Loading summary
Transcript103 lines
- [00:00]
Advertiser 1
As a salesperson, the search for the right buyer or buying groups can feel like you're endlessly sifting through leads and hoping they're ready to buy. Thankfully, LinkedIn Sales Navigator is more than just a tool, it's your strategic sales partner. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a sales intelligence platform that helps professionals effectively prospect and engage high value customers, drive higher revenue and increase sales performance. Sales Navigator helps you target the right buyers, surface key signals such as job changes or when which accounts you should prioritize and shows you hidden allies so you can find those buyers that are most likely to convert. Whether you're looking for new clients or strengthening relationships of current accounts, LinkedIn Sales Navigator has a new AI feature designed to help sellers find the right people and get right to the right conversations. All at scale. Fueled by LinkedIn's 1 billion-member platform, Sales Navigator gives you the most up to date first party data, enabling you to unlock conversations with the people that matter. Ready to get right to the right conversations? Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator now with a 60 day free trial at LinkedIn.combaseballshow that is LinkedIn.combaseballshow for a 60 day free trial. Terms and conditions apply. As we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com creditcard.
- [01:43]
Advertiser 2
This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apply for Apple Card today and start earning up to 3% daily cash back on everyday purchases. And that daily cash can even grow automatically when you open a high yield savings account through Apple Card. What are you waiting for? Visit Apple Co CardCalculator today to see how much daily cash you can earn. Subject to credit approval Savings available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility Savings in Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com welcome.
- [02:27]
Dave Dufresne
To the Athletic MBA Show. I'm Dave Dufresne 4 here with Anthony Slater doing a little Team USA post game. Team USA defeated South Sudan 10386 in their second game in the Olympic group play. This was a little bit. I. I thought that Anthony, I thought they looked a little bit better than the showcase game against South Sudan.
- [02:52]
Advertiser 2
A little bit.
- [02:53]
Dave Dufresne
A little bit.
- [02:54]
Advertiser 2
They should have lost that showcase, but.
- [02:56]
Dave Dufresne
South Sudan still looked pretty good in this game.
- [02:59]
Advertiser 2
Yeah, look, I believe if I have my Vegas lines correct, they came into that the showcase game is 43 point dogs and lost by one. And then I thought they were showing a little bit more respect today. I believe they ended around like 29 point.
- [03:12]
Dave Dufresne
29, that's right.
- [03:13]
Advertiser 2
And they covered, you know, and the game went probably how I would have predicted in the sense of, like, I did think Team USA was going to come out kind of steaming in that first half. I think a little bit not embarrassed by the, the exhibition game against Sudan, but maybe a little bit threatened in wanting to make a statement. And they were going to really push out early, take control of the game, which they did. But, you know, South Sudan, Sudan is proud. And I think this, this Team USA team is kind, you know, they can let their foot off the gas pedal, which you would kind of expect with this much talent. And I thought they did what I think they had five first half turnovers. They were super crisp. And then they had four turnovers within the first, like, you know, four minutes of the second half. And you never felt like Sudan was in it, but it was like, you know, they, they, they at least made them have to play out the strength.
- [04:02]
Dave Dufresne
Yeah. And I mean, really, it was about the offense for Team usa, and we'll, we'll get to that. Just some of the struggles that they had. And it's funny to say that in a game that they scored 103 points in. But let's start, let's start with the, the starting lineup. And obviously there was all this controversy with Jayson Tatum not playing at all in Game one. Tyrese Halberton, also a DNP coach decision in Game one. Both of those guys played in this game. Jason Tatum gets the start, which is honestly hilarious. That's like, is that, is that Steve Kerr being funny or is this maybe something like that they had planned ahead of time?
- [04:40]
Advertiser 2
It's, by the way, it's late July, August. I thought I was like, this is the time I, I, I'm supposed to not be dealing with, like, Steve Kerr rotation choices angering fan bases. It was, it's, it's very Steve Kerr. Jason Tatum just happens to be playing, like, what the Moses Moody role. Who, who do we want compare it to? It's not unlike Steve to DMP a guy. And then typically it's because, hey, like, you know, hey, Clay Thompson sitting out a game. Moses Moody goes from DMP to starting Damien Lee back in the day. Used to always do this, he'd be like the 11th man, and then the next game he'd be starting. But again, typically, it's because somebody was out. Tatum, yeah, just leaped into the starting lineup, which, by the way, I thought Durant was going to go into after.
- [05:23]
Dave Dufresne
Right.
