[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[SPEAKER_00]: Alright, welcome everybody to the Lakers Legacy podcast where, as it turns out, lightning, or in this case, thunder could not strike in the same place twice, as the defending world champion OKC Thunder were unable to defend their title.
[SPEAKER_00]: And now we have our 2026 NBA finals set.
[SPEAKER_00]: The New York Nix versus the San Antonio Spurs not since the 1998-99 season have we had this specific finals matchup.
[SPEAKER_00]: But who cares about the spurs in the nicks because if you know anything about anything, the very next year after 1999, the team that made it to the NBA Finals to start their three-peat run was your Los Angeles Lakers.
[SPEAKER_00]: So here's the hoping.
[SPEAKER_00]: And who cares about Jalen Branson, Timothy Schallame, and Victor Montgomery, Yama?
[SPEAKER_00]: We are here today to talk about the Lakers 2026 off season.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm your host Jonathan Hernandez and today we are going to talk about all things, Lakers, trades and be a draft, free agency, summer strategy, and more and prime the 2026 Lakers off season rightly.
[SPEAKER_00]: So first, I want to talk to you guys about general Lakers strategy.
[SPEAKER_00]: What I think the Lakers are going to prioritize this upcoming summer, what I think might happen at every level, whether it's the draft, whether it's trades, whether it's reagency.
[SPEAKER_00]: And then I'll also quickly give you guys an update on some of my NBA draft cram sessioning.
[SPEAKER_00]: and provide you guys with my thoughts on three of my favorite guys currently.
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you're in the thick of, you know, catching up on all things 20, 26 NBA draft, well, you're in the right place because I am doing my own cram session as we speak.
[SPEAKER_00]: And then to close the show, we'll round the corner and I'll give you guys a very early list of my favorite bargain bin, bottom barrel, veteran minimum, free agent targets.
[SPEAKER_00]: who you might be surprised are actually veteran minimum candidates.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, that's gonna be the outline of the show.
[SPEAKER_00]: Before we get into anything, if I could please ask you guys to like this video, comment down below, and most importantly, hit subscribe.
[SPEAKER_00]: I would greatly appreciate it.
[SPEAKER_00]: Also, please consider becoming a member to the Lakers Legacy YouTube channel, where you will get access to my members exclusive videos.
[SPEAKER_00]: I just recently posted a new members exclusive video highlighting some of the,
[SPEAKER_00]: weirdest free agent targets this off season that I haven't been able to put my finger on and if the lakers were to sign them I'd be a little bit confused but also I'd be able to eventually wrap my head around it so that's a very that's a lot that's a mouthful but I just released that quirky strangest free agents
[SPEAKER_00]: video in the members exclusive section, but beyond that, there are also a lot of nitty-gritty-deep dive cap space stuff.
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you're into roster construction, roster builds, that also align things with the financials, please consider becoming a member.
[SPEAKER_00]: Alright, with that said, um, before we get into my rundown of the Lakers off season and what they need to prioritize, I do want to bring up this one new news tidbit that I saw pop up on my timeline and it came from the Bill Simmons podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: So according to Bill Simmons, Tra Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans is expected to get traded during the next three weeks.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know what happened.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if the New Orleans Pelicans suddenly decided to shift their stance on next season, but it looks like they may be trying to leverage what value Tra Murphy has.
[SPEAKER_00]: Which is strange because I think there are other guys that they need to get off Jordan pool for one Zion Williamson for another Even Dejonte Murray, but I guess Tra Murphy does have the most value on that team and so really quickly Let's just talk about Tra Murphy for a second.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Tra Murphy still only 26 years old
[SPEAKER_00]: But he is going to be making and actually his contract is not that bad.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be making 27 million dollars next season and then 29 after that.
[SPEAKER_00]: 31 million dollars after that in the 2829 season when he'll still only be 28 years old.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I don't even think this is a bad contract, especially when you consider that Tra Murphy is a six foot eight wing slash forward.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now,
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like Traimer, for especially coming out of college.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I believe he went to Virginia, which is funny, because the Lakers have Tony Bennett, currently advising them, and he coached Virginia for a number of seasons, and let me just make sure that I'm correct.
[SPEAKER_00]: But, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, Tray Murphy came from Virginia.
[SPEAKER_00]: So who knows Tony Bennett might be leading the charge on trying to trade for Tray Murphy, but what I was going to say is when Tray Murphy was coming out of Virginia, he was more
[SPEAKER_00]: He was more noted for being a defender and more of a tertiary 3nd sort of prospect.
[SPEAKER_00]: But over the last few years, he has really popped onto the stage as more of a sniper and a bucket getter, and his defense has sort of become a little bit overrated and waned a little in terms of motor.
[SPEAKER_00]: He does have great physical tools, like 6 foot 7, 6 foot 8 with a 7 foot plus wingspan,
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I don't know.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've always been very intrigued by Traimer free, especially the last few seasons where he's turned himself into like a 20 plus point per game score, but also shown a little bit of his versatility as well, averaging nearly like four assists per game, and showing the ability to not only create for himself, but others.
[SPEAKER_00]: Traim Murphy is also super athletic and explosive, but most of all, you know, he is a volume 3.
[SPEAKER_00]: Shooter, a high volume 3.
[SPEAKER_00]: Shooter.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he had a down year this year, but I think the season prior he was hitting almost like what 3.5 to 4.3 pointers made per game on pretty high percentages.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Traim Murphy is a prospect that I've highlighted before when we first trade
[SPEAKER_00]: as one of the ideal, you know, number two, number two A, sort of.
[SPEAKER_00]: fringe all stars to pair next to Luca Donchich.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now the only problem about this report is if the New Orleans pelicans are indeed looking to ship Traim Murphy, they are going to want quite a return for him.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I don't think the Lakers have the assets nor I don't think nor what I think they'd want to ship off most of their assets for Traim Murphy.
[SPEAKER_00]: If there was anything they were willing to do, the all in move for it would be for Janice, obviously.
[SPEAKER_00]: And unfortunately, given the New Orleans Pelicans track record, I feel like they would want the Lakers Yannis package for Trai Murphy, and I think that's just not possible.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, here is the deal that I would do for Trai Murphy.
[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's going to be unrealistic.
[SPEAKER_00]: I know it's not possible because the New Orleans Pelicans are crazy.
[SPEAKER_00]: But let's say the pelicans were willing to trade trade Murphy to the Lakers.
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, he's only making $27 million next season.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's not a lot.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's not going to eat into, that's going to eat into what.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lakers will still have $20 plus million in cap space, and maybe even more depending on what the player option guys do, and if and when the Lakers offload Jared Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: So $27 million on a book's next season, this upcoming summer is not a lot.
[SPEAKER_00]: If the pelicans came to the lakeers and were willing to accept,
[SPEAKER_00]: the 2026 first round pick, number 25 pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: And one of either the 2031 first or the 2033 first or 2033 first, plus additional pick swaps, Dalton connects expiring, Jake LaRave is expiring.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think we'd be able to get them to take on Jared Vanderbilt's contract, but that's okay.
[SPEAKER_00]: We can absorb most of his deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: You've got Dalton and Jake LaRave yet $10 million going out, we're taking in $17 million more.
