[SPEAKER_01]: Now playing open for this is open floor Sports Illustrated's Chris Manics back at an NDA podcast with Sports Illustrated senior writer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's time that the world gets to know my guy Chris Manics I think your opinion shared by everyone and now it begins now it begins [SPEAKER_01]: All right, Evan Turner, 10 year NBA veteran former number two overall pick in the draft national college player of the year you have been part of this podcast for one week and you will already start to make some news I woke up the day after our first show to see all these aggregators out there jump on your take that Austin Reeves [SPEAKER_01]: is not a third option on a championship team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you want to begin with that?

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no.

[SPEAKER_00]: So for one, I'm a big officer, really, I think most of you don't remember how to play it, but I play like a poor man's version of the officer, really.

[SPEAKER_00]: So sometimes I'll watch him play.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, dang, I wish somebody to let me get that role to get this fun.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's a silent, a lot.

[SPEAKER_00]: And obviously, he's so talented.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think when it comes to your third option, not only do you have to be a guarantee [SPEAKER_00]: Even in a playoff, you've got to do great throw-in, but you've also got to do great stuff up in the fin, and you know, kind of a third option problem in general for the contenders.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's been first option problems we talk about as it is on, and it's just recently like there's certain people with their first options, and it might not be a full problem for the real contenders, and I think Austin Reeves, he needs to be more of like [SPEAKER_00]: I think he's a creep up on you even more.

[SPEAKER_00]: He needs to be the fourth guy.

[SPEAKER_00]: He doesn't say anything.

[SPEAKER_00]: And that's him with four guys, but they're all principally, but it could be the Andre Hunter, how Cleveland got the Andre Hunter.

[SPEAKER_00]: He understands him saying, you need to play her life at that gym.

[SPEAKER_00]: Lot that I'm a superstar, guaranteed to go this 17 or 18 and you can't leave him open.

[SPEAKER_00]: As opposed to also release, once you're getting a playoff maskable, that deepness is set.

[SPEAKER_00]: you have a lot of great coaches sitting there for a week watching all your tendencies like it becomes kind of tough especially in a land of LA and trying to get through a whole final series like James Harding struggles to do that he's never made it to the final plan out where you know I mean only Luke has but just what he doesn't what Luke likes to do it it kind of bump heads and I want to send it [SPEAKER_01]: No, I think that's that's fair.

[SPEAKER_01]: I also can't wait for Austin Reeves his first 40-point game of the season when he's like, take that advantage.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I love that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a big Austin Reeves fan.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like I said, and he gave me a great interview back in the day.

[SPEAKER_00]: And obviously, whenever they play my name up, it's a slow dance sports.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I guess.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, speaking of slow days in sports, we are kind of been that dry period before the start of the NBA season, you've got opening night still days away.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I would take this podcast to talk about some of the teams that we're probably not going to talk much about during the regular season.

[SPEAKER_01]: Teams that are kind of [SPEAKER_01]: flying under the radar and I want to start with Sacramento only because they made some news this week when they signed Russell Westbrook to a one-year deal.

[SPEAKER_01]: This was widely expected that the kings would find a way to bring Westbrook in when I was initially told was they were [SPEAKER_01]: Talking about bringing them in, if they could do a trade for Jonathan Kominga because if they traded Kominga, they probably would have traded Malik Monk, which would have opened up a guard spot back there.

[SPEAKER_01]: That deal never came to fruition, but they signed Westburg anyway, adding him to that mix of teams.

[SPEAKER_01]: So putting aside the Westburg signing, and then that's fine, whatever I think Rusty serves to be still be in the next.

[SPEAKER_01]: To me, Sacramento is the most irrelevant team in the NBA, they just are, they're not the worst team in the NBA, but they're the most irrelevant.

[SPEAKER_01]: Are they better than Utah?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but Utah to me is more interesting, because they've got a spally, some young guys, and want to see how they come together as a team.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Portland, same thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think young hands at a loan makes them more relevant than [SPEAKER_01]: Sacramento.

[SPEAKER_01]: It even teams like Washington with the young guys they have there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're more relevant.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is a team that of the kind of would-be contenders that are trying to win something.

[SPEAKER_01]: They have the lowest ceiling of any of these teams in the league.

[SPEAKER_01]: And look, I always said that the team that signed Russell Westbrook this season.

[SPEAKER_01]: was going to be a team that was just like screw it.

[SPEAKER_01]: We got nothing else to lose.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let's sign the guy in low and behold, they're Sacramento, which has a team of like guys you kind of like, but nobody that you love, they've got, you know, Keegan Murray, who's a good young player, but not a great one, Demata Sabonus, who's an all star, but probably not one that you can build a [SPEAKER_01]: was kind of perfect for Sacramento, which is a team that is on that hamster wheel going absolutely nowhere fast.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think?

