San Antonio Spurs and Late Round Picks

Coming up, we're recapping the first round of the twenty twenty six NBA draft. got myself, Kay McClure, Tom Havinar talking about everything that we saw, winners, losers, biggest deals, biggest losers, so much to get into. That's all coming up right now 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 game timee, 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 timee 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 timee app instead. 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 the Kevin O'Connor showh. We are here with King McClure and Tom Havers show to recap the first round of the twenty twenty six NBA drafts. How you doing guys? Dude, I'm great. I mean, the NBA draft is done. We got the Yonest trade And I feel like it was a bit chalky this draft tonight I will say, I feel like we hit on a lot of picks, all the expectations going into the night. I feel like a lot of things that we thought were going to happen actually made us look smart by calling, you know You know, we actually like the first fifteen picks I want to say we like fifteen to fifteen. Yeah. Like we did not miss collectively. So we shot a good percentage which a good But ultimately I'll say not to like I mean, take away credit from us. A lot of it was predictable, including the top four. It went chalk As expected, AJD Bonson, number one pick to the Washington Wizards, Darren Peterson, number two to the Utah Jazz, Camboozer, number three to the Memphis Grizzies and then Kayle Wilson number four to the Chicago Bulls. Starting with the wizards Tom. AJD Ba one day after Treyng gets resigned to a four year two hundred plus million dollars contract. AJ going there I think this is like, in my opinion, even though Boozer, you and I both had him number one on our boards I think for Washington, D Bonsa just a perfect fit for this team while also offering the upside to be the best player in the draft class because you got Treay Young, you got Treay Johnson. you got Keishan George, you got Will Reilly, a bunch of ballhlers, Bub Carrington, Ay Alex Swer on the front court. What what's this team missing a six foot nine go to score and AJD Bonsson. So I love the pick for Washington. I think they made the right choice. Yeah, I totally see that. For me, it's Camboozer. I think he's the right choice at number one. you don't have to deal with any sort of fit issues. If you have a guy like Cambzer who's got the talent. He's younger than AJ De Banza and Darren Peterson and also just processes the game at an elite level. I think this is For me, I think we might look back in a few years time and wonder how Camboozer went to three at Memphis T Batza for sure has high upside. But if I'm if I'm an NBA team and I see what Cameron Boozer did at Duke this year, a winning player, one at every level, the assist rate, the three point shooting The ability to dribble at that position in that size. I feel like he still has a lot to go in his game. And just because we have this Carlos Boozer image in our head of what he was, I feel like that's limited people's image of what his upside is. and De Bot is not a bad player. I just think Cam Boozer was the right pick. I think he's the safe pick. as you said earlier in draft show KOC was that Camp Booz is the safe pick. So when you look at upside, I mean I think that AJ does have a higher upside than Campboozer just from like a superstar potential. doesnes't mean that Camp Boozer can't be all star. I think he will be an all star for years to come. But we talk about superstar like you take my franchise We build everything around you. you lead us to the promised land, you end up being you know, a top ten player in the NBA. I mean I think AJ definitely has that potential I think can'ooz it though, it' just a safe Like from day one. He has a chance to be all star, like from day one just because he's level of good. He definitely has a chance to be an all star from day one Cambooer does also has a chance to be the rookie of the year. I AD Bonsa. I mean he's going to be sharing the rock with Tre Young and eighty's going to get touches and T Johnson is should have a big second year there and Darren Peterson going to the Utah jazz with the number two pick. You got Laurry Markin in there and Jaron Jackson junir. Kiante George who put up all star numbers in the second half last year could take a big leap. So Peterson could be in an off ball role somewhat similar to what we saw at Kansas. but I think for the Utah jazz, there's so much talk for multiple mock drafts in a row. I had Cambooz or number two to the Utah Jazz And in the recent days, I do think Utah did turn over every stone and the conversations I have, I do believe that they did strongly consider Cambooer and Caleb Wilson. Don't forget Kayla Wilson in that conversation. But ultimately, choosing Darren Peterson to me is a signal that the Agees team they and the pass in Boston took such major risks Trading down Number one to number three in the fols Tatum year, taking Jalen Brown in a year where everybody in Boston they booed the pick where they were saying they should take Chris Dunn out of Providence. They should have traded it for Jimmy Butler. They took Brown. They've never had fear. And so with Peterson after this weird past year with the cramping, missing eleven out of thirty five games idn't look like he had the same burst as he did in high school Everything I've heard The people I've talked to is that Peterson is somebody that has proven that he's got the burst back. and workouts and we'll see it, you know, if you want to see it to believe it, sure. We'll find out next month in Summer League in July in Las Vegas, or in the Utah Summer League as well. Utah hosts their own But I think for Peterson at number two I think Boozer would have been a fine choice here. I had him here. I talked myself into it. But in the last twenty four hours, Tom, I got to say I've been persuaded to think that Peterson was for them the high up high upside choice here. And so I get it. I just think this is really a testament to as much as you and I love Boozer, a testament to this draft class There were three guys that could be the best player in this draft class. That would be the number one pick in any ordinary year. And that's where I think the main takeaway is here where there was no losing. There will be a best player But all three of these guys, I think makes sense for all three teams. They landed AJ with Washington, Peterson with Utah and then Boozer with Memphis. I think it's three perfect fits Well, I think from a fit standpoint, there's no argument that Utah getting Darren Peterson makes more sense than Camboom when you talking about a team that already has Larry Markinen, Jaon Jackson, Jr., potentially Walker Kessa coming back as a restricted free agent this summer. U To me, it feels like Darren Peterson must have been otherworldly in high school What happened at Kansas to not affect his draft style. Yeah, because think about it When you talk about a guy who averaged two assists every forty minutes at Kansas, which is one of the lowest rates for any guard in this class and you're talking at number two, you're taking