What Teams Improved So Far?

to the Lakers. Let's start today's show by saying today is a great day for Kevin Durant to be traded to the Phoenix Suns. Let's start off today by saying today is a great day to see Russell Westbrook anywhere else besides LA. Let's be honest, it's not working, and I want to see him suffer. I want us to know. I don't. I don't, but I do want to know what he does if he goes somewhere, and I don't think he's gonna spend one moment in a Nets uniform.

I just don't see it. Also, the teardown is complete, it's happening. Let's get Donovan Mitchell to be the bad guy and request out now like it's happening. But before we get started, a couple of notes around the league. There's a couple of news items happening. Jody Allen, current owner of the Portland Trailblazers. Uh, what do I say that hasn't already been said? Jody's selon, damn team. We know you don't care about this team. She put this

tweet out. Let me go look for a real quick rock because it is just outrageous, Jody Allen, for you to have the goal to say what you said makes no sense. This is what she said as chair of both the Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Seahawks. My long term focus is building championship teams that our communities are proud of. Like my brother Paul, I trust and expect our leaders and coaches to build winning teams. That's such a shady comment about Seattle and Portland and free Vault.

As we've stated before, and neither of the teams is for sale and that there are no sales discussions happening. A time will come that given changes, given Paul's plans to dedicate the vast that's a typo. A time will come when that changes, given Paul's plans to dedicate the vast majority of his wealth the philanthropy. But the states of this size and complexity can take ten to twenty years to wind down. There is no preordained timeline by which the teams must be sold. Until then, My focus

and that of our teams is on winning. That is such a lie. That's such a lie. Just sell a team to Phill Knight by all means, just get rid of this thing. We know you don't care, We know you don't know anything about sports, Jody, Paul Ellen. Let's be honest. Paul Allen never invited one athlete to any of his parties. He was all musicians and actors and people in the entertainment field. He saw the athletes as

like something else, not to be mixed. Sell the team, Jody, I don't know what's going on as a Portland Show Blazer fan. For her to try to tell me she's gonna hold my team hostage for twenty years is something I don't know if I can stand for. Like that just needs to get fixed asap. Rocky, I don't know. Just like Brian Windhors would say, what was she saying

that for? Why would she do that? I don't know. Uh. Moving on, I've been thinking more about the Rudy Gobert trade I have, and I think while that is a tremendous amount of picks that Minnesota had to give up, I'm starting to understand and that we must trust in Tim Connolly. Tim Connolly is the one who identified Rudy Gobert who ended up going to Utah and not Denver. Tim Connolly's first order of business is to turn, not turn.

I would say, put Carl Anthony Towns in a situation where he doesn't have to be what he isn't right, Carl Anthony Towns is a four masquerading in a five's body. He doesn't want to be the rim protector. He doesn't want to have to deal with anchoring a defense and getting in foul trouble then limiting his offensive weapons re weapon re. He is kind of soft. So to point him in a position where he's supposed to be the tough guy and the guy who to protect your team bad.

And it shows me that Tim Connolly is all about providing Rudy with the pieces that he needs to be successful around. So I actually like the move and we'll talk more about what Minnesota did later, because I think they might be one of the most underrated teams in terms of the moves that they made this offseason, and I think that they might be a team as a dark horse in the West. I know that's crazy to say they could be this year's Dallas. I'm saying it now.

They could be the team that comes out of nowhere and makes it to the Western Conference Finals. They're gonna be insanely difficult to deal with Minnesota. Now first rounders, They're like, what do we care? Honestly, we've got first rounders in the twenties now, it's not like these are lottery picks. There was a new article that came out on ESPN Plus. I'll tell you what it said. If you don't have it, It's basically like, if you don't have picks one through fifteen, what you have is a

bench guy. So are you willing to give up five bench guys for a defensive player two time Defensive Player of the Year. Yes, overwhelmingly Yes. Minnesota is not a lottery team anymore. They're team that's going to the playoffs. They have a really good coach, they've got a front office and new ownership group that's trying to make them contend or at least make it to the second round of the playoffs. Do you think the second round of the playoffs get you picks one through fifteen? Oh, sir

