Emergency Pod | Kristaps Porzingis Traded To Hawks In Three-Team Deal

Summary

Podcast Summary: No Dunks – Emergency Pod | Kristaps Porzingis Traded To Hawks In Three-Team Deal

Episode Information:

• Title: Emergency Pod | Kristaps Porzingis Traded To Hawks In Three-Team Deal
• Host: The Athletic’s Original Basketball Podcasters – Skeets, Tas, Trey, and JD
• Release Date: June 25, 2025

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Introduction

In this urgent episode of No Dunks, the hosts tackle the seismic three-team trade that has sent shockwaves through the NBA: Kristaps Porzingis has been traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Hosts Tasm Ellis, Trey Kirby, and Ash Wood dissect the implications of this deal, analyzing its impact on the involved teams—the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets—and the broader Eastern Conference dynamics.

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Trade Breakdown

Tasm Ellis opens the discussion by outlining the specifics of the trade:

“Three team trade, three man podcast. We got to got to.” (02:15)

In this trade:

• Atlanta Hawks acquire Kristaps Porzingis, a second-round pick.
• Brooklyn Nets receive Terrence Mann and the 22nd pick from Atlanta and Boston.
• Boston Celtics part ways with Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and a second-round pick.

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Impact on the Atlanta Hawks

The hosts delve into how Porzingis’s arrival reshapes the Hawks:

Trey Kirby emphasizes the magnitude of the trade compared to past deals:

“Porzingis as a one-time All-Star puts this trade over the top emergency wise for me.” (03:07)

Ash Wood expresses excitement about the frontcourt enhancement:

“This is a great move for them. They basically got off of two people who weren't really a part of rotation.” (05:52)

Key Points:

• Kristaps Porzingis brings height, defense, and shot-blocking prowess to a Hawks team eager to break out of the play-in tournament.
• The Hawks retain a robust roster with Jalen Johnson, Trey Young, Dyson Daniels, and Zachary Rise.
• The trade positions the Hawks for a potential Eastern Conference Finals run, pending the health and performance of both Johnson and Porzingis.

Notable Concerns:

• Porzingis’s Health: Repeated discussions about his physical condition and availability (07:08, 08:21).
• Jalen Johnson’s Durability: Johnson’s inconsistent game participation raises questions about the Hawks' depth (24:09).

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Impact on the Boston Celtics

The Celtics’ strategy in this trade raises eyebrows among the hosts:

Ash Wood questions the Celtics' long-term plans:

“Maybe they stand pat and see what they have with the team without their star player and see what Jaylen Brown can do is kind of their star player this season.” (11:22)

Trey Kirby critiques the Celtics’ moves as potentially weakening their championship contention:

“It's a down year for the Celtics compared to where they've been the past, what seven seasons.” (14:26)

Key Points:

• Trading Jrue Holiday and Porzingis marks a significant departure from their recent championship core.
• The move aims to alleviate financial burdens by exiting the repeater tax, saving approximately $200 million.
• Introduction of Anthony Simons and George Niang suggests a shift towards a more flexible, albeit less defensively robust, roster.

Notable Concerns:

• Defense Degradation: Loss of defensive stalwarts like Holiday may hinder the Celtics’ defensive rankings (12:36).
• Leadership Gap: With Jason Tatum sidelined for the next season, concerns about who will lead the team emerge (11:34).

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Impact on the Brooklyn Nets

The Nets appear to be maneuvering towards a rebuilding phase:

Tasm Ellis and Trey Kirby discuss the Nets’ strategy:

“They’re in ultra tank mode right now.” (19:58)

Key Points:

• Acquiring Terrence Mann and the 22nd pick indicates a focus on accumulating assets for future drafts.
• The Nets maintain significant cap space, allowing flexibility for future trades and acquisitions.
• Possession of multiple draft picks (including five in the upcoming draft) positions them well for player development and asset trading.

Notable Concerns:

• Current Roster Leverage: Limited immediate talent to bolster the team’s competitiveness (22:45).
• Future Moves: Potential for continued activity during draft day, though it remains uncertain how much the Nets can capitalize on their draft assets (19:58).

