บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Modern Flame - A Chaotic Summer Check-In

almost it it felt at sometimes like self sabotage almost, like he was trying to talk his way out of Boston. ⁓ now as far as as Boston's eventual trade partner, who who ends up being Philadelphia, I did see yesterday ⁓ that At one point, the Sixers had the highest odds of any team in the league to be Jalen Brown's team going into 2026-27. They were considered the biggest long shot of anyone in the NBA. ⁓ I even saw that Hoop's hype didn't have a single Jalen Brown to Philadelphia rumor at at any point in in the site's history. Up until the trade went through, which i is pretty remarkable. ⁓ that it just materialized that quickly. between two teams who are division rivals, longtime rivals, the Sixers knocked Boston out of the playoffs this past year. The whole thing is just completely unexpected. Now, w where do you want to hit on this first? Are are we looking at it from a Boston perspective or Philadelphia perspective? Because I think both are interesting and both kind of leave us with some lingering questions. I think we could start from the Boston perspective because they're kind of the ones who started this all. ⁓ I think, you know, Philadelphia just kind of joined in late and was like, Hey, he's on the table. All right, let's let's make a pitch. I I think that, you know, and there's been a lot of debate with the analytics. Boston clearly didn't rate Jalen Brown as high as Jalen Brown rated himself. And he makes a boatload of money. I mean he's set to make fifty seven million dollars, ⁓ which is about thirty five percent of a team's cap. And Jason Tatum makes about that much money. ⁓ so they're almost taking sixty to seventy percent of the Celtics cap. And I think what the Celtics saw last year in the playoffs was this recipe isn't working anymore. with the cap, the way the cap rules have changed, I I think that they they wanted to pivot and they went to make the splash for Giannis and that didn't work. And then the already fractured relationship with Jalen Brown just got worse. I mean, you said it it was before the Giannis trait that he made the headline, This was my favorite year, you know. K it it's not calling Tatum out, but you could look into it. ⁓ It's bad optics at the very end. It's bad optics and honestly, Tatum didn't help the cause. And t I'm not Tatum is always quiet. You never know about his personal life. He's very he moves silent. He could have very easily came out and been like, There's no beef between us. I understand what he was ⁓ meaning by it. Like, we're good. He never said that. and it leads, you know, narratives to fly of that relationship is over. And I think Boston just felt like they had to get rid of him. ⁓ one because they didn't think they were good enough under the salary cap. And two, because the relationship was over. I don't really think they had a lot of offers coming in though. So I know they were looking for what, four first round picks at one point. ⁓ they landed on two and Paul George. So I mean they did

pick up some good pieces though, like, you know, they brought in Mitchell Robinson, I think Mike Conley signed for a one year, ⁓ You know, they they did have a solid year last year. Tatum is coming back. They do get two draft picks. I I don't think it's like the end of this Celtics. ⁓ like I I still think they have building blocks here. It's not what they wanted. It's certainly plan D, probably. but I I still think they are in a spot where they could compete and have future assets. Would be interested though if Tatum has any you know anything on his mind if this doesn't go well in the next year or two. Yeah it it it's interesting because like like do you think they're good enough with Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum currently as is or what it used to be. Like were they good enough especially in the East now to compete without really having the flexibility to add? Well, that's the really tricky thing about this, is because it's only two years ago when they win the title. And not only do they win the title, but they make the East Finals in twenty twenty three. They make the NBA Finals in 2022. They make the East Finals in 2020. Like d this team has won more over the last ten years than any other team in the Eastern Conference. But the last two years i it does kinda There's like a stink to it because they they lose to New York in twenty twenty five. And like yes, Tatum gets hurt in that series, but they're on the verge of going down three one with him in the picture anyway. This year regular season, you you I don't wanna say you have to throw it out, but they get what, fifteen games out of Tatum? Yeah. Six So sixteen games. And then obviously they lose to Philadelphia. They they blow a 3-1 lead. Tatum doesn't play in game seven, but you still expect to get by a Sixers team that had to go through the play-in just to get in the playoffs. So on one hand, I get why some people would look at it and be like, wow, this is way too abrupt to be breaking up this duo that just has a track record of pumping out 50-win seasons and Eastern Conference Finals appearances. On the other hand, if Boston is really evaluating Jalen Brown the way that it seems like, according to reports they are, and they think that just from a personality perspective there's something off, I guess it makes sense to move off him now when when even though they don't get Everything they want for him, his trade value is probably never going to be higher considering he just was second team all NBA. Yeah. Like what are the chan like I I know Boston wanted four first round picks, they get two. But what are the chances that if they revisit this next year, they even get an offer like the one they end up accepting from Philadelphia? He's only another year old, or you run the risk of some regression not just from him but from the team. I think that this was the time to to make the move if you're going to make it. And and like we kind of hit on already, he kind of talked himself out of Boston in some respect. So that that's a long-winded way of saying yes, I do think that they could remain competitive in the Eastern Conference if If Jalen Brown did not kind of talk his way out of Boston. ⁓ and that's assuming that Jason Tatum comes back next year and and looks like Peak Tatum, which we saw glimpses of ⁓ i in the few opportunities we could see him play. now I think the question for Boston is is is are you going into something that is going to resemble a retooling year? Or is this still a roster that could compete for an Eastern Conference title? That I don't know. I I think that's where Brad Stevens better hope that guys like, you know, Hugo and Baylor Shireman pan out. Because if those two turn into really solid pieces for them, i it makes complete sense that they wouldn't be included in the Giannis trade and You have two young players that you want to keep and develop and if they turn into starters or one of them turns into starters, ⁓ you have them on a little bit of a cheaper deal. That's how you win within the margins. if those two don't pan out and they can't be rotational players in the playoffs, Brad Stevens has egg all over his face, in my opinion. because you had the opportunity to trade for Giannis. So y those two people are honestly really important to the Celtics organization for the next two years, I think. I would even, even though he plays a different position, I would even throw in Peyton Pritchard into that conversation. Because from what I've heard is Boston is looking at this somewhat as a bet on Peyton Pritchard that with a heavier share of the offensive burden going his way. They think that he could elevate. Like the the comparison I actually heard was could he be their version of Jalen Brunson? ⁓ who kinda takes off after he's not sharing touches and kinda playing behind or playing second fiddle to Luca. Yeah. It now it that so And he's on a great contract too. So I mean the Celtics are making the bet to try to win on these these, you know, marginal contracts. ⁓ and they're gonna look brilliant if Peyton Pritchard turns into Jalen Brunson. Yeah, I I mean, even if he doesn't turn into Jalen Brunson, that's a pretty cheap ask. But i if he can elevate his game and he has the last couple of years, and you get one of those two, either Shireman or Hugo, to hit, then maybe this pays off because you've got two pi Two first round picks coming in in the next few years. I actually didn't think Paul George but gave Philadelphia that bad a minutes this year. I I felt like he kinda settled into like an old man Paul George sort of role. so I I do think that Boston can remain competitive in the East. The problem is the rest of the East just keeps getting better. And that includes Philadelphia, their trade partner. in this deal who now are moving forward put Embiid aside because we don't know what we're gonna get from Joel Embiid on a year to year or day to day basis. But you've got a a a backcourt of Tyrese Maxie, VJ Edgecombe, Jalen