[SPEAKER_00]: And now I thought Russ was a great loader, a little risk net.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I won't put the team into an instant container, but it breaks up with a glamour weaknesses.

[SPEAKER_00]: I know a lot of people aren't high on Russ, but last year was still average 13.66, 5 rebounds, and he played pretty well with Yokeet.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you see how Snackerman O'Chowson used a mantis and similar form as Yokeet.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think when it comes down to nasty and experienced matters, but [SPEAKER_00]: You know, Sacramento Chief's channel is like the same head, you know, I live in Chicago and we're kind of struggling with the tomorrow the roads exactly do row and it ended up moving on and taking them and bringing that show out there, you know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: So I just think Sacramento's just trying to stay afloat, they're lateral high moment, Steph Curry, we're going to get a couple of years to go and game seven and I think they're trying to hold on to autumn momentum.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I just don't know what the direction of the team is.

[SPEAKER_01]: Other than, like, let's try not to piss our fans off too much.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, two years ago, they look like, you know, a rising team, 50 plus wins, the whole like the beam stuff.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's the bonus in Fox.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was fun out in Sacramento.

[SPEAKER_01]: You played there.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got great fans in Sacramento.

[SPEAKER_01]: When they're competitive, it's fun to be around that team.

[SPEAKER_01]: But like, all the moves they've made and look, the Fox deal was kind of forced on them.

[SPEAKER_01]: you know, continue to build on the success from a couple of years ago.

[SPEAKER_01]: And Fox said, look, I'm not signing a contract extensions.

[SPEAKER_01]: They really have no choice.

[SPEAKER_01]: But like what they got for Fox, like, you know, putting Levine and DeRosen back together didn't make a lot of sense.

[SPEAKER_01]: You bring a dentist shooter was a bit on like half the teams in the league at this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, so bonus again puts up monster numbers, but doesn't do enough defensively to make you believe he's a you know a starting center on a team that can do more than make the playoffs I just I know like teams like you to teams like Washington teams like Portland you can disagree with [SPEAKER_01]: the roster construction, you can disagree with the guys they have, but they have a direction, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: Like they're, they have a plan for what they're going to do.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know what Sacramento's plan is other than just try to compete for a 500 record, get into the play in mix and live to fight another day.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's what I think is good too.

[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like there's much for how I like the eight more when it comes down to it like they've tried to clean things up and it just made it ten times worse and right now it is coming down to trying to keep the fan base in the eight like you said they're going to try to make it to the plan again and then just try to win the media narrative and say hey we're trying again we're trying again we're trying again so I just [SPEAKER_00]: I'm gonna be watching too many Sacramento games this year and I'll see you up to play in my next one we'll pay attention to them again because I don't think they know what they're really young over there.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they kind of got packed into their corner when they built so much into the air fox and you see that it is they just gave me the Murray 100 and 50 million and it's like I love keeping Murray at death but you know what I'm saying it's like it's just when [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's a team that needs to be dismantled.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I think there's probably still a market for Zaclavine.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's a market for Demarter Rosen.

[SPEAKER_01]: These are bucket getters that on the right team can make a difference, but on this team that makes no sense, just an incredibly low ceiling.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't, I think if they keep this team together, it's going to be bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be a bad disappointing season.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when you talk about America, like the narrative, it's always marked if we Demarter, or if we're always in market for Zaclavine, [SPEAKER_00]: And sometimes it hasn't happened yet.

[SPEAKER_00]: And when it's coming down to us, it's like, is there a market for exactly near and the market rose and it come off the bench?

[SPEAKER_00]: Or you try to load up a contender.

[SPEAKER_00]: And their concepts aren't going to say so.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you're going to be stuck in.

[SPEAKER_00]: you know and through a brand of basketball that we just were on class they don't shoot me three they fired a coach and two minute range players they got their nameball hammer and some ponds is shallow but then a shooter he was on the best guy from the world this summer but you know sometimes the season he doesn't really find his way either you're gonna have to eventually rely so heavy on a 17 or 18 year bet to be [SPEAKER_00]: the mental force or the lack of an identity, and he just got into the lack of an identity.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, like I guess the argument for keeping Levine and D'Rosen is that you can get some financial flexibility I mean Levine.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got a player option next to your I mean I guess he picks it up 48 million dollars nobody's giving him that De Mar de Rosen's got a non guaranteed his last year so I guess you can get off that D'Rosen will make and I say only But only making 24 million dollars and today's NBA that's a tradeable salary.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so the guys [SPEAKER_01]: These are the guys that got to move off of Malik Monk, 18 million dollars per year, is there a market out there for him?

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they got to get draft capital, they got to get younger, they got to get young pieces that actually get you excited.