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Eastern Conference Implications

The trade has broader implications for the Eastern Conference standings and playoff dynamics:

Trey Kirby highlights the competitive balance shift:

“I might start calling it the Spare Tire because it’s a little fat in the middle.” (25:37)

Key Points:

• Health is Paramount: Teams like the Hawks and Celtics are navigating significant injuries, making health a crucial factor for success.
• Playoff Landscape: The Eastern Conference remains volatile with potential top-six contenders depending on team health and performance (27:16).

Notable Discussions:

• Potential Standings: Predictions place teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks in strong playoff contention, contingent on player health.
• Celtics’ Future: The Celtics may have a down year but are strategically positioning for a stronger 2026 season when Tatum returns.

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Future Prospects and Conclusion

As the hosts wrap up, they speculate on future trades and the evolving landscape of the Eastern Conference:

Trey Kirby anticipates ongoing trade activities and the potential for significant roster shifts:

“They’re still going to be really active, especially tomorrow, because five draft picks is kind of insane.” (19:58)

Ash Wood reflects on the Hawks' potential:

“They have a lot of talent though. So I can’t wait to see have Kristaps in the middle.” (24:40)

Key Takeaways:

• The Atlanta Hawks emerge as the primary beneficiaries of the trade, provided their key players remain healthy.
• The Boston Celtics face a transitional period, balancing financial strategies with competitive aspirations.
• The Brooklyn Nets are set on rebuilding, leveraging their draft assets for future gains.
• The Eastern Conference remains unpredictable, with health and strategic trades playing critical roles in determining playoff contenders.

Conclusion: The three-team trade involving Kristaps Porzingis represents a pivotal moment for all involved franchises. The Hawks gain a star player potentially capable of elevating them to playoff contention, the Celtics undergo a significant roster overhaul aimed at long-term financial stability, and the Nets focus on rebuilding through draft assets. As the season progresses, the success of this trade will largely depend on player health and team dynamics.

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This summary captures the key discussions and insights from the episode, integrating notable quotes with proper attribution and timestamps to provide a comprehensive overview for listeners and enthusiasts alike.

Transcript

[Jessica Hawke]

When pro defensive end Cam Jordan isn't.

[Tasm Ellis]

Running after quarterbacks, he's running his own businesses. He sat down with Microsoft's Jessica Hawke.

[Jessica Hawke]

To learn how AI can help being.

[Trey Kirby]

Innovative with how to have success and how to formulate that success. That synergy between AI and a business come together, it's like coach's game plan as well as the player. AI is creating a perfect plan and.

[Ash Wood]

It'S the business like, hey, we have this imperfect solution.

[Trey Kirby]

Let's meld them together and see what happens.

[Jessica Hawke]

Ready to raise your AI game? Find your winning edge at Microsoft.com challenger.

[Paige]

Now at Verizon, we have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers, existing and new, we're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on MyPlan and my home. That's future you peace of mind and everyone can save on a brand new phone on MyPlan. When you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone peace of mind. Because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you. Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.

[Jessica Hawke]

Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well, with LinkedIn ads, you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry, company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply.

[Tasm Ellis]

Oh, this one warrants some sirens. Here we are. No ducks. Back with you again. But this one's an even bigger emergency. I'm Tasm Ellis. With me here in the emergency room, it's Trey Kirby and making the magic happen here, it's Ash Wood. Kid. What's up, Ash?

[Ash Wood]

How y' all doing?

[Tasm Ellis]

We're doing good, Ash. Gotta be a part of this one. That's how big this one is. Yes.

[Trey Kirby]

Three team trade, three man podcast.

[Ash Wood]

We got to got to.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah.

[Tasm Ellis]

Three teams. Very, very interesting. Can't wait to get everybody's take on all three of these teams. The Hawks, let's start with them because it seems like they're getting the biggest name here. Kristaps Porzingis is stealth to the Atlanta Hawks. Along with the second round pick, the Nets receive Terrence Mann from the Atlanta Hawks. Plus the number 22 pick in this year's draft via Atlanta and the Boston Celtics. What do they get for Chris Saps Porzingis? Well, they get George Niang from the Atlanta Hawks plus a second round pick. Trey, where are we starting? Where are we starting after this emergency that we pulled out today for this one which is a bigger trade than Jordan Poole and CJ McCollum, right?

[Trey Kirby]

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Definitely a bigger trade than Jordan Poole, C.J. mcCollum. Look, there was a one time champion in both of the trades. But Porzingis as a one time all star puts this trade over the top emergency wise for me. And I think it's good to start with Atlanta. Not only are they first alphabetically, I just noticed that once that trade board went up, it was the three first alphabetical teams in the entire NBA.