Brown on the wing. That right away, like that right there gets you in the mix in the Eastern Conference in my opinion. With a really good head coach, a decent roster around them, and hey, are we all of a sudden a LeBron destination potentially? Yeah. I know that they have ⁓ you know, recently joined that conversation late, basically after the Jalen Brown trade. you know, so yeah, they they certainly have all of the the tools currently to ⁓ make a play. It it's interesting though, like is Jalen Brown gonna be happy there? Like I felt like Jalen Brown thought of Milwaukee as like, ⁓ I could be one A. I'm gonna be the guy. Who's the guy there? You know, it's not It's not gonna be the guy in Philadelphia. Philadelphia just fucking adores Tyrese Maxie. Right. Right. So you know that it will be interesting. ⁓ And they lost some key places too. They lost Quentin Grimes, ⁓ Kelly Ubre. ⁓ so, you know, that's something that to keep into mind. But I I think overall, you know, they they're gonna be right there in in the the east. I think probably they'll be what? Two behind the Knicks, maybe one favorite? ⁓ I don't know. We could probably look it up right now, but they also did You know, they picked ⁓ I I'm looking now though, they picked up Dean Wade, which was a great pick up. So right now I'd say their their prod potential starting lineup would be Maxie, Edgecombe, Brown, Dean Wade, and Embiid. I think that probably is the best starting five in the East. Yeah, I mean i it's tough seeing what the Knicks just did. Like I I I still wanna make sure we're giving them proper credit. But you know Mitchell Robinson Mitchell Robinson leaving the Knicks is that's gonna hurt them. And they they don't really have a backup plan for their backup center. They lost two centers in free agency so far. Yeah, 'cause they they Huck Porti is in Philadelphia now too. Yeah. Yeah. So and you know, Philadelphia also gets Anthony Simons. who's gonna be a ⁓ bench scorer for if they could somehow get LeBron move Dean Wade to the bench, ⁓ you know, that's with Huck Porti, that's that's a scary team. ⁓ shout out to Mike Gansy with the the tall tee coming over from Cleveland this year and and really doing work. Now what I will say though for Philly going forward is those MB, Brown and Maxie, they make They make a a pretty penny. so, you know, they have Edgecombe on a rookie contract still, but they're pretty much tied up here on out. Those three are gonna have to work. Obviously LeBron could come in at a vet minimum ⁓ for this year, ⁓ but going forward they're gonna be pretty tied up, so you know they better hope it works. 'Cause if it doesn't, they're they're gonna have to pivot. ⁓ yeah. Let let's pivot to another Eastern Conference team. 'Cause you you had said initially you thought we'd start with with Giannis. Yep. And it it it happened what, two weeks ago, a week and a half ago? And it so much else has happened that it it kind of feels like it's on the back burner a little bit. But

this is still probably the biggest move of the off season thus far. It's a top 25 all-time player getting traded to a franchise that they just always have a way of acquiring a big name player, and recent history tells us they're going to be pretty damn competitive right away. I mean, they they acquired LeBron and Bosch in 2010, don't have much else on the fringes of that roster besides the big three. They make the NBA finals. They acquire Jimmy Butler and in one year make the NBA finals. I don't know that Miami has enough to make the NBA finals, but I do know that it seems like the consensus around the Heat roster is much more lukewarm than I am. I I am relatively optimistic about how this could fit. ⁓ just the talent play of it, I I think that they're going to be a bitch to deal with defensively. I think that I I put enough trust in Eric Spoolstra to to believe that they're gonna be able to figure some things out offensively because a Bam Giannis partnership could be a little clunky. But w what i what's your thoughts on this as a fit? I don't think we need to get into the two year long saga of Giannis getting out of Milwaukee. We've hit on that enough. We're both tired of it. Let's just look at this from a Giannis is in Miami, what now? You know, I I wish I shared your optimism. ⁓ Okay. I just don't I I don't think that it's a great fit. ⁓ I think it's gonna be a lot like Milwaukee. ⁓ just he's gonna be wearing a Miami jersey. I I think, you know, they did sign Tim Hardaway. He gives them some shooting and some spacing, but you know, Davion Mitchell, he's not a shooter. I don't really think you want Bam taking, you know, eight threes a game. I know he's improved that aspect, but I still just I I don't think that there's enough enough there offensively. Spo is a great mind, so he's got his work cut out for him. ⁓ But like in the playoffs, do they have a guy who could break down the defense and just go get a tough bucket? That's Giannis. ⁓ I you know, maybe that's Bam. I don't know. I haven't seen that from Bam. I don't trust Bam to just go get a bucket in the playoffs. maybe they get a guy, you know, there's gonna be a bunch of vets out there who are gonna take, you know, ring chasing deals and and maybe they'll, you know, get one Chris Middleton might join. defensively they're gonna be elite. They're gonna be probably one of the best defensive teams in the league, if not the best. ⁓ hard to say the Spurs won't be. ⁓ but they'll be the best defensive team in the East. I just don't think they have the offense in the playoffs where, you know, it's not really transition. You have to score in the half court, and you have to make kinda individual baskets and I just don't see they have enough of those guys. So ⁓ yeah, we I I we just we're not we're not on the same page on that one, but I I respect it. And if you're the Heat, like you gotta go for it. Like, why not? You they were ⁓ a play in team for the last what almost eight years at this point. Well

really it was ever since the twenty twenty three finals when they were a play in team. Right. They're the eight seed. So re twenty twenty two they they have the best record in the East. Then twenty twenty three as an eight seed they make the the finals, but we're talking four years in a row now where they're a play in team. You're right, correct. So, you know, make the swing. ⁓ Giannis wanted to be there. He he's gonna extend. Anytime you get a chance to get, you know, a Shaq or a LeBron or a Jimmy Butler, you take it. And Pat Riley's always he has, he's always won with those guys. And I think Giannis fits the culture. Like I think that all of that is a great fit. I just I am interested in the offense. but maybe they could, you know, get some guys ⁓ on on smaller deals that come in. I I I mean, we're gonna get to LeBron at some point, but this is another potential. And does LeBron fit? I don't know. I don't think LeBron really fits either. Like I I I think that well LeBron fits anywhere. Let's make that clear. But I also don't know if LeBron ⁓ fixes all their their needs. ⁓ well let me ask you this. And we'll we'll get back to Miami and we'll get back to some of the non-Lebron moves i in a in a second. But if you're just looking at how the rosters are constructed right now, what team do you think gives LeBron a better chance of winning a championship next year if he j if he joins on a vet minimum or something close to it? Miami or Cleveland? Dilusia? Yep. Yep. Sorry. No, you're good. ⁓ where did I I I'll I'll just run it back. ⁓ so we'll we'll get back to the non-Lebron free agency stuff and trades and all that in a second. But just as a quick aside, if we assume that LeBron really is going to sign for the vet minimum or something close to that, that money isn't an issue, which team do you think gives him the better chance to make the NBA finals? Miami or Cleveland? Cleveland. Do you? Yeah, I think Cleveland is just a better fit. ⁓ like I the problem with Cleveland, similarly to the problem with Philly, is they both were embarrassed in the playoffs last year. so, you know, what's the mindset of those core pieces? ⁓ I know Philly obviously gets Jalen Brown, so he can kind of shift the the mindset of the team and and he's kind of a proven winner. ⁓ but both of those t or you know, Philly in Miami era Philly and in ⁓ Cleveland they have some work to do on that side. But I just think that overall if LeBron just could come in at the vet minimum, you go Harden, Mitchell, LeBron, Mobley, Allen. That's a seamless fit. He plays the three. at times at late in the game, he shifts to the four. Mobley goes to the five if you bring in Max Struuss. Like I think that that really works. In Miami, I think it just gets really clunky. He's Playing the three next to Giannis and Bam with what Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway at the one and the two. I like And you got Wiggins still there. And then Wiggins. Okay, so you could go Wiggins at the two with ⁓ I mean, I guess