does not. So who cares? As they would say in the biz, fuck them picks, That's what Les need said, fuck them picks. Let's go out and get Obi j Let's go out and get Matthew Stafford, Let's go out and get von Miller, and let's go out and get something for those fingers. Let's go out and get some for those fingers, folks. So that's really interesting to me because for every Bones Highland, for every Tyrese Maxi, there

are five Zeke Nagies, there are five Malachai Flinns. And the Golbert trade Gobart trade, really, I call them Gilbert. The Gobert trade really for me, is all about Kat and that is something that we can talk about at a different time. Is what if the Lakers were smart, they would do for Anthony Davis. Little hot take that I just thought of right the second. If the Lakers cared about their team, they'd trade Lebron James. Yes, they would.

They would build around street clothes. They would build around skin of skin of paper, bones of glass Anthony Davis, and they'd find him a big rim protector like DeAndre Ayton or Rob Williams or one of those. But they won't because they care about money, because they're broke. Like all family businesses, the next generation more and more cheap, cheaper than the last. Brock. All right, let's move on underrated. I can't hear you laugh, which sucks. Underrated free agent

signings and trades. To me, the most under the radar team is Denver. Like they're not the best free agent team or signing team, but they're the most like under the radar. How much better we don't know. But they did make moves. What they did. Traded Thrill Barton, they traded Monte Morris. They got KCP back, who, let's be honest, KCP is basically going to step in in case MPJ isn't fully healthy. A wing who can get threes, who

can slash, stand in the corner. Not to say that's what MPJA does, but you kind of need somebody on the perimeter if he's not healthy. They signed DeAndre Jordan, low key kind of room protector signing how much legs and knees and ankles does he have? Not sure, but it doesn't really matter. Just stand there like Hassan white Side. They also picked up Bruce Brown. Interesting, the lack delay amazing. They picked up Bruce Brown two years, sixteen million dollars,

and I think that helps him. I think that helps him play small ball five. He solidifies Denver as having done something like if they wouldn't have picked up Bruce Brown, they're basically saying we're okay with getting worse. Right, Denver's done something interesting in getting a guy who's very versatile. He can rebound, he can get assists. He had two games in the first round of the playoff where he had twenty plus points and he had like almost ten

rebounds in those games. And you add him to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Junior and a two time MVP alongside Aaron Gordon, this team could be really, really interesting. And they have something now that it's very hard to find. Malle ability, the ability to shape shift your lineup depending on your opponent, the ability to go big or small, or big or small that you can't tell with my hands,

but I did the wrong way. I went small, big Anyway, I think this team is interesting, and I think that it shows that they're thinking about the postseason and they're not really thinking about the regular season, because you can be a four to five seed and still go a long way. We saw that with Dallas. We've seen that with teams like Portland. We've seen that with teams like Denver in the past. He cuts really well, Bruce, he

defends really well. He can score. Like I said, he averaged fourteen to five three in the Boston series with twenty three and twenty six and two games, up from eight four to two in the previous playoffs. And Brown, to me, is one of the few few signings you can actually tell your fan base listen, we're actually trying to do something. Make no mistake, this is a move to say we have to be more versatile on defense. Bruskins can guard one through five when Joki is not

on the floor. So that's very interesting to me. Number Two, Boston Malcolm Brogden is a very interesting trade. It helps them immensely. I'm gonna say it, if Boston had Malcolm Brogden on this team against the Warriors, I think they might have won. That's how important someone like Malcolm Brogden is. He's a real point guard who can truly play make. He can be consistent in the perimeter as a scorer. He's a really good deep three point shooter. He's decent

on on ball defense. He's six', five he's it's like what you would Want Peyton pritcher to, do but he's gonna get, cooked. Right Peyton pritcher became a liability on. Defense Malcolm brogden's not a liability on, defense but he can do even more offensively Than Peyton pritcher can do because he's much bigger and he's just more of a vet. Right he's very, composed he's very. Safe he's a very sure handed late game point, guard which is exactly the