[Tasm Ellis]

Whoa.

[Trey Kirby]

You know you've been monitoring things too much when you're noticing the alphabetical nature of things. But we got to start.

[Tasm Ellis]

Why did we go Atlanta, Brooklyn, then Boston instead of Boston and Brooklyn.

[Trey Kirby]

Start it over. Started.

[Tasm Ellis]

Restart. Yeah. So why are we starting with Atlanta?

[Trey Kirby]

Well, they got the biggest name certainly in Kristaps Porzingis and I think the change for them makes them the most interesting team because we'll get to it. But like where are the Hawks going to rank in the Eastern Conference? But I think this is a really smart move for Atlanta. Taking a flyer on Chris thaps. He'll be 30 at the start of next season. He's on an expiring deal so they can play out the season, see how things go, decide if they want to bring him back next year. Or maybe they say thanks for the memories, Kristaps. You know this could go poorly for Atlanta certainly, but I think it's a formidable front court they're going to be having Jalen Johnson coming back from injury, Kristaps Porzingis coming to Atlanta, coming back from illness. I suppose you would say Risha Shay in year three. Then you've got the backcourt, Trey Young, Dyson Daniels. That looks like a nice starting five in an Eastern Conference that is a little bit topsy turvy right now. We don't know what's going to be happening with the Bucks. We don't know who's going to be coaching the Knicks. The 76ers are drafting third after a disaster season there. Things are changing right now and it seems like Atlanta decides we're tired of being in the play in tournament every single year. We're tired of winning 40 games every single year. So maybe Taking a chance on Kristaps, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. If things break right, I think they could make a conference finals team. But basically they got off the Terrence Mann deal, which ran through 2028. I think that's an underrated benefit to Atlanta here. They didn't really give up any core players. Jorge Diang, sad. We never saw him on the belt line. At least I didn't. But he wasn't a long term. They got the deal done at the trade deadline. He had some moments in Atlanta, but basically his biggest benefit is bringing Kristaps Porzingis here. They did trade a first round draft pick, but guess what? They kept the better one, number 13, which they're getting from Sacramento this season. So I think the way the Hawks played, this is pretty smooth.

[Tasm Ellis]

Ash, I saw you smile early on there when Kristaps Porzingis was mentioned. Why was that smile? What do you. What do you. You just full of glee over there.

[Ash Wood]

Honestly, I was giggling because he said he's about to be 30. Blew my mind. Yeah, that blew my mind. I thought you were about to say maybe 40. Right. Like, feels like it just the way that he's never on the court. But I mean, you know, as a. As a guy who's a fan of both of these teams. Yes, the Hawks, this is a great move for them. I'm excited about it. They basically got off of two people who weren't really a part of rotation. I mean, kind of last year. Yeah. But not a big part of their future. Not a big part of their plans. I don't feel like. So Trey just went through it all. Having Porzingis, though, as the man in the middle, that must mean that Clint Capella is going to be going somewhere soon, which is another good thing, because what can you get for him to bring in and add to this team? They obviously, you need a lot of things. Everybody's always asking, what should we do with Trae Young? But like Trey just said, the east is wide open. The representative for the conference, their star player just got injured. He's going to miss all next season. The Celtics, who we're also talking about right now. Jason Tatum's out for all the next season, so what's going to happen with the East? It is wide open. I think the Hawks can break something. We've seen it happen before in 2021. So who's to say, like, this season isn't the season for them to make something happen? I'm optimistic.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah. You got to be pumped for the Atlanta hawks. We've seen two trades in the last 24 hours where the Boston Celtics did this sort of stair step down method where they traded Drew Holiday and they traded Kristaps Porzingis. But in this case, they didn't get a great player like Anthony Simons back. And so in this one, how can you say to the Atlanta Hawks messed up here in theory, Kristaps Porzingis in the middle of that starting lineup that Trey went through with Trey Young, Dyson Daniels as your backcourt, young Zachary Resache at the 3 with Jalen Johnson at the 4, and then a very much needed center who's tall. They needed some height and Yaka needed a tall guy. For sure they did. It's risky because, listen, Kristaps Porzingis, we don't know what he's going through medically and physically. He couldn't be himself at all in the postseason. He could barely play. He. He barely could be on the floor. He had to be off. He literally wasn't feeling right physically. Whether it was that same bronchitis or whatever it was that happened during the season. I mean, he's really unsure. It's not like I'm unsure. He was really unsure as to what he had that took him out for weeks. He comes back and he just hasn't been himself. And he's literally said that.

