Transcript
Charlie: three two one whoa okay
Elias Hansen: Now it's recording. Okay.
Charlie: a
Elias Hansen: Okay, welcome. We're live. First ever Spurs Journal episode. um Off-season edition. This is going to be fun. I'm a Elias.
Elias Hansen: This is Charlie.
Charlie: i'm charlie
Elias Hansen: Charlie, I guess, can introduce himself.
Charlie: Super hyped to be here reporting live from, you got boots on the ground right now in New York City.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: got Miss Spurs hat.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Hyped to be here.
Elias Hansen: Also in enemy territory in Houston. um But I've got, I only have a fraction of this playoff shrine I had up a few months ago, but I had to keep some up and that working now, but um this is going to be fun. I'm going to call an audible for the first, ah first topic that we wanted to talk about.
Elias Hansen: here And I just want to say, like, I had probably the most fun watching Spurs basketball in recent memory, of course. 2014 was like probably the most exciting season that I can cohesively remember.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: 2016 is up there, too. But if you thought talk about from like an expectations before the season to where the season ended up, like I don't I couldn't have asked for a better year. don' I had a blast.
Charlie: Yeah, it was it was so much fun. And it really also I think people forget how scary the last season ended with the the you know health issues that Wemby was having.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Like a lot of people, like there were people saying that, you know, this could be career ending. And for many and NBA starts that kind of health issue has been a career ending or like thing that they never got over.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so the fact that he was able to play
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: even just play and then also play enough to receive some awards and be in the top two or three for MVP, be the first ever unanimous defensive player of the year.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Also have, you know, our rookies shine, Castle take a leap. Like it was like, I feel like my expectations were so hesitant going in and it was the the craziest like leap I've ever seen in a season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, absolutely.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was, felt... so Really cool. ever I think every Spurs fan and of probably like any NBA fan knew like the leap was going to happen in some relatively near future. like The Spurs were bound to be a better team than they've been for the past five seasons previous to this year. And we even saw glimmers of it you know the season before.
Elias Hansen: um Got excited there with the the Fox trade and and had to wait a season. But it was pretty awesome for it to just be so ahead of schedule. um And i think like, I know I even kind of got caught up as the season went on and as you realize this team is not only a competitor, like competitive for the title, but realistically, i mean, but by the finals, they were favored. um And that was a crazy swing of expectations.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I think it's, it's been helpful, like after the season to realize like, Wow. I mean, a year ago, i was like, if this team sneaks into the playoffs, if they're if they get a if they're the sixth seed, I'm going to be super happy. If they're in a play-in spot, I get it. And I think that's a good step in the right direction. And I mean, two seed finals run.
Elias Hansen: Would have won the finals if every game was 46 minutes long. We would have won in five games if every game was 46 minutes long.
Charlie: Yeah. Should we, should we talk about the finals a little bit Is that a crazy?
Elias Hansen: No, it's not crazy. I guess we haven't done this yet.
Charlie: not worth oh Well, I was, i was watching from New York, so I had a very interesting experience.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, no, let's do it. Let's do it. well Give your giving your thoughts. What's the overall rundown?
Charlie: There were a few like safe places for, for Spurs fans here.
Elias Hansen: Good.
Charlie: And it was, it was fun to go.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And, you know,
Elias Hansen: Did you wear a Spurs jersey or shirt like on the train and walking around?
Charlie: I did.
Elias Hansen: Wow.
Charlie: i did. i wore running shoes too.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: So I was, I was ready.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: You know, i was, uh, I was, I can make jokes about it and stuff, but it got like, as the series got on, it got way more hostile.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And so, um, But yeah, no, it's it's so funny because I think like the NBA fan culture is such a like tiny but really like quick reflection of how just like internet and culture work and how quickly expectations flip and like heroes and enemies flip and like
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: you know, i was, all my friends were with me in New York when we beat OKC or when it was game one in OKC and one B hit, you know, the crazy, you know, three point shot from like 40 feet away.
Charlie: And like the, like time it took for everybody to like flip and be like, actually, no, we hate the Spurs. We hate when B let's say they're like, you know, they're these overrated, you know, kids that like all these things that just like, they weren't saying the week before it's it was crazy to watch that happen in real time, but.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: Mm
Elias Hansen: I mean, it's, it's already started. Like, I guess we saw the start of it. Like you're saying that is the start of it, but I think, you know, everybody kind of knew you just get good enough and like people are going to hate you.
Charlie: hmm.
Elias Hansen: And it's true with anything you do. um
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But I mean, like I, I heard some, to some, I think, You know, if you're a Timberwolves fan, valid. Like, I think there's a lot of Spurs excuses about, like, the, you know, the constant fouling and tugging.
Charlie: if
Elias Hansen: Like, you know, he almost executed Nas Reed. I get it. I'd be pissed too. um And I think, like, I don't know, some of the criticism of, like, ah We don't need to get into all of it, but I think some of his antics, like I think there's some valid criticism.
Charlie: e
Elias Hansen: But that said, like I think there were a lot of takes of like, oh, you know the whole monk bit is corny, or some of these quotes are overdone. like He's arrogant.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And it's like, you know, he's being himself. And as soon as he does it, you know, does it while he's beating your team, then it becomes arrogant and then it becomes forced and performative.
Elias Hansen: I think that's super stupid. I mean, and that, that like I will extend that grace to everybody.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like, you know,
Charlie: Mm.
Elias Hansen: Whatever. He's being himself. It's cool. And he's beating you while doing it, but that's not really a finals take, but I will say my finals take watching from Houston. I had a little bit, a few more friendly fans, but you know, I don't know. Not too many. I think like, uh,
Elias Hansen: It was game, i mean, when you look back on the series, the whole series is game four. Like the entire series is game four.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um Because the first, after we lose game one, I remember Brunson goes down early game one. And I'm thinking to myself, oh, I really hope he's not injured because we can beat this team even with him.
Charlie: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: We're fantastic. We lose that game.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: It's like, okay, whatever. Feel out game. No big deal. Game two, weird things go on crazy turnover. and It's like, oh, like we're really down, but you know the home team, you just win one on the road. like You can force a three one It's been done.
Elias Hansen: ah We'll be fine. Game three, expectations reset. We're good. Game four, first half of game four. at but at the first half of game First half ends, and I think we are winning the NBA Finals 100%.
Elias Hansen: that's it it's over um they're not going to recover from comeback like that and mean i don't even like let's not analyze because it's just going to tear me apart too much but i i just remember pretty early in the third quarter probably halfway through the third quarter thinking yeah and then game five was the same thing and at that point i had nothing left to give but
Charlie: It's not working. It's not working.
Charlie: Yeah. That's the one thing i had like Knicks, like a friend of mine who's a huge Knicks fan text me at halftime, like of the game four.
