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Ben Green
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Podcast Host
Good morning and welcome to the Athletic NBA Daily. Coming up, we're talking NBA draft trades. It's going to be great. Andrew Schlecht is on with us. Let's do it. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, Andrew. Hello. Hello. I can't think of a better person to talk trades with. I really can't.
Andrew Schlecht
That one, that cannot be true. And two, I love trades.
Podcast Host
You do. I know you do. And this is like the perfect type of slop to get everybody ready.
Nanit Advertiser
Yes.
Andrew Schlecht
Let's go for.
Podcast Host
You know, we're. We're days away. We are days away.
Audi Q3 Advertiser
Yeah.
Podcast Host
From the NBA draft.
Andrew Schlecht
From. Listen. From the NBA draft in which we'll be doing a live NBA draft show.
Podcast Host
That's correct.
Andrew Schlecht
Starring you.
Podcast Host
Yes.
Nanit Advertiser
Yes.
Andrew Schlecht
Barahini. Our friend Zach Harper.
Podcast Host
Yep.
Andrew Schlecht
Is going to join us, which I'm so excited about. C.J. moore is going to join us. I'll be there producing. I'm sure that you'll hear me screaming whenever the Thunder pick whoever they pick. I may. You may even see me on camera there. But we're doing a live in studio show.
Podcast Host
Yes.
Andrew Schlecht
On Tuesday, so. So join us live. Comment along. Tell us why you hate, who your team took or why you Love who your team took. We're very excited about it. But today. Yes, we're doing trades.
Podcast Host
Yeah, it's. It's going to be very cool to do the live show. It'll be a lot of fun. You should come and hang with us. We will be reacting to your messages and comments and also reacting to the picks. We got to figure out if we're going to do spoilers or not. You know, that's.
Andrew Schlecht
That's part of spoilers for sure. Everyone listen.
Podcast Host
Everyone does spoilers. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Let's not pretend that everyone is living in spoiler free zone.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah, exactly like we are.
Andrew Schlecht
The spoiler show.
Podcast Host
You might as well read the newspaper if you want to not do spoilers for real.
Andrew Schlecht
Dude, seriously. I remember like there was one time where I was out of town for the NBA draft and I read the NBA draft results in an in the USA Today. Like no joke. That's how I found out who.
Podcast Host
That's awesome.
Andrew Schlecht
Everybody took.
Podcast Host
That's awesome. I love that. Yeah, the time when paper mattered. Okay. Anyways, let's talk about trades.
Andrew Schlecht
Let's do it.
Podcast Host
There's a lot of great trades. I have some trade ideas. Okay, look, there are OKC related trade ideas. Do you want me to start with that first?
Andrew Schlecht
Since we're with okc? Let's start with OKC and I can. You can give me some rage bait here.
Podcast Host
Okay.
Ben Green
All right.
Podcast Host
So I'm just going to. I'm just testing the waters with this one. This is a very easy one. I feel like you would like it. It's not anything crazy. Okay. Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, the 12th pick, the 17th pick and Dallas's 2028 first back to them for the ninth pick. And PJ Washington.
Andrew Schlecht
Wow, that feels like a lot to go back to okc.
Podcast Host
Oh, interesting. Okay. Okay.
Andrew Schlecht
Feels like a lot.
Podcast Host
So you feel like the winner in this trade. I. You know what I just thought because Dallas would be getting back its pick.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
You know.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, no, I get that. I. I like the idea. I think it makes a lot of sense for both teams. Now PJ Washington, because of the length of his deal does create some problems for okc because they just.
Podcast Host
Yes.
Andrew Schlecht
I mean that would almost like cement that Lou Dort.
Podcast Host
You do play for somebody else salary. Like you still, you're shedding like about 8 million ish dollars or something. So.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Nanit Advertiser
Still.
Andrew Schlecht
If we're talking about like long term though, I think that you probably like would say goodbye to Lou Dort now. Like PJ Washington would allow you to fill a spot that you don't really have. The Thunder don't have a lot of six, eight forwards that can shoot the ball corner.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
You know, they don't have those guys. And it'd be funny because PJ Washington was, like, the tormentor.
Discover Advertiser
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Of the Thunder two years ago whenever the Mavericks were good. So I think that is certainly interesting. And Therefore talking about 9, if thunder removed from 12 to 9, then they would have the opportunity to take somebody like Braden Buries out of Arizona, who I think kind of fits the Thunder mold. He gives them another ball handler. We just got news that Nikola Topic had surgery on his back.
Podcast Host
So, like, which is such a brutal thing for him.
Andrew Schlecht
Dude, the guy came into the NBA with a ACL injury. He had testicular cancer, and then he had surgery on his back.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
I mean, none of that's his doing. None of that's, like, this dude sucks. Like, none of that is that.
Podcast Host
It's just, like, luck, really. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Terrible luck for. For Topich, who is a delightful guy. And, like, I saw him in the locker room this year. Like, the dude still had it. Like, when you have cancer and my wife's going through cancer treatment right now, you have this port that's put in you.
Ben Green
He's.
Andrew Schlecht
You could still see, like, a visible port scar.
Podcast Host
Wow.
Andrew Schlecht
On topic, as he's, like, changing clothes after a game that he played in.
Podcast Host
Wow.
Andrew Schlecht
And so, like, you have to give him, like, a ton of credit for just battling back, and hopefully he'll be good. The Thunders say he'll be back for training camp, and so it should be no problem. We'll see.