you could probably put LeBron maybe at point guard then? That's what I that's how I envisioned it. When they when Miami signed Hardaway Because I I've been going through the calculus of whatever the LeBron decision is going to be ⁓ on like a minute by minute basis. I I feel bad for Maria because I I've just been like a ghost thinking about all the potential LeBron fits. When they signed Hardaway, I thought, okay, LeBron, Hardaway, Wiggins, Giannis, Bam, does that work? And I don't know the answer. Just like I don't know the answer if LeBron is next to James Harden. Does that work? Because here's the concern to me with Cleveland. I don't know that they could be good enough defensively if you have James Harden and a forty-one, and at that point he'll be a forty-two year old LeBron James on the floor in the playoffs. And it's not like Donovan Mitchell is locking people down. So can that team get stops? I at least know Miami can get stops. So that that's the the tug of war that I'm having in my head. Now, I I'll just make it clear, and again, we'll we'll get back to some of the other stuff. As someone who lives fifteen minutes away from downtown Cleveland, I am very hopeful that LeBron comes to Cleveland. But I I there is a part of me that thinks he would have a better chance of getting ring number five if he were in Miami. Yeah, I I guess I could I could see your argument there. I guess my issue is I don't think he has a a realistic chance to win in Miami. I think that he has a maybe a better chance to win in Cleveland. Yeah, I don't but like if if he goes to either of those teams, I don't think they're the favorite in the East. I think if he goes to the Sixers, they become the favorite in the East. I just I hate this Harden deal that Cleveland has because I think that would be the the most simple, easy way to go about it. Bring LeBron in, bring, you know, some other pieces in with the Hardin's money. But, you know, there's that secret agreement there. Yeah, I mean, you may have talked me into it with him playing point guard. I guess who is who is he gonna guard? He's or who is Tim Hardaway? Like who's gonna be there? I mean you got Wiggins would probably have to guard the other team's best guard and you know, then you'd have Hardaway on the two, he'd play the three. Yeah, I that that could work. I think offensively they'd still be very jumbled up, but yeah defensive again amazing. And and there's no perfect fit, like around the entire league unless unless he was gonna just bop into a situation like San Antonio. I I don't think that there is like a perfectly seamless fit I think Philly would be a perfect fit. I think Philly really would be a perfect fit. He'd be that would be he could play the high on the list, yeah. I mean you think about you'd go Maxie, Edgecombe, Jalen Brown, all three of those guards, especially Edgecomb and and Brown, they could guard. and you have MB playing the five, he's probably not gonna be there, but they they did, you know, they they brought in some backups. ⁓ and he could kinda just play that like Swiss Army knife for action, kinda coast through the regular season and and turn it on in the playoffs. The only thing I don't love about that is I don't necessarily know if I want him joining another team. ⁓ and that's more of just a LeBron legacy aspect of it, but there's something about that where if he goes back to Miami, if he goes to Cleveland, it's it's still one of his three teams. Right. ⁓ okay, let let's pivot back away from LeBron for a second and continue to to move through these other ⁓ moves that ⁓ particularly in the Eastern Conference. Kawhi Leonard. On multiple occasions you have gaffawed at my notion that Kawhi should have stayed in Toronto. Seven years later I feel vindicated because this is the one team that he said that he would sign an extension with. I I feel so good about it. What do we make of the Raptors? Are is this like a legit team in the East or are we getting a little bit ahead of our skis here? No, I think they're right there. Like I think they're right there. I think the Knicks are one and then there are like three or four teams that are like right on that next level. ⁓ and they're one of ⁓ I mean Scotty Barnes is a proven all star. ⁓ RJ Barrett had a great year last year. Not a great year, but a his best year. ⁓ if they wanna move him, I think he'd be probably valued relatively as high as he would be. ⁓ But he also is a solid, you know, two way guy. ⁓ quickly was hurt during the playoffs last year. People kind of forget about that. He's solid. and then you bring in Kawhi, and you know, he's had two really, really good years. ⁓ he's been relatively healthy. and and you're right. You know, that that contract that they're the trade that they made with the Spurs, ⁓ it Honestly looks a lot better now 'cause yeah, you get the championship, but also like there's no way you get Kawhi to extend now if he didn't already play play in Toronto. ⁓ so you kinda reap the reward like you know, years later. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ no and they're right there. They're right there. It wouldn't shock me one bit if if they make a run and you know, you see them in the finals, especially if Kawhi is healthy. ⁓ yeah. I tell you what, man. The they are going to be a motherfucker to have to score against when you have Kawhi and Scotty Barnes and Colin Murray Boyles. You could throw Jamal Shedd in there. hurdle at center, like that team is just going to be a nightmare to have to try to put points on the board against. ⁓ Like I just looking at the roster right now, relatively deep, like we don't even mention RJ Barrett in that five, Emmanuel Quickly. they signed Kyle Anderson. I don't think he gives you much at this point, but ⁓ a guy that Kawhi is familiar with. ⁓ Yeah, I I I I for the last week I've been tinkering with a projected sort of here's how the east and west are both gonna play out. Just some predictions for standings. And I've had Toronto as high as two in in

