Host 1 (4:24)

There are some good ones. I kind of think that you have to look at the team that just has an insane amount of picks though, and that's the Brooklyn Nets. I mean, it is exceedingly rare that you see a team walk into draft day with five first rounders. I can't think of a time that we've ever actually seen a team pick five times in the first round. So whether or not they stand and pick in all these spots remains to be seen. But regardless, like, this is probably a more important night for them and their franchise trajectory than anybody else because you look at the current state of their roster and like their two best assets are two guys who it feels like everybody's been presuming they try to trade in Nick Claxton and Cam Johnson because they just don't totally align with the timeline. Cam Thomas is obviously very talented, but he's in that archetype of like low efficiency, non defending, mediocre playmaking guard that you generally don't want to build around. So feels like this is it. This is an opportunity for them to get some actual, maybe cornerstone talents in. But their highest pick right now is 8. So do they package some of those picks in the later first round 19, 22, 26, 27 to try to move up, or do they just say we're going to put a bunch of shots up today and just try to add a bunch of young talent to our roster? Regardless, I think that this is like a defining night for their rebuild and I'm very interested in where they go.

Host 3 (5:45)

I also think there's just a lot of guys in this middle portion of the draft that fill roughly similar archetypes and some guys that I feel like if you were to trade back and in this case a team that would do business with Brooklyn, I think you could find some pretty similar talents as you go further back in the draft as well. So it's kind of set up well for them in that regard. Logan, any Nets takes or any other team that you're particularly interested in tonight?

Host 4 (6:09)

Honestly, if I'm the Nets, I'm going volume shooter mode. Dion Waiters, I think I'm just going to throw the kitchen sink. Yeah. See what happens. I mean, they've got a ton of roster spots open. That's the other interesting part of them having all these picks is they actually have the roster spots to keep all of them. My most interesting team is probably the San Antonio spurs just because of what they did this off season. Well, in the regular season they acquired Deer and Fox, but they've kind of found themselves in a really lucky spot to be picking number two because I think everybody's talking about Cooper Flag going one to Dallas. Dallas was also very lucky in getting that pick. But San Antonio has found themselves an opportunity to draft Dylan Harper, who I think is going to be better than de' Aaron Fox when he reaches his peak and should be the guard that San Antonio builds around for the future with this new timeline with Wemby. But they don't just have the second pick. They also have the 14th pick at the end of the lottery, which I think is really fascinating. You know, they could add two more players that fit this new timeline with Wemby and it's just interesting, right? They. You think they accelerate their timeline by going out and getting a guy like Fox. So do they still go with Dylan Harper? I personally think it would be a mistake passing up on him with the number two pick. But they've got an opportunity to add some new young talent to a team that is looking to be competitive and potentially in the playoffs next season. So I'm really interested to see what the spurs do tonight.

Host 3 (7:32)

Let's stick around on San Antonio for a second because this concept with Dylan Harper is super fascinating to me because, you know, Dylan, you know, after we all just watched a big scoring guard that no one can keep from getting to the rim, just lead a team to a championship surrounded by mainly defensive talent and getting, you know, kind of inconsistent offensive support throughout the postseason, we just saw that work. We've seen that that concept work. And the, the idea behind Dylan Harper makes a lot of sense to me, but we also know that he's got some question marks specifically surrounding the jump shot, whether, whether or not that release needs to be refined, quickened up a little bit to turn into something that he can actually use as a counter to his downhill force. And I look at the spurs at large and Victor Wembanyama presents this predicament because he's ready to contend right now. He's ready to compete for championships right now. And so with that being the case, how do you actually go about balancing the timeline here? Because when you look at Dear and Fox, when you look at some of the role player talent, how do you make this all work? Like what would you do if you're San Antonio?

Host 1 (8:41)

In that case, I would just prioritize the best talent. I think that that's Dylan Harper. Like I do agree with you. You want to prioritize this short term window, but you also need to prioritize the long term window. And your move to prioritize the short term window was going out there and getting de' Aaron Fox. So for the short term, yeah, that is the guy who is apparently going to get you into these playoff conversations. Obviously the spurs aren't going to contend without dramatic roster improvements. But like Logan said, I just think the talent is too good to pass up on and he's not perfect. You mentioned some of the questions about the outside shot, the pull up shooting, but like to find a guy who gets to the rim at the rate he does, who gets to the line at the rate he does, who makes 68% of his shots at the rim and then is also such a gifted passer and has the measurables that he does at like almost 65 with a 610 wingspan, I just think there is so much ability there, that sort of like dominant downhill guard is so supremely valuable. Especially to pair alongside a stretch big like a Wemby. And a guy who can manufacture some more looks around the rim for Wemby too, with his interior passing. That's where I lean on the side of. Just get the guy you think can be an actual cornerstone for you long term. Because I don't really think de' Aaron Fox is that. I think he's very good, but he's like not a top 30 player right now. Dylan Harper is a guy who, yeah, it's always going to be less of a known commodity when you're talking about drafting a prospect, but the ceiling is higher there. So I wouldn't concern myself too much with the timeline because what's the move that they're going to make that's really going to accelerate this timeline other than like a Giannis trade, which that's not going to happen. It doesn't look like.

Host 3 (10:20)

Well, that's the key is there's no urgency to actually make that decision tonight as we have our number one pick actually coming in as we speak. I the. You can absolutely take Dylan Harper into camp and then be like, oh, he's four or five years away from being ready to play real serious winning basketball. We have to look to move him. Or you could bring him in and go like, Darren's kind of struggling as a fit with this. Anyway, Dylan's playing pretty well. Let's make some move to try to, to balance more towards the younger side of things. And that's the thing, is that it's the talent play within the draft. I'm more just looking in the future whether or not that's a pivot they're going to have to make. Well, Cooper Flag, this is officially a Dallas Maverick. I. I am particularly excited, even though this roster makes a whole lot of no sense at this point in terms of imbalance and the lack of ball handling and the five starting players that could all play at the four or the five. But the biggest thing that I'm most excited about with Cooper Flag is just watching him play defense alongside Anthony Davis. I think one of the most unique things about Cooper Flag is that he's basically closer to his ceiling than the vast majority of 18 year olds that you'll ever encounter playing basketball. And he is kind of uniquely equipped to be a number one overall pick for a team like Dallas, because I was actually talking about this on the radio earlier today. You. You look at these guys that come into the draft like Jonathan Kaminga, and it's like, man, he just desperately needs to go somewhere he can be bad and like slowly learn how to play basketball at his own pace. If you did that to Cooper, he would go insane. Like he would. He couldn't go be bad for a long time. That's not. He is ready to play competitive, winning basketball in a dead serious environment right now. And I think that that lines up pretty well with what Nico Harrison is trying to do. And so I'm. I'm particularly excited. Even if it looks a little clunky at first, and even if they end up having to make some roster balancing trades, I, I'm super excited. And one of the unique pieces of the Kyrie Irving injury is it kind of buys a little time early in the season to lean into Cooper Moore as a ball handler, which I think is something that is still even an area of opportunity for Cooper to get better. And I think it's just such natural feel for the game. It's just something I'm super excited about. Let's kick to Jackson for a second. Jackson, what are your thoughts on Cooper going to the Dallas Mavericks?

Host 2 (12:41)

I think that he, I think for the short term it's definitely a little awkward the fact that they have PJ Washington, Cooper Flag, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively. And you're presumably only getting three of those guys on the court at the same time. But long term, it's awesome. I mean, I'm extremely as high on Cooper flag as everybody else is. I do think his best position eventually will be power forward. So that, that is kind of like how quickly does that happen for them on that roster is I think a big question. Because I, you know, both, because offensively, his, at least for right now, his jumper is probably his worst quality and it's not even that bad, but it's probably his worst quality offensively and defensively. I think you want him as more of a Roamer playmaker type, which you probably won't be able to do if he's guarding small forwards. So that's sort of the only. Like when does that pivot happen? I think is the only sort of question for Dallas and for his development. But I completely agree that he is. It's crazy how ready he is. It seems like how ready he is considering that he also moved up a grade. Like it's one thing to be ready as a three year college player, even as a freshman who was sort of one of those like 20 year old rookies. Right. He is a child basically as 18, he should have not even be in the NBA this coming season. And he, it feels like by all accounts he's going to be ready to make an impact right away.

Host 3 (14:00)

Oh yeah, I, I, I, the, that's specifically a trait that we've noticed with Cooper over the course of the last three, four years is just every time you put him into a higher leverage situation, he's like the dude who gets promoted into jobs that he's not theoretically ready for but like he just ends up owning it and leaning into it and kicking ass. Like he's just, he's been put in a bunch of really tough spots. He, he like straight up competed with NBA players over the summer in the Olympics prep. I, I'm, I've been super, super impressed by him. Logan, what are your thoughts on Cooper Flag to Dallas?

Host 4 (14:31)

I want to touch on something Jackson just mentioned. With their roster construction, I think Dallas is in a really enviable position. You know you're talking about that kind of clogged up front court that Dallas has and we're talking about them not having ball handlers one which you just mentioned. Jason. I think it's going to be really good for Cooper and his development just to get those reps and that experience as a primary ball handler where he wouldn't and I think he's going to fit in seamless as an off ball scorer once that opportunity presents itself. But there's never a problem having this much talent because ultimately Dallas gets to flip these guys for whatever they want. I think the long term answer, like you guys have mentioned flag at the 4, AD at the 5, I think it's the best and just easiest fit for switchability for spreading out the offense to maximize both sides of the ball. So flip Gafford and P.J. washington. I mean that seems like the most logical thing that we're going to see.

Host 1 (15:23)

For though for three years. 60 million.

Host 3 (15:25)

Well that means that they can't clarification on that front that it's like actually 54 and that the other 6 million are unlikely incentives and so his contract is still tradable. I'm not 100% sure about that, but I believe he is still tradable. But anyway, go ahead.

Host 4 (15:39)

I and I think that's the answer. I think you flip these, they're very valuable commodities and they're expendable to you now that you have Cooper, Flag and AD like they lucked out in this situation. But I think they're going to be, I think they're going to have a really easy time flipping these guys into assets that they need because I think a lot of teams should be Interested in what PJ Washington brings to the table, what Gafford brings to the table. And now for the future. You've got Flag and Lively, who are one hell of a front court duo. And you've got AD and Kyrie, who can help you win. Now, I just think, and Clay too. I think the Mavs have lucked out and I think they're going to have an easier time than some people are expecting filling out the rest of this roster.

Host 3 (16:17)

So let's start here. Carson, I'm going to kick it to you like this. It's like the scene from the Dark Knight where the Joker breaks the pool cue in half and hands it to the two dudes. Both Cooper and AD Want to play power forward. Who ends up winning the battle for power forward in Dallas?

Host 1 (16:33)

It should be flag at the 4 and AD at the 5. I know that AD has this obsession with playing the 4, but I just think he's so much more effective offensively when he can play in that spaced out environment and he's not forced to play from the perimeter more. And then defensively, this guy has shown a million times over that he's more than capable of being an elite anchor at the 5. So I totally agree with what Logan was saying. I think it should be flag at the 4 and 80 at the 5, and that's going to be one of the best defensive duos in basketball immediately. Even when they go flag at the 3, AD at the 4 and one of these bigs at the 5. Like is there outside of Oklahoma City going to be a better defense in basketball next year than Dallas? I don't think so. Like, that length, that size, that rebounding, that aggregate rim protection in the front court is stupid. And Flagg obviously has all the mobility to guard on the perimeter. He's most impactful as that helper in Romer, but just a freak all around talent, man. I totally agree with you, Jason, when you say he is uniquely well equipped even for a number one overall pick, even for a number one overall pick of this caliber to immediately slide, slide in and be like that. Do it all wing for a team that wants to contend because he checks all the boxes. He has the feel offensively. He has the off ball scoring, he has the transition, he has the ball handling and playmaking and doses at the very least. And then defensively he's going to be so insanely impactful. The guy's just a winner. The floor is crazy high and the ceiling is really high too. But it's that floor that is immediately going to be so impactful. I think he'll be a top 50 player as a rookie and that's a dream for Dallas.

