA. now that Janis Anedaupo is traded to Miami I think the rest of the league was looking at Anthony Edwards in Minnesota and now with Lameello Ball there and no Julius Randall or Nz Reid. with the potential for more moves with Rudy Gubert. I think all the eyes around the NBA are looking at Anthony Edwards and how he feels about these deals a year later because we saw with the Jon Senat to Cupo situation They move off a Drew holiday and in the reports from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where you see all of the Uh, All the moves made to appease Janis and ultimately none of them worked and he wanted out anyway The Damiian Lillard deal, the Miles Miles Turner signing These all seem like a prototype of what we might be seeing with the Minnesota Timberwolves that they are scrambling right now to make Anthony Edwards happy and try to swing for the fences. But what if they miss And it might be a miss. and I think that's what the wolves are doing here. The Wolves Minnesota undeniably here, Tim Conley has never been afraid to take big swings and that's what this is. It is a big swing. They're going for a home run here and it's possible it just falls short at the warning track. It's possible he swings and misses and it's a strikeout and one year from now we're talking about Anthony Edwards, where he's going to go him and LMello. It didn't work out. Lameello played twenty five games or just the chemistry wasn't there as they had anticipated it being We don't know. We can't predict the future here and neither can Tim Conley who runs the Wolves's frront office. but ultimately I think that's what I appreciate with this deal. I appreciate the courage going for Lomeello Ball here because I think this raises Minnesota's ceiling Without a doubt Lameello Ball raises the ceiling of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he also dramatically lowers the floor considering everything that can go wrong with him off court, on court with injuries. The risks he takes on court as well, the way things collapse in Charlotte. there's a chance that this just They're first round exit. there are a seven seed there in the plan. There's a chance of that. However, with the way it raises the ceiling alleviates pressure off of Anthony Edwards with that Minnesota offense facing so many double teams This does raise their ceiling to a point that I think They could be pretty special They just need to round out the rest of their roster here and figure things out. And I think that that whole aspect that we're hitting on with the Upsside of Minnesota is why you see Charlotte Hornets fans in a peg Since last night at the end of the NBA draft on Wednesday, like last minute of the ESBM broadcast, Sam Shrania pops on the TV and says we're hearing that the hornets are having trade talks with the Mela Ball. It's like, wow, what a tease. It's like the end of an episode of TV on Netflix, right? It's like they just make it click. They make it watch the next one You're there. you're just continuing to watch. you're binging I'm just ready. I didn't want to go to sleep and you wake up and, you know, shortly after, LMelo's gone He's gone. And as a Hornets fan that just had the funnest, most exciting season of their recent history, maybe ever and Now that's gone, the engine of that, the heart of that and Lameello Ball. He was part of one of the most efficient lineups in NBA history with him. Congonpple, Brendan Miller. And now that's gone. And so I think for Charlotte here, as you said earlier, Tom, This is Undoubtedly a seell high because one year ago they would not have gotten even a fraction of this in return for Lamoa Ball. I'm not even sure they would have gotten just Nes Reid. Nes Read as good as he is in return for Lamoa Ball one year ago. And now they get Nes Reid Three pick swaps, one unprotected first and twenty thirty three, three second round picks. For LameMello and Josh Green, it's a hall, in my opinion, given where Lomeello was a year ago and where he could be a year from today But it is a risk for Charlotte as well. I said on draft night, Tom, when the Christian Anderson pick happened at eighteen. I was like, I wonder if this is a hedge against Lameello. couldould this be them kind of adding another guard in the back court like with Kobe White in case LMelo gets hurt or in case they decide to trade Lameello, That was what we talked about at the time when they got Kobe White in February. And I felt that again, when they got Christian Anderson, And I really do think those decisions did lead to this where they said, yeah, we can get out of a L meo business now and And how we have other guys who can create off the dribble fur for this offense. Is it going to be one of the greatest offenses NBA history? Probably not I like this way this roster looks a heck of a lot more today than I did at the beginning of the offseason prior to the drafts Well, Kev, I think another shoe is going to drop here for the Charlotte Hornetetss because of that forty point seven million dollars trade exception that Bobby Marks has pointed out in this deal Uh I think you're going to be looking at any Veteran point guard or any point guard out there on the market where a team is trying to shed salary and the Charlotte Hornets don't, I don't think this is their their're starting five next year. I think they're going to upgrade at that point guard position from in house. I don't think Kobe Whitees going to be starting at the one or Brandon Miller and Con Kinnipl are going to be sharing duties with a, you know, like a like a free agent scrap heap signing. This is not a placeholder. They're going to just get a guy like Tias Jones to start for their next season. I think they're going to go and try to find u a real reallyally strong starter there at the point guard position. and given that they have a forty million dollars trade exception I think you got to look at guys Drew Holiday, Kyrie Irving, names like Darius Garland, names that they could bring in under that trade exception or make some moves on the on the edges there to get in a starter with all star upside at the point guard position because I think that's one of the things you have to look at in this deal is It's not just that they got Nz read and those first. It's what this does for their trade exception and being able to get a front line starter at the point guard position This is not The hornets are not done is what I'm trying to tell you is with that exception, I think that opens up a lot of deals. I think I think you could be right about kind of that veteran type Drew Holiday, you know, D Jant Murray, somebody. along those lines, I could see something like that Um ultimately for Charlotte I do wonder how much like trust you can put in the youth and Christian Anderson as a rookie and obviously Kobe White being a point, he's more of a combo type of guy So I would imagine that they'd like to have a veteran in the room in the back court using that traded player exception, but I could also see Charlotte deciding just to sit on it and wait to see if there's something in January or February with all their draft capital with twelve future first round draft picks and flexibility with tradeable contracts as well. I could also see Charlotte deciding just to wait But I do think that they should bring in a veteran as part of this rotation. I like the Drew Holiday idea, especially with what he brings on the defensive end of the floor. I really like that one, but I do really like Christian Anderson. I'm not saying like a rookie guy who is the eighteenth pick in the draft who couldn't do a lot else besides shoot is going to be a Lameello ball replacement. I'm not saying that for hornets fans who think I'm setting unrealistic expectations, but I do think consonsidering the way this roster is constructed with Bernon Miller and Con Kannipple and Kobe White Christian Anderson, Nes Reid can create off the dribble to as a forward. like Nes Reid sometimes Minnesota would put the ball in his hands and let him run some big big pick and roll. He He would bring it up the floor himself. Charlotte's got a lot of guys who can handle the ball as my point. And so it's not like with the guard they bring in to your point here, Tom, it doesn't have to be a traditional guard who has the ball in his hands all the time. that can be a Drew holiday type that can playo ball and be a cutter and be a screener and be in the dunker spot sometimes playing like he's a big man like he did in Boston in their title run. So I think with this Charlotte team, what they're building out now They might take a slight step back without Lameello I also think this team, depending on how Brenan Miller develops, depending on the leap Con Konimppple takes in the year two, and depending on what else they do There's a chance that Charlotte making this deal is an absolute stroke of genius There's a