those projections. I haven't bumped the Knicks off of one. But from two to ten, like I have no idea what to expect in the Eastern Conference this year. But I I think Toronto is closer to the top of that than the bottom if they're getting sixty five games out of Kawhi, which he gave the Clippers last year. Now, if Kawhi comes in and can't play sixty five games, then then we're looking at this a little bit differently. But assuming we get the version of Kawhi who made what, second team all NBA this past year, I I don't see why Toronto shouldn't be looked at as a potential threat to win the Eastern Conference. No, no, I'm w I'm with you. I mean So we've talked about the Heat, we've talked about the Cavs, the Sixers, Celtics, obviously the Raptors. ⁓ who are who are we missing? Is there any other team in the East that we we haven't gotten to that has made a splash? I I don't I don't r Charlotte trading Lamello? I mean they they kinda What okay. What do we make of that deal? I am notoriously not high on LaMelo Ball. ⁓ where do you stand on him? I actually I mean, and I think everyone knows this, I really enjoyed watching Charlotte play last year. what I I think Charlotte hit at the right moment. he had kind of been on and off through his whole career and I thought last year was his most solid year. ⁓ as a NBA player. and and they, you know, they felt like they could get the most out of ⁓ and it's clear that they pivoted to Brandon Miller and Con Kanipple being the staples. so I I think it's a a really honestly a great deal for Charlotte, just because I don't think that they were ready to compete in this D in this East. So, you know, get the most out of LaMelo, trade ⁓ get the most out of Miles Bridges, trade and kind of regroup under this young core that you have. You know, not only did they have, you know, Conn and Brandon Miller, they had a lot of really young players ⁓ come together and and play really well last year. They s I believe they're gonna bring back Kobe White. so, you know, you'll have Kobe White, Conn, Brandon Miller, ⁓ you got your bigs, young bigs. so, you know, I I think there are They're taking a step back, but I think their future honestly looks better because of the trade. They might be one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference. Yeah. Like just listing off the guys on their roster. They they get Grayson Allen in the the Miles Bridges trade. They get Royce O'Neal in the Miles Bridges trade. Those two guys are probably back half of your rotation, but still rotation guys. Yep. they get they get Christian Anderson. And they get Hans Stein back in the draft. They could slow play those two, but two first round picks, guys who in time I think will make contributions to this team. You got Khan, you got Brandon Miller, obviously, those two are your cornerstones. Nas Reed, one of the most beloved guys across the entire NBA, just a pros pro. I think that like I I think he's almost been being framed as a throw in in this deal. Which

I think is just a complete mischaracterization of what he could provide this team. I think that with starters minutes, he's going to it's not like all of a sudden he's gonna make a jump to all star necessarily, but I think that he's a legit starting big in this league. He's proved that as a consistent sixth man of the year candidate over the last few years. Kobe White kind of came on. ⁓ at points late in the year last year. Lamello got benched for Kobe White on a few occasions and in down the stretch in games. Like even somebody like Ryan Kultbrenner, who who nobody expected, I got so excited I just punched my microphone. Ryan Koltbrenner, who knows that he would do it to me. Yeah, I mean he did a great rookie year though. Yeah, he did. Diabate, another big like I just think that this team is gonna be better than people expect them to be. I I think that there's an ⁓ expectation that they're gonna take a step back. I don't think that that's going to be the case. Now they might not be any better than eighth or ninth in the East compared like which they were last year. But that has more to do with the rest of the East upgrading than it does Charlotte downgrading or or staying stagnant. I think that this team is gonna be pretty solid. Yeah. No, I mean in you know, I I I said that they might take a step back. I I think maybe that was the wrong choice of words. They're just regrouping. Like they they clearly are pivoting from their old ⁓ core and they're moving to more of like a younger like let's maybe build this thing out where in two to three years we could be a real contender. But they're they're still gonna be, you know, a good watch. ⁓ Still got the broadcast crew intact, so you know, as long as as he's there, we're gonna keep watching. I think Nas Reed though could be an all star. Like I so, you know, like you said though, the East has just gotten so good and a team that we haven't mentioned that, you know, they pr maybe they get the best free agent out of anyone and you know that's Halliburton coming back to the Pacers. You know, the Pacers are gonna be a team that they're not gonna be a bottom feeder anymore. Now you're speaking my language. So, you know, that's why Charlotte I not maybe they don't take a step back in terms of like their their play, but their their seating, I don't see them moving up. I could see ⁓ maybe going down. especially if a team like Orlando figures it out. Like there's still a lot of teams that I think ⁓ right now without LaMelo are in front of Charlotte. ⁓ but I still think they're in Great spot going forward. Well, let's just run down the East, because we've hit on on almost anybody. I'm glad you brought up Indiana because they get Halliburton back after he misses the entire year with a combination of a torn Achilles and shingles. ⁓ they signed Kelly Ubre, who I actually think really fits well in Indiana. Like I I I liked his minutes in Philadelphia the last couple years. So the Eastern Conference, the way I've been

looking at it. I think that there are gonna be twelve teams who expect to make the playoffs next year. And and could reasonably do so. So Knicks, Pacers, Pistons, Celtics, Cavs, Raptors, Hawks, Philadelphia, Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, and Washington. That's twelve right there. Twelve teams that will go into the season thinking We're expecting to make the playoffs this year. Two of them won't even make the play in. Yeah. The yeah. The Eastern Conference, ladies and gentlemen. I know. We haven't talked about the the team that had the the one seed last year. That's the Pistons. You know, I think they'll end up with Duran. but I I would have liked to see them make a little bit more of a splash, ⁓ to get K'd someone else. partner with. ⁓ they haven't really done it. Atlanta I thought has done some decent things this offseason, but you know, those two I I could see them sliding down from last year. ⁓ but yeah, no, I mean it's that's twelve legitimate playoff teams. it's gonna be a gre it's gonna be a crazy year. And the interesting with those twelve Which one of those teams, if halfway through the year they're clearly not gonna make the playoffs, is gonna, you know, make some trades. ⁓ I could see Well Washington is the easy one, right? Like what like and I say that Washington will expect to make the playoffs. I think they will. I think that that may be wishful thinking because you need to get a hundred and thirty games combined, probably out of Trey Young and Anthony Davis to to factor into the equation, I don't know if we could count on that. So I think that they're the one who i if they're outside looking in, they could get to February and say, you know what, let's just make the Anthony Davis deal recoup as much as we can for him and just really look ahead toward the future. So e but even if you put them to the side, there are still eleven teams. Yeah. that that really believe they could make the playoffs and should make the playoffs and in for a lot of these teams believe that they could win the Eastern Conference. Yeah, I think got six seven. Hey now. Hey. Are we too old to do that? Is that I think we are. Are we out of that demographic? Okay. I thought so. I it felt weird doing it. Yeah, I felt like an idiot doing it. But no, I would say there's probably ⁓ six to seven teams that realistically think that they're gonna be in the finals next year. ⁓ and based on the moves that they made. Yeah, I I think that that's a realistic number. it's weird it's like, you know, for years the West has has kind of been the dominant conference and I don't know why that's still a thing. obviously with OKC and the Spurs that's probably gonna continue on, but the East has really made, you know, a name for themselves over the last ten years. And it's they're they're right there. They might be the better conference. I mean, over the last ten years, as many Eastern Conference teams has won the NBA Finals as the West. I think that it's fair to say that the East is now deeper than the Western Conference, 'cause if you if you're looking at the West, it's like okay, if Phoenix ends up the ten seed in the Western Conference, I don't think that they're as good as Atlanta. I I I'm not you know what I mean? Like I I think that that the East just has more good teams, more teams who I could see finishing with forty five wins or more than the Western Conference. I I before we move on further, I wanna look at the other side of that Charlotte trade. Minnesota, I think I think that this deal instantly makes them the most popular Gen Z team in the league. I think that and i as much criticism as I've had for Lamello Ball over the years, I I do get the appeal of to of him to a young fan. And I think that there will be nights when him and Anthony Edwards ⁓ like it it it looks like the deal is justified because those two are just operating at such a high level offensively. ⁓ I do think that they took a step back from where they were the last couple years to now. I think that that downgrading in their front court and I I'm still not totally sold that Ant and Lamello is a perfect basketball fit. I could be wrong. Maybe I'll I'll look really foolish, but I don't necessarily think that they're as good as they were last year or the two years prior. where do you stand on the Timberwolves? Because they're they're chasing they're chasing Oklahoma City in San Antonio, and everything that really anyone in the Western Conference is doing should be looking at how do we beat those teams. Does acquiring LaMelo get them closer to beating either one of those teams? I don't think so, but i if you have a case to make that it does, I'd love to hear it. I don't know if it gives them a better opportunity to beat those teams, but I love the trade and I love it because it's like, Hey aunt, we're trying. Like it's clear that Julius Randle isn't gonna give us the production that we need out of him in the playoffs. He was your co star. That's not working. Clearly. I mean and I shouldn't say it's not working. They made, you know, deep playoff runs the last three years. Last year, you know, the whole team gets hurt almost. ⁓ And they still get to the second round. ⁓ so you know, they've had some success, but you know, when you have a guy like Anthony Edwards who one, wants to be the face of the league and two, he thinks he should be the face of the league, you need to cater to him. And he he needed a point guard ⁓ for the last three years. and I think that they've really, you know, seen McDaniels grow. So they could just slide him to the four. They just signed Ayu. you know, I I think that that starting lineup of Lamello and Ayu, ⁓ McDaniels and Gobert, you know, that that could be scary. ⁓ you could do a lot offensively with that, ⁓ with spacing and you know, you have a a lob threat. ⁓ back to your question. No, I don't think it gets ⁓ any closer. But I I respect the idea of like we're gonna turn over every rock for Ant to make sure that we give him the