[SPEAKER_01]: Because right now, I mean, I think Keegan Murray's a good fourth option on a good team.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he can shoot it, obviously, but beyond that, I don't, I don't like what they're doing.

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[SPEAKER_01]: Alright, let's talk about Charlotte because I've been waiting Evan for a breakout season in Charlotte for some time now.

[SPEAKER_01]: It hasn't happened yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: We are now in year six of the LaMelo Ball [SPEAKER_01]: All of those six years, only one of them have been a season that finished above 500.

[SPEAKER_01]: The last three years, the results have gone backwards, 27 wins, 21 wins, 19 wins, last season.

[SPEAKER_01]: They have changed coaches, they have changed front offices, they have changed owners of this team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Nothing has worked.

[SPEAKER_01]: up until this point.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is the year in Charlotte that it has to work.

[SPEAKER_01]: And look, it starts with Lamello.

[SPEAKER_01]: He has to stay healthy.

[SPEAKER_01]: He has played more than 51 games just once in his first five seasons.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's unacceptable.

[SPEAKER_01]: He has to be better with the turnovers.

[SPEAKER_01]: Those numbers are cartoonish right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got to be better with a shot selection.

[SPEAKER_01]: No more one foot of jumpers.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's not winning basketball.

[SPEAKER_01]: But if he can do that, [SPEAKER_01]: I love him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's an all star.

[SPEAKER_01]: And look, I like Brayden Miller a lot too.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, his efficiency number stink, but I think once he settles down, he can be a second option on a good team and maybe a third option on a great team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Conconypal is not shot the ball well in the preseason, but I'm choosing to believe.

[SPEAKER_01]: that he can be a floor spacing wing, got miles bridges, Colin Sexton, Grant Williams.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is the year Charlotte has to make a move.

[SPEAKER_01]: The Eastern Conference stinks.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got enough talent to make the playoffs.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got to be like a 500 team or better this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's enough to get into the postseason.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think?

[SPEAKER_00]: I absolutely, I think they also have to stay healthy.

[SPEAKER_00]: When you see the metal healthy, what is too many, when you use with miles bridges and Brandon Miller is not saying much, but their point of ratio is plus, you know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: And also, too, a lot of people have a lot of things to say about the number of boys that he's improving for his average 25 nights for a name of the career from wrong.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, young just all star ever.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think, certainly, negatively, it comes wood.

[SPEAKER_00]: is the front office.

[SPEAKER_00]: But he hasn't really been put with the right team, the right type of pieces, and the order for him is successful.

[SPEAKER_00]: You see, three or four years ago, they were able to make it to the playing game, and that helped tremendously, and now it's pretty impressive.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then after that, they got a hundred a couple of times.

[SPEAKER_00]: My mobile had a 50-point day, versus my quality, 44 versus a manual, and then injuries ensued after that.

[SPEAKER_00]: So he only got 47 games.

[SPEAKER_00]: and that Brandon Miller only got 27 games.

[SPEAKER_00]: But if you look at this skill set and just talent is individually, amongst the other younger guys, it's pretty impressive.

[SPEAKER_00]: And if you get Miles Bridgeson, who's been talking very, very good in the pre-season last game versus me, because he had to have a bit of a game.

[SPEAKER_00]: I believe that like 29 to 55.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's a man of his voice.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's been talking about everything positive and has been a vocal leader.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think, uh, with, you know, Charles Lee, the front office kind of changed in their NG around congenital, he's not ready yet.

[SPEAKER_00]: And it's not fearful.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we could like, ready yet.

[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, it has great good, uh, good.

[SPEAKER_00]: These was an instinct and shoot and always translate.

[SPEAKER_00]: They just have to get better at at the big man position and give them a great opportunity for the young kids to be able to continue to develop, be able to stay healthy and make it strong push.

[SPEAKER_00]: Their top three is top this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they've got a, if they can stay out, they've got a good top there.

[SPEAKER_01]: And look at their depth chart right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: The mellow Brandon Miller in the back court, that solid, conconniple Miles Bridges, Mousse de Bate, I mean, they gave away all their centers in the audience with the kind of music that they had to do.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think, look, I've heard good things about what Colin Sexton's doing down there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I thought Colin had a bit of a revival in Utah.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he can be a really good sixth man for that team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Josh Green is fine, trade man is fine, Liam McNeely is still a young, Pat Condor would as he give them, I don't know.

[SPEAKER_01]: Look, it's not a contender, but is it a 500 team?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it should be a 500 team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like when the mellow ball is playing, [SPEAKER_01]: You know, 65-70 games with Brandon Miller, that's enough to compete in Eastern Conference.

[SPEAKER_01]: I guess it should be more than enough.

