WEBVTT 00:00.291 --> 00:11.334 [SPEAKER_00]: Now playing open for this is open floor Sports Illustrated's Chris Manics back at an NDA podcast with Sports Illustrated senior writer. 00:11.595 --> 00:19.277 [SPEAKER_03]: 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 00:23.102 --> 00:35.395 [SPEAKER_02]: Part, the NBA Finals matchup is officially set, but getting on Wednesday, we are going to get the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs game one starting Wednesday night in San Antonio. 00:35.435 --> 00:41.762 [SPEAKER_02]: We are going to talk about that at length later in the week on this podcast, but we have one more team. 00:42.763 --> 00:43.664 [SPEAKER_02]: to discuss. 00:43.864 --> 00:58.080 [SPEAKER_02]: One more team that has been balanced in that is the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning champions, at least for another couple of weeks, or headed off into the offseason after losing game seven at home to San Antonio going out in the Western Conference finals. 00:58.120 --> 01:03.867 [SPEAKER_02]: And they've got some decisions to make this off so that it's going to be an interesting one in Oklahoma City to help me unpack that. 01:04.267 --> 01:07.971 [SPEAKER_02]: We're bringing Mark Madena, my good friend works over at Forbes, fade away world. 01:07.991 --> 01:15.799 [SPEAKER_02]: You can see him on CBS LA, Spectrum Sportsnet, listen to him over on Fox Sports Radio, but a good friend of this podcast as well. 01:15.819 --> 01:22.206 [SPEAKER_02]: And if you're watching this episode on YouTube, he is coming to us from an airport convenience store. 01:22.306 --> 01:24.228 [SPEAKER_02]: Or at least he looks like it with his backdrop. 01:24.248 --> 01:24.749 [SPEAKER_02]: What's up, Mark? 01:26.482 --> 01:37.285 [SPEAKER_01]: For us, thanks for the very nice intro, but to clarify the end of it, it's not an airport bookstore, it's our place, and try to make a use of the estate that we have. 01:37.345 --> 01:40.306 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's podcasts, friendly for your show and maybe others. 01:40.566 --> 01:41.346 [SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate that. 01:41.466 --> 01:42.226 [SPEAKER_02]: I appreciate that. 01:42.306 --> 01:43.747 [SPEAKER_02]: All right, let's talk about Oklahoma City. 01:44.147 --> 01:45.467 [SPEAKER_02]: I guess we start with game seven. 01:45.727 --> 01:49.308 [SPEAKER_02]: I had some bad vibes about the thunder going into that game. 01:50.248 --> 01:54.710 [SPEAKER_02]: There was a lot of negativity around Shake Hill, the Salexander going in, a lot of attention 01:56.470 --> 02:10.026 [SPEAKER_02]: Rachel and I talked about that a little bit last week, but also, you know, Jalen Williams wasn't going to play AJ Mitchell wasn't going to play Chet home grin, probably shouldn't have played and we'll get into that reasons why a little bit later on. 02:10.146 --> 02:13.510 [SPEAKER_02]: But the way games seven played out, what did you think? 02:13.530 --> 02:14.731 [SPEAKER_02]: Was that kind of what you expected? 02:14.791 --> 02:15.432 [SPEAKER_02]: Anything different? 02:15.572 --> 02:16.994 [SPEAKER_02]: How did you see that one? 02:18.935 --> 02:22.077 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, for us, I was really open to every single scenario. 02:22.117 --> 02:34.985 [SPEAKER_01]: The thunder winning game seven because they had history winning two games sevens last year during their championship run and history was on their side as far as what happens with past a playoff teams in a game seven situation. 02:35.365 --> 02:38.928 [SPEAKER_01]: I was also prepared for the spurs to defy conventional wisdom because 02:39.408 --> 03:03.949 [SPEAKER_01]: they were they've been so competitive that series and with them winning games six in the Domino fashion that they had in Victor one banyama rectifying his four game five I was equally prepared for either scenario and not surprised with anything but I think as you'll probably elude to an unpack more the way the thunder lost it may have been in line with the trends that we saw 03:04.730 --> 03:22.041 [SPEAKER_01]: In that series against the spurs with Shay not being as most efficient, shut home, we're in, you know, struggling a lot against Victor one Banyama and then sorely needing guys like Jail Williams and AJ Mitchell, but it's really uncharacteristic of what we saw this entire season outside of those matchups with this first. 