best chance to win. And if this doesn't work, you know, we'll we'll go from there. We'll pivot. We could maybe get off Gobert and try something else, ⁓ you know, with our our front court. So we'll you know, we'll see where that goes. But I like the attempt. That's fair. And again, I I will if Lamello goes in there and it is a seamless fit, I'll I'll eat my words. I I'll I'll admit that I was wrong. I just I will remain skeptical until I see otherwise. Alright, rapid fire on some other moves around ⁓ the association that didn't necessarily make the splash that some of these other moves did. ⁓ John Morant. gets traded to Portland. A a deal that really befuddled both of us. Right as it happened, we got on a a phone call not recorded and just tried to like talk it through. I think we were both looking for the other person to sort of explain it to us, like what Portland's rationale with it was. I think we both came away more confused than we we were when we started the conversation. Have you Have you figured anything out with this? I I I don't know what I got. I I I have some theories, but I wanna hear what you have first. I am so happy to hear that you have some theor theories because not only have I not figured it out, I've gotten more confused. 'Cause I I thought that they were gonna maybe make a play for Jalen Brown, like package scoot and Drew and and get a wing. Or maybe Denny and Dr like Scoot or something. ⁓ But they didn't and they're staying Pat and they're saying no, this is the team. We we like this team. We're not looking to trade. I when I called you, I was like, Well, they got Drew and they got Scoot and they got Denny and now they're bringing in Ja and you were like and ⁓ crap, Dame's back. Like they got five guys that Play very similarly on offense. they need the ball. Well, I mean Drew doesn't necessarily need the ball, but he's not like this floor spacing guy. I I I'm lost. I I don't know. I think it maybe would have been a good deal if you package some things and go get ⁓ big. Maybe I know they lost, but I think they're gonna lose Robert Williams if they haven't already. they have Klingon, but like what It just I have no clue, so help me out here. So I I arrive at the same conclusion as you in that Drew doesn't really need the ball. He could kinda be a chameleon and you're getting enough from him just as like a connector offensively and defensively everything that he does. so that piece of it I feel like I've kinda resolved. The dame Jod Denny Trio, I'm still confused by how that's going to work. what I wonder about Scoot is is Portland a team that is eventually going to decide come February, like, hey, we could make a move for a proven sort of win now guy, and Scoot ends up being like the centerpiece of that. deal. Like could this be an Anthony Davis team? Where if you're Washington, you think, okay, it's not happening in the Eastern Conference. We could move toward a future with Debanza and Sar and Koulibaly. And hey, now we have

our point guard or combo guard next to Trey Young. I maybe that that's the closest I've come to figuring out the scoot aspect of it. question for you, do they have the money for that? Cause I I mean, I would assume that the Wizards are gonna probably extend Anthony Davis to a pretty high number. I mean, they just gave Trey Young a ton of money. I would I mean, Anthony Davis is extension eligible, so I would assume he is gonna want an extension before the season starts. Which honestly probably makes him harder to trade. But now I'm thinking about it, I don't really know who Portland would have on a huge deal, where they probably would be able to take that money in. ⁓ they probably would have to send a little bit more out than just scoot. So looking at it, I think what they would have to do, it would have to be a three for one where it's scoot, shaden sharp, and Kamara for Anthony Davis. And I think that would probably get you pretty close to a salary match. Now I don't know that making a bet on a thirty plus year old Anthony Davis is the right move, especially when you've got a thirty plus year old Damian Lillard. I that again, we're we're grasping for straws here. Like we're ⁓ the problem with the West two is like that would be a win now move. I get it. I in in a lot of different years, going jaw dame, Denny, Anthony Davis and Klingon. go all in, that might you might win that year. And it might, you know, pull a Raptors. Go in for a year and you know, get your championship and, you know, kind of suffer the consequences a couple years later, but you got your ring, that's fine. That's not good enough in the West. Like although the East is deeper and has twelve really good teams, those two teams in the West, one are just getting better And two, like, they're they're so far ahead that you have to do more than just Anthony Davis if you're Portland. So do you want to hamstring yourself for the next five years to just be, you know, the third best team in the conference? I don't think so, but I also don't know why you pick John Moran up if you're not swinging for the fences. Unless they're just gonna say, you know what, we're gonna ⁓ you know, hopefully ride Dame out for I don't he's still relatively young, but two years and then hand the reins over to Ja. But I think Dame's got more to that. Like I I don't think the timeline matches up. ⁓ so yeah, I don't know where they go from So Dame's thirty five. So theoretically, maybe a couple years left. ⁓ now just as like a pure talent play, like it's not like Portland had to attach picks. No. They they wanted to get off Jeremy Grant anyway. I I don't think K Keegan Murray is anything that you have to worry about that he's gonna come back and bite you in the ass for moving him for a guy like Ja. So in that respect, I do get it. The ja whatever has derailed him the last few years, from a pure talent play, this gives you a higher ceiling than the combination of Jeremy Grant and Chris Murray. Fit issues are are present and they're gonna need to figure that out. ⁓ especially because Denny was so ball dominant last year, and I think he's at his best when The ball is in his hands, he's getting downhill, getting into the paint. ⁓ you know, th this will probably cut into those opportunities. I I don't know. Like hear me out though. Just a very simple question. Is John is John Morant mature enough to come off the bench? I don't think so. I don't think he's willing to do that. I think they've said that they're gonna start Ja and Dame together. I think that they've th I think I I wanna say I read that that was already like somebody already came out and said that's our starting backcourt. Okay. And then I would do you go Drew and Denny or Drew coming off the bench? 'Cause I don't you probably can't go Denny at the I I think what I think what you need to do, I think you need to do if they're gonna start Dame and Ja together, I think it needs to be those two, Denny at the three, ⁓ Kamara at the four, and Klingon at the five. I think you need a little more size to compensate for that backcourt. ⁓ And then you have Scoot, Drew And Drew off the bench and sharp coming off the bench. Yep. Okay. I mean, again, I don't think it's a great fit. ⁓ but I also don't really think they were going anywhere. And like you said, they didn't have to give up draft picks. So it's it's a little bit like your problem for my problem type of a trade. ⁓ but you know, it's interesting. It it makes them a ⁓ interesting team, like kind of similar to the Timberwolves. Like, don't know if it makes you better. Makes you more interesting though, that's for sure. We gotta reshuffle the deck and try something different. Yep. Yep. Is basically the logic. ⁓ Lakers, how do you feel about everything the LA has done as they head into a post LeBron world? I I just I think, you know, they kinda did what they had to, but I still don't love the roster. I don't know how they're gonna be able to play defense. you know, I think Kessler is is gonna help ⁓ clean up. At least now they have a legit rim protector behind everyone else. Like that that will raise the floor of their defense E even with the concerns that a backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves like Loravia plays the three or you know, Quentin Grimes. I guess you could probably put Grimes at the the two and Luca's the three and to ⁓ defensively. ⁓ Yeah, I I think they did what they had to. ⁓ they promised Luca that this was gonna be the summer that they got him a a true big They did that. I think Austin Reeves is you know, someone that you could almost player comp like the production of Kyrie. So, you know, if you're trying to rebuild that Mavs team from a couple of years ago that got to the finals, you know, they have a a true rim threat, ⁓ a rim protector, and you have a secondary playmaker who can get his own shot. ⁓ you know. Bring in a guy like ⁓ Colin Sexton who could kind of be a defensive stopper if you need to. ⁓ the big from Toronto. I'm

