Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: WVUA FM, Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Welcome, one and all, to WVUA's 90.7 the Capstones NBA student section. I'm your host, Zachary Elrod, and here with me, as always, good old reliable Trey Simpson.
[00:00:20] Speaker C: Baby, what's up?
[00:00:22] Speaker A: How y'all doing?
[00:00:23] Speaker B: Yeah, Drew's not today, but on good reasons, he had to go on a trip to Atlanta. So being that our show is on a Fridays doesn't normally work well with all of our schedules, but we try to work around it. We try to give y'all a good show. We try to give y'all the energy, you know what I'm saying? We try to give y'all good vibes. So hopefully we're doing so. But today we got a lot of NBA news to cover, and that happens to be trade deadline. We just went past it and, man, where there's so many trades, not really some big names, but I think some guys are definitely going to make an impact for the teams.
[00:01:03] Speaker A: Yeah, so much stuff has happened.
I know one trade that stands out to me in particular is Patrick Beverly to the Bucks alongside Damien Lillard now. And if you know a little bit about the past history between them, they don't like each other.
[00:01:21] Speaker B: No, not very much.
[00:01:24] Speaker A: I thought it was a friendly smack talk at first, and all of it starts out like that, but as time went on, it got a little more just they were taking a couple more jabs at each other than usual. So, yeah, they just don't like each other. But Patrick, he said he was willing to squash the beef and he's ready to win a championship. So I thought that was good on his part. So now he did a good job by kind of putting it on Dame. So it's up to him now.
[00:01:51] Speaker B: Yeah, I heard that he's ready for Cameron Payne to get his physical because he's ready to suit up because Cameron Payne hasn't got his physical or something for the 76 ers, and Patrick Beverly is telling him to hurry up because he wants to suit up for the Bucks. But anyway, we got a lot of other trades to talk about. I want to get your reaction on this buddy Hill trade. Buddy Hill to the Sixers. I thought they kind of gave up a little too much for him because they gave up Marcus Morris, fork and Cork Maz. I'm sorry if I'mispronouncing that. And three second round picks.
Do you like that or. I don't know.
[00:02:28] Speaker A: Honestly, I agree with you. I think they gave up a little bit too much in this scenario for a shooter? Yeah, just for one. But Buddy Hill is solid, but I.
[00:02:39] Speaker C: Don'T think he was worth that much for them.
[00:02:42] Speaker B: I mean, don't get me wrong. He's a bucket. He's a sniper. He's all that and a bag of chips. But you're giving up Marcus Morris. You just gave the key to the city to, which is pretty crazy. I don't know, but. And then I knew courtmas. He said he wanted a trade, so they're trying to get rid of him anyway. But three second round picks, I don't know. That could maybe come to haunt you. Who knows what the Indiana Pacers can do with those 3 seconds?
[00:03:07] Speaker A: I mean, I feel like at this point, that might be a move to set up cap space to keep.
You know, maybe Siakam wanted to buy.
[00:03:17] Speaker C: Out, go somewhere else.
[00:03:19] Speaker A: But at this point now, if more people leave, I guess then that opens up cap space for Siakam to get paid more.
[00:03:27] Speaker C: So with Halliburton, Siakam and, what, topping around those three and a couple more guys, then that's good for them. That core.
[00:03:39] Speaker B: Yeah. It stinks, though. They lost Bruce Brown, too. Now they're losing Buddy Hill. They're starting to lose a lot of key players that have made an impact for them. So, I don't know. Like you said, they have Ciacum now, and now they have Marcus Morris senior, and then court Maz. So those are some solid role players, kind of fill in the gaps. But anyways, we got the Jazz.
They just traded Kelly Olynick and Achua Agabachi. That's the guy for Kansas. He played in Kansas, didn't.
[00:04:09] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:10] Speaker B: Yeah. So I'm surprised they traded him because he was a rookie or last year he was. So he's in his sophomore season. I'm surprised they traded him because I thought he could know at least done a little something more for him. But they traded him for. They got Curios Jr. Otta Porter Jr. And then a first round pick.
So, I don't know. Who do you think wins this, the Raptors or the Jazz?
[00:04:35] Speaker A: Honestly, I think the Raptors are winning right now because the moves they made during, before the deadline have been very interesting to see. So, overall, I just think they've won.
[00:04:47] Speaker C: The overall trade deadline, period. But the Jazz, they're making moves. I mean, they have a good young core.
A couple vets that are still, like, youngish, but old enough to be considered vets, like Jordan Clarkson. People like that.
[00:05:05] Speaker A: So it just depends, honestly, like, they're.
[00:05:08] Speaker C: Making moves, but they just got to be strategic in this know, because at the end of the day, they want to make at least a playoff.
[00:05:19] Speaker B: So I like how they're getting all these canadian players, though. The Raptors, they're bringing back Team Canada, bro, because they saw that Olympic run. They're getting Team Canada together. They're getting mean. And then they got Archae. I mean, he did great for Kansas. I'm sorry, I can't pronounce your name. Your name is just like, I don't know, it's foreign or what. But, yeah, I mean, he's been in great for Kansas. I thought he's had some great moments with the Jazz. I don't really know. I thought they could have developed him into something, but I guess not. So they're getting a great young player in that. I thought, giving up a first round pick and it's a 2024 1st round pick, I don't know. I mean, that was the only thing that was iffy to me. But then cure Les Jr. And auto Porter, those are role players.
And then one. That was a really big trade. The Thunder traded Trey man and Davis Bertons for Gordon Hayward.
Dude, I thought that was great for the OKC Thunder. Getting Gordon Hayward.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: For them to get Hayward, that's a good spot up shooter, and he could know fit into his role there, but he's injury prone, so their biggest concern with him would be, can he stay healthy?
[00:06:32] Speaker B: I think I like the move because they're so young.
[00:06:35] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:06:36] Speaker B: You know what I'm saying? Because they're super young and he's a vet. Yeah.
[00:06:39] Speaker A: I'm about to say that's good veteran experience for.
[00:06:42] Speaker B: Mm hmm. Yeah. Like you said, he's good spot up shooter. He can get a bucket or two. He's a great slasher, can get to the mid range. But then they gave up Trey mamm, which was a good young talent. So it'll be interesting to see what Trey does for the Hornets because he's definitely going to get a bigger role.