him over Camboozer who had over four assists. forty minutes and was the engine of that Duke offense and Darren Peterson as good of a score is if you're getting him at number two, you got to be Iamn sure that him at high school you're going to get that player again because at Kansas he was not the engine of that offense. You know, what's interesting is I think that out of the top three picks I think Campbooz are landed in a spot that's going to allow him to reach his full potential quicker Because when I look at the wizards I kind of ask this question on the show, but is AJ's potential going to be limited early on? because he has to share the rock with a tray young or share touches with an AD And then you look at Dan Peterson Well, you're sharing a roq with K Kyote George Can I flip that to you, King? What if it actually raises the ceiling for D Bonsa in particular because he's going to be in a situation where to impact winning, you can't just score If you're sharing the ball with Trey Young toss G to say. Yeah, ye. got a rebound. You got to do the dirty work. You got to do the other things. you got to play off ball. Is he willing to do that? I think he is. Yeah but I think that becomes a question, but when you talk about Campboozer it's like In order you to win You have to do it all you have like we' actually going to build everything around you, especially they get off jw. It's Cam Boozers's team from day one It's not AJ's team. It's not Dereren's team This is Boozers one of a few guys in the top ten. Like I would say boozer and I'd probably say A cuff, right where it's you you guys this team And you take the keys and now we're building everything we do around you I think honestly, I think these GMs on these front offices with the first and second pick Washington in Utah They might have doubled down on those acquisitions at the deadline last year You trade for Anthony Davis and you trade for Jaron Jackson Junr. And then Camboozer comes into the draft. the winningest guy in this class. Yeah the best player player of the year, the youngest of those three and has, you know, the lineage of a legacy guy in Carlos Bzer is his father. And as I wrote for Yahoo this this week Legacy guys Jayalen Brunson, Devin Booker, Kobe Bryant U Stephan Curry, you go on down the line If you're the son of an NBA player like Camboozer is, your ceiling is a lot higher than a lot of draft day expectations And so for me, I wonder Kev, do you think if Jaron Jackson Jr was not A Utah jazz And if Anthony Davis was not a Washington wizard, is this a different dress It very well might be I think it's a really good question. It very well might be a case. hereere's the thing, Tom People often talk about just take Best Player available, whatever that means. But bestest Player available is in part dictated by your philosophy, by your roster, by building a whole roster It's a team you're building. I know basketball very much can be dictated by individual players, but when there's three guys who are number one pick quality players, And there's really no losing. I think for Memphis and number three, it's like, Great. We'll just lean back and take the guy who's available. Yeah Yeah right there. I think you do factor in Rster in situations I do think that's a factor For sure. And I think ultimately for these teams. That's why things worked out. it feels like the piece, the puzzle pieces fit. AJ to Washington, needing a forward. Darren Peterson to Utah needing more of a two another guard of the back court Cambooer going number three to Memphis, next to Zach Edy, next to Cedrick Card. that team is big and long and versatile. They get Kareem Lopez We'll talk about that a little bit later, but Carem Lopez with the twenty first pick after trading down twice. veryery interesting choice there. But then Cale Bilson number four to the Chicago Bulls. They also get Dallen Swain at number fifteen I think the Blls potentially come away big winners here. I'm very intrigued by the way the Blls are building out their roster Tom because I think you already get Josh Gitty. You got Modas Muzelz, Those are your two clear cut keepers. And then you have Noah Senge who who you hope turns into something last year's lottery pick And then now you get Caleb Olson, you got a big And you draft Dalen Swayain who needs to fix his jumper and number fifteen, but a great defensive player add size as you talked about earlier King during our live show played a little point at certain points in his career too, especially in the tournament run for Texas I think Chicago is a very intriguing team from a roster building standpoint for their new GM. Bryce and Graham from like the amount of size they have. I look at this guy Dan Say. and say watch as much Jimmy Butler tape as you can. becausecause the downhill getting to the free throw line has a flat line drive shot and there was a guy at the end of the first round that the Chicago Bulls once drafted and Jimmy Butler who did a lot of the same things as Swayain and I do think that the athlete and the ability to get to the free throw and you can't coach that and a lot of the things that you see in him I think it's a great draft for the Chicago Bulls and Bryceon Graham getting the job and then hiring Tiago Splitter, getting Kaylea Bollson at four and Swain This is I think a new dawn in Chicago and it would be awesome for the NBA King for the Blls to be back. you know what's interesting is when you look at the trailblazers Now pay lot of two K. So when when you look at the trailblazes, I used to always loveful experienceced clans too. I used to always games have gone down hell. Yeah I can't even lie, you're right But I used to love playing with the trailblades like last year because of all the size and the length on the defensive side, right? You didn't have much playmakers. But you had a bunch of length and versatility and I could switch one through five and make your life really tough, right? And I look at this bullys team and I kind of see some similar. like in terms of length in terms of size in terms of a bunch of wings who can defend like youre like you're Dalen Swaines, your' Caleb Wilsonons. U now you got to length in size and giddy You got so many dudes who can do bzealous. You got some dudes who can do so many things and can be very versatile on both sides of the basketball. I just give you options, right And I think that I mean, the Tiago splitter coming to Chicago could be a massive reason for that. But I really do like what Chicago is doing. I still think you need a point guard. I don't know if Um What's some man's name from Minnesota? Rob Dillingham, I don't know Rob Dillingham is necessarily the answer. So I still think you need to find a point guard to put it all together. because he he's a good player a good shop makeup. I don't know if he's can really make everybody else around better. I think I think Dillingham give him a chance. That's what their That's what it seems like they're going to be doing. And maybe they think a guard in the second round. there's a lot of cards available, but I think they're going to probably just say, you knowt what? Dillingham You're gonna to get an opportunity. You're going to extend