gonna put that's a that's a safer play. Mammu, yeah, just go Mammu. But he's a floor stretching, you know, big who's gonna, you know, be able to w I think stay in front and get rebounds and yeah overall I think they did what they had to. I don't think that they're sniffing OK C or the Spurs though. Like that's it's so hard for me because like the marker is at such a high level. It's like, yeah, they did good, but they're still not there. and I don't know if that's gonna be good enough for Luca. ⁓ so it's it's interesting. And I think like Dallas is in the same or I'm sorry, Denver is in the same boat. Like, you know, th these teams are really good. They have superstars, but they're not even close. Could Denver be a LeBron team? I think Denver would that would be a great fit for LeBron. Be a great fit. Honestly, that might be the best fit. ⁓ Yeah, d like you put him there with and again we we go back to LeBron d on brand for me. But you put him with Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, Aaron Gordon, Jokic, and LeBron with some Christian Brown in there. Yeah. Like that seems like a pretty solid fit to me for LeBron. Pam Johnson? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like that that I think like Denver is without question the closest team in the West to breaking into that top tier. Even though they just get bounced round one. Having Jokic there, it it it gives you the ability to say like, yeah, we could we stand a puncher's chance against the best teams in the Western Conference if if everyone is, you know, clicking at the same time. That that's the one thing they need something. Like they need a smart reshuffle of the deck and see what we have and if they could kind of pause that for a year and get LeBron and that could kind of be the igniter to for change. I think that's great. ⁓ the one question I have and I don't think we've ever really had to ask this because LeBron's never been open to everybody. But like, is LeBron truly willing to go play in Denver? Like, is that where he w he's in LA right now, his family's in LA, Bronny's still gonna play in LA. you know, he's got his other son in Arizona, relatively close, young daughter, wife, all in LA. You're gonna move to Denver? ⁓ I'm not sure that's there. So like what's LeBron truly looking for? And I know we're just going back to LeBron, but honestly I any team we talk about with the fact that they could sign LeBron for a vet minimum, you have to bring him up. I just I I I don't know. I I I think there are probably life choices that he's gonna have to decide and if if he's like no, I'm all in, I wanna win a championship, I think Denver, Philly, all those teams are in play, but if it's more of like a life choice, I I don't see it. Well that's that's what makes this decision So different than all of his other decisions. And I I wrote about this today on nbacampfire.com. Nice plug there. ⁓ in 2010, it was clear what he wanted. He wanted to compete for a championship. Miami gave him the best chance to do that. In 2014, he wanted to return home. Cleveland is the only place that that gave him that opportunity. In twenty eighteen he wanted to dip his toes in the pool of Hollywood and play for the most glamorous and prestigious franchise in the NBA. That's the Lakers. In twenty twenty-six, what does he want? Right. He he's a billionaire who has set countless NBA records, he's won four championship rings, really has nothing left to prove. What is happiness to him? What what is the move that is actually going to make him get up every morning with seventy-three thousand minutes on his odometer and wanna keep coming back? Is that playing for your hometown team? Is it competing for a title with a coach that you've already won two titles with in Miami? Is it playing alongside your biggest rival for a year a and getting to experience that? Is it Playing with a a basketball genius whose brain operates very similar to yours in Jokic, I have no clue. Right. I have no idea what it is that he wants. And that's what makes this decision so interesting is I don't think that there's a good read exactly on what he wants out of this. The the closest guess, and I I've maintained this for years now, and I'll stick with it until the end. I think he wants the last chapter of his career to come in Cleveland. I think that is a perfect ending to a storybook career where there is redemption and he is villainized there and he keeps his promise and he starts where he began twenty five years ago as he entered the public spotlight. That makes the most sense if he cares about that narrative, but I have no idea if he does. Yeah. No, and it's it's the cool thing is we're gonna be able to f kind of find like what he's looking for when he decides. so we've talked about Denver, we've talked about you know, Miami and Cleveland. You mentioned going to play for his rival, we'll stick to the West. I think Golden State probably is like the easiest life decision. You know, you stay in California. ⁓ you get to be with guys that are your a like your boys. Like him and Draymond are boys. He loves Steph. could they make a move for Anthony Davis? ⁓ especially if that doesn't go well. Like I I feel like that would pr you know, Steve Curry, you've played for him in the Olympics. Like it it's it's you're going to play with your boys, it's the last run. you all know it's your last run, it's kinda like your last dance. you know, I don't know where that puts you in Cleveland then. ⁓ after battling that team for four years. You know, you just come off this reunion tour of being with the two thousand sixteen guys and, you know, that was such a heated rivalry. I don't know if that's, you know, something that you want to dip your toe in. ⁓ but it's it makes a lot of sense just to stay kind of close to home ⁓ and be with your guys. I I do now, if he does go to the Warriors, where does that put them? I are they ⁓ four five seed? Are they a play in team? Are do you think they can make a run for it? Like where do you see them?