Charlie: And he was like, screw you.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Your team doesn't deserve it. You guys are going to get this and it's all, you know, messed up and unfair. Yeah. I remember in my head, I was like, you know, i've I've watched this team all year and I've seen how like these third quarters of like doom and despair can sometimes catch up to us.
Charlie: was like, I'm not going to respond and even take the bait yet because like I just needed the game.
Elias Hansen: The ghost of the third quarter. It's like, i don't...
Charlie: it's It's crazy.
Elias Hansen: We turned it around for a good chunk of the season, but no, it was there.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I mean, well, realist like, ghost of the third quarter was there, but realistically for the finals, like, it was ghost of, like, the final five minutes of the fourth. Just, like, i don't I don't know what it was. I think, like, it's kind of a cop-out to just say it's youth. I just...
Elias Hansen: I don't know.
Charlie: I think i think a
Elias Hansen: but I think the Knicks are really good, honestly. I give all the credit to the Knicks. I think the Knicks figured it out. I think their team was real after the first two games of the playoffs. They figured something out. They played like the team they should have been playing like.
Elias Hansen: So I don't know.
Charlie: i agree. I think it was that. i think you you know players who have all been there and lost it in the most heartbreaking ways before, who have a coach who has, in the same way, gone through all the ups and downs of a deep playoff run,
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: you have in a championship with the Spurs. And then you have, I think, like, I think what a lot of, I forget where i was hearing this take, but I think it's a great point about
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: how the difference in Wembe minutes when we got to the playoffs was something that not a lot of people talked about. And like the fourth and third quarter drop-offs in our shooting percentage like really were in every round of the playoffs. It didn't matter. like Even on the ones all the rounds we won leading up to the finals, it was the same thing.
Charlie: I think a big part of that is that when Wemby's in so much of what our game is involves him getting into the paint on defense and then running all the way to the other side on offense.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And then everybody, every, you know, everyone covering the sport, yelling at him for not getting in the paint on offense.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And so it's like, I think the, and like our entire defense is reliant on him getting all the way back. And then our offense really opens up when he can,
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: get in there and then make space for like our slashers and so you know if if it's the end of a game and when b's getting tired and we don't have the team built around him for any other you know use of him other than like you know trying to ask him to keep running back and forth i think when he can't get to those spots and makes worse shots for our other guys and everybody's taking worse shots including one b
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: I think that's that's ah like probably a a really real part of it, which is like you could say that's coaching, that's experience, that's conditioning.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: It's probably a combination of several of those. but
Elias Hansen: Yeah. And I think that is a perfect transition into our first actual plan topic, because your point about the defensive rotation around Victor, and then also what he's expected to produce on offense when he's off the floor.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: i mean, this was something like, this is true for every, this is just the way the and NBA goes. Every team is looking for this, but shooting um like,
Charlie: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: we needed We needed shooting. We weren't getting it from the four spot. And so the biggest, the most exciting event of the offseason, probably most exciting event for the Spurs post-finals ending, I think, probably, is the signing of new Spur Tobias Harris.
Elias Hansen: um He's going to be on a two-year deal, $31 million. dollars um There was kind of some rumblings about Rui Hachimura. Um, but he got a four year deal and i don't know.
Elias Hansen: I think the, the, clearly the two year deal makes the most sense for this team.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Uh, it makes sense money wise, but we can, we can talk more about that. But just first off, I guess, what, what are your thoughts on Tobias Harris signing? how do you think he fits? Does it address some of these concerns that showed up in the finals?
Charlie: Yeah, I mean, i'm I'm definitely excited about it. And I feel like the, like our front office targeting people for a two year situation versus a longer term situation is a really great play.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Because I think that we are, i mean, we kind of surprise ourselves that we're in sort of a win now situation.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: But also we're very aware of our young core and the potential we have together.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And I think that You know, if we can get someone who fills a gap that we really need, who also has that veteran perspective and experience and experience winning and playing with other great players, like, I think that's great.
Charlie: And I think that's great to have and not, you know, bank the next four years on, but continue to try and bring in these players that like can add to the development and the greater thing that we're building, you know, around all the young guys.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. I, I, the two year deal, I, okay, we'll, we'll start with the basketball fit. I think it makes a lot of sense.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Uh, if you, this was an insane off season, like an absolutely, probably one of the craziest off seasons I remember. I think for the first time ever, well, not ever, the first time in a very long time that I can remember the East, I would say is pretty solidly better than the West.
Elias Hansen: I think there are far more teams that are going to be competitive in the East than there are in the West.
Charlie: moon
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: um The floor is kind of dropped out on the West and teams are interesting, but not, I mean, there's OKC Spurs and what do you say? Timberwolves next if that fit goes poorly, you know. Anyways, i'm I'm going on a tangent.
Charlie: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: All that to say, a lot of teams changed their dynamics a lot, including the Knicks. But the Spurs, we stayed the same, and we added a piece to a rotation in a spot that we needed.
Elias Hansen: And Tobias Harris, he is a solid three-point shooter. um He can be good. I think last season he was about 38%. He's had seasons where he's over 40. I think he's a career like 39.
Elias Hansen: better than Kelton Johnson. um like That shooting will help. And he is a consistent mid-range threat. He is a big body who can influence offensive schemes from the dunker spot, from the wing, and he makes a lot of sense.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Now, on the two-year deal side... That is the thing that I am the happiest about. The first thing is, it's kind of a concern, but less of a concern because of the contract. Tobias Harris is 34 years old.
Elias Hansen: He could turn into a pumpkin two months into the season. Like we don't know what kind of production we're going to get when you're, when you're that old.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: And, I don't think he will. He had a good year with a good team. um He was not. i don't ah We can talk about the elimination games, but I don't think he was the issue with what went on with the Pistons.
Elias Hansen: That was Jalen Dern, um and that's proved by his negotiations some right now.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But then also um the money, like the the two years on the money, ah we're going to have some decisions that are going to have to be made and with Castle and Harper's rookie scale extensions.
Charlie: Mm. Mm.
Elias Hansen: And this basically, this gives us a bridge.
Charlie: Mm.
Elias Hansen: This that's fills a need, and an immediate need, keeps the same team. I would say makes us even more competitive than we were last year, barring some unexpected dropout from any other member of the team.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And I also, I think it fits financially.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: If you think about it, the Spurs, I would credit a lot of the initial success of the team early on in the season to Harrison Barnes. Like Mr. 100% also existed for like 30 games.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: He turned into a pumpkin, but like Tobias Harris fills a little bit of that spot. We can talk more about the rotation there, but I'm pretty high on this.
Elias Hansen: I'm excited to see how it goes.
