One Big Question for Every Eastern Conference Team! Plus, Ballmer Apology and Kawhi to the Raptors!

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1:06Michael Pina from The Ringer is here for a fun sort of big picture. Look at the Eastern Conference. One big question for all 15 teams. One question that could define each of their respective seasons, whether they're trying to win the championship or whether they're just sort of building from the bottom or in the Bucks case, rebuilding or in the Bulls case, kind of also rebuilding whatever the nets are doing. We each wrote one question for each of the 15 teams. We're going to rapid fire, quick hitting through all 15 of them. Kind of a nice way to start looking at the season. We're going to start with the Toronto Raptors. Why? Because Coiliner is finally months later, a Raptor. The trade is done. Brandon Eggman and Grady Dick go to what is left of the Clippers, who of course announced over the weekend that they will not not be contesting the NBA's penalties. They will just accept them. And for all their bluster about lawsuits and witch hunts and all of that, they're just giving up and turning tail and eating the penalty. And the trade is done. We're going to talk about all of that. And what I expect to hear at Board of Governors later today about the Clippers, about NBA Europe, about expansion, a loaded Zacklow Show to start your week with

2:11Michael Pina. That's all coming up now. Welcome to the Zacklow Show. It's made September. I went to yet another New York Metz Laws last night. We're not going to talk about that. I'm all for four for the season. It's going great. Michael Pina is here. And we're going to do a fun exercise today. One big question. We each wrote one, one piece for all 15 Eastern Conference teams that defining maybe small question, big question, whatever you wanted, something that's going to kind of be a pivot point for each team's season. And we'll do the West next week. Mr. Pina, how are you? I'm fantastic. Zach, thank you so much for having me. We are going to start with the Toronto Raptors. Not because I'm that interested in the Toronto Raptors. Or I think the Toronto Raptors are going to win the East or I had trying to get some side deals with some businesses in Toronto. No, not for any of that reason. But because Kawaii Leonard is finally mercifully a Raptor under the exact terms

3:16that were agreed to months, weeks, years. I don't know. A go. Brandon Ingraham is a Clipper. Grady Dick is a Clipper. Two unprotected first round picks from Toronto 31 and 33 are Clippers property. Apparently they're not going to have to forfeit those picks and a second round or a swap. And that's all possible because Steve Balmer released a statement over the weekend or a Monday night whenever it was. I can't remember saying they are not. After all their talk, Michael Pina, about witch hunts and using every avenue possible to deflect this podcasters nonsense allegations in this penalty that the NBA levied after miscommunication in this and that it's a witch hunt. Oh my god, the lawsuits are going to be flying. No, they're just going to eat the penalty. Maybe secretly hope that the penalty will get shrunk. We'll probably ask Adam Silver about that at Board of Governors today. Can I read you, Mr. Balmer's statement, Michael? Please, please do. For my fellow Los Angeles Clippers followers, not sure you're a follower or how many of those

4:19there are anymore, but that's just why I was lying at it, lying by line. This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers. And for that, I have sincere regrets. This and that. What exactly are this and that? What do you regret? Just regret, just regret the divides. I want to apologize. That's a nice word to our fans, employees and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress. This matter has caused for which I accept responsibility as principal owner. What is this matter? And what are you accepting responsibility for just the distraction and the noise? Too bad. We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league have paid the fine. That was quick and are moving forward. While there are still disagreements concerning the findings in the report, this is not where I want to focus. Team owners should support, not distract. I don't think I heard anything in there about Cap circumventure or like whoops,

5:23Gillian Zucker was arranging side deals with four different company. Did you hear anything in there about that? I did not. It's an extremely vague statement. And I appreciate the apology to the fellow owners as well. I took note of that. I'm sure. I mean, I really suffered through this. My thoughts and prayers have been with them through this entire ordeal and their families and their pets. Really good. I apologize that you feel bad about the thing that I did. apology, not apology. The challenge is ahead of us are significant, but so is our result. We will continue to build our team and invest in our community. What kind of investment are you going to make? No, you know what? Better not that. The confidence of our fans is our priority. Good luck with that. With our talented roster, I'm sorry, what? Outstanding staff and clear vision, I am certain that we will compete at the highest levels. Okay. And be an organization our fans can be proud of. Well, good luck to you because if I know one thing about the Clippers,

6:26it's that they have a long history of competing at the highest level and being an organization that their fans can be proud of. This is after all the bluster, just a delightfully chicken shit statement. And I will ask you though, um, why clearly gets off scot free in all this. He waves a straight kicker. He goes to the Raptors where he wanted to be where Alex McKekney, the last guy who really kept him healthier for prolonged period of time is working as the director of whatever he is or the president of whatever he is. I don't get into titles anymore. He's probably going to sign an extension with the Raptors that is going to be enormous and presumably legal. And pay to $700,000 fine. Agreed to a backdoor deal with the NBA that the Clippers seemed gobsmacked by when it happened and it was an end around around their own right to take this to arbitration. I think Mark Stein is the one who reported over the weekend. Maybe it was Jake Fisher, one of them that there was some resentment among the Clippers towards Kualaie for how easily he gets to move on. Do you feel bad for the Los Angeles Clippers?

7:31No, I mean, of course not. I mean, I read the report, the 36-page report. A lot of lying happened, a lot of rule breaking. The fact that they were specifically warned and reminded of the rules after they broke them with DeAndre Jordan. So they're like a second time offender in all of this. I have no sympathy whatsoever. I think that frankly getting the two picks from Toronto and the pick swap or whatever is a blessing for them. And we'll see what they can do with that. I'm not very optimistic. I think that if I feel bad for anyone, it's for the fans, of course. I mean, it's the sucks for them, royally. And I don't know when this team will be relevant again, let alone competitive, like competitive in any sense. And I don't know what the path is. If you care about your fans, you are a man whose wealth can rise or fall or rise and rise and rise

8:33in tens of billions of dollars per day, per week, per hour, depending on one company's stock price. Do something for your fans. Give them free tickets. Give them 70% off their season tickets. Do something for your fans. Look, two of the, I can hold these two beliefs simultaneously in my head. Kawai Leonard is a villain in this story. The idea that he knew nothing was going on. All my uncles just going rogue. I have no idea where all this money is coming from. I'm signing documents. The blog is public. On his podcast is pointed out here. The documents he signed. I don't know where this money is coming from. I apologize on behalf of my bad uncle. Complete nonsense. And he is getting off Scott free and it is going to tar his career and his legacy. I can believe that. And I can also feel absolutely no pity for the Clippers who broke the rules with the Andre Jordan, who should have reported to the NBA immediately what Kawai Leonard was asking for. Who should have just flat out said, hey, no, you're not really worth it. But they were so desperate for relevance for a superstar that they've spent a year following around like a stalker fan

9:37going to all his games in Toronto that they couldn't say no to him. Not before he signed, not once he signed, not after he signed an extension. They could never say no to him. They could never even tell the NBA what was going on. They knew exactly what hit this whole thing was about. And that Kawai ultimately was going to look out for himself. They shouldn't be surprised at what happened. And I still, no one has answered the question. Forget the Paul George Shay trade and Kawai demanding that and should they have done that. Like, let's leave that over here. No one has ever like answered the question. If they said no, is he really not signing with the Clippers? Is he going to where? The Lakers? I don't think you want to go to the Lakers. Is he going back to Toronto? I don't know. But anyway, let's move on. Toronto has Kawai Leonard essentially in place of Brandon Ingram, Colossal Upgrade. And it also got some picks, which is not relevant for this season so much other than trade assets and Grady Dick who had been surpassed in the rotation by Jacob and Walter.