[SPEAKER_00]: Giving them the 2026 first round pick, and by the way, the pelicans don't have a first currently in this year's draft, and then we give them the 2031 first and then a couple of pick swaps.
[SPEAKER_00]: At that point, I'd be willing to make that sort of deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, all three firsts and all of our pick swaps for a Tra Murphy probably not, but if it's Dalton Connect, Jake LaRavia, two firsts, one of those firsts being this upcoming 2026 first, then I'd be more amenable to something like that.
[SPEAKER_00]: That makes more sense to me.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, I'm sure the pelicans will push for a Doothierro to be included in this deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if that's the pinch point for Tray Murphy, I think I would still do that and, you know, keep in mind as breathtakingly explosive as a do-the-R-O is, we are still not sure whether this dude can hold up in an 82 game regular season.
[SPEAKER_00]: So it might be
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, it might be so much a sort of cut our losses if we can make sure that we're getting back a prospect who's a three-level score.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, his defense has been overrated, but I feel like properly slotted on a Luca Donchish Austin Reeves lead team.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can get, uh, you can get tray Murphy back into that sort of three-and-d roll where he can focus a little bit more on defense and just use his, you know, lengthy physical tools to wreak havoc.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so,
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, so yeah, that's those are my thoughts on the the Traimer Fee News.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't expect the Lakers to really be, you know, serious candidates for him.
[SPEAKER_00]: But again, in the unlikely event that the pelicans are willing to, you know, trade him to the Lakers for 2026 first, 2031 first, pick swaps and Dalton Connect and Jake LaRavia.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then yes, I would do that deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, I'll leave it there on Traimer Fee because I don't want to get sidetracked.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's go back to talking about the Lakers off season.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, depending on what the Lakers free agents do with player options, Marcus Smart, DeAndre 18.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lakers should have about around $47 million in cap space.
[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't include LeBron James.
[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't include Ruby Hatchimura.
[SPEAKER_00]: That doesn't include Jackson Hayes' small cap hold.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's pretty much Luka Donchich, Jared Vanderbilt, Dalton Connect, Jake LaRavia, Austin Reeves, $20.9 million in cap hold.
[SPEAKER_00]: In that scenario, the Lakers would have around $47 million.
[SPEAKER_00]: So what are the Lakers priorities this off season?
[SPEAKER_00]: So, for me, number one, and it's going to sort of depend on what happens with the Yannis situation, which it seems like everything's coming to a head.
[SPEAKER_00]: The legers are going to have to play the waiting game with regards to waiting for the Yannis domino to fall, just like the rest of the league, and the NBA is.
[SPEAKER_00]: But, with the NBA draft just, what, three weeks away at this point, it's almost June.
[SPEAKER_00]: NBA draft is on June 23rd.
[SPEAKER_00]: It seems like the Janis deal, wherever he goes, is going to happen in the next two weeks, maybe even before the NBA Finals concludes.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so...
[SPEAKER_00]: once that happens, the lakers need to figure out where they stand in that whole situation.
[SPEAKER_00]: Very unlikely that they are the primary suitor for a yonna steel, but beyond that, can the lakers be a third party facilitator?
[SPEAKER_00]: If it so happens to be, the Miami heat and the Milwaukee bucks are trying to facilitate a deal for yonna's onto to kumpo.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, what happens to Andrew
[SPEAKER_00]: what happens to Tyler Hero?
[SPEAKER_00]: Do the bucks actually want any of these players besides Kalell where?
[SPEAKER_00]: And so would they rather just have, you know, a massive traded player exception?
[SPEAKER_00]: Or would they rather just have the savings?
[SPEAKER_00]: And so if the Miami heat need to use Andrew Wiggins after he opts into his player option, if they need to use his salary ballast, his $31 million salary, in a honest trade, I doubt the Milwaukee bucks would want.
[SPEAKER_00]: Andrew Wiggins, and so if the Lakers can position themselves as a third party facilitator to help grease in the wheels of any deal, any honest deal, I think that would be beneficial and then all of us that in the Lakers have, you know, started their offseason before it's even begun on July 1st with Andrew Wiggins on their team.
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's I think the number one priority for the Lakers figure out where they need to be, where they need to position themselves at any sort of Janis deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: If it's the Miami heat, can you get Andrew Wiggins?
[SPEAKER_00]: If it's the Minnesota Timberwolves?
[SPEAKER_00]: You probably can't get jade in McDaniels, but can you get Dante D. D. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E. E.
[SPEAKER_00]: after that, and I think this has always sort of been going on since the season ended, but the Lakers need to know what they'll offer Austin Reeves on his next deal.
[SPEAKER_00]: Whatever they offer him, it's not going to make a difference in how much Cap space the Lakers have.
[SPEAKER_00]: the time in which the period in time in which Austin Reeves contract will actually affect the Lakers books will be next season.
[SPEAKER_00]: So it honestly doesn't matter whether the Lakers give him $42 million this upcoming summer for his first year because his cap hole is still only going to count.
[SPEAKER_00]: for 20.9 million dollars against the cap.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm not worried about that.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm worried about the totality of the deal, what that's going to look like.
[SPEAKER_00]: So number two, and actually this is really more number one.
[SPEAKER_00]: But the Lakers need to know what they'll offer Austin Reeves and they need to be in constant communication.
[SPEAKER_00]: with him and his agent and his camp because Austin Reeves is very important regardless of whether or not you think he's a number two guy moving forward Regardless of whether or not you like him.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's very important in how the Lakers shape their off season and there's no there's not a lot of scenarios in which the Lakers just let Austin Reeves walk without getting any acid and return and his $20.9 million is not big enough that we can just replace that with any any sort of player.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, so the Lakers need to already know
[SPEAKER_00]: what they're willing to offer Austin Reeves.
[SPEAKER_00]: They need to be in constant communication with Austin and telling him and his agent.
[SPEAKER_00]: Here is what we're planning to do.
[SPEAKER_00]: Just sit tight.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll get your money by the end of this.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're going to try maneuver this thing, try maneuver that thing, et cetera, et cetera.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that goes without stating.
[SPEAKER_00]: They need to be aligned with Austin Reeves in his camp.
[SPEAKER_00]: After that, with NBA draft coming, the next priority for the Lakers is they need to find a way to offload Jared Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think this is the summer that, unfortunately, and I, you know, I personally like Jared Vanderbilt as a role player, especially during his first year with the Lakers when he came out of the gates like shot out of a cannon.
[SPEAKER_00]: He endeared himself to me very,
[SPEAKER_00]: early on, as a hustle dude, a guy who could do all the little connective things and even flash some playmaking and ball handling as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: All of those things have dipped over the last couple of years with Jared Vanderbilt's health, you know, deteriorating and for whatever reason, Jared Vanderbilt's finishing at the rim or lack thereof has only gotten worse.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, I think the next priority for the Lakers is just offloading Jared Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: Whether that means attaching the 20, 26 first to him, number 25 pick, or attaching him in the larger deal in which the Lakers use their 20, 31 first or 20, 33rd first.