- [05:23]
Advertiser 2
You know, scoring however many points he did in the opener. But, you know, I think Durant likes playing with that second unit. Him and Anthony Edwards clearly have some, you know, chemistry going, and I think it was such. It became such a public fury and. And, you know, as. As professional as Jason Tatum appeared to take it and Steve Caretti took it professional. You could tell even on the shots, on the bench, like, it was kind of embarrassing. So I think today was not only, you know, delivering Jason Tatum, you know, a little bit of, you know, I. I guess a boost, but also, you know, they DNP'd Embiid. It was kind of a show of, like, this can happen to anybody, and we can get to that side of it, which I thought was interesting. But, like, would you say Joel Embiid's been, like, the worst rotation player?
- [06:11]
Dave Dufresne
Yeah. Although I. Look, I don't think Halliburton really should get any. Any minutes whatsoever when you have.
- [06:17]
Advertiser 2
That was like, hey, this is the game that. That they're not threatened in, like, exactly. He needs an Olympic highlight. He hit a couple threes. He can show it to his grandkids.
- [06:25]
Dave Dufresne
You know, I think, you know, it's funny, Embiid, especially with this team. I just think his style of play, it's. It's. It's not gonna fit. He's not able to run around and set screens for the shooters the way that they really need them to. I mean, when you look at when this team is clicking and I. I'm gonna. This is maybe the bam out of Bio show, because he was incredible in this game.
- [06:44]
Advertiser 2
He was awesome.
- [06:44]
Dave Dufresne
Not just when he was touching the ball, but it was away from the ball on offense. He was bringing the ball up. I mean, it's just stuff that Embiid, like, he doesn't have. Embiid for all of his talent is not this Swiss army knife, and he doesn't have the greatest feel in the world. And this is a different style of play than what he's used to. I mean, you know, and we'll get to South Sudan and their offensive rebounding, but, like, the energy levels that you get out of opposing bigs with high motor attacking the glass, you know, it just. I. I don't think Embiid is the best guy for the job, it isn't about his talent. It's sort of like Jason Tatum. I think Jason Tatum probably should be in that bottom three of guys in this tournament. And it's not about talent, it's about fit. Derrick White and Drew Holiday are perfect for this tournament. Perfect. You're not setting either one of those guys. I think Devin Booker as a two way guy, I mean, he's, he's proven himself. I think he's great in this game. Again, he's been great in every game. You know, Steph had a rough game and we'll talk about that in a minute, but I just don't. I think that when you think about putting a team together, Tatum to me is more of like a backup four to LeBron than, than a three next to LeBron. And a lot of that is.
- [07:55]
Advertiser 2
And then Durant comes back and he's like kind of a backup for.
- [07:58]
Dave Dufresne
Exactly. You know, so when I look at this and you know, I don't want to be like a rotation guy when we're talking about the Olympics because let's face it, we have more talent than everyone. But I say you've got three of the 12 or 14 greatest players to ever touch a basketball. I would start those three guys, Steph, KD and LeBron, they would start. And I like Booker and I really love Anthony Davis in international basketball, but especially it in with this team. Him and LeBron have been fantastic together as a 4 and 5. Now, LeBron stopped playing defense after, after that first time out in this game, which you mentioned, they came out, they started steamrolling. They were up six zero and it.
- [08:41]
Advertiser 2
Looked like, oh, like it wasn't just six zero. It was like, oh, they've come out like with that, you know, switch on. That's right. Yeah. I would say with Embiid, not only are you correct, I do think like the international fit, particularly because he clogs the lane, he slows it down and he slows down a team that is like, it's supposed to be built to just outrun and out athlete and get in lanes and, you know, just everything needs to be speedy. Should be speedy considering, you know, your surrounding talent. You put it out of bio, you put a Davis out there as a big. It just fits better in international play for us. But also, I mean, I wasn't, I went to the Vegas game, the USA Canada game. Like Embiid still had a huge knee brace on under the, the sleeve. I think we forget, you know, how his season ended. I know he like came back and Kind of, you know, fought through, but, like, his playoffs were. Were up and down. I'm probably being generous there. And I just think physically, he's not like, this isn't the early season. I'm scoring 50 a game. I'm dominating. Like, he's a little bit. It seems to me Davis is in better shape. Adebayo is in better shape, and. And like, he was dragging them down.
- [09:47]
Dave Dufresne
A little bit, and I wonder. I wonder if there was a little bit of seeing, could he play himself into shape? Because, like you mentioned, I mean, he. He was hurt, and then he was hurt and home, and this guy's not like a gym rat. It's not like he's out there. You know, he's no LeBron James showing up to Olympic training camp looking leaner than. Than he finished the season. And I wonder if they were. They were hoping he could play his way into shape because, I mean, he's. He's massive and would be a huge boon if he's. If he's anywhere close to 100%.
- [10:18]
Advertiser 2
But he had looked at him, definitely thought that there's going to be a game where, you know, and maybe it's Puerto Rico. They put him out there, and Puerto Rico's front line is just like, you.
- [10:28]
Dave Dufresne
Well, they're so falling.