10:38Michael Pina, what is your big question for the Toronto Raptors? Can Scotty Barnes be the best teammate Kawai Leonard has ever had? Is my question. And you go down the list of, I went, you know, obviously through Kawai's career, you have Tim Duncan managing, Obli and there, mid to late 30s, you have a little Marcus Aldridge, made 13th All-MBA as a 30 year old in 2016. You have 24 year old Pascal Siacum, one most improved player in 2019. He's the second leading scorer on a champion. You have 30 year old Paul George, made 13th All-MBA in 2021. 32 year old Paul George in 2023. Another All-Star team for Paul George, the following year, and then you have 35 year old James Hardin who was an All-Star and 13th All-MBA in 2025. And that's pretty much like. Can I just give a shout out to NBA champion six time All-Star soon

11:38to be a retired number in Toronto game six hero Kyle Lowry? Can I just put him in the pile? Okay, yeah for sure. Apologies to him. He is a legend. Scotty Barnes is kind of unlike all of these guys and that he's only 25 years old this season. He was an All-Star last year. He was fifth on defensive player of the year voting, second team all defense. And I'm not one to overreact to one playoff series, but I was so impressed by Scotty Barnes in that the Cleveland Cavalier series. I just thought he did absolutely everything, played every position at an extreme intensity, high energy, made incredible passes was a great playmaker. If you just look at, obviously the numbers were terrific. He was efficient and guarded everybody. Garded James Hardin, guarded Evan Mobley, helped off Evan Mobley, helped off Jared Allen, clogged up the, he was just, he was

12:40everywhere doing everything. And I was kind of blown away by that. And I feel like the raptors might not, I mean they probably still would have made this trade, but I feel like they were way more bullish and more confident themselves in giving up two firsts and a pick swap to get Kauai because of what Scotty Barnes did in that series without Brandon Ingram, without Emmanuel quickly. He was just so good and looked like such a superstar, such a blooding superstar. I'm so excited to see what he can do this year. And I think he is the key to everything in terms of just becoming the pipin to Kauai's Jordan this season. Or like something like a complete equal, if not, if not, he is in this analogy. No one is Jordan, but is he the superior player this year? That's how exciting it is. I like the framing there because, you know, not Kauai is purely additive to the raptors. He enhances everything they already do well

13:40from being a low turnover team to being a ferocious contesting defensive team that forces a lot to turnovers and then adds stuff that they maybe don't do as well. If he has the same free point shooting volume, if he gets to the line as much, it's just all gravy. My big question for the raptors is this, is there a world? So they're presumed starting five is Emmanuel, quickly, what are my ex-fectors for the year? RJ Barrett, Kauai, Scotty, Yaka, Perl. Is there a world in which the raptors swallow hard and make a decision that Jacobi Walter should start over either Barrett or quickly? I don't see that as likely given their pedigrees respectively. Or should Colin Murray Boyles just be the starting center of the raptors? And you want to say that you're going to take a hit defensively at the rim and on the glass. And maybe you will, the raptors have been much better rebounding wise with Perl on the floor than off. But last year when Scotty and Murray Boyles are on the floor together, their rebounding was airtight. And I just think it's worth

14:44asking. Team number two, we're going to go through divisions now that we started with the raptors. The Boston Celtics, they have been in your backyard for a lot of your life, not any more, you're in New Yorker now. I will let you lead off. What's your big question about the Boston Celtics who obviously made an absolutely seismic trade breaking up the Jays over the offseason? This is pretty simple. Will Jason Tatum make an all-in-bate team? I think that for me personally, I've just assumed that he would. I assume that he will look like himself, but it is a question. It is a question in terms of his ability. Based on what we saw last year when he came back from devastating injury, it is a question of his availability and how many games he will play, obviously making an all-in-bate team requires playing in 65, at least 65 games. This was someone who was first team all-in-bate in four straight seasons before he ruptured as a kille. He was top six in MVP in all of those seasons. I just think the whole ball game is,

15:47if he's not who he was before, you are obviously you've lost Jaylen Brown and you're just not going to be as good as you were last season. Obviously, you were eliminated in the first round. So I just think that's everything. If you don't have Jason Tatum as Jason Tatum, you're in trouble. Clearly, the trade was both of confidence that despite missing game seven in that very demoralizing and really conference shifting loss to the Sixers that they will have him. I went a little more granular than that. It's just like, my big question is, is the structure undergirding this team? Is it finally going to crack a little bit and force him to make some changes? By that, I mean, I've called them team extreme. So they are a very bizarre team at which they play offense at these absolute extremes. They don't turn the ball over. They don't get to the rim and they shoot tons of threes. As a result, they don't turn the ball over

16:52much and they don't get to the line. Bizarrely, their defense turns every opponent into exactly what the Celtics are on offense. They protect the rim. They don't force turnovers. They don't allow free throws and they concede a shit ton of threes, most of which are above the very threes. Actually, pretty good at preventing corner threes. You usually see a team play one way on offense and say, that's the most efficient way and try to force the other team to play a different way. The Celtics are just extreme on both ends of the floor in an exactly mirror image way. And it's worked in the regular season. It's won them a lot of games and who am I to question? And I'm not really. I'm just wondering, like at some point, does that start to wobble a little a little bit? And do you have to sort of, and Brad Stevens talked about this after the season, we got to get to the rim or we got to pressure the rim. How do you do that when you've swapped ground for George? And yes, Tatum was not a non factor last year and he's back. I don't know. The answer, I have a part of it is Mitchell Robertson who will enhance their offensive

17:52rebounding if you can stay healthy and probably get them more free throws just by being hacked. So that's my general question as well as this Peyton Pritrickum of the Bencher start. But we have all year to talk about these teams. Team number three, going down the Atlantic division, really I think the giant of NBA's divisions, these just hallowed institutions. I think the Atlantic is the most hallowed and the southeast is the least held. The Philadelphia 76ers, I will go first. Okay. My big question for the Sixers is just quite simply, this is a team who allowed a ton of threes, a ton of shots at the rim, defended much better with Joel and Beat on the floor, despite, you know, his physical limitations. The teams don't go to the rim as much. They shoot poorly from more poorly from all over the place. Is that enough of a road map for this team to be a competent defensive team? I think offensively they're going to be fine. Yes, they've got four

18:53super high uses players plus VJH. Come I get that. They're all going to miss time. They'll figure it out. They're all really smart. I think the defensive issues now that they were also a 26th and defensive rebounding last year and no better with NBA on the floor. LeBron's a good rebounder, buddy's old. You know, everyone's focused on offense and how the ball is shared. I'm going to be just as focused if not more so on the other end of the floor. Can this team be a good enough defense to win for the first time in Joel and Beat's career? Multiple playoff series. I think yeah, that's a great question and a huge concern with just how this team is made up right now. My question is pretty simple. How many games will their opening night starting five actually play? And I think that they need a lot of time to develop real chemistry. I have respect for all of the individual players here. I just think that the fit is one that requires so much sacrifice. And I think it's a delicate balance to load manage LeBron and load manage Joel and Beat

19:55throughout the regular season to make sure that they're fresh for the playoffs. And also have everybody understand their role when everyone is together. So I'm just really interested to see how often everyone will be available to play. I think it's a huge, huge deal in today's league. I'm not sure you can bet on that although you can bet on everything I guess. So I haven't looked at it over under. The starting five is obviously Tyronees, VJ, LeBron, Jail and Brown, Joel and Beat. There are 82 games in a regular season. Joel's last three seasons he has played 39, 19 and 38 games respectively. I will set the over under for how many games that lineup appears and maybe did not even start just how many games is that lineup play in together. I will set it at 22.5. That's going to be my over under. That's a great, I was going to say 20. I was going to say 20. Yeah, you're right there. So that's like that's the whole, that's everything for the sixers. I think I think that that

20:56starting five, I actually like their depth a little bit more than when the last time we talked about them. But, um, PCP, DCP baby, Simon, Bylon, they got some guys. Yeah, just got to figure things out in crunch time. There's just so much that the regular season is for and having those guys together I think is really important. And if we get there, I do think the other big question, if we get there is, will this be the first sort of high wattage, possible championship can do. And I know you're down on them, but let's pretend things go to really right that has a superstar resting plan in place for the post season with Joel and B. Chris Ryan was like dead on when he talked about how boy they should just sit and be for game one against the nicks can see the game come all out in game two. I actually think that that was a topic of discussion within the sixers. I don't think it was ever close to like being a real thing, but I don't, I don't think that idea was viewed as outlandish. I'll just say that. Okay, next

21:58team I will let you go first is we get to your hometown Brooklyn. That's the hottest ticket in town, maybe. What is your big question for the Brooklyn man? Do they have their back court of the future? God, they fucking better Michael, but go ahead. Yegard, young man and Michele Brown Jr. Winning games is important for the next this year. Obviously they don't want to be a laughing stock. They made the trade for Julius Randall. They don't want to be relegated, etc. But I just think like the priority should be the development of these two together play them as much as you can see what you have. I like Yegard a lot. I'm bullish on his career trajectory and it's not something that you would hang a banner for, but he did make second team. Summer League, which was really great. Any look also? Not only are we not hanging a banner for that. I'm deleting that from the podcast. You're just not your bands. Your band from mentioning any, it's let alone second team. Summer League.