a run more than you ever did in Minnesota. That's what so good in the preseason for Minnesota season. And then was I was expecting bigger f feeling him. and then it all fell apart last year and it seemed like the writing was on the wall. Didn't he have the quote like, I kind of forgot if I'm good at this. Like he Yeah, I remember that did he did So Chicago Chicago iss a really interesting team next year. I I'm going to be dialing into what they're going to be looking like next year, especially with these two new newcomers coming and playing under TI with split. Yep. a lot of guards takaking in the five to ten range to the cllippers at number five, Keatanon Wagler out of Illinois, Michael Brown to to the Brooklynets at number six, Darius A cuff to the Kings at number seven, Kingston Flennings to the Atlanta Hawks at eight. We got a break from a guard at nine with the Dallas Mavers gettingting Rz Johnson, but then Braadon Burryess to the bucks at number ten. King of these five guards. take of these five guards taken in the five to ten range Which guard team fit do you think is best? You know, I love DarryZoff But I love his fit for the Kings Another time you want him to go to the nets U, but I really do think therear you sayake c upp at seven to the Kings just makes sense Because you literally give him the keys from day one and he's running the show The other one that I think is Lky kind of sneaky is Kingss Dlements I should really like that, especially with the athletes that they have on the wings you can run, you can play fast they needed a point guard desperately because I don't think CJ McCullllan was was a PG. Well he's not a PG But I think the Kingston Flemens going to Atlanta is a sneaky one for me that I really do think that He can be really good for you. He's a willing defender And he can start your break and And when you got Jalen Johnson on a perimeter running the floor and you could just throw things up to him and do whatever you want to do in the pick and roll or whatever how you want to play I mean, it gives you lot a bunch ofversatility So I do think that Atlanta got a really good one in Kings of limits. Joshua Garcia in the live YouTube chat said Darius is going to be great once the kings trayadeed him. I think that' like that. I think it's such a obviously is funny, but it's a pessimistic viewpoint of the Kings and I root for Kings fans because it's just been They gota taste. They got a taste of what it's like to win L the game and all the fun they had like that there was a fun Kings team. They had Mike Brown there and now he's a championship head coach. They got a taste of winning and I That's a great fan base. I just hoped Arius A Cuff and this Nat Clifford and Ro last year's second round pick. I hope it can lead the winning, Tom Three level score A cuff. I mean, that's my pick for the best fit and the best the best point guard guard playay of that of that group right there. And look I think ACoff needs some elite defenders around him to kind of cover up some of the defensive deficiencies. But I think in today's NBA I think you can do that. I don't think you're going to ask a lead guard what they're going to put on his shoulders offensively We saw what happened to Jayen Brunson this this year. I don't think a lot of people expected that Jayen Brunson could be as good as he was, but then they surrounded him elite perimeter defenders and Carl Anthony Towns. and I think ACff prototype is there And I think he is elite score at all three levels. was the last time that the Sacramento Kings had an elite elite score at all three levels and a point guard who could playmate for other people. A co the guy and if isn't You know, he might be on the smaller end, but I'm telling you man, that guy can hoot. I think those are good choices. Aoff. I mean, you mentioned Flemings as well to the Hawks King I really like Michel Brown. I had him as the top rank guard of those guys. I had Brown then A cuff personally. I just think Brown's defensive impact 's going to be a really interesting player for this kind of clean slate Brooklynetets team his ability to play with and wellout the ball. I think with Jagger Diomen those two together for the years to come could be a very interesting smaller guard pairing with a big guard and Domen And we'll be right back after this break There was the one non guard taken in that five to ten range and that was Marez Johnson out of Michigan goingo to Dallas. now coached by Michigan Wolverines head coach, Dusty May u king There were three wolverines on the board Aiata, Center from Michigan, Yaxel Lendenborg, Ford out of Michigan And Rose Johnson Ford out of Michigan, the role player. How surprised were you King that Dallas ended up going with Marez of all those guys? I was pretty surprised, but I think it just speaks so highly arm arrest and what Destiny thinks of him because I think they were from just a standpoint of who do I think is the most talented I mean, no doubt it's probably Mara than it's the oxel And then it's Marez Now Morez in the long run could be arguably the better player, but as of right now, I don't think he was the most talented player out of the three But I think that just because of his the small things he can do. he can defend, he's tough Physical he's switchable. like I think those things contribute to winning and Dusty May realized the impact that he had at Michigan with Marez Johnson on the floor, which made him feel more comfortable taking him over the other two. So I think this speaks so highly of Marez Johnson and how valuable he was to his Michigan team because to me, this tells me that Morez Johnson was the most valuable piece on his Michigan team I mean, that's that's quite a statement But that's what the number nine pick says. That's what it says, right? And I wouldn't have I wouldn't have said that That's what this tells me and that's why Dusty May went with this guy I wish I stuck with Morz at nine in my mock. I mean, I don't care about getting every pick right or anything like that. but I had him in one of the editions and I switched him out and you know, I was thinking he might slide a little bit to like twelve or to OKC there. It ended up the other way around. Mara went twelve and Mz Johnson went nine, but ultimately like when I had Dusty May on my podcast Back in middle of April, I think it was, and I asked him about Yaxel. I asked him about A Di. I asked him about Merez And like I could just tell the way he talked about Marez. there was just Something like he saw on him that was different than a die in Yaxel And like he had this quote that he said to me that stuck in my mind where he talked about There's days, there's off days. like there is with any team on the bus or either live in a game And him and his staff had a saying They would say to each other. they'd say We got Rz and they don't And the point being that Morz Johnson is just the type of guy who always sets the tone who always shows up who always makes winning plays. and I think Dallas Mavericks fans are quickly going to realize what that player is somebody who is six foot nine with a seven five wingspan, two hundred fifty one pounds. Those guys don't grow on trees