- [10:30]
Advertiser 2
What?
- [10:30]
Dave Dufresne
They're so tiny. I think.
- [10:32]
Advertiser 2
Is that good? Or like, do you feel like, oh, that means it's an embiid game because he can dominate? Or is it like, no, just like, you know, be speedier and bigger than Puerto Rico and just, you know, play how you have been? Because if it's. I mean, what if they face France in. In the medal rounds? Is that. Are you saying, oh, that's definitely an embiid game because you're playing a Wembayama Gobert front line, or is that like, oh, no, it probably isn't. You know, you pull him off, considering how he's playing, because it's like, you know, I get the idea of, like, oh, you know, you get big Joel and beat out there, but it's like, it's not like it's a puny front line behind him. I mean, the way Bam and Anthony Davis are playing, like, I'd take a Bam and Anthony Davis over a Gobert one by Yama front line right now, and then that's not even getting to the backcourt. But again, I think we're talking more matchups at this point. What. What else sticks out to you about this team?
- [11:21]
Dave Dufresne
I mean, with Team usa, I honestly, I. I think that the offense is going to be a tricky thing for them to manage. You know, I mentioned that they had some offensive troubles. They were, they were up 19 going into the, the second half. They, they only scored five points in the first five and a half minutes of the, the third quarter. And a lot of that is the ball was sticking a lot more. Those guys were playing really good basketball in half court. Thought Anthony Edwards, especially when he was giving the ball up and making a cut. He was putting pressure on the rim, he was opening up stuff for other guys. But then also by the same token, I, I think Anthony Edwards is doing a little bit of, I'll say, showmanship. Let's say he's putting on a show for the bench, right? Well, you can see when he gets the ball at the top of the key and he starts getting into his moves, right, like he's, he's dipping into the bag. He does the double crossover move. It's almost like he's looking at the bench. He's like, oh, okay, I'm taking this guy to the basket. But he's dribbling the air out of the ball on a lot of these possessions. And you know, with an all star team, I actually think this is the, the perfect opportunity for the ball to be popping. Everybody just get in, get out, do your stuff, run around. I mean, you know, we know that Steve Kerr is going to try to keep, you know, we, he doesn't want guys playing too much over 20, 23 minutes. So just go out there, run hard, give the ball up, move, and we'll blow teams out. But you know, again, like, making the starting lineup change going with Tatum instead of Kevin Durant, it doesn't feel like that big of a difference. But, you know, you've got LeBron and AD as your bigs. It's not like you've got a, a ton of floor stretching there. And Tatum's jumper is completely unreliable. So I, I thought that that hurt him to, to start the game a little bit. But then once that second unit came in, you mentioned KD having chemistry with those guys. I mean, Bam. Adebayo dominated in this game on both ends and three and hit a couple and, and Kevin Durant just slides perfectly into that. So, you know, I actually like the second unit. Derrick White, Drew Holiday, kd, Anthony Edwards, and Bam out of bio more than I like the starting lineup.
- [13:27]
Advertiser 2
Well, it's going to be, to me, what will be interesting if a game like this materializes, but like a medal round close game against a, an opponent that like, you know, is Right with them from the beginning, you know, who will that be? Canada. Let's say right now they probably look like the second best team. You know, let's say you are facing a Canadian team with 10 pros, a superstar. Shade Dort's playing unbelievable right now. Like, is it an eight man rotation? Is it, you know, 30 minutes for your main guys and then if we are talking about that, you know, considering what you've seen, I know Steve Kerr is kind of like this hockey style, like 5 and 5 almost, maybe intermix them a little bit. But let's say it's an eight man rotation. You're like, are you still having Derrick White and Drew Holiday in there just because of what they do? From a glue perspective, then who's out? I mean, you mentioned Anthony Edwards. He's spectacular. He's. I think a lot of the reasons he's getting a lot of these guaranteed minutes is because he's probably viewed as like, you know, four years from now, what is he going to be 26 years old? Like he might be the, the star of Team usa, but do you pull him out? You know, if, if you are going to an eight man rotation in a gold medal game against Canada right from the beginning, the, that'll be interesting. I mean, Steve Kerr is doing all his tinkering in his lineup combinations and I know from covering him over the last few years, he's got, he's become a lot more into the data, what the lineup data tells him, what these combinations say. They, they've really injected a lot of that into like the warriors decision making. And I bet he's, he'll be looking at some of this data and I'm just curious like when the rotation decisions matter more and when the rotation needs to be trimmed, which is like, you know what we're really talking one, maybe two games. What choices does he make then?
- [15:09]
Dave Dufresne
So I actually have an opinion here and I think Steve Kerr is a great coach. Obviously he's won a lot of championships.
- [15:16]
Advertiser 2
Oh, you got to fry him. There's no way you're leading into this without you're about to barbecue him.