03:22.082 --> 03:32.969 [SPEAKER_01]: Shay obviously won the second consecutive MVP war for a reason, but even when he had downgames, there's always that supporting cast that could absorb it that have been key injuries throughout. 03:33.509 --> 03:41.341 [SPEAKER_01]: The thunder season, but that depth came in a play, and we mostly saw a chat home run be available and consistent on both sides of the floor. 03:41.521 --> 03:48.972 [SPEAKER_01]: So the I think that illustrates that the spurs are very unique and dangerous opponent that they'll probably face in future seasons. 03:49.247 --> 04:00.553 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, Shay was outstanding in games seven, 35 points, 12 of 21 from the floor to a five from the three point line did go to the free throw line 11 times nine assists in this game as well. 04:00.593 --> 04:04.235 [SPEAKER_02]: So he did his part in 43 minutes, but he didn't get any help. 04:04.315 --> 04:10.258 [SPEAKER_02]: Like the two front court guys, Hartstein at home, Grin combined for 11 points, Lou Dork gives them three 04:19.530 --> 04:27.953 [SPEAKER_02]: San Antonio got all five of the Thunder Starters fished in double figures when he had 22 and what only seven rebounds like as not a huge number there. 04:29.093 --> 04:37.876 [SPEAKER_02]: But they got great bench support, Kelvin Johnson, six man of the year, 16 points, Dylan Harper goes for, I was like 11 points for Kelvin Johnson, 12 for Dylan Harper. 04:37.896 --> 04:48.700 [SPEAKER_02]: So they just too much depth from San Antonio in this game to overcome for an Oklahoma City team that was without Jalen Williams and AJ Mitchell. 04:49.460 --> 05:01.108 [SPEAKER_02]: The home-grin stuff is what I want to talk about, though, because I don't think you can kind of understates the level of catastrophe this series was for chat-home-grin. 05:01.268 --> 05:13.516 [SPEAKER_02]: Like this was what he has defined as this season, and look, I know he had a great season, against the Lakers, he averaged 20 points per game, shot almost 61% I think from the field, 05:19.211 --> 05:33.061 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, produce like three quarters of what Victor Webagnama was going to produce and he didn't produce a fraction of what when we did and game seven, I mean, just it absolute disaster for for jet homer and he gets four points. 05:33.181 --> 05:40.687 [SPEAKER_02]: He's one of two from the floor, four rebounds, two turnovers, two blocks like a minus three overall. 05:41.327 --> 05:42.728 [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, just a mess. 05:44.289 --> 05:48.771 [SPEAKER_02]: All series, Chet Hongren was just dominated by Victor Wembanyama. 05:49.411 --> 05:52.252 [SPEAKER_02]: What did you think of the way the series played out for Chet? 05:53.792 --> 05:55.993 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well, you outlined the stats pretty well. 05:56.013 --> 06:01.955 [SPEAKER_01]: I think it goes without saying defensively, he didn't have any business that defending Victor Wembanyama. 06:01.975 --> 06:07.997 [SPEAKER_01]: The low hanging fruits, the highlight reels where we're seeing Wemby posterizing, but it wasn't just those plays. 06:08.017 --> 06:08.938 [SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of plays. 06:09.498 --> 06:20.226 [SPEAKER_01]: that Chet-Hunger and seemed afraid to get involved with involved in, at least to try to alter a shot or to lay Victor Wembe-Niamus decision-making, and you can't do that. 06:20.286 --> 06:26.690 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I think with everyone facing Victor Wembe-Niamus, it's a losing proposition, but it's the old adage with any star players. 06:27.191 --> 06:28.692 [SPEAKER_01]: How can you make things difficult? 06:28.812 --> 06:32.475 [SPEAKER_01]: And someone like Chet-Hunger and who's considered by many to be arguably the 06:32.995 --> 06:34.536 [SPEAKER_01]: Well, not the second best center in the league. 06:34.576 --> 06:35.677 [SPEAKER_01]: I would be Nicole Yo, could you? 06:35.697 --> 06:40.459 [SPEAKER_01]: But at least second defensively, you have to at least put a respectable effort. 06:40.500 --> 06:41.440 [SPEAKER_01]: And that wasn't there. 