And then Davis Bertons, that's just like a sniper. So then moving on, we go to.
Oh, yeah, forgot about this. The Knicks.
Me personally, I think the Knicks won everything. I think the Knicks have the best trade. I think this is going to be the best for him because they just got Bojean Buckdanovich. And for those of you that don't know, he did play for the Detroit Pistons, and he was averaging 23 points a game for him while starting for him. And then they got Alec Burke back for the Knicks, too. And for those that don't, know, Alec Burke, he balled out in, I believe the, what was it, 2019 playoff or something. It's when the Atlanta Hawks were going on a run and it was the Knicks versus the Hawks. He balled out for the Knicks. He had like a 30 point game.
So yeah, everybody remembers Alec Burks, especially in Madison Square Garden.
We're moving on. But overall, talking about this, though, I definitely think that the Knicks won this trade because they only had to give up Quinn and Grimes, Michael Flynn, they gave up Evan Fournier and Ryan Archa Dickino, which is funny to mention because Ryan actually has a record. Did you see that? It's like the most consecutive zero point games or something like that. It's like an NBA record or something. It's crazy.
[00:08:17] Speaker A: Who posted that?
[00:08:18] Speaker B: I forget. I think it was ESPN.
But then they gave up Quentin Grimes. So I guess they just gave up on him because he was a rookie last year. So I don't know. I thought they could have developed him, but I don't know, I guess they just gave up on him. I think Quentin didn't really like the situation, though, so I think he wanted out in the first place.
But anyways, moving on. Trey really wanted me to cover this one. We got the Raptors. We got the Nets. Spencer Dimwoody going to the Raptors. He's been traded around a few times later in his career. And then you got Dennis Schroeder going to the Nets with Thaddeus Young. So the Nets received Thaddeus Young, Dennis Roder, and then the Raptors receive Spencer Dimwoody. What are your thoughts, Trey?
[00:09:03] Speaker A: I just wonder what's going through Dinwiddy's head at this point because he was on the Mavericks. Well, actually, he started on the nets, went to the Mavericks. Right. Went back to the Nets, and now.
[00:09:18] Speaker C: He'S moving over to the Raptors.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: So honestly, he's been all over the place. For one, did he expect it? And then two, even if he know, is he ready to go perform and go play at a high level over.
[00:09:31] Speaker C: There with all the talent that Toronto has now?
[00:09:34] Speaker B: Yeah, he's been all over the place in his career. I think he started out with the Sixers, then he stayed a long time with the Nets and he started to, I don't know, people thought he was going to stay his entire career with them. Then he moved on to the wizards, I believe, played for the wizards, then went on to the Mavs, then went to the Nets. So he went back to the Nets like you just said, and now he's at the Raptors, which is pretty crazy. Pretty crazy career for Spencer, but I think that's a great pickup for the Raptors.
Definitely gives him a veteran. I mean, bro is just a bucket.
What about for the Nets? Do you think they win?
[00:10:15] Speaker A: Mean, they already had a solid guard combo with Denwitty and mean, Dennis Schroeder is just as solid, though, as Denwitty himself. So with the pickup of daddy's young.
[00:10:31] Speaker C: I think depending on his mean, I think it's kind of even.
[00:10:36] Speaker A: I just know at this point the.
[00:10:37] Speaker C: Raptors have went, know they went for a lot of offense this deadline, so I'm interested to see how that's going to work out for them.
[00:10:46] Speaker B: True. It's definitely going to be interesting to see. I guess maybe the Emmanuel quickly and Spencer Demwe dynamic and maybe see how they do that. I don't know.
But anyways, moving on to my mavericks, we had a great trade. We got PJ Washington from the hornets and all we had to trade was Seth Curry, Grant Williams and a first round pick.
[00:11:11] Speaker A: Seth Curry. Love.
[00:11:12] Speaker B: Yep. He wasn't doing anything for us, though. He was only averaging like three points a game.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: But to go to the Hornets, I know he feels some type of way.
[00:11:19] Speaker B: Yeah, probably.
But wait, didn't they grow up in. They grew up in Charlote for a long time, the Curry brothers.
[00:11:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:28] Speaker B: So I guess it's kind of like home to them.
[00:11:30] Speaker A: I mean, but all the drama, I guess that comes with the Hornets right now, with all the players.
[00:11:36] Speaker B: I'm sure. I knew Grant Williams was starting to make the organization kind of uncomfortable. That's what I heard them say. So they were trying to get rid of him. But giving up a first round pick, though, you don't really like to see it, but you're getting a young player in PJ. I mean, I think he's 25, same year, I think same age as Grant Williams, but he's going to have a lot more upside. He has a lot more potential. Who knows? Maybe PJ might be an all star one year. Maybe his year's still unfolding. But also, not to mention we also got Daniel Gafford. I think all we have to trade for him was Rashawn Holmes and then maybe a second round pick, I believe. But, yeah, I think that was a great trade for us. Get a backup center for Derek Lively. I don't know. What are your reactions to the Mavericks? Do you think they pulled off some good trades or you think they gave up too much with that first round pick for PJ?
[00:12:34] Speaker A: Honestly, in the long run.
Yes. I think they gave up a little.
[00:12:40] Speaker C: Like, yeah, I think that pick was a lot for.
[00:12:47] Speaker B: Mean. I could see where you're going with this because when I saw first round pick, I was like, but I think PJ will fit good in this system because then you got Donovan or not. What am I thinking? That Luka Doncic, they need a good three. Three?
[00:13:03] Speaker A: Like a star three coming out of the 2024 draft class will complete them.
[00:13:08] Speaker C: Because they already have Derek lively. He's growing and growing as a player.
[00:13:12] Speaker A: And then they could have had an addition at power forward. But PJ Washington is cool, but to.
[00:13:20] Speaker C: Give up a first round pick when they could potentially get a young star and mold him. So, I don't know.
[00:13:27] Speaker B: Yeah, but we got Luca, we got Kyrie at the two, and then we got Josh Green at the three and now PJ and then Derek lively. So that will give rest for Derrick Jones Jr. Let him come off the bench so that way he doesn't have to do too much. And then, I don't know. We still got Tim Hardaway off the bench. Josh Hardy, he might do something. I don't know. I think I still, like, mean.