Host 3 (18:08)

Yeah, to your point, we've seen number one overall picks like Anthony Edwards who are bonafide number one overall, types of talent that have, that is, you know, come to fruition over time. But Ant would have been a terrible option in Dallas as a rookie. He would have been such a poor fit. You know, he's so undisciplined off ball as a defender and so screenable on ball and all that kind of stuff. Cooper can right away like. Cooper could legitimately start for any team in the NBA tomorrow. Like, he's so. He. He's so versatile positionally. I do agree with all the points that Jackson's making, essentially that like when you play the three instead of the four, there's additional responsibility defensively on the perimeter to navigate screens. And there's more. There's clunkier spacing in the sense that you're putting to bigger, slower, less skilled players in front of him in the front court. And so I think that's ultimately where it goes. But what'll probably end up happening is it'll be Anthony Davis in one center and they'll have two big looks that they use and they kind of oscillate back and forth between the two, but then they'll close games routinely with Cooper and AD at the five when the time comes. Our number two overall pick is in. Dylan Harper has gone to the San Antonio Spurs. So we conceptualize this idea that San Antonio, even though they're making the talent play here, going for the best player available. And I had Sam Vini on the show on Tuesday, and Sam had talked about how he sees a substantial drop off from number two to number three moving forward in the draft from this point in terms of just, you know, risk associated with some of these guys reaching their top end. But there is a window of opportunity for San Antonio over time to continue to pivot, to make changes along the way. They have another pick coming later in the first round. So my question for you, we'll go to you, Logan, if you're keeping Dylan in the short term, how does this work in terms of the basketball trying to work alongside Fox, alongside Victor Wembanyama in this system?

Host 4 (20:06)

The question after you make this pick. Me and Carson have talked about this recently on a couple of our draft shows, but all three of these guys are in the exact same archetype, and that's what makes it hard to make it viable with all of them. They're all downhill guards who need the ball in their hands. And you've got questions maybe about Castle's jumper, you've got questions about Harper's jumper. To me, it's kind of what you were saying before we got this thing started. Jason, I think you're probably going to have to pick the guy that you're going to rock with long term at some point in this season and move off of one of these guards. I think the odd man out is Dear and Fox and it's nothing against Fox. I think he's a very talented player. I think he's a. I think it was a good move for San Antonio to do what they did last season. Like I think it made sense. But I like Harper and Castle's long term upside more. I think that they're going to be ready to go and win quicker than people expect. And I just think those are the guys that I'd rather build around. I think Fox, as much as we can look at the raw numbers, I think Fox has his own flaws. If it's defensively really being committed. And you know what, I'll give him some grace with that. Right. He was in Sacramento. That's not the best situation. I think San Antonio, he can be committed to actually working on that end. But Fox doesn't get downhill as much as he used to. I cited this stat on our last show.

Host 2 (21:29)

He's.

Host 4 (21:29)

His rim attempts have halved since the peak that they were at in 2020. He's so reliant on that jumper. I just don't think he's as impactful as he could be if he really weaponized his athletic traits to the fullest. So to answer your question, Jason, I don't really know how it's viable with all three of these guys. I don't think it really works right now. I think it's going to be clunky and you're going to have to pick who you go with. But I don't think you can pass up Dylan Harper. And I'm just higher on Harper and Castle long term than Fox. So to me, Fox would be the odd man out.

Host 2 (22:03)

I think Fox is the odd man out because of it feels like Castle also is the one who needs the ball in his hands the least. It feels like he could fit the best alongside either of the of Harper or Fox. So he feels like he's squarely as part of their core. Unless, you know, there's a Giannis trade. But I also, I think that it'll. I think it'll be really interesting to see what happens in the first half of the season because if they're good right away, if they're like okay, we're above 500 immediately, then it's kind of hard to move off of Darren Fox. But if they're kind of around 500 or and then if the Bucks sort of aren't as good and the Giannis trade becomes more available than it seems like it is right now, I I actually think Fox could be an interesting player to in a trade for Giannis. If the Bucks end up end up making a move like that because the Bucks don't own their picks for a few years. They need to be semi not terrible and so dear and Fox would at least along with a bunch of other picks. Obviously it's not just Darren Fox would sort of accomplish that better than Harper or Castle would.

Host 3 (23:08)

There are some numbers with Harper specifically with unguarded catch and shoot shooting that are good. It's part of the reason why I'm encouraged about his ability to become a better jump shooter. We've seen this archetype so many times in the past where the dude who's the ball handler can knock down off the dribble jump shots but he can't hit off the catch because he just never practiced off the catch in his entire childhood. He had to create every shot for everybody. There's never an opportunity for him to like really learn how to be an off ball, catch and shoot player. Dylan Harper's kind of the exact opposite where he's an on ball player but his shot release is so in front of his face and it's a little drawn out and it's a little hitchy and so off the dribble he's his energy transfer is poor and he every shot looks a little different and so he's not very consistent there. But then when he's wide open in catch and shoot situations, he hit over half of his threes this year, which is a sign of a very good touch in those sorts of situations. So that's going to be really the key is whether or not he can actually figure out the the off ball piece and then in the short term and then in the long term put together the on the on the ball shooting.

Host 1 (24:15)

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George M. Johnson (25:47)

Cancel CT mobile.com this Pride Month, we are not just celebrating, we're fighting back. I'm George M. Johnson, and my book All Boys Aren't Blue was just named the most banned book in America. If the culture wars have taught me anything, it's that pride is protest. And on my podcast, Fighting Words, we talk to people who use their voices to resist, disrupt and make our community stronger.

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Host 3 (26:45)

Carson, what's your take on Dylan Harper fitting with the spurs?

Host 1 (26:48)

Just to Add to that point a little bit. I also think that we've seen flashes of him off ball, attacking closeouts. I think we've seen flashes of him cutting. So obviously this is a guy who is primarily going to play with the ball in his hands. That's where he's at his most lethal. But I do think there are some positive indicators for him being solid off ball. And then in terms of the pull up jumper, I agree with you. I also do think that we've definitely seen that the shot creation ability, the ability to create space, the footwork, the step backs like that's all there. So it's really just the mechanics and the consistency of the pull up jumper itself. But man, he just does so much that I love. Yeah, the fit is definitely weird. One of these three guards is going to be gone. I would be fine with it being either Fox or Castle. I'm not as high on Castle as some maybe. Even though I do like him, I just think there's still a lot of questions there. You make a good point, Jackson, in that he is the guy who is going to do the most things to impact the game without the ball being an elite rebounding guard talent having the defensive potential that he does. But until he becomes a dramatically better catch and shooter, if he ever becomes that, like you're still going to have some questions about playing him off ball and what kind of value he can deliver there. But Harper's the guy who I'm going all in on. Like again, just this level of rim pressure, finishing, foul drawing, playmaking, protecting the basketball at the level he does. I think he'll become an average pull up shooter and a solid overall jump shooter. And if he gets there, you're looking at an all Star. You're looking at a guy who maybe could be on the fringes of all NBA conversations. And there's not another talent like that in this class.

Host 3 (28:20)

After obviously Flag the the shooting is.

Host 2 (28:23)

Actually we just get our first shams, our first shams report here and then the. The pick was in as well that the Sixers are keeping the pick and they're drafting V.J.

Host 3 (28:31)

Ed right on. So no, no trade. No trade to get off of Paul George. Really quickly Carson, before we move on to vj. The separation is the more important piece. There are a lot of guys you can shoot in the NBA and they can't get to their spots. And like, I mean if we haven't seen that on display in this postseason, like the guys that can get to their spots against athleticism and physicality is just so valuable and the touch is there, the footwork's there, the handles there. He's just got to improve his, you know, energy transfer from the ground up a little bit quicker, a little bit crisper, shoots the ball up a little bit more instead of out so far. And I think he'll put it all together. I think that potential is there. So, VJ Edgecomb to the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that already has Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey. Logan, what's your take on getting this? You know, obviously not an on ball guard, but a guy who plays, in my opinion, at the NBA level, a 2 to fit inside the Sixers big picture plans.

Host 4 (29:30)

So I'll preface this by saying I agree with whoever said there's a little bit of a drop off between 2 and 3. But I still love Vijay Edgecomb. The question marks with him is going to be how great he can be in the half court and what he does for your spacing. He shot 43% on unguarded catch and shoot jumpers, so I think there is shooting upside. I don't hate his stroke. I think he's going to be a good shooter one day. But like you mentioned, he does everything else at such a high level that I'm confident he's going to have a winning impact where defensively I think he's going to be a problem. He's a supreme athlete. The dude has springs attached to his shoes. Just ridiculous bounce where I think he's going to be a really good transition scorer. And then the big thing is defense and rebounding. A tremendous rebounder for a guard. And so when I look at what the Sixers have right now, I just think they're in best player available mode. I'm going to be honest, I'm not super optimistic about Philadelphia being competitive in this window whatsoever. You guys know me. I gave up on Joel Embiid a long time ago. I'm pretty much out on Paul George. So I don't think that Philadelphia really has a real opportunity to compete in the east unless everything falls their way. So I think they should take the best player available and I do think that's Edgecomb. But I do think he can do some winning things for them. They've got the scoring punch with Embiid. Theoretically, if Paul George returns to, you know what he can be, he could be a solid three. Maxi is a beast in. He's a scorer. So it's like you don't need more scoring punch. You need guys who can do the little things. And I think Edgecomb can immediately do that, but does have long term all star upside with. With his athletic profile. I'm concerned about him being an on ball creator and scorer. That's not really his role to me. I think he's going to be a really good closeout attacker and off ball scorer. I think that's more his role. Cutting, relocating, dribble, handoff, stuff like that. But I think you kind of get the best of both worlds with vj. I think that he can give you a little bit of a winning impact now with the little things that he does. But he does have all star upside long term for Philadelphia.

Host 3 (31:40)

Yeah. You know, after what we.

Host 4 (31:44)

Know, I.

Host 2 (31:44)

Was going to say I agree. But I. The question for their future I think is what like how does these, these three small guards all fit together? Vijay is the biggest and he's a super athlete. He's long arms but Maxi is small and McCain is small. Which is why you're probably not saying those two are. Are back or backcourt of the Future. Just those two. But considering how good McCain was before he got hurt. He was unbelievable before he got hurt. And so it is a little bit of like how do these three players fit in two spots? Kind of because I don't think Vijay. We'll see. But I don't think Vijay's athleticism is enough to make up for him only being 64 in terms of playing the 3 alongside those guys. But overall I do think he's probably. I agree that he was the third best player in the draft. Um, so I think you gotta just go best player. I do think he's a very, very real quick.

Host 4 (32:31)

Would you, would you slot McCain in at the six man spot? I feel like that's kind of the logical. I would.

Host 2 (32:35)

I do. It does feel like it's. He's the sixth man there like from a long term perspective and it feels like his game is kind of sixth Manny. But it's. It's a little it. That will be the big question for their, for their second of the timeline.

Host 3 (32:47)

Not the two, two small guards that are looking to score. The basketball can't really share the floor in a serious big picture context. That and maybe that's a big picture they decision they have to make with respect to Tyrese Maxey. I think VJ is a player I'm particularly excited about after having watched this last postseason. And we just see how important it is to have a guard who can guard his position but also guard up a little bit that can cover ground in rotation. Crack down, rebound, fly up and down the floor in transition. I actually do think VJs got some high level closeout attacking moves that he will be able to access over the years. We've seen flashes of it, you know, a Euro step there, turnaround, fade away here I after we just watched Aaron Neesmith fill a very valuable role for an Indiana Pacers team that made it deep into the postseason, you know, one win away from the championship and be like downright super impactful at stretches. Now Aaron's bigger, but I think that, I think that Edgecomb kind of just fits that mold of the do everything wing in the NBA at the two guard spot. He just has to fit into the two guard spot. What's your take Carson?

Host 1 (33:46)

I agree. I think that short term, long term, this is the right pick. This is just the best talent on the board and kind of something of a life raft for Philly. I still think that they're in a tough spot, but this was the safest pick. This is the guy who yeah, can do things to contribute now in that all around wing archetype that you're talking about, Jason, I mean he's like a uniquely good offensive rebounding guard. Great springiness and really good feel like you see the connective passing. That's exciting for a guy who's going to be playing for a team that ostensibly if they're healthy, is trying to win and he's going to be in a scaled down role. But I think that suits him because of the closeout attacking, because of the shooting off the catch and then defensively he's good defending at the point of attack, he's really good forcing steals. He's pretty darn good as a rim protecting guy for his size. So he's going to make plays in every phase of the game. Going to get to the rim a hell of a lot. And yeah, there are things that he needs to refine, got to be more efficient as a finisher. He shot 44% on layups so that's obviously not going to cut it. And then I do think that you want to see the handle, you want to see the pull up shooting improve for sure in terms of his long term upside, but that's not really going to be his role in the short term he's going to be trying to do those winning things and I think that he can do that. But I do really like him. I think he is a real quality starter with fringe star kind of outside and just a really good all around wing prospect for a team that Desperately needs that.

Host 3 (35:08)

If you're in a position like Phillies in where you're kind of old and banged up in your star core, you want to be anchored by younger players that can play smaller roles and athletes. And that's. VJ just crosses all of those boxes. And then you add the legitimate upside that he has. And again, like, I don't. I'm with you guys. I don't think he's going to be some, you know, super high volume on ball guard. I think that's unlikely at this point. But there is some upside there with his athleticism. You can. I've said this about Jalen Green, I've said this about Jonathan Kaminga. It's really hard for me not to bet on like legitimate A plus athletes. And that's not to say that guys like Green or Comm, like guys like Green or Kamingo would be much better off in the NBA if they were to embrace more of a VJ Edgecomb role player type of. Of archetype. But there is legitimate upside in a player that can get to his spots. The number four pick is in in the Charlotte Hornets taking Con Knippel from Duke. Big shooter, off ball scoring weapon, underrated defensive player on a team that has a lot of guys that like to have the ball in their hands. It seems like it makes a lot of sense. Jackson, what's your take on Khan going to Charlotte?