06:41.840 --> 06:44.022 [SPEAKER_01]: Isaiah Hartinstein tried his best as well. 06:44.522 --> 06:47.564 [SPEAKER_01]: It was mostly, mostly unsuccessful. 06:47.884 --> 07:00.011 [SPEAKER_01]: But I think as a pertain to Chet Hanger, and not only was a very passive scoring game and passive defensive game, but I saw an element of fear and this hesitation even get involved with the action. 07:00.351 --> 07:00.531 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 07:01.672 --> 07:18.672 [SPEAKER_02]: Among other things, there's going to be a ripple effect for Chet Hongren, where regardless of the numbers that he puts up next season, I think getting a lot of people not willing to vote for him for like all defensive first team, not willing to give him the consideration for defensive player the year, um, 07:20.093 --> 07:36.763 [SPEAKER_02]: just because we just saw seven games where he didn't produce on that end of the floor and look at you know this is where you make your defensive bones like Victor went when Yamaha had an outstanding defensive series he was brilliant against homegrown against everybody else the fact that Oklahoma City 07:37.723 --> 07:44.285 [SPEAKER_02]: couldn't put Chet Hongren on Wemba Nyama is a serious red flag like that's a huge indictment. 07:44.305 --> 07:46.745 [SPEAKER_02]: This is your guy that was number two in defensive player the year. 07:46.765 --> 07:59.808 [SPEAKER_02]: You're all NBA 13 big man and you're not even going to play him on on Wemba that that's a show that the coaching staff there just didn't have the trust in Chet like they just didn't think he could do it and that's that's a bad look for home. 08:00.108 --> 08:01.509 [SPEAKER_02]: Look he's not going anywhere. 08:01.529 --> 08:04.489 [SPEAKER_02]: They're not trading Chet Hongren 08:08.370 --> 08:17.355 [SPEAKER_02]: Well, there's a couple things like I don't think as overall you completely overreact to what happened in the series because of the numbers he put up this season. 08:17.615 --> 08:19.876 [SPEAKER_02]: I think there are things you can do with his shot. 08:20.116 --> 08:21.357 [SPEAKER_02]: I think he's got to get it off quicker. 08:21.817 --> 08:23.818 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, there was a lot of hesitation with home run. 08:24.318 --> 08:27.139 [SPEAKER_02]: I thought in the series he's got to be able to catch and shoot a lot quicker. 08:27.159 --> 08:29.300 [SPEAKER_02]: That's something he can work on this off season. 08:29.320 --> 08:33.122 [SPEAKER_02]: I think Oklahoma City didn't do a ton of favors offensively but kind of sticking him in the corner. 08:33.642 --> 08:36.564 [SPEAKER_02]: Like I think he got to try to run more stuff for him to try to get him 08:37.184 --> 08:39.305 [SPEAKER_02]: into a rhythm, get that confidence going. 08:40.546 --> 08:43.148 [SPEAKER_02]: I think that's something that the thunder can work on as a staff. 08:43.849 --> 08:50.753 [SPEAKER_02]: But the most important thing is to get him past this mental hurdle he has going up against 08:55.496 --> 09:07.067 [SPEAKER_02]: All season like I forget how many games he played in the five games they play, but every time they play it against Wemby and he played he just turdled he wasn't the same player and he's got to work on that like Wemby 09:08.185 --> 09:13.368 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, they're just zero-fucks given when Binyama, like he just does, he doesn't care. 09:13.468 --> 09:18.892 [SPEAKER_02]: Like he is mentally tough as they come and he believes in every matchup, he's the best player on the floor. 09:19.052 --> 09:22.494 [SPEAKER_02]: And even when the game's with these struggles, like he still believes it's on him. 09:22.634 --> 09:23.875 [SPEAKER_02]: That it wasn't with somebody else to it. 09:23.895 --> 09:24.915 [SPEAKER_02]: It's what he didn't do. 09:25.436 --> 09:29.578 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, Chet's got to discover some of that moxie. 09:29.718 --> 09:31.479 [SPEAKER_02]: He's got to discover some of that swagger. 09:31.900 --> 09:36.683 [SPEAKER_02]: Arrows, look, and he's got to discover it because like, yeah, it's one series, 09:37.563 --> 09:43.164 [SPEAKER_02]: This is the matchup that's going to happen like maybe five years in a row like it's going to happen over and over again. 