opposite Of marcus mart who makes wildly crazy. Decisions he shoots well from, three really sleeped on slept on forty on catch and shoot, threes and he's gonna get a huge number of open looks. Too he's six,', five physical much more versatile as an option than Somebody Like. Peyton pritchard AND like, i said this Team with brogden wins it all. LAST year I think i, think so not just because, of defense because he has one point eight turnovers per game in his career and on a team

that literally was averaging like twenty twenty playoff turnovers Against The. Golden. State warriors. Need that and he's gonna get a lot of three pointers Open With jason Tatum And, jaylen brown and he's gonna be able to fill out that kind of guard Role Like, derek white but a better three, point shooter. Better defender it's. Just interesting it's an. Interesting move another number three, Underrated Move dante DiVincenzo To, the warriors super, low key under. The radar nobody's talking. About

that very Unhappy. In sacramento they tried to get. Him twice it did not work. Either time and now we know That the Warriors Want Swiss. Army knis and That's what if you look back At What dante DiVincenzo Did in Villanova and lenova during his time to Win, the chip there very underrated, active defender not only on, help defense just off the ball, in general and gets his hands in the. Passing lanes pesky six, y four but with a pretty, long wingspan he, can dunk he. Can

block we saw that very mark. He blocked HE had i think it was in the championship game if not in the. Final four he's not as good of a Defender As gary, payton junior but you, know What Or gary payton the second but you know it doesn't, Really matter like this is what you. Could Afford gary, payton's gone so how are you going to? Replace him he's

not as good of a three. Point shooter he shoots like thirty three percent, from three but he's much better terms in terms of catch and shoot forty two on catch and, shoot threes and he's gonna be a good THREE and d guy six, to four can block, very long really really HIGH basketball iq at a time or in a place where you have to have a PRETTY good iq to run complex Schemes Which golden state wants. To run deflects a ton, of balls tracks the ball,

really well. Insane motor not a Replacement, for PEYTON but i think very underrated signing Speaking Of, Gary Payton gary Payton to portland. Love it One Makes golden, state. Sad awesome Two Makes damian lillard happy. Even better. Oakland Connection gary payton grew Up, In oakland dame grew Up, in oakland And those oakland roots. RUN deep i think that's. Very important He's A swiss army knife in WAYS that I Think chauncey phillips is going to be able to

use in really. Unique situations he's an insane defender for how small. He is he's got a, long wingspan pesky definitely someone you don't want to defend you if you're, a Player, right like that IS something i think is. Very important you can't understate how good he is as a. Role player he defends one. Through five he's a, very explosive. Athletic roller he can get out, into transition, get steals. Extremely explosive AND when i say he gets steals like that's.

An understatement he had led the league per thirty six in steels two point eight steals per. Thirty six put that man in, the game coach on. The BALL like, i said he's a. Total pest he was one of the MAIN reasons i Think that boston lost, that series not just because of, his defense because of his, rebounding abilities because of his ability to roll to the rim and know where things are going. To develop he's in the right spots all. The time he hasn't knows for how.

THINGS run i mean it's almost like his dad played professional basketball at a very. High level it's almost like that exactly the match you would need to Play, besides Dame since dame plays no defense and he is going to. Lock games dame out up. In, PRACTICE boy i can't wait to see something. LIKE that i need to know what those practices, look like because he's going to be in game's asshole inside. Of it uh, number five here's.

Another one nobody's. Talking About josha kogi To The. Phoenix suns these are like very niche moves right like nobody's really interested in. These PLAYERS but i think that they're very interesting and we'll be talked about in the season as as like a lynchpin for a team that's looking to elevate. From post he's in success to getting over, the. Hump right he had a down year last Year Because anthony edwards is taking, his spot taking all of. His

minutes he can, split defenses he can slash from. The perimeter he's a really good. Rim runner he has really. Good hops he can play above the rim. And dunk he can block, really well has a nose for, the ball hunts the. Ball down he does some of the things that you would hope a Guy like ayton. Would do like he's not, A center he's not going to be, a center but he can do some of the Things

that ayton. Does well because it Looks like ayton's, Gone right he's gonna be really helpful if he's using the. Right SPOTS and i think the most important thing is he's twenty four. Years old he's. Twenty four he reminds me kind Of of Isaacacoro. In cleveland plays that like, tweener role not like exactly a, pure shooter but definitely somebody that you want to play An Integral jared vanderbilt type, of deal which is exactly the kind of thing that he likes. To do and. He's long he's six' four