switches one to five can defend guards can defend Bigs. I think you can use him on Wemby. I think you can use him on perimeter guys. you can use him in literally any matchup and then offensively total non shooter at Illinois is a freshman king. And then it became a solid spot up shooter at last year at Michigan that's positive progress. He was a near eighty percent guy from the line. so I'm I'm very optimistic about Dallas adding Marez Johnson and then trading for Sergio Delarea in the late first round. like that. We saw him go number twenty five to the Nicks Yeah. And then hey, post draft after the first round, Nicks traded Delaa to the for the number thirty pick, coaete for Dallas with two additional second round draft picks. and then the Nicks traded coaete to the Phoenix Sons for three second round draft picks, but Dallas landing Sergio deeloreia a guy I had top twenty on my board on the cusp of winning the championship in the Spanish League for Valencia. He had thirteen points and seventeen minutes just yesterday or maybe two days ago now because now we're into Wednesday now, But like he is competing for a championship still playing this week in the middle of June Now going to the Dallas Mavericks. I think with his shooting and versatility, a perfect fit. I think next to Cooper Flag and nowaz Johnson Tom. Well, I think it speaks to Mike Schmidz, the new GM in Dallas and Masi Ujiri, the president of AsSPO operations for Dallas. How much they believe in Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford at the center position that they didn't go for M Dai Mara. Now that to me, that's where I would have gone U But I'm not the GM. and I'm not the president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks. But it does pose the question When you have PJ Washington and Nji Marshall on the team, what happens to them now that they have Cooper flag and Merez when you when you're talking about the fit on the team, does that make one of those two guys expendable that a team like the San Antonio Spurs who are looking for a versatile four, can they go and get a more veteran guy like Nji Marshall or PJ Washington now that Merez and Cooper flag are going to be taking up those back or or the forward slots there for the Dallas Mavericks. Interesting. K you're a Dallas guy. How are you feeling about this haul for them in the first round overall? After the D La Rea trade, I feel a lot better I didn't love Co op Pete the pick just because I felt like it was two players that are kind of similar But after this Da L Ro trade, I think it makes sense because you got Morez Johnson Then you add a guy who can play in the pick and roller point guard who can learn from Kaire and Da L Rea, but he's also a shooter that can play offlball. We shot forty seven percent in the last two seasons from behind the arc and can really let it fly. Can I ask you a question about as a player? Yeah Would you in that locker room feel a certain way if you're seeing your head coach coming from Michigan and they draft Marez Do do you look at that a certain way, like preferential treatment U teeacher's pet, any of that? I feel like a lot of those guys don't really care. I think it just boils down to winning Is he going to help us win or not? Now I think it would matter if, you know, you drafted somebody like coeete, right Let's just throw our cod repeat at number nine. Then it's like, okay, he only got to number nine because of the connection there But Miraage Johnson, I feel like if it was Dusty May I feel like if it was any other coach like Mage Johnson would still be on that in that spot and would be the reasonable pick So in my mind, I'm thinking if from a player, as long as he's going to help us win, which I think he can ike That's all that matters. So regardless if y'all have a connection, just don't give no special treatment or whatever, right? because were still the vet and he's still a rook But like the As long as he can help us win and contribute to winning because of the mode that he plays with he's one of those guys that instantly you have to give him respect because he plays so hard and he competes. It's not every day you see that. Yeah. a coach getting hired and immediately taking his guy. And you know, we Schmidz and Eugeri are at the controls. This isn't Dusty May making this selection But I could understand if a player felt a certain way How about A? You just hired this guy and we're getting one of his players If he makes a mistake out on the floor, is he going to pull him out of the game? or is he going to say, Hey, we got to we got to keep my my partnership together? So I just think it's very unique. We haven't seen this College coaches who win a championship go to the next level right away and then take one of his guys since what? like Patino in with the Celtics. It's been a long time since weve seen a college co drafting his guy in the same way. It's going to be fascinating to see the way that plays out. I'm just very hyped about Dallas. I mean, what a turnaround. You got you got Nico Harrison trading Luca Donich and it's just a disaster and the franchise is over and Dirk is done with Dallas and Th boom, they get the number one pick in Cooper Flag and Nico' fired and eighty's gone and it's a clean slate team. and now they have Maurice Johnson, one of the best basketball coaches in the world and Dusty May and suddenly a guy in Cooper flag who's not just a number one pick who's a very good player He's the number one pick who could compete for future MVPs. And so for Dallas, it's gone from just an absolute horrible story to a potentially really beautiful one for those Mavericks fan who have stuck around. N eleven The Gold State wararriors I think the warriors are the biggest loser of the first round and it's not because of Yaxsel Lenenborg. It's because of what the ABC broadcast showed with Well, you saw Mike Dun Levy. And Joe Lakeup clelearly in a disagreement, an argument during their pick at number eleven. kind of bickering back and forth. Lake up throughrew his hands up looks very frustrated. donon't know the exact details. I have not spoken to anybody about this quite yet But something happened between Lake up And done Levy here with the selection at number eleven which as you see those two just kind of going at it throw his hands up in the air and then walk away from his gym. Who's on the phone? Now, Bob Myers has got to be watching that and saying like, okay. Yeah for a reason. This is this how many owners are going to be caught on camera doing what you see with Joe Lacob here. It's not every day that you see that and Mike Dun Levy's working the phones, but there's clearly a disagreement here. and for me You know, this is a big opportunity. I dare say a golden opportunity to go for to go fortify the the rotation around Stehan Curry still playing at an all NBA level and averaging twenty seven points and leading the NBA for in three pointers once again for much of the season and Drmond Green, Jimmy Butler' out. for next season for much of next season. This was a huge pick for the Golden State Wars. and yet it seems like there's some disagreement here. You know, I'm just curious on like what it was Like did