Host 2 (36:18)

I think he is. He has a lot of NBA ready skills. Is he ready for the NBA? I don't know. He has a lot of NBA ready skills and in that sense I almost. I thought he would have been actually a good fit with Philly as well. And the Hornets feel like they're a long ways away from being a relevant basketball team. But I do think he's very solid watching him and you know, his sort of archetype of white shooter type player. They're not as commonly 6, 7. So the fact that he's 6, 7, I think goes a long way. I like his patience offensively. He does a lot of that playing off two feet, pump faking. It's not Jalen Brunson really ish, but it has some sort of similar. Once he gets his feet in the paint, he's going to be very patient, make the right play. I think he has a lot of. I think he's going to be a really impactful, winning basketball player player I think. And I think he's sort of, you know, with his basketball family, it feels like he's a little bit more of an adult than Some of the other guys on the Hornets roster and got guys of their, you know, guys I like to draft. So I from that sense I, I think it's a good fit for them.

Host 1 (37:18)

It's a little high.

Host 4 (37:19)

This feels like a. Yeah, this feels like a really safe pick for Charlotte. Carson and I did our mock draft not that long ago and we mocked his Duke teammate Malu watch to the Hornets which I thought made more sense. I guess the Hornets are holding on to this Mark Williams stock and they think he's going to be their big man of the future is what I glean from this. Like I. Yeah, yeah like Carmelo Anthony Atlanta Hawks legend. I I think canoples really solid. I think he is an uber talented off ball scorer. The way this guy finds space. He is constantly moving and relocating Great when the defender turns their his back to him and cutting off of that coming off screenshot some of the ghost screen stuff he does pick and popping and he's a really good spot up player. An elite catch and shooter. I think he's got tremendous coordination and footwork and he's got a quick trigger. He shot 41% in the mid range, just under 41% from deep. He shot 91% from the line and at a true shooting percentage of 64%. Like the guy's got elite touch and I think he's got a little bit more on ball juice than some people give him credit for. Now he's not like special there but I think, I think he's got a little bit of juice there. He's slow and methodical, I'll say that. You know he's not got a lot of pop but he's crafty. He's got some change in pace. In college it was using quickness against bigs and then strength against smaller defenders and you know he's got pump fakes, rip throughs. I think he's got a little bit of feel out of pick and roll. So I think there's some upside there and then the fit here. Yeah, another good shooter off ball for lamelo ball. I just my thing with this pick again it's very safe. I think Knuckle is going to be a good solid NBA player. I come back to two questions with the Hornets. Who the hell is going to play defense for them and why they keep passing up rock solid defensive prospects. I liked clinging last year and I really liked Molly watch this year for them it's just getting a defensive anchor. So I like the pick but I don't love it certainly.

Host 1 (39:19)

Yeah I think that safe is a good word for it. I think that Khan is an extremely high floor offensive player. Like he's a top two shooter in the class and he knows how to weaponize that. You guys have mentioned if it's screening for other guards, if it's relocating. And he really knows how to leverage that shooting threat too. Like this is a guy who playing off the catch, playing coming around a screen, is capable of knocking down those two point jumpers, getting into the lane, playing off two feet like you mentioned Jackson. And yeah, he does have pretty solid passing feeling. There's a lot that you know is going to translate offensively. Is the ceiling high enough though? When you're looking at now a defensive backcourt of Lamelo, ball and con Can Apple, like I don't like that long term. Now the one thing that they have is solid size as a backcourt, but still like can Apple 65 with an even wingspan, basically slow feet. I do think he's a high IQ effort defender. I just think that there are some core physical limitations there where you see him struggling to navigate screens, where you see him susceptible to blow bys and then Lamelo is very problematic defensively. So the couple guys who you could have argued if they were going to take a perimeter player are probably higher risk in like a Trey Johnson or an Ace Bailey because those are guys where you might question the shot selection. With Trey Johnson, I think that you definitely have the same issues about a defensive backcourt, if not more so trying to put him alongside Lamelo. I do think the offensive ceiling is higher for him. I'm really conflicted on Ace Bailey. I'm not a big fan of his and so for that reason I can't be overly critical. Like Logan was saying, I would have taken Model Watch here, but I'm a lot higher on Model Watch than most. It's not super common that you're seeing him mocked number four right now. I think he could have been a really nice anchor, big for them defensively when they already kind of have their franchise guard and franchise wing and Lamelo and Brandon Miller. If those guys can stay healthy and refine some stuff, that would have been where I had gone. I can't hate this pick. It's just a little high for me. I don't think the ceiling is quite there.

Host 3 (41:20)

We've seen this archetype, this kind of like big shooter who's not very mobile succeed in the NBA, but they have to be very good playmakers and they have to be very smart defenders. Joe Ingles is a guy that comes to mind for me is a guy that has kind of been like this just big, smart wing that's not overly fast, but because he has size, size is half the battle. And this is kind of the thing with Luka Doncic that I've been complaining about over the last couple years. Like when you're big and you could, you don't have to be the fastest dude in the world. You can be a useful defensive player as long as you're smart and you're committed. And so those are just going to be the things that they have to watch with. His development is just his ability to make decisions coming off of screening actions. If he's a high level playmaker in those situations, he will be a useful offensive player and then obviously the positional defense.

Host 4 (42:11)

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Hand sanitizer.

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Host 1 (42:38)

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Host 4 (42:39)

Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car.

Host 2 (42:47)

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George M. Johnson (43:10)

CT mobile.com this Pride Month we are not just celebrating, we're fighting back.

Host 2 (43:16)

George.

George M. Johnson (43:16)

Hi, I'm George M. Johnson and my book All Boys aren't Blue was just named the most banned book in America. If the culture wars have taught me anything, it's that pride is protest. And on my podcast Fighting Words, we talk to people who use their voices to resist, disrupt and make our community stronger.

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This year. We are showing up and showing out. You need people being like, no, you're not going to tell us what to do.

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Host 3 (44:08)

The number five pick is in Ace Bailey. No slippage, no. No falling deep back into the draft. The Utah Jazz are taking Ace Bailey at number five. Anybody got some snap judgments for this one?

Host 1 (44:24)

It's interesting. I would have slightly preferred Trey Johnson here. I do think that I'm more confident in his offensive skill set translating. I just think he's such an elite shooter and he really knows how to weaponize it and he's a super, super effective shooter off the dribble. That being said, like with Ace Bailey, you absolutely have to see the upside. And the upside is not what some people have advertised. It's not the next Kevin Durant, right? He is not that level of shot creator whatsoever. He's not that level of ball handler. He's not that level of rim pressure. He's very limited as a ball handler. He plays pretty stiff and upright and he really doesn't get to the rim and he doesn't handle the ball very well and he doesn't play well through physicality. And you can really force him into taking a lot of tough shot after tough shot when he is trying to initiate. Not to mention he's a very bad passer and a very selfish player fundamentally. So for all those reasons, that's not going to be his role.

Host 2 (45:24)

That's like you were describing. You were listing off the side effects of the medication.

Host 1 (45:28)

But what if the medication could also be like Michael Porter Jr. Offensively with defense? Because that's going to be the mold for Ace to succeed. It's going to be embracing a scaled down role where it's just, okay, I am six, eight and I am one of the most gifted shot makers on the planet. I'm going to do it coming around screens off, contest off the catch. I'm going to be an effective cutter because he's a really good above the rim athlete. He doesn't have that like functional burst to get by you off the bounce. But as an above the rim athlete, he is impressive. And that's where defensively Seven foot wingspan, very good positional rebounder. The stock rates are impressive. If he buys into that, knock down threes and play my role defensively role, this can be a really impactful player. My concern with Ace is all the indications are he thinks that he is the next Kevin Durant. He goes out and he says, maybe that's a bad shot for you. You don't practice that shot. I practice that shot. He's turning down workouts with teams. That to me is very concerning when like the whole appeal with the guys, the talents there, if he sees the vision and plays the right role and he doesn't seem to be seeing the vision or playing the right role. So I would have preferred Trey Johnson here if I'm Utah to Carson's point.

Host 3 (46:37)

Like when their agents are actually out and about, like telling everybody he wants to be the scorer and he's openly admitting it. It's, it's just there was some risk for him sliding and he didn't slide at the end of the day. And I'm with you. Like the big thing for me is I've just seen this archetype a lot over the years, which is like the big lanky athlete, like in terms of measurables, like height and wingspan, but that just brings almost no physicality to the position. It's, it's brutal like that. That, that's the thing. Like you with a Michael Porter Jr. It's a perfect example. Like he has to come clean off of a screen because he's not the kind of guy that's going to bump a defender off to get separation or fight for his spot in terms of physical positional strength. I was using this example with San Versini the other day. But like he, when he spins into his like turnarounds, like a physical big will bump with that right shoulder and just shoot a turnaround jumper. No, like Ace is turning into this wild step back, one legged crazy shot because he's not attacking with physicality in those moves. And so I'm more worried about the physical tools just not being as valuable as they look on paper.

Host 2 (47:47)

I'm going to put on my Bill Simmons fake conspiracy hat just for one moment. I am one. I'm wondering if Adam Silver was like Charlotte Washington, Brooklyn, you guys can't draft it. We cannot let this behavior be successful. You cannot let this tank the drafts workouts. I want to go to these three teams only. You guys cannot take him. So someone else must take him and they exiled him to Salt Lake City. I think it's hilarious that he's going to. Mr. I want to be a superstar. Sign me up for superstar class. And they said, go to Salt Lake City.

Host 3 (48:20)

Welcome to Utah. Yeah. And then is there a. Is there a Lori Markin in trade lined up or something? Like, there's. That's the other thing, too, because it. It kind of felt like he was trying to shoehorn his play, his. His kind of situation to a place where he can have the basketball in his hands. And he's going to be fighting for it with Keonte George and Colin Sexton and Laurie Markkanen and all these guys. I just don't. I don't really see the natural fit. But at the same time, maybe it's a bet on the culture and like, hey, we bring him in here and we'll convince him, hey, you're not getting the ball, so you better work on these other things. So maybe that's the move. I'm not entirely sure. Any thoughts, Logan?

Host 4 (48:58)

I mean, you said the two words I saw your breakdown the other day. Black hole. I mean, that's what scares me is, you know, Alex Caruso had a really good quote. He couldn't think of a more different player from a guy like Ace Bailey. But Caruso says teams are looking for a guy to clean the bathrooms, not a CEO. And to me, it's just a fundamental misunderstanding of what teams are looking for. And so the upside's all there. But my mom told me, if I ain't got nothing nice to say, I ain't gonna say it. So I ain't got. I ain't got it. I ain't got a ton nice to say about Ace. I see the upside. I think he. I think he needs to get his head screwed on straight. The beauty of going to a place like Utah, though, is I like their system, I like their coach, and there's at least, I feel like a little more structure with a Utah than if he would go to. To one of these other destinations. If it's a Brooklyn, so the talent's there. The. The ta. It's all mental with Ace Bailey. The talent is all there. It's all about if he can, his willingness to play a role and his. His cerebral ness, like his commitment to. To playing smart basketball.

Host 1 (50:03)

I do want to be clear, like.

Host 3 (50:04)

I think you got it.

Host 1 (50:04)

I don't think this is a disaster pick. Like, I understand we're focusing on the negatives here. I had Ace Bailey, six on my board, so obviously the intangibles are going to be a huge deciding factor for him here. But the talent is definitely one of the best on the board. I would have preferred Trey Johnson, but like Ace Bailey's talent is better than Con can Apple's. The ceiling is significantly higher and Lord knows Utah needs talent. I mean, they really don't have any foundation for their rebuild right now. It's Walker Kessler and we'll see what like Taylor Hendricks and Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski like. They don't have any of those real upper echelon talents and Ace Bailey at least could be that for them.