[Trey Kirby]

So is this a little risky?

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah, it is because he's also playing beside Jalen Johnson, who the guy is fantastic. That five year deal that he signed seems so great before this year, but he's also been struggling to stay on the court. So you got a front court there. That's good in theory. I mean, Jalen Johnson literally could have been an all star, but are they going to be good? Well, a number 22 pick and Terence Manning, Georgia. Probably worth it. Probably worth the risk. As Trey said, you know, it's a, it's a flyer, but it's a flyer on Kristaps Porzingis, who, now that we've said he's 30 a couple times, he's starting to feel older and older. Right. Because it is Chris Steps and he hasn't been on the floor a lot. So it's a little worrisome.

[Ash Wood]

Yeah.

[Tasm Ellis]

But I guess, I guess all in all, a number 22 pick, when you have a lot of picks. George Niang, who got dealt already twice this season, and Terence Mann, who, Trey, I know you weren't a big Terrence Mann fan and he really wasn't thriving here in Atlanta. He just, he just wasn't. Just wasn't the best version of himself, and I don't know if he'll ever be that as a role player off the bench, really.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah. There wasn't necessarily a spot for Terence man here in Atlanta. Right. You've got guards in Daniels and I guess, you know, Risa Shea is more of a wing, but guys who are ahead of Terence man and the development order for the Hawks. He didn't seem super happy to me to be here in Atlanta from the games I was at, but, you know, that's just playing body language doctor. I don't know what's going on with him. He's got a chance to stick around in Brooklyn. They've got basically nobody on their team right now outside of Nick Claxton and Cam Johnson for now. So he could stay, he could get traded. I don't know. But the Hawks packaging guys that they got from the Bogdanovich trade basically along with a late pick when they keep their earlier pick, I think this is a good roll of the dice for a team that has been stuck in the bottom of the middle in the Eastern Conference for a little bit here. They're a much more balanced team. Team like Porzingis does bring defense when he's on the court, shot blocking as well. Jalen Johnson can play defense, Recess is solid and Dyson Daniels is obviously a really good defensive player. You've got Trey Young as the engine who's going to be setting Kristaps up with lobs, finding him for pick and pops. This is just a really good on paper fit, like you're saying Tas, the injuries are going to be a concern. It's like Kristaps played 56 games last year. That's not very good. But it's 20 games more than Jalen Johnson played. That guy is banged up quite a bit. But they do have a Kongwu. I think he's maybe best suited as a backup big just because of the height, the rebounding. He's a good player, though. And if either of those guys miss time, Johnson or Porzingis, which is likely a conglomerate, can step in for a couple of games here and there. So I think good stuff from the Hawks, their new front office is deciding, hey, let's make something happen here. And it's going to be interesting to see how things play out because, you know, they've been in the 7 through 10 range quite a bit. I think this should, in theory elevate them to a top six seed. We'll see how it actually turns out.

[Tasm Ellis]

All right, Ash, let's get Your opinion of your other favorite team, the Boston Celtics, and what they did here, sending out Chris apps for George Niang, essentially, and a second round pick.

[Ash Wood]

I guess, I guess the question is, what exactly is the plan right now for the Celtics coming in to free agency or coming into the summer? Everybody's like, okay, maybe something has to be done. There's a lot of money on the books right now. But like I said earlier, Jason Tatum going down, injuries, going to miss the season. Everybody's like, okay, well, maybe we stay still. Maybe. But no, they ship out Drew Holiday yesterday for Anthony Simons. Then today they decide, yeah, let's get rid of our starting center. They just won a championship last year and they're already like, we have to find a new iteration on this team. I don't know if that's the right move. Maybe it is. Maybe you tinker just around the edges and you see what happens or what I thought was going to happen. Maybe they stand pat and see what they have with the team without their star player and see what Jaylen Brown can do is kind of their star player this season. But I guess it's still the plan. But to make your team, in my opinion, worse. I don't know. I don't know what the plan is exactly.

