Pistons and Hornets Offseason Moves

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Micolobbe Ultra, from the pitch to the poor, superior is worth ing for Enter now at mickelob Ultra d. com slash superior acccess slash FIFA World Cup twenty six Miclobe Ultra FF World Cup twenty six superior access, no purchase necessary open US residence twenty one plus begins on december first, twenty twenty five and ends on july thirty first, twenty twenty six Multiple entry periods visit wwW dot micloob ultra d. com slash superior acccess slash FIFA World Cup twenty six for free entry. Entry deadlines, prizes and details Zach Low showh, NBA free agency officially kicks off in about thirty five hours or something like that. Michael Pina from the ringer dot com is here to get into all of the biggest stories. Who are the main characters of NBA free agency slash the transaction period that is really already underway? Kawi Leonard, willill he be traded by the time this podcast drops Jalen Brown. What about him? LeBron James? What teams he going be onrelated? What are the warriors going to do? the nuggets, the pistons, we get into just the very broad strokes, main characters and some news that's already happened with the Kicks, the Thunder, James Harden, Fred Van Vit, all of that stuff and a bitid on the Charlotte Hornets making two big trades. We did Lameello last week over the weekend. it was Miles Bridges to Phoenix with some stuff coming back to Charlotte, including a juicy Phoenix twenty thirty three unprotended to pick. We get into all that quick set upp for free agency with Michael Pina. That's all coming up on this edition of the Zach Low Sow. Welcome to the Zach Low S showow. It's Monday morning. NBA free agency starts in like thirty five hours. It's been going on for a while. trades are happening. signings are happening. rumors are swirling. Michael Pina, how are you doing, sir I'm doing greatZach. How are you man I'm good. I'm ready. I've been ready. I've really never stopped being ready. thingsings just keep happening And from Yonis until now it's been a whirlwind. We're going to get into the main characters. of the next week in the NBA and it's going to be a week. It's going to be fast and furious like it always is. Before we get to that Some news that I don't think is all that surprising, but I want to hear if you have any takes on any of these things, okay We have Isaiah Hartenstein. Three years, seventy five million with the thunder thereabouts, a slight pay cut on his annual salary for some security L that deal. It's a good deal. I think it's indicative that yes, he is essential to our attack against Victor Wenbenyama and the young guys that we have may not be ready yet The Kicks resigned Diowara three years fifteen and Jose Alvverado about the same. I like both. It brings into question Mitchell Robinson and Andandre Shammon as the Kixer Perilously close to the second apron and both of those guys, particularly Mitchell Robinson, have a lot of interest around the league. And just this morning, Fred Van Vleet opts in twenty five million dollars, now an expiring contract with the Houston Rockets after a lost season last season when the rockets really missed them And James Harden not surprisingly opts out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and accord to Sha Str, they as we all have been saying, discussing a new multiy yearar deal that I'm going to guess is probably threeree years, eighty, ninety, one hundred, something in that range Is any of that interesting to you? or should we just move on I think the Nick situation is interesting just in terms of the deals that they got done were smart The fact that they are so hamstrung with regards to the second apron somewhat curiously is really interesting to me. And we'll see like you said with Shamitt, with Mitchell Robinson, if they'll be able to retain one both. Neither, who knows. that's something to keep an eye on for sure The Hartenstein deal real quick. I'm glad that he's staying because losing him would be kind of Borderline catastrophic for the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think he's so integral to how they play and and defeating the San Antoniopurs next year, he's a huge part of that. So it's good to see him get locked up there Yeah. I mean, look, the offseason is not even close to over, but I was asked a bunch of times in the last week or so by NBA people You know, if you had to pick one team right now to if when you go to Las Vegas to bet on who's going to win the championship next year right now before all the moves I said, I think I would pick Oklahoma City. I wouldn't feel great about it, but they would be my pick. But obviously there's a lot to be done. I misspoke on Mohammed Diil War. it's two years ten, not three years fifteen I think that's a good bet for the Ns Alvarado is a no brainer, gives them a little deoocemick bride insurance. he's an unrestricted free agent after next season I like all the things the Nicks have done. I get the hesitancy with the second apron. It really is restrictive The thing with the Nicks is if they're in it next year There's really no sign of them ever getting out of it in the near future. with this team as Brunson's deal will Brunson will sign his new big deal eventually and other guys are essential. It's not like you can just Josh Hart or McKill Bridges or something. And then your pick gets moved down and all that. But you know what? it's a special team Who knows how much money the NX just made? Mitchell Robinson. in in a onebunyama world is that archetype of player is essential. So Let's run it back, I say. It's not my money, though Okay. Michael Pin, are you ready the main characters of the rest of the NBA offseason in no particular order. you A you ready to go Let's do it. Main character number one and I'm accelerating him to the top of the list. Kai Leonard. The centerpiece of one of the most audacious Crippling risky, whatever mega transactions in NBA history that continues to this day to cost the clliippers and the last draft and the aspiration scandal is still ongoing and all of that U There is interest And there is interest specifically from the Toronto Rapors. These talks are very real They are real enough that I would not surprise me at all if Kawi Leonard is traded to the Raptors like shortly after this podcast is released. It also would not surprise me at all if it takes a couple of days or if it never happens because My read is The clippers are asked there's a gap between what the clippers want. to move on from Koi Leonard and sort of honestly begin a rebuild and what the Toronto Raptors are willing to give up They're not going to give up Scottty Barnes. They're not going to go Columburry Boyilles. They're not going to give up the