chance of that where we look back and we're like, wow, they got all that for LomeMello or it's going to be mutually beneficial. And for Charlotte it's like life is still good post Lomeello The swaps, let's talk about them. I think swaps now are like super firsts. Like people are saying, oh the hornets only got a one first round pick and it's way in the distance at twenty thirty three. But with the new draft lottery reform ability to get a swap For a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves If they make the playoffs or if they make the play in and they are able to still be in the draft lottery in twenty eight or twenty nine Uside. of the flattened lottery ods is immense for the Charlotte Hornets, it's not you cannot say this is just one first round pick with the new draft lottery wor six I just I want to interject Tom just real quick with the pick swaps here. Like Th these ones are not straight swaps. like only one of them is twenty twenty eight is the straight swap with Minnesota having the full right. So twenty twenty nine Minnesota had traded it to the sppurs but protected it top five. So like Charlotte can get it if it lands in the top five, but otherwise or sorry, Utah would get the first rights in twenty twenty nine and then twenty thirty, the Spurs get the first rights. So it's not like Charlotte doesn't get the firstes on the twenty thirty They' still very valuable. I do think like the overall overarching point Swaps are the new thing, in other words for teams to be able to have that swap rights with the new lottery rules Yeah, in twenty thirty, the draft lottery rules are already sunset. So we don't even know what twenty thirty is going to look like. It could be drivinging system, right It could be or or could be something else. I think when people look at the draft lottery rules and looking forward, people need to realize in the chat if you're listening I think people need to realize that the new draft lottery rules with flattened odds through one through sixteen is only in effect for the next three drafts, twenty seven, twenty eight and twenty nine. So when you're seeing a twenty thirty swap or a twenty thirty three first round pick, remember the system could be totally revamped by them. and we could be swaying to a more conservative approach like we had previous iteration of the draft lottery rules, or we could see something completely different which makes it a risk to trade for any first round pick beyond that you know, when the new system kicks in in twenty thirty or it could be a huge benefit And because no team really knows what it's going to look like twenty thirty and beyond. So Originally when I looked at this, I thought, hey This This deal is a short on the Minnesota Timberwolves. incredibly in financial terms, you're basically betting on the downside of the team that you're trading with. So you could see that them getting the twenty thirty Tom Aver back again. Here we go, baby. So when you look at this, you could be shorting the Minnesota Timberwolves essentially like hey, we're going swap All your picks going forward because we think that you're going to be tanking with LMello Ball. like your te your team is not going to be going well and the organization like you're you're making a bet that it's going to be worst case scenario for the Minnesota Timber Wolves that you're saying Lelo Ball is not going to work next to Anthony Edwards. Anthony Edwards is going to ask out and all hell breaks loose for Minnesota. originally that's what I was looking at this deal as Charlotte basically with their finance front office oriented at the ownership that they're making a short on the Minnesota Timberwolves, but considering the the little tweaks that you're mentioning here And smart to point out is that it's not a full blown swap in twenty nine and thirty. It is in twenty eight when you look at the draft swaps that they did get. So I don't think it's accurate to say they only got one first round pick. and this is a terrible deal for the Charlotte Hornets. They are getting some upside here and ability to get better picks than they thought they were going to get before they made this deal. So It is a long way out, a twenty thirty three first round pick Um that is a long way out, but it could be a a totally no Anthony Edwards in that situation too in the same way the Miami Heap were willing to put picks into the future or the Milwaukee Bcks wanted to get picks down the road for Yanisena Coopa because we really don't know the draft lottery rules are going to be in twenty thirty and beyond as we saw with the Memphis pick the MBA is not going to necessarily take care of the teams that made long distance into the future draft deals. they're just going to say Tough luck. I know you guys traded for twenty thirty three under the previous rules, but you should have known that the draft laudy could look very different down the road. So this is a risk in both directions for the Charlot Hornets. They don't know what the draft is going to look like for that twenty thirty or that twenty thirty three first round pick and the twenty thirty is a swap. So it is going to be a much different system, which kind of scrambles things for front offices making deals. It's very hard to proredject what these these first round picks are going to look like What should Charlotte Hornz fans know about Naz Reid is one of the questions on my mind right now, Tom because I feel like Nazreid is just one of those kind of cult hero players that Wolf fans know how great Nasreid is with his shooting off a movement, the attacking off, the dribble, the passing within the flow of the offense, the energy, the fact you always call him by his first name and his last name Eric Collins, the Hornets announcer is going to fall in love with Nazid and just how fun he is as a player. And I think I think for Hornets fans, obviously, you're sad to lose the meallow Naz reid is just such a good player and I can't wait to see him I'm assuming start for a really, really good easastern conference team. We're finally going to get to see what Nas Reid looks like empowered as a starter And I was really bullish on what he was going to be able to do in Minnesota prior to the deal, Tom. And now in this high powered Charlotte Hornets offense It could be a potential career year for N Reed, this in some ways, like's a seell high on Lameello, but in some ways maybe a bilow on Nas Reid. if that makes any sense, considering we've never seen him as a starter Dude N Reed is awesome. Like I'm not saying that he's going to be an all star next year, but he is going to have a lot more room to grow in Charlotte and a lot more oxygen to breathe in Charlotte, considering that they already had Julius Randall and Rudy Gubert there in Minnesota. fininally gets the opportunity. he's been looking for his entire career. and now he's going to get it. I can't believe that we're sitting here saying that they trade the Minnesota T's tradeed Julius Randall the free up spot for Nas Reid finally we get to see it And now they're they're They're saying in both directions that the Charlotte Hornets and The Minnesota Timberwolves almost said Sorry fans. you're not going to get to see finally what you wanted to see next year with the Charlotte Hornet saying a full season of these guys playing with Musa Dabat Miles Bridges and all playing all eighty two games whereas Musa kind of came in later in the season. Naz Reed is so good. He's not just a stretch vi. Like I think people need to realize Nazi can do a lot more things than just shoot. You know, he reminds me a lot of Rashid Wallace where yes, he is a knockdown forty percent three point shooter as a big, but he can do so many things offensively for. He's a great passer underated rebounder. And so he's not just a guy who's just going to stand out there and hit threes. I think is a lot more dynamic than that. He average three assists every thirty six minutes, which is much better than you would expect for a a power forward slash center out there. and I think you're going to love Charlotte fans are going to love Nas Reid, but it is going to be still very top Ewhere you look around this city, there's going to be a Lameelo Ball jersey wherever on every corner that you see in this town So it's going to be hard emotionally. to come back after Lamellobal being shipped out to Minnesota, but You and I both know As Red Sox fans, when they traded Nomar Garcia Para, everybody in Boston and New England was devastated to see him go. But ultimately at the end, there is championships and World Series on the back end of that because of the assets that the Red Sox got in that deal. So as much as it is painful for Charlotte to see Lamelo Ball go. in many ways, Nas Reid is Not just a good option here that they're getting back in the deal. I think Nas Reed has the potential to be an all star in the