Host 3 (50:43)

It's an upside play. I, I'm with you on that. I Trey Johnson was my favorite player that I watched in my draft prep. He has this like kind of unique combination of size for the position but shooting ability mixed with like all the things that I think you need to naturally be a good scorer, which is like kind of an audacity or a confidence, a creativity in terms of the, you know, different dribble combinations and footwork pieces that he's added to his game. And then also just like the ability to kind of adjust angles and be, you know, fluid on the ball in order to be that type of scorer. And like I like the shots that he takes more within the context of an NBA offense. Like I, I'm fully okay with Trey Johnson leading a bench unit and coming off of a ball screen and him having a drop coverage big too far back and him taking a pull up three. That to me is a good NBA shot for a good shooter. In the same way that like 70% of the shots that you see Ace Bailey take, you're. When he has the ball in his hands, you're like, this feels like a wasted possession in many cases. And so like the, the dirty little secret about those shots, those super, super tough shots is you really only want to take them in the last few seconds of the shot clock or like in a switching scheme, playoff tight environment, you got a good matchup against a smaller player against a switch and you go to a turnaround, fade away, but closer to the basket where it's more reliable. There's just a lot of as Trey Johnson has just been picked by Washington. Like to me, Trey represents like real NBA offense in the form of an aggressive score. Like his ability to hit up, pull up threes coming off of action, his ability to hit threes running off of off ball action, both moving to his right and moving to his left, adding some of that scoring flair. I still think with Trey, my biggest like, like hang up with Trey and I shouldn't even say Hang up. It's just something I think he's got to work on, but I believe he will is he's just a little bit rushed right now by the speed of the game. And I think that once he figures out that like change of pace and using physicality and strength to set guys up for screens and then like moving in these quicker, shorter bursts, that that kind of manifest in these shots, I think that'll help him be better at getting separation. We saw in the Xavier game that he kind of just got lock and trailed out of the game and so there's a certain amount of like just like additional veteran savvy that he can add to become even better. But to me he just makes sense as a off ball scorer right away in the NBA and then a potential on ball scorer depending on how some of his specific fundamentals run out.

Host 4 (53:20)

I think Trey's the best scorer in the draft. I mean I really like what he put on tape. My only concern, on top of what you said, Jason, he was sub 60% in field goal attempts at the rim. So I think he needs to become a better rim finisher. But the guy has phenomenal touch, I mean at all three levels. And I think some of the percentages are a little bit misleading because I think the difficulty of some of the shots that he's putting up like he's a sub 38% shooter in the mid range but he's got great touch. All the shots he's taking are tough. The only thing I'd add on to what you were saying too is I love his back to the basket in his postgame too. Trey showed a little bit of that too. He was an 86 percentile post score last season. So I just think he's got a really high floor and I think there's some real upside to tap into. Like you were saying, I just, I'm more confident that Trey is going to be a reliable player than Ace. I just think the floor is higher there than he's going to step in. He's going to get you buckets. I think he's the best scorer in the draft. I, I also mocked him to Utah. But I really like this pick for Washington. They're. I don't know what to make of the Middleton McCollum. Like I think I'm glad they have some veterans in there. Yeah, it's, it's interesting. It's very interesting. I'm glad they've got some veterans in the room, but I really do like this pick for Washington. I like Trey a lot.

Host 1 (54:36)

I like this a lot too. Go ahead Jackson.

Host 2 (54:38)

I like it too. I was. This is almost. I feel like this is the first time in a while I've been like okay, Washington seems to be doing some of the right things. I think getting off the Jordan pool thing was smart. I think. Not to say not they're going to make the playoffs or anything but I do feel like you got Sar now you got Trey Johnson. Why not see if what that looks like with some veterans who can try to. Because a lot of NBA players talk about the lack of vets across the league and now maybe they got too many, they got three of them all of a sudden. But I do feel like the situation all of a sudden feels a little more thought out there and I feel like it's a better play, a better environment for some of these younger raw players like Sar and Johnson.

Host 1 (55:17)

Yeah and he's an extremely gifted scorer. Like he is defin the most intriguing offensive talent in Washington now by far. But they do have some other pieces you like, right? Obviously Sar with his two way potential, Koulibaly with his two way potential but they need somebody who can kind of break the game open offensively. Well yeah I like bub but like we're talking about a different level of a talent here with Trey Johnson. I think that you said it Jason. I mean just an elite off ball score, best shooter in the class in my opinion. Not often you see a guy knock down 40% of his seven and a half three point attempts per game and everything indicates that this is a legitimate elite shooter, the free throw shooting but it's the ability to do it off the catch, off screens, in transition, off movement, off the dribble with the step back like lethal, lethal jump shooter knows how to weaponize it and if you're comparing him to an ace like this is a guy who yes has a very score first mentality. He is a scorer for sure but he can make the basic reads, the pocket passes, he can find the roller, he can actually occasionally make some skip passes for you and some lay down passes. So like he's much more effective weaponizing his scoring threat. Even though he is still a basic playmaker, he's still definitely jacked up some tough shots and definitely I agree with you Logan about the rim finishing. Also I'm not optimistic about his defense. Like he has decent enough tools at 66 with a 610 wingspan but lot of bad defensive effort and lapses in focus and really brought you no defensive playmaking at the college level. So I think he is going to be a negative defender, but not like a terribly negative defender. I just think like kind of below average for sure. But you can see him having that great offensive impact that justifies him being picked here. Because I think that the ceiling is absolutely there and even the floor offensively just with that shooting is pretty high.

Host 3 (57:05)

With the playmaking piece. Like this is another difference to me between him and Ace Bailey where it's like with Ace you're basically like, hey dude, I know you're posting on the left block, but can you please like look at the floor and see what's happening around you and, and try to find a read there. Whereas because Trey Johnson takes real NBA shots that you see real NBA scorers regularly take, like the kinds of shots that you'd be comfortable with them taking at any point really in the shot clock. Because he takes a lot of those shots, you can really lay out basic reads for him. Like, hey dude, look at the tape when you come off the screen and they're at the level, that literally means the pocket is open every single time. You know, like you can, you can teach him like these kind of basic reads. And you know, especially with him being surrounded by as many vets as he's been surrounded by, like, you don't think C.J. mcCollum can be like, hey dude, you will make your life easier if you start making this pass. You start making this pass, they won't even show at the level anymore. They'll see if they'll give, you'll get more open looks, you'll get more of these opportunities. And so to me, Trey, like, Trey Johnson just follows much more of like a proven mold for what works in the NBA. And I mean we literally just saw a, a player and Buddy healed get finally moved into a competent five out system where he was playing with some real talent and being guarded by the second best defender in every, in every situation and immediately be useful. And like the volume is the key. Like it's not when, when everyone knows you're a great shooter and you're still getting seven, seven and a half threes off a game. Those are the tricks of the trade. Good shooters know how to get open and, and he knows how to get open in action. And I just think there's a lot of like really translatable stuff with him right away. And as far as the defensive end of the floor goes, like we saw Buddy within a system become a useful defender because it's culturally demanded. And that doesn't mean that Trey's going to Go to Washington and suddenly learn how to be a great defender. But they are slowly sort of building out. That's some defensive culture with some decent defensive talent. And again and I, I'm a big believer that anyone's capable under the, under the right surrounding circumstances. As the number seven pick is in and the New Orleans Pelicans are taking Jeremiah Fierce.

Host 1 (59:18)

Anybody got a take that's exciting. I mean definitely very high upside, kind of boom or bust. Cause there's a lot that Jeremiah Fears does need to refine and figure out. But he is definitely one of the most dynamic offensive talents in this draft and I like him going top 10. There are a lot of people who I think were kind of out on him to the point where they didn't see him as a lottery talent. I had him eight on my big board. So the sales pitch here is basically this is a guard who is going to live in the paint, who has the quickness, who has the physicality, who has the change in pace as a driver, who has the footwork navigating the paint. Fantastic ball handler, nasty hesitation move, really shifty. And then once he gets into that paint, nice floater touch. He's also got a nice little mid range pull up game and he gets to the line a ton over six free throw attempts per game. And with all of that rim pressure, he just draws so much defensive attention that he can play make off of it a pretty high level. He can make the lay down passes and the kickouts and the wraparounds and he can make those adjustments in midair to find his teammates. He can make the occasional skip pass, so really was quite an efficient high volume pick and roll creator. That's everything that you love about the offense because when you can just get into the paint like that and make the reads, that's incredibly appealing to build any offense off of. The concerns and the swing factors for him are the three point shot, just over 28% from deep. That's what he was in high school as well. But you see the indicators of like elite free throw shooter, 85%. He's got really good touch in the paint from the mid range. He shot 36% off the catch from deep, so that's a better number. And again he has the space creation, he has all the handling and the footwork to get those shots off. Just has to be more consistent there the rim finishing. Also he only shot 53% at the rim so you want to see that number improve. And he was a high turnover guy that I probably attribute a fair Bit of to just him having a crazy offensive load. I also do think, though sometimes he did make some questionable decisions. And then the defensive issues, I think that that's just a reality whenever you're trying to build around a small guard. Six, two and a half with a six five wingspan in today's NBA, like your offensive value has to be so great that it outweighs your defensive issues. In an era where everybody is trying to target defensive weak points and bring those small guards into the action over and over again. And that's a more significant concern than ever before. But the guy doesn't turn 19 until July. He's so talented and if he just figures that shot out, he's one of the few guys who does have star potential in this class. And for New Orleans, man, what do you have going for you? Everything's a disaster. Like, you might as well take on the high upside talent. I could see the case for like trying to get a three Andy guy who I guess could help them win now, but you're not winning now. So I lean on the side of liking this for them.

Host 4 (62:16)

I think Fears is the.

Host 3 (62:17)

I.

Host 4 (62:18)

Sorry. I think he's the like biggest boomer bust guy in the class. It's funny because, like, you're reading out kind of the laundry list of the concerns. Like he's a 10th percentile guy at protecting the basketball in this draft. He's 16th percentile when finishing at the rim. But you do see the upside. So I think it's a very high risk, high reward play here for New Orleans. But there is legitimate star upside. He's super shifty. I think he's got the best handle in the draft. Great change in pace. It's like taking a big uppercut. You know, I think this is a big swing for New Orleans. Are either going to leave themselves susceptible for a nasty counter knockout punch and maybe lose it all. But like Carson said, I mean, you're not. There's no timeline right now. Like, I like them taking the risk and taking a big swing here. I do like fierce upside. But there also is a chance where he maybe just doesn't cut it in the league because of his archetype.

Host 2 (63:15)

For me, I am a big fan and the guy he reminds me most of is a guy who was taken a little bit later, so there wasn't as much risk involved. But Tyrese Maxey, a guy who is lightning quick and there were a lot of indicators that his jumper was going to be okay even though the numbers in college weren't that good. And that's what it reminds me of too with the mid range pull up the free throw shooting. His aesthetically it looks like it should be a good jumper and he just didn't hit it at a super high rate in college. So I would just be comfortable betting that his three point jumper sort of develops in this in a very similar way. Maybe not as good. Maxi's has become kind of elite. I don't know if it becomes that good, but he's similar ultra fast, great change of pace, small point guard, that there were some shooting questions and he figured that.

Host 3 (63:59)

Yeah, we've seen, we've been talking so much over the course of the last couple months about dribble penetration and the value, especially against teams that can switch. Especially when teams can switch with their big like Chad Holmgren in the Oklahoma City series is along the way. And you know, we saw TJ McConnell take on a great deal of value because of his ability to get into the paint. I think it's a big part of what made the Cleveland Cavaliers so dynamic this year was the idea that Darius Garland was healthy and he could just get into the paint at will. There are pieces that come attached to that. Darius Garland is an example of a guy who get into the pain at will and then has all the playmaking. But there have been issues defensively, there have been issues with health and there have been issues with his ability to actually knock down jump shots when he gets into the postseason. Because inevitably when you get into the postseason you just encounter tougher circumstances. So I think that'll ultimately be the, the biggest swing factor is that, you know, the shooting, the playmaking and the defense. But it's it. You know, we talk about it with John Morant, we talked about it with a lot of some of these other guys around the league. It's a really strong foundation when you have something that other teams can't really mess with. And if you've got ultimate quickness, the ability to beat, beat your man off the dribble, that brings a great deal of value in the NBA as long as you can build the rest of the con, the, the construct around that. Waiting on pick number eight for the Brooklyn Nets. What the hell are the Brooklyn Nets doing?

Host 2 (65:22)

I can't believe they didn't trade up I can't believe they didn't trade up.

Host 1 (65:25)

Player on the that's Molly watch to me, but I am really high on him.

Host 3 (65:29)

I just think Trey Claxton get Mallow watch.

Host 1 (65:32)

I think that Claxton is kind of misaligned with your Timeline. He's on a movable contract. I guess he didn't have his best season. So it's a little bit on the big side, but I just don't think the Nets are really in a position to be doing anything other than best player available here. Like, who are they really prioritizing and saying, no, we won't draft to replace you if we think that guy's the best talent? And to me, model watches quite clearly the best talent on the board at this point.

Host 2 (65:59)

I like ball of Watch this video of inside the Nets war room. They seem super stoked.

Host 3 (66:04)

Yeah, they are. They are.

Host 2 (66:06)

Crazy how ecstatic they are for the eighth pick right now for a long.

Host 1 (66:10)

Night like Molly watch.