09:43.724 --> 10:00.148 [SPEAKER_02]: And the last thing that Chet Humbering wants to turn into is like some version of like Demar D'Rose and in Toronto when they can't get past Cleveland like you don't want to be you don't want to be that guy So I think I think as much as there are things you can fix in his game I think there are things you can fix in the Oklahoma city this system 10:01.028 --> 10:04.493 [SPEAKER_02]: Mentally he's got to get past that hurdle man like because he looks it. 10:04.753 --> 10:07.557 [SPEAKER_02]: It's like when he looks at Victor women yama He gets scared. 10:08.197 --> 10:13.745 [SPEAKER_02]: He gets scared and and Oklahoma City is not beating the spurs if Chet Homeward is playing like that 10:14.368 --> 10:28.016 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, you alluded to it's really overcoming the fear of failure and shed hunger and I think, you know, when you talk to people around him and the thunder organization, they felt like he turned a corner this past season of the fear of getting hurt again. 10:28.096 --> 10:33.980 [SPEAKER_01]: And it also helped that, you know, he did add some strength in all that, but that also has to apply 10:34.540 --> 10:36.302 [SPEAKER_01]: to what his defense of mindset. 10:36.342 --> 10:44.370 [SPEAKER_01]: With Vickron Binyama specifically, it's losing proposition ahead of time of stopping and limiting. 10:44.570 --> 10:46.151 [SPEAKER_01]: Vickron Binyama is so dominant. 10:46.572 --> 10:50.195 [SPEAKER_01]: So it's more about how can you try to somehow 10:51.316 --> 11:00.640 [SPEAKER_01]: own this match-up so that he's wearing down throughout the rest of the game at some point, at least the lane decision time reaction and then the other thing. 11:01.320 --> 11:10.224 [SPEAKER_01]: You talk a lot about Victor Wombany, Albus Defense of Parallus, on Shetholm, Burnett extends to everyone else too, as far as their decision making, driving to the basket. 11:10.584 --> 11:13.525 [SPEAKER_01]: That partly explains a little bit with Shaze numbers. 11:14.085 --> 11:16.046 [SPEAKER_01]: Same thing has to apply for Shetholm. 11:16.086 --> 11:17.767 [SPEAKER_01]: He might not be the answer defensively. 11:18.207 --> 11:18.967 [SPEAKER_01]: to Victor Womeniam. 11:19.007 --> 11:25.270 [SPEAKER_01]: I'm actually he won't be the answer defensively, but maybe he can shave off some of the numbers for everyone else that's driving to the basket. 11:25.330 --> 11:28.492 [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't see that level of effectiveness elsewhere either. 11:28.512 --> 11:30.973 [SPEAKER_02]: I think he's got to defend Womeniam. 11:31.373 --> 11:38.876 [SPEAKER_02]: I think for this team to have success against him, you can't hide him on a non-shooter on San Antonio or park him on the dunker spot. 11:40.757 --> 11:44.258 [SPEAKER_02]: Look, he's never going to be a bulky guy. 11:44.598 --> 11:47.679 [SPEAKER_02]: I do think there's probably more muscle that can go on his frame. 11:47.779 --> 11:52.401 [SPEAKER_02]: I think the people around him think that to like 10 to 15 pounds more of muscle has got to put that on. 11:52.641 --> 11:57.063 [SPEAKER_02]: Like you now know, like when he's still getting bigger, like when he's 22 years old. 11:57.103 --> 12:00.084 [SPEAKER_02]: Like that guy, God, what's he going to look like a 25? 12:00.344 --> 12:01.504 [SPEAKER_02]: Like he's going to be a monster. 12:01.664 --> 12:03.045 [SPEAKER_02]: Like you've got to match him. 12:03.065 --> 12:04.185 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got to get in the weight room. 12:04.825 --> 12:09.008 [SPEAKER_02]: and build up that lower body as best you can to give yourself a better base. 12:09.028 --> 12:13.571 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got to get in the weight room, build up that chest so you can wrestle with them down there in the paint. 12:13.631 --> 12:16.532 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, you can't be getting ragged off by this guy. 12:16.873 --> 12:23.617 [SPEAKER_02]: It's confidence for sure, but there are things you've got to do this off season to put yourself in a better position. 12:24.691 --> 12:30.395 [SPEAKER_02]: But the thunder as a whole, they've got some decisions to make, because now their roster gets really expensive. 12:30.615 --> 12:33.377 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got Shake yield this Alexander on the max contract. 