Eastern conference now that he is in the Charlotte Hornetets orrganization. is It' not as free the Orlando Cabrera or the Doug Mintkvich. Doug McKavvich. I think he's I think he's better than both of them, but I would say a lot of people in the audience are like, who is Orlando Cabre? Dougy Mint as I used to call him. but It is it is hard. It is hard to like like move off a Lameello ball. but I know for a lot of fans in Charlotte, it was very frustrating to not know If Lameelo was going to be healthy or not. And I think the hornets were smart to sell high and get a boatload of these draft assets along with Nas Reid because he's still twenty six years old, turning twenty seven next year. And I think Nz Reed is going to be a really special player for them. and he has all star upside I'm with you there, Tom. One last note on the Minnesota side of this deal. There was some talk back and forth in the chat earlier regarding Anthony Edwards having the ball in his hands and Lamelo taking it out of his hands. I think one thing that's worth citing here is a, we've seen Ant playoff ball before. B Tim Conley, the Wolfvess General manager said this at his exit interview. Anthony is a top five player clearly. He's the best two way guard in the league. Where are the areas that he needs help with? How can we create more easy looks for him He's an elite catch and shoot guy. We need to do a better job of finding those looks for him Enter Lameello Ball. He hinted exactly at what they were going to be trying to do They got Lameello ball. This is what Anthony Edwards wants. I think the idea that he needs to ball on his hands is insane. I think Anthony Edwards is has turned himself into a Eite, truly elite level shooter off a movement. He's somebody that you're going to see more off of screening actions. I think Anthony Edwards, we could potentially see the best version ever of him playing next of a meo ball. It's just a matter of What does Minnesota do to roundout? the rest of this roster and we really don't have a full clear picture there because the offseason Tom is still in swing. like we haven't even really gotten started, baby. I mean, we got the Yanest deal, we got the Lameomeello deal and Jayen Brown is still in Boston And we don't know where Jayen Brown is going to go. It's kind of funny, like for all the all the talk about Yanis that was so open Boston or Miami, we knew the mystery teams. We knew all the names. as soon as Lameello was announced last night by Shams as being involved in trade conversations, we knew the names, we knew Minnesota, We knew Toronto. Even this morning, it was reported that Milwaukee very interestingly inquired about Lame Mello. with Jayen Brown There's not a lot of clarity with who the Jayalen Brown teams are. There's been no definitive reporting around Houston or Atlanta or New Orleans or An of these teams that you would assume have interest in Jayln Brown And I just find that very, very interesting. Do you think it's because perhaps There there's nothing that's getting a lot of traction or is this more that Boston tends to keep things very, very quiet? Or could it be that Boston is trying to work to influence Jraylen Brown to want to stay. What's your gut say about What's going on behind the scenes right now with Jalen Brown I think it's his contract. honestly. It's not that you're getting Jalen Brown. It's that you're owing him fifty seven million next season and then sixty one in the following season and sixty five in twenty eight twenty nine season for the next three years, you're paying him like the like an MVP candidate. And yes, in the in in all things came together last season and he was in that range of a fringe MVAP candidate. But if you're acquiring him at this at this point in his career You got to believe that you're getting a guy that's going to be MVP at the top of that list for a while When you're talking about the contract and the fact that, you know, the on court off court splits last year for Boston. It Celt expxpandans hated when we were talking about it all last year, but it's a big reason why I didn't have them first team all NBA on my list or second team all NBA. It's because I thought A lot of the things that Jalen Brown was getting credit for and carrying, quote unquote, carrying the Boston Celtics A lot of the metrics and just playain win loss record when he was off the floor. Celtics were a really great team still. when Jayalen Brown wasn't playing. And so I think some teams are looking at those on off splits and looking at the contract that he's coming coming down the pipe for Jayen Brown and wondering is it really worth it to put in the asset the assets that Boston is going to be acquiring or asking for. So I think the gut tax that you have when you're getting Jan asnd aumpo. I think it's much easier to trade for Yan asndedumpa because he's a two time MVP, defensive player the player of the year candidate when he's healthy I don't think you have the same upside with Jayalen Brown. I think the upside is much lower Jalen Brown, but he's going to be paid more than just about every player in the NBA over the next three seasons. So I think I think a lot of teams are probably looking at the asking price of Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics and saying I'm going to pass. I think that's why you are not hearing talks getting further down the road here is that I think it's just I think the asking price for a Jayen Brown is probably quite high and then for a team, is that contract going to be prohibitive or is it something that teams are going to want on their books I mean, of the little things that have really leaked out about, you know, why teams might be not as in on him That is part of it. I had heard I had heard with Atlanta This was during the earlier stages of the Yonest trade talks. I had heard that Atlanta isn't like as in on Jaen Brown as people think that they would be because of the Georgia connection and all that and the need for a guy like Jalen Brown, but the reason was because with three years left on his contract at a very high price point and the idea of what that next salary is going to look like after three years, which would take him into his mid late thirties at a still significant price point. There's teams concerned about that next contract Atlanta included. That's not to say that Alanta wouldn't trade for him, but I think there's a line, there's a price where there'd be a comfortability in saying, okay, this is worth it for us I mean, we, we haven't gotten any clarity over Houston our coworker, Kelly Eco reported on Yahooports that he doesn't believe that the Rockets are actually in on Jaylen Brown despite the Ee Udoa connection from their time in Boston together and their relationship. So if that is the case, unless Houston has secret interests that they continue denying, Well, that rules out Houston potentially. Could it be a team like New Orleans where they just want to become more competent I could see that. I could see New Orleans being a team that have interest in Jayen Brown. I know for a fact, according to my sources that Boston has had conversations with the Pelicans for Treay Murphy And so I could see a world in which you see Jalen Brown land with the Pelicans Maybe, how about, you know, teams were not talking about Tom Brian Windhorse connected the pistons to Ci Leonard What if the pistons tried to like dump all their picks? to Boston for Jayen Brown, it was a more picks heavy type of deal Boston mayaybe Detroit, you know, of these playoff teams that might want to take a leap, but that that's of the of the top twelve teams last year that, you know, got guaranteed playoff seeds. I think Detroit would comes to mind but it's like really, it's really hard to find a playoff team that would want a guy making that level of money and has assets to give up that would appease Boston in a few years ago, when Kyrie Irving was with Cleveland and they traded him for for Isaiah Thomas, people were shocked that the Boston Celtics would trade Isaiah Thomas in a deal right to a contender, one of their rivals in the Eastern confference. And so now do you say, do the Boston Celtics make a similar deal with either if it's Cleveland or Detroit? Two teams are very desperate to get over the hump and they get a finals MVP out of it Um, that's for Detroit. they are certainly looking for Uh, I I some a co pilot for Kade Cunningham now that the Jaden Ivey thing did not work out and you're also seeing, you know, Lameello Ball go to Minnesota I think if you're Detroit You might have to put in a couple more assets if you're going to go try to get a star level guard next to Kade Cunningham because of the fact that Lomeello Ball is now off the board. for them. So potentially I think some people might say, hey, Boston can't trade Jayalen Brown to a team that they're going to be contending