Charlie: I was totally, I was thinking about that like Harrison Barnes-esque comparison because people forget how important he was to like the first quarter of the season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And like you know the Sean Elliott, Mr. 100%, that's who he was.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And he he had flashes of that too. And I think also like one thing that was a little disappointing is that we have such a strong young core, but it felt like as we went on through the playoffs,
Charlie: our rotation just got tighter and tighter. And that was also something that was kind of hurting us.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I think Tobias Harris will alleviate some of that. And I think um that's great. You know, we want to be able to have people that can alleviate those starters, like we were saying, and how that can put stress on the center piece of our defense or offense and makes them both perform worse.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: so
Elias Hansen: Yeah. I, I think, you know, uh, the influences I've saw on Instagram, like, or Twitter today or yesterday, you know, when the, uh, Tobias Harris, Deion Fox, there's a Barnes, uh, you know, 30 minutes West of me and Katie right now, uh, working out Fox's gym. So,
Elias Hansen: I'm excited. i The fit, I think, is kind of proven because like you're saying, when Barnes plays well um and when KJ plays well, like i mean that's the that's the benefit of having a potential greatest of all-time player on your team is that the two-man lineups, when the other man is playing well, the two-man stats like look incredible.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: um And so if you have a strong shooting stretch wing um who can who can be a three-level scorer, more mid-range and three-pointer than I would say like getting to the basket, if they play well, fantastic.
Elias Hansen: like That's the spacing you need because even on his worst nights, Victor's going to draw two if he's near the basket every time.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah. Totally. I completely agree.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I think i think so this is a good transition into our next topic, but the concern with the Tobias Harris signing is a minute squeeze.
Charlie: Definitely.
Elias Hansen: So Spurs signed Tobias Harris. They have Carter Bryant, who I'm very high on. I'm hoping we develop. I love Carter. I think he just gets a tiny bit more offense. He's going to be super playable.
Elias Hansen: KJ, sixth man of the year, Mr. San Antonio. Champagny in some lineups, you know, our three-point shooter just extended him on a new deal.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Just got his extension.
Elias Hansen: And then Harrison Barnes, who started for a good chunk of the season. So that like 3-4 spot, that forward ring wing rotation is absolutely packed.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: and it's going to be really interesting.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: i think that one of the defining moments of the Spurs success, I think I already said that. That's why I'm saying one of the defining moments, um, was Mitch Johnson deciding to take Harrison Barnes off of the bench and starting Julian Champagny instead.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And it's pretty awesome that Harrison Barnes is a professional and was willing to do that when he started every game for like a billion years. Um,
Elias Hansen: But those conversations are going to have to happen a lot more now that that the rotation looks like it is right now.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: If we want to play guard-heavy lineups, ah you know things things are going to change. Things are going to change. We'll see.
Charlie: Totally. And I think, um you know, with someone like Keldon Johnson, that's that's where i think the conversation gets so tricky. And like, also, like just being honest, like more, there's a lot of emotion that plays into that more than just the stats.
Charlie: Because like you said, he is Mr. San Antonio.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: There's that really famous, you know, interview of him from like six years ago. And he's like, I know we're bad now, but I promise you we're not going to owe it.
Elias Hansen: We're gonna start winning.
Charlie: Yeah, exactly. and it's like it's those are the things and he's he's been with this like this era of the spurs he's he's been there the whole way and it's it's really
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: hard to look at that and also you know he's coming off like you said the sixth man of the year and then also you know look at his playoff performance and I think that you know he just did he looked like a shell of himself I think he looked a little scared and a little hesitant I think there was some early bad shooting nights and that like kind of
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: scared him off into trying to put his head down and drive to the basket. But in the playoffs, when the game gets inevitably more physical, it wasn't as, you know, productive as it was in the regular season.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And oddly enough, I think he had a good plus minus in the finals, but that was more based on like rotation and not necessarily like what his production was, like just who he was playing with, which I think a lot of times was Dylan Harper and which we can talk about, you know, later.
Elias Hansen: Oh, really? Yeah. yeah
Elias Hansen: yeah Yeah.
Charlie: But the Kellen Johnson situation is is tough because it's also, like we say you said, he's such a like like a leader and a voice of this team.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And you know I don't know how that affects him or the team as you're looking at you know some rumors start to pop up or some guys get signed that you know are going to crunch your minutes or you know the team starts to slowly move in a different direction.
Elias Hansen: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. i'm I'm looking up as you're talking, I'm trying to find his three point percentage last season. i know is he's a career 35, whatever, not super important, but all of that to say, like we mentioned with this, this lineup, like,
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: you know, Tobias Harris can shoot the three. That's kind of one of the reasons why he was brought in Carter Bryant. They're hoping to develop into, we saw glimpses of it form looks great.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: Trying to develop in the three point shooter. Julian Champagny is our three point shooter. Harrison Barnes at one point was Mr. 100% still probably the largest part of his offensive game.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And like, uh, you know, you hate to like fall back on kind of the easy cop out, um, for Kelden, especially because he's had to change his game a lot.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But when that three-point shot is not there and things slow down, like you're saying in the playoffs, defenses constrict a little bit, especially with Vic on the floor, it's hard for you to just put your head down.
Elias Hansen: And I really, I i love Kelden Johnson. I have his jersey.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: If he ever leaves this team, I will be absolutely devastated. But there were so many moments, especially in the finals, or where he would get the ball at the wing, or it would be you know a two-on-three, and you're like, this this is a turnover.
Elias Hansen: This is going to be a turnover.
Charlie: Yeah. It's it's a...
Elias Hansen: i know He's putting his head down, and he's driving to the basket.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And when you have those kinds of concerns with the, with the current cap environment and what, what the, the books are going to look like in the future, it makes sense. So he did not get his extension. We have not extended him yet.
Elias Hansen: um And it's kind of with the way the CBA works, it's a little bit tougher for us to offer a team friendly deal.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Negotiating. This is a little bit more complicated rather than other than just like, I love San Antonio. Okay. Take less money.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like there's, there's a lot of stipulations in that, but there's, there's like time back to this, this rotation squeeze, there's going to be a lot of fighting for important minutes.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I, I think that, I mean, Chimpenny is going to find time. um Tobias Harris wouldn't be, we'll probably, I don't know. I don't want to get into starting lineups yet. We're too far away. But the, the minutes are, are the only person I see KJ most definitely beating out for minutes is Harrison Barnes.
Elias Hansen: I think HB is fine with ah like a veteran leadership role, but like, I think it's absolutely essential to get Carter Bryant more high leverage minutes.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: Um, This is going to be really interesting season for KJ.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: I'm hoping that, I don't know if you saw, he wrote like a a piece in the Players' Tribune, like early in the season, um which it was great. It was awesome. And it was just about kind of his early years in San Antonio um and the conversations he would have with Pop about how his playing style has to evolve.