I I have a hard time seeing them making a run at either Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the West. I I think that As long so Assuming San Antonio and Oklahoma City are one two in the Western Conference, if you could avoid either one of those teams, so basically if you could avoid the play in, I think that they could theoretically beat any other team in the West in a round one series so long as all those old guys are healthy. Right. Which that that's not a foregone conclusion. We we've seen LeBron and Steph miss time over the last couple years when for years they they really didn't. ⁓ so I think ceiling wise the three seed, the four seed, I don't know that they're better than Denver. are they better than the Lakers? I I think that I would rate them higher than the Lakers. I think that I think that I enthralling podcasting right now as I'm looking at the Western Conference standings from last year and trying to figure out how high Golden State could get. I I d I think that they're probably better than the Lakers. I don't know that they're gonna be a better regular season team than Houston or maybe even Minnesota, but I do think that they could beat either of those teams in the playoffs. I I just don't know what the regular season would look like with guys as old as they are. And that's why I think the Lakers will end up with more wins too. So I think the Lakers could end up with more wins, but I think I would take the Warriors more seriously. In like a playoff. But I'm just saying for seating purposes, now you're flirting with the play in. Right. And do you want to go to Golden State and, you know, do all that? For a play in opportunity. I don't know. ⁓ It would be fun and it would bring back a lot of memories. Like, you know, for me it would be like, hell yeah, this is my era going against this younger generation's era. Like let's see if we still got it. ⁓ kind of almost like what the twenty twenty four Olympics was to Stefan LeBron. Like, no no no no. Yeah, it's not it's still our league. So maybe that's what he's going for. ⁓ so interesting, but Kind of to move off LeBron, I'm sure we'll go back at the end, because I want I'm gonna end it with I want your honest, true opinion. So you could start thinking about that now. so we've talked about Denver, we've talked about the Lakers, talked about Golden State, we've mentioned OKC and the Spurs. What about their off season so far? What what would you give them a grade of? ⁓ San Antonio, I think, knocked it out of the park with Tobias Harris. Agreed. I I I think that that is maybe the most under the radar acquisition of the offseason. I think that slotting him into that starting lineup, and I assume that Dylan Harper is going to be starting. at least that's what I would do if I was Mitch Johnson. Thinking about a lineup with Harper and Castle and Vassell and Tobias Harris and Victor Wembanyama. That to me feels like he is one of the missing pieces that that team needed. That team needed another guy in

that 3-4 range who could kind of get himself a bucket, who could be relied on to knock down an open shot. They needed that, and they needed more of Dylan Harper. And I I think that if they get those two things, they're they're the favorites to win the NBA title. Right now, if I had to pick a team to win the championship, San Antonio would be my pick. I would have I would have probably landed on them even before the Tobias Harris signing and signing Harris to me like legitimized my my feelings about what they were going to be next year. What What are your feelings on would you rather have Tobias Harris or Rui Hachimura? 'Cause that's who I originally thought they were gonna bring in. When they got Tobias, I was like, okay, that I I think that's that's fair and he gives all the things that you mentioned. ⁓ I th I think I would rather have Tobias Harris. I think having not that Hachamura is young, but having another adult in the room. Having a guy who's gone through a lot of playoff battles. Yeah. I think that that really benefits them. That's something that they needed. I think production wise, him and Rui probably give you like it's a wash. Yep. I I would just rather have the experience, especially because you're getting him on a pretty reasonable deal. You're not locked into him for A really long time. It's two years, thirty one million. Like I I I just I felt like that was a home run. Yep. And being covered it's being covered like it's a single. But and it's a home run because it's it's not the player that's the home run, it's the fit. Exactly. You know, it's he's not this A list player, but they didn't need an A list player. Their team was we saw it in the finals. They were we saw in the playoffs I should say. ⁓ their team was was right there, very close. And in the finals I felt like they did show a little bit of youth. ⁓ Tobias Harris has been in a ton of playoffs. so yeah, no, great great signing there. And I honestly I think that's all they really needed. ⁓ maybe an upgrade at like Cornet, but I I still think I believe in in French Vanilla as their their fives. ⁓ I think Cornet's fine, and I think if you look at that bench now, and again, we don't know if it's gonna be Fox or Harper who starts at point guard, but one of those two with the second unit, you you slide Julian Champagny to the bench. You still got Keldon Johnson there. You got Carter Bryant coming along. Yep. I I think that the like they have gotten deeper. Yeah. I I think that their young guys are all gonna take a step forward. I think if you're San Antonio and hey, by the way, Billy Donovan coming in as an assistant coach on your bench now, I think that that really helps Mitch Johnson. Yeah. Yeah. I mean people didn't talk about that enough too, is like he was a really young coach too. ⁓ so he's gonna get better. ⁓ 'cause he's he's a bright mind he's g he's a great coach, but you know, it's your first finals, obviously you're you're gonna be better in your second. ⁓ So now to