Podcast Host
Yeah. But two guys, honestly, two guys waiting in the wings between Topic and Sorber, right?
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, 100%. Two guys that didn't play, that have been on the roster, that have been battling back. But I will say this. Braden Burries makes sense as not only a guard that can, like, handle and get into the paint, but a guy that can be a wing as well. He's a shorter wing, which the Thunder, I think are very comfortable with. Like, they. They value guys that can, like, kind of level up from a height perspective and buries, like, meets, like, almost, like, every mark of the Thunder. So, like, buries makes sense. P.J. washington makes sense. I like that proverb perspective of the Mavs and that they get two guys that are, like, good rotation players and
Podcast Host
they get two picks in 12 and 17. It's not like they're moving down multiple spots. It's just three spots down, you know?
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. I think that. I think that that makes sense for them too. And the Thunder are looking to save money in some kind of way.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Right. Like they're trying to. And if you can save money on those two contracts, do you, do you think they.
Podcast Host
Do you think they move up? Because it just feels, given the roster constraints, you know, the, the, obviously the expense stuff, but it just feels like OKC is going to move up.
Andrew Schlecht
I am very team stay at 12 and 17, by the way.
Podcast Host
Okay.
Andrew Schlecht
That's where I'm at. It's like, I think this draft is really good.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
And that if you stayed at 12 and 17, you would get two players that are contributors right away. That's where I think that's how good this draft is. So I'm more team stay at 12 and 17 than take both of them and move up. But if you get PJ Washington as a result of that, you add some toughness, some rebounding, some size, a guy that can play next to Chet, next to I heart, I think he makes a lot of sense for okc. And then you get to move up in the draft. If you go, if you came away from the draft with Buries and PJ Washington, it's pretty good. The Thunder are quite a bit better because we, we know that PJ is a guy that can play in the playoffs. That's, that's kind of the trouble with both Joe and Wiggins is that they're awesome regular season players. They're awesome people, but they're also guys that have struggled to make it work in the playoffs. And so if you're bringing P.J. washington, he can definitely do that. You bring in Burries as a developmental, like guard wing. I think it makes a lot of sense. So I actually like that one.
Podcast Host
Okay. You're not going to like this one. This, this next one is insane. And it is a move up thing. Okay. And by the way, I really do think OKC should move up. I disagree with you. I think this is, this is the type of draft which I agree is a very stacked draft where they can go and get out, get that guy that they love. And I think I trust in OKC scouting department in their drafting to be able to figure out who that guy is.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
And I'm.
Andrew Schlecht
And they do try, by the way, they tried really hard to move up last year.
Podcast Host
I believe it.
Andrew Schlecht
I believe really hard to move up last year. And they try really hard in almost every draft to move up for a particular player that they like. And that is likely to happen again. And will they succeed? It's really Hard to move up in the draft. It is, it is really hard to ask a team to be like, hey, why don't you move back a few spots so that we can get the guy that we like that you potentially really like too.
Podcast Host
Okay.
Andrew Schlecht
It's really difficult.
Podcast Host
Let me make the pitch here. Okay.
Andrew Schlecht
Okay.
Podcast Host
This is going to be an insane trade. You might want to clip this one. Okay. This is, no players are included in this trade. It's all picks. It's all pick oriented. Okay. The Chicago bulls get the fifth pick. They also get the 12th pick. They get 2027 Denver first pick. I believe it's top three protected or something. They get the 2028 Dallas pick that we just talked about. They get OKC's 2028 first unprotected.
Andrew Schlecht
What is about to happen?
Podcast Host
The clippers get number 15. They get number 17. They own the 20. They get their own 2027 first back. They get a Spurs 2027 first back. And OKC. OKC gives up eight picks, basically.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
In order to get the number four overall pick and draft Caleb Wilson.
Andrew Schlecht
Wow. It feels like if you were an outsider looking in. It's insane.
Podcast Host
I know. It's insane.
Andrew Schlecht
No, no, no. This is something that, I think that on the outside looking in, this is something the Thunder have been gearing up for that because they've acquired so many draft picks, they should be able to do something like this.
Podcast Host
You have to be able to do something, you know, instead of like, just
Andrew Schlecht
like playing the long game with every single thing, like you just like cash in everything, you go get this one guy who. What's funny about, like, these top 10 picks is that they're, they're, they're not cheap. Like, they're, if they're really good, then they're, it's a bargain. If they're developmental projects, they're not. These are not cheap developmental projects.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
These are guys that make the money of a rotation guy.
Ben Green
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Like $11 million or something, right?
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. I don't hate this for the Thunder. I think it would bring a lot of excitement to okc. Now. They, they need to kind of find a path forward to compete with everybody in the league to take a step up. Now, if we, a lot of people may or may not forget that, like J.B. dub and A.J. mitchell were missing in the conference finals, which is a huge deal for them. Those are. I, I, I would think of the Thunder as a core four at this point. Bashay, Chet, Dub and AJ as their four players that they think are kind of like their best guys. If you were to add a another guy to that and Caleb Wilson, it would, it would allow them to play in a way that I think that they want to play ultimately where Chet is the five now I, you would keep I heart in the situation you'd like Caleb Wilson develop. He'd probably be coming off the bench.
Podcast Host
Absolutely. He would be perfect for you guys.
