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- [00:00]
Paige Desorbo
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- [00:41]
Mom
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- [01:02]
Dave DeFore
America's best Network based on RootMetric's best overall mobile network performance US second half 2025 four new lines and unlimited welcome and autopay. See verizon.com for details.
- [01:13]
Men's Wearhouse Announcer
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- [01:55]
Dave DeFore
Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily for May 11, 2026. I'm Dave DeFore here with Esperahenne and Zena Keda. Coming up, the Knicks complete the sweep. The Wolves fight back and the Wizards won the lottery. Good morning everybody. What is up guys? Xena completely overdressed for a podcast.
- [02:19]
Esperahenne
Oh my God.
- [02:21]
Dave DeFore
You know you guys are watching on YouTube. You are missing out. Speaking of. Hey, congratulations Xena. Xena made her WNBA ion TV national debut.
- [02:32]
Esperahenne
She absolutely bodied that very.
- [02:34]
Zena Keda
I appreciate it. It was fun. It was fun. It was a packed weekend of games, lots of good action. I don't know if you guys caught Dallas, Indiana, the future of the WNBA is bright. Y' all just saying that.
- [02:47]
Esperahenne
Yes, it is. Now that there's a Toronto WNBA team,
- [02:50]
Dave DeFore
of course Toronto, Portland now can care about the wnba, unlike me, Zena. You know what? I've been an ally for a long time. Big WNBA fan, you know.
- [03:02]
Zena Keda
Yes. He is doing you dirty.
- [03:03]
Esperahenne
He threw me under the bus.
- [03:04]
Zena Keda
Wow.
- [03:05]
Dave DeFore
Terrible.
- [03:06]
Zena Keda
I know both of you guys are hoop lovers.
- [03:08]
Esperahenne
That's right. Thank you, Xena. I appreciate you. And I appreciate the fact that you look like you're an extra in Men in Black right now with the suit. It's fire. All right.
- [03:19]
Dave DeFore
I was like, which music video is Xena going to go reenact after the show? Hey, the Knicks, guys, let's talk about the Knicks.
- [03:27]
Zena Keda
They.
- [03:27]
Dave DeFore
They finished the sweep. The Sixers just. They had nothing.
- [03:32]
Esperahenne
All right?
- [03:32]
Dave DeFore
It was. They. I. I don't want to say they rolled over, because the Knicks really just shot the COVID off the ball. Unbelievable shooting performance by the Knicks in this game. They put up 144 points in regulation. 144. 114. They go 21 of 29 from three.
- [03:51]
Esperahenne
Incredible.
- [03:51]
Dave DeFore
Just not much you can do, you know, when a team is that hot. Look, the series is over now. I think that we want to start with the Knicks here because they're the winners. We've watched them win six straight games now. It felt like they were playing home games in Philly, So it's really hard to say.
- [04:10]
Esperahenne
Like, that was the shocking. That was. I mean, look, Philly usually has a great crowd, but whenever it's the Knicks, it becomes msg. And it's. It's so shocking to me because Philly, such a great sports town, how does not. How does that not get filled up with Sixers fans? Like, is resale culture that bad?
- [04:32]
Zena Keda
Terrible. Oh, sorry, Go ahead.
- [04:34]
Esperahenne
No, I. I'm just shocked by it. Like, even. Even though I've seen it multiple times now, where Knicks fans do come to Philly and basically join, and it. It's thousands upon thousands of Knicks fans every single time. I'm shocked because Philly is a sports town. And how do the Sixers not have that level of support? It's shocking to me.
- [04:55]
Zena Keda
I was just going to say it was shocking to me that you had to hear Joel Embiid say, don't sell your tickets. Yeah, right. Like, the fact that announcement had to be made, it was very strange. But I'll still say the Sixers outperformed our expectations this season. And right now, the way New York is Playing anyone going up against them, I don't know if they would have been swept the way Philly did, especially with, you know, they had some injuries and things of that sort. But overall, New York's just playing on a different level, period.
- [05:25]
Dave DeFore
Yeah. And those last two games without OG Anunoby, who has been at times their. Their best player in the playoffs, I mean, especially on the defensive end, what he's done, they. They now get a nice break. And are they going to be waiting? I mean, the Cavs and Pistons, that series looks like it could go a little bit longer. Obviously the Cavs pick up the big win on Saturday. I want to ask you guys what we've seen out of the Knicks since they kind of flipped this switch. They figured things out. Carl Anthony Towns dishing out more assists in this, in this postseason than he did all of last year in the, in the playoff run. Yeah, they just look like a different team. You guys feel like this team has a shot to not just make the finals, but to win the title, no matter who it is, whether it's OKC or Minnesota or San Antonio.