[SPEAKER_00]: Or whether it's in the worst case scenario, just waving and stretching Jared Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: If they wave and stretch Jared Vanderbilt, his $12 million next season only will count for $5 million against the capbook.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, the leaders will be saving $7 million if they wave and stretch.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jared Vanderbilt and they will essentially sort of materialize $7 million out of thin air if they, you know, wave and stretch Jared Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, in my opinion, expect that to happen.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you're a Jared Vanderbilt fan, I'm sorry, it sucks, but, yes, I don't think Vanderbilt's going to be a part of the team.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mainly for financial reasons, but also mainly because he's sort of plateaued as a player and his offensive deficiencies.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mainly his lack of being able to convert layups and dunks at the rim have sort of been very harmful for the Lakers and it would be better for the Lakers to use that $12 million salary amount elsewhere.
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, so yeah, that's the other thing.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lakers offloading Vanderbilt in whatever way they can.
[SPEAKER_00]: And then obviously after that, the next priority is figuring out what LeBron wants to do.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, here's the good news about all of this.
[SPEAKER_00]: By June 29, before free agency starts on June 30th.
[SPEAKER_00]: I believe it starts like June 30th, 3 p.m. Eastern time.
[SPEAKER_00]: By June 29, we should know a lot about what's going on and what direction the Lakers should be going, because by that point, Marcus Mark and DeAndre 8s and will have had to make their decisions on their player options.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully they do it sooner rather than later.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully they do it before the draft on June 23rd.
[SPEAKER_00]: But by 629, we should have a lot of things squared away.
[SPEAKER_00]: Whether it's like we've made a big trade during the draft, whether it's DeAndre8son has opted into his player option and Marcus Smart has opted out.
[SPEAKER_00]: We probably will also, by that point, get more of the LeBron wins of which way in which direction.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's sort of, you know, going with regards to, okay, the Lakers have given him a concrete plan of their summer, and he's willing to take a pay cut.
[SPEAKER_00]: Or LeBron is only willing to take a pay cut or LeBron feels slided so he's going to take a pay cut with the Cleveland Cavaliers or whatever.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think a lot of this should be sorted out by June 29th or at least I hope so.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now,
[SPEAKER_00]: Lastly, I want to talk about the NBA draft and what the Lakers do, and then we'll sort of dovetail this into my 2026 NBA draft cram sessioning, and I'll talk about three particular guys who have sort of peaked and caught my interest.
[SPEAKER_00]: So what do the Lakers do in this NBA draft?
[SPEAKER_00]: So personally, for me,
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they will make a pick in this year's draft.
[SPEAKER_00]: They may even make multiple picks.
[SPEAKER_00]: But you guys know, over the last couple of years, the Lakers have sort of made their hay with these undrafted free agent guys and signing them to two-way contracts, whether it's, you know, Gary paid in the second, Alex Carruso, Austin Reeves.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lakers seem to do better with, you know, the guys on the back end then they have with like the number 17th pick which we've squandered year after year, you know.
[SPEAKER_00]: So anyways.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the Lakers will make a pick in this year's draft.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe even two, but I do think they will trade the number 25 pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, as I mentioned with the Vando thing, I think they will use that pick to try an off-load Jared Vanderbilt, and if not Vanderbilt because he does have $26 million left over the next two years, including a player option for next year.
[SPEAKER_00]: If they can't off-low Jared Vanderbilt using the 25th pick, I think they will at least try an off-low Dalton Connect because if they take Dalton Connect's 4.2 million dollar salary, attach it to the 25th pick, then you're essentially getting rid of if you include the 25th pick rookie salary next season which should be at around $3 million, then you're getting rid of $7 million next season and you know,
[SPEAKER_00]: That $7 million more that the Lakers can use on the market to sign a free agent.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think the Lakers are going to use the 25th pick as leverage or a sweetener to either get off Vando or get off Connect and maybe even Jake LaRavia.
[SPEAKER_00]: Because if you add Jake LaRavia and Dalton Connect salaries, then that's $10 million.
[SPEAKER_00]: and a team will likely be willing to take that on because they're both young and they're both on expiring salaries.
[SPEAKER_00]: Dalton Connect has a club option for the next season, but whichever team trades for him can just opt out of that before the season starts.
[SPEAKER_00]: Essentially, Dalton Connect is also an expiring and for their troubles, that team will get the Lakers number 25 pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, all is a lot
[SPEAKER_00]: Excuse me, all is not lost my NBA draft nicks and nerds if the Lakers trade their 25th pick because in the event that they do that to offload Vando LaRavia or connect I do think the Lakers will then try and buy their way back into the early second and there are a number of teams with multiple second round picks who are tank teams with
[SPEAKER_00]: easily be able to buy their way back into the second round.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe in the number 36 spot, the way that they did to, you know, if you remember last season, the Lakers bought the 46 pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: They traded number 55, bought the 46 pick, and then they traded 19 or and then dropped to 36 to draft a do-the-erro.
[SPEAKER_00]: So it was kind of a shrewd.
[SPEAKER_00]: lining up of moves that Rob Polinka did to take our 55th pick last season, get the 46th pick, and then eventually wind up with the 36th pick to draft a toothier.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think the leakers could do something similar.
[SPEAKER_00]: So worry not, if the leakers end up trading the 25th pick, I expect them to buy them by their way back into the early second round.
[SPEAKER_00]: And honestly,
[SPEAKER_00]: with regards to the Lakers capbooks that is actually better because second round picks only make like $2.1 million versus if you're still in the first round it's not a huge difference but you know that's like 2.9 versus 2.1.
[SPEAKER_00]: Any dollar amount helps for the Lakers when if they're operating as a cap space team so these are some things to consider and so that's what I think the Lakers will do in this year's draft.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, with regards to the draft, let's actually talk about, let's actually talk about some prospects that I have been keeping my eye on.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you've been following the draft, if you've been following NCAA basketball over, you know, the last year or so, some of these names are not going to come as a surprise to you and you may roll your eyes or whatever, but for the rest of us who have been busy and have lives and, you know, not to say that you don't have lives, but who haven't been as in tune
[SPEAKER_00]: Consider this my 2026 and be a draft cram sessioning.
[SPEAKER_00]: These are my spark notes thoughts on some of these guys, but first, I want to talk to you guys about one pipe dream guy, one pipe dream draft prospect, who's currently out of the lakeers range by about I want to say, you know, eight to ten picks, but he's probably one of my favorite prospects out of this draft.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so,
[SPEAKER_00]: This guy's not going to come as a surprise to you, but let's really quickly talk about Moriz Johnson Jr. And I apologize if I'm butchering these guys names.
[SPEAKER_00]: I have not studied up on them as in-depth as I would have wanted to.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Moriz Johnson Jr.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Moriz comes from Michigan,
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, he's 6 foot 9 with a 7 foot 3.5 wingspan, nearly 7 foot 4 wingspan, which is insane.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, he's a little bit undersized, but he makes up for that with his 7 foot 4 wingspan, but he also makes up for that with.
[SPEAKER_00]: his book.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's 251 pounds, which is insane.
[SPEAKER_00]: This dude is a big boy, and when you look at Mara's Johnson Jr.