against, but they've shown that they did that. They don't care about that stuff So that's interesting is what who are the suitors for Jayalen Brown? It could it be to a team like Detroit Well, I mean, Chris Mannox on NBC Sorts Boston earlier in the week said that he heard the Selthic saided interestust at Evan Moby, which I think would be a horrific move for Boston to trade for Evan Moby Mobbleli is definitely a talented young player. Do not get me wrong. He had some good moments in the playoffs. He also had some absolute stinkers with his one rebound game and the fact that this cavaliers defense with a defensive player of the year in Moldli just had no identity and that's in part due to the fact that Moldbleli is not a tone setter. And so I think with Evan Mobbley, if he's Boston's target, if you turn Jalen Brown into Evan Mobbley with all his flaws offensively as a shooter, as a creator, the stagnation. that we've seen with his development and the defensive aspect, he's talented without a doubt but he's not an enforcer. He lacks a level of toughness, He lacks strength. I would not trade Jalen Brown for Evan Mobbey if I'm the Boston Celiix. I would much rather some type of package of Jared Allen plus Donaman Mitchell for Jalen Brown plus whatever. I'd rather do that type of swap and trade for Evan Mobbley, I would hate that for Boston, which is which I think speaks to what we're hitting on here, Tom with the salary aspect that turn some teams off. the numbers The fact Boston statistically has been better with out Jayalen Brown on the floor, regardless of his individual success or regardless of the context, That's how some teams might perceive it. that maybe he's not as great as it appears on the surface with his level of production. with those aspects plus Bosa needs back in return That's that's really the biggest one here in terms of finding a match I do wonder if maybe there could be some team that nobody's talking about that comes out of nowhere and we see a sham Sharania notification that says he's been traded too blank. and nobody saw it coming t think that's out of the realm of possibility here, which is why I mentioned Detroit because Detroit is definitely up to something. And we don't know exactly what on draft night, second night of the draft. they traded Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies for three second round draft picks. that opened up cap flexibility for them. They can now get to over thirty million dollars in cap space depending on what they do with the with Jalen Duran and others with the cap holds on those players. So they have a lot of flexibility this off season to play around with the with free agents or taking salaries in through trade And for Detroit, They were aggressive Trading up for Abua O' Cury on in the first round, which I love downhill A attacker. I think he's a great pairing with Kade Cunningham, but you're not relying on a rookie to be the only guy to support Kade Cunningham Fly Leonard is the one people mention, Tom. Windhorse this morning on Get Up said he's a target. pistons, but Winhor said, quote I'm not even sure the NBA will allow Kauwai to be extended or traded until the resolution until there's a resolution to this investigation So That's the case We might not even have a Kawai landard trade here unless we get a resolution there soon. But I do think Kawai would make sense for a pistons target, don't you think Oh yeah. I I love Koi Leonard's game, but they got to they got to get resolution on this aspiration deal. I mean, the fact that it's taken overer now. get you I don't know what else you need to see from Pablatori's reporting and their internal investigations. for Adam Silver to give a ruling. He says he was a month ago or a few weeks ago. He said at his press conference that they needed to wrap this up soon. And I think for the clippers when they get the number five pick and get Wagler Uh I think when you look at the the the talent that they are building infusing. it seems like they're making a change. of trying to figure out where where whether we're going to be a win now team anymore or whether we're going to be a, hey, let's retool and try to figure out how we can get some assets to build a future under Steve Balmer with the Clippers. Ci Leonard with James Harden Paul George with Eitia Zubots had a much more win now feel to it. But now with the clliippers, I am very very skeptical that they are going to keep trying to run it back and try to win a championship with this Core. seemems like with Darius Garland and the change that they made with James Harden, they were making a decision that they are going to build for the future rather than now. So Ki Leonard The fact that he's still a clipper, it does suggest that maybe they're being held hostage a little bit by this aspiration investigation and that they might want to make moves, but they can't really do it until they get an announcement from Adam Silver. It's time. would I would not be surprised if we do get an announcement from Adam Silver before free agency starts becausecause if you're the Los Angeles clippers And you're trying to make deals through the free agency process in the transaction cycle I can't imagine that maybe that's part of the punishment is that you have to have Kaoi Leonard on your books and it's basically going to be a log jam for your for your franchise. but I can't imagine that the clippers are very happy that they're continuing to be underneath this investigation And for Kawi Leonard. I mean, you have Miami You have Detroit You have Golden State, you have a lot of teams that are trying to win a championship that would want to have Kawi Leonard services. and it's just a question of whether he's going to be available because of this aspiration thing that is still hanging over the franchise One of the very interesting things that happened on the second round broadcast, they were talking about Kwi Leonard deals and there was like this kind of weird silence when I believe it was Malika Andrews said, who would be interested And like nobody really said anything because they didn't wantan to get aggregated And then and then Bobby Marks chimes in maybe his former teams The former teams would be San Antonio in Toronto. I can't Fathom San Antonio, trading for Kwitater, just Given the salaries they'd have to give up, Devin Vasel, Vesel was so important to them. I'd just be surprised maybe, maybe, but I would be surprised. Toronto on the other hand, though I could definitely see Toronto Trading for Kawai Leard. Brandon Ingram plus whatever it takes. to go get Kawai leteered again with one year left on his deal, try to do it again repeat history. I could see that. I could definitely see Toronto trying to go trade for Kawai. But what did you make of that comment by Bobby Marks, Tom? And do you think San Antonio or Toronto should be in on Kawai Yeah. I just don't see the front office with San Antonio RC Buford going back into the Coi Leonard business after how ugly that was in San Antonio. So I think you can cross off the San Antonio spurs from maybe like JO and Ben Affleck. they get together again years later and then they break it off again. Maybe that's what it is. this type of relationship They just have some real chemistry, Tom. They just can't resist each other M after we saw Dan Gilbert and LeBron James reunite in Cleveland maybe every all the bets are off when it comes to those those relationships you never, ever would expect after the Dan Gilbert letter. and LeBron James just said, right, I still want to go back to Cleveland Granted. I think when Bobby Marks is saying former teams, he's really talking about the Toronto Raptors. and you can understand why the Raptors want to get in the Kawi Lener business given their history, but also U I think in the in the playoffs, they didn't have that veteran leadership. and I don't think Brandon Ingram counts on this, which is also why I think the Lameello Ball acquisition for the Minnesota Timberes doesn't really make much sense because Lamellelo Balls never played in the playoffs in the NBA. And so you're asking a lot of of Lameello Ball in Minnesota as the difference maker to increase that upside to win a championship And the same thing for the clippers. I don't understand if you're the clippers, why you go for Brandon Ingram, who I think with his contract best case scenario last year for Brandon Ingram and the season that he had all star season and still I don't think that that Brandon Ingram is going to move the needle for the for the Los Angeles Clippers, but what else I don't think that Colin Murray Boyles is going to be on the table for Ki Leonard I don't think that Scottty Barnes is going to be on the table for Ci Leonard. So ultimately, what is it going to be for for the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal for Toronto. But I can understand why the Raptors