12:33.697 --> 12:38.941 [SPEAKER_02]: The first year of these, quote, fun maxes for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren kick in next season. 12:38.961 --> 12:41.643 [SPEAKER_02]: You got three guys now on max contracts. 12:41.663 --> 12:43.224 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got Lou Dort on a big deal. 12:43.384 --> 12:45.025 [SPEAKER_02]: Isaiah Hartnstein on a big deal. 12:46.598 --> 12:50.779 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, fortunately for Oklahoma City, they've set up their roster with some team options. 12:51.019 --> 12:56.741 [SPEAKER_02]: Lou Dort being on a team option gives them some flexibility, heart and sign on a team option gives them some flexibility. 12:56.781 --> 13:01.602 [SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, I'm sure Sam Prestey is now like eight steps ahead of us in this conversation. 13:01.622 --> 13:04.443 [SPEAKER_02]: They know exactly what they're going to do and how they're going to do it. 13:04.503 --> 13:09.885 [SPEAKER_02]: But the roster makeup, like how much do you see it changing going into next season? 13:11.947 --> 13:12.847 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's your point. 13:12.987 --> 13:14.428 [SPEAKER_01]: Chet Home vern isn't going anywhere. 13:14.548 --> 13:30.352 [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, shake, go to Alexander's and go in where I want to be surprised if they decide even though Lou d'Orts are very valued, physical defender that they find that as a class saving mechanism partly because they have some other great defensive wings in Alex Crusoe, in case I'm Wallace. 13:31.872 --> 13:36.693 [SPEAKER_01]: I think the other thing we have to keep in mind, you mentioned Sam Pressy's eight steps ahead of everyone at this point. 13:37.113 --> 13:41.954 [SPEAKER_01]: This already happened before this playoffs series because of the accumulation of draftics. 13:41.994 --> 13:43.154 [SPEAKER_01]: They've already drafted. 13:43.654 --> 13:53.136 [SPEAKER_01]: Someone pretty special, but just hasn't seen the floor yet because of different injuries with Nikola Toppich and he's considered a really high IQ kind of guard. 13:53.596 --> 13:55.476 [SPEAKER_01]: You look at this upcoming draft. 13:55.496 --> 13:57.156 [SPEAKER_01]: They got the number 12 numbers. 14:00.277 --> 14:01.298 [SPEAKER_02]: He didn't put him in it this year. 14:01.318 --> 14:03.779 [SPEAKER_02]: That was the first round draft pick from Georgetown last year. 14:03.839 --> 14:05.000 [SPEAKER_02]: Like a rebounding big. 14:05.140 --> 14:08.122 [SPEAKER_02]: Like that's the guy they're going to be looking to count on next season. 14:08.683 --> 14:09.443 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no doubt. 14:09.483 --> 14:12.445 [SPEAKER_01]: In this year, we're in a bomb on for now. 14:12.465 --> 14:15.448 [SPEAKER_01]: They're picks number 12, number 17, number 37. 14:16.168 --> 14:18.790 [SPEAKER_01]: And you know, you look at their success this past year. 14:20.071 --> 14:23.633 [SPEAKER_01]: They've been partly because they've picked so well in those selections. 14:23.693 --> 14:25.434 [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, Jalen Williams was number 12. 14:26.555 --> 14:28.036 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, you go down the line, I think. 14:29.157 --> 14:33.758 [SPEAKER_01]: Let's see, the other jail ones, December 34, AJ Mitchell, number 38. 14:33.818 --> 14:36.539 [SPEAKER_01]: So Sam Prusty has a good track record with that. 14:37.119 --> 14:40.280 [SPEAKER_01]: You extend the accumulation of draft picks. 14:40.340 --> 14:44.961 [SPEAKER_01]: I believe they have at least for one first or second round picks for 20, 31. 14:45.561 --> 14:49.482 [SPEAKER_01]: So I think with that, there is obviously a good amount of flexibility. 14:49.582 --> 14:57.385 [SPEAKER_01]: If they do want to make deals that include some of their current young players, just knowing that they're going to have young players coming in. 14:59.025 --> 15:15.037 [SPEAKER_01]: and in the future, but philosophically knowing how Sam pressed the operates, I would suspect that he would value the continuity and the youth card versus doing something like, oh, what's more you're all this stuff to get, Yana sent to the Kupo for example. 