[SPEAKER_00]: The first thing that your eyes gravitate towards is this is an NBA ready body.
[SPEAKER_00]: This dude is an absolute slab of rock.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now does he have any skill to all of that.
[SPEAKER_00]: And the thing that I've loved the most in watching him is just how mobile and fluid he is, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you've been watching the okay C Thunder and San Antonio Spurs series, you would know that the name of the game these days and the playoffs is,
[SPEAKER_00]: having these switchable mobile defenders who are physical, that can pretty much switch one through five.
[SPEAKER_00]: They can come out to the perimeter, hold ball handlers at bay, but then if they go and drive, then they can run back and rotate to the paint and be the lowman and block the shit out of these dude shots.
[SPEAKER_00]: And Moriz Johnson Jr. is exactly that type of defender.
[SPEAKER_00]: Switchable,
[SPEAKER_00]: physical super mobile in space when he crouches down in his defensive stance and extends his seven foot four wingspan.
[SPEAKER_00]: It looks downright scary and his ability to contain ball handlers track with them all the way into the paint like this is the type of defender that you want in the playoffs and the fact that he's like built like a rock on top of it.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like strength mobility, you know defensive quick twitch instincts.
[SPEAKER_00]: He has all of that.
[SPEAKER_00]: And he can play small ball five for the Lakers, essentially think of Dramon Green, but like a way more explosive version of Dramon Green.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like Prime Dramon, who is way more mobile and mobile, fluid, and explosive, and you've got Perez Johnson Jr. And I'm not talking about Dramon Green as it pertains to like a playmaker.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just talking about Dramon Green on the defense event.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I would also maybe liken him to, you know, like a more well-built Jonathan Isaac, as well, or like a prime Al Horford.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like if you've seen Mara's Johnson Jr. shoot, it looks like Al Horford shot.
[SPEAKER_00]: A little bit of a slow wind up, but
[SPEAKER_00]: it's pretty effective catch and shoot wise and pretty effective for like a six foot nine big even though he hasn't shot too many threes at a high volume but I like his shooting profile and the fact that I believe he's like a 78% shooter from the stripe which portends to good shooting mechanics and so I really like Maré's Johnson Jr. you know he's he's more like he's super explosive he's a defensive dynamo he's physical built like a rock
[SPEAKER_00]: super high motor player, the exact type of player that the Lakers could have used against Oklahoma City Thunder because he can pretty much defend positions one through five and people can't move him down low in the paint.
[SPEAKER_00]: Another comp for him would be like a more explosive and more cut like Isaiah Stewart, you know, just like a bully ball down low but then has surprisingly
[SPEAKER_00]: Like at times you squint and you're like, is that day or on sharp down there?
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you watch them on the perimeter and you're like, oh wait, that looks like Dory and Fini Smith and his prime are like Jonathan Isaac trying to defend the perimeter.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like that's how versatile he is as a defender.
[SPEAKER_00]: But because of everything I've said, that's probably why currently he's in like the number 14 to 17 range, more in the outside of the lottery than at the
[SPEAKER_00]: spot.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, there are my thoughts on Mores Johnson Jr. Now let's talk about some guys who are projected to be in the Lakers range of number 25.
[SPEAKER_00]: And let's first talk about Koa Pete.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, Koa Pete is an interesting prospect and one who I've started to gravitate towards even though a lot of
[SPEAKER_00]: Lakers fans and draft nix have been more turned off by his bad shooting mechanics, but co-opete he's six foot seven and height comes from Arizona, 245 pounds, this dude's a big boy as well, six foot 11 wingspan nearly seven feet.
[SPEAKER_00]: This dude is athletic and explosive as hell.
[SPEAKER_00]: And yes, he has a wonky looking jump shot, but if you like Mores Johnson Jr.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure why you wouldn't like co-opete because maybe co-opete isn't the as versatile and rabbit as a defender as Maré's Johnson Jr. but he's not too far off and then when you look at the offensive end of the floor, yes he has the same low 3-point shooting volume concerns as
[SPEAKER_00]: Morez Johnson, but in terms of his ability to handle the rock and play make and you know, get a bucket for himself, I think he has much better offensive feel and decision-making than Morez Johnson Jr.
[SPEAKER_00]: While still providing a similar sort of defensive base and he does it all in this rock solid chiseled body as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like him and Morez, they probably have the most NBA ready bodies
[SPEAKER_00]: I haven't been studying up on the draft for too long, but from what I've seen in my early research, it's Mores Johnson Jr. and Koa Pete with regards to these Adonis-like physical specimens.
[SPEAKER_00]: And the thing about Koa Pete is...
[SPEAKER_00]: He can handle the rock.
[SPEAKER_00]: He can grab the board in transition and take it all the way for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: He can finish himself or play make for others.
[SPEAKER_00]: I really like his ability to, yeah, play make great for others.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's bulky, he's strong, he's athletic.
[SPEAKER_00]: He is your prototypical, do it all utility forward.
[SPEAKER_00]: Defensively, he's a good, switchable, positional defender, much like Mara's Johnson Jr. guys when they try and drive on him and he's in the right position.
[SPEAKER_00]: They just slam into a brick wall and he's just stands them up
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, he's got this strange but pretty effective turnaround mid-range J where he's just able to like back dudes down and sort of turn around and hit this nice pull-up mid-range jump shot.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's honestly a little bit of, uh, Blake Griffin asks if you remember Blake Griffin coming out of college the way that he would sort of back players down and get to his spots in the mid-range.
[SPEAKER_00]: That sort of what Koa Pete likes to do.
[SPEAKER_00]: But most of all, as I mentioned, he's an explosive lob threat sort of player.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you imagine, you know, I've been throwing out the Aaron Gordon light comp, but if you imagine Aaron Gordon coming out of Arizona as well early on, and if you imagine Blake Riffin,
[SPEAKER_00]: He's maybe not like a tier one athlete like them, but he's like a notch below.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he's really fun.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's really explosive near the rim.
[SPEAKER_00]: Really good finisher.
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, just like Aaron Gordon, just like Blake Griffin.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's one of these like tweener fours who can handle the rock, can play make, can play defense, can rebound.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's maybe like not the best rebounder, but if you look at his stats with Arizona, they are not too different than
[SPEAKER_00]: Aaron Gordon stats.
[SPEAKER_00]: So anyways, I like really like Koa Pete and even though he can't necessarily shoot three's yet, you know, you look at a guy like Aaron Gordon who improved that over the years to who he is now, even though it's like 10 years later, he's now a knockdown three-point shooter.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Koa Pete does enough elsewhere to mitigate that shooting concern.
[SPEAKER_00]: And honestly, this is kind of the same way that I've been talking about, Perez Johnson Jr. Koa Pete could be a
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I talked about Dramon Green.
[SPEAKER_00]: He could be a Dramon Greenish type on both ends of the floor.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, he's a switchable defender that can wreak havoc with the rest of your banshee, especially in JJ Reddix, like modified zone schemes.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, I feel like co-opete would thrive in that environment.