with the, seven feet. Wingspan that's huge and if he can get settled, IN the ring i. Mean that's big if you can get settled in, THE regular season i think he plays important minutes coming. In the playoffs if, he's six' four he can play like a four spot in, a SMALL ball lineup and i think he can still play, defense on you know two three fours. Another One pretty much the, WOLVES as a whole i, like What They did but kyle anderson Just ended up departing memphis in

a way that nobody even is. Speaking about it all he's kind Of Like. This year's derek White comes. From the spurs, system very, boring player very, slow very, light skinned very fundamental, and you know, what awesome role player started a Ton. Of games. For memphis very shifty They call him slow mo because he literally looks like, he's moving through. Sand and that's fine like guys who play fast on defense don't know what to. Do With. My

man kyle anderson honestly consider. Them The Same Person And. KYLE anderson derek white i get him confused for each other all the time because. Their games are similar they Both played for the spurs at, around the same time, and you know what. They're amazing role players that's what. He's going to do he's not a, great three point shooter but everyone seems to fall. For HIS pump fake and, i don't know why but everybody seems. To fall for

it an, annoying player for defenses he. Gets his shot off his, arms are so long he, has great, body control great footwork and he's, a really willing passer. GREAT at passing lobs i think that's gonna Be Very. INTERESTING for rudy gobert i think that's gonna Be. Very Interesting. For carling anthony towns, really good at passing, pocket passes as, well good bounce passer especially in tight windows in. Like very packed spaces it's. A solid pickup man he's gonna

step right in to. A really good role he had one hundred and sixty. One steals last year memphis was the number one team, in steels last year and he was second on. The team at steeles that is something that they're going to need because that was one of The things that, the wolves. Did really really poorly he can handle the ball, a little well uh. And he's got. Experienced he's very poised he's going to help, THIS roster a lot i. Think During The playoffs and, john, moran

even said. Like that's my dog i'm. Gonna be missing him and you have to understand that if jaw thinks you're important, to a contending team then he's gonna help at a Very. Critical JUNCTURE for Minnesota and i think minnesota in general actually is a team that has, Made multiple good Moves Like, they got bryn forbes nobody's kind Of Nobody, cares, about brin forbes right but he's a.

Good spot up shooter this is like we've. Talked about this before this is a league where you need stars, and you need capable competent role, players that are, versatile And That's. HIM that's Bryn forbes i think minnesota has a real shot to be a, dark horse Next year much like. Dallas was this year loved, these moves, For, them all right uh let's look at a you free agent signings out there that. Have yet to break let's

look at WHO and explain what i think. Is going, on there number one number one free agent signing that we need to know What's Happening. Is probably DeAndre right he's the white. Whale of this offseason the big prize, that's actually out there, not the trade prize but the actual prize that you can go, out and get connected

probably in some way To What's. Happening With kevin durant kevin durant looks like He's probably going TO phoenix from what I, hear Today on, tuesday ju july fifth probably a three Team Trade given That Ben simmons and DeAndre ayton cannot be on. The same roster together there's a Lot of Chatter That. Utah wants DeAndre ayden how they're going to get him is. Going to be complex who's? Getting Picks for who because utah is Gonna want to Give Utah's. Gonna want DeAndre ayton sons are gonna want.

Something For him back kevin durant's. Going to, get, there but then okay so what's going to happen with these pieces moving? Around LIKE musical chairs so i think this is going. TO be really interesting i think another one that makes a Ton. Of sense is toronto he would Be Amazing in, The, nick nurse scheme like that's exactly

the kind of. Big man they need They Ended up getting christian, coloco IN the draft which, i Liked A lot but christian collocal is a rookie and that this team wants to contend or, Do Anything of note DeAndre ayton would definitely help. Them in, that sense Number Two where is colin? Sexton? Going? TO go man. Like i Don't know When The cavs signed darius, garland to five years one hundred and ninety three million dollars a potential to make two hundred and, thirty one million dollars that