they want to trade the pig? they want to go do something else with it? We're entertaining trade offers. love talking about. I would sayin during the draft. I would say it has to be over the trade of the pig or not Be I I don't think that he would respond that way over choosing the wrong player because I don't know whether player would fit in this specific slot. That would make more sense to me So I think it had to be over trading the pick to get something else that could help you win right now. agree. I think you're right, King. I think in all likelihood it was probably some team trying to move up. Ahead of OKC. to take a die bottom He goes twelve to OK C. I bet it was somebody. I don't know who trying to move up and there was probably a disagreement over. Can we get Yaxel at pick A, wherever it was trade down, but ultimately for Golden State, not a good look. I mean, the accceent Led Bard. we know he's a to himself a bit of a goofy goober at his pressure after the draft, he said, boy, things have come full circle back in twenty sixteen, I used to love Kyrie Irving and I hated Stephan Curry. It's like, dude. That's his opening press conference. He ss. He's the greatest player in your franchise history and you just say I hate hated. hopefully past tense hated that dude. was was p tenense I hated hated St Curry and loved Ke. That's not even full circle. I don't That's not even full circle. What are we doing? I thought full circle meant, hey, I worshiped. Yeah Stehan Curry, I bought his shoes, I bought his jersey. I watchhed every warriors game. This is full circle for me. I think we need to is it really that much of a goofball that like this to me seems super bizarre on the first think about getting a new job and being like this is the greatest moment in my career. My boss and my colleagues, I hated hated them. Hated them. So I guess I'm excited to be here I mean, you know he betweenween the video with Joe Lacob and that I don't know, man's not off to a great start, but but he might be a hell of a player. He get Yeah. he's a great player, but he needs to be media trained. He needs they have to take his phone awayable in media turn twenty four. I hope so because some of the things he says on Twitch, some of the things that he'll say on TikTok My man is wild. Yes. he and I even told him when I saw him at the at the Cbine I was like R you look wow, L He so suit because How did he receive that? No he started laughing because look, so actually like Basically just you wait. Three years ago, right When he was at the American conference. U they the American Conference Media Day is in Dallas So the commissioner asked me to go speak. the athletes who were going to the who going basically who were the people there doing the media days, whatever So I went to go speak and The this is I'm to sh a dist this story The old president at Baylor His name was Ian McCall I got wrapped up in all the bayless canv stuff, whatever. His son was the SID at UAB Okay and The axle was there and it was somebody else And he comes up to me because I knew him and basically told me that Yaxsel was going to be a dude. He's great, Yada, all these different things. M and Yaksel chopped it up for like twenty minutes, right Just because I know who he was. We just got to know each other and we just chopp and have a good conversation So we'd already booked a report that way So then when I finally see him at the compb, I was like I don't know if you remember this? he's like, yeah, I remember King. Like I remember for sure And I was like, b, youd wilding sometimes, like on social media. So like we had that raort for me to say that and he was just kind of like laughing at it off, whatever. It was like, yeah, don pay attention to that whatever. And I'm like, no, you be wilder. We like relax. And like he's cool, but like He has a lot of immateur moments. Online to where it's like, all right, bro, like come on now and This statement right here just wasn't off to a good start, but he's a great player. He's incredible When you watch him play at UAB, he put up video game numbers. when you watch him play at Michigan, he was elite. I mean, he produces He just needs to like get off his phone and just make smart decisions Yeahase He I've been I've been using to help me with working out every day. I use the push scroll application, which requires me to do squats and push upps and things like that Yeah in order to unlock minutes use TikTok, Instagram, other. You've been using that? Yeah. I've been using that because I've shredaded like twenty pounds this year. I was gonna ask you that. I was like, b you look good. You fas than I was a year ago. you lost some weight but wait, how does how does that work? I'm not even better looking next year, a year from now when we do this again how does app work? I'm curious. More chiseled in a year. quuite like you, you're a former athlete. You'll always have to be beef. Can you explain after me It's like, yeah, you like like set the phone down and like you do like squats in front of the camera to unlock like minutes. Like What does this have to do with the axle l Be because because like you said limit the apps. get him off his phone Oh So like you gott to like just like give him something that like locks it after eight PM or like requires him to, you know, hit a thousand jumpers to open up TikTok. I love saying. So not only going to be cut but next year, mayaybe push Sroll can add like ten f rows before you Yes watch Exactly. Is that is that what's having good press conference is the four wayver islush it's called Push G Al Yeah. I'm gonna look this up' look see can Yeahah, it's a time. I like I do it every day. like seventy five days straight or something like that So the next ten picks after the Golden State Warriors I don't mean to trash the exle like. I think it can be a really good pick for them, but like they're losers for what happened behind the scenes. We'll be right back 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 Sira 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. Sir of Iice 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, Rro. We got big goals, big saves, big vibes And yes, we always enjoy responsibly. So grab some smeirough ice for your next watch party. 