- [06:14]
Esperahenne
I think they didn't have a chance chance, or at least in my opinion, they didn't have a chance coming into this postseason. I would now give them that chance. The reason I say that is because of Carl Anthony Towns. I think so much of the Knicks playoff hopes and championship hopes rides on how effective Cat is. And the fact that he is bought in on being a playmaker, I think shows a buy in from his perspective on Mike Brown's coaching philosophy, because that felt like the friction all year of Cat's not getting enough touches to score. Cat's not getting enough touches to be who he's supposed to be. But there is now a benefit of the doubt that's being given to the Knicks system, if you will. And I think Cat has just taken it and run with it. Like, it's been awesome to watch him work as a playmaker, get the ball in his hands and really just be able to facilitate so many things for the Knicks offense. And that has allowed Jalen Brunson to do a little bit more off ball. You talked about OG Anunoby. He's a great cutter. So when he's available, it opens up so many things for him and Bridges and Josh Hart. Things just make sense when Kat is playing like this. And if he continues to play like this, yes, I give them a very, very good chance.
- [07:30]
Zena Keda
I mean, also when you have a player like Miles McBride that can go for 25 points and be a playoff riser in that regard. Trust me, that was. You know, it's not necessarily an outlier because we know that Miles McBride can have those moments during the regular. But right now, we're seeing more pops of those type of performances on New York's entire roster than I think that we consistently saw over the course of the year. But I do agree with you, as I think it does come down to the fact that Karl Anthony Townsend has been such a playoff riser. Looking at his stats from the regular season, he averaged just about three assists. And it's a good call out, Dave, because he's now averaging six more than six and a half assists per game in less minutes that he played. And he's got 10% higher in his field goal percentage. He's higher 48% from three right now on three attempts per game. So it's not as if he's just like, you know, changed his approach and he's backing folks down and he's only in the paint. No, he's still putting these numbers up from outside, from inside, you know, figuring out different ways to affect the game and is doing it at such a higher, efficient level. So, yes, everything about his game elevating, I think, has unlocked another tier to this team. So, Dave, I would say, yeah, I think that between having random pop performances from their supporting cast and Karl Anthony Towns elevating in the way that he has, they could win it all.
- [08:55]
Dave DeFore
I'm thinking about that game when they blew out the spurs beginning of March. You know, they've. They've got some signature big wins, I think, against the west that we can. That we can look to.
- [09:05]
Esperahenne
But this is all thunder tough, too. Like in the regular season, they played them tough stuff.
- [09:09]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, yeah. And if look at full health, you. You invert the floor a little bit with Cat operating outside, it's not so reliant on just, hey, Jalen Brunson, go. Go beat your man and get a good look. They're just. They're coming to their stuff easier. Mikhail Bridges has really turned it around. You know, we. We talked about him maybe having to be pulled from the starting lineup. Now all of a sudden, not only is he making shots, but he's playing some of the best defense that he's played.
- [09:37]
Esperahenne
Yes.
- [09:37]
Dave DeFore
In my opinion, all year, I mean, I haven't seen him with. With what he was doing to Tyrese Maxey and just out on the guards in general for the Sixers. I think Mikhail Bridges playing some of his best basketball. Everything's kind of clicking at the right time for them. I just think right now, like, if you're looking at the east between the three teams like the Knicks, obviously they look like the best team in the east. So we'll see where things go.
- [10:01]
Esperahenne
I mean, although, like, I'll just say I think the Cavaliers or the Pistons will be their best stress test. Like, the Hawks were competitive because it was an interesting matchup and Philly was sort of just like happy to be here, for lack of better words. But Detroit and Cleveland can both throw out a lot of interesting things at them. That feels like the perfect stress test for. Okay, are you actually Finals ready? Do you, do you actually feel like you can compete in the NBA Finals, then prove it. Beat the team.
- [10:29]
Dave DeFore
Detroit, especially because of the physicality and the toughness and size for the Sixers. On the other side of this, look, they. Xena, you said that they overperformed and I think that coming into the playoffs with, with Joel Embiid's health being such a mystery, I mean, an appendectomy to, to mount a 31 comeback against the, the favorites in the east, the Celtics. Sure. Joel Embiid even said that in his postgame remarks. Hey, I, I feel like this was successful season. He said he didn't have to go into the summer thinking about his knee, which is a great sign for maybe next year.
- [11:03]
Zena Keda
Okay.