[Tasm Ellis]

That's fair. I will say Christoph Sporzingis, yes, part of the championship team, played on it, but his role wasn't as. Yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

And they probably could have won it without him last year.

[Ash Wood]

100.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah. And, and they've resigned guys like Drew Holiday for monster contracts. They've resigned their stars for monster contracts. Krist Porzingis at the end of his contract this coming season. He's up one more year on that deal. Was not going to be signed like those other guys were.

[Ash Wood]

Right.

[Tasm Ellis]

Just because of the way that the CBA works, it would have been probably too expensive. I mean, you, you, you see all these championship teams and they just generally keep all the guys on it. But if a guy's not playing, it would have been hard to. To sign him. And I hate to go back to injuries, but you got to be realistic with him. And they also could be seeing that he ain't playing that much. Simple as that.

[Trey Kirby]

Right.

[Ash Wood]

I think, I think in a nutshell, like this deal alone probably isn't too bad. So maybe I'm being too harsh with this one because with the Celtics, yeah, they should. Why not do that? He's not playing anyway, so you're not giving up anything. Right. But packaged with Jrue Holiday maybe going out yesterday in Which a lot of people say is Drew Holiday watched, is he good enough to help them be a championship contender at the age he is and the way that he's playing right now. But I think when you look at them together, like I said, they just won a championship last year and you've lost your starting point guard and the starting center, regardless if they're playing or not, it's like, okay, well, what are, what are they doing to fill the holes of that position? Right. And I know Anthony Simons comes in, but how much is. Is he helping? Like, is he's not gonna bring the defense that Drew Holiday had, for example. So I don't know. That's just, I guess my opinion of it there.

[Trey Kirby]

It's weird. The Celtics, I mean, these are honestly tanking moves. If we're being 100 with it, you know, they traded two starters. They're going to look hilarious next year. They're going to be out three starters when you factor in Tatum's injury and the guys that they brought in are Simons and George Niang. And all those guys want to do is Chuck three pointers. They're not going to play defense. They're just going to run. And Chuck, you know, Niang at least tries. He just doesn't have great quickness or athleticism, but he tries at least. So I think they're just going to be a run and gun team. But the plan for the Celtics, everybody knew even before the Tatum injury was to save some money here. Like Porzingis and Holiday could have been second apron casualties regardless of a Tatum injury. But once he went down, you can tell that their new ownership is taking this gap year pretty seriously. It's just going to be a down year for the Celtics. Maybe they can still be a playoff team led by Jalen Brown and Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard and Forney Simons. Like, they still have talented pieces around. We'll see what they do with Al Horford and Luke Cornett. I think it maybe makes it more likely that they stick around now that they don't have a center with Porzingis being traded. But the plan for the Celtics is we're getting underneath the second apron, which this deal does. It gets them out of the repeater tax as well, which saves the new owners like $200 million basically in real money, you know, not necessarily salary cap money, but how much they were going to have to pay for it. And when you're doing financial moves, unfortunately, the return is going to be a second round pick and a George Niang. Right. So it's going to be a down year for the Celtics compared to where they've been the past, what, seven seasons? You know, Ash is getting used to conference finals appearances, but it's not always gravy. You got to take a little bit of a step back and they'll be gearing up for 2026 when Tatum returns at full strength. I think you could get upset though, Ash, if Jaylen Brown ends up getting shipped out. That would be a major change up here. But these ones are a little bit more understandable and expected.

[Jessica Hawke]

When pro defensive end Cam Jordan isn't.

[Tasm Ellis]

Running after quarterbacks, he's running his own businesses. He sat down with Microsoft's Jessica Hawke.

[Jessica Hawke]

To learn how AI can help being.

[Trey Kirby]

Innovative with how to have success and how to formulate that success. That synergy between AI and a business come together. It's like coaches game plan as well as the player. AI is creating a perfect plan and.

[Ash Wood]

It'S the business like hey, we have this imperfect solution.

[Trey Kirby]

Let's meld them together and see what happens.

[Jessica Hawke]

Ready to raise your AI game? Find your winning edge at Microsoft.com challengers.

[Paige]

Now at Verizon we have some big news for your peace of mind for all our customers existing and new. We're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on MyPlan and MyHome. That's future you peace of mind and everyone can save on a brand new phone on MyPlan when you trade in any phone from one of our top brands that's new phone peace of mind. Because at Verizon whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.