sway didnt know who did they just draft? I can't remember the guy they just drafted in the first not giving him up Um So it's just like, do you want Brandon Ingram P plus Grady Dick. plus a lightly protected first round pick that conveys now. If so, I think there's a deal. If not, I think there's further negotiations This is super interesting because I just was never sure the clippers would reach this point with Kaalai when they would honestly look themselves in the mirror and say It's time. It's time They've indicated that they've been very honest about their place in the league. like they never, I don't think seriously entertain trading the number five pick. They realize What a gift this was to them having given up so much to get Kwillander. what a rare chance to get a blue chip prospect and they get Keatin Wadler Um But I still I just assumed they'll ride it out forever with Kawai and here we are. What do you think of this? And I think this is very real. I don't think the Dallas rumors are real. that could change, but I don't think that's real. I don't know if there's any other team, but Toronto is definitely interested in pairing Scottty Barnes And Ci Leonard and really kind of going for it in the East where a lot of teams are kind of going for it I this is an interesting one for a lot of reasons. It took me by surprise the fact that the clippers S's reported that The Clippers made, quote, no long term commitment to them this off season. So the extension talks are stalled and That's surprising to me a little bit, given everything that they've said and hinted at and signaled for months. The thing about this to me, like if I was the clippers, I don't this package Ingram Dick a pick, whatever. I I'm just making that up. I'm not sure maybe maybe you squeeze a second pick, but I don't I don't think like it's going to be I you know, could it be Barret instead of Ingram? I'm not sure how much that changes your life if you're the clippers, even if you maybefer Barret like it's not it's not going to be any of the blue chip guys and it's not going to be like four first and three swaps. like that's not happening Right. I think Well, first of all, if something like that were to happen and he were to just end up on the Raptors, I'll just say that U Scottty Barnes, Cai Leonard and CMB, like that front court. That's my league pass team. I'm watching every second of the Toronto Raptors next season. But I think like fundamentally for me, if Leonard is truly on the market, the clliippers don't want him. They don't want to extend him I don't see why another team wouldouldn't do what Toronto did in twenty nineteen and take a one year flyer with the caveat here that Leonard doesn't have the same amount of leverage that he once did, you know, like In twenty nineteen, obviously that the risk was that he was everyone knew he was going to go to Los Angeles. Well, that's off the table now. And how many teams? would even be willing to give him the extension that he covets. So I think that the market should be a little broader, maybe I'm misreading something here. But I feel like even though he has I've seen the Raptors, I've seen the Spurs as another team that he would reportedly be interested in signing an extension with, I just think like the market there should be a little a little wider and more teams should be interested in getting Leonard if they want the one year fly and then kind of we'll see what happens. Give me a team. Well I know we're going to talk about this later so I don't want to step on it too much, but the Boston Celtics. Your problem for my problem Yeah. I mean If the Celtics, we I know we're going to talk about this a little bit, but The Celtics are gung ho about trading Jayen Brown I would want a player who would make me a better team on paper or a better player than Jaylen Brown. I think CQil Leard is a better player. I think he would get you closer to a championship in two thousand. seventeenth, twenty twenty seven U So that's interesting to me. And then they could also save some money or they could get another player in like Isaiah Jackson or Chris Dunn maybe U So that's like an interesting one, but there's just other teams out there, like the other teams that we're going to probably be talking about in a few minutes. So Um That's kind of just what do you think about that? J like opening up the the negotiation if you're the clippers and you're seriously not wanting Kawi Leonard, which is kind of a groundswell throughout the league, I feel like Well, it's interesting because Like obviously the idea that he would extend with Toronto reportedly Um, is giving the rappers some leverage. Like To your point, like Coies thirty five and has a fairly long and well documented injury history I'm not sure I mind depending on the price just getting him and saying we'll figure it out later Uh the Celtics, that was on my list of like, so who's going to trade for Jalen Brown who's another main character. I just think I could see the two teams arguing over who and how much? should send draft compensation, right? Wh should who should compensate the other and how much That one gets a little complicated. hisis age is a little complicated. And lookook, there's a ticking clock on this thing with Toronto. likeike Toronto is going to move on to other business justust like other teams are going to move on, like there will be Jail and Brown potential trades that fall apart because teams move on to other business. So you know, we'll see. I mean, the funniest one would be Paul George to the Clippers with one of their first round picks that the Sixers one in exchange for Kwi Leonard. That would be the funniest one. And by the way, the Clippers don't control their pick for the next three drafts even though the Oklahoma city nightmare trade is over for them And that factors into it too And I think they still want to be somewhat relevant, right? They don't want to bottom out even though the relegation zone is not going to affect them since they don't control their pick. So that's why guy like Ingram. I think that's why Toronto would pitch that idea. Kaai went healthy last year was one of the eight best players in the NBA at worst probably went healthy. like the last fifty five games of the season, he was that good You put in with Toronto. I've already had a couple people from Eastern confonference contenders text me like we would really not like that to happen. Like that team gets a pretty scary pretty fast. So I just think it's interesting. We'll see what happens. I don't really buy the Dallas stuff. I don't really buy I don't really buy the San Antonio one either. L don't I don't really know how that's working and what the priceices and all that Devin Visll would have to be involved, I think? or I don't