- [15:20]
Dave Dufresne
I think he's a great coach. I just don't think if he, I don't know if he's, he's a micro adjustment coach that you actually need in a tournament, you know.
- [15:29]
Advertiser 2
You know, Eric, school sure are on the sidelines that other people and they're helpful.
- [15:34]
Dave Dufresne
Like there's a guy making the decision during the game, but the guy making the decision. I, I do think that there Is a, it's a different mindset. And you know, you know how this works, man. Like, you trust your assistants. If you're a head coach in the NBA, I assume I've never done the job, but I assume these guys are really good.
- [15:50]
Advertiser 2
If you're a good head coach, do you have good assistance, right?
- [15:55]
Dave Dufresne
These are champs. And by the way, both of those guys, Ty Lue, one of the best halftime adjustment coaches in the NBA and Eric Spoelstra obviously is a wizard who has just discovered the dark arts of basketball coaching.
- [16:09]
Advertiser 2
And I will say among Steve Kerr's best qualities is like trusting assistant coaches. And like, you know, if Tyloo has a defensive adjustment, he wants to make it halftime. Steve Kerr's like, yeah, sure, Tyloo, but.
- [16:20]
Dave Dufresne
Steve Kerr trusts his guys. And I think that like, there is a certain amount of, well, you know, it's not quite Tin cup where it's just keep giving me the ball, you know, Keep giving me the ball. I, I do think he'll learn from that mistake, but I mean, I just worry that in a close game, is he going to have the guts to make the, the change that needs to be made? And I want to talk about one particular moment in this game. Steph Curry did not have a great game, okay? He was one of nine in this game. It's South Sudan is a tough matchup for Steph Curry. Everybody seems like they're 6, 8 to 6, 10, they all have 7 foot wingspan, they're fast, they're super athletic. And then he's just trying to run around getting, getting open. I mean, got a three pointer blocked in this game, which is a pretty rare occurrence. So I, I thought, especially with the way that he had kind of had a bad turnover, I just thought he wasn't playing great. His defense is, you know, it's, it's, it is what it is. He's, he's 36 years.
- [17:22]
Advertiser 2
They were definitely targeting him later.
- [17:24]
Advertiser 1
They were.
- [17:24]
Advertiser 2
Jones had that a one that was definitely became like a strategy.
- [17:29]
Dave Dufresne
I wanted to see Steve break the hockey sub rotation and go ahead and put either Drew Holiday or Derrick White out there.
- [17:35]
Advertiser 2
I think Derek White, I think I saw White come in for him again. Like there was never a real threat. But yeah, I think he did get subbed out at one point. I know what you're saying, though.
- [17:44]
Dave Dufresne
I don't know if Steph Curry. And listen, I think Steph Curry's the greatest player ever played basketball. I know I've said this a lot and people think I'm joking. But no, this guy is, he's amazing. This tournament though there may be times where he, he shouldn't be starting because you do need a high level defender who can also play offense. I think Kerr willing to. You think Kerr is willing to do that?
- [18:09]
Advertiser 2
I would, I highly, highly doubt he will ever take him out of the starting lineup.
- [18:14]
Dave Dufresne
Right.
- [18:15]
Advertiser 2
Partly because as Steve Kerr knows very well, you are, you know, two shots away from a Steph Curry explosion in the game's over.
- [18:23]
Dave Dufresne
Right.
- [18:23]
Advertiser 2
You know, it's, you know, if he's one of these games, I presume he's gonna get really hot and you know, suddenly a two point game is a 17 point game. Yeah. And I just, I, I don't think, especially because of pedigree, because of, you know, what Steph Curry means to Steve Kerr. I just, I wouldn't expect him to be out of the starting lineup. But a game like today, if that isn't a. Against a better opponent and a closer game, I do think like limiting his minutes, like you said, going quicker to Derek, to Drew Holiday, you know, whoever, back to Devin Booker. You've got so many different options because this isn't the warriors where you just gotta pain your way through a Steph Curry slump, which by the way, there are Steph Curry ice cold stretches for quarters, for games, for weeks like these happen. He's not shooting it that well right now. Like, I think sometimes the people that don't maybe watch him on a daily basis, he's like become this mythical shooter where every time he puts up a three, you just think it's gonna switch. It's like, no, like he'll literally go a month shooting like 28 from three, then he will go a month and shoot 49 on like, you know, 13 threes a game. But you know, I do think a game, if a game like today is happening, you know, and they're struggling against Germany, Germany is a team that really seems to give them problems. Dennis Schroeder seems to give Steph problems on the, you know, or at least he did in that exhibition game. Then. Yeah, like that, that, that will be a potential test moment for Steve. If he's struggling against Germany, you know, maybe he doesn't start the second half, maybe he just gets pulled early, something like that. But I, I don't expect him to pull that trigger to start a game because like I said, I just think there's always a trust from Steve or a belief that like the next flamethrower stretches right around the corner and you got to at least Give him the chance to open the game going, oh, like, you know, the game's over in four minutes because of Steph Curry just did that.