[Jessica Hawke]

Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void? Well with LinkedIn ads you can know you're reaching the right decision makers. You can even target buyers by job title, industry company seniority skills. Wait, did I say job title yet? Get started today and see how you can avoid the void and reach the right buyers with LinkedIn ads. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results. Terms and conditions apply.

[Tasm Ellis]

Right? Yeah. Working around the Kristaps Porzingis absence seems like it's doable for the Celtics because they just frickin want to ship with that with Chris SAP's not playing a ton and so that that seems fixable. Even the Drew holiday I'm Putting them sort of separately into this vacuum. I know Holiday helped. He was an incredible defender. And Simons obviously doesn't compare to that whatsoever. But there will be more responsibility on Derek White, which I think he's capable of. I think Peyton Pritchard has more, more to give as potentially even a starter on this team. I mean, he's just a good player. He's not an incredible defensive player, but he's a really solid player. So yes, they're definitely weaker, but at the same time it does allow them to fix up everything that they did when they signed everybody prior to the CBA going in and then it being a reality that all of these extended contracts are going to hurt big time. So I think they have done pretty smart here. Let's go to Brooklyn, who basically took, as you mentioned, Trey, how long Terence Mann is signed for three more years and a number 22 pick basically to get that for nothing. They gave up nothing. They got Terrence Mann and a number 22 pick. So I think what we're seeing here is that they're not going to be able to get all that much this offseason. They basically said we'll, we'll be happy to take a number 22 pick if that means taking on Terrence Mann, but they really aren't going to be able to grab too much more other than that. Or, or am I missing something? I mean, they do still do have some, some salary cap room, but I think we're seeing what the Nets will be come to.

[Trey Kirby]

Oh yeah, the, the Nets are in ultra tank mode right now. You know, their tanking this season didn't go as planned, which is why they had to trade Dennis Schroeder midway through the season. They won too many games early in the season, which put them behind the eight ball odds wise going in. So they do have their draft pick this coming draft tomorrow. And then they obviously, I mean, they've got five picks. 8, 8, 19, 22, 26, 27. They have their 2026 pick as well. 2026, top of the draft is supposed to be very, very good. And like I said earlier, there's just not much in Brooklyn right now. They could still move Cam Johnson if they want to. Teams are probably at least calling about Nick Claxton, but other than that, it's like random dudes like we're talking the next after, after Claxton and Cam Johnson and Terrence Mann making at least double digit million dollars. Everybody else is in the single digit million dollars, like 8 million for a Cam Thomas kind of contract. They don't have much there. Their plan is to be bad and they're using their cap space here to facilitate a deal, which is something that smart teams do. When you've got the cap space, you're not necessarily going to get the players, but you can take on a Terrence Mann contract and maybe ship him out a little bit later and get a second round pick or three second round picks. Who knows what somebody would pay for Terrence Mann. He was a hot property once upon a time. So this is just smart from Brooklyn. I think they're still going to be really active, especially tomorrow, because five draft picks is kind of insane. Like you can't roster five rookies, but maybe somebody decides, hey, there's somebody I like that dropped to number 19. Can I hop up for that trade or could they package these and get into the top five? I don't know. It seems like they're going to be still calling on draft day. So I think Brooklyn is doing the smart stuff here. They did a good job to get their picks back in the trade with Houston last year. Unfortunately, they won a little bit too much at the start of last season. I don't think that's going to be a problem going into 25, 26.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah, you're totally right about the few contracts that they have on the books. So they still do have room to just inherit guys like a Terrence Mann or other. Other guys because they're paying literally nobody. I didn't realize how low it was. I guess I was. I was in 24, 25 mode and still seeing Ben Simmons monster number and Boyam Bogdanovich and d' Angelo Russell and the injured d' Anthony Melton. I mean, those four guys that I just mentioned were making, you know, in between 12 and 39 million dollars all off the books. So now, yeah, it's just Claxton, Cam Johnson and now Terence Mann, who's making around $15 million for the next three seasons, 15 to 16. So they got lots of room. Whoever, whoever wants to deal. As long as they're not taking on Bradley Beal, then.

[Trey Kirby]

Saddest news today, Taz. Saddest news today is the Bulls are a potential landing spot for Bradley Beal.