- [11:04]
Dave DeFore
Right. Remember at times during this season when he, when they were all healthy, the Sixers looked like a really good basketball team, including those three games that they put together against the Celtics. And then obviously they just. I, I felt like after that it was everything they had just to get to the second round. They just didn't have a chance against the Knicks. The Knicks feel like a buzz saw at this point, but the Sixers are probably going to go into the summer and make some changes. I don't know whether that's, you know, Nick Nurse making changes there. I, I personally wouldn't. I, I think that when you've got a guy who's proven to be a playoff coach, say what you will about the regular season and how he runs up minutes and whatnot.
- [11:41]
Esperahenne
He gets it done in the playoffs. Absolutely.
- [11:43]
Dave DeFore
In the playoffs. He finds ways to make things work when you don't have anything going and that's super valuable. And then Daryl Morey, I mean, I think that the big things, you know, we're all thinking about Jared McCain. Every single time Jared McCain hits a three, Daryl Morey's phone probably dings. You know, if we could go It's a Wonderful Life, a little Bit.
- [12:05]
Zena Keda
He's just like in the bathroom brushing his teeth and it dings. It's like, dang it. Okay, see, he's playing again.
- [12:11]
Dave DeFore
Those tick tock notifications.
- [12:12]
Zena Keda
Right, right, right, right. No, I mean, I'm looking at the 76ers and I actually don't think Daryl Morey's probably going to be getting a phone call other than thank you for making us think the process actually worked. Right. Like, thank you for actually giving Philly something to believe in for a little bit. Because that Boston series cell, that Boston Celtics series, I think took a lot out of Philly. Not even just the players, I think even the fans. Right. You're talking a little bit about the fact that New York, the. The series against New York. It sounds like it's a feel like everyone was like, you know what? I paid my money. I got to see them beat the Celtics. I'm really excited about that.
- [12:53]
Dave DeFore
They were happy to be there.
- [12:54]
Zena Keda
They were happy to be there. You know, but ultimately I do think that they overperform because of the injuries. It's not even just Joel Embiid. Think about the 25 game suspension by Paul George. That right when they were like about to start clicking and okay, but that
- [13:09]
Dave DeFore
one we're not going to treat like it was a negative because the way
- [13:13]
Zena Keda
Paul George, he got, he came back.
- [13:14]
Esperahenne
That's true.
- [13:15]
Dave DeFore
I think that was a nice, like, let's bake that in next season, you know?
- [13:19]
Zena Keda
Right, right, right. It's true. But I mean, we saw a lot of great things, particularly in the backcourt. That Maxi Edgecombe duo, that was a perfect draft pick for Philly. We also saw their wing depth really pick up Grimes Ubre. We saw the development of Dominic Barlow. Like, I think if anything, the moves that they're going to make in the off season definitely have to do with strengthening their depth at center. Right. And particularly I like the fact that we saw a little bit of Andre Drummond. I don't know if I'll call it a resurgence, but there were some moments in, you know, this postseason of his ability to displace the floor, his ability to rebound, protect the rim a little bit. But I really think that, yeah, their backcourt situation and their wing depth is there. They definitely need some. They're. They're thin at the center of position.
- [14:07]
Esperahenne
Yeah. Also, like, I. I think they do have some decisions to make. They obviously have to figure out if they're going to keep Quinton Grimes. They have no guaranteed money to trend. And Watford and Dominic Barlow, like, those are two guys that I think they want to try and retain this summer. To your point about finding those guys, I would credit Daryl Morey for that. Like you, they had to be really creative with how they built out this team because of how much they committed to Paul George and Joel Embiid. And finding these like out of nowhere, if you will, rotation players for them is kind of found money. Now you, I don't know what they do to try and improve this team consistently around Maxi and around Vijay Edgecomb. Knowing that you're paying Embiid the amount of money that you're paying him.
- [14:52]
Dave DeFore
Right.
- [14:52]
Esperahenne
I mean, like if you look at his contract, it's 57 million dollars next year, 62 million dollars the year after that, and then a 67 million dollar player option in 20, 28, 2029.
- [15:04]
Dave DeFore
I'm gonna go ahead and opt in
- [15:05]
Esperahenne
for him right now. Go ahead. You could do it. You could. Yeah. In personality, whatever player.
- [15:13]
Zena Keda
Yes.
- [15:14]
Dave DeFore
We talked about this a little bit. S. During the first round when it, when it looked like the Sixers were out.
- [15:19]
Esperahenne
Yeah.