23:03But fine. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He did shoot pretty well last season. 38.7% behind the arc in December 47.2% in January showed that he can play off the ball. Answered some questions there. Looks bulkier because getting into the paint, finishing in the paint at the rim is a big thing that they have as an organization for him as he develops. I know nothing about Michele Brown Jr. So I can't really say anything, but he was drafted high. And yeah, so those are the two, there's other things with this team, but those are the two players I think that are just the most important building blocks as they build something respectable in Brooklyn. Yeah, that is the thing to watch for a team that was 30th on offense last year and 25th on defense. So quite bad. But I mean, related to that, you mentioned Jome and finishing in the paint. A three point shooting was way ahead of schedule. He made a ton of tough shots, a clutch shots rather in for what past his clutch games for the nets. Yeah. He's big tall has great vision, has moxie and spawn click. I really,

24:04really like him. He's got to get to the paint and finish more and that will unlock his passing. My big question was kind of related to that. Like, they're a little, you know, I talked at the beginning of last season how you could see Charlotte building something interesting, like structurally based on the kind of shots they were taking, the kind of shots they were allowing the sort of tent pole, like, and if they ever started like making more shots, executing a little better, like there was something here, the nets are like a junior, junior, junior, junior, junior, varsity version of that, which by which I mean, they took the seventh most threes last year, and the eighth most shots at the rim and the third fewest mid-range shots. That all combines to the fifth highest expected fuel goal percentage in the league expected being the key word because they actually had the worst fuel goal percentage in the league. But if there's a, if they can now, that now they're introducing a whole host of new guys, right? Like, McHale Brown, junior is going to get all the runway he needs is probably going to start. Julius Randall is a totally different kind of player than they've had. Deirons sharp is going to be their starting center.

25:08I don't know how that ecosystem changes. Like, similarly on defense, they allowed the third fewest threes in the league. They allowed the second most shots at the rim, which is bad. And I'm not sure how they're going to defend the rim with this team. But clearly, Jordi Fernandez has something like, here are the things we believe in. Can they make some shots to turn belief into productivity? That's my big net's question. The last Atlantic division team, the defending champion New York, Nix. They have the highest over under now on Fandall in the Eastern Conference. I think that's justified. I would pick them to win the East as of today if we were making picks. We are not. What? No, you know what? I'll go first on the next. So, you know, there's this idea that they struck lightning in a bottle in the playoffs. And I heard you and how we're talking about this on the ringer NBA show. Like, how do we, how do we sort of digest this team turning from a 53-win team? That was top seven on both ends of the floor. Like, they had the hallmarks of a real contender.

26:10But then became just an absolute colossus in the playoffs with the top offense, the top defense, a historically great point differential, all that. And that is two separate questions really. For me, number one, they clearly caught a rhythm. And in Fable, you know when you see it, you can feel it, you can't touch it, but you can feel it. Like, locked into, this is the ideal way for us to play on offense. This is the ideal way the touches are spread that possessions are divided between transition, half court threes, Brunson, cat passing from the elbow. Like, they just found it. And this is going to be a Pacer's question too. Can they sustain it? Can they grab onto it and hold it and find it again when they really need it? But the other thing was you look at their defense. They allowed a ton of threes an average amount of shots at the rim. And in the playoffs, they had one of the worst expected opponent, field goal percentages in the league, but they're appointed shot 32% on threes

27:10under 40% on mid-range shots and just so so at the rim. And now their rim defense is going to be a little downgraded going from Mitchell Robinson to Andre Drummond. How real was the postseason defense? I get what the numbers are, the numbers are saying maybe not as real as it might seem given the level of opposition and the shooting quality and all that. I think the truth is somewhere in between. It looked pretty goddamn real to me. Cat has shown he can level up defensively when it matters. And those three wings together, heart and it will be bridges are just holacious covering ground, protecting everything. But I am interested to see if they, if Mike Brown decides, hey, our defense allowed too many threes this year, prioritizing shutting off the rim or if that's how he wants to play again and how real that was. So that's my long-winded next question. What was yours? Yeah, I mean, are they the team we saw in the regular season of the juggernaut we saw in the playoffs was one of mine. Also, just how much will Mitch Robinson's absence be felt, I think, is the big

28:14question here. He was the longest tenured player on the team. Most of their best five man units had him in them. Their offensive rebound rate went from 37 to 27 when he was on versus off the court. He is a better defender by a demonstrable margin than Andre Drummond who is coming in to replace him. He is a better offensive rebounder. He's just, he's got great chemistry with Jalen Brunson. And if you look at Jalen Brunson's on offs with Mitchell Robinson, Brunson was more efficient. He just, looks very comfortable with Mitch and they have just a great two-man game chemistry whether DHA chose or pick and roll. And you know, this is the finals in game five, but like this guy had six offensive rebounds in game five of the finals. And that was a game I think we all forget because of just what happened and they won and everything. But like, if Carlisle Anthony Towns goes down with any type of injury during the regular season, I just think it could be, it could be trouble ish for the nicks. And there are questions as to whether or not you, because Towns had two points

29:21in game five. He fouled out. He had five there. So foul, it's the injuries, but it's, I mean, he's been relatively healthy for a couple seasons now, but the foul, actually, in the playoffs, we heard his head again for him and the finals in his minutes went down to 22 and 25 in the last two games. Right. So I just wonder if we see more OGN and OB or, you know, Josh Hart at the five sort of thing during the regular season because they have to play that way and what effect that has on their bodies because this team had great health through the postseason. That was one of the reasons they won the title and were able to kind of sustain that, that chemistry and that lightning that you spoke of. So I just think that Mitch Robinson is a really important and really good player and I'm interested to see how they replace him. The rest of the bench is back. I'm expecting Dio Juara to be part of the rotation, at least the starting season and to be potentially helpful. That's the next. All right, let's take a quick break. We'll switch divisions to the southeast division, the powerhouse southeast division. This episode is brought to you by Mikalo Ultra, whether you're racing to climb the tallest mountains, see you can score more birdies on

30:24the green or competing in a professional soccer match. It's always better when there's a prize on the line, especially if it's a Mikalo Ultra smooth refreshing and worth all that hard work. Superior is worth playing for Mikalo Ultra superior light beer. Enter for a chance to win superior soccer basketball and golf prizes at Mikalo Ultra.com slash superior access. Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 and I was a Bush Mikalo Ultra light beer Saint Louis, Missouri. For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters. Trampaya offers self injection or intravenous infusion from the start. Trampaya is administered as injections under the skin or infusions through a vein every four weeks followed by injections under the skin every four or eight weeks. If your doctor decides that you can self-inject trim via proper training is required. Trampaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions increased risk of infections or lower ability to fight them

31:28and liver problems may occur. Before treatment, get checked for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or need a vaccine. Explore what's possible. Ask your doctor about Trampaya today. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit trampayaradio.com. Coming up. Alright, on to the Southeast Division. We will start with the revamped Miami Heat, adding honest attack umpo in exchange for a bunch of players and a bunch of draft picks. Michael Pina, your big question for a team that played a strange unique style last year that kind of worked and a team that hasn't had a great regular season in a long time and finally got sick of missing on stars and said to hell with it, we're getting honest, we'll figure out the rest later. What is your big Miami Heat question? How different is their offensive system with the honest Untentecumpo on the floor? I mean, last year, as you said, it was singular