[Ash Wood]

I didn't even see that.

[Trey Kirby]

Come on, bro. If they have, if they have a giddy Beal backcourt, I don't know if I'll be able to continue podcasting.

[Ash Wood]

70 win team right there.

[Trey Kirby]

70 lost team right there.

[Tasm Ellis]

That kind of seems like an Arturo's carnitivist move like that. Would fit his definition of we don't need a super duper star, but we need nine really good players. And you know, squinting Bradley Beal is a good player maybe.

[Trey Kirby]

Don't you put that evil on me. Yeah, yeah. It ain't happening yet, but I don't know what's going to end up happening. There are reports out of Boston today that the Celtics are still trying to move up into the lottery in tomorrow's draft. Apparently they're fans of Yakachonas out of Illinois. I don't know if they're going to be able to have the assets to swing a deal like that, but the Celtics are going to be an interesting team next year. Jaylen Brown, assuming he's still around, will be the leader. Derek White, the number two option. And then after that it just seems like straight up three point chucking, which can be fun to watch, but also not the team we've seen from the Celtics. They were a team that was great on offense, a top five defense. There's no way they're going to be as good defensively next year, but we'll see. What. Where do you think this leaves the Hawks in the east though? Tas and Ash, Are they like. Is this a playoff team? A top six team?

[Ash Wood]

I mean, how. I can't even remember right now, but weren't. They were not too far outside of the playoff picture this season. Right. And like we said in the first half of the season with Jalen Johnson, the way that he was playing, the way that the Hawks looked with him on the floor, they were a much better team. Right.

[Tasm Ellis]

So if we get 40 and 42. Ash.

[Paige]

Yeah.

[Tasm Ellis]

Only four. Only four games back of the sixth place Pistons. It feels like they would be. Be so much further back because of the Pistons and who they were. But you're right. Jalen Johnson was a huge factor for sure. Yeah.

[Ash Wood]

So, I mean, I. Yeah. Why couldn't they be top six?

[Tasm Ellis]

Yes, in theory. Yes, for sure. And I hate saying in theory, but it really is. Jalen Johnson is. Jalen Johnson is our second best player. Yeah. He has an incredible relationship with Trey Young. They have such good chemistry. There. There was a point where Trey Young and Jalen Johnson were number four, number five in passes per game in the NBA. Or maybe it was number three. Number four. Like everything ran through them. And so when he went out. Yeah, it was. It was the end of the season really, because they weren't. Dyson Daniels and Zachary Rishe weren't good enough to be around him. Now we see Christops Porzingis come in and I don't know if what you guys think about Kristaps Porzingis ability to have a contract year. Is that possible? Can Kristaps Porzingis be like, oh, this is my year, man. It's the last time I'm going to get paid. Essentially, I'm 30. I mean, I got to play, hopefully.

[Trey Kirby]

I think that's the hope in Atlanta. To me, it never comes down to talent. With Porzingis, it's availability is the main question. He's an All Star caliber player when he's on the court. It's just a question mark if he's going to be on the court. So I think the Eastern Conference this year, I might start calling it the Spare Tire because it's a little fat in the middle. Up top. The Cavs. The Cavs. Things are working awesome for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They flamed out in the second round of the playoffs, but everybody got hurt and all of their guys are going to be coming back. Dearest Garland is having surgery, but hopefully he'll be ready at the start of the season. They made their move during the trade deadline. With the trade with Atlanta getting DeAndre Hunter, they're looking good. The Knicks do have to hire a coach. They're going to want some additional depth, but assuming they bring back Brunson, of course, assuming they bring back Towns doesn't seem like there's really a trade out there for him, but it seems like everybody can be traded at this point. I still think the Knicks are probably near the top of the Eastern Conference, but then you get into like all these other teams, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando is going to be better, assuming they can stay healthy. Detroit should be better. Milwaukee still has Giannis. The Pacers still have Siakam. The Celtics still have Jaylen Brown. Like, they're still an All Star on all these teams, but it's just one All Star rather than a couple of them. So, you know, three through eight is probably going to be pretty tight in the Eastern Conference.

[Tasm Ellis]

Does the Magic. Do the Magic join the top of that fat team or the fat teams?

[Trey Kirby]

I should say like the above the waistline part of it. I think they want to. Yeah, I think they. They on paper, probably. Yeah.