[SPEAKER_00]: And, you know, the biggest thing for the Lakers is he would just give them that injection of explosive athleticism, a guy who can run up and down the court, like a blur, but also throw it down, hammer it down, highlight real sort of guy.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I really like Koopi.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's rep by clutch.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's decided to stay in the draft because he believes his floor is like the 25 range.
[SPEAKER_00]: So make of that what she will.
[SPEAKER_00]: But if the Lakers were to draft Koopi, I honestly would not mind shooting mechanics and concerns notwithstanding.
[SPEAKER_00]: Alright, moving on from co-opete, the other guy who is slated to be in the Lakers range that I have really gravitated towards is Isaiah Evans out of Duke.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Isaiah Evans, if you're talking about like an aesthetically pleasing sniper to watch, who also has good defensive versatility,
[SPEAKER_00]: That's Isaiah Evans.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's six foot five point five without shoes.
[SPEAKER_00]: So essentially, he's six foot seven with shoes in the NBA 186 pounds.
[SPEAKER_00]: He could stand to eat an extra burger and gain a couple of pounds to be, you know, 200 pounds or so But he's also got a nice six foot nine wing span
[SPEAKER_00]: But what you like the most about Isaiah Evans is, he's a knock down three point shooter.
[SPEAKER_00]: 2.73 pointers made with Duke, 36% now you obviously maybe you want that to be 39% but the dude is like a movement shooter coming off screens and curls and it's like
[SPEAKER_00]: Even without his shoulders squared, he's letting that thing launch in a lot of ways.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is a little bit tray Murphy-esque.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's also shot 86% from the stripe, which is great.
[SPEAKER_00]: With Duke, he averaged 15 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks.
[SPEAKER_00]: Those are great stock numbers for a 6 foot 6, 6 foot 7 shooting guard slash small forward.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so I really like what I've seen from Isaiah Evans tape.
[SPEAKER_00]: The fact that he has the Duke connection with JJ Reddick should only lend to more speculation.
[SPEAKER_00]: But, even defensively, he's a player who, in spite of his scrawny frame, he has really good physical tools, really good length, he's got a high motor to disrupt passing lanes and contest shots, he's got really active hands.
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, while his slender frame can be exploited against physical, straight line drives by stronger NBA caliber wings, I think his fluidity and his natural defensive instincts will allow him to be an effective defensive playmaker as well as a pretty good team defender who can trade lock and trail, who can slither through screens, fight through screens, and so,
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of really interesting dynamics with Isaiah Evans as a 3 and D prototype.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, um, and if you watch his tape, it's hard not to fall in love with his smooth stroke.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's also pretty athletic in open space.
[SPEAKER_00]: The one thing that he doesn't have is like he's not a good playmaker.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not necessarily like a three-level creator with regards to.
[SPEAKER_00]: He doesn't have amazing handles.
[SPEAKER_00]: He has good enough handles to get his own shot.
[SPEAKER_00]: But those are the two things that I feel like he can improve upon, but otherwise, like knockdown three point shooter with good size who also has shown a pretty exciting defensive floor nearly a steal and a block per game is pretty crazy for you know you're shooting guards slash small forward if you're looking for comps
[SPEAKER_00]: It's crazy.
[SPEAKER_00]: When you watch him drive into the lane because he's so like lanky, he kind of looks like Brandon Ingram at times, the way that he sort of dribbles and gets to his spots, uses a little bit of craft to get into the lane, but then when you watch him shoot,
[SPEAKER_00]: He has a quick trigger, it's fluid, it's smooth, it does look like, you know, tray Murphy.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you're looking for Comps, Isaiah Evans, he's like the next Isaiah Joe, maybe Gary Trent Jr. Devon Vessel, but with a little bit more upside because I think he's taller than these players, he's longer than these players and I think he can be better, he can be a better defender than these players.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, if you're looking for a bad comp for Isaiah Evans, maybe he could be a moody baits, you know, just a bucket getter who doesn't put everything together and he never gets his body in line.
[SPEAKER_00]: But regardless, really excited about Isaiah Evans, check him out if you haven't already.
[SPEAKER_00]: Before we take it to break and before we get to my final segment where I give you guys my favorite bargain bin veteran minimum free agents, I do want to bring up a super chat.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is from at Pinty23.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for the super chat.
[SPEAKER_00]: DK and the 25th for Josh Maynott and the Brooklyn at 33rd and 43rd pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: I really like Josh Minot.
[SPEAKER_00]: He did a pretty solid job with the Boston Celtics before he got traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
[SPEAKER_00]: He is a six foot seven, six foot eight wing with really nice defensive upside, but beyond that, Josh Minot is a very explosive player as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think this is, and you know, it would be nice to get the 33rd and 43rd pick as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: I would say we're kind of selling low on the 25th pick a little bit.
[SPEAKER_00]: I would try to get something more, but honestly, you know, Josh might not.
[SPEAKER_00]: has higher upside than Dalton connect for sure, especially if the leakers are looking for defensive versatility.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, like, I wouldn't hate this trade.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if I would be gung-ho about it because again, I'd be trying to use the 25th pick to offload Vanderbilt.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I guess in this sense, we are getting rid of Dalton connect in the process and getting a more usable player while getting two shots at the second round with a 33rd and 43rd pick.
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, I wouldn't hate this deal, Pinty, and I would be interested if the Lakers did make this deal because then it kind of signals that they are sort of trying the developmental route.
[SPEAKER_00]: They like Josh Minus defensive potential and versatility, and now they've got potentially two second round picks coming in that they hope to develop.
[SPEAKER_00]: I would not mind this direction.
[SPEAKER_00]: It just wouldn't be like the first deal I would make because like what does that signal to LeBron James and Luca Donchich, right like we're trying to win now Okay, Josh might not has a little bit of something, but where's the starter level player ideally in a number 25 pick trade You're also getting like NBA ready players back.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I'm not sure if Josh might not is exactly that, but
[SPEAKER_00]: If you're looking for draft night trades by the way, I just released a video.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's the last video that I released on my YouTube channel.
[SPEAKER_00]: Check that video out.
[SPEAKER_00]: But anyways, okay, so why don't we take it to break here first?
[SPEAKER_00]: And when we return, I'm going to give you guys a list of my favorite bargain bin, bottom barrel veteran minimum free agent targets.
[SPEAKER_00]: But before we get to that, I first want to talk to you guys about underdog fantasy today's sponsor.
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[SPEAKER_00]: I'm obviously going to be looking at these spurs and nicks finals.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not sure if anything has actually gone up yet, but I just know that you need to go all in on the spurs.
[SPEAKER_00]: Regardless of whether or not the nicks are underdogs and things may be a little bit pricey to, you know, put some money on the spurs end.
[SPEAKER_00]: Still go with the spurs.
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[SPEAKER_00]: So go on underdog, make your spurs entry and let it ride, and just sit back and relax and let's watch a hopefully entertaining NBA finals game.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Alright, let's pitch to a couple more sponsors and when we return, let's talk about my quick list of favorite veteran minimum bargain bin free agent targets for the
[SPEAKER_00]: That was a mouthful.
[SPEAKER_00]: Give me one minute guys to drink a swig of coffee and then we'll get back to the show.
[SPEAKER_00]: All right, we are back.