[SPEAKER_00]: And also too, I think, one thing that's the other statement is they rebuilt culture.

[SPEAKER_00]: They built wind and players, you know, I don't know what that kind of thing is going to do.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's great leader, great platform dot, and your championship experience.

[SPEAKER_00]: You move forward with Charles Lee.

[SPEAKER_00]: You see his pedigree.

[SPEAKER_00]: He was under a lot of great coaches.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's unbelievable.

[SPEAKER_00]: You look at Josh Green.

[SPEAKER_00]: He came from a great situation with the marriage.

[SPEAKER_00]: Liam, really?

[SPEAKER_00]: He played for UConn.

[SPEAKER_00]: He played for the cycle hurley.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like I think.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think the person now is a little bit different than when it was four or five years ago.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, even science and genes, he has a history of being a fluent, taking a game very seriously.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's all about the person now.

[SPEAKER_00]: And sometimes it comes back down and you can't win with, you know, idiots or jerks with sometimes.

[SPEAKER_00]: the little things that occur is like taking preseason very seriously.

[SPEAKER_00]: Miles Bridges is like, yo, I'm taking this preseason very serious.

[SPEAKER_00]: So, towards the end of the year, it's like second nature to me.

[SPEAKER_00]: That conversation out there and how they're trying to move is at a completely different level.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe it starts with the culture and whether we've missed or not, Grant Williams is amazing for culture.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well, it's great Williams who I like.

[SPEAKER_01]: I like Greg Williams.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got the dome pretty well in Boston.

[SPEAKER_01]: I actually just talked to him this summer for a different story.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you're never in the back on that property.

[SPEAKER_00]: What's the problem with it?

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm talking to Greg Williams, like once a quarter, I'm out.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, look, they were bad in every category last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Their offense was 29th or defense is 24th.

[SPEAKER_01]: They played with the 20th pace.

[SPEAKER_01]: Look at that pace number, Evan, they got to play faster.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like they've got too many guys that fly around.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if Lamel was out there healthy, they're going to play a lot faster this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's going to help that offense get maybe in the top half of the league or around there.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're just, there's just too much good young talent there, especially if Kinnip will kind of wind up playing reasonable minutes for them this season for them to be in the mix.

[SPEAKER_00]: And also, too, when it comes out of being young, that's the perk of having energy.

[SPEAKER_00]: Like, as a player that's been on veteran teams, we hate seeing youthful teams and seeing teams getting the ball up and down a court running.

[SPEAKER_00]: You got how far as you have a great pass like the mellow.

[SPEAKER_00]: I expect miles bridges, I expect Brandon Miller, even when you look at a Mason comely.

[SPEAKER_00]: I expect some to stay on a rim, play on a rim.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I think in order, they have to be able to stop, get defensive stops and turn it into offense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think the for Lamello, the discipline factor in this is real like he can't play games like he's in a summer pickup game like his his turnover numbers are outrageous.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're always around three and a half for per game stacked against like seven eight assists per game.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's a bad assist at your ratio like that's not.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's not what winning players do, and every highlight real I see of La Mello, it's like these one-footed off-balance jumpshots that are going in.

[SPEAKER_01]: Well, how about the ones that aren't?

[SPEAKER_01]: Now, I'm sure there are a lot of them that aren't going in.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's got, like, I think there's, there obviously is all star talent in there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's just got just harness it, channel it, be a more disciplined playmaker, get the ball to guys like Miller, I think, is going to be an automatic bucket in the years ahead.

[SPEAKER_01]: Miles Bridges, who loves playing with La Mello, thrives in these games with La Mello.

[SPEAKER_01]: just just play more discipline.

[SPEAKER_01]: Get that turtle over number down to around like two per game.

[SPEAKER_01]: Get the assist numbers up to eight or nine.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's off to the race is bad.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's I think he's got to be a special player.

[SPEAKER_00]: You're absolutely right, and I can compare him with another to our point girl, like Tyre's Halibur, who steadily goes to his 30 points, 15 assists, and leaves out with one turnover.

[SPEAKER_00]: And all he's doing is control on a pace at a high high level, and keeping the game efficient.

[SPEAKER_00]: He knows his colors on wings.

[SPEAKER_00]: He knows his system, and he knows where his skills spots are.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe like just a few years ago, the mellows are all starring Tyre's wasn't.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know, so when you think about the potential audience, what you can do, if it's doable, he just has to really think like you said.

[SPEAKER_00]: And look how that offense and Indian has been running.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think I do think Lamello better fit a greatly from the fan vote, which was overwhelmingly in support.

[SPEAKER_00]: No, that's not here.

[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely, but he wasn't one of those like put it from now to even players when I was like, bro, this guy should not be in his all-star name.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, no, he had the numbers.