15:15.097 --> 15:18.820 [SPEAKER_01]: I think there could be changes, but it's going to be more of the 15:19.791 --> 15:27.617 [SPEAKER_01]: on the barge and changes and if there is a big deal, it's making sure that that continuity and youth and death isn't severely compromised. 15:27.857 --> 15:37.005 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, I've never gotten the vibe from talking to people in Oklahoma City that's, Yanis was somebody that was on their radar. 15:37.045 --> 15:41.388 [SPEAKER_02]: If you know what the reason that like it blows up your books, right? 15:41.408 --> 15:44.270 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got Shay on the full Supermax contract. 15:44.290 --> 15:46.732 [SPEAKER_02]: You're gonna bring in Yanis, give him a Supermax contract, 15:48.064 --> 15:51.185 [SPEAKER_02]: check on a max contract like you're not going to be able to sign guys. 15:51.205 --> 15:53.926 [SPEAKER_02]: You're not going to have any flexibility in Oklahoma City. 15:54.446 --> 15:58.588 [SPEAKER_02]: If nothing else, they're going to find a way to be flexible this option. 15:58.608 --> 16:06.311 [SPEAKER_02]: I think that's the bare minimum that they do because look, Isaiah Joe is someone that some people have deemed to be expendable. 16:06.831 --> 16:09.952 [SPEAKER_02]: Mark, he's a 42 and a half three point percent three point shooter. 16:10.592 --> 16:30.128 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, you think there aren't like 20 teams in the league that wouldn't want to get their hands on a six foot four, 42 and a half percent three point shooter on six attempts per game like this is going to be guys teams that that want that and are willing to give up maybe it's one first maybe it's a first plus some other stuff like that's valuable Aaron Wiggins, a lot of people I talked to run a league think Aaron Wiggins is 16:30.748 --> 16:46.492 [SPEAKER_02]: you know you give him more time he's going to take off like he's he's got the game there so these are expendable guys on their books that can bring back bring some cap relief and can bring some drop more draft capital back in return and you can make a little bit more room for Jared McCain to continue to get 16:47.012 --> 16:50.313 [SPEAKER_02]: more minutes, you know, Wallace is still there, Caruso is still there. 16:50.894 --> 16:53.475 [SPEAKER_02]: I think Dort is probably the most interesting guy. 16:53.595 --> 16:59.237 [SPEAKER_02]: You probably can't bring him back at that what is a $28 million salary for next season. 16:59.257 --> 17:01.038 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got to try to get that number down. 17:01.598 --> 17:06.340 [SPEAKER_02]: But if you can't, like Lou Dort is another guy that there would be a bidding war for. 17:06.520 --> 17:10.802 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, a six, five, all defensive team guy who's shown he can make a three. 17:12.142 --> 17:29.067 [SPEAKER_02]: they've got guys that everybody wants a piece of everybody wants a piece of these guys they're bench guys so i think if nothing else they're going to find ways to get under this this apron or the second apron i guess maybe even the first one and add more draft capital the question is mark 17:29.767 --> 17:30.948 [SPEAKER_02]: to the take that big swing. 17:30.968 --> 17:33.049 [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not even talking about a yannis or somebody like that. 17:33.510 --> 17:48.100 [SPEAKER_02]: Like do they package these draft picks and package even a jail and Williams and try to get up to go get a cambooser or get up to get one of these other high level guys that are inside that top four. 17:48.140 --> 17:51.722 [SPEAKER_02]: And I don't even know if there's a team up there willing to trade one of those top four picks. 17:51.762 --> 17:54.884 [SPEAKER_02]: But I think if you'd dangle jail and Williams or even you'd dangle chatholing 17:55.825 --> 17:56.665 [SPEAKER_02]: You're going to get people interested. 17:56.685 --> 18:01.748 [SPEAKER_02]: Metfis would Metfis be interested in Jalen Williams, plus some stuff, probably. 18:01.768 --> 18:03.448 [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe we don't need to throw in some stuff. 18:03.588 --> 18:07.830 [SPEAKER_02]: Jalen Williams is an all-NBA guy who's 24 years old, whatever he is. 18:09.271 --> 18:15.694 [SPEAKER_02]: They've got a chance to do some really interesting things this offseason, if they're looking to make that big swing. 