32:31in a sense and very fast and allergic to picking roles and do they, was that like intentional just because they didn't have a top 10, top 15 offensive player or was it because they just thought that the randomized attack was to their benefit regardless of who is on the team. I lean towards them putting the ball in the honest his hands a little bit more still playing as fast as they can, but you know, you want to have this guy make a lot of decisions and put pressure on the rim and run your inverted picking roles with Tim Hardaway Jr and Clay Thompson in a more I guess like mechanical offense scheduled offense. And so that's kind of, I'm just really interested to see how different they are aesthetically, schematically on the offensive end because there are some issues that I'm sure you're going to touch on. They were 20th and 3th last year and the Heat have had quite a journey with the 3-point shot on both ends of the floor. They've tried

33:34taking a ton of them, they've tried taking fewer of them and the same has happened on defense and they were 16th in shots at the rim. You would think the honest by himself increases both of those in very healthy ways. Just driving kick-threes, they have a, have cobbled together between Clay and Gordas and Tim Hardaway Jr. and some of their young guys like if Pelolarsin hits more shots, BAM obviously will shoot more threes this year. They've cobbled together a decent amount of catch and shoot 3-point shooting. And I think defensively look, I mean, if honest and BAM are healthy and that's been an if for honest particularly at go time in the playoffs, I think they just have enough tools in the box. You add Davian, Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, oboe, be a very good defensive team. I don't know if they'll be like top three but they'll be, should be top 10, top 8, something like that. My question is, do they have enough off the dribble shot creation around their two big guys and particularly enough pull up jump shooting? I don't remember the last time you might have to go back to the DeMarcus cousins, Anthony Davis, Pelicans were the two best off the dribble creators on a team were big guys in

34:39Yanis and BAM and I realize Yanis is sort of a unicorn positionality but they all their pull-up shooting went out the door in either free agency in Norman Powell's case or Tyler Hiro in the trade in Yacchuchunus who will see what he ever becomes but he had a vehicle, we'll see but maybe Drew Smith levels up, maybe Mitchell levels up but that's sort of how they figure out that offense and how they can defend how well they can defend when one in BAM and Yanis are on the bench and staggering those minutes those are my big key questions I like this team more than I did I'm we'll do it over hundreds in a couple of weeks but I like this team more than I did two months ago okay the weirdo Atlanta Hawks are next um I gotta do you want to lead off with the Hawks what was your big Hawks question obviously last year lose to the nicks in the first round only team that took two games off the nicks and the playoffs got out of the trea young business took off when CJ McCollum entered the starting lineup in places Zachary Risa Shea who is now a maverick um and added Kingston Flemmings in the off season

35:46resigns pretty much everyone from last year's team that went on a big time run late in the season fueled by a very easy schedule but nonetheless they blew those teams out and were competitive against the nicks in the playoffs you're big Atlanta Hawks question how often will Dyson Daniels and Lou Dore share the floor and can they share the floor and coexist on the offensive end is a question I'm gonna be looking at with the Atlanta Hawks this season their offense was very good last year with Dyson Daniels on the floor and he kind of operated sort of as like a small ball five he would set screens slip screens into the paint make decisions out of the short roll he got into the paint a ton he would push in transition he would drive and kick as assist rate skyrocketed he was awesome might I mean a lot of people focus on the outside shooting he was he was he was a really really good offensive player offensive rebounding he just found ways to kind of impact the game and he did that with the benefit of shooting around him basically everyone on that team could shoot

36:47a kung-mu uh jalen johnson um McCollum obviously Nikkei Alexander Walker even Zachary Risa Shea when he was on the court um he'll knock down some spot up corner threes and if you throw Lou Dore in there Lou Dore over the last three years shot 38.4% behind the three point line which is definitely respectable but it's just he's not worried about in the same way I mean teams will let him shoot I think and so I'm just interested to see because if those two can coexist offensively then defensively you have these line-up combinations where you can have dork and Daniels and Nikkei Alexander Walker all on the court and I really really want to see that happen and so that's that's my big question for the line-ox this season yeah it's related to mine which was what was this defense real that played the last 45 games of the season because they became like I think they finished tenth overall in defense they were probably top seven over the last half of

37:49the season they were first enforcing turnovers once they started winning in late February they were a top five defensive rebounding team which when you look at the personnel it's like no they're getting a lot of contributions from everybody because they're like a connoisseur okay isn't a pretty good rebounder but he's not a great defensive rebounder can they and they allowed a lot of shots at the rim and got away with it again like getting rim protection from non-center supplementary guys like Dyson Daniels like Jalen Johnson can they find that same level of defense was it partly a fluke and part of finding that same level of defense is going to be the question of can we play dork and Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson who like you said is improved is a three point shooter but is not treated as one how much can we play them all together I'm not even sure there's certain who they're going to start to start the season and I don't I think we get a little too fixated on starting five but your rotation does flow out of who starts the game my best guess on paper is Nikhilogs and her walker Dyson Daniels dork Jalen Johnson and a connoisse who's starting that trio I

38:54talked about right off the bat moving C.H.M. a column back into a bench roll but you could talk me into a whole lot of different possibilities they also signed a signed acquired Aaron Wiggins away from the thunder I think he'll help them they have high hopes from Oge Aeson Nuel this is a Zubi guy they drafted so their power forward depth is interesting to me but it's more like hey was that defense thing real or how did they actually do that like they don't look like a great rebounding team and they became a really great rebounding team so that's the Hawks um all right Washington Wizards uh I'm gonna go first on the Washington Wizards uh 29th and offense last year 30th in defense so close to what I call Bob Catting which is being 30th last on both ends of the floor only the next featured offense and future shooting spared them and they weren't bad by the numbers at pretty much literally everything that you could be bad at except they didn't allow a lot of threes on defense so congratulations then for that they were

39:56they were horrible free throw wise both ends of the floor they never got there and they felt everybody they were horrible turnover team they're a horrible rebounding team they didn't get to the rim on offense and no defense allowed more shots at the rim than the Wizards poor Alex are challenged more shots than anyone at the basket on defense and buy a country mile and did okay at it and so that's my big question like we consider and focus on which young guys develop how exciting defanza is um you know uh Anthony Davis is here around long term does he realize he's on the Wizards as you want to be on the Wizards to tray young and floaters and free throws I want my big question is like do they start winning some of the toughness categories like do they start winning some of the territorial battleground around the rim do they start winning some of the battles to get to the line part of that is Tsar and Davis playing together which is is is interesting to me are there nights where Tsar can still guard the fives and Anthony Davis can loiter out on some

40:56wings in the corner that aren't doing much like how do they do they mess with some zone like I think that's interesting but like you know this team will have its moments of kind of high flying the young guys are flying around doing cool stuff can they get tough and win some of these sort of like in the paint muck battles that's my Wizards question interesting I am I'm pretty down on the Wizards just I just I hate how this team is constructed I hate wow so much of I do I just I so my question is just what if Anthony Davis is healthy and good I talked about this a little bit with Howard and our most intriguing figures pod that you referenced I don't know I'm just going into the season I kind of forget his on the team a lot when I think about them he's 33 or 33 years old the extension is kind of out there he's kind of on an expiring contract is a player option for $62 million next season and but if he if he plays and he's he's like looks like an all star just what does that do for his

41:59trade value he just to me he just he makes there's a lot of guys in this team who make no sense in Washington and and I feel like he's one of them and I like are they going to trade him what's the what is his trade value I these are there's when I think about the Wizards that's kind of what it is and that's sad because they have AJ Japanza and the focus should be on him but it just doesn't feel that way to me I mean Chris Middleton is on this team I can't get over that so that's that's my question about the Washington Wizards and it is kind of a fun mad lives of guys that are on the team that you forget about like Deandre Aiden yeah I found his way to the way to the trade man who has sneakily like one of the best step factories in the league just never plays in somehow on the Wizards they are an interesting test of the relegation zone and the new lottery rules because for the entirety of NBA history you would have said there's just no universe in a which a team in the Marva stage or pupa stage whatever the stage of insect growth is like the Wizards