the team that has won a championship, OKC. ⁓ bring back Harnstein. ⁓ they lose Isaiah Joe. but they they do they also draft ⁓ a Di Mara. so where do you see them? What I mean, I I obviously they get J Dub back. ⁓ I don't really think they need it. Actually they got Lou Dort back. too which I was kind of shocked. So where where do you what are your thoughts on them? I I think it's reasonable to believe that they'll be better next year than they were this year or just as good. You you move out Isaiah Joe and Wiggins who were guys who were kind of rendered irrelevant. I mean neither one of those two were in their playoff rotation. You you figure you're gonna have AJ Mitchell, you're gonna have Jared McCain, you have those guys coming off the bench Like you said, J Dub back. They add some depth in their front court, bringing back Hartenstein, drafting a seven three guy out of Michigan. That they they are going punch for punch with San Antonio. They're gonna be right there and I'm we're Janu or July third, ⁓ January. definitely not January with how hot out it is right now. ⁓ July third, I'm already excited for however many games we're gonna get between San Antonio and Oklahoma City next year. It's gonna be electric. I I think both of these teams arguably got better. Yeah. Absolutely. all right. So covered really the top five I feel like in the West. Is there anyone else in the West that you would like to talk about or any player that is currently a free agent, that you would like to discuss before we get to our ⁓ our final LeBron question here? I'm gonna pull up the list of free agents because I was not prepared for this question. I love that you're taking the reins and and That that's fantastic. I don't have anybody. Do you have anyone in mind who you wanted to to hit on? No, I mean I'm interested in in where Rui goes. Obviously I think Duran, he probably ends up back in in Detroit, but ⁓ that's something to keep a an eye on. I will say I got I got very excited by the potential and I think you and I talked about it, the potential sign and trade between Sacramento and Detroit. Yeah. Duran for Sabonis. That like if there was traction with that, that would really I that would be enticing to me. ⁓ from the sounds of it, Detroit wants no part of that. I don't I don't necessarily understand why I think Sabonis is being undervalued and I think that we're gonna get to a point in February where maybe he's a guy who's available. Mm-hmm. We're we're getting ahead of ourselves there to to talk about that now, but I think that he he could be maybe the top prize come February. I'm anticipating that Durin is just gonna end up back with with Detroit. ⁓ but aside from that, I mean you're looking at guys like Chris Middleton, who I am I I I'm anticipating he's gonna end up in Miami. Yep. With Giannis. ⁓ Kaminga? What do we what do we make of Kaminga? I mean, he's a young guy, former lottery pick, never really found the right fit. Is there a team out there for him where you think He's either gonna get a bag or he he could impact winning in some way or I mean I would kinda like him to stay in Atlanta. I I I like all of those wing athletes. Like let's just make that the most athletic team in in the league and let's play as up tempo as possible and I mean ultimately they're the only team that beat the Knicks twice in the playoffs. ⁓ and, you know, I thought he he l fit there. ⁓ So I I would kinda like to see him there. I do think that there is some something in the tank. ⁓ I I think he just needs to find a a true home. ⁓ but like him with Jalen Johnson and ⁓ Alexander Walker, I think that that could be a a a solid East team. and then yeah, obviously ⁓ Sabonis would would be amazing. but I I don't I don't think the Pistons are going there. So ⁓ I guess we'll pick that back up in February. That I just looking at the list of other free agents, the lot of veterans who who will I assume sign with teams that are on the fringes of contention. I mean, Russell Westbrook is out there, Andre Drummond is out there, Bradley Beal is out there. ⁓ could Beal be a Miami guy? I think Beale definitely could be a Miami guy. Like you bring Beale and Middleton, you know, then you start to be able to be creative with your offense a little bit. Yeah. Assuming you get those guys on the floor that they're the exact kind of guys that a team like Miami needs. They need some spacing. especially I mean, I was gonna say, especially if LeBron is there, because we know the type of guy that LeBron likes playing with, but they need that even without LeBron. They need that around Giannis and Bam. And then for a team, a team that we hadn't gotten to the Rockets. So I know they they get Marcus Smart, Fred Vlan Van Vliet comes back. like w where are they stacking up? I know we said like right around the four, five, six range in the West. ⁓ But I I think that that's a team that could almost be slept on a little bit. ⁓ just with the fact that, you know, Steven Adams comes back. Like they they're they were really injured last year. Very banged up. And and going into the year they were, you know, top three team. I think that they could finish third in the West. I think that that's their ceiling. I mean, even a guy like Bogdan Bogdanovich, he signs there. ⁓ I think that having Smart and Van Vliet back gives you a nice insurance policy behind Reed Shepherd if that just isn't working. Mm-hmm. If you're just not getting enough out of him with his defensive limitations. They're they're gonna be long, they're gonna be athletic. ⁓ with at like it the Addams injury really killed them. Yeah. And I I I do think we touched on that at some point during the season, how just having Adams and Shingoon on the floor to get forty percent of your missed shots was an offense all by itself. It was. So yeah, I think that they're right there. I think that they're I think that if we're tiering out the Western Conference, I think it's San Antonio and and Oklahoma City on the

top tier. I think personally the next tier down, I would put Denver and Houston with the potential of things breaking right and certain things fitting well. Where I could imagine the Lakers, Timberwolves or Warriors getting to that second tier. Very fair. Very fair. So run down the east, run down the west, got to some of our remaining free agents. Now the ultimate question. I have two of ⁓ Okay. Where do you want LeBron to go and why? Where do you actually think he goes? ⁓ okay. I want him to go to Cleveland because I'm a selfish person. I think that he is going to go to Cleveland because I think that this is going to be his last year and I think that he wants it to wrap up where he's at home. I think that's fair. I think that's fair. I I do think that that Golden State and Miami loom as potential options, but Year twenty-four, he's forty one. I think he just goes back to where he's most loved. People in Cleveland still love him. W Yeah. Even after leaving twice. Like I'm here, I've been here two years. I obviously have loved him at every stop. Cleveland LeBron, all iterations of it is my favorite version of LeBron. I I just like I said, I'm a selfish person. I wanna live in the city while he's playing here. ⁓ and I do think that that's how it's going to end up. I agree. I think that's how it's gonna end up, for sure. Selfishly I would like to see him go to Philly, ⁓ just because I think that gives him the best chance to win. ⁓ and it's just like another like team that I think could really threaten the Knicks, the Spurs and OKC. but the storyline of it all, he's gotta go back to Cleveland. He has to. Especially because there are already conversations that he's gonna be documenting the whole year. Like, are you really gonna do that in a city other than Cleveland? Right. Right. I I just don't see it. I I d I don't there are better there might be better basketball fits, there are better opportunities to win a ring. There is not a better opportunity to wrap up the longest career in in NBA history than to go back where it started. Yeah. And it's you know, he lets the Lakers know that he's no longer gonna be playing for them and he's gonna look elsewhere while he's an Akron. you know, and yes, there are a bunch of different basketball fits that, you know, might be better and might give him a chance to win the ring. but there truly is only one home and that's Cleveland and you know, to to start to get drafted by your hometown team, to win a championship with your hometown team, you gotta retire with your hometown team. So that that is ⁓ what I'm rooting for. ⁓ so hopefully we'll get that. And I I kinda hope that he makes his decision sooner than later. I know he won't, but I would like to see Cleveland be able to make some moves around the margins to kind of help fill out that team if he does decide to go there. No, I'm with you. I mean, I I do think that there would be some of the vets that we briefly mentioned who would follow there. ⁓ I will say I'm gonna be in Philadelphia a week from today for the weekend, going there for a wedding. ⁓ I I will be So angry if I am there and he announces his decision to come to Cleveland while I'm not in Cleveland. I will be heartbroken. What's funny is and maybe this bodes well for for Philly. I happen to be in LA when he announced that he was going to the Lakers in 2018. Well if it happens again. We just gotta send you back somewhere else next year. Ga gotta send me to somewhere weird. Yeah. Just see if it if it happens. Just like, hey, Sonny's vacationing in Phoenix. LeBron is now a son. ⁓ man, great job taking the reins as like the the host on this one. I I fucking loved it. Well, I mean we got we gotta start spreading the wealth. I know that you're you're writing, you're editing, you're our social media guru, you're you know, ⁓ our IT guy. ⁓ so shout out to you. I'm trying my best. Yeah, absolutely. Trying my best. anything else we gotta cover? No, I think we think we did a pretty good job. I agree. ⁓ maybe we come back after LeBron does make his decision. Just kind of put a bow on the summer, look ahead toward the season. ⁓ in the meantime, I would implore everyone to check out NBA Campfire.com, like we mentioned a couple times already. got all of our our podcasts, season one of NBA Campfire. got all of our modern flame. Episodes up on NBA Campfire.com. I've written a handful of things already. I got these cool ⁓ this cool product called Hupertheticals, which I would love if everyone took a look at. It's 60 prompts that you and your friends who love basketball could take a look at. Some conversation starters, make you think a little outside of the box about the NBA. They're five bucks for 60 prompts. ⁓ put a lot of time into that. And ⁓ yeah, we'll we'll have a a constant stream of of content on NBA Campfire dot com. Vin, always a pleasure. Now we I I do have something cool to end the episode with. You're not gonna be able to see it right now, but I put together a little sneak peek of what we're going to be doing for season two of NBA Campfire. So we're gonna roll that right now. Vin, always a pleasure, my man. Stay cool. That is going to be tough these days. ⁓ hit hit that pool action again if you have to. Always. we will we'll be talking soon. Absolutely.