18:15.714 --> 18:25.018 [SPEAKER_02]: You think that's even a possibility that we could see this team swing for the fences with one of their stars to go get a different 18:27.054 --> 18:43.429 [SPEAKER_01]: think everything's possible as long as the depth and some some what's a continuity is retained now that hypothetical what they do this for a topic and this year's shaft i think you have to consider that as a very good possibility because this draft is considered very robust and when you're looking at the top. 18:44.070 --> 19:02.783 [SPEAKER_01]: three of these picks, you know, people that I've talked to throughout the season that they feel like you could flip these players in any order, Darren, Peter Sinner, Aged to Banceau or Cameron Booser, but specifically Cameron Booser is the player that's considered the most NBA ready player now on both ends of the floor. 19:02.823 --> 19:09.548 [SPEAKER_01]: There's not a feeling that he'll be the best player long-term out of those three, but who could make an instant impact now? 19:10.108 --> 19:10.828 [SPEAKER_01]: it would be him. 19:11.069 --> 19:26.216 [SPEAKER_01]: So I could see that happening philosophically, but I think to your original point about how Sam pressed the operates and what they're doing, it's not about blowing things up and all that or swing for the fences for this high risk, high reward deal. 19:26.816 --> 19:33.580 [SPEAKER_01]: If they do a big deal, it'll be done so because there's not a lot of risk involved because of what they didn't give up. 19:34.152 --> 19:34.432 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. 19:35.573 --> 19:39.915 [SPEAKER_02]: Well, I mean, I don't think they can do a big deal, unless they give up a jail and lambs or a chet on-grid. 19:40.175 --> 19:48.320 [SPEAKER_02]: Like, I don't, I mean, maybe you can package a bunch of picks to get a top 10 pick, which maybe something they decide to consider, because they got too many draft picks. 19:48.420 --> 19:51.701 [SPEAKER_02]: They have two in this year's draft, even then you can't. 19:51.841 --> 19:53.803 [SPEAKER_02]: You don't mean, get a number of room for two guys on that roster. 19:53.963 --> 19:56.704 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, much less want to use those picks. 19:57.104 --> 19:58.725 [SPEAKER_02]: I think they have the ability to get inside the top 10. 19:58.745 --> 20:03.668 [SPEAKER_02]: To get inside the top four, to get one of the guys you mentioned, you're going to have to give up one of those stars. 20:04.128 --> 20:05.129 [SPEAKER_02]: you're going to have to get you out. 20:05.810 --> 20:08.072 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that that that part is understandable. 20:08.092 --> 20:13.696 [SPEAKER_01]: What I met more was stripping all their drafts that's stripping a lot of their roleplayers. 20:13.757 --> 20:15.318 [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's where the line is drawn. 20:15.358 --> 20:15.698 [SPEAKER_01]: No doubt. 20:15.718 --> 20:16.899 [SPEAKER_02]: I don't think it's elossible. 20:16.939 --> 20:19.241 [SPEAKER_02]: Like how do they even look like it's not possible. 20:19.301 --> 20:19.622 [SPEAKER_02]: It's 2031. 20:21.423 --> 20:25.869 [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, tons of picks, but like their depth and the back court isn't sane. 20:26.129 --> 20:35.721 [SPEAKER_02]: Like you can afford as much as it would be a gut punch to lose low-dort, who might be reaching the level of having his jersey retired by the Thunder, given how long he's been around his contributions. 20:37.383 --> 20:43.468 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, maybe not, maybe not, but he's right there on the borderline, you've got guys that can replace him. 20:43.548 --> 20:48.812 [SPEAKER_02]: Case in walls is an all defensive level guy, Caruso still in his prime, and McCain's coming up. 20:48.992 --> 20:52.975 [SPEAKER_02]: There's some other guys there that might maybe Topicch is ready to play next year. 20:53.015 --> 21:01.522 [SPEAKER_02]: We don't know what his health situation really is, but you've got the ability to do some really interesting things with this roster, especially with that. 21:02.085 --> 21:02.686 [SPEAKER_02]: that backward. 21:02.726 --> 21:04.447 [SPEAKER_02]: She's going to play 35 minutes a night. 