43:01should be in the business of paying trea young anything 110 million dollars or whatever would cost to keep Anthony Deibos around for the foreseeable future but there's also no benefit anymore and in fact some harm to your lottery odds and being abysmally bad which is what happened would happen I think if one or both of those guys were no longer on the team obviously trea young is locked up under a three plus one that was preposterous the moment they signed it so they're an interesting test case in that regard but you're right I think this is a discovery year for them in a lot of ways like Bob Carrington are you part of our core or not the law kula bali are you part of our core or not he's extension eligible I would be kind of pessimistic about his extension will Riley was last year's late season scoring spree just a product of there's no one around or is there something here that we can we can build around or like you can be part of our course somehow so I think it's a little bit of that but yeah just like I'd like to see some progress as like a a real basketball team competing in real basketball ways I think we have we have two more

44:03southeast division teams left the Orlando Magic I will let you go first on the Orlando Magic this is just the existential question that they've been dealing with for a little while now will they break up palabon caro and fronze voguener we have 5200 minutes of evidence that this is not really working when they play together the offense is bad last season when they played together with Desmond Bain who was the guy they pushed all the chips into acquire to kind of be the connective tissue their offense was bad and I just you know something's got a bud here they have the third highest payroll in the NBA 30 as it stands right now 32 million dollar luxury tax bill and they have not won a playoff series I don't even recall the last time they won a playoff series it was a very long time ago and they have no playoff series victories obviously in this arrow with these two guys and so they're they change the coach brought in Sean Sweeney he's fantastic but I just they made

45:10like no personnel moves in the offseason and it's just kind of a bet on health and luck and but I I don't think that these two guys together and I like I like them individually I do I just don't think that even at just 25% of the cap of peace that it makes sense when you're paying everybody else and we haven't even paid Anthony Black yet so yeah that's just are they're going to trade one of these guys and shake this up is the question this is the cross road season probably a year or two late to be a cross road season but because of all the injuries that this core has suffered and that Bain has only been there one year after they traded four first round picks to get him this is the cross road season forced in part by Anthony Black's salary timetable and you know we'll see what they learn in defense of the fron's palo duo which as you said they have not they've had great moments together and they may well win that Detroit series where they're up three one and they're blowing the shit out of them again six if fron's doesn't get hurt and that's who they

46:12probably do win it if fron's doesn't get hurt they have not won a playoff series since 2010 by the way they they have a certain size defense to them just those two together that is interesting and shot making ability in like in the muck of a playoff series they were you mentioned that their offense was not very good when Bain palo and fron's were together it was like I'm looking at the numbers down clean in the glass they were plus four per 100 possessions with those three on the floor offense was like about league average for a trio which again is is you'd like to be better than but yeah for the magic league average is like you you you're a banner for that and as you know doubt no in the very limited minutes when Suggs and when dole Carter Jr were out there that starting five was was one of the best lineups in the league now it was for so little time that who is that does that even matter my big question for them was we all know the offense the fit and fron's and palo even when the team is function just well enough on offense for their defense to carry them

47:14I think it's fair to say they have not really amplified each other on offense which is if you're going to pay two guys the max you need them to kind of amplify each other and so this year will be a test of that my big question was this team sunk to 13th in defense last year and that just simply is not good enough given the limitations of their offense um Ken Sean Sweeney who's something of a defense and guru can he get them to rediscover the sort of tenacity they had the season before and before that under jimal moseley and are there schematic adjustments that can help that like your identity just can't be effort effort effort effort effort and and it's got to do something more than that uh and a couple of areas is like they're kind of they they allowed it an above average amount of shots at the rim and allowed a high shooting percentage at the rim and they don't have a great rim protecting center when dole Carter Jr is more of just like a workman like semi switchy rebound guy box out guy uh and I'm interested to see if they can get some some better rim protection and how that happens I don't know uh I mean you mentioned the

48:17stagnancy of the roster of buch was really on the addition of the data he might be their third string center and then like on defense they foul at everyone all the time and they have for years and they were 26 and free throw it all out of the shirt which is very bad the pistons were 30th the pistons at least got the benefit of we forced more turnovers than anyone in the league so yeah we reach and foul but we get the benefit of you uh of torpedoing your possessions and getting out in transition this was an average team at forcing turnovers last year and you can't you can't foul that much without deriving any benefit from doing it and so there's something to be there too so this team is is not going anywhere serious unless you can get back to being like a top 8 defense that's my question the charlotte hornets are last southeastern team um I'll go first obviously lamello is gone that's the big sort of ticket item kobi white it's newly extended we'll start in his place not as read we'll start in a miles bridges place they have a whole pile of

49:21dudes I mean this team is like 15 guys deep I have no idea what their rotation is going to be outside they're starting five we need to think shrewdler would be involved race and allen will be involved but did that was so niel finney smith c on james brant will it's on and on and on not to mention the young guys they just drafted the Steinbach I think should play right away my big question zooming out for all the attention on lamello and the increased burden on Brandon Miller and conkiniple and kobi white um in those three on and lamello off was a very limited sample as you're the team played well but we're talking like less than a hundred minutes overall Miller on conkiniple on ball off was not good for the hornets they really missed ball shock creation so that's one my i'm going granular more granular than that this team was second in offensive rebounding rate and second in defensive rebounding rate last year some of that is scheme and how charlesly wants to play and keep people back um can they maintain being an absolutely elite rebounding

50:25team with a slight downgrade from lamello ball who's a very good rebounder to kobi white who's just an okay rebounder like how how did they even obviously lucidio botte just each rebounds particularly on offense but like how did not as read's not a great rebounder there was miles bridges can can they i mean that's like when you're second on both ends in rebounding your start it's like you have five extra possessions in the game basically baby even more than that can how did they do that and can they maintain that Steinbach is a great rebounder was the only two plays that that's my question yeah i mean lucidio botte total freak and Steinbach i don't didn't watch anything of mim of him in college but i think was he like a historically good college rebounder great great rebounder yeah that's a great question um mine is mine is pretty broad it's it's will they have an all star this season i like that can Brandon Miller take a leap and be more of a name brand two way wing uh can he be more efficient inside the arc if you look at his on offs with ball last season

51:29his usage went way to way up he took less efficient shots so way more from the mid range and his shooting percentages went way down his field goal percentage at the rim was 73% with lamello 53% without lamello so that's that's that's that's noticeable um and uh so can he can he be can he be can he be an all star this season and i i love him and i love con conipple as well and i thought con conipple had a case last season to be an all star he led the league in threes led the league in catch and shoot points uh he is so good and i'm really interested to see as you you said like who is going to pick up the slack on ball there's koby white there's i mean denna shooters on this team uh but then there's Brandon Miller and there's con conipple i think those two assuming more on ball responsibility whether it be you know just uh dhos where he's flying out of the corner whether it's standard picking roles whether it's like we're gonna isolate Brandon Miller which is not really like how they play uh but i'm just interested to see how the

52:34offense shifts without lamello and in a way that it can be hyper efficient uh stay tuned on Brandon Miller i think he might be my single most intriguing player in the league for this coming season so i'm gonna have more on him in the future um couldn't be more excited to see how he develops i'm not saying i couldn't be more excited that he's gonna all of a sudden be an all NBA player actually think he belonged on the fringes of the all NBA conversation last year given the injuries that knocked out some guys i think he fell short of eligibility either way um but i this is a big big moment for him and for con by the way at what point does the does the ringer spotify uh right to make jokes about bill giving conno ride back to the hotel i believe reach the end of that can we not do that anymore is it too stale is it too old because you throw in the seatbelt comments and i just these jokes just write themselves and they're two they're too like hammer nail obvious but every time con comes up i just think of him in the passenger seat

53:37you know being like guys drive me drive me don't tell you doesn't have seatbelt buckled like we're making some nice ice couples small time i i feel like this is a good media day question for con cannibals that someone needs to ask for sure other words media to absolutely and no i think that the jokes can go on the jokes may go on okay let's take our last break and we will do the central division the howlode central division five rapid fire questions for those teams every game day you show up for your team now it's your time we go we go we go we go ask your prescriber about we govi some maglatide injection 2.4 milligrams a glp one call 183 three four we govi or visit we govi.com to view the medication guide and and to learn more about Wigovie. Why wait? We go V! Every game day you show up for your team.