- [15:19]
Dave DeFore
And, and I think that if you, you know, Joel Embiid kind of alluded to this a little bit in his post game comment. I don't know if I'll be here next year. I've never seen him go into a summer saying stuff like that. Yeah, I, I think that there's a world in which Daryl Morey does find a way to move the Joel Emb contract. The tricky part is you, you can't replace. I mean, I don't know, you're gonna, I mean, Daryl Morey has done some event of things, right. But you can see a team, and I mentioned the Chicago Bulls, they now have new front office. Well, a smart team may say, hey, look, you know what? We'll, we'll take him and if he can play great and if not, we, we maybe can pick up assets to, to take on that deal. I just. You cannot replace the Joel Embiid size hole in your team if you're the Sixers because the difference between their floor and their ceiling is just, it's impact.
- [16:17]
Zena Keda
We just saw it. Because we just saw it. We literally didn't think that they would have any chance until Joel Embiid came back.
- [16:23]
Dave DeFore
And if you're telling me there's a chance that Joel Embiid can come play like an mvp, I think I'm gonna take it. I think we just see what the way he can affect winning when he's healthy. It's just, you know, again, he said he needs to go to Church more. Maybe. Maybe Philadelphia is cursed. I don't know. We'll figure. We'll figure it out. All right, guys. Spurs and Wolves were now tied two games apiece. After Sunday, the Wolves win 114, 109. The. The biggest story coming out of this game is that Victor Wembanyama was ejected for a flagrant two for an elbow to the face of Nas Reed. Now, after the game, spurs coach Mitch Johnson, he said he felt like the referees have allowed too much physicality and he was glad to see Victor women Yama stick up for himself with the elbow. Now, look, it was a clear flagrant, too. Yeah, I mean, this is not, you know, as we talked the other day about how sometimes you can watch and you don't know what's flagrant, what's not. This was obvious. I mean, there was lined up, there was obviously impact above the shoulders, all of those things. Is there something to this, though, where the Wolves have been allowed to be so physical with Wemby? Now, obviously you don't. I'm not trying to justify the retaliation here, but isn't this kind of to be expected at a certain point? Doesn't a guy have a tipping point?
- [17:46]
Esperahenne
It's also excellent. You know, I. Not to say that he's trying to do this, but from Mitch Johnson's perspective, it's great mind games. Right. Because you are now putting the onus on the refs to give you the calls that you want heading into game five and to deal with the physicality against Wemby and against the rest of the spurs in the way that you would prefer. Right. Which is calling the fouls, making sure that you're noting the physicality that the Wolves are using. And the Wolves are a really physical team. So there's no disputing that. Like Jada McDaniels was wrapping up Wemby in this game and Julius Randle was wrapping him up. Especially when they go smaller, they don't have that one guy in Rudy to guard him. It's throwing multiple bodies at him, throwing multiple hands at him. So I. I agree with the physicality element. I also think Mitch Johnson's supposed to say that because he is his coach and he's going to defend his guy, especially his franchise guy. But it was a very clear flagrant two foul call. I. I also will say I hope the NBA does the right thing and does not suspend Victor Wanyama because that would be silly to do heading into game five. Yeah, I'm just saying, I just want to lay it out there. You Know, I just want to put it out there, speak things into existence if you will.
- [18:55]
Zena Keda
But yeah, can I go ahead and just say you don't do that to the face of the league.
- [18:58]
Dave DeFore
Exactly. Yeah, exactly.
- [19:00]
Zena Keda
You just don't. You just don't. I think. Okay. I want to know your you guys opinion on Anthony Edwards performance because we saw him do NBA superstar type of things leading his team to this victory. And there's also the argument that he scored 27 of his 32 points when Victor Weminyama was not on the floor with him.
- [19:26]
Dave DeFore
Well, it's a different sport when he's out there and when he's not. Right? Yeah.
- [19:29]
Esperahenne
The 36.
- [19:30]
Dave DeFore
Yeah.
- [19:31]
Zena Keda
I still don't think though it takes anything away from what Ant is doing. And it's interesting because we know that the Victor Wembanyama conversation about him being the face of the league, Ant Edwards not really wanting to take on that title or that crown. But this series has been so interesting in seeing the two of them battle it out or duke it out and the attention that each of them garners. Ant is literally the focus of the spurs defense every time down the floor and is still finding ways to put up some crazy shots. He's still finding ways to get his teammates involved. He's not, you know, producing the same dispersion that you see Victor Weminyama in the way that he involves his teammates. But how would you all see this series in terms of evaluating Ant vs. Wemby next generational like face of the league? Is this series giving you anything in terms of Ant doing this while injured? Is it changing anything you're thinking about?
- [20:32]
Esperahenne
I think there's a real level of maturity to what Ants is doing.
- [20:35]
Zena Keda
Yeah.
