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NBA Draft Recap & the Celtics Blow it Up | Vikings & Packers’ Season Previews | Chelsea & Spurs’ 25/26
13 Plays8 days ago
In this week’s episode of Who’s Got The Ball? the lads discussed the NBA Draft and the trades that have gone down over the past week, before breaking down Chelsea and Spurs’ stock heading into next season. To finish up, Shane and James talked about the future of the Packers and the Vikings.
The lads continued their new section for the summer, where they break down the biggest football transfers/rumours of the past week, as well as continuing the weekly game where this week they drafted their best current NBA players under the age of 25.
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Transcript
Opening Banter: Irish Sports
00:00:09
Speaker
Hey lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane back once again. Shane, how are you? All good. How are you? Good. I am good. ah Nothing really on at the moment other than, well, obviously the the Irish sports are they're too far along for me to be honest at this point. I think they should be going on later into the summer, but yeah, we're already
Limerick vs Dublin: A Reflection
00:00:33
Speaker
too close to the end. But yeah, last weekend, obviously not a nice one for you.
00:00:37
Speaker
Limerick losing to Dublin but it was a cracking game for neutral and pretty much anybody that's not from Limerick just to see Dublin win but yeah Dublin were deserved winners in fairness but they had to look to like the this Limerick team gave us seven really really incredible years and they are allowed to have a down year and they had an awful run there they lost their last three lost to Clare lost to Cork and lost to Dublin then but yeah they'll be back next year they'll be back next year Well, they need to change some of their outlook from the start of games anyway, if they're going to do better next year.
00:01:13
Speaker
They were very lax in that first half, and then the second half, they were panicking a lot. I thought the mistakes were very unnecessary. like Yeah, it was ah their shooting has been a bit wayward all year, but it's particularly bad in that first half there. And taking on shots from just needlessly tight angles, I know they go over and they look incredible when they go over, but it's taking far too many risks and I'm really...
00:01:36
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
Club World Cup Critique
00:01:37
Speaker
And suppose as then, looking outside of that, there's only the Club World Cup. I actually watched one game of it other night with but my uncle, and it was absolutely awful. You're a sell-out.
00:01:50
Speaker
You're a sell-out. We were like, what is this? Because there was literally nothing else on, so we were like, stick on Benfica there and PSG. And it was like, right, give it a go. That was pure awful. Like, the thing...
00:02:05
Speaker
I think, to be honest, they actually were trying. No, sorry, not Benfica and PSG, Benfica and Bayern. I think they were trying, but they actually couldn't try any harder than they were because it was literally like 36 degrees Celsius. Yeah, it's massive. And they looked like they were melting.
00:02:21
Speaker
Like, it's outrageous to be playing in that heat after a long season. So kind of felt for them watching that, to be honest. But... ah Yeah,
Messi vs Inter Miami: Anticipation
00:02:29
Speaker
I don't know. I would like to actually see PSG and Inter Miami on the weekend just because of the whole Messi side of things. So might stick that on. Yeah, it's the first time he's playing against one of his former clubs. Isn't that mad?
00:02:41
Speaker
That's crazy. So he never played against Barca in the Champions League? No, he never played against Barca and he's never played against PSG, obviously. This his first time playing against one of his former clubs. Mad, yeah.
00:02:51
Speaker
See? Like, I suppose he was with Barca for such a long time and then he went to a different country but you just expect these guys to overlap in the Champions League. Yeah. Like, Yeah, that's bit crazy.
00:03:04
Speaker
yeah but One more thing before we we move on then.
Women's Football: Investment Disparities
00:03:08
Speaker
The Liverpool vice-captain, Kirsten, struck again. Descent to the women's team. Tyler Hines, now she is some woman for one woman, but she's after leaving Liverpool to go and join Arsenal, unfortunately. Oh, not a nice move.
00:03:22
Speaker
Now, in fairness, now it's not like, Jo, she's not going from a team at the top of the game like Liverpool were when Trent left and she's going to the European Champions, but... It's still that nice to see when the women's team can't hold onto the players when the men's team are throwing money around left, right and centre. It might be could have done either. could have been one that would just... And going to the European Champions, see you later. ah yeah ah to i Yeah. Some of the clubs, I don't know how how often this is the case, but I know like especially with...
