anybody that just got some pledge your team. Drafted some
players don't get too attached to him because Tom, Haverstraw
nose
and look, it has been almost 10 years. Nobody says that
the same team, but not at Rudy gobert is a timberwolf. The
only player from the 2013 NBA draft still on the team that he
debuted with
is Giannis. Antetokounmpo, stroll.
We haven't talked to you
since that deal went down
last week, we spent so much time to my where's Katie?
And a three-time defensive player of the year
is now in Minnesota
moving karl-anthony towns
too small forward. Matter of fact, make it, I won't get your
take on this trade because your grill is in the Timberwolves.
You know, they got to like a thing going, you know what
I mean? Like both up-and-coming teams but you first row,
like how seismic a move, not just, because of the compensation,
but putting those two twin towers together in the Twin Cities.
How size and it can move
is the Rudy gobert transaction.
It's huge. I mean, they gave
It's a grand are for, for the Minnesota Timberwolves. And if
you if you look at the Minnesota Timberwolves, trade
package, you're like, why would you give up that many
first-round picks
for Rudy gobert? Who looks like, he's, you know,
can be played off the floor in the postseason. While I counter
with this, like, did you see what the Pelicans got for Jrue
Holiday?
Like the Pelicans got five first-round picks for
a thirty-year-old. Jrue Holiday who wasn't even an All-Star
a couple years ago and was the same age as Rudy gobert. Just
got when he just got
30 years old. So when the Pelicans traded Jrue Holiday to
the Milwaukee Bucks and then therefore gifted Ian has to
sign long-term and then win a championship. That was the bar.
And so, what you're seeing with the Minnesota Timberwolves are
doing, are making a splash for Tim Connolly. As leader of
basketball, Ops to run it back with Rudy gobert as the guy
who's going to actually play
center defense and own the defense event, so that Karl
Anthony towns. Can go be the 7 Foot. F Curry like Stephen,
Curry needs a Draymond Green. He needs that defensive player
of the year to Anchor that side of the floor because he can't
do both things and Karl. Anthony
towns has already declared himself as the best. Big man,
shooter in the NBA history, over Dirk Nowitzki
and I think you have to think of this deal as
it's not a big man karl-anthony towns. You have to think of him
as a 7-foot shooting guard and Tim Connolly, the architect of
that team is recognizing that he needs a need Elite Defender
and he just got maybe
Best big man defender in the MBA
to really back up the idea that Karl. Anthony towns is
a seven-foot. Steph Curry out there. He's such a good
shooter. You just needs the defense. I get it.
Yeah.
Well,
I think it's huge. I think, you know, I think the biggest thing
of your Timberwolves fan, which you guys know that, I am only
a very, very far into that, but if you are just sitting
and being a fan. So when I see that type of move,
I look at the ownership and like all these new people,
Pieces that they have brought in and sometimes you see new
owners come in, you're like, hey, what are you doing? Like,
are you guys making any changes are you working today?
And you see what, you know,
this ownership group has done to say we're coming in, and
we're going to shake some things up. We see where we were
last season. And yes, we made it to the Western Conference,
you know, playoffs, but however, we need to take that
next step. I just think we
make big moves like that sometimes doesn't go in your favor,
but I do think that this is taking this organization to
a whole another step, especially when it comes to You're already
a small smaller Market team when it comes to the city, but
this makes it even just, like, stand out a little
bit more. And when you have these other teams like
the Grizzlies the Timberwolves, the Pelicans, trying to make a name
for himself, these are the type of moves that you have to make.
And I'm just intrigued with seeing chronic knee towns, play
a different position.
Because as you guys mentioned, this is a guy that won
the Three-Point Contest. Last year in the NBA All-Star Game, I saw
firsthand what he can do especially when it comes to
the playoffs, he's taking that next step. And as a whole It is
career
I think it could be very very more beneficial to Crown a towns
especially when we see him take me that caliber all start
potentially Hall of Fame. One day type of title player
it's for a while I'm curious I mean sure I'm intrigued by your
answer to whether or not you think this trade and this big
three that the that the Timberwolves. Now I have with
that word Styles and
gobert, does that Vault then passed?
The Memphis Grizzlies on the Western Conference pecking
order in your mind show, just asking for a friend asking for
a friend.