- [20:35]
Esperahenne
And I also think there's a level of maturity to how he's playing because if you see the. And granted he did mess up a few double team situations and turnovers tonight where especially in the fourth quarter where you saw him and truthfully, a lot of the Timberwolves just not know how to deal with a double team. Yeah, they almost game one too.
- [20:55]
Dave DeFore
I odison move was awful in the last two minutes.
- [20:58]
Zena Keda
Yeah, they.
- [20:59]
Esperahenne
They genuinely almost blew this game because they did not know how to to get out of a double team. That's how it was. But at the same time, I do think there's a level of maturity to Edwards. Like the way he was talking in that post game, he was talking about how he is really trying to gut it out here and he knows that his body is not 100% but the way that he was able to muster up energy and score 16 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter. A lot of that was self created shot making. To your point, Xena, about the amount of attention that he sees. A lot of what the spurs are doing is to try and get the ball out of his hands. Yeah, and I just, I think it's a level of maturity that we've seen from him in his game. Not necessarily off the court or anything,
- [21:43]
Dave DeFore
but just, just he's more, his approach. Yeah, he's more patient this year, I think like letting the double even come and trusting guys to, to make the right decision. I mean it helps like Jaden McDaniels has, has grown offensively, you can trust Julius Randall to make a play. Same with Nas Reed, you know, made
- [22:02]
Esperahenne
two really massive plays.
- [22:04]
Dave DeFore
Right? Yeah, but, but to your point, Xena, about, you know, the difference in, in his scoring attack with Wemby on and Wemby off. Look, 40% of the wolves shots were in the paint when Wemby was on the court and 65% of their shots were in the paint. 20 works. That's it. Because you have to take advantage when that guy's not on the court. You have to attack. And Luke Cornett is no pushover as a center.
- [22:29]
Esperahenne
He was awesome in this game.
- [22:30]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, he was really, really good in this game. But you can do things with him that you can do to Wimby, but they work better because Wemby, again, he's got that, got that wingspan, got that stand in reach, got that skill and that athleticism. But it is, this is kind of just the way things are going to be when you're going against Wemby. You need, they, I do think they need to attack more though when Wimy's on the court. I, I, I liked again that Game one approach. We are just going to come at you and come at you and come at you instead of relying on the three. That's when I start to worry about do you have the legs right? Game four, do you have the legs to continuously churn those drives over and over again or are you going to settle for a lot more threes? I think we saw that Game five. They got to find their legs and I think, you know, you gotta, you gotta go at them.
- [23:18]
Zena Keda
I just think about, you know, no shade too. I agree with you on the point and thank you for clarifying the 36 points rather than 32, but no shade to Janet McDaniels. I think he has actually made a huge leap. No Shade To Julius Randle. We know what he's capable of. And I would assume it's been a nice asset, I think, in the midst of losing Dante DiVincenzo and all the different things. But Ant doesn't have Dylan Harper.
- [23:45]
Dave DeFore
Well, right.
- [23:46]
Zena Keda
Doesn't have, you know, Stefan Castle. And I just. I feel like when you look at his cast around him and what he's doing with ice bags on his knees every time out, like, it's. It's really impressive work and how dominant he's still being in the midst of everything. And so I wonder how much this conversation, how this series plays out, how this conversation is going to change about. Are we not giving Ant Edwards enough respect? Because Wemby wants the title of the face of the league versus Ant being like, chill without it.
- [24:19]
Dave DeFore
I mean, if the Wolves make the finals, I think Ant, his perception changes quite a bit right back to back conference finals. Even if they make the conference finals, if they beat Wemby, I think we have a different conversation about Ant in general. Speaking of guys, we're gonna have a different conversation about. Dylan Harper was excellent in game four. Just continue. Like, he continues to do the stuff that you expect out of veteran guards. Like between the way he plays on defense and the fact that he's Fox perhaps, well, I think a little bit better than de' Aaron Fox right now. But he just puts pressure on the paint, on the defense. And guys, I'm watching the game and I'm thinking to myself, is Dylan Harper already the spurs second best player? I know that's kind of a crazy thing to say. It feels like jumping the gun because again, you mentioned Dear and Fox, Stefan Castle, who had a great follow up to his rookie of the year campaign. But Dylan Harper is just on a different level to me. Again, some of its size and just physicality that he's capable of, but his decision making and. And his patience in the paint, like, he gets down there, he's not sped up, he takes his time, he can do pivot moves. Like, he's actually not bothered by. By NBA bodies. So there. There's my question before we head to the break, guys. Is Dylan Harper already the spurs second best player?