[00:13:52] Speaker A: Yeah, it's cool. But that's what saying, like, all the guards for that team are pretty much vets. Like, kyrie's a vet at this, know, Tim Hardaway Jr. Is a vet.
[00:14:01] Speaker B: They're definitely trying to win.
[00:14:03] Speaker C: Yeah, like, I don't know.
[00:14:06] Speaker B: I mean, with Luca in the lineup, I would assume they're trying to win now. So that's probably why they're so eager to just give up that pick.
But anyways, moving on. I definitely want to talk about the losers, though. Who do you think? Because I know it was a big surprise to a lot of people that teams like the warriors, they didn't make any trades. Seems like your Lakers, they didn't make any trades. And then the Chicago Bulls, who haven't made a trade since 2021. So what's your thoughts on that?
[00:14:40] Speaker A: Yeah, to speak on the Warriors, I feel like at this point, that dynasty, it was what it was, and at this point, we kind of figure that we see it's pretty much over Clay. He doesn't really have any market value or as much market value as he would have, what, three, four seasons ago maybe.
[00:15:02] Speaker B: I heard he's about to be a free agent. I think. I think his contract's about to be up.
[00:15:06] Speaker A: Yeah. And I mean, just because of his name, a team's going to pick him up. It's not like nobody's going to call him back. Obviously, the warriors were forever. Probably going to take him back, but I just don't think he has as much market value as he once was. Even Draymond Green, a team like the warriors, he was probably going to stay there until he finishes his career. That's what I figured. Because who else is going to pick him up? Obviously he can get picked up.
[00:15:34] Speaker C: I'm not saying he can't.
[00:15:36] Speaker A: But nobody else in the league like their playstyle, how Clay and Draymond both play specifically fits for the warriors. They've built around that. That's what won them the four championships, even with like with that system. So with the way they play.
[00:15:57] Speaker C: I.
[00:15:57] Speaker A: Feel like they would struggle in another.
[00:15:59] Speaker B: So because they've just been a part of that other system, like you said, for so long.
[00:16:04] Speaker A: Yeah. Especially Clay Thompson. He's too much in his own head anyway.
[00:16:07] Speaker B: Yeah, I heard he's getting benched now. Yeah, he's just getting benched and it's not going to help that. It's definitely not going to help carrying.
[00:16:16] Speaker A: Around a lot of negative energy. That's what I've heard.
[00:16:18] Speaker C: Like I've heard in the locker room. He's kind know just letting the outside talk get tough.
[00:16:27] Speaker B: I know. I mean, I love Clay, man.
I hope he gets his head straight and it's just block all that outside noise because I know, especially getting bench, like we were just talking mean, that's not going to help him. Especially mean how he's already been so.
[00:16:44] Speaker C: Yeah, and then you mentioned the Lakers, too, man.
[00:16:49] Speaker A: At this point, remember, see, I was all for calling for a couple of trades to be made, but I never wanted to give up Vanderbilt players like that. At this point, we just kind of hit our stride a little bit. We're figuring it out at the same time. We should have a better record than we have. But we're not down and out.
[00:17:17] Speaker C: Don't count us out yet.
[00:17:19] Speaker A: We still have time. It's still pretty early in the season.
[00:17:22] Speaker C: True.
[00:17:23] Speaker A: Well, we're about halfway through the season.
[00:17:25] Speaker C: Like close to it. Like very close to halfway, if not a little bit more than halfway still.
[00:17:30] Speaker B: That's a whole other half of the season.
[00:17:32] Speaker A: Yeah, we still got time to really key in and figure it out, but at this point, it's too much going.
[00:17:39] Speaker C: On with that market anyway. I don't think we had enough time to figure out what kind of cap space we had to work with. So I don't think it would have been necessarily smart to make a trade.
[00:17:49] Speaker A: Unless we could have got a guaranteed.
[00:17:51] Speaker C: Deal like star for star type thing. I know there were rumors about Donovan Mitchell maybe in the, like, I don't know if you saw that, but even.
[00:18:04] Speaker A: Like, a player like Rosen, like, even.
[00:18:07] Speaker C: If got know that would have had to been a DeAngelo Russell for Demar kind of situation and maybe like a young star like woods or somebody like that, I don't, you know, I just don't think it would have been smart for them to make a trade because.
[00:18:28] Speaker B: You already have a talented roster.
[00:18:30] Speaker C: Yeah. The Bulls, on the other hand.
[00:18:34] Speaker A: They'Ve been in the rebuild for, like, they.
[00:18:37] Speaker C: Rebuilt got some good, know they had to go through injuries with Lonzo, but he's back on the court.
[00:18:43] Speaker B: I've heard that. I've seen the clip.
[00:18:45] Speaker C: He's back on the court. I'm happy about that.
[00:18:47] Speaker B: He's getting shots up. Yeah, he's looking good, too.
[00:18:49] Speaker C: Yeah, he's moving around. He didn't pull his ions.
[00:18:53] Speaker B: Yeah, for real.
[00:18:54] Speaker C: Kept that under control.
[00:18:55] Speaker A: But at this point, we just have.
[00:18:59] Speaker C: To wait and see what happens when he returns even. I still feel like, though, they have to get some more pieces around him because obviously he's been out for so long, he's obviously not going to be the same player.
[00:19:09] Speaker A: But I just don't want another Clay.
[00:19:11] Speaker C: Thompson situation to, you know, injury happens and then you just see a player that, know at the peak of, like, playing kind of decline because of.
[00:19:27] Speaker B: Demar DeRozan is only getting older, and then Zach Levine's kind of starting to get more injured more frequently. And then even Nikola Vusovich, when they picked him up, he's not really the center when they picked him up, when he was in the magic, he's not really that same Nikola Busovich. I don't know. He's not looking like he's going to be. So I don't know.
I mean, I don't really know who you trade honestly for them because they just don't really have anything to work with, man.
[00:19:54] Speaker A: They just got to rebuild, bro. They got to give up people for some picks. Like, at this point, just pull a mar somewhere, you know what I'm saying? Send Amar somewhere.
[00:20:05] Speaker C: Who else? Levine.