54:37Now it's your time. We go V! We go V! Ask your prescriber about Wigovie, some Maglatide Injection 2.4 milligrams, a GLP1. Call 1-8-3-3-4 Wigovie or visit Wigovie.com to view the Medication Guide and to learn more about Wigovie. Why wait? We go V! We go V! We have five more teams in the Eastern Conference. The Central Division. And we will start with a team that had a sort of lost year last year. We really saw the last real version of this team in game seven of the NBA Finals in 2025. The Indiana Pacers, Michael Pina, you can go first. What is your big question for the 2026 Indiana Pacers? 2026-27 Indiana Pacers. How does Ibiza Zubat fit with Tyree's Haliburton?

55:39What does he do to their offensive rhythm? I don't think it'll be an issue. I think he is better in a lot of ways than Miles Turner. Obviously, he does not shoot threes, but he makes quick decisions, smart decisions. He can go out of the short roll. He can post stop a little bit. He can run the floor and seal his man, or whoever is back there trying to slow him down. And so I think that there will be a bit of a clunky adjustment period, but I don't think it'll be a long one. And I just feel like this is the team right here. Can they sort of make him fit into how they played before without changing too much of what made them so special to kind of recapture the magic that they had a couple seasons ago? You said many words that are just dug till perfectly with my question. You said rhythm and recapture the magic. And I talked about it with the Knicks. This team, maybe even more than the Knicks, just found that holy paradise of just stemming from Haliburton

56:46and the sort of frantic, fast, but also intuitive way he plays and how fast the ball moves. They all found a way to find the right spaces around him to play at his pace, to play with his sort of calculated randomness, I guess. And they found Nirvana for a while. Part of that manifested in the greatest run of crunch time shooting, maybe in the history of basketball from one player, and Tyree Salaburn, and Aaron Neesmith in one game, which he had an out-of-body experience. But it was even broader than that. And given that they have now switched from a spacing center to an interior-oriented center in the Vizzozubots, given that the orchestrator of all of that is coming back from an Achilles tear, can they, maybe not in the regular season, although winning enough games to be a top 16 is going to be critical for everybody in this conversation? Can they, if they get into the playoffs, find that sweet spot again? And part of that is the Zubots question. The paint belonged to Pascal Siacum.

57:47It belonged to the mid-range artistry of Andrew Nemhart and TJ McConnell, off the bench, TJ McConnell, kind of at a drop-off last year. He's a big part of what is kind of a eye of the beholder bench. Like Kelly Ubre, we'll be topping. We'll see Ben Shepherd up and down, the backup center spot, J. Huff, are we counting on him? Jarris Walker. Jarris Walker, like will he get minutes? We'll see. Kind of a proof of it here for him. And now the paint is shared with the Vizzozubots. And Pascal Siacum has become a pretty good spot-up 3-point shooter. Good enough. We'll see. But also they're both very clever players and how they can sort of navigate those dead zones around the baseline and the middle of the paint and their clever interior passers. They can play off of each other. They can run four or five pick and roll with Siacum and Zubots together. You can do all sorts of different things to sort of adapt to this new space-sing reality. The other thing that part of the rhythm that the Pacer's had is they were regular season amp playoffs

58:52and absolutely crazy elite shooting team from all over the floor. Just, yeah. Just instantly outperforming their expected field goal percentage because they were just a great, great shooting team that became even greater, particularly on threes in the playoffs. Part of that was from those kind of short mid-range spots, floater range and in some cases long twos. They were unbelievable. Halibut non-floaters is 53%. Nemhart is 47% and about that on long twos. Siacum is mid to high 40s. Zubots last year was 53% on short twos like outside the restricted area but not long twos. That floater range, that was 99% tile. That kind of cleverness with hook shots and flip shots and good interior passing, maybe with combined with better defense and rebounding and Miles Turner gives you, you know, could maybe and also this team has been a horrible offensive rebounding team partly by choice, right? Miles Turner's the Space and Center transition defense, all that 29th last year, 29th year before Zoo can bring that.

59:55So can they fit all that stuff in but find that sort of just the balls moving, the balls flowing, everybody knows where to be that magic that only happens to certain special teams. That's my question. OK. Anything else on Indiana? No, I'll just say real quick, Zoo bots impact in the offensive glasses, another thing, but I feel like having his body to sit off ball screens can mitigate some of the spacing a little bit wide pin downs, that sort of thing where he's outside the paint and he lets guys kind of attack it off the dribble. The Detroit Pistons, ninth on offense, second on defense, still have not resigned. They're starting center, Joe and Durin. I still expect that to be done. I am not. I will believe he'll take the qualifying offer. When I see it, it's just, you throw 200 million bucks in front of someone, I don't think they're taking the qualifying offer, but we'll see. I could have gone two different ways on this.

1:00:56But I will go with offensively, one of these two things has to give. And obviously part of this is linked to the lack of a proven secondary creator around Kate Cunningham that everyone is fixated on. Obviously they hope that Durin and Assar Thompson can both grow a little bit as playmakers off screens, off handouts, whatever. But I think for this team to even maintain what it did last year, not necessarily in terms of win totals, but in like playoff equity, we got the game seven in the second round, right? You can't be 23rd in turnover rate and Kate is a big offender and 29th in three point attempts. Like if those two things are in that area again, combine with the fact that we'll see if their defense drops off at all with that Isaiah Stewart and with more kind of shooters in the rotation, Isaiah Joe's here, herders back, et cetera. We'll see if they can maintain their number two rated defense. They allowed the lowest 3.5% of the league

1:01:57and the second lowest shooting percentage at the rim. Can they maintain that? That's a tall order. But 23rd in turnovers, 29th in threes. I understand that Kate is overburdened and the rest of the team is pretty young and that is a recipe for turnovers. I understand that they're not a good 3.3 point shooting team. They're not even a mediocre one. And so, and they want to own the paint and be tough and big and physical. One of those two things has got to go up toward the average. Yeah, this is very similar to my question, which is where will they finish in 3 point rate? Last season, as you said, they were 29 to 3 point rate. They were 20th in non-garbage time, 3 point percentage. So to be taken seriously as a contender, I think you need to be a better shooting team. And if you look at the actions that were made by the front office over the summer, they would agree with that. So, you know, they add Isaiah Joe, who is one of the best movement shooters in basketball. They add John Collins, who is an excellent corner, 3 point shooter, and actually, pretty good non-corner.

1:03:00Last season. I'm glad you brought him up, because Tobias Harris out John Collins in is one of the sneaky interesting moves that any good team has made in the off season. Because I don't think John Collins is regarded as like a winner around the NBA. I actually have been always higher on John Collins than most people I over index for sure on the Hawks 2021 playoff run, where I thought he'd just sort of dug in and decided, okay, maybe I want to be a 22 point of game score and catch lob dunks, and maybe that's not my fate right now. Maybe I have to rebound and play defense and switch and do the dirty work and still get 14 again. I loved that player. He's kind of been lost at sea in different places in the last three or four years. I think thought he was going to start with the Clippers and didn't end up starting all that much. I'm very curious to see how he does in Detroit and would not be surprised if a month into the season they're like, oh wow, John Collins is like one of them

1:04:01like right spots of the off season so far. A 100% agree with you. I've also been higher on him throughout his career than most. And I think he's a really good fit here. And I think he's a wonderful compliment, offensively two-cade-cutting him that he can space the floor and he's content doing so and he's also someone who can set a screen, dive to the rim and space the floor vertically. And he's more dynamic than to buy a Harris in that way. So I think he's a really good fit offensively. But yeah, so I just think like the three point rate with him, Isaiah Joe, technically they have Torian Prince. I think that was like a sneaky Torian Prince, Gary Harris, addition with Karris Lovert going out. I don't think that a lot of people cut onto that one but that happens and those are spot up three point shooters. I do. I think you're correct. I don't think a lot of people cut out to that one. If you go to a party this weekend, I would not recommend starting a conversation