- [20:11]
Dave Dufresne
And he also knows better than anybody that Steph just being there can get other guys going. This is why I like KD in the starting lineup, because, like, Tatum. What does a Tatum heater look like? It's a lot of free throws. You know what I mean? It's maybe like some pushbacks. He plays, he goes on a heater, and it's nine of nine.
- [20:32]
Advertiser 2
Yeah, I agree. But again, I just think they're. They're. They're what they used to call them, Kumbayaka. You know, there's a little of that going on, which, again, it's fine. It's pool play.
- [20:44]
Dave Dufresne
Yeah.
- [20:44]
Advertiser 2
At this point, like, they could actually, like, lose to Puerto Rico and they're in the medal rounds. I do think Kevin Durant is starting by, like, make or break elimination games.
- [20:56]
Dave Dufresne
Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about South Sudan because they're a fun team to watch. You know, this is. A lot of people don't watch much international basketball, and so they're unfamiliar with the style of play. I mean, we're lucky because we got World cup last summer and Olympics this summer, so at least that stuff is a little bit more fresh in mind. Luol Dang. Basically paying out of pocket for this team to train and make the Olympics. And like, every. This is like, everyone's favorite story of. Of this Olympic cycle for basketball. And. And their style of play, it's. They play up tempo, they crash the glass, and every single guy has a green light when he's open. And so there's this thing where, you know, personally, like, I have my own opinion about USA's dominance in basketball. I don't necessarily love it because, you know, it kind of takes away a little bit of the sporting aspect. If you just know these guys are so much better than everyone. And it isn't to say that they're always going to win, but typically they will. But if you're a team like South Suzanne, and you have that talent disadvantage, this is how you want to play. You want to run, you want to go hard, high variance, everyone taking shots. So everyone has to be guarded. And, you know, I actually man there if they can develop some talent. I mean, this is a team that. That clearly has an athletic pipeline there where all of these guys can run and jump and have good length, got a good coaching setup. I mean, South Sudan, I think, is going to be one of these Like a story that we have to follow for years because this is a team that's going to be pretty good.
- [22:28]
Advertiser 2
Yeah, look, it's so much is about money and resources and commitment from really the government if, if we're being honest and that, you know, I remember this exact type of conversation a few years ago when Mike Brown committed to coaching Nigeria. Nigeria and they, I remember Gabe, I went to the game in Vegas and Gabe Vincent went off and they had a few other NBA players. KZ Akpala, I remember was on that team and it was because the government really backed it and it was a big moment. Nigeria beat the USA in an exhibition game and like every celebrity that has like Nigerian roots was like, you know, shouting them out online and, and it felt like what, what you're saying, it was like, oh, they're going to have this explosion over the next decade. And then it became pretty clear like the government funding and the commitment waned to the point that like Mike Brown, you know, if you're not going to give that to a Mike Brown, he's not going to spend his time to, to build up a program. And it kind of petered out and now you know, you're seeing it with Sudan and obviously, you know, Lu all dang it sounds like did this out of pocket, you know and it is a great story but it's like you know it. There needs to be funding and commitment from the highest of levels if there is. I mean and this is a, you know, this could be a 10 part podcast series but like the talent in Africa is obviously there. I mean we all know that it's just like, you know, I guess sprouting it.
- [23:52]
Dave Dufresne
Yeah, I mean, well that's the, I mean the reason that the bal. The Basketball in Africa league that the NBA is kind of not sponsored but they've, they've certainly worked. Worked hand in hand with. Is super important. I mean just the talent. I mean I've watched those games in the spring the last couple years and, and the talent that's coming out of there is great. And I know the NBA wants to cut off that European pipeline so they want to get these guys younger and get them over here nil in, in college basketball is probably going to help that quite a bit too.
- [24:23]
Advertiser 2
We're going down a road that I'm not sure I haven't studied or you know, the expertise is not fully there.
- [24:28]
Dave Dufresne
That's all right. Someone will come and tell us what it's supposed to be in, in another couple years once we actually have to worry about it. We say we get into some news since it is the, the off season and things are usually pretty quiet. We actually had some news today over in Cleveland. Jared Allen and the Cavs have agreed to a three year, $91 million extension. And so he, he had a five year, $100 million deal that he signed in 2021. You know, this is interesting because I think coming into this summer, and especially if you, you know, you read the reporting coming out of Cleveland after their season ended, pretty shocking. I thought Jared Allen would be one of the guys on the move. I thought the pretty obvious Evan Mobley needs to be a five for this team to, to, you know, progress. What do you think about this deal for Jared Allen?