[00:20:07] Speaker A: Oh, Levine's out for the season. Did you see that? He's going through surgery on his foot.
[00:20:11] Speaker B: Wait, yeah, I did see.
[00:20:13] Speaker C: So, yeah, they just got to send him off somewhere.
[00:20:16] Speaker B: That's their best player and he's gone, dude.
[00:20:19] Speaker C: Yeah, they got to get some picks.
[00:20:21] Speaker B: And then they still got Caruso. Good old reliable Caruso. That's pretty much it, dude.
[00:20:26] Speaker A: Caruso probably going to send him off, too. That like really just clean house.
[00:20:29] Speaker B: Honestly, clean house, bro. But yeah, when you said trade him for picks, I really think they should just pull a thunder. Oklahoma City Thunder, bro. Can you give us a pick? Bet. That's all we want. Just give us picks. But yeah, that's going to do it. For this segment, don't go away. For more NBA news and all things NBA. We'll see y'all.
Um.
[00:20:56] Speaker A: WVUA FM, Tuscaloosa.
[00:21:05] Speaker B: Welcome back to WVUA 90.7, the Capstones MBA student section. We're back and we're back with some more NBA news surrounding the All Stars. And apparently Julius Randall is going to be out and Embiid. We already talked about Embiid, but now Randall hasn't been playing for the Knicks. So in order, the people that are going to replace them are going to be Scotty Barnes and Trey Young. We just talked about him in the last episode saying that he was kind of like a snub for the All Star and he hasn't really made the all star team in a while. But now Trey Young's back better than ever and he's in the all star game. So is Scotty for the first time. So what's your initial reaction to it, Trey? You like it?
[00:21:49] Speaker A: Well, you know, of course I will advocate for Trey. I feel like they both deserve, but like, I'm really happy for Scotty Barnes. I'm glad he got a chance. He's getting a chance to showcase his skills. Obviously, we've seen what he can do in the regular season, so we knew it was just a matter of time.
[00:22:05] Speaker B: True.
[00:22:06] Speaker A: Before he got his opportunity. But like I said, I'm glad that know now and shoot, I just can't wait to see what they both do.
[00:22:14] Speaker B: Yeah, Trey Young is going to be interested in the all star game because you know he's gonna come out throwing some lobs and stuff. Scotty, I remember watching his high school highlights, dude, he can get up, he can get creative. So it's going to be fun to watch them do what they do. I know that Jalen Brunson, he's been hurt for the last few, I think few days and stuff for the Knicks. So I don't know if he's going to be healthy for next week, next weekend, do you think? I'm not sure what the time span.
[00:22:43] Speaker A: Is by this weekend. Like a couple days?
[00:22:47] Speaker C: I don't know. Even Sunday, Monday?
[00:22:51] Speaker B: I don't know because I hope he's healthy because it's his first all star and he deserves it. You know what I'm saying?
[00:22:57] Speaker A: He'll probably play through it.
He might not be at 100%, but I don't think he's going to miss it. Like you just said, his first time, especially with all the hype he has.
[00:23:07] Speaker C: I don't think he's going to let this opportunity kind of pass by unless it's like an actual season ending injury. But obviously it hasn't came out that it is.
[00:23:17] Speaker A: So I think he'll still power through.
[00:23:20] Speaker B: Yeah, I hope so. I obviously don't want to push because he still earns that. I believe even though they're hurt, they still earn the all star selection. They just won't be able to.
You, obviously, the thing that matters to them right now is the championship. And you hope because the Knicks, they really have a shot, especially with the trade they just made for Bojon and Alec Burke and just giving up a couple young guys and some players on the bench that weren't even really using in the first place, they really have a shot, honestly. Yeah, I think they're clear right now. Eastern Conference final is just like telling.
[00:23:58] Speaker A: You they just got to beat the Bucks because you would never count the Celtics out. But at the same time, we know they crumble in the playoffs, especially Tatum, Jalen Brown. They have good runs and all that. They can make it to the conference.
[00:24:13] Speaker C: Finals or whatever, but then they ultimately lose.
[00:24:15] Speaker B: Yeah, they could still make it to the finals. It's just whether they win at all or not.
[00:24:21] Speaker A: Shoot, I don't even think they're going to. If the 76 ers are fully healthy, I don't think they're even going to beat them.
[00:24:26] Speaker B: But the Sixers have choked, too, sometimes all the time.
[00:24:30] Speaker A: Honestly, neither of those teams, the Celtics are beating the Bucks, so it's going to be between the Bucks and the Knicks.
[00:24:37] Speaker B: True. Who knows if the. Do you think the Miami Heat will do what they do last? Are they even in the play in?
I don't even know if the Miami Heat are in the play in.
[00:24:47] Speaker C: I don't even think so. Not right now.
[00:24:50] Speaker B: I don't know. It would be interesting to see if the Miami Heat were to sneak in like they did last time because I know that made a lot of people mad, but let me check the standings real quick. Nope, they are. They're the number one seed in the play in. So they're like the number seven seed.
Who knows? They could do what they did last year.
I mean, the only people besides them are the magic. The Bulls are number nine and then the Hawks are ten.
[00:25:19] Speaker C: How are the bulls ahead of the Hawks? That's concerning.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: I know. And they're ahead of the nets.
That's pretty crazy. But the nets aren't even doing good either.
Oh, no. That's pretty crazy. After all the bulls have been through, they're still in the play in. That's pretty wild. But anyways, going back to the all star break, I love these selections. Scotty Barnes, you deserve it, man. You had a bad sophomore year, but you made up for it. You came back, and now you're looking better than ever, and you're leading that Raptors team. So on behalf of this podcast, we're very proud of you, Scotty, if you're listening. And then, same with you, ice tray. Love watching you hoop, man. And then, I mean, glad you got to make it, bro. Ice tray, definitely. Well deserving. So anyway, moving back on to the contestants of the all star break or. Well, the contestants in each contest. So we got the three point contest, the skills contest, and the dunk contest, just like every year, but we got the contestants for them, which I'm going to pull up real quick because I know for the dunk contest, we got Jalen Brown.
Yeah, we got Jalen Brown, Mac McClung, and then Jacob Toppin, which is Obi Toppin's brother, and then Jamie Hakez Jr.