Elias Hansen: um what it means to go from being the best player on a team to someone who really needs to make major improvements and how that you know messes mess mess with his mind a little bit.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: So he's he's dealt with that kind of stuff, and I'm never going to pretend to like no i say I have insight into a player's emotions, but he's just a player I think will be especially important to keep an eye on.
Elias Hansen: And I know he got a lot of backlash.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I don't think it's time to like cut ties. But i it's going to be interesting.
Charlie: I completely agree. Yeah, I'm definitely i'm not ready to to cut ties with him at all But I understand the conversations being had, but like it like as ah as a Spurs fan, i would it would break me to see him walk away.
Elias Hansen: Absolutely. Oh my God.
Charlie: and and Imagine him in any other jersey.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, that would be real.
Charlie: That would that would be horrible.
Elias Hansen: Oh my God. Yeah, that would be heartbreaking. And I do think like, you know, as much as we want to prioritize winning and prioritize basketball fit, like it is very, and I think spur the Spurs organization understands this probably a lot more than any other organization, not any other organization, but many organizations. is like the the locker room dynamics and the culture of a team are absolutely important, especially once you get to the level of contention, contending, not contention, contending, where it's those tiny little details that can push you over the edge um to winning when when the NBA is so incredibly good on any given night. Like,
Elias Hansen: It's, it, it's not only, it's not just something to be like, Oh, I love him as a spur. Like I want him to stay as a spur. I think the front office knows and values how much of a vocal leader he is in the locker room.
Charlie: me
Elias Hansen: I wonder if that starts to, you know, rub off on maybe not even Vic. I don't, he doesn't seem very vocal at times, but like on someone else and someone else takes that role.
Elias Hansen: Uh, Definitely not going Stefan Castle. It's like the quietest superstar I've ever seen.
Charlie: yeah too too nonchalant bro it's
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: it
Elias Hansen: But we'll see. We'll see. But speaking of players that we're not ready to cut ties with, ah probably the biggest talking point um from NBA and Spurs casuals is the importance of shipping off De'Aaron Fox to a foreign country, putting him in a labor camp,
Charlie: Yes.
Elias Hansen: ah making him work with the lithuanian coach for two years before coming back um he he ruined this team we'll never make the finals again um darren fox darren fox had an all-star season we should say he was an nba all-star despite being picked last uh out of the 10 kids to play pickup basketball um
Charlie: if
Charlie: yes
Elias Hansen: He had a good season for a lot of the season, but he struggled in the playoffs.
Charlie: Mm
Elias Hansen: And so I'll i'll set the table by saying his money's kicking in. He's got four years on his deal. It's going to be between $49 and $55 million dollars a year, depending on the year in which we are in in the contract.
Elias Hansen: Um, Yeah, we'll stop there. Give me your thoughts on Fox in the playoffs, Fox in the regular season. do mean to this team? Are you someone who is pro-Fox deportation?
Elias Hansen: What do you think?
Charlie: I'll start with this. I think that one of the one of the things that irritates me the most is like, and this is definitely like coming from the San Antonio Spurs fan inside me that I feel like is very family oriented and like homegrown.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: is's like I hate when franchise's fan base is like hating and targeting one of the franchise players. and like i just I think that's such a...
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: It's such a, it's like so unhelpful in so many ways. Like, cause we're in an we're in an era where like, we're in an era where like you can tweet something really funny and mean about De'Aaron Fox and like, they will all see it.
Elias Hansen: Gotta get off Twitter, man. Gotta get off Twitter.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: Like Fox will see it.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: Like, like the team will see it.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Like they like, you know, have group chats and are online.
Elias Hansen: We're seeing the reposts on TikTok. Like, yeah.
Charlie: It's like, yeah, bro, Dylan Harper, we're seeing the reposts. There are like you know open comment sections like on Darren Fox's wife page that are just like so horribly...
Elias Hansen: Oh God. Yeah.
Charlie: And again, I have to believe a lot of them are just like casual fans or just like and NBA fans or like you know people who just hate the Knicks and are upset that in they won.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But... like I'll start there that like I really don't like that. i I hate how that, because that definitely affects a player and it affects a locker room.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Completely agree. Yeah.
Charlie: And like you want, especially when it's someone like Fox who the Spurs are showing everyone. They're showing the team and they're showing like the general public that they're bought into him.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: It's like it's their shit like that shows, you know, a weakness or like some sort of something to doubt in someone that you're supposed to buy into.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And like within a team, I think that's not a good thing.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I will say it is a is a massive, massive contract. And that is like, that is a, that's a bummer, but that's also a reality of having, you know,
Elias Hansen: Yeah, it is. Yeah. A Rich Paul, a Rich Paul client join your team in a, in a team friendly trade.
Charlie: A Rich Paul client, exactly.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah, yeah that was a team-friendly trade. Yeah, I forgot about that.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And so i think it's I think another thing to remember is that a lot of the playoff... I don't know what you want to call it.
Charlie: A lot of the drop-off happened after a high ankle sprain that he did play on to try and
Elias Hansen: Yes, yes. Yep.
Charlie: you know, make it work. And Fox is someone who his whole game relies on his explosiveness. And like, that's how he creates shots.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And if he's not as explosive, then his shots are worse.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And as a smaller player in this league, you know, in the finals, he's going to get, and if he's not getting to spots, it's not gonna be good.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: i think that he's definitely hearing all the noise right now and the team is definitely hearing all the noise.
Elias Hansen: Totally.
Charlie: And I would assume that they're rallying around him. I mean, going to work out in his home, like Wemby and Tobias Harris and Harrison Barnes, like that's awesome.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I love seeing that.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, totally.
Charlie: And that that almost feels like a Like, it's like, we're not being shy about how much we still believe in this player as a part of our franchise.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: um I do think this this season will be very important for him. You know what I mean?
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And for us too. don' i'm not I think there are so many people saying that Dylan Harper should be starting over Fox. And while I'm like, probably the highest you can be on Dylan Harper,
Elias Hansen: Yes, absolutely.
Charlie: I just think like even if you wanted to trade Fox, you need to play him more to get his trade value up.
Elias Hansen: Yep, me too.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yep, exactly. Exactly.
Charlie: like it's like It's crazy.
Elias Hansen: Exactly.
Charlie: and like you know Dylan Harper, in his second year, his dad was a very successful and NBA player. like He knows the course and trajectory of you know buying into a system and building something special and the sacrifices that takes him.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yep.
Charlie: So I'm not worried in that sense. I think I'm going to be looking for De'Aaron Fox to come out with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And, you know, no matter when any, I've like one thing i've noticed about him throughout the season is that he's very confident. And when he plays poorly, that like rubs people the wrong way. But then when he hits a game winner,
Charlie: in game three of the finals, it's like people are like, you know, forget that they hated him, you know, the past three weeks.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: And so I'm still pro Deere and Fox pro pro not shipping him away.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yes. Okay. Okay.