21:04.747 --> 21:10.733 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, you can figure out that other guards spot and, you know, still be a 60 plus win team in the Western Conference. 21:10.953 --> 21:16.438 [SPEAKER_02]: But I do think they'll, I think there's going to be some, a lot of movements on that roster this off season. 21:16.458 --> 21:18.279 [SPEAKER_02]: I do not think they run it back. 21:18.299 --> 21:23.904 [SPEAKER_02]: Like the one guy that have to bring back, and this is a separate conversation really, but like Hardenstein is now a must-bring back. 21:24.184 --> 21:27.627 [SPEAKER_02]: Like you, you have, like in, in the era of Wemby. 21:28.491 --> 21:29.751 [SPEAKER_02]: You have to have a big like that. 21:30.051 --> 21:36.433 [SPEAKER_02]: You've got to have somebody that can muscle with them and give you 25 to 30 good minutes playing with them physically. 21:37.073 --> 21:48.816 [SPEAKER_02]: Got to win B. I think Mitch Robinson is going to be a sought after guy this off season, like his value goes through the roof because that's another strong, rebounding big that could battle Webagnama. 21:48.836 --> 21:50.916 [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe we'll see some of that in this final series. 21:51.416 --> 21:55.737 [SPEAKER_02]: But I think Hardenstein, who also has a team option, whether they pick up that option 21:58.352 --> 22:02.737 [SPEAKER_02]: You know, let him go to Resign him to a longer deal, which maybe they already have that figured out. 22:03.178 --> 22:04.599 [SPEAKER_02]: He's the must-bring back guy to me. 22:04.679 --> 22:05.801 [SPEAKER_02]: Gotta bring him back to that team. 22:06.797 --> 22:20.989 [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think it's going to be the latter about resigning at a reasonable cap friendly deal because that helps them shave a little bit with their payroll, but to your point, he has been plug and play and really has fit so many hats. 22:21.009 --> 22:26.614 [SPEAKER_01]: This chemistry, which at home room, is really good on the floor, and that's how the thunder to kind of be unconventional. 22:26.674 --> 22:30.838 [SPEAKER_01]: And today's MBA, having two bigs at times, but it's mostly about 22:31.438 --> 22:49.409 [SPEAKER_01]: You know, the ability for them to still have a big one, Chet is off the floor, and he is one of the best passing big men outside of Nicole Yokech in the NBA, you know, people around the thunder just feel like he has this, these such great instincts on finding the right guy at the right time. 22:49.769 --> 22:51.951 [SPEAKER_01]: And they love his pick and roll chemistry with Shay. 22:52.411 --> 22:54.132 [SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, he is a must, 22:55.753 --> 23:20.263 [SPEAKER_01]: a guy that they must bring back and this is also I think ties into some historical precedent during the time when shack within the league and he was dominating all these teams would stop piled or resources on okay we're not going to find a guy that can stop shack because you can't but how do we find some quality starting centers and backup bigs that can just try to wear them out and be physical with them and so that's kind of the 23:23.965 --> 23:26.971 [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, interior bigs have become and vote again. 23:27.311 --> 23:28.193 [SPEAKER_02]: They've become marketable. 23:28.434 --> 23:33.443 [SPEAKER_02]: It used to be you got to be a three point shooting big to play in the NBA now if you can rebound and wrestle with 23:34.179 --> 23:39.244 [SPEAKER_02]: the seven foot four, all NBA Superstar, then you've got a lot of value in this league. 23:39.624 --> 23:41.065 [SPEAKER_02]: Mark Medina, good stuff, man. 23:41.145 --> 23:48.192 [SPEAKER_02]: Check Mark out over at Forbes, Faderway World, CBS LA, Spectrum Sportsnet, Fox Sports Radio, doing a little bit of everything. 23:48.672 --> 23:50.995 [SPEAKER_02]: For everybody out there, Mark, I will let you go catch your flight. 23:51.075 --> 23:55.499 [SPEAKER_02]: Obviously, you are delayed sitting there at LX. 23:57.092 --> 23:57.913 [SPEAKER_01]: First appreciate. 23:57.933 --> 24:01.417 [SPEAKER_01]: I'll let you catch your flight for the NBA finals. 24:01.497 --> 24:03.580 [SPEAKER_01]: I presume some box important in this in-between. 24:03.600 --> 24:04.561 [SPEAKER_01]: Got to do it.