Or Jame Hakez Jr.
So who's your favorite for the dunk contest, and who do you think is going to be, like, a sleeper, like, somebody that's going to really give us a show but not really win it?
[00:26:54] Speaker A: I'm going to be honest, I'm already sleeping on Jalen Brown. Like, he's a good in game dunker, but he's not, like, on a Vince Carter level, tracy McGrady level.
[00:27:06] Speaker B: So true.
[00:27:07] Speaker A: I'm kind of just perplexed that he got selected for the contest, but at the same time, me, too. It was kind of mean. I want to see what he does, but at the same time, yeah, I'm.
[00:27:18] Speaker B: Surprised he wanted to do it. Maybe because Mac McClon kind of, like, I don't know, revived the dunk contest last year, and now veterans want to do it because normally people want to do it in the beginning of their NBA career, like when they're rookies or something, when they're younger.
[00:27:36] Speaker C: Yeah, but Jalen Brown doesn't do the flashy kind of dunks like that. Like he has his tomahawks and back scratchers, but he might do a 360.
[00:27:48] Speaker A: Every now and then on a fast.
[00:27:49] Speaker B: Break or something like that. I've seen him get a little flashy.
[00:27:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I guess I'm interested to see what he can do. But like I said, he's kind of one of those quiet stars, if that makes sense.
[00:28:03] Speaker C: I don't know. He has his moments where he just explodes in the game and then other than that, sometimes he can just drop a quiet 20. True. I give it 2025, but it'll be in spurts, like, what, seven points in the first quarter, twelve points in the second, maybe 14 in the third. Like 1416 or something. And then what? Like six in the fourth.
[00:28:26] Speaker A: So that's what I'm saying.
[00:28:27] Speaker C: It's kind of like a quiet. I don't know.
[00:28:30] Speaker B: I get what you're saying because a lot of the attention is on Jason Tatum or something. And then people don't really worry about Jalen Brown as that second punch. And he makes teams favor your favorite. So you said your sleeper's Jalen Brown, but who's your favorite to.
[00:28:52] Speaker A: Honestly, I know the first three.
[00:28:56] Speaker C: I'm not talking about Vasquez, but who's the last one?
[00:29:02] Speaker B: Jame Haquez or Jacob Toppin?
[00:29:04] Speaker C: Yeah, topping.
[00:29:07] Speaker A: Honestly, I think Mac McClung's going to.
[00:29:09] Speaker C: Take it again this year.
[00:29:12] Speaker B: That's what think that Mac McClung's my favorite to win it. And my sleeper is Jame Hawkez because I've seen his dunk contest in high school, back when he played for Sierra Canyon. So I know he can bring some creativity to it, but I don't think he's going to win at all because Mac McCollum, at the end of the day, is just as Mac McCollum did.
[00:29:34] Speaker A: Honestly, I think Jalen Brown, since we're not the only ones who probably think that he might have been kind of a random selection for this event. So I think he might use that as fuel.
[00:29:46] Speaker B: True.
[00:29:46] Speaker A: And kind know shock us. So I'm actually go with Jalen Brown.
[00:29:50] Speaker B: I would like it. I wouldn't mind him winning it because I love Jalen Brown. I think he's a great player. I mean, everybody makes fun of his left hand, but I think he's a great player, man. I mean, that just shows even more of his talent if he doesn't have to use his left hand.
You know what I'm saying? But anyways, moving on to the three point contest, we got the boy, Jalen Brunson, we got Tyrese, we got Dame, we got Malik Beasley, we got Larry Markenin, Donovan Mitchell. We got towns. And then we got ice Trey Young. So same with this one. Who's your favorite to win it and who do you think is going to be a sleeper.
[00:30:36] Speaker A: Shoot? Honestly?
I honestly think off rip, this isn't even like a sleeper or anything, but I think towns isn't going to do as well as we think or as he might think.
[00:30:47] Speaker C: I think towns might throw up a couple of bricks in the first round and get eliminated early.
[00:30:53] Speaker B: He won it last year, didn't he? He was last year's.
[00:30:59] Speaker C: It's different.
[00:31:00] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:31:00] Speaker C: What's he shooting? Let me look it up before I.
[00:31:02] Speaker B: Say that he won last year. I don't know.
[00:31:04] Speaker C: He might be shooting 50 and up from the three.
[00:31:08] Speaker B: I think Malik Beasley is going to do bad.
Larry is going to do bad. Donovan Mitchell might do bad.
I don't know. I think Donovan Mitchell might do good. Jalen Brunson is not going to do good because it's always the people that are like new to the three point contest that aren't normally good.
Trey Young, I don't think he's going to do that good, I'll be honest.
So my favorite for this, I think I got to go with Dame. Dame's just my favorite because I know we know what he can do in the three point contest.
[00:31:41] Speaker A: Brunson.
[00:31:42] Speaker B: Brunson's your favorite.
[00:31:43] Speaker A: Brunson.
[00:31:44] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:31:45] Speaker A: As soon as you said dame, I just was like, all right, no brainer, Brunson.
[00:31:48] Speaker B: Okay, so who's your sleeper then, cap?
[00:31:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:31:54] Speaker A: Let me take that back, what I just said because he's shooting and he.
[00:31:59] Speaker B: Won the three point contest.
[00:32:00] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: He's shooting 43.7% from the three this season.
[00:32:04] Speaker B: For a big man.
[00:32:05] Speaker A: For a big man.
[00:32:05] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:32:06] Speaker A: So that's pretty good.
I don't even think some guards are shooting as well as he is.
[00:32:11] Speaker C: So, yeah, he's a sleeper for me.
[00:32:15] Speaker B: Okay.
Because my sleeper actually is Donovan Mitchell.
Tyrese, I don't know. I'm going to go. Don. I like Donovan Mitchell. I think he's underrated, bros. Literally averaging 30 points a game in the month of February. Right now, he's averaging like 27 for the year. I mean, Donovan Mitchell has always been slept on. I think he should definitely be higher in the MVP rankings because of their ranking in the east, how they're number two. I think Donovan Mitchell slept on, so I'm not going to sleep on him tonight.