would want to get in the Kawi Leonard business again because he's as elitite of a playoff performer, two way playoff performer as you'll find. and he still, in my opinion, was fifth in the MVP vote for me last year. So if they can get Kawi, that'd be sensation Yeah. and I think I think for Toronto, they need that end game score as well. So I think for for them That's why they probably had interests in LomeMello because in terms of creation end of the shot clock, ability to get a bucket. Coi Leonard, of course is just a way different version of that as a forward. He's not a guard. He's way older than Lomeelo Ball as well. but I think for the Raptors, They got their team on the up and up. I mean, like they nearly won last year over Cleveland despite having lacking that onball creation in a game seven against the Cavaliers. If you get Kawai Leonard as an upgrade from friend an In room. I think it would elevate this team to a whole new level U There's other mo still to be made. We'll see if they bring back Mamu. We'll see if they flip Purdle, trade him somewhere else. but with Scotty Barnes really ascending Con Murray Boyles entering year two, even Jacobbe Walter. there's like so many good young players on this team That they drafted Alan Graves with a nineteenth pick who I really like. RJ Barrett was excellent in the postseason last year. I think the rators should be, you know, poking around and seeing if there's a veteran worth acquiring at a decent price. And for Ci Leonard, given his age, his injury history and lack of a future with a contract, he's only got the one year remaining It's not like it would be an enormous return to go Coi Leonard like it would be to go get Jayalen Brown. I'm not sure if Jaylen Brown is worth it with where the Raptors are, but Ci Leonard Why not? Why not Can I throw another name for you with the the Toronto Rapors Rudy G Bar. Oh yeah, that could be a center for him. I like that. That's a great idea. Why not both? Gober and Kuwai Why not that Well, I mean, that would that would be wild. Kawai and Goberer for the Toronto Raptors, but man if you're looking for places for Rudy Got to be a defensive menace, you The Toronto Raptors could use a center and certainly they would have spacing issues. If you trade, let's say Brandon Ingram for Rudy Gubert, that solves the four position for the for the Minnesota timberwolves. And I think those teams, the Charlotte Hornets and the Minnesota Timwol They're not done deal making. I think both of those teams are going to make one more big swing here before the transaction window concludes. I think for for Toronto U Rudy Gubert as as a defensive Rim protector, a guy who can basically along CMB and Scottty Barnes. That's the best defense in the NBA next season. Do they have enough shooting and playmaking outside of that to make it worthwhile I'm sure they could figure out ways to add a point card in that situation. I don't think IQ Eanuel quickly is the answer there M shed is not a pure point guard, but defensively if you add Rudy Go Beert to Scottty Barnes and CMB That and the Miami Heat are going to be the the top contenders for the best defense in the NBA. So that's that's another name for Rudy Got is is if they really are U Moving on from Rudy Gobert, I would imagine that the Toronto Raptors might be calling I could see that as well, Tom I mean, I feel like this off season already. Just in general Janane Kumpo getting moved to the Miami heat Sing the meo ball go to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is potentially going to be a massive off season with a ton of changes the landscape looking totally different in October compared to where it did at the end of April, at the end of the regular season. And Jach we could see Jayalen Brown go somewhere now. We could see Kawai go somewhere. We could see surprise deals. to come out of nowhere that we're not even talking about right now. I mean, the fact even this morning There was a reporting from the Steinline that the bucks inquired about Lameello Ball I mean, there's just like these little interesting sub stories that are happening right now with teams that you wouldn't expect inquiring about players that don't necessarily where they are And I think this is sort of way the objective of Adam Silver where he he said this. He wants it to be more like the NFL where it feels like everybody's got a chance. And I think the off season has sort of reflected that so far with both some of the things that have been rumored but also some of the things that have actually happened. All And so I do wonder what could be happening right now? that we werere not talking about Um, but ultimately like The draft happens. We had some interesting moves. We've had some big moves already It's been a fun off season so far, man. And like in some ways we really are still just getting started now. And I can't wait to see what's going to happen because I'm already having fun, Tom. I'm having a good time already. Hey, my name is Christian Polanco and I am one half of the Cooligans. Hey, I'm Alexis Gureros, the other half. And together, we cover all things soccer on Yahoo spports. And we got a quick announcement. We got a new sponsor alert. Our fridge just got a little more exciting because Smira Feist is officially partnering with the Cooligans as we react to some of the coldest Moment in the beautiful game. Yeah, baby because nothing says ice cold moment like the group chat blowing up while you're sipping on a cold, crisp and refreshing Sirurnoff ice all in your hands. Smir of ice has been a classic for those exact moments and now they've got a zero suugar one hundred calorie option, which means you can keep it light even when the match gets heavy Exactly, bro. We got big goals, big saves, big vibes And yes, we always enjoy responsibly. So grab some smeirough ice for your next watch party. H Because why? I don't know, mayaybe because it's colder. coolder than winning on the last second shot, baby. O, that's ice cold. Is it is it too early to say that Grit and Grian is back in Memphis? because oh my God, I love that Isaiah Stewart trade. The What the Memphis Grizzles have done in the past week I don't think anyone has talk their fortunes better than the Memphis Grizzies A plus for the grizzies. Okay. So in the draft, just to recap their week. You mentioned they traded for Isaiah Stewart for three second round draft picks. They draft Cameron Brzer with the third pick in the draft And then they have the sixteenth pick in the draft They trade back one spot and get two future seconds from the Oklahoma City Thunder. And then they traded down four spots to get Karem Lopez with the twenty first pick and three additional second round draft picks. They flipp three seconds to go get Isaiah Stewart. They draft Richie Saunders, who I have the biggest basketball crush on. I love Ririe Saunders so much. I've loved him for years at BYU. Adam ranked as a first round pick last year. Adam as a first rounder this year, getting him at thirty two. When I had Saunders on my podcast, I asked him, what are you most looking forward to when you get back on the court? He's like, Oh man. I can't wait to put a swim move on a defender and go crash the boards for a rebound Like that just sums up who Richie Saunders is. that the Grizzlies drafted three dogs and Boozer, Lopez and Saunders. And they traded for the biggest dog and Isaiah Stewart. And so this Grizz' team they're not going to win a lot of games. They're still a very young team, but with Zach Edy and said you' coward and Jalen Wells and This new influx of rookies coming in and Isaiah Stewart Boy, oh boy, the grizzies are going to be like a really hard playing team next year to me. They are The biggest winner of the draft. I think they nailed all three picks. They nailed them all And I'm excited to see these bright future grizzlies grow this summer at Summer Lig and then also this coming year as well I'm I'm so excited for the Grizzies. I wouldn't put a pass in that they have a winning season next year that they win like forty six games. I think Cambooer right away is going to be a plus player in the league. That's how strong he is and how NBA ready he is. And I think he's going to be an NPP candidate one day But I think day one. I think I think Camboo is going to be outstanding for them. And then you look at Zach Ey, Cedra Howard the camp Spencer, this team is ready to make another big jump this year. And I think W the with the we both think the Camboozer was the best player in the draft. numberumber one on your big board and I think he is a tier above D Bona and Kaleb Wilson and Darren Peterson I love what the Memphis Squrizzies did and I think Isaiah Stewart is one of the most underrated players in the league and one of those in the same way as Nas Reed in Charlotte. I'm just very excited to see what Isaiah Stewart with all of