Hey, I hate to break it to you guys and no disrespect Megan,
but I feel like unless Jaren, Jackson is healthy and we don't
know that for a few months. Yes. This puts them higher than
that. Because Jaren, Jackson jr. Is that good? And he's
recovering from a foot injury
and he'll be out for the next several months. So until I see
him healthy and able to contribute, they just stole
Kai-Lan.
Person to from the Memphis Grizzlies. He's a really good
role player
slo-mo is slow mo. He is absolutely one of the slowest.
Dude, you'll see
where you're watching him, like how is that an NBA player?
Because he knows how to ball. He's really good at the game of
basketball and even though he's got a, it takes them like 24
hours to get a shot off,
everything else in this game.
Kyle Anderson is good at. So, I think right now
in the regular season at least,
this team is built to be one of the best teams in the Western
Conference really gobert is really healthy, typically and
crawl out. Has just needs to play. Good defense at the 54
probably like
10, 15 minutes. Max asked him to do that for 40 minutes. A
night, not going to happen, but Karl towns to be the small ball
5 out there.
You can do that. But man, Memphis Grizzlies are so good.
They just need Jaren. Jackson jr. Be healthy next year. At
the end of the day.
Yeah,
over diplomatic
about that statement. I'm really not fine. Oh, it is, it
was breaking news last week to hear about Darren Jack. Some
dinner because we had a whole season to see him fully healthy
and we saw the potential of what he can do, when he's on
the court, when he's on the court, this team is free.
However, let's not forget about what the Grizzlies were able to
do without John Moran. And so, I, once again, have trust in
this Core group of our front office to
the coaching staff where we can do that without John Moran,
I think we can hold our own as we wait to see Jaren Jackson jr.
In the status of him and like when we could very well, get
him back out there on the court.
Yeah. Hey
Stroh last week they go with Thursday, it all runs together.
Now I feel like you were the first person to be like yo how
about A Warrior's reunions for Kevin Durant? And I was like
nah man like no way that happens
so in the days since then
our man Marc Spears. Give credit where it's due reported
at the Warriors, have interests, because it's Kevin
Durant, Marcus Thompson, another friend of the show,
followed that up with a report that the players themselves and
actually conversed about That would look like. But as you
know, Stroh very complicated because Andrew Wiggins, would
have to be involved,
salary cap rules prohibit or CBA rules. Prohibit him being
on the same team as a Ben Simmons. If he were to go back
in this tree, having said all that.
I'm sorry. I still made a new. You talking about it earlier
with the
in high school when you got an enemy that you know is your
enemy but they invite you to the party. This feels too
messy. You know, I mean I get his business but it just feels
way too messy. Like
They're just too much baggage here
with this relationship stroll. So since we last spoke and
giving the reports that have come out since then, do you
feel even stronger
about a potential reunions or you off that
Michael? Michael Michael
did LeBron James go back to Cleveland?
He didn't eat. I promise.
There is no man, he went back after that letter. Think about
that. It doesn't get messier than what Dan Gilbert.
In that letter with LeBron James, on his way out Goin Down
in Miami and LeBron James said, you know what, I'm going back
because there's bigger things than that. And I want to bring
a championship to my city of Akron. / Cleveland.
So in this case, yes,
I do think it is a messy messy situation
and what is it say, if the Warriors get Kevin Durant,
don't win an NBA title
and it becomes an even more of a soap opera than what we're
seeing in Brooklyn right now. Now that's worst-case scenario
or that KD gets hurt and then it's like man we can't even
trade
to get more assets back just like the Brooklyn Nets, just
stayed when it didn't work out. So to me I think that makes
a lot of sense because of the fact that you're not just
acquiring Kevin Durant,
you're keeping him away from the Phoenix Suns
so it's a double whammy. If you get Kevin Durant, you got him
on his team and you got defense against the other powers that
be and the other team that I think.
What we talked about this on the basketball Illuminati
Illuminati podcast which I host with amino acid, there's
that designated rookie extension Clause that prohibits
like you said, Andrew Wiggins, a Bam adebayo from teaming up
with Ben Simmons in Brooklyn. So straight up, they can't be
traded for each other or they can't get those players
one player that's not on that list.
Brandon Ingram in New Orleans.
So I think when you look at the teams that are going to Vie for
Kevin Durant, I think the Brooklyn Nets have to look at
the New Orleans Pelicans. Number one on the list because
it's messy, it's Toronto to with Kevin Durant.