[SPEAKER_00]: So to close this episode, I want to talk to you guys about my favorite veteran minimum, bottom bin, bargain bin,
[SPEAKER_00]: That man free agents.
[SPEAKER_00]: I know I just kind of said that all in a loop, but bear with me So these are veteran minimum free agent targets who you may have forgotten and you may be surprised that They are now veteran minimum Free agents or that they're only gonna command this much.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm still not sure 100% if they're only gonna command the veteran minimum But the way things have been going with their career.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think this summer
[SPEAKER_00]: The Lakers can have them for cheap, especially if we're, you know, looking at this next Luca Donchitch era as a sort of, you know, maybe the Lakers are like a ring-chaser destination, but I've got a combination of some veterans, but also some younger players who you might be surprised will only command the veteran minimum this upcoming season, because there are a couple of candidates here who I believe
[SPEAKER_00]: need to sort of be put on make good veteran minimum deals.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, in the past, this has looked like a guy like Malik Monk who had to take the veteran minimum for the leakers or, I don't know, some other candidate.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, I guess like even Bruce Brown took a veteran minimum last season to ring chase.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, this isn't necessarily a ring chase or list.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just,
[SPEAKER_00]: A mix bag of young players and veterans who I think are only going to command the veteran minimum, and what the lakers are trying to do this summer, they need to maximize all of their moves and maximize the margins, even if we're talking about 13th to 14th.
[SPEAKER_00]: end of the bench roster guys, you know, those players need to be able to play in break glass in case of emergency situations and the makers can get the best bang out of their buck with these veteran minimum signings.
[SPEAKER_00]: So let's talk about those players and let's first start out with my number one, and this is a no particular order.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm just saying number one, number two, number three, but anyways, let's start off with my first candidate and let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Whoa, Jeremy so, so Han, Jeremy so Han is going to win a ring no matter what in this NBA finals, because whether the spurs win or the next win, he was on both teams this season.
[SPEAKER_00]: And obviously if the spurs win, they're probably going to
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, reward, so Han for his years of service with them.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're he's the pick that they drafted.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was with Wembenjama when he first came into the league.
[SPEAKER_00]: By all accounts, he's been a great locker room guy for the spurs.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, so Han is about to have a ring by the end of all of this.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, his time with the nicks has been pretty muted and lackluster to say the least, but, you know, so Han is a name that I have sort of trumpeted as a guy who the lakers could use for his defensive versatility, but also his ability to handle the rock, play make a little bit, and unlike Vando, be able to finish at the rim.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, he's kind of like another Vando, but also no, he's not like Vando because the dude can actually dribble the ball.
[SPEAKER_00]: He can actually play make for others, and he can actually convert a dunk.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, those are two pretty big distinctions in my opinion, but if the Lakers are just looking for, especially in the event that they wave in stretch Vando or offload Vando, they actually could use a better Vando at the end of their roster, you know?
[SPEAKER_00]: And if Jeremy Sohan, who's still only 23 years old, you have this 23 year old 6 foot 8 Lanky versatile defender who can switch 1 through 5, and the exact type of player, regardless of whether or not the nicks have been using him in the playoffs, which they really haven't.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a guy if you have injuries, you can just throw him out there, sick him on the team's best ball handler for a possession or two, even if it's in the clutch, and you can trust him to hold his ground.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hold his ground, track his man, shadow correctly, and be physical, and goony.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, the liquors need more goons, they need more banches, and that's exactly who Jeremy Sohan is.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm not even going to bother to read out his stats with the New York Knicks.
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess these stats also combine his time with the spurs, but he only played 10.7 minutes this season in a very
[SPEAKER_00]: dnpd in consistent role, but in his heyday, Jeremy Solhan was averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a steel nearly a block of game, and so he kind of was able to showcase his overall versatility on both ends of the floor.
[SPEAKER_00]: In his first two years with the spurs, obviously the lakers wouldn't need him to do that.
[SPEAKER_00]: If he's just commanding a veteran minimum, which I think he's going to command, I don't think anybody's going to be giving, so Han even be a
[SPEAKER_00]: It would be a worthy very cheap flyer to add a young 23 year old six foot eight defender who can switch everything.
[SPEAKER_00]: So there is Jeremy Sohan.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to my number two candidate number two veteran minimum bargain bin free agent and let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Cam Thomas, you knew this was coming.
[SPEAKER_00]: Laker favorites or Laker fan favorite, not Laker fan favorite, that's wrong.
[SPEAKER_00]: Laker fan, Kobe fan, Cam Thomas.
[SPEAKER_00]: Still only 24 years old, six foot three, but built like a tank, 210 pounds.
[SPEAKER_00]: Last season between the nets and the bucks he averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 assists, 41% from the field, 31% from three, yuck, in just 21 minutes per game.
[SPEAKER_00]: I believe his first game with the Bucks he scored like 31 points off the bench or something like that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now he obviously got wave by the Bucks, but I don't think that was due to any sort of locker room issues.
[SPEAKER_00]: Apparently the Bucks just wanted to try out more two-way guys and when they realized their season was going nowhere, when they realized they were going to...
[SPEAKER_00]: Shut down.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yannis on to to kumpo.
[SPEAKER_00]: They just told camp Thomas, hey, we don't really need you eating up a roster spot right now We're gonna wave you.
[SPEAKER_00]: So camp Thomas.
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like could still be very helpful.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be at he's a very, you know Ball dominant
[SPEAKER_00]: tunnel vision sort of player, but he could have helped the lakeers out in the OKC Thunder series when their offense was sputtering out and they were looking for anybody who could handle OKC's pressure.
[SPEAKER_00]: Because Cam Thomas is a dude who can materialize and create something out of thin air with his ball.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ball handling, his bucket getting, his creation in the mid range, his ability to body dudes and running back his way all the way into the paint, draw fouls, like he's still a microwave score.
[SPEAKER_00]: And on the Lakers for the veteran minimum next season, I would not mind having a potential six-man other year, even if he's a one-dimensional score.
[SPEAKER_00]: You could always use guys like this, and if you've been watching the spur series, they were playing like three to four
[SPEAKER_00]: two bad of an idea to have guys who can dribble past shoot.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, does Camp Thomas necessarily pass?
[SPEAKER_00]: Only in last resort situations, but you know what?
[SPEAKER_00]: He has gravity because he can drive it into the lane.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a downhill attacker.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's built like a tank, and he can get hot like nobody's business.
[SPEAKER_00]: And for the veteran minimum,
[SPEAKER_00]: That's a quote unquote risk and flyer.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm willing to take especially because he knows he's going to have to be in a Make good contract make good year.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's only 24 years old.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's gonna want to change the perception around him Much like DeAndre 18 and I think he will behave himself because
[SPEAKER_00]: This is he's going to be playing in a Lakers jersey in the house that Kobe Bryant built.
[SPEAKER_00]: He loves Kobe to death.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so maybe that was wrong choice of words.
[SPEAKER_00]: But anyways, Cam Thomas, veteran minimum, you're not going to find, you know,
[SPEAKER_00]: too many veteran minimum guys who you know on any given night in just 18 minutes can drop 25 points for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And can also get to the stripe and draw fouls and that's another benefit that he brings.