the minutes that he's going to get Memphis next year with Zack hopefully being healthy. I have big, big expectations for the Memphis Grizzlies, not just in the future, but next season Yeahep, I'm with you too. I think they're going to be a lot more competitive. and we'll see what happens with Joh Morant, right? I mean, like where's he going to go? Wh Who's going to trade for Jh or the grizzly' going to have to give up picks to get rid of him or is Joh Morant going to be the type of guy we see waved? any signs elsewhere? There's a lot we don't know right now about John Mrant and his future right now for the Grizzlies, but with Ja, we had our live show Tuesday night, we were live for the whole first round And there's a question asked would you rather have John Morant or De Earon Fox And I believe it was you and King McClure both said, you'd rather have D Aaron Faox. And I said I'd rather have Joh Mant You guys looked at me like I had two heads and I get it considering, you know, I mean Darren Fox is more kind of an angel and and John Morant, you know, he's on Instagram live Uh and he's played like twenty twenty five games the last year and a half And he he's a very low value asset However, Tom I do think Jah has higher ceiling than Dereon Fox. And that that's sort of my point here with Darren Fox is just starting his max contract overpay Daron Fox just starting one of the worst contracts in basketball. Jama Rant only has two years left. So that's part of my Choice here and saying Jh is a short term bet at twenty seven years old that you're betting that after hitting rock bottom here, you get him with only two years left And you hope things work out, but if they don't Your hands are clean. likeike you're not concerned long term whereas with Fox What if the athletic decline has really begun? What if some of these playoff performances with diminishing performances continue when he's at the start? of a max contract That's that's ultimately why I said I'd rather have John Morant I'm trading for either of those guys right now in the NBA. Do you feel me Yeah, I totally get it. Darren Fox, I think is a much less exciting upside. He was an all star next year and for Joh Morant K to get back to that all star status. I think it's a lower chance of that happening than Dar and Fox who already was an all star last year. but I do think that man that contract that he's got coming is one of the worst in the in the league, even if he was an all star in the same way that Trey Young was a recently an all star and was as the Atlanta Hawks found it, I do not I still do not understand why the The wizards. gave him a two hundred million dollars contract over the next four years. I think it's in I think it might be the worst contract in the league, but Darren Fox is not too far away from that status if he doesn't retain that athleticism that helped them be an all star this year But Job Morant, let me ask you this, if you're Job Marant. If you're the Memphis Grizz And the Houston Rockets called and said, we'll give you Reed Shepherd for Joh Maramp U You're saying yes to that deal, right Oh yes, please. Yeah Yeah. like Houston Houston is really interesting in both the Jalen Brown and John Morant sweepstakes or if you want to call it that Houston is so Fascinating to me with the Kevin Durant situation, Alperin Shangoon, the Stehven Adams injury last year and Fred Van Vleet. I I think if we're going to pick a wild card in the transactional window here, I think it's got to be Houston with the with the disappointing finish of the season two years in a row, Kevin Durant's win now window I do think that the Houston Rockets I think they've got a trade up their sleeve that we haven't seen yet because I think they have a need and they have the assets, long term assets, whether it's Picks or Reed Shepherd that they could put and Jabari Smith, that you could put into a deal and make something very appetizing for a star player on the table. And the question is the contract to Jalen Brown and John Morant Is that enough Um, is that is that is that something a pill that the Houston Rockets are willing to swallow to give up one of their young assets because Houston Rockets certainly can they have the ammo to make a big time swing. It says whether they actually do it or not If you were the Houston Rockets Tom Would you give up? If you were Houston, would you give up Shengoun and Jabari Smith for Jayen Brown U No. Im not I'm just not as big of a Jalen Brown fan as some others are.. I think that's too by low on somebody, but not bu high on Jalen Yeah, I just don't I don't see that if I'm if I'm the Houston Rockets. Jalen Brown and Kevin Durant. I know there was a lot of talk of uniting those guys in Boston, but I for me, I just I think Shan Gu and For me, the Houston Rockets feel like they just need a new coach of Uoka. I just don't love that the way that they position Reed Shepherd or Amen Thompson or Alperin Shangun for that offense and just to reorient just the the the vision of that team. So I still believe in Alperin Shangoun. I think people are down on him because of his lack of a three point shot that he came out last season. We thought he was going to be a much more dynamic player And does he have the defensive upside to be an anchor for you? I think he's still a winning player and young enough along with Bari Smith that If I'm Houston, I don't make that deal for Jayen Brown. I would much rather have the package of Jari Smith and Albpern Senin Last thing here on John Marant, just to support my argument a little further here Beginning of last season when he was throwing his coach under the bus and he was playing like garbage on the court. He wasn't even getting to the basket. less than twenty percent of his shots were coming at the rim over fif over eighty percent of his shots were coming from mid range or three point range. The dude was just taking jumpers brick after brick after brick. He looked horrific a total shll of his homeer self And then he took a month off He came back in December And he played eight games for the rest of the regular season. onlynly eight games in December in January. But in those eight games His shot distribution was identical to what it was during his two all star seasons, his scoring efficiency. was identical to what it was during those two all star seasons. And so I'm not saying that Jha Rant is going to be able to do do that over a full season However There's an Very tiny, but an eight game sample overver a two month stretch in which he looked like John Morrant for the Memphis Grizzlies, a tanking team that had no incentive to bring him back that was clearly being very conservative with John Morant with Zach Ey with all their injured guys for the remainder of the year And so I think with Jah There's a chance that we see the return of all star Jama Rant perhaps with a new outlook newew maturity and that he becomes a very valuable acquisition for another team. In fact, Tom, There is a very small segment of Grizzly's fans. I see anyt timee It make a post about him, they say, why wouldn't we just keep Job with this new roster we have There is a segment of Grizzlies fans who say that. and I do think we're going to see Jah Morant move. That's what everybody says around the league that I talk to. That's what very respected reporters like Brian Wintours have said as well. I would expect a Ja deal But At the same time, if other teams are saying, you need to give us picks. to trade John Morant, who has only two years left on his deal I think that's a bit silly. and I think that's purely just negotiation from those other teams. when in reality, Josh showed enough to me over that eight game stretch that suggests He's closer to his prior form than perhaps we might think That's that's my spiel on I But it's wishful thinking When you're talking about Jh health. I mean, Joh Maran hasn't played more than six consecutive games since twenty twenty three. Okay. It's been three years. All right. So any res his peak as well at his peaky had his flaws. And. He has not been healthy in three years and obviously the suspensions are part of that, but we're talking about a guy whoses engginine. is his jumping ability that The inflection point His super star quality is his athleticism and he hasn't been on the floor for seven consecutive games since Dylan Brooks was on the Memphis Grizzies. It's been that my God So That's we can talk all about like hey, he's when he is healthy, but he hasn't shown that he can be consistently healthy in three plus years. So If you are going to acquire him, you got to make sure not just that you have the best medical team in the NBA, but also the best leadership and or organizational culture. to make sure that he stays in line when it comes to the off court issues. And if he hasn't been able to do it for Memphis We'll see if you can do it for another