- [25:19]
Advertiser 2
I think it's like, it's fair for the type of player he is and what he's been. You know, he had a very good season. But yeah, you obviously thinking about like the team build and then you also think about the new coach that they're bringing in. Kenny Atkinson, guy I've covered the last few years will be the head coach there and he's currently the lead assistant for the France team that is playing Wembayama and Gobert together. Talk about twin towers there. It's. I assume that Kenny Hackinson, as part of his coaching interview process, like, you know, voiced a belief that he could play these two together and they could win together and find combinations because not, you know, you mentioned that Jared Allen contract will rewind us a couple weeks or a week, whatever it was. Evan Mobley signed a massive, even longer term bigger deal. Like, they're very committed to him long term. Donovan Mitchell signed, you know, Garland's kind of the one, I guess, sitting out in the wind a little bit. But, you know, they're at least publicly posturing like, you know, he's part of the core moving forward also. So the truth is, I mean, you know, this, like people just extend nowadays and if it doesn't work like Jared Allen's gonna be trade eligible in six months, it's July 31st. That means like right before February, he's technically trade eligible, which is right before the trade deadline. So, you know, considering that, I do believe that that's a fair market contract. He'll probably be tradable by then if it's not working out. But they've decided clearly that Kenny Atkinson should have a chance to build this group together. And we'll see how it looks.
- [26:52]
Dave Dufresne
There's a couple other signings. Luke Canard going back to the Grizzlies one year, 11 million. It makes me feel, you know, Gary Trent signs in Milwaukee on a minimum and I, I think there's a good chance he starts a lot of games for them this year.
- [27:06]
Advertiser 2
I mean, Tyus Jones in Phoenix.
- [27:08]
Dave Dufresne
Tyus Jones signs a minimum in Phoenix. Luke Canard made some money. Good for good for him.
- [27:14]
Advertiser 2
Went back, you know, Luke Canard left Memphis. I bet he was looking at a minimum probably at this point. Whereas, you know, like if Gary Trent went back to Toronto, if Tyus Jones went back to Washington, there's probably more money for them. But you know, those teams would have had to want to bring them back. Those are obviously losing situations that are completely, you know, rerouting things. Memphis needs Luke Canard back because Memphis needs a shooter next to John Morant. They want to win next year, so that's why he got money.
- [27:43]
Dave Dufresne
Also, an 11 million dollar contract on your books is great for aggregating in, in trades. I mean it, it's, yeah, these, these 10 to 15 million dollar contracts that you see guys sign and it's like, wow, there's a lot of money for him. Usually it's because, oh, we can toss him in, you know, to this deal.
- [28:01]
Advertiser 2
Yeah, I mean that's why, you know, the Joshua Kogi deal in Phoenix. Yeah. Even when Grayson Allen's extension, I think there was a little bit part of that. But some of that is because of these second apron rules that you know, have made aggregating trades crazier and like, I don't know, I mean I feel like we're going to it. This always happens with new CBAs. We need like two years for like all these various side effect rules to like really land with us. Because there needs to be a situation where it screws with the team or screws with the situation. But you're right. Still like those mid sized deals do help puzzle piece you together deals. And, and Memphis I believe is no like, like they're not heading towards second apron territory. So. So they're still pretty flexible in what they can do.
- [28:47]
Dave Dufresne
And look, shooting is still extremely valuable skill in the NBA. So 11 million for a guy who can shoot the way that Canard can. That's.
- [28:56]
Advertiser 2
What do you think of Memphis going into next year? I mean, Jaw coming back. Zach, Edie, is he gonna like start at center there? Like, you know, I just like, I don't know what they're gonna look like.
- [29:05]
Dave Dufresne
I, I, well, I want to see Edie starting next to Jaren. I think that's at least interesting. I want to see what it looks like. I'M not sure if he's going to be ready at all. You know, it's funny, I'm trying not to do the thing where we just forgot about Memphis, where, you know, they had this down year and we know exactly why they had a down year and now we're all just saying, well, they got passed. I don't know if they were passed or not. I need to see what, what does Job look like barely playing a year? You know, is he going to have a. Any sort of a step back from. From essentially. I mean he missed what, all but five games, six games or something like that? I mean he didn't barely played.
- [29:49]
Advertiser 2
Yeah. Super rocky season prior to that for, for different reasons.
- [29:54]
Dave Dufresne
So I'm not sold on JA just coming back and being ja. I'm not sold on that.