1:05:03with anybody about the Gary Harris Karris Lovert, Torian. Yeah, that's on that one. Yeah, I think you'll get a lot of my experience. And if you do meet someone who's like, I've been dying to talk about this for like the entire summer, no one no one realizes Karris Lovert is on the bucks. I think that person needs to be an institutionalized. I agree with you. And that's probably me. They reside in Kevin Herder who was banged up but is a shooter. And Duncan Robinson is still around. So I think that they will be more committed to it. I mean, just with Isaiah Joe and Duncan Robinson, if you kind of obviously will have to stagger those guys, but you'll always have like an elite movement shooter on the court. I think that's really important. Running the ghost screen actions that he was so successful with SGA and OKC. So yeah, I just think they need to shoot more threes and they've recognized that. And my other question is just like personal wise, are they going to make a big trade to add that guy

1:06:03who can be the secondary ball handler. They have all their picks. They have some contracts. That's the other question. But on the court with what we have, it's three point shooting. And I enjoyed Javante Green last year too. He shot pretty well. He jumped very well from the corners. Just again, not on super high volume. Ron Holland will be interested to see if he is on the pistons in a year or if they pick up his options going forward. I'm not convinced that that's a lock. They're getting pretty expensive. Yeah, we'll see. And Paul Reed will get to cook, I think. And what that means as far as John Collins is a screen and dive guy, we'll see. But you know, they're over under 48 and a half. They're still regarded as a top echelon team and these by the odds. I think that's fair. The Cleveland Cavaliers, I will let you lead off. Your big question for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who obviously made one of the perhaps more impactful trades of the offseason acquiring Peyton Watson in a three team sign and trade that's at Max Truce, a core player on their team over to the Clippers

1:07:04and some draft equity to the Denver Nuggets. Peyton Watson, at least the idea is for him to be the sort of 3 and D stopper type that they've been trying to get for years and years cycling through the Andre Hunter, et cetera. Your big question for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can Harden Mitchell, Watson, Mobile, Allen be the best five man unit in the NBA is my question? Not saying that that's gonna happen, but that's the question. And as you said, Watson is on paper sort of the missing puzzle piece, the two way wing. I think he's better guarding point guards, and then we'll alleviate a lot of the responsibility that would fall on James Harden who cannot do that or Donovan Mitchell, who probably does not want to do that. But he's just like a tenacious defender. He shot 41% on a decent volume on threes last year. And can do stuff attacking the rim

1:08:06with the ball in his hands that he showed, he won player of the week in January. Obviously when Yokech was hurt, and I'm just high on him. I like him a lot. I thought that that contract was fine that he got. And I think that the nuggets will miss him. But I think like when I asked the question of, can this be the best five man unit? A lot of that is because the depth on this team is low key, not looking great. And I think that for this team to be the true contender that they aspire to be, they need to have like a really good knockout punch from the jump and a good closing five and just something that they can rely upon. And that's what they're clearly hoping for with this five man unit. And so that's the question for me. So I'm just gonna pre-answer your question and say no, it can't be the best five man unit in the East. Because I just think, I think it'll be fine. I think it'll be fine. I think it'll be a good lineup. I just Watson plus two traditional big guys

1:09:10is gonna be interesting like a traditional paint bound. We'll see how sort of why Mobile gets to develop this game. We've been waiting on that. It just, I mean, this team was a really good off. They were six and offense last year and they got better with Hardin. They were only 15 to defense and they got worse with Hardin, which is exactly what you would expect. So they're a good offensive team. They're big four last year, Hardin Mitchell and the two bigs was awesome in the regular season and minus four per 100 possessions in the playoffs. And it just got clunky. And I even asked a broader question than a broader version of the same question, which is, can they like figure out who should play with who and how often? It just feels like the lineup questions here are a little bit more fraught than they are with other contenders. And more fraught than you would think, given the raw talent in that starting five you talked about. Like, are we all in on the two bigs playing together or are we gonna be all in on staggering them, which they've mostly been all in on that, which makes sense.

1:10:11And last year they settled on Hardin partnering with Alan and Mitchell partnering with Mobley. The Hardin Allen combos were awesome in the playoffs. The Mitchell Mobley combos were not good in the playoffs. And part of that was, I was kind of disappointed with Don and Mitchell's passing in the playoffs when it really got tough for them. And then like, if that lineup isn't great shakes, you mentioned the bench. Does Sam Merrill have to play more just as someone who really will shoot and doesn't need the ball? And can he play with Mitchell and Hardin and can the team survive on defense? Jailin Tyson to me is one of the big ex-factors in the league. I was kind of really pleased with his development last year. As a shooter, as an all around player, maybe he's part of the answer. I just feel like maybe because of the personnel, the two traditional bigs together, Hardin is such a ball dominant player next to another ball dominant player. I just feel like the combination stuff is a little more fraught with them. Good problems to have. But as you said, like their depth gets pretty thin, pretty fast. And so we'll see.

1:11:13Who does that leave us with? Oh boy, okay. We're down to two teams. The Chicago Bulls and the The Walking Bucks. We'll start with the Bulls. I don't know, man. Like new coach. So who knows what their offense looks like? And they're who knows what they believe in as a team, right? Last year they played at a terrible fast pace. They took the second most shots at the rim, the eighth most threes, and the fewest mid-range shots. Michael Pina, they had the number one expected field goal percentage in the league because of their shot selection. They did not have the number one actual to play the worst in that. How does that identity shift with Thiago Splitter with Norm Powell coming in? With the kind of fun starting five, presumably, of Gidey, Powell, Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Nick Collax, and that's kind of fun. I don't, like I think it seems gonna be pretty bad. That's fine. I don't really even know what my big,

1:12:14I guess my big question, like if I really, what I really care about is, how do Gidey, Wilson, and Buzelis, three bigger ball handlers or maybe want to be ball handlers, all of whom have, at the very least, something to prove as pull up jump shooters, all of whom fit well playing a pretty fast, frantic pace. How is that all working in the half court? Who's got the ball, who's setting screens, who's going where, what's the system that makes those three click together? I couldn't be more excited for Caleb Wilson, but I guess I'll sit on that is my big question. That's a good one. Mine is just what can they get for Norm Powell? Wow, just already, jettison, yeah, Powell off the team. I, the second he signed the contract, it's a two year, $44 million deal with a team option. It's pretty much the same contract that Bruce Brown Jr signed in 2023. He was traded from the Indiana Pacers

1:13:15to the Raptors and the Pascal Siacum deal. The balls aren't as far along, obviously, as either of those two teams, but Norm makes no sense in Chicago. He is 33 years old. I mean, it's shooting makes sense, but he's 33 years old and they're rebuilding. Like by their new GM's own admission, they want to start at the bottom, they're not gonna, like, they want to be organic about building something sustainable. And so I just have a few fake Norm Powell trades for you. By all means, let's hear them. I have that thought literally for one second of fake Norm Powell trades in quite a long time. So I have nothing to contribute here. Okay, super. So the first is Norm and Leonard Miller to the Orlando Magic for Jalen Suggs. That's number one. This is primarily a cost cutting move for Orlando and also a ability for Orlando to get more shooting

1:14:16in the door offensively. I don't love Powell plus pain, but... It is a little duplicative, I agree. What am I getting out of that if I'm the Bulls? Jalen Suggs. Jalen Suggs, yeah. So for 39 games a year, I get to have Jalen Suggs on my team. Okay. The intensity, the leadership. I don't like the Norm Powell. I don't know, I'm just saying no. I'm just saying that that one made me sick in my stomach a little bit. That's what we're going for here. Six of your stomach. Okay, normally we get a little better. With this one, Norm Powell to the pistons for Kevin Herder, Ron Holland and a first round pick. We're now getting, I like that. Obviously, Norm Powell was, I think, a real candidate to sign with the pistons. Herder, Ron Holland, so second draft, Ron Holland and a first round pick. That's fair, that's fair and I, that's fair for both teams. So this is an interesting one. They just signed him semi-recently, but Norm to Denver for Christian Brown.