But anyways, moving on to the skills competition, we got team pacers because, you know, with the skills competition, they always have it for the city of the all star game, they have the team to represent it. So on team pacers, we got Tyreese, we got Benedict Matheran, and then we got Miles Turner. And then for team top picks, we got Paula Ben, Carrot, Anthony Edwards, and then Victor Wabanama. I'm just kidding, Webanyama. I did not mispronounce that. I mispronounced that, guys. But I know how to say it. But anyways, moving on, team all stars, we got Scotty Barnes, the new all star, Tyrese maxi. Then we got ice Trey, baby.
[00:33:28] Speaker A: Trey Young, Miles Turner for the skills practice.
[00:33:33] Speaker B: Well, I mean, it's team pacers. Who else are they going to use?
You know what I'm saying?
It has to be from the Pacers roster.
And Miles Turner's got some skill, dude.
[00:33:47] Speaker A: Yeah, he's got skills.
[00:33:49] Speaker B: But can they pay the bills?
[00:33:55] Speaker C: What, for?
[00:33:55] Speaker A: Like what, the passing dribbling and the what? Shooting?
[00:33:59] Speaker B: Yeah, he can shoot.
See, I think he can pass it. I think he can play make a little bit as a big man. I mean, now is he a jokic? No, but, hey, it's what the Pacers got. So who do you think is going to win it all?
Because I think for the skills competition, it could honestly go any way.
[00:34:20] Speaker A: Who's on the list again?
[00:34:22] Speaker B: You got team pacers with Tyrese Benedict and Miles Turner. The top picks. You got pal Van Carroll, Anthony Edwards and Victor webinyama. And then team all stars, you got scotty Barnes, Trey Young and Tyrese Maxey.
[00:34:36] Speaker A: Oh, the rookies or the young guys? Anthony Edwards, paulo, and then.
[00:34:42] Speaker B: Hmm.
[00:34:42] Speaker A: You think so?
[00:34:44] Speaker B: You know what?
I don't think team all stars is going to do good.
And you just went with top pick. So I think I'm going to go with the home team. I think I got to go Tyrese Benedict and Miles. I think they're going to represent their home crowd. I think they're going to come out with a dub, but I think that the top picks is definitely. I think they're definitely going to make a run, though.
The only reason I don't pick team all stars is because I think I remember Tyrese Maxi and, like, scotty Barnes and them, and I think they're like missing layups and stuff in one of the skills competition things and they're like, goofing off and they're like, oh, we can't make a shot. So that's why I don't want to pick them because I think I remember last time they didn't really do the greatest.
But anyways, that's going to do it. For this segment, y'all don't go away. For more NBA news. We'll see y'all.
[00:35:46] Speaker A: Wvuafm Tuscaloosa.
[00:35:52] Speaker B: It welcome back, everyone, to wvway 90.7 capstone NBA student section. We're back. Me and Trey are back with some more NBA news, and we got to talk about the western contentions. Man, there's four teams in it. We got the thunder, we got the t wolves, we got also the Clippers, and then we got the Nuggets. Yeah, the Nuggets. I believe so. I mean, I don't know. The west is looking pretty crazy right now. What are your thoughts on it so far, like with the different contentions and stuff?
[00:36:30] Speaker A: Shoot, I'm glad the Clippers have figured it know at least one team because if know if Lakers aren't going to do it, I'd rather see the Clippers have not. I was surprised at the Thunder and the Timberwolves success this season.
Obviously, they are pretty good teams, like on paper. So you would expect them to have good records, but you didn't expect.
I don't think anybody expected them to kind of go on the streak they did in the beginning.
[00:37:05] Speaker B: True. Yeah. Currently right now, Minnesota is sitting at one, but Denver is tied with them with the 36 and 16 record at two. So they're pretty much tied. They might be going off of point differentials or something, but Thunder is number three with like one less win and then the Clippers are number four with one less win. So I don't know. It could go either way. I mean, the Clippers are only behind one game to the Thunder and then with Denver and the T Wolves, I mean, it could go either way. So I guess my question is, who do you think is going to be number one in the west at the end of the year?
What's your guess?
Because I know my guess. I know who I think, man, if.
[00:37:47] Speaker A: The Clippers can stay healthy, I'm going.
[00:37:49] Speaker C: To go with them.
But I'm going to go with Nuggets.
[00:37:56] Speaker A: Close second because the Thunder and the.
[00:38:00] Speaker C: Timberwolves might have a tough schedule from now on to the end of the season versus the Nuggets.
They're coming off a championship, so you can never count them out. So if anything, you got to go through the Nuggets in the like. I'm pretty sure that's been proven. So, like I said, if the Clippers.
[00:38:23] Speaker A: Stay healthy, though, that's another team that can match the.
[00:38:30] Speaker C: No, I'm not even going to say they definitely can't sweep them, but I think they could take like a game five, game six maybe. Like, I don't think they would have to go to game seven.
[00:38:40] Speaker B: Yeah, I was looking at their schedule and I'm seeing some games, but overall it doesn't even look like too bad of a schedule. I see a lot of wizards game, I see a lot of spurs. I see hornets in there. So it doesn't look like a horrible schedule. Now, granted, it doesn't look like the easiest schedule in the world because you still see big teams like the Bucks, the Celtics, all those guys. Even the Suns are in there, the Mavericks. So we'll see how that plays out. But my number one team that I think is going to be the number one seed in the west, when it's all said and done, it's going to be the thunder.
[00:39:13] Speaker C: I knew you were going to say that.
[00:39:15] Speaker B: I just think it, I don't know, they just seem like a great regular season team. I don't think they're built for the playoffs yet or they're built for it, but they're just not ready for it, you know what I'm saying? So that brings me on to my next question.
Who do you think is going to make it all the way in the playoffs? Because I know you're talking about it a little bit, but who do you think out of those four are going to make it the furthest in the.
[00:39:40] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, my bad. I answered that. Yeah. Clippers and Nuggets. I think that's going to be the finals matchup in the west.
[00:39:46] Speaker B: Oh, my bad. I wasn't paying attention to you then, but who do you think between those two if you had to pick?
[00:39:54] Speaker C: Like I said, if they stay healthy, bro, and both teams are firing on all cylinders, I think it's going to go to a game seven series.
[00:40:02] Speaker A: But to game on the line.