[SPEAKER_01]: Susie's just a stunk and everybody's like, yeah, of course, it works.

[SPEAKER_01]: A bad bad one.

[SPEAKER_01]: All right, let's talk about the Memphis Grizzlies.

[SPEAKER_01]: Three years ago, the Grizz were coming off back to back 50 win seasons.

[SPEAKER_01]: They were the number two seed and the Western Conference.

[SPEAKER_01]: Java Rantt was a super-ish star.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jared Jackson was right behind him.

[SPEAKER_01]: They were loaded with good young talent.

[SPEAKER_01]: It is not really gone well since then.

[SPEAKER_01]: There was all the off-the-court stuff.

[SPEAKER_01]: with John Morrent.

[SPEAKER_01]: They want a bunch of regular season games last year, but couldn't get it done in the playoffs in part due to more injuries for John Morrent.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen a lot of different prognostications ET about where the Grizzlies are going to finish.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen people bullish on that being a top four seed.

[SPEAKER_01]: I've seen people saying they are a play and team.

[SPEAKER_01]: I tend to [SPEAKER_01]: about Memphis' chances because I'm not optimistic.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not optimistic that this team can stay on the floor in one piece that they can stay healthy.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I tweeted out a week ago when I saw one of the injury reports, like Memphis's injury report right now, is in mid-season form.

[SPEAKER_01]: You've got Jomerant already injured, Zach Edy already injured, Jaren Jackson already injured, Brandon Clark already injured.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, they're already the walk-in wounded and we haven't played an official game yet.

[SPEAKER_01]: My skepticism of Memphis this year is because these guys have shown year after year that whether it's Jackson, Morant, or both, somebody's going to get hurt.

[SPEAKER_01]: What are two other guys in that rotation is going to get hurt?

[SPEAKER_01]: Where do you stand on the Grizzlies and their place in the hierarchy of the Western Conference?

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they are mostly in their dark horse like you said earlier the two main players the franchise guys continue to get hurt like jamer rent [SPEAKER_00]: either injure and unfortunately in trouble morning is that on a court.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that is affected like the direction of the franchise because once you saw a vein, the vein tray and then fire in the coach, I think everybody's just in the ship previous mode.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I don't even know if they really want to win because with the vein tray to go for first round picks.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then they still have a couple of good young players on a bench.

[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, what's the young man's name in Jayland and Williams, right?

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, no, no, no, no, he had it before he broke his wrist hit a great, he's having a good rookie year, but.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, GG Jackson to the guts.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, you got a lot of good young guys as he can rebuild around and get that energy back.

[SPEAKER_00]: What made Memphis so good was the energy when you watch you on a game like it was one of the best like environments to see and I think right now with John and Jared and the energy that's coming around.

[SPEAKER_00]: There's just not much going on.

[SPEAKER_00]: It traded a couple of their dolls with a couple of like the guys who grew up with and not think it's just a new face and new look.

[SPEAKER_00]: And we're missing Desmond Bane.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then even when you're missing Desmond Brooks, he's been going for a while.

[SPEAKER_00]: But that was part of the toughness of the chemistry.

[SPEAKER_00]: And those are important parts.

[SPEAKER_00]: And you just can't bathe on genre ramping in healthy for at least a P5 or 60 days or as soon as I could.

[SPEAKER_00]: They almost do the thing like you ain't playing out in my, you know what I'm saying.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jalen Wells, I should correct myself.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's the starting for it.

[SPEAKER_01]: They've got.

[SPEAKER_01]: KTV's call will pop in there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think that is going to be solid.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think KCP is better than what he showed in Orlando, which had a stacked in offense.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jackson Jr.

[SPEAKER_01]: Probably going to play power forward if they can get a healthy center out there.

[SPEAKER_01]: Santiago Dama is.

[SPEAKER_01]: As Venge is going to play some Zach E.D.

[SPEAKER_01]: of course when he gets healthy whenever he gets healthy is going to be in the mix.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just can't trust I can't trust this team to give me like 60 plus games of their regular rotation night in night out in and there's more to it's not to me.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's not just health like [SPEAKER_01]: they make this coaching change late last season.

[SPEAKER_01]: Is it going to work?

[SPEAKER_01]: Does this new system make sense?

[SPEAKER_01]: Are they going to get enough 3-point shooting to balance off the floor with Moranton Jackson on it?

[SPEAKER_01]: the coaching staff was fired last year, Taylor Jenkins was fired last year, largely because they couldn't beat good teams, like even when they had their guys, they weren't beaten good teams in the second half of the season.

[SPEAKER_01]: Does that change this year?

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, look, the numbers suggest that when John Grant and John Jackson are both on the floor together, this team's pretty good.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know how many games that's gonna be though for them this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just think they're gonna struggle for a lot of reasons.