Charlie: And I i still believe in him.
Elias Hansen: Okay. Yeah.
Charlie: um you know and i and i think that the best thing we can do is start him and put him in a position to succeed and like if if there are more problems you know we'll get to that if a player develops way past him we'll get to that but like right now like i want as like a fan and also just someone that like you know feels for this guy who's getting way too much slack like i want
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: him to be in a position to like show us what he's capable of and i do think there's still like that sacramento fox there
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah. I completely agree with everything you said. Like, I think, well, one, in terms of, like, the discourse towards a player, like, yeah, but ah you know, okay, maybe we're, like, not a good example because we're spending our time making a Spurs podcast, but if you think the best use of your time is, like, jumping on Twitter and just, like,
Elias Hansen: hate commenting about like this guy who you like watch play basketball. It's like, you grow up and get a life.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: That's true. That's, that's true. with Anything, but like, okay, you know, whatever I i will say, listen, okay.
Charlie: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Elias Hansen: I'll, I'll preface this by saying, I completely agree with you. Fox is, should be on this team. I want him starting.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I won't pretend i there was that Nuggets game at the end of the season.
Charlie: oh yeah
Elias Hansen: um And then there was this this post high ankle sprain, heavy on the post high ankle sprain, where ah it was really frustrating to watch him play.
Elias Hansen: Now, I think you're absolutely like you're absolutely right that this tough stretch of games came after the high ankle sprain.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And I don't think it was talked about enough. like If you look at De'Aaron Fox's resume and his credentials, he is a fantastic basketball player.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: He is a great point guard. And...
Charlie: He's a clutch player, too.
Elias Hansen: He's a clutch player.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And what I want anybody out there doing, listening or watching to this, is to go look up De'Aaron Fox highlights like from Sacramento and then look at his game after that high ankle sprain and tell me that it was anything but an injury.
Elias Hansen: Because you're absolutely right. He is... and when he has all of his explosiveness, he, nobody can stay in front of him. He gets to the basket at will. He is bouncy.
Elias Hansen: He's a quick defender and he didn't have that. And I mean, he had a lot of shots. i remember watching these games and like the shots are kind of rimming out. I'm not a basketball coach.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I'm not a good basketball player either, but
Charlie: i was
Elias Hansen: The shots were pretty close. Like this guy this guy didn't explode.
Charlie: They were.
Elias Hansen: Like he was getting to a spot and they weren't quite there.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: And I just think if you take the bank of evidence of Darren Fox as a player, I am very comfortable writing this off to an injury. Like a high ankle sprain sucks.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And you're right.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I completely take away his toolkit. And i I think it is that now that said, Yes. Completely agree with this too. Huge contract. And right now it is a bad contract.
Elias Hansen: It is an albatross on the books, especially like you already, this this is a whole nother, maybe we can do a special episode sometime about the CBA. I think it's fascinating, like arguments on both sides as to whether it's a good thing or bad thing that Vic took a little less money.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: um I don't know. I think i think there's value valid arguments to both sides. But already, the first player getting an extension, a max extension, is taking a cut. um you know he he That's kind of, I would say, setting the stage for some expectations for how Harper, how Castle are going approach their rookie deals.
Charlie: Hopefully.
Elias Hansen: I don't know.
Charlie: Right.
Elias Hansen: We'll see. All that to say, like... It's a lot of money. And you're right.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: He's not tradable right now. This contract is not tradable. And how you judge a contract in the and NBA, if it is a good or bad contract, is is this contract tradable when you when you sign the contract?
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And there were questions about the contract at the beginning when when we first signed it over the summer after we traded him.
Charlie: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: And... and We do have the luxury of like, at let's say absolute worst case scenario ever of all time. Like Darren Fox refuses to play and we have to pay him until he becomes a free agent.
Elias Hansen: Like we're still pretty damn good because we have solid guards and exciting prospects. That's not going happen. But what I am saying is that he needs, you're right. He needs to rehab his trade value.
Elias Hansen: And
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: and and and And I don't think that that's the only reason why he should start just so we get a better value when we want to trade him. And I will say, Darren Fox is going to be traded. not that Maybe not this season, but I i am feel comfortable saying very confidently that this contract will not play out in San Antonio. It just gets too complicated with the money. I think everybody in the front office realizes that.
Elias Hansen: But Dylan Harper is incredible. And I won't talk too much about him yet because we can talk about him next. but i But De'Aaron Fox still is a more composed and mature point guard.
Charlie: Let's go. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: He understands the flow of the offense. And i am I'm confident that he's going to have a good season. Now, you know if he doesn't, salary dump, trades, i don't we don't even need to get into all that.
Charlie: a
Elias Hansen: But they get kind of ugly the way the CBA is set up now.
Charlie: no
Elias Hansen: But De'Aaron Fox will be traded, but he's not going to be traded because he had a bad run of games after he had a pretty legit injury. He's going to be traded because of the reality of his contract, and he's not going to be traded until he gets more playing time and more opportunity to show that he's still a legitimate all-star.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: i i think I think that's totally going to be the case.
Charlie: I completely agree. and And I think it's also, it's it's easy to forget how he got here.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: and that was, he like kind of sought us out.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And and that that is a really cool thing for like an all-star caliber player.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Just, you know, go out there and seek out a deal. and like, you know, he came here immediately, got surgery, got things done because he wanted to come here and
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: you know really give it his all and try and and win here and i think that's that's important to remember that like he he got that extension because he was you know very bought in to being here and trying to make things work and so i agree with you i think he will probably get traded and that will happen as
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Castle and Harper develop and grow into the players and contracts that they're obviously going to become. And that's, i agree. It won't be because of a ah bad, you know, finals appearance.
Charlie: It'll be because of that.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: And that's something that I think anybody can understand and be okay with.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And so in connection to our our our starting point guard, De'Aaron Fox, our backup point guard, Mr.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: Dylan Harper, there's some news. I don't know if it's really news, but reporting... You know, i think that came out of the athletic saying that Dylan Harper is happy to play off the bench.
Elias Hansen: So more after there was a little, i don't know, kerfuffle, I don't know ruffled feathers of of him saying, you know, Devin Vassell saying he wasn't happy with his minutes.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Some reporting saying he he wanted to have more starting time. Yeah. Great. I'm glad you're ready to come off the bench. You would have had to anyways. so But happy that you're okay with it and happy that you know you told some reporter that you're okay with it.
Elias Hansen: But Dylan Harper, man, like... Wow. if you I think you ask any any anyone who is like a a even a little bit more...
Charlie: Crazy.
Elias Hansen: i mean, as any Spurs fan knows Dylan Harper is incredible. But you ask anyone who consistently watches the NBA, and there's not going to be a single person who isn't going to say, Dylan Harper is going to be a superstar.