[00:40:09] Speaker C: Man.
[00:40:09] Speaker A: It all depends on how Kawhi is playing, bro. Like, because obviously and would obviously if.
[00:40:15] Speaker C: They make it that far, they would have to be firing, but it just depends on Kawhi in that situation, honestly.
[00:40:20] Speaker A: Westbrook, too, but not in a bad way. Westbrook just, he'll create a spark off.
[00:40:26] Speaker C: The bench every game. Like he's going to bring that energy. You, Terrence, man, is going to bring that energy.
[00:40:32] Speaker A: Zubach going to step up? Norman Powell, yeah, all them.
[00:40:37] Speaker C: So honestly, he just comes down to Kawhi, bro, because everybody on the Nuggets is such a threat.
[00:40:44] Speaker A: MPJ, as soon as he gets the.
[00:40:47] Speaker C: Ball, you might as well box out, get the rebound because as soon as MPJ gets it, he's shooting it.
[00:40:53] Speaker A: Jokic, the crazy shots he hit on my Lakers pretty much every time they.
[00:40:57] Speaker C: Play is just ridiculous. Like, he's a threat in the clutch. Jamal Murray, obviously, is a threat in his own right. So Caldwell, Pope, even you can't leave.
[00:41:08] Speaker A: Everybody's a threat. Aaron Gordon, he'll backdoor cuts you, and.
[00:41:11] Speaker C: Next thing you know, and Jokic's gonna find him. Yeah, you'll be ducking your man. It just depends, man. Everybody has to play.
[00:41:20] Speaker A: So, honestly, to answer the question, though.
[00:41:23] Speaker C: Since I've been yapping a little bit, man, I would give it to the Nuggets, bro.
[00:41:30] Speaker B: Me, too.
[00:41:31] Speaker A: I would want the Clippers to obviously beat them, but at the same time.
[00:41:35] Speaker C: I just know the Nuggets, like, we've seen it. Like, they have that gene in them.
[00:41:40] Speaker B: 100% agree with you because, like you said, to add on with the Clippers, for me, it always comes down to Kawhi. He's, like, the real one. Besides Norman Powell with championship experience, because Paul George hasn't been there, James hasn't been there, and he's, like, one of their only stars that's really been in know.
[00:41:59] Speaker A: And even Powell, like, he wasn't a star role in his.
[00:42:04] Speaker B: So, like, he definitely played a big part in it, though. He was a good role player.
[00:42:08] Speaker C: Yeah, but that's the point. He was a role player. Like, kawhi was the. Like, he was the know.
[00:42:14] Speaker B: He was the main. I mean, he carried them flat out.
[00:42:17] Speaker C: Just carried him because Kyle Lowry wasn't producing points wise.
[00:42:21] Speaker A: Like, he had his moments, though, and.
[00:42:23] Speaker C: He stepped up and hit some shots when he needed to. But, yeah, no, Kawhi was the reason, if not the reason, and then maybe see Akam. But Siakam played his role even so, honestly. Yeah, I just got to give it to the Nuggets.
Jamal Murray and Jokic, when they want to lock in, they're unstoppable, really.
[00:42:42] Speaker B: They've proven that once locked in. I mean, they're like the best duo in the league. When they're locked in and they're ready and they're hungry for a championship, I mean, who's stopping them?
[00:42:54] Speaker C: Like I said, I just think the Nuggets have the best team in the west. Like, just chemistry wise, because, like I said, they've been playing together for a minute now. Like I said.
[00:43:02] Speaker A: So you remember when Jamal Murray got hurt and they could have traded him, but they didn't. Like, Mike Malone himself said, no, we're.
[00:43:09] Speaker C: Not giving up on you. From that moment on. Obviously, Jamal Murray is blossoming to the player.
[00:43:13] Speaker A: He is, you know, going all the way back to when that happened and then they've let like step into his.
[00:43:21] Speaker C: Roles on the team and blossom into a so like that trust and chemistry has been there. It's been building for a, you know, that's why I think they're so solid as a so and then plus they.
[00:43:32] Speaker A: Were know they had to hear a.
[00:43:33] Speaker C: Lot of talk about Lakers warriors this and the third and then they honestly shut everybody.
[00:43:38] Speaker A: They were, they spent a little bit.
[00:43:40] Speaker C: Too much time talking about the Lakers and the media. Coach Mike but they backed it up.
[00:43:48] Speaker B: They did.
[00:43:48] Speaker C: So at this point, they sweeped them. What can you say other than you got to go through us? Like, that's how they feel and that's how they should carry it.
So the know, as long as they're hungry enough and healthy enough, they got a chance.
[00:44:01] Speaker B: But we know that the Lakers want that back, though.
[00:44:05] Speaker A: Sounds good. Hey, I ain't gonna lie as a Lakers fan at this know, we're obviously going to be in the play in. We might be able to sneak in, but do we have what it takes to really advance past the second round? I'm going to be honest, I don't know. Now it's early still, we have time, but as of right now, I just don't know.
[00:44:30] Speaker B: I think you all have all the pieces. It's just putting it together.
Like you said with the Nuggets, they just have the best team. Chemistry wise, they're not necessarily the most talented. Now, granted, they do have a lot of talent, but it just comes down to, are they going to mesh or not?
But yeah, I 100% would agree with you with the Nuggets, I think they're going to see their way back to the finals. Who knows who they play in the eastern conference because we know the Knicks are going to make a run, but are they good enough to beat a team like the Celtics or the.
[00:45:06] Speaker C: Bucks? Knicks.
Like, who are you talking about? The Nuggets. Yeah, I remember I thought we agreed upon not Celtics. Like we were talking about the Bucks and the Knicks like Celtics were like third or fourth because, okay, I'll put.
[00:45:25] Speaker A: It like Celtics and the Miami Heat kind of go hand in hand with that. Miami is kind of like a sleeper for like, if they can sneak in in the play and they have a chance, so you can't count them out.
[00:45:38] Speaker C: But they're just like the Celtics to me.
[00:45:40] Speaker A: They either step up and make it happen or they know the lights will either be too bright or they'll fold under pressure. So they've made it to finals both times and made it out of their.
[00:45:52] Speaker C: Conference, but have they won anything past that?