Host 2 (66:14)

I like molot. I'm a Queen Derek Queen fan. I think he'd be fun there. But I like I'm a big Molo watch guys.

Host 4 (66:19)

I'm a big Derek Queen guy too. I do have some concerns about him defensively. That was what me and Carson talked about with Queens fit with a lot of teams. We'd like to see him go to a team with like, I'd like to see him go to San Antonio because ideally you'd like to put him at the four alongside a five that can one protect the rim and also space the floor. But I do like Queen's game a lot. He just feels like a. A bit of a tweener. But I don't know. The. The Nets seem like they got their guy, whoever it may be.

Host 3 (66:48)

Igor Devin from byu.

Host 4 (66:50)

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

Host 1 (66:52)

Worst pick of the draft so far. By far.

Host 3 (66:55)

I was going to say I haven't even gotten to an eval of Igor yet.

Host 2 (66:58)

I actually like them and. But that's very high.

Host 4 (67:01)

I'm very skeptical of look, Demon's got upside. But I have a lot of red flags about Demon. I mean, primarily, like, defensively, I think this guy is a weak point where every game I feel like I watched him on tape, he's getting blown by somebody's big bodying him like he's tall and long and like I see the play making upside in the ball handling, but he's going to be a primary ball handler that I don't really trust as a scorer. So I think his value is limited there. Why would I put the ball in the hands of a guy who can't really create advantages for himself and he's going to be a defensive liability. I'm not going to lie to you guys. I liked Demon, like as a pick in the 20s. I didn't like him as a pick.

Host 1 (67:47)

We're talking about archetypes that you can see succeeding and players who have a path that they can follow and they do things that translate into me. This is the epitome of the archetype that people fall in love with every draft cycle and it doesn't work. The big guard who is a super gifted passer but cannot score the basketball and is going to be attacked relentlessly defensively. Those guys don't succeed as like actual building blocks. As a bench ball handler, sure, but there's just way too much clunkiness there. You can't entrust a guy with being responsible for your offense if you cannot trust him to consistently threaten the defense with his scoring which he can then leverage into playmaking. You have to be respected as a scorer first to be a super impactful passer. And I just have major questions and red flags with Demon as a scorer. He's a good ball handler. He does have really good size, but he doesn't get to the rim or the line very much. He doesn't get super low or explode on his drives. He's not a real one on one advantage creator and I think that he can struggle with ball pressure. He can struggle to play and finish through contract. And the shooting numbers are not good. Like the shot Mechanics look solid but 25% on jumpers off the dribble, under 70% from the line and in conference play. This is a guy who averaged 9.8 points per game, 3.2 turnovers on 47% true shooting. While like Logan says, I do think he is going to be attacked defensively. Like I love beautiful passing, Demon is the best passer in this class. I don't think he can leverage that enough to nearly justify this pick. Like Logan said, I would have taken him 20. That's when I would have been comfortable with the risk reward here. There's a number of guys who I would have preferred.

Host 3 (69:35)

So we did see, we did see the draft room get very stoked. So what's the upside?

Host 1 (69:40)

Plead the upside is someone make sure the upside is there's more there as a jump shooter off the dribble. That's basically it. Or he basically finds an ability to get downhill more effectively and then he can make the most of all the shooting. Like if you were to think of a comp for Demon it would kind of have to be Josh Giddy and Josh Giddey. If he can make 40% of his threes and do it with some volume off the dribble is a Very different player than Josh Giddey who makes 28 to 30% of his threes at low volume. So where does that jump shot end up is the swing factor for sure. I'm just not optimistic about that.

Host 3 (70:14)

That he just went for Alex Crusoe straight up.

Host 2 (70:22)

I was gonna say I feel like the floor Ceiling comp is maybe not floor, but he feels like Giddy as an archetype for his, for his floor. But the upside is Tyrese Halbert, if you're making the case, you're like, okay, this guy who's like playing, I don't think his jumper is ever going to get to that point. I don't think he has, he has sort of like the overall, the, the floor managing abilities that him. But if you're trying to pitch yourself on what is big guard, best passer in the class look like, it's sort of, it's almost like they just watch the finals and we're like, that's awesome. How do we get one of those?

Host 1 (70:51)

It feels so much.

Host 4 (70:53)

Yeah.

Host 1 (70:53)

I mean don't get me wrong, it's such a big question. Whereas it's like how you knew he was one of the best shooters in the class and had already proven himself as a really good off ball player and all this stuff that Giddy hadn't and Demon hasn't.

Host 4 (71:05)

It's really rare for a guy to be this tall and long and to be this skilled. Like he's legitimately like 69 with a 611 wingspan. But he's not a high end athlete. He's slow. I really think his ceiling and maybe floor is solely dependent on like his off the dribble shooting and three point shooting. Shout out, Brooklyn. I guess, man. I mean, time will tell.

Host 3 (71:31)

So at number nine we have the Toronto Raptors. A team that was the second best defense in the NBA post All Star break. Now you always got to be a little wary of, of, of that kind of thing once we get into the, you know, kind of February. On with the numbers. But this is a team that has shown some defensive upside. Obviously they have their big picture star in Scotty Barnes. Who does Toronto take here at number nine, Mali.

Host 1 (71:55)

Watch. I'm gonna keep pitching for everybody.

Host 2 (71:59)

Watch.

Host 3 (71:59)

And then a Yaka purdle trade.

Host 2 (72:01)

I, I, I think a Yaka pearl trade. You lean into this sort of like super huge, super athletic defensive identity if you're them. But I don't, I don't know.

Host 3 (72:12)

The, the catch and finish thing with Malawatch is what everyone's scared about after what happened. In the turnaround tournament. Is there anybody who's willing to play devil's advocate there and defend Malawatch for what happened?

Host 2 (72:25)

I like Malawatch. I think, I think he's got, I think he's got surprisingly good touch actually. And I think the free throw numbers are like I was kind of shocked at how good of a free throw shooter he is. I think that is some just he, he needs a little more time. He is kind of a raw prospect on the offensive end of the floor. But exactly he sort of, he is one of those which feels very Raptors. And so I, I, I do think that, I do think that he is going to develop considerably more on the offensive end. And I'm not something I'm worried about. Not that he's going to be you know, ever going to be a go to offensive player, I don't think but, but I think the catch and finish ability is going to, is not an issue at all.

Host 4 (73:04)

And he said, and I think, I mean he's a real defensive anchor, immediate impact, like put him in the middle and he's going to make you a really good defense. Like I'm also, I'm really excited about him offensively too. Like very, very small sample size but he was 63% out of the mid range. He was 77% at the rim. Like some of that is a byproduct of his shot selection but I like that the guy takes shots he's confident going up with and his defensive floor is so high and maybe people have like PTSD of these slow footed big men but I really like how he moves his feet in space and I think he defends well and drop coverage like again I had him number four on my board like Carson. I'm really surprised that he hasn't gone yet. I think this guy is one of those big men that's just going to immediately come in and be a stud defensively. Like I pointed to Clingan earlier, that's not a one for one but it's kind of the guy that I would point to. It's really similar. Just a high floor, immediate impact, big.

Host 1 (74:01)

71 with a 77 wingspan already 250 at 18 years old. Who can move like this? I mean he was a 99th percentile efficiency finisher off the roll. He had a true shooting percentage of 91 as a roll man. So like yeah, the above the rim stuff finished so many lobs this year. But then also like Jackson said, I think one of the most intriguing aspects is the legitimate flashes of touch that we've seen. Not even saying he's ever going to be like a stretch big but just having that little push shot, floater, hook shot game, being able to knock down free throws. We know that that's a legitimate difference maker. And then the defensive versatility and knowing that he's only been playing for four years and he's one of the younger players in this draft, like I just think the floor to ceiling ratio here in an archetype that we know is really valuable, that sort of two way big. I'm all in. I love the talent.

Host 3 (74:51)

This is interesting. Toronto just took Colin Murray Boyles instead. A guy who kind of plays Scotty Barnes's position. A big lefty hybrid forward power player, good around the rim, underrated defensive players and versatility there. What do you guys think about calling.

Host 1 (75:10)

Going to Toronto these rangy wings man.

Host 4 (75:12)

Like yeah, how many of these guys can they they got.

Host 1 (75:16)

It's ridiculous. This is high. I do like a lot of what you get from Colin Murray Bos. I think that he's one of the best defensive talents in this class. I think that you're getting extreme versatility from him there. Offensively I think you have more questions about where is he going to fit in. Cause he's going to be a four. Like he is a very good rebounder for his size. He's a good rim protector but he's not a defensive anchor. It's more his versatility that's the selling point. There's so you have to find a role for him that is going to be more perimeter centric and that's where the jump shot is a big question and concern. He's a 70% free throw shooter. He made nine threes all year, shot 26% from deep. So I think he's going to be below average as a jump shooter. He has to get into that sort of average range to justify this value. And then he does do things that I like offensive. Like he's got good feel, he's a pretty good rim finisher. He's got good instincts as a cutter. He has some mismatch stacking potential as a post up player. Like he definitely has game there. I just don't know how much he'll be utilized. But he's got a nice little skilled face up game. He's got some good passing feel like he does a lot of connective winning stuff. This is just high for me when I do have questions about his offensive role and I don't really see the ceiling there. If they were going to take a Wing. And he's not really a wing. He's more of a forward. Like, he's more of a four. There were guys who I liked more and if they wanted like a defensive minded big, I would have taken Malawatch. And he's kind of like walking the line between those two roles almost. He, he's a nice player, but this is too high for me.

Host 4 (76:56)

I mean, they've gift wrapped Molly watch to the Suns, man.

Host 3 (76:59)

Oh my goodness.

Host 1 (77:01)

Logan, you're right.

Host 3 (77:02)

You're right.

Host 1 (77:02)

If they mess this up, that is. The sun's an award of some kind. That would be incredible.

Host 3 (77:12)

I think we've. We've seen so many kind of guys that come through that fit this mold where it's like they're looking for that like undersized big slash forward who's a good playmaker and a versatile defender ever since Draymond had success. But I do think Colin has real physical tools, which is something I think Draymond was contending with at his, in his time. But I'm, I'm a big believer in power. I'm a big, big believer in physical power that can move its feet. Yeah, it's when you can move your feet and you bring real power, I think that there's real value there. And I think that, you know, big guys that can play out of the role, that can beat switches, that can also guard multiple positions and be a backline defender. I think there's value there. I think there's certainly upside. But I can't get my mind off the idea of Phoenix having Malawatch fall.

Host 1 (77:58)

Right into their lap and watch them mess it up.

Host 2 (78:03)

I was about to say we haven't. And until the pick is in, wait for Phoenix to do something.

Host 3 (78:07)

Okay, who does Phoenix take instead of Malawatch?

Host 2 (78:12)

I don't know. It's got to be him, right? I mean, he's. I feel he's the best player.

Host 3 (78:15)

What about.

Host 2 (78:15)

What about best player available? And they've been talked about.

Host 3 (78:17)

What about Cedric Coward? What about Carter Bryant? Like a role player wing that's an athletic, physical player. To be alongside Dylan Brooks and add a physical identity to the team.

Host 4 (78:29)

I wouldn't hate that. But like, just considering the circumstances they were in last year with big nerc at the 5 and not being able to play defense, it's just foolish to me. To not center is where you can have the most impact, you know, as a defensive player. And I think Mali watches an elite defender or is going to be really good at the NBA level immediately. I think the funniest Pick is if they went with somebody like Derek Queen or something. And ISHB is like, yeah, we're going to run some offense through him on the low block.

Host 2 (78:55)

So Ishpia is kind of a college basketball head, you know, as a Michigan State person, so that wouldn't be too.

Host 4 (79:01)

I really hope he keeps his hands off. I, I, you know, I wouldn't hate Bryant or Coward. I like both of their games. I definitely like Coward more. I just think he's going to be a winner. But they've got so many guys on the wings already. Like their entire roster is like book Jalen Green, Dylan Brooks, Ryan Dunn. It's like Brad Beal. You can only have so many twos and threes on your roster. I just think it would be really foolish to allocate your most valuable asset. This is again, guys, they got one pick back for kd. Man, you got to make this thing worthwhile. Like, I think this is a huge misstep if they don't take Malu watch.

Host 3 (79:36)

Do you guys think that Phoenix is going to at least have some bit of hesitation with Malwatch in some of his rebounding issues given that they were such a terrible rebound?

Host 1 (79:45)

I think the rebounding stuff probably has more to do with the amount he was playing out in space defensively. And I think that that's an indicator of like one of his cool abilities, which is that he is this massive human being who can move his feet, who isn't necessarily going to switch a ton but will switch some and can play up at the level. Like, I think he's going to be a good rebounder. I also think he's a better shot blocker than some of the raw numbers would indicate. And even like per 40, you know, his rebounding numbers aren't bad. He's a really good offensive rebounder, which is part of the reason I'm encouraged about the defensive rebounding being better than the numbers. I mean, 2.7 offensive rebounds a game in 21 minutes, that's pretty damn good.