know. That's just that's too much I think.' tooy. It ended worse with San Antonio than it did with Toronto by like orders of magnitude between Kauwi and the team. And I just feel like you just made the finals, like I don't that just feels like a bridge too far Um I'm trying to think if there' anything else we need to hit on this. Nope, that's it. Ciike we'll see. I think there's real likes for this thing in Toronto, but I agree with you. like there are a bunch of teams that could talk themselves into it. like you could build Denver deals. you could do all sorts of things Okay, main character number two Jayalen Brown We're here with Jail and Brown U Bill and I talked about it a lot last night I don't know who the Jail and Brown team is. I am beginning to wonder if The Celtics overthought the Yanest thing and just should have just been like we've gone this far We know that it's going to be hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube with jail and if we keep him We know it's going to be pretty hard to trade him for a return that our fans find palatable Maybe Hugo isn't this essential or Sirean or both isn't this essential and we should just go all in and rip the bandaid off and get it over with. Throw our depth out the window. Like I'm not sure that's a great answer either But now they're in this situation where I just don't know who the team is. That's that's like that they're deep in the weeds with on any Jail and brown trade And I said this with Bill last night. I compared it to the Minnesota Temple ofves trading cat in the sense that I just think Given his salary as great as Jalen Brown was last season and has been for his entire career. and he will tell you, he's won more games in the NBA over the last next amount of years than anyone in the league Um I think they are stuck in a place where their choices are right now Hold on to Jayal and Brown and try to salvage this relationship and figure it out. and it may be too far gone. I don't know I mean, I'm looking at a tweet this morning that I think everything is fake in AI I think Kendrick Perkins threatened to fight Jayen Brown's dad on Twitter. I think that's that's like a place to we are we are right now. like that's N media. Okaykay reconciliation or takeake a package that is just not going to excite your fans, your talk radio hosts, maybe even your owner. It might be like a smart package that you could be like, oh, okay, we reorganize our finances. We get a couple of young players couple picks, but the headliner or the present day value is going to make your team materially worse. this coming season than having Jail and Brown would be. I think that's where they're stuck. And I don't really know Like what the team even is right now. I don't know. I don't know where they what who they're at the twenty yard line or thirty yard line with. You have any thoughts My thoughts on this are I texted you this last night. I'm still surprised that we got to this point. Jayalen has three years on his contract, Super Max. I just It's interesting to me that a team that wants to win the championship that aspires to win it all You don't trade a guy who just finished sixth an MVP made was aboutout to make first team All NBA finished with the sixth most votes for first team All NBA was a finals MVP two years ago He's about to turn thirty, but So kind of getting better in a lot of different ways You don't do that because his You don't trade him because his feelings are hurt because it was revealed that He was in an offer for Janna Cententa Kumpo, who's like one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. And if I'm the Celtics like, I'm not making a trade unless like I clearly win the trade. Like I would feel like the Celtics are negotiating from a position of strength. Like that's the kind of the point of selling high. Like if I make no trade if I'm Boston I keep Jalen Brown And I come back next season with a roster that won fifty six games and had a better offense defense and net rating in the regular season than the Kicks And Jason Tatum only played sixteen regular season games. Like I feel like that's a pretty good consolation U We have all this data that Tatum and Brown are fantastic together. We have all this data, I know that The analytics conversation is kind of going way too far in one direction that it's like silly When Jalen Brown is on the court, the Celtics are good like every year. L whether Tatum is on the court or not. They're very good basketball team. I have some thoughts on analytic skate. Can I just share my thoughts on analytic skate? Please, please So this has reminded me of my biggest pet peeve in NBA media for twenty five years was when SI when it was a real publication, like an actual print publication in a real website used to put out anonymous NBA scouts preview the season and it was just a column of like anonymous NBA scouts And a lot of it would be like really mean pot shots at players. like stuff that you would not say if your name were attached to it. Not like this guy needs to work on his jumps shot or whatever. like but like like this guy' just a loser and you be like really you just And you don't know who the scout is. It could be like scout number twelve des chart. right. And I think like I love Bobby Marks. He's very close to me. like we're a great relationship. We're both Mets fans, all of it I just think like Just gatekeep that one. Like random analytics guys saying something that you know is objectively crazy is just like you don't have to share that one. Number two evenven if he shares it and he did I promise you, everyone, from Jayalen Brown to Green rununs deep to Joe Celtics fan You don't have to care You don't have to get mad about it It is possible to just dismiss it as the one opinion of a stupid analytic staffer, whose name we don't know, whose team we don't know, whose experience we don't know, and just move on with your life. You don't need to make it a new cycle for forty eight hours. You can just go outside Ride a bike Go to the beach Take a swim, read a book a meal, like you don't have to make it a thing. andor nor does anyone in the media and this is the end of me making it a thing. Please move on. No more talk about it Right. I agree with everything you just said. But again, like the whole face back in the tube thing. It's like If you didn't want to be in trade rumors, then you should have negotiated a no trade in your contract. This is kind of like not to be, you know, Don Draper. this is what this is what the money is for The Celtics gave Jayen Brown a Supermax extension right after They lost to the eight seed Miami heat. And in a game seven where Tatum got hurt on like the first play And then Jalen Brown was pursued to get outplayed Caleb Martin So obviously, you