[SPEAKER_00]: Also like you see at the others, they need another solid 3D guy, like KCP's not an older yes championship experience.

[SPEAKER_00]: I've always respected the way you stepped up with like good teams, but they don't need this one more 3D guy, they need a couple of them.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they've lost few in the past couple of years.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not mad at the call Anthony trade, I mean it's always brought energy in, but [SPEAKER_00]: If you have a lot of, you know, planes mixed in with like a new coach and staff and people getting used to the new students and everything like that.

[SPEAKER_00]: And also through Jama Rampion into it, you know, some of the stuff that occurred last year at St.

[SPEAKER_00]: Taylor Jenkins was a really vital and giant regardless of his usage rate and everything in every guard.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, Jama Ramp wants to play heavy-picking role.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, is he going to be able to play that in this system?

[SPEAKER_01]: Does that make them successful?

[SPEAKER_01]: Once again, we'll see.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I think there are a lot of questions about that team that make me believe that when the season ends, we'll be talking about them as an eight, nine, ten seed and not one of the teams sitting up there in the top four.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let me ask you about the pelicans.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're another really interesting team.

[SPEAKER_01]: I would say I'm not a gambling man, but I am.

[SPEAKER_01]: I am a very heavy gambling man.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's all of the family.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's all in the family.

[SPEAKER_01]: I saw the overunder for the pelicans, which is sitting right at it, I think when I checked it like 31 and a half wins.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know, I just thought that was really low for the pelicans.

[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe that's because I'm...

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, two, two in on like skinny, ozepic Zion or whatever we got going on there in New Orleans.

[SPEAKER_01]: But if he's healthy and as they gradually get some of these other guys back, I think they've got enough to compete for a play in spot in the West.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I love her, Jones.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's not the guy that missed a ton of time last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Great to way, Wang.

[SPEAKER_01]: Tray Murphy can shoot it.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're their young guys are a question mark.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like I was really down on Derrick Ween before the draft.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was astonished, astonished, that they traded and Unprotected 2026 first round pick to move up 10 spots to get a guy that even before that trade [SPEAKER_01]: I thought was one of the most had the highest variance of any player that was projected to go in the lottery.

[SPEAKER_01]: Could Derek Wean turn a design on 2.0?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, could he turn to a guy that's not athletic enough and has a slow shot that's a shot that's too slow that can make him a productive NBA player.

[SPEAKER_01]: I could see that too.

[SPEAKER_01]: That subtly came around and before he got hurt.

[SPEAKER_01]: He looked great, and I'm cautious to, you know, read too much of the summer league, but like, maybe Derek Queen is better than I originally thought.

[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe Jeremiah Fiers, who's only 18 years old, is gonna be able to play more than I originally thought.

[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, part of it too is like, when you've got a team that has no reason to lose.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's no draft pick waiting for them at the end of the season.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're gonna get their best every single night.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if you've got a coach and really green, [SPEAKER_01]: was not hired by the man in charge right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Joe Doomars, you know this, like, he's going to be coaching for his job.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just think this team gets the ability to hover around 500 this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: I know in the West, it's tough and every single game is going to be a rock fight, but if Zion can play 65 70 games, I'm more bullish on the pelicans, some of the odds makers are.

[SPEAKER_01]: What do you think?

[SPEAKER_00]: It's a big hit.

[SPEAKER_00]: As I play 65% of me games, I believe they can make the playoffs which were at three-day, but went above 31 games.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's just the one thing I don't like is like when Zion came out openly and said, oh yeah, this is an year I'm really locking in, taking care of my body, taking it seriously.

[SPEAKER_00]: And like sometimes it's like, bro, you can't.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you're a gambler, man, you can't bet the mortgage with that mindset.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: Only thing I really comprehend is like the desperation of it.

[SPEAKER_00]: They have no reason to lose names, and I think the more and more tree Murphy steps up.

[SPEAKER_00]: but easier, easier, or be resigned, I think that schmume and duo will be pretty tough.

[SPEAKER_00]: And like you said, Herb Jones is underrated.

[SPEAKER_00]: The Fender is a long player.

[SPEAKER_00]: They have a lot of energy out there.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe in German, I think it's a little bit more.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's 18 years old.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's not a couple of good games who's bringing up their games, suddenly, yet a decent, suddenly.

[SPEAKER_00]: And then he started doing things around the pre-season, and he had a couple of 20 point games.

[SPEAKER_00]: He stretched out, he's done a couple of things around me, okay, I can't wait to see how he did no ups.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I'm not against it if Zion shows up and he's not going to be the fourth years.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, there's plenty of questions like Kavon Looney, does he start?

[SPEAKER_01]: Is there more left in the tank than what it looked like at the end in Golden State?