Your member with the fans did when he tore his Achilles there
in the NBA Finals. You remember what happened with them? And if
I'm Kevin Durant, I feel a whole lot better about going
down and teaming up with Zion Williamson, and CJ McCollum and
Willie Green, the head coach.
Then I do about Toronto because Toronto's gonna have to give up
a lot in that trade, but Brandon Ingram, and some pics
that they got from the Jrue Holiday trade, man. That seems
like a situation that's ripe for a deal is New
Orleans and Kevin Durant. It just Kevin Durant has to sign.
Off.
Yeah, I agree.
I'll go see. I know how much you invested in the Warriors.
Health as an organization. I know how much that organization
means to you. I didn't know if you wanted to see a Kevin
Durant were Union or not but made you throw up in your mouth
I'm
sorry. Go right ahead,
I don't want to see Kevin Durant is not a look
separating myself aside because as I mentioned Grizzlies
through until I die, however I don't want to see Kevin Durant
returns to Cruz's. I'm into the Warriors only because
not only, is it messy? But
I don't like to use.
Word legacy that often, but
because it's always thrown out there. What will that really
say about Kevin Durant? And I don't think that helps his
case. That if you wants to win another championship ring, let
me go join a team that once again, we're able to do it
without me and
it was always talking about Steph Curry. When Steph Curry
could do, could he do without slip out? Katie eating was. But
what would that say about Kevin Durant? And I just think Kevin
Durant has too much pride potentially to want to go back
to the Warriors because it won't look it won't look good.
If I find him, I'll be too prideful to have to go back to
that team.
Yeah, no. I mean, visit basketball y, basketball
reasons. Rest in peace.
David Stern, sure. They'd be unstoppable again. It just
feels like they don't unlike last time they don't need him.
Like for as much as people said,
they didn't need him before
they were coming off of finals loss.
Okay, flute. Call it, fluky. Draymond Green. Gets, as many
whatever it is. This time they just won the championship
and they're set for the future. It
You're great, but
beyond that. So let me ask you this, just
part of it is Devil's Advocate, but Kevin Durant's, 33 years
old.
He's missed a lot of time in recent years due to various
injuries.
He's back from the Achilles but nonetheless, he's been beat up.
What's the balance between
teens, lining up and trading, picks and young players?
Everything that Brooklyn is looking for
with
the. Do we really want to give that up as singular as Kevin
Durant is?
Do we want to go all in now and compromise our future for a guy
who, how reliable is he at this point in his career?
How much is that part of the calculus? When it comes to
these NBA foreign offices,
Man, you know how the saying goes Flags fly forever and so
when you look at this deal
it's a lot like the Toronto Raptors when they traded for
Kawhi Leonard who is hurt.
Had a lot of baggage, a lot of soap opera back in San Antonio,
the Toronto Raptors through DeMar DeRozan, Jakob hurdle and
picks into a deal to get Kawhi Leonard and you know what? They
want a championship over
that Warriors team. So
I think that is the model that a New Orleans Pelicans is
looking. Or Toronto themselves is like man if we get this
right,
it's going to be
an amazing thing for our franchise, our city, our region,
the entire country Canada
is so thankful that Masai ujiri pulled off that deal for Kawhi
Leonard. So I think that's the best case scenario. The worst
case scenario
is your Brooklyn Nets. Were you not only do that? You got your
franchise for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but then you do
the whole James Harden deal. Give the Houston Rockets,
the entire set of picks for your future. ER, and now you're just
like,
what for what for this team.
The the Brooklyn Nets won,
what
seven games in the postseason with Kevin Durant and Kyrie
Irving seven. That's 14th in the NBA over the last three
years. That's what they have to show for. They had been swept
twice with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the roster so
that's worst-case scenario,
but I'm telling you like,
Kevin Durant is worth it. He is like, if Rudy gobert is getting
five first-round picks and a few young pieces then Lutely,
Kevin Durant, who is an MVP candidate who just came up. You
know, he's averaging about 30 points, a game.
That's a guy that you have to go. Push your chin to do it
the middle.
If you're Boston, for example, do you do it at the cost to
jail and brown? If you're Miami, do you? You know,
I mean,
the out of Bio thing is tricky, of course, but do you
do you gut your, your core
your culture there? I say it
for Kevin Durant, if you want it owes
top tier teams that's already in contention to take you over.