know, the Celtics have belief in Jayalen Brown. they have They understand his value. They gave him two hundred eighty five million dollars on that deal. They gave him. They've given him over four hundred million dollars in his career. So the feelings hurt thing is just like, I'm not taking a you know, some of the fake trades that I've seen, I just I would just not do that if I was Boston. I think there are significant step back step backs from championship contention, which is not what you want to do when you have Jason Tatum. I think that's their only choice is a trade that is even if it can be spun as like, hey, this is a smart trade with these long term assets and this financial flexibility and clearing up the hierarchy It will be a step back in twenty seven twenty six, twenty seven and maybe twenty seven, twenty eight That's you're going to be I don't think there's the barring this fake Kawai trade that I don't think has any traction. I don't know that there's A trade that's not a step back that exists I have a fake one for you. Tell me how realistic you think this is Um Sacramento Kings It's a bonus. Dor Rosen who's got a non guaranteed ten million guaranteed. And three first. for Joelen Br I don't think the kings are doing that. with that what that level of draft equity involves. So bonus is a good name though Um for a team that really needs like a proven NBA center. I mean Nimi Keta is now proven as a regular season starter and then after the little Iicy Um that's a good, that's a good In fact, the kings are on my list of just so like let's just real quickly U Here are teams about whom there's been noise with Jayalen Brown or reported connections or fake trade connections that I think are now either out or mostly out Brookly Detroit Flippers Houston. I don't think Houon's ever been in Um, What are some other names that have been like bandied about that I should that I should hit because I'm going to then go to the teams that make Oh, Portland Lbe Portland is in. I don't know. I'm not convinced that they're in. they could be in. that's I'm not crossing that one off If all those teams are out Th then I'm looking for like, well, who's in that would surprise me, right Um but good. do you have a team? You're looking at the teams U But did you say the Pelicans? that's Pelicans, I have no clue. No clue. I mean, you could build any number of trades. It could be a Zion trade, a trade trade, a herb plus trade trade a herb plus Zion trade, and no zZion trade. There's like a million possibilities. J not they mur, they don't really need U so I'll keep them in the in circle Um Denver I think has to be monitored and we'll get to them in a second is one of the main characters of the offseason And then I'm like, is there a team that's off my radar that I need to look deeper at? Sacramento was one Now I didn't think of a bonus. What I thought of was Keegan Murray, Deandre Hunter and some draft draft assets that are obviously not A cuff. Maybe I get caravan as a win now player or something like that Yeah Again, like it's in Um I thought like, do we need to keep an eye on Atlanta again who's just sort of like But I don't know what the money is in that one. Like does Dyson Daniels plus Kaminga plus some future and what's the blue chip young player because obviously it's not going to be Kingston Flemings. likeike what's, what's the is it Dyson Daniels Is that exciting to me as the Celtics? Or do I get Niko Alexander Walker somehow thrown in there? I just don't see a great deal for either side. Obviously, Gelen is from Atlanta I thought about Dallas becausecause they were they've been rumored everywhere, and I'm not sure any of those rumors are true. Um you just have to pile up a ton of players And again, I don't know who's like PJ Washington plus Nodji Marshall plus Clay Thompson. Like that's not I need something younger and more exciting than that And by the way, notable report from Christian Clark at the athletic over the weekend, Derek Lively is out of his walking boot, but still hasn't progressed to running or jumping as he works his way back from multiple right foot surgeries. Okay Like I'mm my ears went up with that in terms of like, I don't know I mean, Orlando, for one of the star players on Orlando, that just feels like a too seismic a change for everybody involved So I don't really like even know what other teams to really be paying attention to right now. And I think they might be stuck between a rock and a hard place here for a bit Well let me just ask you, like what is wrong with bringing him back Like I understand the money. I understand like how expensive he is. I know how difficult it is to build around two guys who will earn seventy percent of your cap for the next three years. L I totally I get all that Um, But the Celtics are like really good and you bring if you if you if you you know, shift things around the margins here and don't have Vuch as your backup center. I just think like You're still a very good team that can win the Eastern conference. Like I am I crazy? Let's take a quick break and then I will answer that question. This episode is brought to you by service Now. Look, I have my dream job. I get to watch basketball, think about basketball, talk about basketball, but even dream jobs have the stuff that nobody dreamed about, the busy work that gets in the way of the actual work ServiceNows AI specialists tackle that work, requests handled. cases closed, the whole thing done. So you have more time for the work you actually want to do. For me, that's breaking down SGA film whenever I want and then talking about it into a microphone o learn how to put AI to work for people, visit serviceNow. com This summer, fandoo is the best place to bet on goals. Including equalizers, Uhuh? Volleys? Yeahep, headters. Every goal is worth more on fanou. So let there be goals. New customers get up to a thousand dollars in bet reset tokens when you bet five dollars daily. Total one plus and present in select states, Optten required, Refund issueed as non withraw of bus bets that expire seven days after receipt. M minimum five dollar waight are required for five consecutive days. Max refund two hundred dollars per day. Restrictions apply, including token expiration, SaFullurns at Vendual d. com slash spportsbook. Gambling problem callall one eight hundred gambler or one eight hundred my Ret I don't think anything is wrong with bringing Jayalen Brown back I think a couple of things though have changed He seems legitimately mad about the Celtics putting him in trade talks. and like I understand It's too easy for us to say, Hey man, it's Janis. Donnis is better than you. Donis is a top twenty five all time player, multiple MVP, F finals MVP just like you Um, If I'm Jalen Brown like these are