[00:45:56] Speaker B: True?
[00:45:56] Speaker C: No, they've crumbled every time, at least in the recent years. So, yeah, that's why I say they're.
[00:46:02] Speaker B: Yeah, recent years. They're not talking about over on being.
[00:46:06] Speaker C: Shoot, I'm not talking about the franchise. We know that Celtics and the Lakers.
[00:46:09] Speaker B: Decide at ten great franchises historically.
But yeah, I agree with you. I know the Knicks. I'm definitely having faith in them. I hope they don't fall under pressure because I know they're stars. Joe and Brunson, I know he's going to do his thing, but it's if Randall does his thing, it's if Dante DiVincenzo, if he steps up for him. I mean, it's a lot of guys, you know what I'm saying? If these new trades, if it does pay off for them. So we'll see how that all unfolds. But what do you think? I guess finals prediction for me would probably be.
I'm going to say bucks and nuggets.
I think that's my finals prediction. What about you?
[00:46:54] Speaker C: Yes, Sam, obviously I know Nuggets will make it and then I'll give you.
[00:47:00] Speaker A: Two options like the people I'm pretty sure I know are going to make.
[00:47:03] Speaker C: It and then I'll give you my backup. So I'll go nuggets and Bucks first and then Nuggets and Knicks. It just depends. And then for like second choice for sleepers, Clippers and the Heat.
[00:47:21] Speaker B: That would be interesting.
[00:47:23] Speaker C: Yeah, that would be crazy.
[00:47:24] Speaker B: That would be wild. Imagine if that actually happened.
[00:47:29] Speaker A: You heard it here. 1st February 9, Trey and Zach's we had talked about, but I ain't going to lie.
[00:47:38] Speaker C: Trey said Miami and the Clippers. That would be crazy. Finals, bro.
[00:47:46] Speaker A: 2024 finals.
[00:47:48] Speaker C: That will be crazy.
[00:47:49] Speaker A: Insane market, bro.
[00:47:52] Speaker C: Even the Timberwolves making it in the.
[00:47:55] Speaker A: I don't think they would make it to NBA finals.
[00:47:58] Speaker C: I think they could make it to a conference if they really went on a run. But like I said, they definitely wouldn't beat the Nuggets in the seven game series.
[00:48:06] Speaker B: Yeah, with the Clippers, it's just so many things uncertain. And then with the Heat. I don't know. I haven't even really been watching heat games, honestly. I haven't even really been thinking about been until today. Honestly, the only thing I've seen is that Fred Van Fleet has more blocks this year than Bam Ottaba.
[00:48:28] Speaker C: Well, Van Vliet is on the dang.
[00:48:32] Speaker B: Oh, he has more blocks than him, apparently.
[00:48:34] Speaker A: Well, we always knew Bam was an undersized center.
[00:48:37] Speaker B: Yeah, but he's a great shot blocker, though, because he can get up mean the best of him. Like a skyscraper, dude. I mean, he's just like, broken jump, dude. He can jump out of the gym.
We know it because of that block.
[00:48:51] Speaker A: Well, speaking of which, right quick, I.
[00:48:55] Speaker C: Just wanted to ask you, like, at this point in the season, who do you think? Who's your top three for MVP race? Like, not NBA, but who's your top three?
[00:49:03] Speaker B: MVP? Yeah, I definitely think number one right now is just like.
Because with MB out now, I think it's coming down to Jokic and Shay. And right now I think I would give it to Shay. I'm just going to be dead honest. I know Jokic has been great. He's been great for the Nuggets. But numbers wise, Shay has just been on another level. And I think you got to respect that. You know what I'm saying? So I think Shay one, nicola three and then, or not three. I mean, two and then three because Luca's falled down the ladder a bit, but I don't know. He's been great, I guess. Yannick. I don't really know Yanis, though, honestly.
[00:49:51] Speaker A: You know who I was going to say?
[00:49:52] Speaker B: Who?
[00:49:53] Speaker C: Lebron.
But, like, what I'm saying, because his averages are up, like, in the past, what, 25 games, he's averaging like 35, 36.
[00:50:05] Speaker B: For real?
[00:50:06] Speaker C: Yeah, I've seen a game about that. Like the last six or whatever. Let me see if I can pull it up.
[00:50:11] Speaker B: It might be too little, too late, though, because if you have that argument, then you got to put Donovan Mitchell in that conversation.
You know what.
[00:50:22] Speaker A: I mean?
I was thinking about plus minus.
I'm just saying LeBron's impact on the court.
Well, like I said, just in terms of stats, obviously, we're not talking about.
[00:50:37] Speaker C: The whole game because sometimes he kind of hurts us a little bit.
[00:50:40] Speaker A: But just to be, what, 39 years old, the oldest player in the league.
[00:50:45] Speaker C: Still putting up, like I said, at least 32, eight and what, five? Whatever. Something like that.
[00:50:51] Speaker A: It's wild.
[00:50:52] Speaker B: That's insane.
But, yeah, I don't really know who my number three would be because I got shave one, Jokic two, and then I guess I might stick maybe Tatum or Yanis in there.
[00:51:04] Speaker A: Not gonna lie. We'll put Yanis before Tatum.
[00:51:07] Speaker B: Seriously?
[00:51:08] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:51:10] Speaker B: I don't know. The Bucks have been struggling recently, though.
[00:51:14] Speaker A: They got the new coach coming in.
[00:51:16] Speaker C: So that's kind of a struggle in.
[00:51:20] Speaker A: Mean, that's what saying like people are too quick to kind of hate on the team because, you know, the Clippers started out, remember like very bad and.
[00:51:27] Speaker B: Now look at haters. I was one of the people that said it wasn't going to work and you and Drew, y'all proved me wrong, man.
I really thought it wasn't going to work.
Now granted, I don't think you did say the Clippers and Heat might make the finals, but I just don't think they're really going to go far in the playoffs. But who knows? I might be dead wrong way off base on that one, too. It's just I don't really know if they have the team for it.
[00:51:57] Speaker C: Yeah, time will tell.
[00:51:58] Speaker B: Time will tell. Well, that's going to do it for this episode of the NBA student section. Thank you all for tuning in and hope you all have a great Dave peace.