Was Supposed to. Be Colin sexton's deal colin sexton WANTED to. Be a max player he ends. UP tearing some ligaments i want to SAY, it was a acl but IT could HAVE, Been mco and aco and it's an absurd contract that no one Thought Two years ago darius garland was, Going to get right so That Means, most likely colin sexton who has The Same Agent As darius garland, clutch Sports Of. Course or rich, paul, you're Gonna Say well if darius, garland can get that then we must be

able to get something in. The neighborhood of that maybe, not in the thirties but. Maybe In the twenties anthony simon's got, Something in the twenties so. What's gonna happen there he's been on a steady downward trajectory. Since his rookie year, he MISSED last, year like i, said due to injury but especially since the team was, really good without Him And they signed ricky, rubio to three, years

eighteen million dollars another underrated signing that. FLEW under THE radar i guess i don't know how he fits into the scheme of what they want to do unless he's going to take, like EIGHT million dollars and i don't Think A guy like colin sexton wants to. Make eight million dollars executives seem to value him in, around ten to. Twelve which is. Wow that is low. That is Really low number three carmelo rumor has it he wants to come back And play for, the knicks swan. Song don't

hate it numbers weren't actually That. Bad with the lakers in His, final year in portland he had. THIRTEEN four and one i think he can be an effective three point shooter, fifteen minutes per game. Ten minutes per game does? It? Move a Needle no do the nick fans? Really want, Him BACK probably not but i would like. To see him happy so go. Where you can go carmelo on,

a veteran free. Agent veteran Minimum Contract number four dennis shooter dude is out there dropping Thirty eight points against poland Right Now in the world cup qualifiers and still can't get A sniff. From an nba team turn down The, bag from the lakers which we talked about a. Lot on this podcast then he ended up taking the Mid. Level exception from boston then He gets sent to houston on the, dead at the deadline only to Watch His former team boston celtics go to. The finals without? HIM

can he play i? Think he can? Play? Is he answer probably does that mean he would fit In? Perfectly, with the lakers absolutely and like they could, get him for cheap which is what. They Have to do the lakers feel like the best Free Agent. Destination for dennis schreuder, crazier THINGS have happened but i like. THAT move for him i really. REALLY like that move a couple OF other ones that i think are interesting. To Discuss Really quickly wancho Ernon gomez aka boat Cruise From. Our movie.

The hustle possible destination the only one Probably, For. HIM is minnesota minnesota i don't know. IF you know this i just. Found Out this Today Wan cho got aunt Edward's the Role As. Kermit in the hustle he was The one lobbying for aunt to play the. Antagonist in that movie, AND so To me i need wancho as a role. PLAYER fifteen ten minutes I need The wan cho And Kermit a boat cruise kermit like roommate situation On.

THE road in. MINNESOTA i need it i want to believe this was like maybe special, effects what they did what He, Did AS bo Cruise but i think watcher. Still Has some game caleb martin has. Not been signed Yet his twin brother, cody got four years thirty Two. Million from the hornets caleb. Wants a similar deal Would. Love him in portland. He'd be great, there six' five wing shoots forty one percent from three. Great three and

d wing. He'd be a decent one he's probably the last one that's Available Outside, of OUTSIDE of miles bridges which i Think It's. A, wrap for miles bridges honestly that's. That's the consequence of life but he is. Only twenty seven years old i'd love to See him Go. Back to miami maybe portland can't wait to. See, Where He ends Up Finally montrez harrell and miles bridges. Still, haven't,

been signed yet well yeah that's the. Way That the cookie crumbles montrez HARRELL was pulled over In, I, want To say Kentucky. Louisville either louisiana Or kentucky Either. IT was louisville or louisiana a bunch of, weed apparently in his, Trunk Like a lot pounds so i'm not sure how that charge is going to work out for him whether. He's going, to Be Playing interestingly Enough Both. Charlotte hornets and miles bridges you can. Google what happened with him

he got. Arrested for some domestic stuff no no paydays when you. Have, Trouble with the law law. So sad depressing stuff there. THAT'S all that, we, HAVE i need moves THOUGH i need moves like i need air because he's