just like I'm not wired that way. I'm twenty nine. I play every game I just saved in my mind. This is how I would think if I were Jyen Brown I just saved our season when everyone thought we were going to suck And I carried the team And I'm a Fals MP, at East Finals MP I don't want to be in tr. How about I'm not in trade talks for anybody How about how about we get to that point? That's just how he would think and the other thing that's materially changed. is He got a taste of running his own team. And I think that and they won fifty six games And I think that really matters and Tatum The Tatum integration went pretty smoothly, I thought, for the most part. There were definitely segments, particularly in the playoffs where it's like o, there's a lot of tatum going on right now and not as much Jayail and Brown going on. and like that's but that's also okay. There will be segments where there's a lot of Jail and Brown going on and not as much Jason Tatum going on. That's just part of imperfect, yet wildly fruitful partnership Um, But I do think thingsings have shifted a little bit. and the other thing is You know, you said the words seell high I do think there's probably some worry within the Celtics of Yes, there's only three years left on this mega contontract Does his value rise or fall as his contract gets closer to expiration or as he becomes closer to he's eligible for an extension now that I would be shocked if he got. So I think those are all factors I don't I feel like they're going to trade them. I just feel like this has gotten too far and too much has happened and too many teams have been involved and contacted and all that. But I don't disagree that if there's no palatable trade, I don't see any problem bringing it back. I think Missoula is really good at mending fences and getting everyone on the same page, but you know TVD on that And did we forget any teams? I don't think so. I think you you hit them allall. Atlanta was the one that I mean, Charlotte, but not' know Charlotte's another one I'm glad you mentioned. I don't think Charlotte I don't think Charlotte's interested. I mean, every team could be interested, right? Like I don't think anyone ever with a player of dis quality just like out, out out It just depends what the price is. That's the thing with the rockets and the hornets. I just don't think those teams have really jumped in in a way that would suggest to me that they're actually interested in Jn Brown. Portland is the wild card for me that I just can't really read their theirir intentions. Speaking of the Kings, by the way, you're going to be shocked by this Michel sit down If you have a seatbelt on your on your desk chair, buckle it Zach Levine opted in to his forty nine million dollars deal for this coming season. I know you expected him to opt out and test unrestricted fre agency He has opted in with the kings. By the way, a guy I would keep an eye on as the heat go bargain hunting to try to fill a this roster If Damarda Rosen gets bought out Uh at any point. I would I would think he could make some sense for the heat along with Buddy healed and Tim Hardway Jr. and Mike Conley and all these sort of just like grab bag of guys as the heat tried to Cble together a team. Okay. I think I'm out of thoughts on Jayen Brown Um I do then I'm let's move on Main character number three The Denver Nuggets who this morning tendered qualifying offers to Peyton Watson. and Spencer Jones And I just think End of the season with Yokch playing maybe the worst playoff series of his career against the Timple Wolves and Rudy Gobert's defense endnded the season with Aaron Gordon injured yet again Um, And I think end of the season bothoth their own season and watching the sppurs in the Thunder and their seasons Understanding like, oh, This has gotten pretty dicey for us really fast Mark Stein and Jake Fisher broke the news over the weekend that Yogch may delay signing his extension, which he's delayed last season for reasons that made financial sense and no longer really apply now. I think that story is mostly nothing, but not one hundred percent nothing. I don't think he's ever going to leave Denver. I don't think he wants to leave Denver. And I don't think there's going to ever be like, you've got to do these five moves or I'm leaving Denver. I just think it's like It's been noted. It's been noted within the nuggets that he's not signed yet. and maybe he signs in two weeks and it's all moot. I think that's all going to be fine. But I think this team has reached a crossroads where it's like Something about us is growing a little bit stale and is not good enough to beat these two teams ahead of us. And we have a guy who has been the best player in the world or and maybe number two or number three now for the last seven years, six years, five years We've got to act And even if the act is changeed for the sake of change, we've got to try something And that's why when Bill brought up his, I think it was Jayen Brown and Sam Hauser for Jamal Murray and was it Aron Gordon? I No wasn't Aron Gordon. It was Jam was Cam A Cam Johson That's a really interesting trade. And I do think Denver has kicked the tires on Jail in Brown What do you think of that trade? and what Denver is already like at the first apron before you even put a dollar in for Watson and Spencer Jones Like what's realistic here From Boston's perspective, I think that If you're going to trade Jayalen Brown getting a very, very good all NBA level player Um Wh's where Jamal Murray is would make some sense I don't know Jayen Brown's probably a little bit better, but I love Jamal Murray and obviously Kam Johnson G three point shooter had a up and down season, but very good player feel like that's a watch there with Hzer Um, if I'm the if I'm the Denver nuggets, I just, uh I have a Obviously and recognizing and acknowledging how they went out last year was really tough I have a hard time conceiving the Denver Nuggets without the Yoga Murray tandem, which I just think is still very special in a lot of ways and You know, when those two shared the floor last year, they're Offensive rating was one and thirty which was led the NBA among all two man tandems that played at least a thousand minutes. They're still exceptional together. And I just think that Jayen Brown is a totally different type of player, and I'm not saying it can't work on the court and obviously he adds Athleticism and power and force and and defense for sure on ball defense Um I just I don't know if that makes you that much better if you're the Denver nuggets and So that's that's kind of a tricky with. I just Real quick, touching on the Extension News with with Yogkuch kind of delaying it Um I agree with you that it's probably nothing, but It is also like a