- [29:59]
Advertiser 2
And even if you are. Yeah, go back two years, two playoffs when it was like, you know, Memphis felt like they were just rising into like, you know, perennial contention. They were deeper, they were better. Stephen Adams was really good. The Anthony, Mel Anderson, Dylan Brooks, you know, just keep naming your mid rotation pieces. This is Brandon Clark, pre Achilles when he was, you know, really doing something. And they've just, they let a lot of those good rotation players go with under the belief that they were drafting under them very well. Zaire Williams, they just had the salary dump. David Roddy has been, you know, traded away for nothing. Jake Laravia has become really nothing at this point. Like they missed part of what, why they were so good was they were so deep. Remember when Jaw was missing a lot of games, Desmond Bain was missing games that year, had Tyus Jones winning, winning, winning. Like that's because of how deep they were. They are no longer that deep. And that to me is their biggest problem.
- [30:58]
Dave Dufresne
I'm not sure what they're going to do on the wing. Like defensively it's kind of a nightmare for them. That's a huge problem. Point of attack, defense, terrible. If Edie can't give you like, can he give you 25 a night? Can he give you 25 minutes a night of solid.
- [31:15]
Advertiser 2
Well, we're also talking about, I don't know, like. And then what does he look like in the playoffs as a rookie center with like the question marks that, that he's going to come with in his.
- [31:23]
Dave Dufresne
I think we've all landed on, on the fact that Jaren just is not a five. He's not going to be an effective five.
- [31:29]
Advertiser 2
Well, that's a rebounding problem, right?
- [31:31]
Dave Dufresne
It is, yeah. And a lot of that is about Its mindset, it's going for blocks, being out of position. It's, you know, things of that nature. And again, you can see a world in which a. A player as big as Zach Edie just makes all that stuff. Not a problem. He can snatch all the rebounds, he can clear space so other guys can get rebounds. You know, like kind of like Brook Lopez. But is Edie Brooke Lopez? I doubt it.
- [31:58]
Advertiser 2
Yeah. And then, you know, I wonder Marcus. It's a Marcus Smart question too. You know, what stage of, of his career is Marcus smartnet? Like is he on the decline? Is, you know, the. Obviously he could barely play much last year because, you know, the body was breaking down a little bit. I feel like a lot of their problems that we're talking about could be solved if he's like, you know, mid career, Boston Marcus smart. But like is. Do you think that that's the Marcus Martin that's going to be there next year?
- [32:26]
Dave Dufresne
Oh yeah, no, I would not put money on that. And finally as we wrap up, man, I wanted to ask you since I have you about Lowry Market and the Golden State Warriors. Is there any news on that front? Are the warriors making any tractions? Obviously it's the Olympics right now and I'm sure nothing. Like they're not going to make a trade during the Olympics.
- [32:48]
Advertiser 2
I would doubt, I don't think that they, they would not make a trade if one like, if it was like, oh, this is a high value trade. But yeah, we must wait.
- [32:57]
Dave Dufresne
Wait. Honor the Olympics. The Fortnite Honor.
- [33:00]
Advertiser 2
Honor this gold medal game. No, I mean if, if the Utah was like, you know, maybe like two first and some filler, we'll actually take that. They'd be like, hold off on this call. No, it's just, it's really this August 6th date.
- [33:15]
Dave Dufresne
That's right.
- [33:15]
Advertiser 2
And I just think, you know, at this point I don't feel like anything has been that close because you know, from the Utah side it has been the posturing of like, you know, if you throw everything at us, if it's Pajemski coming, all the picks, you know, everything like that, then sure. And the warriors are like, no, like come, you know, have a. Be realistic with. With. With what, you know, within deeper negotiations. But I think that would take denser negotiations. And I, and I do believe from the Warrior side there's a belief that those type of negotiations could only happen if this marketing renegotiate and extend does not go down.
- [33:50]
Dave Dufresne
Right.
- [33:50]
Advertiser 2
Because if we, if you get to August 6th and he renegotiates and signs. Okay, look, he's not eligible to be traded until the trade deadline. If he waits till August 7 and then signs it then because he wants a full guaranteed year with, with Utah, well then you really know, like, look, this guy's not even eligible to be traded for a year. So like, you know, like the warriors can pivot elsewhere, either look at other trades or, you know, from what I've heard, they're okay going into the season with what they have right now as a 14 man roster and by the way, having all their future picks still to maybe make an in season trade. It wouldn't be for a Markkanen at that point if he renegotiates and extends. But there's another third path here. If Laurie Markkanen doesn't renegotiate and extend and you know, August 6th, 7th, August 8th, suddenly any type of leverage that Utah has would kind of, you know, a lot of it would go out the window because that would be a signal to the world that these two are not ready to, you know, recommit to each other in the long term. And that's either Utah saying, ah, we don't know if we want to lock in, you know, big money and, and, and you know, we don't know if we want to be good enough this next season, you know, I, or it's Lori Markin and saying, hey, hold on, you know, I want to, you know, relook at my future before I commit long term here. I'm not saying that's going to happen. It seems to be the signals out of Utah is that expect an extension. But I do think if one doesn't happen, then I think the leverage on Utah side lowers to the point that, that I think both sides could realistically talk about a trade. But that'll only happen if marketing doesn't extend. And I kind of am starting to think he will. Right? I mean, the way Utah has held.