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's Cam Thomas regardless of whether or not you actually like his play, whether or not it drives with your basketball philosophy.
[SPEAKER_00]: For 15 minutes and night, the makers could use a guy who can handle tough defenses and get a shot and create for his own.
[SPEAKER_00]: So there is Cam Thomas.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to my third veteran minimum bargain bin candidate and let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Zach Collins.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Zach Collins is probably only going to command the veteran minimum this upcoming season because he didn't play last year because he was injured.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now, do the Lakers want to sign an injury prone player?
[SPEAKER_00]: Probably not, but last year, I forget what happened.
[SPEAKER_00]: But the years prior to that, Zach Collins had actually sort of rebounded health wise and was starting to play more consistently and be healthy, you know?
[SPEAKER_00]: Zach Collins still only 28 years old somehow, 6 foot 9 in height, 240 pounds, he somehow been in the NBA for 8 years now.
[SPEAKER_00]: He averaged the last season that he played 20, 25, 26 season with the Chicago Bulls, he averaged 9.7 points.
[SPEAKER_00]: 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.4 blocks, but his shooting percentages were stellar, 57.8% from the field, 43% from 3, I know that's on a lower volume, but Zach Collins has had seasons where he's knocked down 1-3 pointers, made per game averages, which is pretty solid for a big man.
[SPEAKER_00]: and he did all of that in just 18 minutes.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Zach Collins is a dude who you know is a great versatile, stretched five big for you off the bench, but you also know that he can fill in start in a pinch.
[SPEAKER_00]: And the lakers were missing this sort of dynamic to be able to play five out basketball with a legitimate power forward slash center.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maxi Kleba played that for us at times, but can we get the younger version of Maxi Kleba with Zach Collins provided that his medical and health check out for next season?
[SPEAKER_00]: The glass half full version with regards to Zach Collins and looking at his last year that he missed is the fact that he should be rejuvenated and ready for next season.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully, but if he can rebound, this is a guy who is a versatile center whose tough physical can space the floor for you, but one who you can also use as.
[SPEAKER_00]: Excuse me, a playmaking hub because he's a very underrated pastor much like Kelli O'Linning before him Zach Collins would be like a nice Look at Center if the lake is end up having some sort of three-headed monsters Zach Collins would be our spacing big who can pass a little bit set solid screens and he's also like
[SPEAKER_00]: pretty athletic as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's he's got some mobility to him that he's not as plotting as you'd expect from even a guy like Jonas Valens Tunis.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, so there's that Collins.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to a similar sort of player and let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Jacques Londale.
[SPEAKER_00]: So Jacques Londale, he was on the Memphis Grizzlies last season on the Minimum, they traded him to the Atlanta Hawks, and he played very well for the Atlanta Hawks, actually.
[SPEAKER_00]: He played very well for the Grizzlies as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: Jacques Londale, he'll be 31 when the season starts next year, 6'11, 255 pounds out of Australia or New Zealand.
[SPEAKER_00]: I forget which one.
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyways, tough, hard-nosed, power forward slash center, six foot 11 center, who can honestly just like that Collins rebound the ball, space the floor, pass, and play hard-nosed gritty defense for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's not the rim protector you want, he's not a lob threat guy, but what he can do is do all the garbage man type stuff for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Last season between the Hawks and the Grizzlies he averaged 10.6 points per game, nearly 6 rebounds, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, half a steel, half a block, 51.5% from the field, and 38.3% from 3.
[SPEAKER_00]: stellar numbers did all of that in just 22 minutes per game.
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, he'd be the perfect backup big for the Lakers and would provide us with real offensive versatility, allow us to play five out, allow us to play slightly smaller ball.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ironically, when he was with the Phoenix Suns, he was DeAndre Aetans backup and during the playoffs.
[SPEAKER_00]: the sun's opted to play jocklondale over 18, you know, at various points, which, you know, that's not too uncommon, uncommon a story, if Lakers fans have been in tune with DeAndre Aetans career and what happened this season.
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyways, Joclondale may be he might command the B.A.E.
[SPEAKER_00]: because of his strong play, but I wouldn't imagine that he's still a veteran minimum guy, and if Luka Donchich can, you know, do a good job again recruiting guys, this is the guy that he should recruit, get another goon, get a guy like Maxi Kleeva who's willing to set a solid screen, you know, lower his shoulder, and, you know,
[SPEAKER_00]: Body slams somebody and Luca Dunch's defense because I don't think Maxi Kleib is going to be back So why not find the younger Maxi Kleib and Joclondale would be exactly that All right next guy who I think will only command the veteran minimum.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Kavon Looney.
[SPEAKER_00]: Another similar player.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now Kavon Looney does have he's on a club option for $8 million for the New Orleans Pelicans.
[SPEAKER_00]: But if you know anything about the Pelicans, they are like an apron team next year.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to want to save that $8 million so I expect them to decline that option.
[SPEAKER_00]: I expect Kavon Looney to get back out there on the market and become an unrestricted free agent.
[SPEAKER_00]: Somehow some way Kavon Looney is still only 30 years old.
[SPEAKER_00]: Kavon Looney, famously of the Golden State Warriors, he went to UCLA here in LA, 6 foot 9, 222 pounds.
[SPEAKER_00]: Last season with the Pelicans, in just 14 minutes, he averaged 5.6 rebounds.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's insane, but also kinda tells the tale with Kavon Looney.
[SPEAKER_00]: Here's your ultimate garbage man type who will eat up space in the paint, move bodies for you, and just gobble up rebounds.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's also a very solid, very illegal screensetter from his time with the Golden State Warriors, and that's exactly the type of screener the Lakers need with Luca Donchich and Austin Reeves on their team.
[SPEAKER_00]: They could use a gritty, hard nose, and physical, rebounding center, like Kavon, Looney.
[SPEAKER_00]: If we can't get Stephen Adams,
[SPEAKER_00]: Kavang Looney at the veteran minimum would be like a nice dollar tree consolation prize, you know, and you can always use these types of, you know, veterans who Really know how to lay down the pain.
[SPEAKER_00]: So there's Kavang Looney.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let's move on to my last two candidates for veteran minimums and let's talk about
[SPEAKER_00]: Javante Green.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm gonna bring up Pinti's chat here.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again, Pinti for the additional super chat.
[SPEAKER_00]: Javante Green, veteran minimum, great show, thanks.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks, Pinti.
[SPEAKER_00]: Here's Javante Green for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I agree.
[SPEAKER_00]: Javante Green on the vet minimum would be a great addition to this Lakers team.
[SPEAKER_00]: If they're looking for more Goons, if they're looking for more banches, I have always been a huge Javante Green fan, even when he was with the Chicago Bulls.
[SPEAKER_00]: He had a couple of seasons where he was a little bit injury prone, went to the New Orleans Pelicans, and he kind of fell off my radar because I was like, maybe he's just going to go overseas now.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe he's not healthy enough to maintain his rabbit intense defense that he showed in his first few years in the NBA, but last season with the pistons, dude, Javante Green looks very good.
[SPEAKER_00]: He looks very healthy.