a smidge of him putting his finger on the scale, I feel like. If you wantanted to sign the extension, he could just sign I mean, he can do it any day between now and I think next June. So it's fine,. The fact that he hasn't already is just it's interesting And I want to see, you know, they traded their first round pick, obviously in a cost cutting move which was to see but moreore shoes are left to drop here with regards to Peyton Watson and how much They're willing to spend and are they' going to be in the second apriron and this and that. So it's going to be really interesting to see what happens. But that trade is It also feels like a your problem, my problem, type of trade that I don't think that I don't think that Denver gets necessarily closer toinning a title with it. I think that's a It's an interesting concept to me because it fits my We just need a different look And part of what we need is more size and the words you use athleticism power. I wrote Like they're just with Aron Gordon increasingly just like, I just have to plan my team around the idea that he's just not going to be able to stay healthy the whole playoffs. and without him They just don't have enough power and size and oomph and physicality It's why to me, Peyton Watson is a must. I have to bring Peyton Watson back if I'm Denver what he showed when Yokach and half the team was injured. He's not going to be able to play like that for Denver. You're not getting twenty five picking ros a game and all this, but just And in terms of power He's better defending guards than he is defending fours and big guys, but he's very versatile defensively And just the athleticism and speed and size. I think he's an absolute must. He's going to have suitors in Chicago, Los Angeles, the Lakers maybe L shows some interest in him I think you've got to bring him back if you're the nuggets. But that's why that traade of like, all right, we're just not going to have any guards on the team, but we're going to have all like super powerful wings and then we'll figure out the guards later. is conceptually interesting to me But to me like I've got to bring Payton Watson back if I'm the nuggets almost no matter what I do. and Then I've got to make some choices of like, I'm either going over to the second aboron or I'm salary dumping somebody somewhere and I'm like do I have enough to pay for the salary dumping of someone somewhere? I don't know Um By the way, another just as side that I forgot that I should have mentioned about Dallas and Jalen Brown and Kauwaii and all that. like Dallas is out a lot of picks like going forward. They don't have a ton of picks to trade. They have a Lakerss pick one year courtesy of some trade. I can't remember how they got a Lakers pick. It boggles I don't remember it Uh, that's neither here nor there So I'm just fascinated by Denver because they feel like a team that should be ready to take a stylistic gamble And I don't know what that is, but I'm very interested to see what that is. and that Boston deal iss just fascinating to by the way, that bill's just making that up. I don't think that's been discussed. That's just a Picasso of the trade machine deal, but I think it's It's very interesting. and now, evening by his remorse Buy a new car I'll be moved Let's get started. Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana. You what? Yeah, great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it. So there's no No, no buyer's remorse. More like buuyers's rejoice? Guess I'll let myself out Congratulations. I mean it. Buyers rejoice. By your car today on Carbana limitations exclusions may apply S your sev dayay return policy are cararbana. This episode is brought to by Netflix. The T mobile homeome run Derby' right around the corner. might be one of the best showcases of pure power and all sports baseballs Biggest sluggers. some legendary Announcers, Puhos, Rizzo, Bonds, Sabbathia Al Duncin. Yeah Hunter Pence, Matt Fastkirzian, a whole bunch of people. It's the one night where you don't swing to make contact to make history. I'm interested is who what Bon says about this actually. Anyway, it is all live from Citizens Bank Park In Philly, W the T mobile homeome runun Derie liive on Netflix this Monday, july thirteenth at eight PM Eastern five PM Pacific. Timely, main character number four a Unless you have any other denver thoughts you want to get off the chest We're good. we're good. we can move on Um, Main character number four is LeBron James U who is an unrestricted free agent who doesn't appear as of right now to have been tendered a real offer by the Lakers for his services The Lakers are staring at a scenario where they could have like forty five ish million dollars of cap room to use, but they'd have to renounce all their outgoing free agents, including Lebron and Rui Hachimura Roy Hachamura, I would bet on not being a laker next year, but I wouldn't bet heavily on it. That's just my educated Intel. U or they could stay over the cap and basically bring back most of the same gang In related news, Sham Strana reports that Drayond Green has declined this twenty seven million dollar player option. for next season This move, according to Sams, gives the warriors flexibility to pursue LeBron James and free agency and Anthony Davis via trade to form a big four Now I'm assuming The big four in that scenario are Steph Draymond, LeBron and Anthony Davis and the Jimmy Butler, who's recovered from a tour in ACL is moved in a theoretical Anthony Davis trade I was told last week that If Draymond indeed opted out of twenty seven million It would not be to leave the warriors. or not likely be to leave the warriers. It would likely be to sign a longer deal at lesser money particularly in this year give them the flexibility to upgrade the roster I'm not this is the expendables fantasy scenario that Bill is like three months into outlining and patenting. and I keep seeing people steal the expendables from him. No, That's his thing Um, I don't know that that big four is Good enough to beat the Thunder or the sppurs in a playoff series. It's very old in injury prone and those are bad things to be when you're facing young, deep rising teams But it would sure be a hell of a lot of fun It would make the warriors must watch The Stephe LeBron thing is a proven thing like they go beautifully together. And Anthony Davis, I mean, I have no earthly clue. What the wizards actually want to do with Anthony Davis. Longtime wizard, Anthony Davis U He makes fifty million dollars this year. he's extension eligible. I know that I would stay as far away from an Anthony Davis contract extension as I possibly could no matter what team I was And they is a sixty three million dollars player option for next year He's still a very