[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, Misi, does he who looked like a terrific young player last year?

[SPEAKER_01]: Does he take a step forward this year?

[SPEAKER_01]: Uh, I didn't love the Jordan pool trade.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, yeah, this bringing the gunner into that mix.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I don't know, I don't know.

[SPEAKER_00]: maybe.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's almost like loading art that you got to have a stab as you in it, but throw Jordan for them.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you're going to get low efficiency, you know, numbers.

[SPEAKER_00]: And he's the icing on a cake.

[SPEAKER_00]: You know what I'm saying?

[SPEAKER_00]: And you got to do something with them.

[SPEAKER_00]: You got to do something with them.

[SPEAKER_00]: You got to do something with them.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, I'm looking at the shooting numbers, the last two seasons.

[SPEAKER_01]: Two seasons ago, a 41% from the field, last season, 43.

[SPEAKER_01]: These three point numbers were better last year, a shot about 38% so that's not bad average, 20 points per game.

[SPEAKER_01]: But the E's, you know, 43% for a guard, that's a pretty low number.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, that's a high volume low efficiency type of number.

[SPEAKER_01]: And how does that fit on this team?

[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't think they needed to do that deal.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, we're covering three of them.

[SPEAKER_00]: We did that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a statue on Toronto.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_00]: That's true.

[SPEAKER_01]: I guess if you win, if you win with it, then you hit the field.

[SPEAKER_00]: If you win with it and of course when you look at Jordan Paul, it feeds your third or fourth best player.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's where he becomes dangerous.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think he even asks to have his own team when you're in the DC and the way he asks for that.

[SPEAKER_00]: But you play with a bunch of legends, it's a cool little kid and you get bucket, you know I'm saying, and then yeah, and that's trying to figure it out, even then just trying to grow physically.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it's not just up up to marketing and do us things.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jordan pulled through as a history of getting pocketed.

[SPEAKER_00]: And anytime I got in every 20 months and I'm late, we can't understand that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Even if they got the crap beat out of them.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and I guess we're also waiting to see what the pelicans when Dejante Murray is going to be able to return and you know what he's going to look like when he comes back after tearing that ACL last year or killies, I guess you should say last year.

[SPEAKER_01]: So he's I guess he said a media day is looking at, you know, around New Year's Eve or at least people are talking around there like around New Year's.

[SPEAKER_01]: can you get back to being close to player that he once was if you can great pickup that's a great two-way guard that's going to help them and it takes a lot of pressure off Jordan pull others in that back court.

[SPEAKER_01]: But [SPEAKER_01]: You know, that those types of injuries, that's tough.

[SPEAKER_01]: Man, that's tough to bounce back from right away.

[SPEAKER_00]: He's still young and I think one thing with that back court that duo, until he just his legs under him, he's got a great defensive instinct.

[SPEAKER_00]: He has, he's a great for it, for a gentleman who can run the game.

[SPEAKER_00]: So up until he gets that score in his legs under him, that's where our Jordan pool is going to be able to help them and they can switch off combo guard off and off.

[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that'll help him as long as they're in a light type [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so I think both of us like the pelicans to be what like anywhere from 35 to 40 beating those Vegas odds I think it's a great bet to you know a team.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's gonna play that hard like that's that's a team that's gonna be That's gonna be okay Last thing for you you're going to Boston, Mendo Vemper to honor your former teammate Isaiah Thomas at the TD Garden.

[SPEAKER_01]: You were a teammate for a couple of years when Isaiah blossomed into a superstar That's a mid-no-vemper What do you think the Celtics gonna look like at that point because [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think a lot of people are looking at Boston saying, well, they still get jail and brown.

[SPEAKER_01]: They still got paint, Richard.

[SPEAKER_01]: They still got dark white.

[SPEAKER_01]: Those are freezes to be optimistic.

[SPEAKER_01]: Sam Houser as well.

[SPEAKER_01]: On the flip side, like their front court right now is like, name is Kita and Grisbochet, which even in, even in the eastern conference, that's tough.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's not a formidable front line.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you think the self, I mean, are you on, are you of the mindset that the self are going to be competitive for one of those pre play in playoff spots?

[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to struggle and wind up in that play and mix this year now.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're I'm going to be competitive.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think it'll be very competitive.

[SPEAKER_00]: I got them by time I get them.

[SPEAKER_00]: Well, no, I've ever slower early, but I still got them on top four, five, see just initial.

[SPEAKER_00]: Really.

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, for sure.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think like I said last week, any time your main core has, uh, uh, I didn't get any of winning 50 plus game.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I feel like they have a culture that's got to go.

[SPEAKER_00]: All you have to do is get right back to their defense and mindset.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they have to ramp it up super crazy defensively.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think there might be a random dark horse.