Charlie: and
Elias Hansen: He is phenomenal.
Charlie: Totally. Hmm.
Elias Hansen: um And I'm happy with the succession plan. I think that... I think he is in a great spot. So i know you mentioned him earlier. if you want to do a little love letter Dylan Harper, go for it.
Charlie: Yeah. I think ah it's funny. i i remember before the playoffs started, I swear to God, this isn't some LeBron I called this, but I was like, I was talking to Max.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: You can ask him. And I was like,
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Oh, shoot. oh yeah. There you are. I was talking to Max, and I was like, I'm calling this right now.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: like Dylan Harper is going to be the difference maker this playoffs.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: like i like i just I'm putting everything on it.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Because up until then, had... had He had great games for sure and great highlights too.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: um but I don't think he really impacted like winning for us until the playoff started. And especially when, you know, when B goes down and in the first round and all of a sudden, you know, everything is on its head.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: Okay. Are we about to get bounced out of the first round? with freaking trailblazers. And um Dylan Harper comes in and picks a fight with with Scoot. And it was just like, from that moment on, like i feel like everybody in the and NBA kind of fell in love with him.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: he was He was just so confident and had, i think, the highest percentage.
Elias Hansen: Yep.
Charlie: There was a stat at one point he had the highest field goal percentage like in the history of the playoffs. He was like a very, like like in one, like from his like playoff run, like highest field goal percentage like inside the paint like in the history of the playoffs.
Elias Hansen: Really, i didn't see that.
Elias Hansen: Oh, yeah, yeah.
Charlie: like i like there was It was only for like the first three weeks, and then you know data caught up to him.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, yeah.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think, i think i yeah, I mean, Dylan Harper already is incredible and is going to be incredible, but I think what you said ties in well with what we're talking about with Fox is that, like, Dylan Harper, I mean, he got better and better at this as the season went on, but, you know, he...
Elias Hansen: stepped into the spotlight and kind of became a talking point.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like you said, when Vic went out, when he got concussed um and when the rotation, honestly, often because of KJ's struggles, when the rotation got kind of thin and we just needed a bucket, Fox was hurt.
Elias Hansen: KJ was struggling. and we're like, we just need someone to like, just make a shot. We need someone to make a shot.
Charlie: Totally.
Elias Hansen: And he's incredible at that. Like he gets to the rim at will. It is absolutely incredible against fantastic wing defenders, against strong rim defenders.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: He makes his way to the basket, and he has incredibly tough finishes. Now, like you're saying, he's he he stood out in moments where it wasn't as much of his responsibility to dictate the flow of the offense.
Elias Hansen: Right. And at the start of the Thunder series, we saw that when Fox was out.
Charlie: yeah
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: we I mean, we won game one, but like let's be honest, you don't need really need to do this because the shot went in, it is what it is, and we won the series. But the Spurs missed, Wemby misses that whatever 80-footer, 40-footer from like half court.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: Game's over. We lost that game. And I think the the conversation would be about how, wow, De'Aaron Fox is really essential to the way that their offense is set up right now.
Charlie: Also, what a bad shot from 1B.
Elias Hansen: And so I think because of that, yeah, and also, yeah, yeah.
Charlie: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: What are you thinking? if You're an idiot.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: Don't take that shot. um Yeah, true.
Charlie: if
Elias Hansen: But yeah, I think that like it makes sense for him to come off the bench, not only because, for so many reasons, but I think that despite him, i think as their careers progress, like as we look back, unless something bad happens, like Dylan Harper will be looked at as a better player than De'Aaron Fox, but he's not ready to start over De'Aaron Fox.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: He needs to have a better understanding of the way we want to set up um and run games.
Charlie: Totally. And he also, he had some some massive flubs and, like, really important moments, like, in the Knicks series, too.
Elias Hansen: Yes. Yes.
Charlie: Like, you know, he kind of got us back in there, and then he, i don't know if you remember, and, like, I think it was game five where he, like, missed a very open layup. Or it was game four. It was when they were making the comeback.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: And he missed, like, a, you know, a wide open layup.
Elias Hansen: yeah Yep. Yep. Yep.
Charlie: And it was kind of like everybody he thought he was going to hero again.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And it's like, you know, these are things that happen. But i do like your point that, like, he has done a really good job at shining like from his current position and like where he's not bearing all the responsibility but instead he comes in and gets to influence the game from like a different role and I think that is like why he can impact it so well.
Elias Hansen: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. And I, and I'm, I'm excited to see too, like getting to a point where the roster construction allows to Fawn Castle to almost exclusively play the two.
Elias Hansen: um You know, we, some of the turnover was like, they were scary for a while. There were some historic stats thrown around with what was going on. I mean, the, the most I'll always remember, I was in the building for when threw it off, or I guess that wasn't his turnover, but, yeah where you place the blame is up to you but that game end of game two in the finals turnover looking back deciding not to look I don't know we don't we don't need to discuss that but when he can solidly play the two because um Harper is ready to just play a starting role and not kind of be thrown into like a medley of like a guard heavy lineup which worked but I don't know i it's coming it's not quite time yet yeah
Charlie: hmm yeah
Charlie: yeah it's just something to be super excited about right now and not not try and let too much outside chatter influence or get in the way of or any drama get in between because it's i think the the team like the actual players understand it a lot better than anybody else who's trying to butt in and say ah harper needs to demand a trade and you know go start somewhere else
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yes.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah. What do you think you want to do You want to do kind of a ah state of the West discussion? You want to, you want to save it for another, another time. What do you think?
Charlie: Up to you, man. I think this is honestly, this is gone, like, I feel like well. Definitely.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, I think so. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. But yeah, like let's little we can do it fast. We can do just kind of like, these this will be less in-depth because it's not Spurs-centric.
Elias Hansen: um But just kind of thinking ahead to the West, like I mentioned, I think if i i am like a western conference centric basketball watcher like i often like rarely watch often rarely that's i rarely watch the eastern conference that's probably going to change this year uh especially i think we're probably going to miami but um
Charlie: Yeah, we gotta talk about that.
Elias Hansen: um ah Yeah, we'll'll yeah well we'll hit on that. But i looking at the West, I kind of broke down what I was thinking in terms of tiers. I mean, like I referenced this earlier, but the Spurs and Thunder...
Elias Hansen: I think people like kind of are pretty quick. I'm, I think we're fantastic and I'm, you know, a fanatical Spurs fan.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: People were pretty quick to crown them, you know, Kings of the West when, okay, so they didn't have their full team when we played them, but the Thunder are going to be just as competitive, if not even better.
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Spurs are going to be just going to be better. Timberwolves. That's interesting. I like, I kind of excited about this fit. I love Nas Reed. So I'm sad. I won't get to see him on that team, but, um,
Elias Hansen: I don't know. well we'll We'll see how that works. So I would say that first band is like Spurs, T-Wolves, Thunder. T-Wolves is a little, you know, maybe they're like a B, but I didn't want to get too specific.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: I don't know. what would you Would you add anyone else in there?