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. our next ten picks. OC, Aiata. Milwaukee, Nate Az. Charlotte, Hanna Steinbach Chicago, Daleon Swayain, Oklahoma City, Bennett Sturch traded up with Memphis to get him seventeen Detroit traded up to get Ubuca O Cy with Memphis after they traded down a slot back to twenty one. Charlotte eighteen. Christian Anderson. point guard nineteen Toronto Raptors An LeGraves, twenty Spurs Jaden Aquaintance, twenty one Memphis Grizzlies Karim Lopez. When you think about biggest winners, Tom Who stands out to you as one of the big winners of this range in the middle of the drip? Oh, it's okay, s. I mean, the fact that they they got a die modotel I hadem five on my personal list of guys that would I would draft in terms of talent, in terms of where the NBA is going terms of fit. I can't imagine a better player for the Oklahoma City Thunder than getting a guy who's seven foot three, huge wingspan pass as well as any big getting a rebound and throwing it eighty feet down the floor to anyone cutting. I think there's just going to be so much of this OKC offense and defense that is unlocked by this guy who's a lot more mobile than you see a lot of seven foot three guys moving at the NBA level. I think he is going to be a stnt Uh and you have the comp there. KOC is Marcus Sl. And I love that because the passing that he has shown at Michigan that I don't think he unlocked at UCLA quite as much passing the rim protection averaging four plus blocks and four plus Uh, assist. perer forty minutes That was crazy. That's imp Production. very ra rare skill set. and yeah. Does he have the does he need to work on his shot Maybe he has the ability to stretch the five to the three point line. I don't think OKC needs that so much as they need size skill and he's got The combination of that that no one else in this draft can compete And ultimately though for that shooting equation with a die. He's got everything with the shooting under sixty percent from the free throw line and a very low volume three point shooter, not a lot of success. But if there's anyhere he's going to fix it It's with Chip England who the Thunder hired away from the spurs a few years back, the greatest shooting coach maybe in the history of basketball. And there there's an opportunity for him to fix it there with Oklahoma City and then they trade up to get startts They move up one spot, giving up two second round draft picks with number seventeen to move up with Memphis to get startts I was a bit surprised But ultimately Sturts, I think he's just such a high IQ player, elite feel for the game, elite shooter off the catch, a very good shooter off the dribble, connective passer. and we just saw a playoff series where they ran out of ball handlers. They ran out of creators. And so I think Adding another one makes some sense to kind of top them off as one of the winners of the draft. But I know in our conversations earlier, King, that you don't love stirts For Oklahoma St. Yeah I'm curious what stands out to you about why this might be a mismatch fit for OKC? Yeah, I mean, I love Sts as a player and I love OKC as an organization. I just don't think they mesh very well more so because when I look at OKC and I look at their roster Like a lot of those role players, whether it be Lou Gort, whether it be Mitchell, whether it be Carusso, Kakeson Wallace. I mean, those guys are just hounds on the defensive side. likeike they hound you to death And they make your life hell for forty eight minutes or however long they're playing I don't look at Bennett Sturts. and say that he is that type of guy on each. Ered McCain do that, though? I think he does it well enough. yes, when you look at his size can guard. likeike I really do think he can guard. I don't think Bennet Sturts truly Well, I'm not going to say he can't guard, but we haven't seen him be able to guard the level that OKC expects you to be able to. Now offensively, yeah, for sureort, it could definitely work because Benet Sturts IQ is so high, he can work almost anywhere in any organization when you look about look at role players for OKC, which is where Bennet Stur is going to be asked to be. He's not going to be asked to be a star. He's asked to be a role player The role players defend. they play hard that when you limit him to be just that, a dude who plays hard, a dude who defends, it takes away from his overall game And you don't get to see the fool Bennet Sts. That's the offensive mastermind, the offensive wizard That's just a maestro in a picking role and so elite. So I don't see him fitting in as a role player for Okay see Yeah, I think They have so many of those dogs defensively that they need more of that. Any more guys you can agree. But but you you got AJ Mitchell I see it is it is Iing. I think interesting pick. I think a lot a lot of Like when we look at this past NBA season, I think We have a certain conversation because A.J Mitchell and Jalene Williams was hurt Our conversations post NBA finals would be way different Those two guys not got hurt I truly think we're having a conversation of how do you be Okay, St because they would win back to back O see Winnes that series. If AJ Mitchell and and Jaylen Williams never get hurt, They win that series and we're not saying they need they need another guard need another ball handler because they had to who could win that series. They were winning that series. Then they would have beat the Kicks Yeah, so so I think what you're saying is actually a reason why you might want to get Bennett is that You need more depth if those guys if you're going to have injuries in those postseason runs, you need guys like Bennet Surst to pick up that slack. So maybe it is a depth move where like, yeah, we got AJ Mitchell. We got Jared McCain. We got Shakeild Alexander But if one of those go down in the playoffs, we need another guy and that's Bennett Surers. So then if they don't go down, then we do Bennetzurts Oh, I think it's it's a great luxury to have. If you don't go down And you win a championship without without needing Bennet Sturts and that's fine Board of says have you have an insurance But you have been at starts And he and your injuries are non existent Now you've taken a talent like Benn and Stds and not allowing him to really flourish. Well, that's the thing with OKC with any player they do OC is the type of organization. They have so much depth We've seen guys go through that system. Usman Jang barely play it at all. and then he gos tred to the Milwaukee Bcks and he looks like a pretty good young player. Yeah. And I think I've heard stories of players refusing to work out. for Oklahoma City because their agents are like, we don't want you to go there because it means you're a second contract. you're going to be getting paid pennies So I think that's a thing with the funder that they're trying to work around right now when it comes to getting players in And so I think for the Thunder what you're hitting on is a real situation for them that they're dealing with when it comes to getting workouts. But ultimately, I think Tom is right about the luxury aspect where like they need that depth because injuries are inevitable and you need guys you can rely on. And Bennett starts with his age and his experience playing at so many different levels playing ninety nine percent of his minutes elite conditioning. I think he's the type of guy who's definitely a big win for them in my opinion, especially after getting a die with the twelfth pick. I think I'm curious King W with Charlotte They got Ha Steinbg and then they draftve Christian Anderson at fourteen and eighteen. Do you view Charlotte as one of the big winners of this draft? Yeah, I definitely do. I put them right up there with OKC. because I do think Okay see would getting more That's just mean, you win right there. And yeah, to have the luxury of getting a benet thirs, Yeah, you're still winning. Do I think he fits? no, but Just the fact that that player is on your roster Yeah, like you're easily winning, right? So I would say, okay, see w one. But Charlotte might be like one B. So I