Host 3 (80:29)

You got to be a physical ass kicker to get that many offensive rebounds. I'm with you on that. Are we annoyed at all that Houston Rockets on the screen right now?

Host 2 (80:38)

It's so dumb. It's so dumb. It confused me for a second trying to prep making a graphic. Oh, wow. Okay. We got a shams report.

Host 1 (80:48)

Wow. A trade.

Host 2 (80:49)

The Charlotte Hornets are trading Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the number 29 pick and a 2029 first round pick.

Host 3 (80:57)

Wow.

Host 4 (80:58)

You could have had the better. You could have had the Better Duke big man without giving up.

Host 3 (81:02)

Hold on. The pick is still coming in. They might take both. Mark Williams. Mark Williams to me, I did a deep eval into him for the Lakers so we could talk about him in a minute. I have to see what this pick is. This is going to be interesting.

Host 2 (81:14)

I do like getting a way out in the future first from the Suns. That'd be like a savvy move they. They got. The Suns gave the 29 number 29 tonight and a 20 29, 229, 2029 first round.

Host 3 (81:31)

Yeah, but is that one of the three first that they got back? It might not be their pick. That's the thing.

Host 2 (81:36)

Oh, it might not be because remember.

Host 3 (81:37)

They flipped that one pick they had.

Host 1 (81:38)

They don't have that 29 pick. Rounders 26 to 31 Goan.

Host 3 (81:47)

Okay, here comes Adam S. What a.

Host 2 (81:49)

Funky deal to happen while you're on the clock. That's got to be like defense for not taking malaw. Why are you making. What in the world is going on?

Host 3 (82:04)

Here's the thing with Mark Williams, they. This is a team that's been bad at center for a long time, so they're probably trying to stock up, but they've got the entire Charlotte Hornets center rotation in house now that they can. That they can rely on the Mark Williams is a very good role man, a very good offensive rebounder, but he is legitimately atrocious on defense and apparently the medical was really nasty. So like I. I wouldn't want to rely on Mark Williams as a starting center. Do you think this is mostly a. An attempt to essentially offer insurance at the position? We're taking a young player to play center in a dead serious team that's got a bunch of win now guys and Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Dylan Brooks, you've got some young talent in house like Ryan Dunn, but it's not exactly a bright, bright future. But you bring in a young player, but you have Mark Williams as kind of an insurance policy against the young players.

Host 1 (83:04)

I just don't know if I'd be giving up too far first for Mark Williams because like I agree with your evaluation, Jason. I think clearly the offensive talent, I mean the athleticism pops at his size. We even saw a little bit of passing feel from him this year. But like major, major availability concerns. Obviously the trade got rescinded with the Lakers Lakers legend Mark Williams. And then defensively the tools are there. Like we saw it as a rookie, we saw it as a prospect, and then it's just like falling off A cliff. And so how much is he going to be able to turn that around? It's kind of hard to say. I do like Mali watch more long term and so I do think that they kind of overpaid for Mark Williams if they're going to have both these guys. That being said, I'm glad that they took Molo Watch. I don't think it's crazy for them to invest kind of big in two different centers this off season. I do think the Mark Williams thing is a bit of an overpay, but I mean they needed to retool their entire center situation and they got the best talent on the board here at their biggest position of need. Now they have their offensively inclined center. They have their defensively inclined center who I do think has some offensive upside too. They have their guy who is year four more ready to play now. And then they have their rookie who's 18 and has played four years of basketball. So I can kind of see the vision. At the end of the day, I'm just happy they took Molo Watch and didn't mess it up. On that front.

Host 2 (84:21)

Watch is weeping.

Host 4 (84:23)

You need somebody to grab all the bricks. Jalen Green's going to be laying up there.

Host 2 (84:30)

The Shams clarified the 2029 first rounder. It's the least favorable of Cleveland.

Host 1 (84:36)

So now we're talking about the 29th pick and the 20 something pick in 2029. Those are two, those aren't not valuable first rounders. It's not terrible when you consider, you know, what it could be.

Host 3 (84:47)

So I, I actually have a hilarious story to tell you guys. So do you guys remember when the Nick Richards trade went down last year? I because Paul Farrington, you guys all know Paul, he just messaged me. Paul Farrington used to produce this show. He, he one day got a legitimate like 25 minute like reaction to Mark Williams getting traded to the Suns. Because I misread the report and I did all, I did all the prep and recorded like a full length. This is what Mark Williams would be able to do alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Trade reaction. And literally Paul text me, he's like, did you mean Mark Williams? Like are you aware that it's actually Nick Richards? And I was like, what? And then I went and read the report and I felt like a total dumbass. And then I told him to scrap it and pretend it never happened. So maybe somewhere, maybe somewhere on Paul Farrington's computer we can find the, the original Mark Williams to the Suns reaction. It's a Little, little dated now since the roster is a little clairvoyant different. But yeah, Logan, Logan's right. There's going to be a lot of bricks to grab. So while we wait for Portland to make their next pick, what did you guys make of Boston and them pivoting to anfernie Simons and shedding some salary over the course of the last couple years?

Host 1 (86:05)

I think that this was inevitable. I think that we all knew that they were going to be trying to get off of those KP and Drew contracts. It was clear that a major priority for ownership was going to be getting under the second apron, not having to pay an egregious tax bill. And those are the two contracts that you look at to make it happen. I think that overall they did a pretty nice job. Like I'm not the biggest ant Simons guy. I think that he is a difficult archetype to really entrust with a significant role or to pay a really high dollar value. And it's the same sort of push pull we've been talking about. Very skilled offensively, but will he be efficient enough impactful as a playmaker to justify that he's a terrible defensive player? Probably not big picture, but for this year, why not? You need more creation. Obviously with Tatum out, you need a guy who can produce some offense for you with volume. He can do that and it's a one year trial and then you see where you go from there. I think getting off the Drew contract is a win for them. Getting back two second rounders is a win. I thought they really made out nicely with that deal. And then the KP one, it's more just like kind of all right, they got off his contract like you know, they get back basically nothing to do it. It's George Yang in a second rounder. He was an expiring all the availability questions. Like I get why he wasn't super coveted as an asset. I like that a lot for the Hawks and I like it for the Nets. I think both those teams made out with more interesting packages. For Boston. It's just like this makes sense. Everybody around White and Tatum and probably Jalen Brown was going to be expendable. And then they've got Pritchard and Hauser on their really team friendly deals and we'll see if Al Horford sticks around. That's going to be your group going forward, but you're going to be transitioning to a pretty dramatically different era of Celtics basketball around them that when Tatum comes back.

Host 3 (87:46)

We haven't really seen a lead Guard like Anthony Simons, a true lead guard that can beat his man off the dribble and, and, and kind of provide some real downhill speed with the ball in this Boston Celtics system. Like not Kyrie even. You know, obviously that was a much lesser roster. I just think, I think there's a certain amount of like big lead guard speed that Anthony brings that I'm just curious to see what it looks like. And I think it's kind of an interesting flyer like you, you could just literally let his contract run out and, and view it as an opportunity to just shed salary if you wanted to. But in the, in the meantime, you get to find out what it looks like in this system. And like, you know, Portland has been a dumpster fire for a variety of reasons over the last several years, but Boston kind of is the quintessential place where people learn how to play modern basketball. And so I think that there is a, A, a potential upside there that at least makes it exciting. I, me, me and Jackson were talking about this the other day. Like at the very least, Inferny being in a Celtics jersey kind of makes next season a little more exciting for Celtics fans.

Host 2 (88:51)

We did just get the report from Shams that I'm sure will be coming across the TV in a second. The Trailblazers are trading the pick to the Memphis Grizzlies and the pick is your guys's boy, Cedric Coward Dylan Brooks REPLACEMENT Cedric Dylan Brooks REPLACEMENT I absolutely love it.

Host 1 (89:07)

I mean I think it's a really good value pick. Like Coward is one of my guys, if not my guy. Honestly, probably him and Molly. Watch are the two guys in the lottery who I'm maybe the highest on compared to the consensus. But this is a guy who wasn't really super high on a lot of people's radars because he only played six games this year before he got hurt. He was at Washington State and before that he was at Eastern Washington. But truly one of the players I'm most confident in translating to being a real quality wing and a quality starter. Got awesome measurables for a wing six six with a seven two wingspan. That's just phenomenal length and size at the position and does so many of those things that you want from a starting wing. Like first of all, the efficiency is incredible. This guy's basically 70% on twos and 40% on threes over multiple years of college basketball. I think he's an elite three point shooter. He's got a mid range pull up game when he's attacking closeouts playing off the bounce and then he's got good passing feel and connective abilities there. He's just a very high IQ guy, takes what the defense gives him, can score inside the arc and is an elite shooter from beyond it. And he can make the reads as a passer and then defensively, great screen navigator, super fluid, agile mover. And obviously the length is super impactful. So he's almost 22. The ceiling isn't the highest, but the floor legitimately is among the highest. And if you're Memphis, this is what you want, right? You want a wing who can contribute right now on both sides of the ball and help you revitalize your playoff chances. I think it's a phenomenal pick for them.

Host 4 (90:39)

Yeah, I love this move for, for Memphis too. I think he's got legitimate upside too. Like maybe not as high as some of the highest guys in this class, but I think there's more, more to tap into. Carson was talking about some of the efficiency numbers over three years of college because we can't just use his last year over 70% at the rim, 55% out of the mid range and 39% from deep. That's a legitimate sample size. And he's just the total package. That's what I call Cedric Coward. He can score, he can play make, he can rebound, he can defend. I, I just think he's going to be a really immediate impact player and I think Memphis crushed this pick. I'm intrigued to see what they gave up, but I really like this for them.

Host 2 (91:19)

Reporting is in from Jake Fisher. He said they traded 11 for number 16 in this draft. A future first rounder and two second rounders. So exactly what. That's a lot to see.

Host 3 (91:32)

Wow. And I mean we already know that Portland is on some sort of weird win now trajectory going after Jrue Holiday trying to open up a spot for Scoot Henderson and they're kind of loaded up at this event. Athletic forward that can defend position already and so it makes some sense there. I mean the big thing for Memphis and you know, Memphis has kind of always had an eye on this sort of thing. This is why they keep drafting guys that can help them right away. But guys that are pretty big for their position, that can dribble, shoot pass and defend are so immensely valuable in the NBA. And to me Cedric Howard just fits that mold perfectly and he fits a position of direct need for next season at the small forward spot. I, I think it makes a really sense.

Host 1 (92:17)

Big price to move up five spots. I mean I'm. Yeah Yeah, there's got to be one. I love Cedric Coward so and I love the fit but that is a lot.

Host 4 (92:33)

I like that trade.

Host 3 (92:34)

It's an Orlando first too. So they're going to be I mean.

Host 1 (92:36)

But I do like it for Portland. I think that's a good point Logan. I mean why not? They're just drafting or smashing my draft capital at this point.

Host 3 (92:46)

So does Jalen Wells move to the two with Bane gone at that point.

Host 2 (92:51)

Probably becomes your shouting.

Host 3 (92:53)

So it goes Morant Wells. Does Coward start at the three right away?

Host 1 (92:57)

I'm ready for it.

Host 3 (93:00)

Who else?

Host 1 (93:00)

I like him starting and I really like the Wells Coward. I mean just that combination of shooting defense, some secondary tertiary ball handling and playmaking for you. Those are two winning basketball players to pair alongside John Triple J. So I like the vision there.

Host 3 (93:20)

Does Memphis have enough ball handling to be good next year?

Host 2 (93:24)

No, certainly not. But.

Host 3 (93:28)

Do you think they end up trading?

Host 1 (93:30)

But I don't think they will.

Host 2 (93:33)

I would too but I don't think so.

Host 3 (93:36)

Yeah, I, I, it does.

Host 2 (93:37)

He does feel like a, like a reset news change of scenery can this.

Host 3 (93:41)

Feels very Atlanta west to me where you've got this lead guard that obviously has his flaws but anybody could drink the kool aid and talk themselves into thinking he's going to be the guy who saves their franchise. But he's now in this weird holding pattern where he's surrounded by role player talent and good enough to be fighting in the play in tournament every year but not good enough to get above it. That's what it feels like to me.

Host 2 (94:03)

And Atlanta differences.

Host 1 (94:06)

Kind of being more of a seller, you know. At least Atlanta now can talk themselves into big three Trey, Jalen, Johnson, KP and of course Jackson. They are in the east where the bar is totally different but actually I'm excited for Atlanta.

Host 2 (94:19)

The bar.