Andrew Schlecht
Dude like the, he would be, he
Podcast Host
would be great in terms of the energy, in terms of honestly like the character stuff, winning the everything that OKC ends up drafting for Caleb Wilson matches and then yeah. And then I just, I think he matches what you guys need positionally too. That's kind of why I was like, you know, P.J. washington makes sense for you guys. Get like a four that can sometimes play small ball five. The, the shot has to develop for Caleb Wilson. But in terms of a dude getting a massive even if he is a bit more of a project getting another blue chip prospect in the door to pair alongside chat to pair alongside Dub and AJ and sga, I feel like this is the type of move that can be done because I, I, I don't think it's possible to crack the top three in this draft.
Andrew Schlecht
No. And Cameron Boozer, like if the Thunder had like a choice of one of the top four guys, I think it would be Cam because he, the decision making stuff with him, the fact that he's a great rebounder. If you put him next to chat, like it makes a lot of sense.
Podcast Host
But Caleb, Caleb does a lot of like the rebounding crash in the glass. He does the intensity defense.
Andrew Schlecht
Tell me this as why would the Chicago Bulls do this?
Podcast Host
Because they only move down one spot and they get another. So basically they would get another lottery pick in number 12. They would get Denver's pick to bet on. They would get Dallas's pick in 2028 to bet on. They get OKC's pick. Like this is a treasure trove of pretty good picks in my opinion.
Ledn Advertiser
It is.
Podcast Host
I will say I don't think the Bulls do this. I think the Bulls just say I'm taking the pick. You know, you would have to incentivize them further. But yeah, yeah, that's my, that's my trade.
Andrew Schlecht
I don't know that they move down because you're, you're not only moving down one pick, which doesn't, it doesn't sound like much if you were to put it that way, but they're moving down a tier.
Podcast Host
It's a tier. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Like it's a pretty Big tier of. And you probably ask the other 26 GMs, like, who do you like? And that's that fifth spot. You, you will get a lot of different answers. You'll get Keaton, Wagler, you'll get Acuff. You may get Fleming. So get Michael Brown.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
I don't know if somebody would say Ament or Mara or not. I would, I personally would not say that for either one of those guys, but you might get one to say that. And so at that point, it's like, okay, we have clearly reached a different tier. At pick four, you're getting one answer.
Podcast Host
Like the Bulls new gm, Bryson Graham, he has brought up this philosophy of slap, which is size, length, athleticism and physicality. And basically all of those things. Describe Caleb Wilson, you know, yeah, 100%.
Andrew Schlecht
So it's, it feels too easy there. AC Law, who was in OKC, so last year he was with Brooklyn. The year before he was with the Thunder.
Podcast Host
Great OG NBA poll, by the way. AC Law, you know, dude.
Andrew Schlecht
And AC was like a great point guard from Texas A and M, then played at with the hot drafted by the Hawks. Like, great dude. You also wonder about him being like, we just need to get the best guy available. Surely that fits well. But you could also say that because he was from okc, he might be like, listen, guys, if we can nab all the assets possible out of this fourth pick, perhaps they do value a guy like Acuff or a guy like Waggler or Kel Brown or Waggler or Flemings as a guy that is closer to Wilson than a lot of people think. If they think that it's like marginal between the two, then maybe you could get a lot of picks out of them. I just feel, unless really, until it happens, I will not believe that anybody is able to trade into the top four.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah, I agree. I, I, I don't know. I just, I think OKC will try to move up, especially if they feel like they can get their guy, the guy that they love. And if there was a draft to do that, it would be this draft for them. So I think it was worthwhile to spend 15 minutes on OKC because they seem like they're going to be players in this 2026 NBA Draft. Okay, when we come back, we're going to do some Giannis trades, some Trey Murphy trades, and other stuff.
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Ben Green
This is Ben Green from the Athletic FC podcast and today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile. In football, sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery to reach their full potential. And think about your phone the same way. Head into a Boost Mobile store and their team will clean up your device, check your battery health and and get you set up on the Boost Mobile Unlimited plan for just $25 a month. Forever. No contracts, no price increases. Just a fresh start for your phone and your wallet. Visit Boost Mobile, unlock your phone. $25 forever requires customers to remain active on the Boost Mobile Unlimited plan.
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Podcast Host
Okay, we're back. It feels Like Giannis is going to get traded before the NBA draft.
Andrew Schlecht
It just, he better. If we, if we get past the NBA draft s and we have to talk about the Bucks with Giannis and like the Giannis us team moving forward, I honestly will not care. I will not discuss it. I won't care. I do not care. If he wants to remain a buck, good on him. He's going to make a ton of money. He's going to establish this like great life for his family. But as far as like NBA interest, I do not care about the Bucks anymore. I'm going to be better trade him.
Podcast Host
I already don't kind of care. Like I.
Andrew Schlecht
You shouldn't, you should not care about them. This really, you really should not.
Podcast Host
This really is the boy who cried wolf type of thing. Where, where it, you know, it's been like five seasons in a row, maybe longer, that we've talked about Giannis as a trade destiny, a trade target. It seems like it's going to happen, but you're right. If it doesn't again, I've, I've learned my lesson. What's that thing? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. You know?
Andrew Schlecht
Totally. Totally.
Podcast Host
Okay, this is, this is the three way trade that I found that would get Giannis to the Boston Celtics.
Andrew Schlecht
Okay.