[SPEAKER_00]: Even though they do only have Jalen Brown and their white go to spiritual re-guards, they're going to start a point-guar opinion culture.

[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't know if this little ampering Simon's during the during the preseason, but he's been sure to pretty well.

[SPEAKER_00]: It's been playing pretty well.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think Joe Masu was going to take the air sculpture approach to coach this year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're going to have a next land up mentality.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think they're going to beat guys with it to massively and I didn't want to take it back from the pretty games where [SPEAKER_00]: second dice of back the backs are gonna mean even more to them, you know Thanksgiving games are like the game of all start break.

[SPEAKER_00]: They're gonna get back the blue collar and playing with desperation.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I think this this is something that like they're all this stuff and he's being like hey let's see how tough we are because that's that's their core that's who they are and regardless they're defensive still going to be pretty good and anytime in the East you have a good defense [SPEAKER_01]: Look, I don't think they're going to crater.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I'm more of the camp that's like, you're talking about them as a seven, eight seed.

[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, assuming no Titan return at the end of the season.

[SPEAKER_01]: Some of the coaches talked to me about Jalen Brown this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, he's going to have an outstanding year.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be an all-star, a candidate for all NBA.

[SPEAKER_01]: But what I hear is like, this is the year where I think they think Jalen Brown is going to develop an even greater appreciation for Jason Tatum.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jalen Brown is going to get the Jason Tatum treatment this year.

[SPEAKER_01]: He is going to be the focal point for teams defensive game plans.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he's never had to do that because Jason Tatum, in addition to being at all NBA talent, has been one of the most durable guys in the NBA.

[SPEAKER_01]: Played at least 74 games, each of the last four years.

[SPEAKER_01]: So he's been out there for all these consequential games, the Celtics have been in now, every single night.

[SPEAKER_01]: Offent or defenses are going to be slanted towards Jalen Brown.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to be sending their best offenders.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to be sending different defenses.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do you buy that that like now that it's going to be a different look for Jalen Brown being the number one option on this team?

[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.

[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, obviously he's going to notice this guy that's an average of 28 points for a game for the past four or five years isn't there.

[SPEAKER_00]: I think besides of what he's trying to hit with a load of scoring, people underestimate how much Jason developed as a playmaker.

[SPEAKER_00]: So when we watched games last year when Jason went put together 28, 30 points, like get 10 rebounds, he was still at a 7 or 8 assists, and also like play in the full of the game.

[SPEAKER_00]: They had four or five killers, and he's still able to produce and get those numbers.

[SPEAKER_00]: So I think Jaylin's called to learn a lot about being a number one option, but then also [SPEAKER_00]: It's never too bad to have arms race, but you know what I mean, I have all your notes will do.

[SPEAKER_00]: But it's great preparation for them, it's great development for them, but we can't understand.

[SPEAKER_00]: like he might only point to me to add as this as well because I forgot who said it last year and I'm like, what do we think, sir or not, Jason, tell you I'm supposed to think we got to Brian when it comes down to point rebounds in a big way and now it's system and dominance.

[SPEAKER_00]: And a killer is going to get a 30 points and eat as this all while having three other killers on his team.

[SPEAKER_00]: Right, right.

[SPEAKER_00]: Jason, if you had it to 40 copies by himself, but you know what I mean?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I agree there.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's going to be interesting to see how Jalen develops this year with that kind of attention that paid for him.

[SPEAKER_01]: By the way, did you catch the Celtics coaching staff thrashing Boston's media?

[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's not it, bro.

[SPEAKER_00]: I want to do that next year.

[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how I did not stop this media, but I feel as though I can make up for that 50 point deficit.

[SPEAKER_00]: I like Jalen, I think Jalen has some possibilities.

[SPEAKER_00]: that we brought this and we brought it then.

[SPEAKER_00]: A couple of ringers with a couple of ringers, you know I move as a couple of as a mess for all the Americans there college on American yeah and be a guys too yeah the one doing shop from half grandma come on dry pick on someone on your own side I actually like this idea I think that you should like you when you get to Boston do a couple of TV hits there Eddie House is there scale is there you know you could put some guys out there [SPEAKER_01]: All the pulp ears part of the media can sort of do the contingent.

[SPEAKER_01]: Let him go out there.

[SPEAKER_00]: Let him not Joe Masuladown a little bit I'm I'm I'm I'm I I were really you're ready for that.

[SPEAKER_00]: I look at that We got to work it out.

[SPEAKER_00]: We'll figure it out.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll make it work.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll get in touch with NBC Sports Boston That make sure you're credentialed member of the media there this year Uh, E.T.

[SPEAKER_01]: Great stuff, man.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was good to catch up and we will do this again next week.

[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, big dad.

[SPEAKER_00]: Appreciate you