good player He just doesn't play basketball very much and he's old. like not he's older unlike unlike a guy like Lameelo Ball who at least has age on his side Anthony Davis has the injury plus age nexus is now Kind of working against him. how I'm looking right now? was he thirty one, thirty two? He is thirty three actually. so U I mean, AD would be He still has a lot of good basketball in him And he obviously like gives the warriors a defensive backline presence like they have not had in a long, long time and a lob threat and all of that stuff Um It would just be interesting to watch him and Dreaymon, you know, how does that all fit together? But that's Th those are luxury problems for the worders who have a lot of draft fix to trade As for the wizards, I have just no earthly clue what they want to do with longtime wizard Anthony Davis. There was tons of buzz over the weekend. that U they were going to be open to moving him. And then I heard the exact opposite when I started checking around like no, that's all inaccurate. They want Anthony Davis on the team I would assume if the warriors made a palatable offer, why wouldn't the wizards at least entertain it? I think the Trey Young extension, which was bizarrely expensive and I already talked about it T to me indicates that Anthony Davis is not long for Washington either way. I just don't see any universe in which three years from now, two years from now, the wizards are paying those guys one hundred ten million dollars combined or whatever it would be. So I would assume if I had to cut through the noise the best I could, I would assume Warriors offer something realistic they could probably get in the conversation And as for LeBron I have no no one has any idea. I have no idea The best I can do is like cross teams off I kind of crossed the cllippers off already last week when I said like, yeah, they can open capap space. I've just been told over and over again that he doesn't want to play for the clilippers. Maybe that changes if the clippers change their rostaurant. I don't know It seems like this Wriors thing has more momentum than the cabs thing and maybe even then the Lakers thing the Lakers return, although I thought he he clearly settled into like a winning third banana role before everybody else got hurt Reeds and Lu up around him I find this fascinating. I mean, I just don't know what it really amounts to in terms of chasing an NBA championship. But I know that plus LeBron plus AD plus Draymond is absolute must watch television and Um att the very least, like Interesting. I my I can't wrap my brain around what qu like what's the over under on that team? I have absolutely no idea. They're ancient and injury prone in AD's case It's clearly better than what the warriors are now It's Interesting. It's entertaining. I think depth could obviously be an issue. Health would be an issue Um athleticism, you know, they brought back Al Horford on a deal. I don't know what Moses Moody's status is, but could be out for a while. could be out if not for a while. I don't know. I mean, I'm just penciling in outle for the season, but we'll see Right. So I mean, it's it's it's top heavy for sure. all the players that we're talking about are in some kind of decline. They're also super special and When healthy play at a pretty pretty high level. So Can they beat the sppurs? Can they beat The Thunder could they beat the healthy nuggets? I don't know. It's an interesting one. I would want to see it for sure And I think that Just just a lot to think about with regards. I mean, we've seen LeBron and steh on Team USA. I thought that that was like really symbiotic in a lot of ways and There's some, you know Vversatile things that you can do offensively with all that intelligence Um But yeah, it's it's an interesting one. I don't know, I don't know If they could win the title though Um, I just I can't conceptualize the team. Like the Steh LeBron two man game is obviously like, that's a dream come true for everybody to get to see that on the biggest stage we saw it in the Olympics. Where's Anthony Davison when that's going on. Where's Dream Mon Greenan. that's going on. Does this team have depth? Ises it have defense? Where's Horford I have no clue. L Dany Melton has a playler option is he coming back? Is he not coming back U Pagensky still around.ike it's a good team fun team. If they're down to one in the second round to San Antonio, it's going to be unbelievable wherever the game is. if it's in Golden State And it's just it would be fun theater. And I talked about this with Bill who pitched the Spurs as a as a LeBron destination and he asked me Um Would you consider him a ring chaser People consider him a quote ring chaser in that scenario, going glomming onto a team like Dispse who just made the finals. And I said two things. number one I think the Spurs is a good franchise to pick out because I don't and this goes back to the Clippers with apologies to the Clippers and their fans I don't think he's going to a franchise that doesn't have some level of gravitas to it and the Spurs have Gravitas I also said The dude is forty one years old It's a miracle that he's still in the NBA It's a triple miracle that he's still one of the twenty five best players in the NBA Do whatever the hell you want at that point. No one is being like, o, LeBron chasing rings at age forty two. No, it's going to be like LeBron's having fun at age forty two And All these guys coming together would be fun. and this would not I mean, I don't I think this is not even a ring chase. I mean, they could talk themselves into it. I can't see four playoff series wins out of a team this old. But it's definitely a basasketball Nirvana Chase. It's like, I want to end my career. playing with a bunch of other basketball geniuses and a teammate that I've had in Anthony Davis before and I like and I'm fond of Let's have some fucking fun and see how this works I don't think that anything LeBrange does should be considered a ring chase at this point. And I frankly would love for him to be in a situation where He can win another ring. I mean, that way I think that one of the cool things about how last season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers and him finding this this role that was very new to him But best for the team was that they were a team that was able to maximize all the parts. with him not you know, having the highest usage or being the first scoring option or whatever U and winning. they were winning down the stretch and they were very good until Lua got hurt against the Oklahoma City Thunder So fun when LeBron is in the hunt and I would love to see him go to any situation where that were the case and he was still functioning in a large meaningful role as he was