Host 3 (94:19)

That's an aggressive move. That's an aggressive move from Memphis to get up to give up that kind of compensation for a, a second round pick or for a five spots in the first round. Yeah, I, I'm, I'm, I'm, I am excited to watch Boston next year just with the, with, with that group of guys. I'm excited to see Jaylen Brown in a lead ball handling role for a good amount of time. One of the big things with Anferny and his efficiency tanking last year was him getting the primary defensive assignment every night as opposed to alongside Dame where his efficiency was higher. Celtics fans also got got to see firsthand as an pretty well against them last year and I think, I think ultimately what it'll come down to is whether or not an can defend in that system. Cause I think if he could defend in that system and they could get him at a respectable number, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to keep him on board. Okay, so at number 12 we have the Chicago Bulls. Where do you guys think Chicago's going to be?

Host 4 (95:15)

A lot of directions, ironically. I, I really liked Cedric Coward for Chicago.

Host 1 (95:22)

I think you look front court, right. Either like a 3 and D wing or defensive minded big. Probably like a Carter Bryant or maybe a Sorber.

Host 4 (95:35)

Yeah, maybe. I don't know how long, you know, if they want to. You think they're looking for more of a long term? I don't. I can never wrap. My trying to rationalize what the Bulls are trying to do is like impossible. But you think they're looking more long term or short term? Because like long term I would hear like an Assange or, or maybe a Behringer with upside but like immediate impact. I'd probably look at. Be looking at a. I do like Sorber to them, you know, give them a little bit of flexibility to get off that Vuch contract. That'd probably be where I'd go.

Host 3 (96:05)

We have another trade.

Host 2 (96:06)

I've got another trade here. Yeah, go ahead, Jackson. The Hawks are making weird moves all across the board. They're trading toward one pick after this board. They're trading the 13 pick to the Pelicans for 23 and an unprotected 2026. First most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee.

Host 3 (96:24)

Yeah, those. Those could both be good picks depending on what happens.

Host 2 (96:29)

I mean it's a ten spot move up. So you got need to give up something decent but unprotected 2026 first potentially from New Orleans or Milwaukee.

Host 3 (96:37)

Yeah. And with the, with the, with the guys that are available at this spot. I don't see anybody that makes Brian.

Host 1 (96:43)

They just wanted that another like range G3 and D wing. They are obviously already have a few but I don't know if you can ever have too many. But I just like that as a value proposition for them. They didn't need to force it.

Host 3 (96:55)

Yeah, well, and that's the point. If they can find. We talked about how it kind of like flattens out once you get to this point in the draft. They can find a role player wing at 23. You know, with Zachary Risso and Jalen Johnson, they don't necessarily have a ton of minutes available on the wing right now. I think that makes some sense. Some Little asset.

Host 2 (97:14)

Curious who New Orleans is so excited about trading up for is the real question. Pick is in for the Bulls. We got.

Host 1 (97:23)

I can see that for sure. I mean we were talking about them wanting to go out there and get a wing or somebody in the front court who's more defensive minded. And a Senga is a guy who. I think there's kind of a split opinion on where a lot of people are optimistic about the ceiling that he has just athletically and I do think he's going to be quite a good defensive player. He's got really good length and versatility on that side of the ball. He'll play physically, he's a decent secondary rim protector and then offensively he can weaponize that athleticism in transition with the cutting. He gets to the line a lot. He's got some potential as a closeout attacker and then he's got like decent feel as a connective passer. The concern for me with him is just, I definitely see an outcome where he's an offensive liability in the half court because the shot is a huge question mark. He's 25% from 3. I don't really like the mechanics there. He has some bad misses.

Host 3 (98:16)

Was that Mike Miller with him though? Is he working out with Mike Miller trying to fix that jumper?

Host 1 (98:19)

Miller just with him. Oh, I was not looking when he was celebrating. That's a good indicator. Yeah. Good for you, Carson.

Host 3 (98:28)

I'm on it, man.

Host 1 (98:28)

This is fine to me. Like I, I would have preferred Carter Bryant, but I like this philosophically for the Bulls.

Host 3 (98:39)

You guys are going to love this. Derek Queen to New Orleans at 13.

Host 2 (98:45)

That's going to really thinking that, like how are they going to. What are they going to draft a Zion replacement? Like kind of this weird, big awkward four man. And that's exactly what, exactly what they did.

Host 4 (98:54)

That was like the least. My least favorite destination for Queen actually.

Host 3 (98:59)

What the hell is. Yeah, what the hell.

Host 1 (99:00)

Super weird. Like I do like Queen as just a value talent here, but he is like that big, thick kind of face up driver who's going to want to get downhill a lot. And defensively you're trying to find a role for him as like a tweener. I don't think he can be a five for you defensively. And then offensively you got questions about the jumper. Big questions about the jumper. I don't think this is the spot for him to maximize his skill set. Like he can't play with Zion. He can't play with. Play with him.

Host 4 (99:28)

Do you guys think this I mean, do you guys think that this.

Host 3 (99:31)

Well, this is an indicator.

Host 4 (99:33)

It's kind of looks like they're booting up for the future. Right. I mean, Fears and Queen.

Host 3 (99:37)

Yeah. So I would assume that the new front office is coming in and cleaning house. That's what I.

Host 1 (99:42)

Seems that way. Yeah.

Host 2 (99:44)

I would imagine.

Host 1 (99:45)

Yeah. You can't.

Host 2 (99:45)

What?

Host 1 (99:46)

You can't.

Host 2 (99:46)

How are you playing Zion and Derek Queen?

Host 1 (99:49)

I mean, I definitely like the talent here. He's kind of boomer bust just because he is in a very unique mold. But you do see that ability to get to the rim, get to the line. Some of the feel and vision as a passer. Like, there's definitely a lot of offensive upside for him if you can put the right infrastructure around him where you can kind of insulate him defensively, maybe with a great five alongside him there. And then offensively, I think the swing factor is his jump shot and what level he can get to there, if he can be solid.

Host 2 (100:16)

But yeah. Interesting. They picked two very skilled offensive players, both who have jump shot questions. That's a little rickety, but it is a fun sort of offensive duo to build around. If you could get a defensive center. I mean, I see the vision. Yeah, definitely.

Host 3 (100:34)

What do you guys think makes sense as a zion destination around the league? So this would have to be a team that could anchor him with a. Preferably a center that can shoot and also protect the rim. So we're already pretty limited there.

Host 4 (100:48)

San Antonio.

Host 3 (100:50)

San Antonio. Okay.

Host 1 (100:54)

I don't know who's taking Indiana.

Host 3 (100:58)

And they would have to be a team that really needs some rim pressure.

Host 1 (101:01)

Yeah.

Host 3 (101:04)

And. Or a desperate team in need of some.

Host 1 (101:06)

Of an upside. He's going to play 20 to 25 games. I don't see a robust market there.

Host 3 (101:20)

What if you. What if, like, Cleveland did something crazy like that, you know, and put him next to Evan Mobley? I'm just throwing. I'm. I'm grasping at straws here, guys.

Host 2 (101:28)

That's wild. I feel like he's gonna end up the Cleveland one.

Host 1 (101:31)

I can see the bones of the basketball fit there.

Host 3 (101:34)

That would be. That would be amazing.

Host 1 (101:36)

That's a big risk.

Host 3 (101:38)

Yeah. Cleveland. With Cleveland, they. They didn't really have reliable rim pressure off of Donovan Mitchell. They kind of got exposed as, like, half of their playoff rotation suddenly not looking good in the playoffs. There's. There the Cleveland. I. Is. It would be like a wild upside play, but I'm just trying to.

Host 1 (101:58)

Yeah, it has to be.

Host 3 (101:59)

What about Miami?

Host 1 (102:00)

Put their hat in the ring for anybody.

Host 3 (102:07)

Brooklyn.

Host 2 (102:08)

I wonder about Knicks, Phoenix. Now Phoenix would be interesting centers, but.

Host 4 (102:13)

We'D get reporting about Miami that they wanted Zion but they didn't want to give up Jaime Hawkez or like Heywood.

Host 2 (102:20)

Heisman is where they draw the line for sure.

Host 4 (102:23)

Like, yeah.

Host 2 (102:26)

No chance.

Host 1 (102:30)

Such a astronomical talent. But even not accounting for the major, major health stuff, he's always been a tricky guy to kind of figure out how to build around because what you said, Jason, like the stretch big who also protects the rim. There's a handful of those guys and you like really want one of those guys with Zion, so that in and of itself is weird. And then like you want him to be like your de facto point guard offensively, so you want to put a bunch of shooting and rangy wings around him. Like it's a little clunky and I just don't see people taking on that risk.

Host 4 (102:58)

What do you guys think about this isn't the cleanest fit? What about like Detroit?

Host 3 (103:05)

That's an interesting one. But it's the shooting. It's the shooting big. Like with Miami, at least you could talk yourself into like, okay, well, this is the time to get off of BAM for the most value because we know we're not good enough yet. We trade BAM for assets and youth. We look at Zion and Kello where as basically our stretch 5 in Zion type of construct. We bet on our culture and the ability to keep Zion in shape. But I feel like Zion would be like, Miami, Miami. Like, yeah, like, what are you trying to say, guys? What are you trying to say?

Host 2 (103:40)

I mean, everyone's going to make the same jokes about Derek Queen. Also, for the record, I will not be making those jokes, but someone will be making these New Orleans. New Orleans jokes.

Host 3 (103:47)

Yeah, that, that's, that's, that's a very good point. Number 14 is going to be the San Antonio Spurs. I like Spurs. Take here.

Host 2 (103:57)

They got some good options.

Host 1 (103:58)

I like a wing for that.

Host 2 (103:59)

Carter Bryant would be great.

Host 3 (104:01)

I think Carter Bryant makes a ton of sense.

Host 1 (104:02)

I think that's gotta be the vision is you're all in on now and obviously you already have Fox, but you just want to stack as many good two way wings as you can around that core guard. And Wemby, I think, and he's the best guy in that mold on the board. I do love Nick Clifford. I love him. I just think like, even though he does some of that wing stuff and he's a great rebounder and he's got solid defense, like he is still a guard, like he's a ball handler and I don't know if they have room for another 6, 6 guard who wants to get into the paint a fair bit with the ball in his hands when they already have. As we talked about Harper and Fox and Castle. But if they did that, I wouldn't be mad because I love the talent. I think that Carter Bryant's a cleaner fit, though.

Host 2 (104:43)

Yeah, Carter Bryant feels like very NBA archetype that they need for sure. I do think they are in a unique position where if you're like, let's try to take a wild. A slightly wild cardi pick because they have. Have kind of so much going on already that that's how you could talk yourself into a guy like Nate Clifford. But Carter Bryant feels like the perfect, you know, tried and true. There's a lot of Carter Bryant in the NBA right now.

Host 3 (105:05)

I like anchoring Wemby with big, physical.

Host 1 (105:07)

I like Yakuchonas a lot as a talent among the guys who haven't gone yet. I don't think there's room for him in San Antonio. And yeah, yeah, his slide's a little interesting, though, because you can see the concerns just with like, athletically, you know, is he going to be able to hang defensive, he's going to get targeted. It's kind of seeming like when you're in that mold and it's kind of the same thing with fears. Like, you probably just need one team to be really high on you to take you number seven. But if that one team isn't there, you can see other teams being concerned about the red flags and then you do kind of slide. And I think that's maybe happening with Yakachonis. Not that he's sliding crazy far, but it's a little bit of a slide for him.

Host 4 (105:46)

I think Carter Bryant's definitely the play here. Any. Any front court, I think they need a 3 or a 4. I think your guard spots figured out you've got your five guy. Maybe Sorber, if you wanted like a backup five man for Wemby. But that's not really as big of a concern.

Host 2 (106:01)

I'm so not.

Host 4 (106:02)

Oh, I love how Sorber's a big body. I love how physical he is. He is a. He's like a throwback kind of guy. I just like his. He plays nasty and he's gonna. He's gonna be like the eighth heaviest dude in the league day one. He's like 200, 163 pounds. He's a. He's a big, nasty dude. I like that. I Want that guy on my team.

Host 3 (106:23)

We're obviously going to be calling it quits here in a few minutes. So is there any other guy that you guys have on your boards that you want to shout out before we call it a day? Any shout outs? Any guys that's like, you know, we're not going to be on the stream long enough to hit this guy, but I want to get a chance to shout out this guy that I'm high on.

Host 4 (106:38)

Yes. I love Walter Clayton Jr. He may very well be a bad archetype. I don't care. I think people I said I would have taken Clayton in the top 10 just because I'm so confident in him being a really good player. I know that a lot of people feel like that's a reach, but really good shooter, really good feel. My one, my two concerns with him are obviously defensively as a smaller guard and then some of the rim finishing. He was good this year, but his past years at Florida and Iona, he was like under 55% as a rim finisher. So don't get me wrong, there are red flags there with Clayton, but he's an elite, elite. He's a special shooter. Like, I think that gets overused, but I don't know. When I watch Walter Clayton, he makes me feel tingly. So, yeah, shout out Walter. I, I, I think he's going to be good immediately, but I think there's definitely some upside there too.