- [25:41]
Esperahenne
The. The broadcast keeps bringing up the Manu Ginobili comp. And I don't know if this is just bias now that I've heard it so many times, but I can't get it out of my head. Like, because Manu, for a very long time for the spurs, you could have argued was their second most important player. But then there was Tony Parker and then there was Kawhi Leonard and then, you know, and so it felt like Manu kind of got lost in the shuffle. I'm not saying that's going to happen with Dylan Harper, but there are similar characteristics to Harper's ability to, like you said, stay patient, obviously the left hand finish the craft around the basketball. Hopefully he becomes the shooter that Manu was in his career. Because Manu was an incredible shooter. But I think truthfully, like the way he's able to impact the game in spark minutes off of the bench, like he played 27 minutes tonight. But the way that he's able to just immediately inject energy in feels very mono esque. And now I feel like that is the comp for me is just he is now the Manu Ginobili of this to what Victor Wembanyama is the Tim Duncan and we'll see what happens.
- [26:48]
Dave DeFore
Stefan Castle is Tony Parker.
- [26:50]
Esperahenne
Tony Parker, yeah. Are you seeing, you seeing what I'm picking up?
- [26:53]
Dave DeFore
Who's Gary Neal?
- [26:55]
Esperahenne
Devin Vassell? No, I'm kidding.
- [26:57]
Dave DeFore
No, that's Danny Green.
- [26:58]
Esperahenne
Yeah. Oh, you're right. You're right. Yeah.
- [27:00]
Zena Keda
I like, I like the Monty Ginobili comp because of the efficiency. You see Dylan Harper Go 8 of 11 for tonight and then if you look at his shot chart, eight of those 11 shots were taken at the rim. And you talk about him not being bothered by NBA bodies, it's because he has one. Like he's so. And he's so methodical about the way that he utilizes his body to get to his spots with ease. But the thing about Manu, high volume, high efficiency score. Same thing when you look at the stats of, you know, folks that are putting up 10 shots or more on the spurs team right now. Dylan Harper's in the top. He's 55% from Phil from the field in that. That's huge. Having that level of efficiency from a rookie. You are ready for the moment. You're not bothered. You're. And I think that that in itself puts him in that second best player category. I agree with that.
- [27:48]
Dave DeFore
Listen, I get more texts about Dylan Harper when he's doing stuff than Wemby these days.
- [27:53]
Zena Keda
My favorite Dylan thing is that face when Wemby put an elbow in Nas Reeds.
- [27:59]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, that's how you knew it was a flagrant too.
- [28:01]
Esperahenne
It was pretty bad.
- [28:02]
Dave DeFore
Unfortunately, Dylan Harper gave that up. Guys, stick around after the break. We're going to talk about the, the draft lottery and the Wizards might trade the pick.
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You too.
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- [29:58]
Dave DeFore
Okay, the NBA draft lottery happened on Sunday. It was exciting. S and I did a live stream.
- [30:04]
Esperahenne
That's right.
- [30:05]
Dave DeFore
And the Washington Wizards get the number one overall pick. Utah Jazz 2 Memphis Grizzlies 3. Chicago Bulls 4 Guys, how do you feel about the Wizards winning the lottery?
- [30:19]
Esperahenne
I love it. I think I love it too. Yeah, I think they need it.
- [30:24]
Zena Keda
They need a big body and it's a big star.
- [30:28]
Esperahenne
Yeah, they absolutely do. And I know they traded for Trey Young and Anthony Davis, but it's kind of funny to me that Utah and Washington, the two teams that made these big swing trades at the deadline, are the ones that get gifted with the best lottery situation. Especially because now this feels like a really good launching point for not only a team that has a lot of young talent, but also a team that has some stars that can come in and supplement that talent and you potentially add a generational player, whoever they end up drafting.
- [31:00]
Dave DeFore
Right.
- [31:01]
Esperahenne
I Don't think they will trade down. I know you hinted at that. I would be shocked.
- [31:05]
Dave DeFore
There is reporting that the Wizards and the Jazz are listening, you know, I assume. Yeah. Hey, if the spurs called him up and said, you know, get this Victor Wayman Yama guy, yeah, okay, they're going to give that pickup, but I don't expect him to trade.
- [31:19]
Esperahenne
No, this is. This is what I think will happen. This is what I think might happen, actually. Utah wants to draft AJ DeBonta. The BYU connection, the whole thing, it seems like it's a match made in heaven. If Washington says, well, we're going to draft AJ DeBonsa instead, that is now incentive to get something out of the Utah Jazz to move back one single pick. I think that could happen. But outside of that, I would be shocked.
- [31:44]
Dave DeFore
Similar to, to the. The Trey Young, Luka Doncic trade where, you know, you have Atlanta and Dallas kind of.