organization. And that's why I think you're seeing some teams being like, I need to get some first round picks in order to take on Jh Morand A couple final loose notes here, Tom. The other night in our first round reaction podcast, we hit a lot of teams. So if people want to hear a lot of a recap from the NBA draft, make sure you check out me, Tom and King McClure from earlier in the week, late Tuesday night after the first round. One team we didn't really hit and talk about too much was the Milwaukee Bucks. They took Bradden Burryess a guard out of Arizona with the tenth pick and then with the thirteenth pick, they got a forward from Tennessee, Nate Aymant. and then in the second round last night, they finished the draft taking Malik Lewis with the final pick in the second round. bucks, their first post Janis moves I like what they did, Tom. I think Bures is a high floor player He's going to instill immediately as a rookie some winning qualities with his hustle, with his versatility. He does all the dirty work. He'll screen for you. He'll cut. He can handle the ball as well. And then they also inject some upside with Amant. Amant, there's a chance he just turns out to be a journeyman six ten role player type. There's a chance of that. But there's also a chance a guy who was fourth ranked in high school entering the year at Tennessee where he played with no spacing, dealt with injury. It was an up and down year for him that years from now we're like, how the hell did he fall to number thirteen ats six foot ten with a handle, with a shooting stroke, with a feel for passing and he plays with flow There's a chance we look back and we're like, howd the bucks get him teeen and so I really like what the Bucks did last night. and I'm somebody who's been extremely critical of John Horst, who has bombed the draft for a decade straight, basically at this point. and is one of the reasons why the Bucks even had a trade Yianis, but I like what they did last night. First impressions of the post Yanis era Yeah, these are these are high upside swings. and I do think that Aiman is kind of like the Jibar Smith Junior of the of the organization where it's like the tools are there, The size is there, The shooting potential is there. It's just whether they can unlock that. And like I mentioned the other night is It feels like another raw prospect that they looked at when they got Janis in the first place at fifteen. So when you're looking at him, you can understand why they're looking to to make a high a raw He's got a lot of potential. He hasn't put it all together yet, which is why he slid so far in the draft from where he was going coming into Tennessee But if you're if you're Milwaukee Tyler Hero is still on the team. He hasn't been flipped to another team as of yet. That may still happen to Detroit or elsewhere But if you're looking at Hime Haz Juni. U and also Aman. I think there's some pieces there that you can be excited about It's not going to make you happy It's not going to make you you know, content for championships without Yanis and and akumpo. It's not going to fill that void. For me, Milwaukee, this is you know, these are raw prospects that you're not going to win tomorrow. You're not going to win next season, but hopefully the upside of Aman and the fact that he was so highly recruited and so highly thought of going into his year at Tennessee Maybe under an NBA system, you will see him flourish, but right now, yeah, this is an organization in flux and I think they have potential to be in that relegation zone next year considering how bad they were without Yonis. They have some pieces here. but I think they're going to be on that shortlist of teams that I'm going to be looking at to be potentially at that in that bottom three of the NBA next season I just think that Aimmon, while he is a good prospect, I think he's it's a couple years down the road before I can think you can see dividends on the floor I think that's accurate there. in the live YouTube chat at P. Tracer, nine to one said You gave everybody A grades, but the Spurs LOL. let me just clarify. notot quite everybody. I gave seventeen A grades seventeen As. ten Bs And the rest for seas. So those were my grades I was a very favorable grader to be clear, but I do think Tom like that's the nature of this draft class. It was a loaded loaded year in the NBA and I think a lot of teams drafted incredibly well. It was the most chalock first round. that I can ever remember. I don't remember ever ever being less shocked by things happening in the first round in terms of the range guys were taken Wh decided to take which players and like the fits all make sense for the players for the most part and the risks make sense for certain teams and Like the most exciting, unexpected thing that happened was Henry V Sar. Fallo number fifty two in the second round. He was a guy that a lot of teams thought would go in the late first round or early second round at worst. And once he did end up slipping to the second round as somebody always inevitably does. The first initial thought was that he was going to go very early. but In my conversations with teams and agents A lot of these second round draft picks are going to be signing on two way deals or they're going to be stashed. It's going to be a lot of two ways and My impression of is that Vasar and his agents, the team, formerly Wasserman, They were telling teams we're not going to take a two way And so I would assume that it's going to be a full NBA contract with Atlanta jumping up to get him trading to get him at fifty two. But that was like the biggest shocker of the whole night, of the whole two nights of the draft was Vasar falling the fifty two, then that's indicative of what this draft was, as loaded of a class as it was, there wasn't many shockers, Tom No, when we were trying to find like who was the worst pick of the draft or the biggest reach in the draft, I think both of us are scrambling. you know, like's not much There really isn't much to go with I said Zooie Edger four to Atlanta was the worst. And I think you was Zy Zick Yeah's yeah, I gave it a C plus. It's a good pick. He's he's a good player. I just don't like the fit. so Yeah, Zerubie Ea four the no Co in this drag. Yeah no. There's no Th maker. There's no like insane pick likeike if like Chris Sak goes twenty seven to the Celtics If he had went tenth, I'd be like, are you nuts Milwaukee. Taking him at ten You know, but there's none of that. There's no pick like that. in this year's class Yeah, the only one that I was soft on really in the in the lottery was Michael Brown. I felt like him I would have rather have taken A cuff. But like again, we're splitting hairs at that point. So I think This is Yahoo is so excited because mock draft, all of mock drafts now are a lot more valuable considering how chalk this was is that people are now going to be reading into mock drafts a lot more closely given how much we we at Yahoo and everybody else were able to really project this draft with a lot of certainty. I think you're going to be a the mock draft industry is going up way up up and to the right because of how well. I think we all saw how this draft was going to go teams will get random again at some point, maybe Maybe or who knows? Maybe maybe the consensus is forming. I think one of the other surprises was u you know, related to the grade aspects as Chat was talking about with the sppurs. I gave Jadeen Aquaintance at number twenty and Terrace Read at number twenty six. I think I gave them both B grades in the second round, San Antonio drafted the Jacob, Gillespie as smallm guard and Malik Brown, you know, kind of a undersized big with the forty second and forty fourth picks respectively. The spurs overall in my Team grades that are going to be released are going to get a B minus. with acquaintance Let's follow up on the draft night conversation with with acquaintance. I said on the show, that my sources said that there's a chance he could miss his entire rookie season because he might need more surgery A acquaintance himself said that in his presser with Spurs media that he's going to have to have another surgery on his meniscus. That doesn't mean he'll be out his entire rookie year, but in my conversations with teams prior to the draft, there is a belief that he might just redhirt his whole rookie year. And so we'll see how the Spurs handle it, but I think you nailed it Tom You nailed it on Tuesday night when you said the Spurs took quaintance to twenty Towerower Street at twenty six And then they got Malik Brown at forty four. What's all in line there? The Spurs added three bigs to support Victor Wimenyama That's what's very, very clear with what San Antonio used this draft to do And I think these guys might play. Ely in their careers. I'm not going to be shocked with any of them two upper cllassmen and