wouldious say one A, one B becausecause with Charlie, you just filled holes. you added on So what you needed You got a big and Steinbach who is the best rebounder in America last year. He's shown flashes that he can be a stretch big that can step out and sho to three. It's not super consistent yet, but he's shown flashes that he can grow into it So he plays hard. He rebounds as a great field for the game, extxtremely skilled, right. now you could throw at the five spot run a bunch of pickking rolls with him Kipple him Lameello Ball. It would look insane. Then you get a shooter like Christian Anderson add to the luxury of shooting that you like youd like to play is the way you like to play? I think that these two picks Absolutely hit hit hit perfectly Charles Lee is going to love this drap. Christian Anderson is a flamethrower. and and the Charlie Horz love firing up threes. They love that type of offense. there're this kind of next generation u the shop profile and and they absolutely love a guy like Christian Anderson Who fires it up and shoots a high percentage as any as any league guard in the nation. And then you get Styb that look the rebounding for the Charlotte Hornets was a strength on that run that they did in the second half of the season. They were an elite rebounding team and then they get another one in this one, but offers a different dynamic than Musa Dia Bot. So I expect that the Charlotte Hornets are very happy with their draft Big winner to me. Memphis Grizzies, the bright future grizzlies, notot just because of Gam Boozer at number three Camboozer a big win for them, my top rank player in the draft, but I think the trade down, the double trade down from sixteen to seventeen to pick up two additional second round picks from seventeen to twenty one to pick up three more second round draft picks. They're getting draft capital and they get Carine Lopez. With the twenty first pick, a guy that drew a lot of lottery conversation was potentially in the conversation for Dallas at number nine And to get him at number twenty one, somebody who's one of the younger players in the draft class played two years professionally overseas for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian League got better each year at six eight, two hundred twenty two pounds as a man's body. He's massive versatile defensive player, good cutter or screener does the dirty work and crash the boards needes to improve the jumper. But I think for Memphis at number twenty one to get Karem Lopez and five additional second round draft picks to trade down twice I think it was great GMing by Zack Cleimman. I'm impressed by that asset management. And I think getting Boozer and then getting Kareem Lopez while having this roster with Zach Edy and Cedric Howard who I love last year, one of my favorite players in last year's draft class with Ty Jerome and Cam Spencer and Walter Clayton This is one of the funner young teams in the entire league And I just can't wait to see the way they build out their system, Are we about to see P boozer Like what's the system going to look like next year What happens to Jharin and that's where I'm looking at is they've got a lot of ball handlers there with Camboozer and then they go and get Kream where it looks like Man, what is Job Morant's future look like in Memphis or somewhere else? Because it seems like they are going for this youth movement. now that you get a guy who was, you know, an eighteen year old dominating the college level and Cambooer and you trade Jaron Jackson Junior and you have this kind of new era in Memphis. and now the question is, is Joh Morrant going to be a part of that? I don't think he is going to be a part of that future, But you know, the Sacramento Kings that were linked to John Morant for a long time. they go in they get Darius A cuff feels like, o, I don't know if they even need Jharant anymore. And so question is Memphis, what do they do now? They have a really exciting draft draft night here, but the question looming over the franchise is there once Fational franchise player, potential face of the NBA still on the roster and they still got questions, but to me, it's Cambooers' team now And I think one of the themes of this draft is just guards guards, guards, guards, guards, guards, guards. And that's going to be the theme of the second round too. There's a lot of good guards. stillill in the second round of the draft. And so I think whether it's a Bradyen Smith or a Cnwell like there's a lot of players in the second round that are going to be like good quality, I think rotation guards moving forward in the NBA when I look at my top available guys, Malik Thomas, Henry Visar, Richie Saunders, Isaiah Evans, Jack Kale, Bruce Thornton, Tyler Billidao, Ryan Conwell. There's a lot of guards two guards in that range. So I think it's going to be the topic again on Wednesday night with the second round, a team that traded up from the second round back into the first round Was the San Antonio Spurs? I'm fascinated by what they did because they took Jade and Aquaintts twentieth pick acquaintance, major injury concerns, wasn't able to do group workouts He still is dealing with his knee injury. There's still soreness after he played four games this past year at Kentucky after having a twenty CL tor meniscus major surgery. There's been talk in League circles that quQaintance might have to miss his entire rookie season. posossibly due to more surgery. We'll see if that happens, but the spurs take a B swing at number twenty and then they trade back into the first round for the twenty fifth pick And they take Taris Reid from Ukon, who's one of the safer centers in the draft class and What do you think this means from San Antonio from a strategic standpoint that to be taking too bigs, Tom They want to lower Victor Webinama's output. I think they want to put them on ice for a lot of the next season to get them ready for the post season because I think drafting two centers I think two bigs like that is a statement about hey, we want to make sure that Victor Wembonyama has enough legs to win the championship next year. he wore down against the New York Kicks in the finals where Jayen Brunson certainly got the upper hand on that. And I do think that the San Antonio Spurs were very particular about the type of player that they were drafting at the end of the first round. very telling when it comes to Victor Webinama, they got two centers and and Luke Cornet still on the roster. this might be a situation where they decide, hey Webby We need you to have legs. come come come June next year. And so that's why we're getting these guys. Yeah. I love the terrorist Read dition. I mean But Jayden Queens, you just don't know. Je Quaints can never play a game in the NBA and I wouldn't be shocked based off his history with his injuries. But Taris Reed is a guy who from day one next year throw him on NBA floor physically, he's ready The way that he plays being able to be a high level Rim protector. He could be some kind of a lab threat But he could throw to him on a block sometimes. He can go score. he sets great screens. He's super physical, great rebounder I think that he can make