Charlie: Do you think the nuggets belong up there?
Elias Hansen: No. not right no Not right now. um I think the the Nuggets have some questions to answer. i think that
Elias Hansen: there's kind of like a hangover from winning a championship. Um, and you forget that the, the league evolves a lot around you. and I mean, it's obviously not at all the same team. Um,
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: i had I had the Nuggets very solidly in the second second band, which I'm calling nipping at the heels, ah because I think it's pretty close.
Elias Hansen: Jokic is one of the three to five best players in the world, depending on like who's healthy. Sometimes he's by far the best player in the world.
Elias Hansen: And you can't count that out. like Maybe, but I don't think as solidly as as the— And I just have to give the nod to the Wolves.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I mean, they won.
Charlie: Yeah. walked him Walked him down last...
Elias Hansen: They won?
Charlie: last
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, i I wouldn't have any— If it's close, I have no real reason to give the nod the Timberwolves.
Charlie: yeah i think
Elias Hansen: So yeah, right I said that next band. i have i have Rockets— I think Fred Van Vliet is going to be super important for them.
Elias Hansen: Surprise, surprise.
Charlie: a
Elias Hansen: um but but They'll look a lot better, I think. Nuggets. and then I think the Jazz are going to be pretty good. I think people are going to be surprised at the Jazz, and I would not be surprised if they steal that sixth spot.
Charlie: I agree. And i've I've always been super high on ah Laurie. I can never pronounce his last name.
Elias Hansen: Dude. Okay. one First of all, that's my and NBA like ah lookalike. That's my that's my NBA lookalike.
Charlie: well
Elias Hansen: You know what his middle name is?
Charlie: that's the What Elias?
Elias Hansen: Elias.
Charlie: Are you serious?
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Lori Elias Markkinen. Yeah, that's right.
Charlie: Wow.
Elias Hansen: Look it up. But yeah.
Charlie: I've always been I've always been super high on him. And I think it's because like, three years ago, there was some rumors we that was gonna be our Darren Fox.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: And then I like really got into the idea of like one of the best shooters in the league that's like seven foot one um
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: But yeah, no, they're they're looking great.
Elias Hansen: yeah
Charlie: I agree that the Rockets...
Elias Hansen: But I guess it's like it's Jaron Jackson, Laurie Markkinen.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: They've got, yeah, Darren Peterson now.
Charlie: um Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Like, yeah's you know, it's going to be great it's gonna be a fun team.
Charlie: It's going be fun. going be fun to watch. I think the Rockets will always be like doomed just... just like like exciting enough to get disappointed when you, when you're watching them, but ah no offense to your, you state of residency, but um where do you, where do you have the Warriors is my question.
Elias Hansen: Hell yeah. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: No, no. Yeah, I don't take any
Elias Hansen: i have I think that the Warriors... Honestly, I think if the LeBron thing doesn't work out for the Warriors, they could they could bottom out pretty quickly. Like, Kristaps, Steph, maybe Draymond...
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: You know, Draymond is still sitting in purgatory at the at the time of this recording without um an understanding of what his contract's going to look like. i mean, and he's not going to leave the Warriors. You know, it'll work out.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: But... I think it's it's like the evil twin of the Nuggets in the sense of like, it's Steph Curry. If he still has enough legs under him to play enough games and produce at a high level, you never know what's going to happen.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: But I'm i'm pretty low on the Warriors.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: i don't I don't see them making a lot of noise, especially with like how good the top, the band is. I had this next like category, the bottom, you know, however many teams like
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: You know, i don't I don't have a lot of... I'm not very excited. The only team that I think, like, may will be interesting to watch... Two and teams that I'm, like, interested to watch... Luka's always fun to watch, so that's three, but I'm not counting.
Elias Hansen: um and I'm not excited to watch.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: I think the Lakers lineup is an absolute disaster.
Charlie: It's going to suck.
Elias Hansen: I don't know what the hell they were thinking.
Charlie: It sucks.
Elias Hansen: I love you, Mamou, but, like...
Charlie: I oh
Elias Hansen: Happy you got a big contract. Walker Kessler. Walker Kessler, what are we talking about? That's a crazy contract. But the Blazers and the Mavs, like the Blazers, Dame and Ja Morant.
Charlie: i was say...
Elias Hansen: Like, don't know.
Charlie: I was going to say, I feel like the like Portland could be a sneaky like bottom of tier two.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah.
Charlie: I wouldn't be surprised if we play them again in the playoffs, assuming we are high seed and they are a low seed.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. yeah
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: i could I could totally see that. I could totally see them making it out of the play-in tournament. I could see that, for sure. um
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And then the Mavs, like, Cooper Flag is going to be really good. um we'll see We'll see beyond that. But yeah, I don't know. that There's kind of like a morass of teams and then like Kings, Pels, Clips, and Grizzlies. Like, well, Clippers, I don't know if Kawhi is still going to be on that team or not.
Elias Hansen: ah
Charlie: Oh yeah, that affects Toronto, the East a lot more.
Elias Hansen: he's still He's still like, yeah, if if think if he ends up in Toronto, once again, East is looking good.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: But I don't i don't know. that Like, I think, you know, we kind of talked through it, but like, doesn't there's not as the the The West is not as much of a bloodbath, I think, anymore.
Elias Hansen: um it's It's like a two-man race. it's It's two teams West to lose. It's the Thunder and Spurs West to lose now.
Charlie: Mm-hmm.
Elias Hansen: um things come up during the season. i don't and know. No one really, i no one I'm going to say confidently, no one expected the Spurs to like be the other fighter in the ring and the Western conference finals.
Elias Hansen: Um, I don't, maybe like Kendrick Perkins did like when they were trying to click bait people in the summer before, but like, I wouldn't expect that.
Charlie: He flipped like five different times in one playoff run.
Elias Hansen: So you never know. yeah
Charlie: It was crazy.
Elias Hansen: ah Yeah.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. um And then i'll I'll just throw out the, I mentioned it quickly. the two, two quick hitters. First one is Lou Dort trade. My quick thoughts on that are I'm so happy. I don't have to see Lou Dort's defending a spur, at least in a thunder uniform anymore. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Hawks are loved one os or frisky. East is crazy. But I'm so happy you don't have to see that on the Thunder. Lou Dort, Haram ball, torture ball, like the get away from the Western Conference. That's great. But I think the interesting thing is – He's a victim of, like we've been mentioning, of the of the CBA, of the salary cap, by trading away Dort Wiggins and Isaiah Hartenstein taking a team-friendly deal.