Tarace Reed and Malik Brown, two dramatically different types of bigigs Malike Brown more of a switchable six foot eight, very hard nosose tough tough but underersized center than Terace Reed. He's big six eleven low post player, gives a different flair could switch a little bit but not nearly as much as Malik Brown. And then Jaden Queens, if he's able to play or if he does Red shirt And if he gets healthy, it's a big if if if if if with him, but he was one of the best defenders in college basketball as a freshman when he was at Arizona state. so very clear to me San Antonio bolstering that front quter as you said, even after just the first pick after they took acQquaintance, you said that purs and who who improved their their championship vability after draft night more or draft two nights OK C or the spurs OKC. I think Oklahoma City did. I think and the reason why I say that with San Antonio is because Like Tarrace Read is in my opinion, more of like a replacement level center. I think he's going to be a good rotation guy, but he's not like some world beater type. Malik Brown is a a rotation guy Gillespie is very undersized. We'll see how much he plays Aquaintance. We'll see if he even plays at all. whereas with Oklahoma City They drafted a die Matto with the twelfth pick, the player. everybody was talking about them trading up to go get and they get him at number twelve And then they trade up one spot for Bennett Sturts, who' a five year college player an elite pick and roll creator and elite shooter off the catch. I cannot wait to see him playing in this OKC system. And then the second round They take Otega away who is a very, very interesting player at Kentucky this past year. He was a lot of an on ball guy. He had a huge thirty five and eight and seven game against Santa Clara and the opening round again in March Madness. He had a buzzer beater to force overtime in that game. So he can do a little bit on ball To me, he projects as more of a three indy plus guy and the NBA and he made thirty eight percent of his catchch and shoot threes over his four year college career. He's a very good, very strong Rversal defender. like to me, he feels like a potential Lou Dort replacement And so I think with OKC, all three of their picks Mara can play right away. Sturts can offer rotation depth right away and OA gives Okay, see a bit more flexibility with the moves they want to make I think OKC raised their ceiling quuite a bit with their three draft selections. whereereas San Antonio, it's more like behind Weemby, which is important but not necessarily big time ceiling razors. I hear you. I think in terms of the deals that we've seen so far and the draft, I think been I think three clear winners given the draft and the trades that we've seen so far. I think okay C ne draft night alongside Memphis, but Memphis is not a title contender. So I'm not putting them in that same category. I think Miami with getting Yonis, obviously, you get a two time MVP still in his prime. I'm going to be taping a big number episode with Dan Deivine after this where we're going to spend a lot of time talking about the Yonis trade with the Miami heat and what that does for their championship hopes next season and what moves could be still happening with them But I think those two teams are big winners at the top of the NB. I'm not talking about just Memphis doing I think they they have done so much good in improving their organizational future. But in terms of the top I think I think Detroit with the U A Cy acquisition on the draft night is a good move, but I also think Isaiah Stewart, I think is enough of a negative losing him I have concerns about Detroit whether they took a step back here as of now. We still have yet to see the final product there after the transactional window ends Um But I think I think Charlotte As much as Lameello Ball had put the pieces together last season. I still don't think that Charlotte is going to have another I think that as good of a season last year and potentially better with Nas Reed breaking out in a Charlotte Hornetets uniform. But I don't, I think that OKC in Miami are the two teams at the top of the NBA that did the most to increase their title odds. I don't know if you have any other teams that have changed their at the top the top brass of the NBA, the upper crust of the NBA How much have we really changed over the past week? I think Miami is a clear winner and then OkayC with getting a di modada. And then I think after that I don't know if there's another team at the top that have really made a big swing here. mayaybe Atlanta, but I don't think that you can say the Lakers bringing back Austin Reeves and getting Uh, you know, car in the draft, he's a good, great athlete. But I'm not saying that he's the three and D guy that you want next to Lua Donchich. Denver, I'm not seeing that they made any big moves San Antonio, Boston, New York, obviously, not making big moves. So to me, I still think there's another team that is going to make a shapeshifting move at the top of the of the NBA. And I think OKC and Miami are the clear winners so far Yeah, for sure. I agree with you there. And in regards to Miami, they took a guy by the name of Ryan Conwell. in the second round with the thirty seventh pick from Louisville. And coincidentally, the top comparison for Connwell and my NBA draft guide was Norm Powell And so six two kind of kind of combo guard type, very, very versatile score at Louisville last year, nineteen points per game, knockdown shooter to get to the rim. like he's got a real strong frame, even though he's six foot two kind of like Norm Powell. And so I think from Miami, that's a very underrated acquisition for them and maybe we see him even play bit as a rookie, even though he's the thirty seventh pick in the draft. I really really like Cnwell U But like in terms of other teams, Tom, I do think we're still waiting on more of those shifting moves like even for Atlanta Like they dropp Kingston Flemings with the eighth pick Zooby Edge four at number twenty three and then Henry Visar at fifty two. All three of them together. I mean, I really, really like what Atlanta did I think they injected some serious talent into the rotation. I still would like to see them get a true five, a true center as part of that roster to help elevate things overall. But Atlanta is the team, I wonder if there's a move to be made. There's a move coming to really level up there, but if it's not coming today Maybe in one year, Tom because Atlanta They must be rooting against Minnesota hard for Anthony Edwards to become available one year from now or two years from now and to go snatch him from Minnesota. I'm sure that's what they're hoping for. So maybe Alanta is an underrated winner of the week as well Yeah, I think I think the Ant watchatch is on. I think I think once you see a trade where they get rid of their two bigs and Julius Randall and Nz Read with Lameella Ball and how volatile that can be. Like I am expecting Nothing with the Lamello Ball because I don't think I can there's not everything is is on the table for Lameello Ball and what the next couple years are like in Minnesota with Anthony Edwards and no power forward right now. We'll see what they do. We just got word from Sop Srano that the Charlotte Hornets are bringing back Kobe White on a three year seventy four million dollars deal. So about twenty five million a year He's about right for the talent and the need for the Charlotte Hornets. That's a solid move for them. And I don't think he's going to be the starting point guard. I think he'll still be off the bench as a six man like you saw towards the end of the last season. I think he's Look, if you're looking at Josh Gitty. Kegan Murray Nas Read in that same win a Christian Brown with a with that what was it five year deal for Christian Brown? This is a three year deal at similar money. I think this is a solid solid deal for the Charlotte Hornes The first game of summer League Tom is going to be the Memphis Grizzlies against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the second one is Atlanta versus Utah. That's for the Utah Summer League that that schedule has been released. I'm not I'm not going to Utah and I'm not going to the California cllassic either. I'll be going to Vegas for Summer League and I'm already thinking about using the gameime app to get some of those the close up seats. You know, that little restricted zone they have. I'm thinking about using the gameime app to get one of those tickets because I want to be up close. When we see AJD Bonsa versus Darren Peterson. I'd assume on opening night. the schedule is not out yet for the Las Vegas Summer League but I can't wait for summer League this year, man. I think fans are going to see just an immediate injection of good rookie talent and it's going to become very apparent