- [31:51]
Esperahenne
Or the Markel Force Jason Tatum trade too.
- [31:53]
Dave DeFore
Right.
- [31:54]
Esperahenne
Back in the day. Back in the day.
- [31:55]
Dave DeFore
But yeah, maybe something in the top four. But. But I don't. I can't see someone outside of the top four being able to trade up into. Into one or two.
- [32:05]
Zena Keda
What if the. I mean, this is a crazy. I'm just throwing out hypotheticals.
- [32:10]
Dave DeFore
Throw it out.
- [32:12]
Esperahenne
It's that time of year. Yeah.
- [32:13]
Zena Keda
What if the Pacers were like, do you want Tyrese?
- [32:18]
Dave DeFore
I mean, that would. I. I just can't see that happening.
- [32:22]
Zena Keda
It would never. It would never happen. I'm just saying.
- [32:25]
Dave DeFore
I'm not sure, like, someone's going to put out. Here's what the value of this year's number one pick is at some point, and we'll get to see what the player comp is there. I feel like maybe you can get a better player than Tyrese Halberton.
- [32:38]
Esperahenne
Oh, come on. I mean, actually, you know what? I don't know. I don't know. What's that question?
- [32:44]
Dave DeFore
Who's the biggest winner? That's not the Wizards.
- [32:47]
Esperahenne
I was going to say, ah, there's. There's multiple big winners, but I'm going to say the LA Clippers. I think the Clippers are the biggest winners in this. Maybe not the biggest, but a very, very big winner in this one. Because one, the Vita Zubots trade. They get a lottery pick. They were almost. They had an opportunity to potentially lose out on their own pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. They do that and they get the better pick. Number five. Overall, they have a chance to add a very, very good talent to a nucleus of Darius Garland and Ben Matherin and guys that they can grow around. I wonder if this opens up, the possibility, opens up the door for a Kawhi Leonard trade. Just like an amicable kind of, let's end this era of Clippers basketball. We're going to move on into something with Garland and Matherin and all these guys.
- [33:36]
Dave DeFore
And the warriors are maybe desperate to bring in another star.
- [33:41]
Esperahenne
I could see that. I could see that. And Kawhi doesn't have to leave the state. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [33:47]
Dave DeFore
It's not a winner.
- [33:48]
Zena Keda
It's a, it's like a nice little retirement center here in the, in the Bay of, of some goats. Of some really great players. But yeah, yeah, okay. You said winners. I, I, I agree with that. I think that's a good one. I want to get to, I mean, the loser I've already referenced. Dang, Indiana. Yeah, I know. You are sick to your st. Stomach. They came in and remember, remind me, because y' all know I'm not the best draft expert, so I know y' all will get me. Right. Same odds as Washington.
- [34:21]
Esperahenne
Y.
- [34:22]
Zena Keda
Right.
- [34:22]
Esperahenne
Yes.
- [34:23]
Dave DeFore
Y.
- [34:23]
Zena Keda
You lose Tyrese Halliburton. For the whole year, Your record was 19 and 63, and you don't have a pick in the lottery. Like, that is the worst, the worst nightmare scenario you could possibly ask for. It's, it was a wash. It's a wash year, and I don't know what you do with that. I'm not.
- [34:47]
Esperahenne
It was so bad that their general manager apologized on Twitter.
- [34:50]
Dave DeFore
He apologized? Yeah. Yeah. He issued an apology. I will say, though, if he's a. Zubot is really good.
- [35:00]
Esperahenne
He is.
- [35:01]
Dave DeFore
And the Pacers are going to be a top three team in the east next year, most likely, as long as they find some health luck. It's not the end of the world. But it's pretty bad.
- [35:13]
Zena Keda
It's pretty bad. It's just, it's the fact that you walk away with nothing. Like, Golden State got 11. Like, you walk away with nothing. It's. Yeah, that's tough.
- [35:25]
Dave DeFore
I get it. I get it.
- [35:26]
Esperahenne
And, but, like, they're gonna be okay, you know, The Pacers will be okay because they made it to the finals and they have a team that could probably make it to the finals again. To me, the real losers, the two big, big losers are the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets, because those teams don't
- [35:44]
Dave DeFore
have anything, no path.
- [35:45]
Esperahenne
And they, I mean, Brooklyn had a 14% chance at getting the number one pick. They fall all the way to six. Sacramento had a pretty good chance. Sacramento went three and three in the month of April and completely ruined their chances of getting a lottery pick or getting a top four pick in this draft. So I just think those two teams who don't have anybody to build around.
- [36:09]
Dave DeFore
Right.