Podcast Host
Giannis goes to the Celtics. That's trade part number one. Number two is the Atlanta Hawks get Jalen Brown and then the Bucks get Kaminga, Risa Shay, Asa Newell, Corey Kispert. Pick number eight, pick number 27. They get their own 2027 first back. They get a Hawks unprotected 2028 first. If you want to throw in another first there. Sure. But that's basically the trade. And now the Bucks would have that group to build around. Plus number 8 plus number 10 that they have in this NBA draft. That's the rebuild for Giannis.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. How do we feel about the Celtics like pivoting in this way? Because the Celtics are a team that is like so driven by three point shooting and all of that and they've had Jaylen Brown for a long time. How do we feel about the Celtics pivot to a guy who I think is obviously better than Jaylen Brown, but also a guy who has had a lot of, a lot more health struggles than Jaylen Brown. Yeah, I guess this is something that we feel like they are ready to do.
Podcast Host
I'll be honest, I don't think this is a Celtics thing. If this were to happen, I think it would be and just based on the vibes that we're seeing, I'm not sourced in any sort of way in this, but the way Jaylen Brown has reacted post the Celtics being eliminated makes it feel like he wants to have his own team. Makes it feel like he wants to be the guy. And yeah, with Tatum, he's not the guy. And I think he experienced what it feels like to be the guy this season. You know, he said it was his most favorite season of his career beyond, even beyond winning a championship. I think this would be more of a Jaylen Brown driven discussion than the Celtics in any way. Obviously, going out and getting Giannis is a massive thing for them, but that's the type of player that you trade Jaylen Brown for. It's to upgrade and get, you know, a guy who's been top three, top five in MVP voting for the last six or seven seasons. I know there's injury concerns with Giannis, but I think the fit between him and Tatum would be stellar. I think the. Yeah, the shock creation, of course, would be great. I think depending on what kind of players they fill out their roster with, Giannis could be back to the type of defender that he's been in the past. I think it would be a really good fit for. For Giannis and the Celtics.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. I mean, if you feel like you can play Giannis at the five, I
Podcast Host
don't think you can. I'm going to go out on a limb and say I don't think that is in his cards form. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Okay. Well, then I'm a little bit worried then because, like, that is like the biggest thing that the Celtics need is like size that can play in the playoffs. And like, after you do that, you
Podcast Host
can do it in moments. But I just, I don't think you're doing a season with Giannis at the five type of thing.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I get that. I totally get that. I just wonder how you acquire a center that is playoff ready, because if they don't have one, then I don't think that they get past round two, probably in the East. Does that make sense?
Podcast Host
Yeah, I think so. Although, like, you know, there's the Keda situation and I know Keda was bad against Embiid. Like he. He really was.
Andrew Schlecht
He got killed.
Podcast Host
They have to find some sort of solution at the 5. I agree with you. I think that's part of the Giannis equation. But that question persists. Persists even without Jaylen Brown.
Andrew Schlecht
What do you, what do you do with Keda this summer? There's a team option for 2.6 million, which is a bargain for them. But then he would become an unrestricted free agent the next summer. It's like, what do you, what do you do now with Keita?
Podcast Host
I don't think they can afford to resign him. And if they do, actually I would. You know what, I take that back. I think they would try and resign him after the season that he had because there's enough there to get him on a cheaper deal in comparison to if you give it another year and you might have to pay even more for him. So, like, maybe you can get Kate on like, I don't know, 15, 17, $18 million versus if he has another year like he had again like last year. He's like a 22, 23, $24 million player.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, yeah. I, I would be terrified to trade for a guy who is great in the regular season, but the goals that the Celtics have are to win an NBA championship. And if Keda is playing the role that he did. Yeah, can he be that guy? I mean, he's a 25 minute a night guy for them in the regular season. Like, what can he be in the playoffs? He was in a reduced role in the playoffs. It clearly did not work for them there. Yeah.
Podcast Host
You know what, though? Can I also be the devil's advocate here? Because the other, the other team is Miami and I just, I don't see the, I don't see the sell with the Heat with Giannis as a destination. Like, yeah, bam. And, and Giannis and Davion Mitchell and Norm Powell, like that's, that's like a 48 to 50 win team. That's a four or five seed in the Eastern Conference. That's maybe a second round out. I think the combination of Giannis and Tatum could go farther than that. That could be the core of a championship team. You have to fill out your roster. Derrick White has to play better than he did last year, but just the upside of Giannis with the Celtics is much higher to me than Giannis with the Heat.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I agree. The Heat have been really good at pulling rabbits out of the hat though, when it comes to moments where they need players like, and the coaching there has been superb. Like Caleb Martin right now is probably on a negative contract in Dallas, you know what I mean? And he was like a guy that was delivering for them in the playoffs.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
And so some of that is like coaching staff, like everything that they have in Miami is just a little bit elevated compared to other places in the league. And so I think if they feel like they Have a star in the league. I mean, they had Jimmy Butler, who is, I don't know, what is he like a B minus star?
Podcast Host
Sure.
Andrew Schlecht
And he took him to the finals twice. Jimmy was great. So I just wonder like, if they had a guy like Giannis. Even though on paper it doesn't look that good and certainly not as good as the Celtics, but if, if they had a guy that was as good as Giannis, they would figure it out. Yeah, they will find other things. I just kind of have faith in that franchise. Not that I don't have faith in the Celtics, but like having Bam there as a guy to kind of be the fulcrum of the defense down low and let Giannis kind of be the Roamer.
Podcast Host
They would, they would have one of the best defense, like top three defense in the NBA.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. And we're talking about the Eastern Conference. I just think, like, if it was a Giannis Bam led team, which is not a clean fit, by the way. Like, that's kind of a rough, that's a rough fit. I just think that that would present a lot more problems to a team like the Knicks than any team did. Like, the Cavs on paper are awesome. The Cavs in real life are.