- [35:25]
Dave Dufresne
Its cap space, it's a smart move for him. I think our colleague Tony Jones says, you know, he feels like it's unlikely that the Jazz are going to trade Lowry market in at any point until next summer. So I mean, and if you get that long, I mean, if you're Utah, if you win the lottery next year, I mean, maybe you're thinking, hey, we just hang on to Lowry Marketing. I mean, you know, you don't necessarily have to stay bad for so long if you, you know, wind up with.
- [35:54]
Advertiser 2
Him on the roster. Because that's part of the argument is like get bad enough that you can right get Cooper flag.
- [36:00]
Dave Dufresne
But the issue is I think that they like Lowry. I think he likes being there. And I think that the, the human part of this is playing into it a little bit oddly because we never think about that. We, we always think like basketball fit, money, you know, is he competitive enough? Are they going to be bad enough? But it just seems like they, they like each other for sure.
- [36:24]
Advertiser 2
And I've heard that. And as you said, Tony Jones is has reported that and like, there doesn't seem to be any question that Laurie marketing seems to be comfortable long term being in Utah. But the one, what is he, 27? The one thing I have heard, like, you know, and this isn't like breaking news, but like he's a competitive dude who like, you know, he doesn't necessarily want to be on a 20 win Utah Jazz team for the next three years. Right. You know, I, this isn't just a marketing thing, but I know there's been some frustration from players the last couple of years when Utah has pulled the eject button near the deadline. Right. They've been right around the 9, 10, like, hey, they're a frisky playing team. And then they're like, no, we don't want to be. Right. We're actively getting out of this hunt to save our top 10 protected pick. And then this summer you heard about them sniffing around Paul George, sniffing around Mikhail Bridges, partly because that's a speed it forward, which is something that marketing would want right? At his age. Like, yeah, let's speed this forward, get me some real like, you know, vet talent around me. But they're not, you know, those trades didn't come to fruition. So yes, I do think Laurie Markin and you know, from everything I've heard and has been reported liked Utah and would be fine there long term. I do think that there's probably a conversation that he wants to have that's like, you know, what will this look like over the next three to four years? Because I don't think he just wants to be stuck on the 13th best team in the west the next few years, but like, you know, how long is this rebuild going to be in Utah considering what the west looks like above them? And even if they do win the next few lotteries, like you don't just suddenly, oh, you won the lottery. Now you're, you know, I mean even you're seeing it with the Spurs. They got like this generational dude and it's like we're all going to pick them to be 12th in the west again.
- [37:59]
Dave Dufresne
Oh, I don't know about that. I don't know. Hey, they got Harrison Barnes, professional basketball player Paul Pretty good. I, I listen, we'll, we'll talk spurs as we get closer to the season. Please, for sure. Because they are, they're fascinating. I'm just glad that they've got some NBA players playing with Victor Wimanyama. You got anything else?
- [38:19]
Advertiser 2
It's is, it's a dry time of the year. I mean, we, we had five minutes on Jared Allen's three extension that tells you all you need to know.
- [38:27]
Dave Dufresne
For Anthony Slater, I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the athletic NBA show. Keep it locked in. We'll be here for the entire Olympics.
- [39:01]
Advertiser 1
As we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com credit card this.
- [39:26]
Anthony Slater
Podcast is brought to you by Aura. By the time you hear about a data breach, your information has already been exposed for months. On average, companies take 277 days to report a breach. That's nine months where hackers have access to your personal data. That's why we're thrilled to partner with Aura. Aura is an all in one digital safety solution that monitors the dark web for your phone number, email and Social Security number, sending real time alerts if your info is found. It also includes a vpn, password manager and data broker removal. To help keep you safe for a limited time. Aura is offering a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for free@aura.com safety that's aura.com safety to sign up and protect your loved ones. That's a U r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.
- [40:20]
Advertiser 2
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [40:28]
Dave Dufresne
Remember blowing into a video game cartridge.
- [40:31]
Advertiser 2
Or taping songs off the radio?
- [40:33]
Dave Dufresne
How about Saturday morning cartoons? Hey, AOL chat rooms. Did we just age ourselves? Yep, we're Mike Finoya and Charles McBee, two comedians getting nostalgic and asking that nagging question. Are we old? Relive the laughs, the cringes and the nostalgia.
- [40:50]
Advertiser 2
Are we old?
- [40:51]
Dave Dufresne
Podcast right here on acast.
- [41:03]
Advertiser 1
ACAST helps.
- [41:04]
Advertiser 2
Creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.