Host 1 (107:30)

Yaka Chonas and Nick Clifford. But those are my two favorite guys left on the board with Yaka Chonas, one of the higher offensive ceilings. This is a guy who could potentially be an elite shooter who is definitely an elite space creator for himself as a jump shooter. But the shot selection can be tough. The jump shot efficiency really went down later in the year, although he did have an injury. But I think there's indicators that he's a really good shooter. And then he's a really good below the rim finisher, really good foul drawer, gets to the rim a bunch, and one of the best passers in the class. The concerns would be high turnover, going to get targeted defensively, how good is the shot? But I'm an optimist with him. And then Clifford, I just think is a great do it all guard. He's 23 and a half, so you understand that the ceiling isn't the highest, but he can create. He can knock down shots off the dribble, off the catch. He can drive, he can facilitate. He's a great rebounding wing. So those are my two favorite guys.

Host 2 (108:23)

I like those guys as well. It's going to be annoying if OKC gets either one of those guys because either. I mean, not that Yakos is really fits in their classic archetype, but sliding him in around a bunch of great defensive players and it's like this connective.

Host 3 (108:34)

Player and they need ball handling.

Host 2 (108:35)

Awesome. And they need ball handling. I think he'd be awesome. Maybe we should stay on through pick 15. Yeah, we'll stay on those. I got like those guys. I, I also like the Stanford Big Reyno. I don't know, he's. His game is so awkward and funky and weird, but he does a lot of things and he's ginormous.

Host 1 (108:52)

I love it.

Host 3 (108:53)

Carter Bryant to the San Antonio Spurs.

Host 1 (108:55)

It's the right pick and.

Host 3 (108:58)

I, I.

Host 1 (108:59)

Think that like Carter Bryant's a guy who some people got a little high on for my taste, but he ends up going at 14 and I think that that's a really good range and a value pick. Like he wasn't productive. He didn't have a big role as a freshman. But even though I have definitely reservations about what level of offensive player he can be, there's really no creation. But even beyond that, like, you know, what level of closeout attacker is he going to be? Is he going to have any sort of intermediate game playing off of attacking closeouts, playing with an advantage? He projects to be a pretty good shooter. He projects to be an awesome defender, good cutter, good feel solid connective passer, good transition scorer. Like just a high floor guy and an archetype that you like. And I think he's exactly the kind of player that the spurs need. We were just talking about a big athletic wings around Wemby and your guards. I think it's the right pick.

Host 3 (109:48)

So I, I am loving the idea of Yaka Chonas in Oklahoma City. I think this makes a ton of sense. I think that Indiana with their ball pressure exposed a weakness within Oklahoma City's roster in just their ability to put the ball on the floor and create for others beyond Shay and J Dub. I think that this is just an a ball handler that can help set up teammates for quality shots. Brings a little bit of that pull up shooting. Obviously the jump shot didn't go in at the highest rate that he'll need to get to at the NBA level, but I think that makes a lot of sense. Is there anybody else on this board that you guys think makes sense for OkC? And before we get into this, like, I, I've talked about this concept before, but I think as Oklahoma City looks to shed salary, the way that they'll do it is by not spending on role players beyond rookie contracts. I think it'll be a lot of chat, J Dub and Shay and then just cycling through rookie contracts, the occasional like oh we love this guy. So we'll package two or three first to trade up in the draft to get the right kind of guy. But in many cases right here in the middle of the first round is where you can find the fourth year, fifth year college guy who played in a really good system and is ready to play in a winning context. So anybody else here that makes sense for Oklahoma.

Host 1 (111:01)

And I think what a lot of Thunder fans might say to the Yakachonas pick is this is what we have Nicola Topic for and if you say okay, well we want to take multiple shots at that, I can see that vision because clearly ball handling is a need. I think a lot of them are high on him and I did like Topic a lot. I thought he was a really good value pick. So it's always a gamble when you're entrusting a rookie with that. But the same would be said for Yaka Chona. So I can see that argument for sure. And the talent is definitely there with Nate Clifford. I just think you get a guy who can do some handling for you but is also just like such a Thunder kind of player where he's that do it all big guard, has the length to be solid defensively in rebound and I can just see Presti falling in love with those measurables, that versatility, the epitome of like Pro ready again, 23 and a half. You know what you're getting with him. That was actually the pick that we mocked to okc at 15 and I would very much like to see them take him.

Host 3 (111:55)

Okay dude. 10 rebounds a game as a non center in college.

Host 1 (112:00)

91St percentile pick and rule creator, 95th percentile isolation creator. Jason, like he's got game. Obviously you could talk about the competition but it's not Joe competition. Colorado State was a good quality tournament team and he was part of that in like they won a tournament game. They were very competitive in their second.

Host 2 (112:17)

They want to tournament.

Host 1 (112:17)

Like he's got the creation juice but they're also sort of a motion offense. There's a lot of ball movement so he can play off the ball too. Like I really like him. Yeah.

Host 2 (112:29)

I also think speaking of trying to draft players that they can not so they can shed some of these salaries if there's a lot of like they're going to have to move up Hartenstein very soon. Talk from them. So Sorber would be a guy who sort of fits this like rookie big body center type that maybe isn't. It's going to. They don't want to be a starter. But if you go up against the Denver Nuggets again in two seasons and he's maybe ready for that sort of type of battle in a season or two, it could. He makes sense to sort of just like a find a role player big in the draft type because I do think though that's a great choice.

Host 1 (112:58)

I think there's three archetypes.

Host 2 (112:59)

That's why I'm not that big.

Host 1 (113:00)

More ball handling. It's an elite shooter or it's a big who can replace Hartenstein and give us those quality backup minutes.

Host 3 (113:10)

They're ever going to be looking for a traditional four man at any point because they still don't really have one on the roster well beyond Chad. If he becomes that guy like I like who's the guy that's going to feel like if they needed to throw an Aaron Gordon esque type of defender at somebody, just a big physical, strong like are they just counting on J Dub to be that guy? Like I think that's part of their rebounding issues that they have over the years is that they don't have like a 6, 8 to 610 rangy forward.

Host 2 (113:36)

I kind of like Newell in that spot because of that. He sort of feels like Brandon Clark to me as sort of this sort of like filling all these stop gaps and be an athlete and get a bunch of rebounds and and hopefully one day grow.

Host 1 (113:47)

I see that. I also think like Colin Murray could have been a guy in that mold. I did see him mocked OKC a fair bit, but he's off the board now. I just think this would be a little high for me in terms of the value. I'm just questioning some of where does he fit in kind of on both sides of the ball because I do think he's more of a four. Like I don't think he can anchor the five for you. And then offensively does he have the perimeter skill to justify that? Like there's the flashes of touch, but is that going to be enough to be a real foundation? I have some of those questions, but I see what you're saying for sure, Jason. I mean that was my thought last offseason is go out there, get that like more powerful big forward to play the four. So you keep Chad at the five because long term Chat's going to be at the five. There's not a ton of those guys out there, though. And like, I would love to see them get Cam Johnson. He's not that kind of power player, but he has the size and obviously the elite shooting. He's not a great positional rebounder, though, for his size. So he's a four, but he's really a wing.

Host 3 (114:43)

You're right that it's a rare position like that. Like, this is honestly why a big part of why I'm excited about Kevin Durant in Houston. Like, it's just so rare to have a four man that can legitimately play offense at a bunch of different spots on the floor, but that can get a defensive rebound and that can make a help side rotation at the rim. Like, those are pretty rare qualities at the position in the NBA. And like, even at 37 years old going into next season, Kevin Durant can get a defensive rebound and he could protect the rim and out of that four spot. And so I think there's real value there. And I. I am. I am curious to see if Oklahoma City ends up ever filling that archetype or if they just plan on, you know, a lot of it is, you know, Chet's offensive development too. Like, if he speeds up his release and becomes a more, you know, a better ball handler in traffic and some of the things that really exposed his offensive issues in this postseason run. I think if some of those things come to fruition, then they wouldn't need to do that. The pick is in. We will get our Oklahoma City pick. We'll react to it, and then we will call it a day. Any other NBA draft takes. You guys wanted to unleash before we call it a day.

Host 1 (115:50)

I feel like there has been a ton of surprises outside of that. I really did not like that.

Host 2 (115:56)

That was.

Host 3 (115:56)

That was the most. That was the best celebration we saw all day.

Host 1 (116:00)

Clearly, I'm missing something.

Host 2 (116:03)

And it's the biggest whoa from us. You know.

Host 4 (116:08)

I do like Baringer a little bit.

Host 1 (116:10)

The French big man.

Host 4 (116:11)

He's only been playing bass. Yeah, no, I can't say that. I'm from the south, man. We g. We gonna give it a little dirty touch to it. He's. He defends like a wild man. Like, he's. He's only been playing basketball for four years.

Host 3 (116:25)

Sorber 15 KC. I like Jackson called it.

Host 2 (116:32)

I think it's solid. That's the kind of team that I feel like, again, I wasn't a big Sorber fan, but that's the Perfect kind of situation.

Host 4 (116:38)

Good defender, good rebounder, like defensive playmaker. And he's, he is big and nasty. He is big and nasty and I think it'll translate to the playoffs.

Host 1 (116:46)

Go ahead.

Host 4 (116:47)

Also, I like you were saying, Jackson, sorry not to cut you off. Carson, if they do got to move off the Hardenstein money to clear up some contract space. I think he could be a good guy to fill in on that rookie.

Host 1 (116:58)

Deal who can pass, who can run handoffs and spot cutters and do stuff like that. I think he can do some of that for you. He's, he's a nice two way player. Like the ceiling is pretty low, but I don't think OKC really cares about that at this point. I think they're trying to find a guy can play that role for them and it's one of the needs we talked about. So I'm good with it.

Host 3 (117:16)

To your point. We had discussed, we had discussed the idea of like going with more of like a wing, but this is an Oklahoma City team that has an enormous amount of depth at that position already, whereas at the center position, you know, obviously they have Jalen Williams who played spottingly sparingly throughout the postseason. But like this is a position where like they might actually have some more use use for him in the short term. Especially like if you look at a situation where Hartenstein is no longer on the books in a couple of years. Any other thoughts?

Host 1 (117:51)

I wonder how far he could. Oh my God. Minnesota could actually be amazing for him. Like just take a swing on a ball handler.

Host 3 (117:59)

Yeah, that's a good point. A backup ball handler.

Host 2 (118:04)

Dude, he should be there. Frankly. He could be their starting point guard in like two seasons.

Host 3 (118:09)

And there's like Memphis, I would assume is still looking at Scotty Pippen Jr. As their backup ball handler.

Host 1 (118:15)

That's Portland.

Host 3 (118:16)

They do. Memphis does need. Oh, they traded that pick to Portland. Okay, that's Portland's pick. And Portland just literally got rid of a ball handler to clean space for Scoot Henderson. So they'll probably go a different direction. Yeah, Yakachonas to Minnesota is a really interesting, a really interesting option. All right, guys, that is all we have for today. Almost two hours.

Host 1 (118:36)

We might have come on and pushed that record. I think that we hold the top 10 spots for longest shows in tonight history.

Host 3 (118:45)

We might have to look into that. We'd have to check ESPN stats and info real quick. But as always, we appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show. I plan on recording a mailbag tomorrow on draft related stuff. So we'll take questions from these YouTube comments. We'll also take questions. I'll send out a tweet asking for questions. But tomorrow we're recording a mailbag again. That's all we have for today. As always, we appreciate you guys for supporting us and supporting the show and we will see you guys tomorrow. What's up guys? As always, I appreciate you for listening to and supporting Hoops tonight. It would actually be really helpful for us if you guys would take a second and leave a rating and a review. As always, I appreciate you guys supporting us, but if you could take a minute to do that, I'd really appreciate it. The Volume.

George M. Johnson (119:29)

This Pride Month, we are not just celebrating, we're fighting back. I'm George M. Johnson, author of the most banned book in America. On my podcast, Fighting Words, I sit down with voices that spark resistance and inspire change.

Host 2 (119:43)

This year we are showing up and showing up. You need people being like, no, you're not going to tell us what to do.

Host 3 (119:49)

This huge mean is coming down on.

George M. Johnson (119:51)

Us and I don't want to just survive. I want to thrive. Fighting Words is where courage meets conversation. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Host 1 (120:05)

Hear insightful, entertaining discussions on today's important health and wellness topics on the Health discovered podcast from WebMD. Through in depth conversations with experts, Health Discovered covers everything from tips for healthier living to the latest on therapy and mental health.

Host 3 (120:20)

My goal is to really destigmatize mental health treatment and looking at it from.

Host 2 (120:25)

A whole health perspective, physical health and.

Host 3 (120:28)

Mental health can be intertwined.

Host 1 (120:30)

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.