sense in the rotation For San Antonio. I mean, it's just the type of player you want. tough O knows plays defense Hes type player you want has a winning pedigree he's what you want. in this organization. You have Mason Plumley as a cop. So you have Mason Pumley, his c and he got Bismack Biombo and Jade Aquuaintance Which one of those are going to do a hit like to go hit a guy in the playoffs next year? Who's who's when wey going to be whispering in the ear? Exactly. So You know, a lot a lot of bodies, a lot of bodyguards around them now. That's right. That's right. So I do think that the questions are Kelly O Linick. Bizmat Biombo, Mason Plumley. wouldn't hurt a flly Well, I do think that when you Look at the guys that they got. I don't know. I don't know enough about Terris Reid if he's got sharp elbows or anything like that. Yeah. I mean we'll learn quickly, huh? Sharp elbows on the post. really Carbo space inside A reallyally interesting nife from San. It definitely is. I'm very intrigued by their approach tonight In the twenties. So we talked about Janade Queens to the Surs Cream Lopez, the Memphis Grizzlies twenty two Philadelphia, Learon Fylon, twenty three Atlanta, Zooubie Edgeif four. twenty four Lakers, Cameron Carr, twenty five Dallas traded up Sergio deel laa Ro. We talked about that earlier, twenty six San Antonio, Terace Reed. We talked about that. Boston, twenty seven, Kristenack, twenty eight, Brooklyn, Joshua Jefferson. They traded into the first round to get him of course with the Minnesota deal. twenty nine Sacramento, Alex Caraban. They traded in with Cleveland to get that pick on draft night. thirty, Phoenix Suns coa Pete Tom from this kind of twenty one to thirty range, who steals out to you as the biggest deal in the latter third of the first round? Yeah, Lberon Fyon, I think falling to the seventy six is there at twenty two to me really stands out. Some people might think he's too wiry, not strong enough as a guard does a lot of the redundant qualities at the lead guard when you have Tyse Maxie, you have VJ Edgecomb Does he fit the type of role that you're going to need from the Philadelphia seventy sixs going forward? I don't know, but to me if he's the best player, best score, a guy who gets downhill and able to score at a high level, to me, I think it's interesting that Mike Gany as his first, you know, draft pick this year getting L Bberon Filon who we were saying in the draft show live, when is he going to get picked When is he going to pick get picked And ultimately, he goes to the Philadelphia seventy sixers that we just watch Dylan Harper already get drafted into a team the head Der and Fox and Stiffan Castle. you can't have too many of those lead guards that can dribble, score, shoot pass. And they got they got one here in Fylland You know, I' really like cam carar because I think that him going to the Lakers put him in a situation where he doesn't have to do much but be himself be a spot up shooter Be a guy who can pump fake. get to the rim on limited dribbles He's having things done for him. everyverybody else whether that's Luca whher that's Bron if he stays, right? guysu can actually create for him. And he can just step three feet behind a three point line and just spot up and knock knock it down, let it fly I think that he is going toce excel in this role. We saw what he did at the combine. We saw what he was able to do at Baylor with limited point guard play I think when you add an elite level passer like Luca potentially Ban a guy like camcar, they're going to make him excel. He's going to excel in his role. He's going to be great for them you know, between those two picks Fyon of twenty two to Philly, twenty four cam card of the Lakers. I think, you know, from a value standpoint, Fyon makes sense. I don't love the small guard fit. I don't think it makes sense. It's too small of Maxine Fon, but he's He's a steel in terms of value. I had him ranked in the lottery. Cam carar makes sense as well for the Lakers. between those two twenty three Atlanta I love what it landed with the Kingston Flemings at eight Zubie Edra four twenty three kind of surprised me, King because I think Atlanta, when you look at their roster, they need a true five. Zuby Edraphor literally in my draft guide, one of the comparisons I have for him is on Yeek O Kongru and he's going to the team with on Ye O Kongu Anna I think they needed a true five here. I'm a little surprised. we didn't see them take Teris Reed or Henry Hen V Sar from North Carolina Keep talking me off the led here with Atlanta. like them taking Z. I mean, I think there's lots to like about Zubie. I mean, defensive player of the year just play so hard a a little undersized. I don't want to poop up on Zubi. Yeah, no,cial there's lots of like, but I can agree in a sense of you don't want to repeat with. Yeahah yeah especially when you had to do like Visar St on a booard I mean, who can stretch the floor, who can be a lob threat who can rebound the basketball, who can block shots because he's in a very underrated athlete. I mean, it kind of just gives you some versatility, gives you some more shooting if you take a dude like Besar So I can agree with this. I think that, you know Whenever you have a guy with a motor like Edra four Um, you can never go wrong What I will say that there probably was some better options on the table I think that's fair. And I think for my steel of this Latter half of the draft. I'm going to go with Alex Cariban to the Sacramento camp. How about that? Yeah twenty I know he's old. He's like thirty five right now. He's twenty four. He'll be twenty four as a rookie. I just think Caribbean is just a winner.'s a good player Th and through and for Sacramento to get back to lighten the beam. Unique guys like Alex Caravan and I think it was a really aggressive move. I had Cariban to the Kings at thirty four in my mock. I heard him connected to Sacramento. and like I think it just makes sense. You get ACff at seven, a guy who can be the leader of your franchise, the true point guard and you pair him with Maxine Rya and N Clifford from last year And hopefully Devin Carter can figure things out at some point. And then you bring in Alex Caravan, a two time champion at Ukon, a winning player who can bang threes can do a little bit from the post, can make the smart pass can cut to the rom and screen and just do all the winning things while also defending hard and constantly hustling I just think the dude's a winner. And for his team like Sacramento, I think they drafted two winners tonight and Darus A Cuf at number seven and Alex Caravan at number twenty nine. I and I really respect the aggression go for it trading up into the first round and get Caravan and I also respect the willingness just to stay at seven Kning that five and six LA and Brooklyn, They weren't taking a cuff. They were just bluffing trying to get make make you give something up and you didn't do it. So I think this King's frront office, they got to sort out the veterans, which make no sense at all. They got to figure out the bonus and N Rosen and all these guys. Eactly mean get them out of here Play the kids. Play the kids. The kids are good