Elias Hansen: like the The Thunder ended up saving close to $300 million with in salaries and tax avoidance.
Charlie: Scary.
Elias Hansen: um
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: And that's going to be so that's going to be the type of equations that the Spurs are going to have. And like I hate to say it, but the Thunder might are probably even... in a better situation because they have even more draft capital associated like with this flexibility.
Elias Hansen: um
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: they've they've They've been able to save a bunch of money and still make space for Jalen Williams, Shea. And then like they happened to pick up um Jared McCain. Like, but yeah.
Charlie: He's going to starter. I think I think i still rumored he's going a starter. I think the biggest, and this is just like pure bias, the like biggest like blemish on that stack is Chet's contract, in my opinion.
Charlie: i think when you're combining it, it's like or for two shots in an elimination game, bro.
Elias Hansen: Yeah! I hate that guy!
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: Never. Yeah.
Charlie: if
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, no, you're right. You're right. I'm not... Yeah. We'll see what happens, but I'm not i'm not totally out on chat either, but I do...
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: I'm not, I'm not, I'm genuinely, um it's a probably like 60% of a joke, but like, um I mean, he's, he's a great player and he's, he's a part of their team, but like, it's just hilarious that our teams match up in a way that like, there's just one seven footer who's just a lot better than their seven footer.
Elias Hansen: I don't like that, dude.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: yeah yeah yeah
Charlie: And like how, like that impacts like the overall matchup.
Elias Hansen: yeah yeah it's true okay last quick hitter where's LeBron going where do you want him to go where do you think he's gonna go do you care okay good good
Charlie: Yeah.
Charlie: I'm a i'm a LeBron fan, I will say. And i i think he's going to, I mean, that leaked YouTube video for or the Heat.
Elias Hansen: yeah yeah it's true how much stock are you putting in that yeah
Charlie: I think that's pretty, says ah i but I saw that LeBron apparently had his mind made up and now wanted to start over from scratch. Like I saw, but again, you're I'm seeing all these things.
Elias Hansen: Oh, who's LeBron's medium? What truth sayer is he?
Charlie: it's ah i like it was It was someone saying they heard that from Rich Paul or something like that.
Elias Hansen: Okay, okay, okay.
Charlie: But like i think it was Shams reporting Rich Paul apparently. i don't know.
Elias Hansen: Okay.
Charlie: I think Miami. ah
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: I don't know. I think it's Miami or the Warriors. And I'm thinking about it like as a family, like he's trying to sit near his family and he's getting ready to retire.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: And those are the two places that make the most sense for that.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, i I agree with you on Miami. I don't think the Warriors is going to happen. i did I did earlier on, but I think it'll be 76ers or Miami. I think like, you're not in on the 76ers? You're not liking that?
Charlie: I be so sad. I don't know what kind of devil magic they're using to make that one of the options.
Elias Hansen: ah
Charlie: That's such a, that's a waste in my opinion.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Well, I mean, I think and so look no matter where he's going, he' signing a minimum. So I think like the, the, the financial questions are less of a question than like just the basketball fit. I think like a Ron is going to want to have the ball in his hands he, he's not going to be a third option.
Elias Hansen: I don't think. Um,
Charlie: that's And that's that's why I didn't want him on the Spurs.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Oh yeah, absolutely. I, yeah, no, from the moment like this, there were like, there's Spurs rumblings. It's like, cause realistically, like if we, if the, we, the Spurs, we, if i if the Spurs win a ring next year and LeBron was on that team, that was LeBron's ring and not the Spurs ring.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: So you can, you can quote me here right now that I will be like actively disappointed and mad if LeBron like throws a Hail Mary and ends up in San Antonio. I don't want that to happen.
Elias Hansen: I want him to go to Miami. I think it'd be fun. um I like, you know, I love watching LeBron.
Charlie: I
Elias Hansen: This is because of like the era in which I became a big basketball fan. I remember LeBron on Miami. That was so much fun. it was scary.
Charlie: hated that.
Elias Hansen: I hated it for one year and then loved it the next year.
Charlie: yeah
Elias Hansen: Like, I don't know. I think it'll be one of those two teams, the 76ers or Yeet. And think I have no idea when we'll know.
Elias Hansen: It's got to be soon. It's got be soon.
Charlie: It's got to be soon. I think like for the and NBA, like it has to be... I think it's going to
Elias Hansen: will Will we know the result of the Kawhi investigation or LeBron's next team first?
Charlie: LeBron first. I think they're gonna they've taken so long with this Kawhi investigation.
Elias Hansen: I think you're right.
Elias Hansen: I think you're right.
Charlie: i think that's going to turn out poorly for him, too.
Elias Hansen: I think you're right. Yeah, yeah
Charlie: He's like he's like vacationing in Europe. He grew out his hair. It's like he's...
Elias Hansen: yeah.
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Do you see the AI like marketing materials they were they were creating for Groot Kawhi?
Charlie: Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, it's bad. It's bad.
Charlie: It's bad.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: It's not like a good one. Yeah.
Elias Hansen: ah Yeah, wish and wish former Spurs all the best. but
Charlie: Come back.
Elias Hansen: All right, well, that was fun. I feel like we we covered a lot. We're just under the hour mark.
Charlie: Look at us.
Elias Hansen: First Spurs Journal podcast. Hope y'all like it. If if ah y'all is out there, if there's anybody listening to this, and even if there's not, I don't care. that was fun.
Charlie: Let's go.
Elias Hansen: See y'all next time.
Charlie: Like, comment, subscribe, follow.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, that's right.
Charlie: Peace.
Elias Hansen: Okay, peace. Okay, that's my cut. Right in an hour. Perfect.
Charlie: That was crazy. That's probably exactly an hour.
Elias Hansen: Yeah, i think i think I think we stopped right at it. That was fun.
Charlie: Dude, I was going to say it was like very, it was like just normal, normal conversation.
Elias Hansen: that was I mean, it was it was kind of remarkably easy. It's like I can... Yeah.
Elias Hansen: Yeah.
Charlie: if
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Well, I'm i'm like...
Charlie: and
Elias Hansen: yeah Now I'm like, I hope that if we didn't do it in chunks, like I'm hoping it all saves and renders and whatever the hell. I think it should.
Charlie: Oh, yeah.
Elias Hansen: But if it's like, if it at this point, if it like, it's like you have to pay me five bucks a month, like it paywalls me because I went over an hour.
Charlie: I think so.
Elias Hansen: i'm like, here you go.
Charlie: There you go.
Elias Hansen: Here's five bucks.
Charlie: if
Elias Hansen: You got me.
Charlie: yeah i think i think Yeah, I think that was pretty, felt pretty natural.
Elias Hansen: Yeah. Yeah, I think so too.
Charlie: don't know, I feel like there's like, you know, like if anything, it's like,
Elias Hansen: Let me see if I...