Podcast Host
They're not. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
And so that's the, that's the dark
Podcast Host
horse, the honest team for me, them and the Timberwolves, I'm like, they gotta, they gotta do something.
Andrew Schlecht
Either one of those teams, if they could actually make it happen, should do it. Because the way that either that both of them are constructed, like, I don't think the Timberwolves, as presently constructed, can beat the spurs of the Thunder. And the Cavaliers need like a lobotomy at this point. And, and Giannis would be that lobotomy
Podcast Host
for them that he would be, he would bring a level of intensity that they just do not have right now.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Like they, yeah. It does not exist.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Yeah, I agree. I, I, I feel like Giannis gets traded before the draft, though, that, Because I do too.
Andrew Schlecht
I hope, I hope it happens on draft night. Yeah, that's. Sure.
Podcast Host
Yeah. While we're doing the show.
Andrew Schlecht
Yes, please.
Podcast Host
It would be, it would be obviously incredible theater, but just the Bucks are operating as if they will have multiple first round picks, and right now they don't. So it feels like they're, they're preparing for Giannis to be, not be traded. Okay, let me throw some. Trey Murphy trades out. You, you just pick which one you like the most. Okay. Okay.
Ben Green
Okay.
Podcast Host
The warriors get Trey Murphy. The Pelicans get the number 11 pick, Brandon Pajimsky and Moses Moody.
Andrew Schlecht
I think the 11th pick is very valuable.
Podcast Host
It is very valuable. Yeah, Absolutely.
Andrew Schlecht
And if you'd rather move forward with younger gu, I think that makes sense
Podcast Host
for pretty good value for Trey Murphy. Like Pods is a, is still. He's a good player.
Andrew Schlecht
He could play.
Podcast Host
He's a good player.
Andrew Schlecht
Rotation player. I would take that. I would wonder, too, about if you're the warriors, like, where's your head at in all of this compete?
Podcast Host
They are. If, if they're trading for Trey Murphy, it's to compete around Steph Curry, it's to compete around Jimmy Butler, and whenever he comes back and Draymond, like, that's. Yeah, I know, I know. We are like, they should not do that, but they should. They, they're going to do that. They are absolutely going to do that.
Andrew Schlecht
I like Murph. I think he's a really good player. I think that personality wise, like, he and Steph and Draymond would fit very, very well. He provides size and shooting that they would need on the perimeter. I also wonder, too, though, is Trey Murphy the kind of guy that fits into the Warrior system? I do question that quite a bit.
Ben Green
Sure.
Podcast Host
Because he would be excellent for okc, by the way. That's another team that I didn't bring up. But just. He would be excellent for you guys.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I, I, I don't think that's a bad idea. I wonder about the warriors because, like, they're looking for essentially their second guy.
Nanit Advertiser
Right.
Podcast Host
least in the interm. When. Until Jimmy comes back. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Until Jimmy comes back. If they're looking for the Sarah second guy, Trey's not that guy. Yeah, that's not. It's an unfair position to put him in. And so I do worry a little bit about that for them and that they would be putting unnecessary pressure on a guy who may or may not meet the moment. And then we're talking about a team that's in the exact same place, but with maybe less upside with Trey. And then New Orleans, like, you get the 11th pick, you, you could get a guy who has a lot of upside at pick 11 in this draft.
Podcast Host
Axel Landenborg is a guy that the.
Andrew Schlecht
Axel is not the name I was thinking of, but continue.
Podcast Host
Okay. Pistons. Pistons get Trey Murphy. Pelicans get Ron Holland. Marcus Sasser, the 21st pick in this draft. A pick swap next year and a 20, 28 unprotected first.
Andrew Schlecht
Ooh, we are like, going all in here for Detroit. I love that for Detroit. I Think Detroit's the kind of team that needs a spot up shooter like Trey Murphy. I like this a lot better than Golden State. I would put, I would vault this to the top, top of my Trey Murphy, Trey Murphy standings. The Pistons need to make like a pretty big jump if he's their four man next to Jalen Duran, who they will resign and figure out at some point.
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah, they're going to resign.
Andrew Schlecht
They need shooting in a bad way. In a really, really bad way.
Podcast Host
And he's, he's a good enough defender to stay on the floor consistently for you.
Andrew Schlecht
So 100% and personality wise, he, he fits like a, a growing team like that. I think you always have to factor in like, who is the like actual person we're bringing into the locker room. Trey Murphy is by all accounts like a great guy to bring into your locker room. So I love that. This is like, this is my favorite Trey Murphy trade. Even though I've only heard two. This is my favorite one.
Podcast Host
Okay, you might like this one more. The Hornets get Yves, me see and Trey Murphy. The Pelicans get Miles bridges, the number 14 pick. The number 18 pick, and Dallas's pick next season. Top three protected.
Andrew Schlecht
Wow.
Podcast Host
Which is a, that's a good pick.
Andrew Schlecht
You know, 14, 18 and next year's pick.
Podcast Host
Yeah. And Bridges is basically just an expiring salary. They just get them and.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, yeah. And. And what's hard with Bridges is that like, as a consumer of the NBA and somebody who also enjoys like human beings as people. Yeah, he's a tough one.
Podcast Host
Yes, absolutely. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Because like the, the truth about Miles Bridges is that he's a really good player. Like, he's a really good NBA player and a guy that contributed a lot to them. And so I don't know that we're talking about like a massive upgrade as far as talent there.