last year with the Lakers Buckle up, baby. The warriors are doing warriors things and just Nothing is more warriors than chasing like this kind of thing, which is super fun Um Let's wrap up real quickly because I want to get this up as soon as possible as things are happening O quick thoughts, another main character I think is going to be the Pistons who opened up some space by dumping Isaiah Stewart and then used some of it on a great acquisition of Isaiah Joe that immediately made me think, huh Duncan Robberinson's contract is like very little guaranteed for next season They could open up even more space again by doing something with him. And then if they do that, where does Duncan Robinson go? I think Detroit's up to something I don't know what it is But Any quick thoughts on that This is the Trey Murphy team for me still Uh this is the Ron Holland, Karis Lavert and four picks for traamer four picks. Let him be let him be the Desmond Bane of your team. Let him be the Michuel Bridges. I feel like if for're the Detroit Pistons This is our team You know, it's going to get very expensive Cade, Assar Thompson, Jalen Duran whenever he resigns Treay Murphy Um, Isaiah Joe, all the other pieces on the team like it's just We' we were the best team in the Eastern confference last year. We're clearly understanding things about ourselves and we made an identity shift in a lot of ways by trading esssentially trading Isaiah Stewart for Isaiah Joe Um Oh a double Isaiah. Yeah.ou I just realized it was coming out of my mouth, but Yeah, u That can win the title. So what do we like that's And it's not just like a one year thing with Treay Murphy is not thirty years old. He makes sense with Kade and he makes sense with that young core. So yeah, I would do whatever it takes honestly to get Tay. I think he's a perfect fit for what they do, how they play Um fits on both sides of the ball and Why not I think four picks we get it done immediately. Just a couple other quick thoughts before we go here Uh hornets Two big trades, obviously Lomeello and then Miles Bridges and they got Royce O'Neill and Grayson Allen and a twenty thirty three unprotected pick with a the twenty nine pick going to Phoenix. I covered that with Bill yesterday. The only thing I will say, I loved that trade for Charlotte. I did not like it for Phoenix. It raises some interesting roster questions for Phoenix. I like everything else Phoenix has done so far this summer I think Jalen Green now becomes one of the biggest wild cards in the league over the next eighteen months with his player option for thirty six million for the twenty seven twenty eight season We'll see if he's part of their long term plans, particularly if they extend Dylan Brooks, that almost feels like either or financially for them and The only thing I'll say about Charlotte that I haven't said is I think I wonder if the new lottery rules Um embolden them even more to get off of a meo because I think they're willing to take a small step back next season. I think the lottery rules just made make a lot of teams in Charlles's position rethink like, hey, feel good season forty four wins playayed at like a fifty five win pace in the last half plus of the season We could go all in or semi all in or half of another foot in for next season and Chase every win And if we do don't do that, the other option might be taking a small step back and like in the east actually missing the playoffs if things go wrong, if you have an injury or whatever. if the Lameello void is worse than you think And I think they looked at and we were like, well, what's the wor thing happens? we miss the playoffs. We have a bunch of draft assets if our own pick is in the lottery And u Dallas is pick is in the lottery. We just, you know, the new lottery helps us. there's not it's not bad to be thirteen in the lottery anymore. So I thought that was An interesting smart little thought by them and then The Blls had a great draft. Everybody loves the Blls draft It does have to be frustrating for Blls fans to watch these teams clamor to pay pretty fair contracts to Iow D Asumeew and Kobe White when you just gave them away for nothing And that's all I really want to say because we got a big week coming up and it's already starting. I'm glad all this stuff happened while we were on this podcast The wararriors man just Steve Kurz coming back and it's like, let's have a party. Let's go and maybe they'll make it happen. And I wonder honestly if like I wonder if the Lakers would almost be relieved to to like, not that they want to not have LeBron on their team, but just the clarity of Okay, now we can operate as a capappace team. Now we can really start turning over the team to make it look like Luca how Luca wants it to look. And by the way, they have a lot of work to do to get it to look like they wants it to look with him on the clock. but Uh That's it for this morning. Michael Pina. what do we got coming up from you? You wrote what did you? you wrote something? You wrote about something over the weekend. I can't remember what it was so much has been happening. Yonis. You wrote about Yonis, I think, right? You that trade to'd be honest. I wrote about Yonos when the trade happened. didid a little off season preview, had a bunch of questions Oh that's those. Yeah. Jalen and I think I proposed that Tay Murphy million picks for Treay Murphy thing that the Detroit piston should do. Hopefully that happens Just going to be covering covering the summer, covering off season, it's going to be very busy for agencies starting tomorrow. so can't wait I got to time a swim meet tomorrow and I'm going to be timing and have my phone in one I'm going to be like Joe Dumar except with a stopwatch on a phone. can't I might accidentally answer a call with the stopwatch tomorrow and mess up with my timing. Michael Pina, you're the best. Thankk you, sir Thank you, Zach All right, that's it for today's edition of the Zach Lowe Show Buckle up, Tansactions are coming. It's that time of year. Summer League is right around the corner. I'll be in Vegas in a little over a week. I can't believe we're already there. Thank you to Michael Pina for his time and expertise. Thanks as always to Mike, Jonathan and Billy on production. Thanks to you all for listening to and are watching the Zach Lowe Show. We'll be back later this week Either Wednesday or Thursday as news trickles in ahead of your holiday weekend, Idemoervatska and we will be back soon. Thanks everybody twenty one over in President select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or eighteen and over in Pridenton in DC, Kentucky, O Wyoming, gambling problem. Call one eight hundred gambler or one eight hundred My reset. 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