[Tasm Ellis]

So you're. Yeah. It goes Cleveland. The New York Knicks would have to be that. That second seed. And then I think so unfortunately, because of. Of Tatum's injury and Halliburton's injury, I guess they get lumped in with the Pistons and the Magic. I mean, the Bucks are there. Yeah. And the Hawks are there. Yeah, you set them all, I guess.

[Ash Wood]

I mean, I think if the Pistons take their next step, then they're up in that top four ish range for sure.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah.

[Ash Wood]

And then like you said, the Magic, like I feel like they're up there but you know, like you said, the Bucks, the Bucks still have Giannis, so I mean he could do a lot of things in the regular season. That's the thing.

[Trey Kirby]

Yeah, I mean it's this, it's honestly the case every year. It's going to come down to health. The Magic were a great team last year until Paolo Banchero missed a third of the season and Franz Wagner missed a third of the season. The Pacers were 10 and 15 until Nemhardt and Neesmith got healthy and then they went on an absolute tear. It's going to be who can stay on the court and perform because there's some playoff caliber teams I think from three to eight and we'll see who's gets 70 games out of their second and third best players because that'll determine the East. And then once we get to the playoffs, it's all matchups. But it's interesting. I think the Hawks are interesting here. I think the Celtics did what they wanted to do, saving some money and the Nets are just being smart, being a bad team, but doing good business stuff. So I kind of think for a three time team trade. Win, win, win, win, win, win, win.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah, I can't. I went back to just check on the standings because as you were talking about the Hawks, Ash, I, I felt like this was, you know, such a good Hawks team for a while, the NBA cup time, I mean they felt gathering a lot of steam. They peaked at 22 and 20, which, you know, it's like a 500 team. And then with Jalen Johnson out around that time it was over and, and it's pretty important. As you just said, Trey, it's about the guys who, who are playing. And I truly do wonder unfortunately if Jalen Johnson or Kristaps Porzingis will play more games this year. Because Jalen Johnson, as young as he is, he's, he ain't anywhere close to 30. He does miss time and he only played 36 games last year, 56 games the year before that. He did have a good one in his second year, 70 games, but 22 in year one. And we all know about Kristaps Porzingis, so it's really dependent on those guys. They have a lot of talent though. So I can't wait to see have Kristaps in the middle. I mean, they just need. They needed a big guy, but they do have more depth and I guess the Lakers or the Lakers. We talked about Eve Missy being replaced with New Orleans. That could be a Clint Capella destination because he's leaving Atlanta now that Porzingis and Anyeka Kong were there. It's. It has to happen.

[Trey Kirby]

He's a free agent, I think. Right. And he'll be one of the bigger backup centers you can get out there. So, you know, Capella has had his moments. He's at the end of his career for sure. He slowed down, but he can give some team some minutes. A team like the Lakers that needs a big guy for sure.

[Tasm Ellis]

Yeah, yeah.

[Trey Kirby]

Dimension for sure. Capella to the Lakers. You want everybody know. Yeah. So I saw that in our slack earlier, but man, what a day. Three podcasts. I saw the stream team earlier was saying our record was during the 2022 trade deadline. We did our normal show in the morning and then three emergency podcasts setting the record at four. Four in a day. And look, we could be back here in the emergency room a little bit later tonight, but I'm gonna go play basketball. So if it happens in the next hour and a half, call me Magic Johnson because I ain't gonna be there.

[Tasm Ellis]

Respect. Gotta get, gotta get your reps and gotta get healthy for the 24 or, excuse me, 25, 26 season. We need. We need you on the floor, man.

[Trey Kirby]

Oh, there you go.

[Tasm Ellis]

That's right. Yeah. All right. Great performances, everybody. Back to back to back. Jax. Yeah, we will be back on Thursday, maybe before that.

[Trey Kirby]

Who gets traded in the next 12 hours? So we're doing a show at 10am tomorrow. We shall see.

[Tasm Ellis]

But for now, Clipper Bros. You heard it here first.

[Trey Kirby]

Have a great time. Turn up. Love you guys.

[Ash Wood]

Awesome.

[Trey Kirby]

Thanks for joining us. And remember, we've been monitoring the trades all day and it paid off.

[Tasm Ellis]

It sure did. Here I am. Oh, we're clean. No good trades don't gotta do one right now.

[Trey Kirby]

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