Podcast Host
Oh, I would disagree there. I would disagree. I think, I think for what the Hornets want to do, Trey Murphy, obviously the three point shooting is massive. He kind of like adds another crazy shooter. But defensively, Trey is, is much better than Miles Bridges, in my opinion.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I think he's. I think he's better. But I think my, I mean, Miles was.
Podcast Host
You also gave me, you know, another big man that they could have.
Andrew Schlecht
You know, that that's, you know, I am, I am me see neutral. Like, count me as me see neutral.
Podcast Host
I'm pro misi. I'm pro misi.
Andrew Schlecht
I think he needs a lot of development. And like, I will say this, that like the passing of Lamelo And Khan could really help me see become the player that he's. That he could be. But I mean bridges average 17, 6 and 3 yawn last year and his shooting wasn't great but like he will. He'll take enough threes to space the floor for you. He's obviously like an explosive athlete.
Podcast Host
Crazy athlete.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah.
Podcast Host
Train Murphy is a good athlete too.
Andrew Schlecht
I'm just Tray bro Tramer if he's. He's a really good player and I really like him. I think Miles is probably a little bit better of a creator offensively. And so I think like you are not like getting like the. I think you're getting an upgrade, but it's like not a three draft picks upgrade on him. Now if you're talking about personality, if you're talking about human being wise, like. Yes. You're getting like a seven pick upgrade.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Miles Bridges.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
But I just wonder about like team building wise if you're actually moving yourself that far forward in that moment.
Ben Green
Yeah.
Podcast Host
I think, I think the Hornets would rather keep their picks too. I think they would rather keep.
Andrew Schlecht
I think it. I think that you can get players in the draft at the spots that
Podcast Host
they're at that can replicate what you want to. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Because like 14, if you got like Mahrez Johnson or I think Cameron Carr fits the Hornets really well.
Podcast Host
Kind of Trey Murphy esque too in terms of Cameron Carr. Right.
Andrew Schlecht
So yeah, he's definitely shorter than Trey, like by quite a bit. But like the athleticism, the shooting, like Cam will take. Cameron Carr will take really deep threes too.
Podcast Host
Absolutely.
Audi Q3 Advertiser
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Like he's got this like irrational confidence about him as a role player that I think would really fit well with the Hornets. And then if we're talking about keeping the power forward slot the way that it is and taking Cameron Carr, I like is that then are we talking about such a massive upgrade?
Podcast Host
Yeah. But it's also like that Cam car is kind of a small. Like when you have Khan, you have Lamelo, you have Brandon Miller. It just feels like camp. Where is Cam gonna play?
Andrew Schlecht
You know, it's a great question. That's why I like brought up like Mares Johnson as a guy who.
Podcast Host
Yaxel. Yaxel could be the Miles Bridges replacement there, you know.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. Ye. So Yaxo would be great for them. I think that, that he would be awesome for them. And like you don't, you don't seem
Podcast Host
like a Yaxel guy.
Andrew Schlecht
I listen you sound.
Podcast Host
You. You're sounding a little, you know, you said you were Yves neutral You're. You're Yaksel Pessimistic.
Andrew Schlecht
I. I like the idea of Yaxel. I can't get beyond the fact that this dude will be 24 years old when he starts his NBA career.
Podcast Host
That's perfect for you guys. That's perfect for the Thunder.
Andrew Schlecht
It's not though. It's not. There's zero track record of the Thunder organization taking a guy that's that old in the first round. 0. 0. And like maybe he works. And maybe he works great in the NBA. It's great. He's not a self creator, which I do think like limits like what the upside is for Yaxel Linderborg. He is a good defender. He's got long arms. He's 6 foot 10.
Nanit Advertiser
All.
Andrew Schlecht
All of those things are great.
Podcast Host
Thunder.
Andrew Schlecht
He. There's a lot of good things. Personality wise. There's a little. His. His journey to the NBA just makes you think like, huh. Like what's happening there with this guy? Like you. It's. It makes it for us really difficult because like we can't get in the room with him. And what, what you truly need with a guy like Yaxel Lindenberg is to like sit down with him and to like have a meal with Yaxel and to figure out what's going on with this guy and who is he really? Like, to me that is. That is the biggest thing about all of this, aside from the age, the skill set, all of it. Like he's obviously a winner. He won a national championship. He's molded himself into like everywhere he needs to be to become a winner. That all. That's amazing. But I, I feel like me personally, I'm lacking. The number one thing that I want to know about Yaxel Linda Borg is like, who is he?
Podcast Host
Who is he? That's why the interview, that's why the interview process is very important.
Andrew Schlecht
It's a huge deal. I think it's probably more important for him than it is for anybody else in the draft because like when you think about guys that are his age, they get drafted in round one. There are very few. Yeah, Very, very few that become what people think they can be.
Podcast Host
Who's the guy from the Pacers? It was like second in rookie of the year voting, but he was like 30 years old. Chris Duarte. Chris Duarte.
Andrew Schlecht
Dude. Duarte.
Podcast Host
Duarte.
Andrew Schlecht
You don't. You do not want to draft Duarte. You don't want Duarte. Everybody.
Podcast Host
I don't think Yaxel is Duarte. I'm putting my foot down Nobody.
Andrew Schlecht
But the problem is no one thought Duarte was Duarte.
Podcast Host
I guess that's true. I get.
Andrew Schlecht
You know what I mean?