To talk
man. And if you're Boston a you don't have to give up Jalen
Browner, Jason Statham and a deal and luck. Jason Tatum
cannot be traded to Brooklyn with Ben Simmons. Hijacking,
that situation look.
I think you have to kick the tires if your Boston but
I would hesitate with JLo and brown I would because of
the fact that you got an opportunity, all ready to go
back to the finals without Kevin Durant and Jalen Browns,
such a young piece,
that's the lots of give up. But like what I'm talking about is
for those other teams for the Toronto's, the Minnesota's,
the new The world like, no,
you don't have the ability to acquire that kind of talent in
free agency like Boston or Miami does. So I think you have
to think about it but not at the asking price of Jalen
Brown,
everyone's calling
like even if you can't make it make sense, I think you're
picking up the phone calling because he just it's Kevin
Durant. As you mentioned, Kevin Durant. I think anyone's
calling to just
every anybody up and saying, hey,
what do you think about this? You're just going to take
someone to Coffee even when you know that there's no
opportunity or no chance. I don't like you like I'm single,
so
sometimes you just like, you know,
I could use a drink or two.
I'm gonna go out but it's not going to work.
Everyone's making that phone call.
Okay, that's a whole other conversation.
I guess
if the Nets don't just decide to running back because they
didn't get the right trade for Kevin Durant.
That feels like a trade, that makes sense, the one that
Lakers, I'm sorry. The old only seems to be one real Suitor for
Kyrie Irving, if any and that's the Lakers although,
you know, depending on who's reporting. What are the Lakers
that hell-bent on acquiring Kyrie Irving?
That seems like it makes sense from the Lakers standpoint
makes them better. I ask you how better
it from a net standpoint. Presumably, you get assets in
return for taking on that, man, Russell Westbrook. Kyrie Irving
LeBron, James who reportedly is rooting for it and Anthony,
Davis,
where would you place that and, and other dudes? Where would
you place those Lakers
in the conversation,
the contender conversation? If they, if they, in fact, pull
this off Jeanie Buss. Cryptic tweets, notwithstanding.
Yeah, we looked at this on basketball Illuminati this week
and I think what's her tweet is talking about is Kyrie and
LeBron
100%. When she says I'm not allowed to explain this, like
Kobe might be able to
I think what she's alluding to there is the fact that you
would be hit with a tampering charge, if she's talking
specifically about Kyrie Irving and the requests or non request
whatever you want to say to speculation is that
Kyrie Irving wants to get a long-term extension.
And as part of a deal, he would want that Assurance from
the team, that's going to sign them or bring them in. Now, I think
when you're the
the Los Angeles Lakers, you're holding firm, and you're like,
we're not putting in the 2027, Lakers pick and the 2029 Lakers
pit, which Is
that was not available to acquiring teams at the deadline
because the calendar flips and now the 29 pick is available
once free agency starts and so in order to get off the Russell
Westbrook
deal, you're gonna have to put up two first-round picks and
then you get a Kyrie Irving who's been very unreliable
part-time player
to me. I think Jeanie Buss sees that LeBron. James has not
signed an extension, he's not signed a longer-term. Deal of
giving you an assurance that he's going to be here for
the Long Haul.
After he just talked to
Jay, Austin Lloyd in Cleveland at the athletic about going
back to Cleveland. Like I think when you're Jeanie Buss you're
expecting a lot more assurances from LeBron, James, and Anthony
Davis,
if loyalty exactly in one word loyalty,
if you're going to make a deal like this because that's a lot
to give up the Brooklyn Nets, just showed you that's a lot to
give up
to marry Kyrie Irving with your organization because he could
be just out of here. He could be gone and just nothing.
Totally am IA Off the Grid and you if you're Jeanie Buss,
I just don't think you make that deal.
The 27 and 29 pick.
Well, I was like what do you make of Kyrie buying the
the mansion in? L.a. of reports are true.
Kyrie Irving, Kyrie do you think he's just adding on to
his real estate portfolio? I mean, you know,
I mean what do we say when LeBron was taking his moving
truck out of Miami? And people are like, oh no, he's just, you
know, he's just he's fine, he does that. Every summer know
that was real, like that was real. He was leaving Miami and
going back to Cleveland,
people didn't want to believe it. So,
I've got my third eye, open on that one with Kyrie is that
he's Looking at real estate in La for a reason.
All right dr. Frank's, we appreciate your time. Thank you
so much and I will see you next time.