- [36:10]
Zena Keda
But do we think are screwed. So the only reason I don't mind them falling out of the top four is because of everything we've heard about how loaded this class is. Right. And I know we're going to have Sam Bassini come in and help us understand and break all this down. But it feels as if even if you stay within the lottery, you're okay.
- [36:32]
Dave DeFore
The seventh pick in a four or five player draft is just not where you want to be. As a matter of fact, we're hearing
- [36:38]
Zena Keda
it's a nine player draft.
- [36:42]
Esperahenne
I don't, I feel like, I feel like again, I would love to dive into the NBA draft closer. I think it'll be four. There are four sure fire guys who all could potentially go number one between Cam Boozer and AJ DeBonsa and Darren Peterson and Caleb Wilson. And then there's a bit of a shift from like 5 to 11. There's a group of guards that they can, they could potentially be drafted. And look, maybe Brooklyn finds a guy. Brooklyn had five picks last year and while they might be good rotation players, none of them are anybody that you can build a franchise around. The Kings again, don't have anybody to build around. So I just, I feel for those franchises. I feel for the fan bases of those franchises because you have nothing to really be excited for.
- [37:33]
Dave DeFore
The Chicago Bulls, by the way, congratulations.
- [37:36]
Esperahenne
Yes.
- [37:37]
Dave DeFore
Getting into the top four finally.
- [37:40]
Zena Keda
Wow.
- [37:40]
Dave DeFore
A little bit of. A little bit of luck.
- [37:42]
Zena Keda
Hopefully they can all around.
- [37:44]
Dave DeFore
Yeah, hopefully they can get a good player in there. This is the start of a turnaround. The Bulls should be a good basketball team. Would be great. Stand by this. It makes no sense. Chicago, come on. Yeah, maybe they, you know, we, we know what the problem is there. All right, guys, we got Cavs Pistons game for tonight. Who you got?
- [38:03]
Zena Keda
Ah, that's a good one. I think I'm going to go with. No, you know what? Last time I went against Detroit and they went out and won two games in a row. I'm gonna go with Detroit again. I don't think they're. They didn't appreciate getting touched in the face a little bit and I think they're gonna bounce back. Get. Go up three, one.
- [38:26]
Esperahenne
Yeah. Here's what I think. I think the Cavs will not lose a single home game in these playoffs and still be eliminated. They're going seven and they're still going to lose. They haven't lost a single home game. They're going to win on Monday and it will go to seven, but Detroit will win in seven.
- [38:48]
Dave DeFore
I don't think. I don't think the Pistons are going to lose game four. I think. I think they're going to get this done. I think they go. They go home up 3, 1 and get it done in that game. I think that. I think that the Pistons are just that much tougher than the Cavs. Will the Thunder complete the sweep tonight, guys?
- [39:07]
Esperahenne
Yes.
- [39:09]
Dave DeFore
No belief in LeBron James at all.
- [39:12]
Zena Keda
Sorry. So sorry.
- [39:14]
Esperahenne
Yeah.
- [39:15]
Zena Keda
Thoughts and prayers, as they say.
- [39:16]
Esperahenne
Bridger, thank you for attending. Appreciate you guys.
- [39:19]
Zena Keda
Yeah,
- [39:23]
Esperahenne
yeah, I know. Look, they made it this far and no Luca, etc. Etc. But they just.
- [39:29]
Zena Keda
They.
- [39:29]
Esperahenne
They ran into a buzz saw of a Oklahoma City Thunder team. It's. It's over.
- [39:34]
Dave DeFore
Yeah. Yeah, it's a wrap. But it was a pretty good season. And I mean, this series would have. I imagine it would have been a lot of fun had Luca been out there. I mean, I just think having someone that could.
- [39:46]
Men's Wearhouse Announcer
Could.
- [39:46]
Dave DeFore
Could create some offense for them would have gone a long way. But it is what it is. You got to play. Who's in front of you again? The Thunder.
- [39:53]
Zena Keda
I don't.
- [39:53]
Dave DeFore
I don't know, man. I'm starting to rethink my San Antonio Spurs.
- [39:57]
Esperahenne
They're gonna have another week.
- [39:58]
Dave DeFore
Thunder looks so good. I know. And they're gonna get more healthy. I know. I know. Andrew's excited. All right. That's gonna do it for the show, folks. Thank you guys for hanging out with us. Brazena, Keta and Esperahenny. I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for waking up with us. Thanks for listening. Make sure you hit the subscribe or follow button so you never miss an episode if you enjoyed it. Drop a. Like, leave a rating or let us know in the comments. Thank you guys for waking up with us.
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