Podcast Host
I guess that's true. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
Like, everybody going into that draft was like, he's the sure thing. He can help you right away.
Podcast Host
And he showed it in his first year. He showed. He was like, he was very sure thingy in his first year.
Andrew Schlecht
And then he fell off a cliff, and it's just like, is he.
Podcast Host
Is the.
Andrew Schlecht
Is the axel going to be that? Where it's like, hey, he is what he is. And there's not much more that you're going to get. Which people liked about Duarte. And now Yaxel's bigger. He's got more length. Like, there's a lot.
Podcast Host
He started basketball later, too. Yaxel started at, like, 18 or something, which is, dude, like this.
Andrew Schlecht
The story is wild because, like, Yaxel tried to start playing basketball in high school, was not eligible because of grades for, I think, three years.
Podcast Host
Wow.
Andrew Schlecht
And then he eventually winds up, like, getting into college and, like, go see you. Ends up at uab. And he is, like, a finishing center at that point. It's like, this is cool. And then he gets to Michigan. He actually learns. I. I think at Michigan, he learned the game of basketball.
Podcast Host
Incredible year at Michigan, too.
Andrew Schlecht
Between him, became a shooter, fit in well, made almost every correct play to get them to the national championship. He was awesome. He's one of the most confounding players that I have ever watched in the NBA draft process. I don't know what to do with him because I think he could be amazing or. Or maybe he's not. I mean, he literally. I mean, he. He should be the guy that I'm, like, rooting for to become a Thunder
Podcast Host
player, because he sounds like he should be in your. Anyways, can I came to OKC and
Andrew Schlecht
put on the playoff shirt S. He did that and he said, I want to be a Thunder player.
Podcast Host
That'd be.
Andrew Schlecht
We're going way too long on this.
Podcast Host
But, like, it's okay.
Andrew Schlecht
I'm just like, can I kind of, like, getting it all out right now?
Podcast Host
Can I throw out another guy that's really interesting and fascinating to me in this draft. Just real quick.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, yeah, please.
Podcast Host
Alan Graves, very fascinating player. Because it's just, like, fascinating is.
Andrew Schlecht
Is one way to put it. Yes.
Podcast Host
Okay, well, I'll just go out on the record and say, I like him. I like Alan Graves. But I'm. I'm com. In similar ways. I'm confounded by Alan Graves. Because he came off of the bench for Santa clara, played like 22 minutes. He's an analytics darling, so the analytics community loves him. But when you watch him play, you kind of see what he's all about. Like, good shooter can. Can be like this defensive playmaker for you, connective passer. I would love for him to be on the Spurs. Like, I think he would be the perfect player next to Victor Wembanyama. Next to these other guys, they need a big four two. And he just. He matches and I. He's just weird because he played 22 minutes at Santa Clara and he was a bench player and it just. What do you do with that? You know, what do you do with that type of player?
Ben Green
How.
Podcast Host
How do you bank on this type of player? Because I think the Hornets could use him. I think the spurs could use him. I honestly think the Thunder could use him. It just. Very confounding player.
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. Yeah. The numbers say one thing, but then when you watch him, it says a completely different thing in my mind.
Podcast Host
I like that. I like the tape. I like watching him. And. And I'm just like, he kind of is like Boris Diao mixed with like Al Horford. And even the shot, like, if you watch the shot, it's kind of Al Horford esque, you know, the way he sets it up. I just. I don't know, man. I don't know what I'm watching.
Andrew Schlecht
He feels like the defensive playmaking is like a huge strength of his. Yeah, he just feels so slow. And the shot release. He does the shot. The shot release is really slow. And so, like, it's. It's difficult when you talk about a guy who was as good of a defensive playmaker and has good of hands as him. But then when you actually watch him play, you're like, man, like, that dude would definitely dominate at the ymca.
Podcast Host
He'd be one of the best LA fitness players you've ever seen in your life.
Andrew Schlecht
You would think. You would think this guy is.
Podcast Host
And he's like, he's like below the rim. Like, he's not dunking all the time. He doesn't finish well. It's just. He's a very interesting player and I think he really needs to go to the right spot. Like, just needs to get drafted to the correct situation. Like Charlotte with all that offensive talent would make a lot of sense. San Antonio with all of that talent and kind of like the defenders to insulate some of the big slowness would make a lot of sense, you know, I know.
Andrew Schlecht
I just feel like, we have been trying for a long time to find the evolved version of Kyle Anderson. I feel like we try all the time.
Podcast Host
This is a Kyle Anderson variant, I agree. But he can shoot.
Andrew Schlecht
He can shoot slowly, though. And we have seen with guys who have slow releases.
Podcast Host
You have seen.
Andrew Schlecht
I have seen firsthand that guys that have slow releases don't matter. They don't matter. S. They don't. They do not matter. Until you speed up that release, it does not matter because you can. The guys in the league are bigger, faster, stronger than they were a decade ago when Kyle Anderson was, like, an actual player in the NBA.
Podcast Host
True.
Andrew Schlecht
And so I am super concerned about a guy like Alan Graves. And I know that the analytics community loves him. I am part of the watching with my eyeballs community. And I am ball washer. I am terrified. I'm terrified of Alan Graves.
Podcast Host
I'm. I'm. I'm somewhere in between. And I like Alan Graves. I like.
Andrew Schlecht
I like terrified. I would, like, listen, when the Thunder take him at 17 next Tuesday, I'll
Podcast Host
be like, I love Alan Graves.
Nanit Advertiser
This is.