1:15:19Okay. And it's basically, if you're, the nuggets you're trying to obviously get off that contract, you get a great shooter, someone who can work short-term. And if you're the bulls, you're betting on Christian Brown, obviously having a bounce back. Yeah, you don't really care too much about the contract because you're not really worried about money right now in terms of your timeline. And he's a good role player, young athletic, who fits with your young nucleus. So those are my three little fake Norm Powell trades that I have for you. I'm gonna say you're one for three, which you'd be, you'd be, like, that's a pretty average 20-gwin year. That's a great batting average. Thank you. Wow. I love it. I don't want, Norm Powell has 21 million this year and a team option for next year at 22 and a half. I'm not sure I like Christian Brown. I think he will swing back up this year and that contract will not look underwater as it does today

1:16:20or quite to the degree that it's underwater. I just need a little something extra to take on that money. I understand that the bulls have all the cap space they need going forward. It just sneaks up on you and I'd just rather not have the downside scenario of like, I think this is like $26 million contract is in my way or it's like awkward, I can't get it. So I need a little something extra. The Detroit one is fun. That's enough talk about the bulls. By the way, as we're on the bulls, I will talk more about this when it's appropriate. Stacy King passed away this off season. Just an absolutely delightful dude. Interviewed him lots of times including on this podcast, but also about the 90s bulls. One of my favorite sort of always made me laugh broadcasters was always super generous at this time and his personality. And I haven't talked about it. I just like, I'm going to really miss Stacy King and not like on the broadcast. Like I will miss him on the broadcast, but just like as a personality to run into

1:17:21around the NBA, really that really was a sad one. Okay, one more team. Do Milwaukee Bucks. What a team it is. What a team it is. There's a lot of guys on the team. There's a lot of guys on the team. There's a full team of guys. There are no onto the coompos, but there are a lot of guys. I'll let you go on this one. I have a feeling I know where your question is going to be, but I'll let you go. I had two questions that I was trying to pick between, but although it was on this team after the trade deadline is my question. You have Tyler Hero, you have Miles Turner, you have Jaime Hock as Jr., you have Ryan Rollins, Collelle Ware is probably not going anywhere. I would imagine, but he's technically someone who they could be on that list. Everybody else, so you, there's just so many,

1:18:24you said this on a pub with Rob, just there's a team of guys, and that's all I think about when I think about the Milwaukee Bucks this season, but they have Bradenburys who could win Rookie of the Year and was excellent in Summer League. First team. Did he make first team? First team? Is there a third team? I don't think there's a third team, unfortunately. But he was first team, put some respect on that, and if he's a clear breakout building block, I think that that's a huge win for the Bucks as they kind of transitioned into this post onto Tacumpo Wasteland universe of theirs. But yeah, I guess just what are they going to do? What does the roster look like after the deadline versus before it is the big question for me? I will say Taylor Jenkins has already proven in Memphis. Like he will get there and there will be a structure right away. And I mean, like both organizationally around the office and help buttoned up everything is,

1:19:26but also like on the court, he's going to look, presumably spent the whole summer looking at this roster and as sort of fungible as it might end up being to your point. He's going to be like, all right, here's the guys that I got. Here are four things that we're going to do that are going to be just like non-negotiable. In Memphis at times, a lot of that focused on the corner three on both ends of the floor. As someone who came from the Mike Goutin-Holster tree, it could be defensive rebounding. It could be not fouling, but I can guarantee you this for as pretty bad as this team is going to be. And as tough of a watch as they might be on some nights, there's going to be stuff that they're good, like average to good at because they just decide as a team starting from their coach to be average or good at them. My big question was, I count eight guards who have some degree of need for the basketball. Tyler Hiro, Braden Burries, Keras LeBert, Ryan Rollins,

1:20:26Kevin Porter, Jr., Casper O'Shaucka-Jones, and then a little less so because they're shooters, AJ Green, and the very highly paid Gary Trent Jr. That's eight dudes. And we have not mentioned a, depending on how you want to classify Rollins, a traditional point guard, a power forward, a big man of any kind. We're already at eight dudes. So some of those guys are not going to play. I think Bruce Mungeng, who's not one of those types of players, he needs to play based on what he did last season. Hock, as we have mentioned, Kus, we have a mention. We haven't mentioned either of the center. His Miles Turner is still here somehow, detritus from the Dame stretch and the Hail Mary signing of Miles Turner. And Kallal Ware, who to me is either the most interesting or second most interesting behind Burries, long-term play on the team. I think they might start wearing Turner together and see how that works. I don't know. But of all those eight guys, like, holy smokes, what a thing to sort out, especially when one of them, Tyler Hiro, is an all-star and is up for an extension.

1:21:31I think he wants a whole lot of money for a whole lot of years. And so there's a pressure on that decision right away. And maybe that's a trade. Maybe it's just we take it to free agency and you walk. Maybe it's a signing trade. I don't know what it is. If I were the box, I don't think I would want to resign Tyler Hiro to an extension at a dollar amount that he's going to accept right now. So, but that's just a lot of guards, man. You want to see, like, what is Yakuachunis have? He's one of the prizes of that heat trade. I want to see him have the ball like a lot. And I'm not, like, there's a lot of guys who can't play if he's going to have the ball a lot. So I'm just going to see how that, how that, I like Yakuachunis last year. He shot well from three. He was over the head crazy passes. I want to see more him. Same. Same. Yeah, this roster is just like, it's, I don't want, it's just so strange. It's just so strange.

1:22:33It's the kind of roster you have when you make a seismic trade and your team is, it's like a way station between team A with the honest and team B, whatever comes next during this sort of liminal state. Yeah. I like Ryan Rollins though. I want to see what, when you can do the show or if he gets moved on to a greener pasture that'll be interesting. Like I would just not, like I'm starting this season, I'm not playing Levert. I'm not playing Trent despite the contract. I'm not playing Kevin Porter Jr. Like those guys just out of the rotation. I'm like, I just need to see these other guys play and I can't see them play if you're playing the guys I mentioned, particularly if I play Kevin Porter Jr. he's going to have the ball all the time. And like I, he's, he's a productive offense to player fine. Like I'm just not playing into this guy. Right off the bat. I can't argue. I can't argue, Zach. Michael, Michael Pina, what do we got coming from you? What's your, what's your week like? It's Tuesday. What would you be on the lookout for at theranger.com pod wise, column wise, you've written a bunch of stuff. I've read all summer.

1:23:34I was, I was reading it over vacation. Well, what are the nuggets doing? Break out intriguing players. What else we got? I'm, I think I'm doing an old fashioned power ranking of the whole league for next week. So that's something to, for me to kind of ponder and we'll be tearing the teams and everything. So that'll be fun to kind of get me ready for the upcoming season. That's awesome. All right. I look forward to that power rankings. Are not easy. The competition for the, I think you should, have you thought about putting the clippers last just to, just to put them there just to like, this is the place you now belong, even though on paper, they're not last. They're, they could be a candidate. They could be a candidate. They're, they're no Sacramento Kings. It's, it's going to take a lot to get into that tier. But they'll, they'll be near the bottom for sure. Yeah. Yeah, I think when I do this exercise for the Western Conference next year, I'm not quite sure what my big question for the King is going to be. Obviously, Darius, you know, have, if I'm being serious,

1:24:36it will be about Darius A. Cuff. Yeah. If I'm not being serious, it just might be why, why, how, where, Michael Pena, read his columns at theringer.com, listen to him on the Ringer NBA show when he appears there. And here too, thanks for coming on the Zach Lowe show, bud. Thanks Zach. That's it for today's edition of the Zach Lowe show. Thank you to Michael Pena. Thank you as usual to Mike, Billy and Jonathan on production. And thanks as always to you all for listening to and or watching. The Zach Lowe show. The season is almost here. The preview content is going to keep coming fast and furious. And we'll be back on Thursday for another fun episode of the Zach Lowe show. We'll see you then. 21 are over in president select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas, Starkisino or 18 and over in president DC. Kentucky, Wyoming gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gamber or 1-800-My Reset. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut.

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