[SPEAKER_00]: Javante Green too, something that you should probably know about him is he's still very explosive and athletic.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's so forceful at the rim, he's a great finisher.
[SPEAKER_00]: In my opinion, Javante Green is sort of like, if you take away the playmaking, he's very much in that Jordan Goodwin role, except I think he's way more athletic, way more explosive and physical than Jordan Goodwin.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, Javante Green somehow already 32 years old, so he's a little bit older than you'd like, but that's okay.
[SPEAKER_00]: 6 would 5, 205 pounds, I think he's more like 6 would 4, but regardless, with the Detroit Pistons last season, he averaged 7 points per game.
[SPEAKER_00]: 3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.2 steals, which is what you want to focus in on.
[SPEAKER_00]: 0.3 blocks, 44.7% from the field, 38% from 3.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll be it!
[SPEAKER_00]: It was on a low volume obviously, but like that's a very encouraging sign if he can just knock down his catch and shoot threes, he will be able to stay on the floor and not be regarded as just another vando.
[SPEAKER_00]: Also 84% from the strike, which again sort of lends to the fact that his shooting mechanics are probably not broken.
[SPEAKER_00]: and he can probably continue to grow as a shooter, but the fact that he did all of this in just 17.6 minutes and already was averaging 1.2 steals per game, this dude is an absolute harasser and a pest at the point of attack.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's got great active hands, he plays physically.
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, I love that he's athletic and explosive as well.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is the exact type of guy that you fill your roster out with on the back end.
[SPEAKER_00]: Perfect 13th man, perfect 12th man, even.
[SPEAKER_00]: And especially at the veteran minimum, these are the types of point of attack versatile defenders that you want to flank Luca Donchich and Austin Reeves with.
[SPEAKER_00]: He's another Marcus Smart, he's another Jordan Goodwin type.
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously he's not as versatile offensively as, you know, the guys that I just mentioned, but
[SPEAKER_00]: He's one of the better finishers and could actually be considered a lob threat at the guard slash, you know, wing position.
[SPEAKER_00]: And so, yes, I agree.
[SPEAKER_00]: Pinti-23, Javante Green would be a great veteran minimum moneyball option for the Lakers to round their roster out with.
[SPEAKER_00]: Alright, my last candidate for, you know, a potential bargain bin veteran minimum free agent target for the Lakers would be.
[SPEAKER_00]: former U.S.C.
[SPEAKER_00]: Trojan, former Boston Celtic, Nikola Vusavich.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, fun fact, Nikola Vusavich was actually at U.S.C.
[SPEAKER_00]: We overlapped during our time at U.S.C.
[SPEAKER_00]: Fight on, by the way, for anybody else out there who's a Trojan, but
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, we are around the same age.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll leave it at that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Anyways, Nikola Vusovich, not a prospect that I liked, you know, the last couple of years, especially when Lakers fans were throwing out ideas of, we should trade Ruby Hutchimura for Nikola Vusovich.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was absolutely not on board with that because I watched Vusovich's defensive tape and almost wanted to throw up very low motor, very lead-footed, not the type of player that the Lakers
[SPEAKER_00]: Needed, especially if they were giving up something of value.
[SPEAKER_00]: But now we rejoin Nicola Vusovich at the tail end of his career.
[SPEAKER_00]: I still think he could command at least the BAE, maybe even the rumoured level exception, but if he wants to come back home to Los Angeles, where he started his basketball journey out at Galen Center at USC,
[SPEAKER_00]: And if Lukodanshish wants him enough and recruits him, could he come for the veteran minimum?
[SPEAKER_00]: Because if the lakers don't have to give up any assets and only have to give him the veteran minimum, then yes, all of a sudden, Nikola Vusovich is the exact type of big that I think could be very helpful for the lakers.
[SPEAKER_00]: Much of what I said about Zach Collins and Jacques Londale.
[SPEAKER_00]: Nikola Vusovich is the
[SPEAKER_00]: Elite tier upper echelon version of those two players, as a stretched big versatile offensive player who can also rebound the ball.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's always been Nicola Vusovic's skill regardless of whether or not he was a defensive Steve, his ability to crash the glass.
[SPEAKER_00]: And even last season with the Boston Celtics, even though he sort of sputtered at the end and the Celtics couldn't really play him in the playoffs, at least he'll be useful in the regular season, as his numbers have showed.
[SPEAKER_00]: Um,
[SPEAKER_00]: With the Salt 6 he averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.36, 0.60, 0.5 blocks, 49% from the field, 37% from 3, 83% from the stripe, did it all in 28 minutes per game.
[SPEAKER_00]: Those are very effective, very useful numbers.
[SPEAKER_00]: The lakers will not need him to do all of that, but can he come off the bench for them?
[SPEAKER_00]: Give us a different look at center.
[SPEAKER_00]: Have us play healthy five out basketball and give us nine points, five rebounds, space the floor, two assists per game, play makes for us is a central hub for us in the way that Drew Timmy was in certain sections.
[SPEAKER_00]: Could he continue to groom Drew Timmy?
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's an even better plan.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, keep Nikola Vusovich in mind if he wants to quote on quote ring chase and he's willing to take the veteran minimum to come back to Los Angeles.
[SPEAKER_00]: So that does it for my list of seven veteran minimum free agent targets who you probably didn't think were only going to cost the veteran minimum, but I think this is the right summer, I think this is the right time to get real bang for your buck with these.
[SPEAKER_00]: Guys who have, you know, either got in bought it bought out by their teams and kind of need to undergo some sort of make good contract the way that DeAndre 8's in sort of did this season.
[SPEAKER_00]: So with that said, that'll do it for this video.
[SPEAKER_00]: That'll do it for this episode.
[SPEAKER_00]: Please let me know in the comments below who won.
[SPEAKER_00]: Who are your favorite draft prospects right now in the draft?
[SPEAKER_00]: Number two.
[SPEAKER_00]: out of the list of veteran minimum bargain bin guys that I laid out.
[SPEAKER_00]: Who's your favorite?
[SPEAKER_00]: Who would you be willing to take a flyer on?
[SPEAKER_00]: Do all of that in the comments below and please remember to like this video and most importantly hit subscribe.
[SPEAKER_00]: And once again, if you want to support the work that I do, if you like me doing more of these live streams, then please consider becoming a member to the Lakers Legacy YouTube channel.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like your direct way of helping support an independent content creator.
[SPEAKER_00]: who's not just a faceless AI, who really works hard to put these shows together, give you the graphics, et cetera, et cetera.
[SPEAKER_00]: And you get to support me in a very direct way through the YouTube channel.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's almost like Patreon, but linked up to my YouTube, but on top of that, you get access to all of my members' exclusive videos.
[SPEAKER_00]: I just saw a comment for Norman Powell.
[SPEAKER_00]: Norman Powell is not going to be a veteran minimum guy, so that's why he's not on my list.
[SPEAKER_00]: But anyways, thank you guys for watching.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you guys for your support.
[SPEAKER_00]: This has been Jonathan Hernandez of the Lakers Legacy Podcasts, and I will catch you guys next time.
[SPEAKER_00]: Peace.