Andrew Schlecht
I'll be running around the studio in Chicago with S and Zach and cj and I will be terrified. I'll be just screaming. So if you. If you see the Thunder take Graves
Podcast Host
at 17, Alan Graves kind of reminds me of, like, Taj Gibson or like Tyrus Thomas, you know, like, he's like.
Andrew Schlecht
He's like a player that you. If this were 2014, Alan Graves maybe goes 12.
Podcast Host
Honestly, if he stayed another year in college, he might go 12. Like, that's higher. Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
In next year's draft. Yes.
Podcast Host
Yeah.
Ben Green
Yeah.
Andrew Schlecht
It may maybe not the. The worst move ever. Especially if he's, like, getting like, a big fat nil deal. Let's say he went to play to Duke.
Podcast Host
Sure.
Andrew Schlecht
Play somewhere else.
Podcast Host
Yeah. Yeah. I'm kind of surprised that he didn't think, well, whatever. It doesn't matter. I like Alan Graves. I like Yaxel Landaborg. I like talking NBA draft with you, Andrew. I appreciate you, as always. Go and listen to all things draft related. We've done, like a whole week of NBA draft stuff. We're going to be live from Chicago doing the draft. That will be a lot of fun. Come hang out with us. And that's it. That's all I got for you guys. We'll see you guys later. Take care. Have a good one. Peace out. Thanks for listening. Make sure you hit the subscribe or
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follow button so you never miss an
Podcast Host
episode if you enjoyed it. Drop a, like, leave a rating or
Andrew Schlecht
let us know in the comments.
Podcast Host
Thank you guys for waking up with us.
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Date: June 19, 2026
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Guest Host / Unnamed (the “Podcast Host”)
This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily dives deep into the 2026 NBA Draft with a special focus on creative trade scenarios, front office strategies, and key player moves possibly shaping the league this offseason. The hosts orchestrate a “Draft Trade Challenge,” where they debate and dissect bold, sometimes wild trade ideas involving top teams and stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trey Murphy, and several high-upside draft prospects. The tone is lively, informed, and occasionally irreverent—with plenty of honest debate about the logic and likelihood behind each proposal.
[02:01–09:11]
Live NBA Draft Show Announcement:
The show opens with excitement for The Athletic’s upcoming live, in-studio draft coverage, teased with interactivity and behind-the-scenes banter.
Spoiler Culture in Draft Coverage:
Both hosts humorously recount the era before instant draft news and agree: “Everyone does spoilers. Let’s not pretend that everyone is living in spoiler free zone.” (Andrew Schlecht, 03:14)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Aggressive or Conservative?
The bulk of the first act is an OKC trade brainstorm—would the Thunder be better off packaging picks and players to move up, or using their draft capital to build out depth?
Memorable Quote:
“I am very team stay at 12 and 17, by the way. I think this draft is really good.” —Andrew Schlecht, [07:59]
[04:05–11:14]
Trade Scenario 1:
Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, 12th and 17th picks, DAL 2028 1st to Dallas for #9 pick and PJ Washington
Trade Scenario 2 (All-In Move Up):
OKC sends a haul of picks (including #12, DAL 2028, DEN 2027, and own unprotected) to move up to #4 for Caleb Wilson.
Memorable Quotes:
“The Thunder don’t have a lot of six, eight forwards that can shoot the ball.” —Andrew Schlecht, [05:26]
“This is the type of draft where they can go and get that guy that they love.” — Podcast Host, [09:11]
[20:28–29:38]
“Giannis to the Celtics” Multi-Team Blockbuster:
Celtics receive Giannis; Hawks get Jaylen Brown; Bucks get Kaminga, Risa Shay, Asa Newell, Corey Kispert, picks #8, #27, their own 2027 1st, and a Hawks future 1st.
Alternative Giannis Destinations:
Miami and Minnesota are discussed—Miami's coaching and defensive potential, and the Timberwolves as a possible “lobotomy” for the Cavs.
Memorable Quote:
“If we get past the NBA Draft and we still have to talk about the Bucks with Giannis, honestly, I will not care. I won't discuss it. If he wants to remain a Buck, good on him... But as far as NBA interest, I do not care about the Bucks anymore.” —Andrew Schlecht, [20:33]
[Key Segment:]
[21:41] – First detailed breakdown of the three-way Giannis trade
[24:09] – Celtics’ fit discussion
[28:26] – Focus on possible Miami fit
[30:02–36:26]
Memorable Quotes:
“[Detroit] need shooting in a really, really bad way. Trey’s a good enough defender to stay on the floor.” —Andrew Schlecht, [32:57]
“Personality-wise... he's a great guy to bring into your locker room.” —Andrew Schlecht, [33:05]
[36:29–46:15]
“Everyone does spoilers. Let’s not pretend that everyone is living in spoiler free zone.” —Andrew Schlecht, [03:14]
“Sometimes you just have to cash in everything, you go get this one guy.” — Andrew Schlecht, [11:28]
“This draft is really good... if you stayed at 12 and 17, you’d get two players that are contributors right away.” —Andrew Schlecht, [08:02]
“I am part of the watching with my eyeballs community. And I am terrified. I'm terrified of Alan Graves.” —Andrew Schlecht, [45:10]
Summary At A Glance:
An energetic, idea-rich breakdown of NBA Draft trade strategies, with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, and rising prospects like Alan Graves and Yaxel Landaborg front and center. Through mock trades, candid humor, and philosophical debate, the hosts offer a roadmap for what to watch as draft week unfolds.