00:03:56
Speaker
yeah United. It's pretty bad the level of investment and time they've put in to the women's team, especially when Ineos came in. They've like made it clear that they weren't really interested in in putting money into that side of things because the men's team is their moneymaker when the women's team won the f FA Cup last year and it's not like they won it like United did like after having a horrible season they still finished like I think fourth or fifth and like they're up around that level they finished in the four anyway
00:04:29
Speaker
Yeah, but with the season before as well, they they had a good finish with that FA Cup win. So like they were one of the only teams to really put it up to Chelsea that whole season. So I think, yeah, I don't agree with that, especially when they are so talented.
00:04:44
Speaker
Not that to say if the team was weaker, they shouldn't invest, they still should, but especially not considering those circumstances. But yeah, that's a topic for another day, I guess. Because we have a lot...
00:04:57
Speaker
We have a lot to get into today. Yeah. So let's start with the
NBA Draft Overview
00:05:03
Speaker
NBA. Obviously, last night, there was the and NBA draft was the first round on um Wednesday night. So we're recording this on Thursday. As usual, second round of the draft is late to tonight. So you guys will know the crack with the second round. But and with the NBA...
00:05:20
Speaker
It's a lot of focus on the first round. It's not like the NFL. So there might not be that many takeaways or big trades unless it's really outside of the draft scope tonight. So we should have pretty pretty much everything covered off that we need to. So first of all, we're going to look at the first round.
00:05:34
Speaker
Obviously, the finals ended last week. OKC are now the champions and we will do a proper deep dive on that. But we want to hit the most breaking news first. So let's look at the draft to begin with. I'm just going to rattle off the top 10.
00:05:46
Speaker
ten And then we'll go back to who you think stands out out those. So first of all, the Mavericks picked Cooper Flagg. No surprises there. The Spurs drafted Dylan Harper, which was also kind of a shoo-in.
00:05:57
Speaker
Then from there is kind of where it started that people thought things might move, maybe some trades. We didn't see many trades at all on draft night. But we had the Sixers selecting B.J. Edgecombe. Hornets drafted Concaniple.
00:06:10
Speaker
The Jazz selected Ace Bailey. Wizards selected Trey Johnson. The Pelicans drafted Jeremiah Fiers. The Nets drafted Igor Demin. The Raptors drafted Colin Murray-Boyles. And then the Rockets drafted Kamen Malawach. But that was for the Suns because they traded it. So in the NBA, if you don't know, sometimes if teams trade the pick to somebody else, the team that had the pick initially has to call in the pick for them. The guy has to go on the stage, put the hat on of the team that he knows he's never going to play for.
00:06:40
Speaker
which is what happened with that pick. So that was kind of an interesting thing. But yeah, what stood out to you with the first 10 anyway?
NBA Draft Confusion and Criticism
00:06:47
Speaker
That would just... if When you explained that to me this morning, it sent me to the moon. it just I can't believe they make him do that still. It's 2025. Everyone knew that pick what was going to i but going to Phoenix.
00:07:00
Speaker
yeah like Everyone knew he was going to the Suns, bringing them on stage, wearing a Rockets hat to then say, OK, now go and get your Suns security number if you don't mind. Yeah, it's so crazy. Oh, I don't know. think The one that stood out for me was, yeah.
00:07:13
Speaker
Oh, yeah, yeah i do I think The Rock is very well there picking up Kevin Durant. I believe he's probably going to be a superstar.
00:07:22
Speaker
Like, as you said, like the draft didn't really start it until the third pick because the first two were always kind of, they were shoe-ins really. That flag was going there and Harper was going to the Spurs. Ace Bailey is an interesting case study, I think.
00:07:36
Speaker
and The fact that he and does he wanted to go nowhere and ended up somewhere he really, really didn't want to go. but if you If you were that, if you really didn't want to go somewhere that bad, then just do another year of college. You're only 18 and wait and see if there's someone that picks your fancy next year.
00:07:52
Speaker
But like he turned down workouts with the Jazz, turned down workouts with the 76ers, and then the Jazz are like, cha us just to know you now, we're going to pick you and see we see see what you can do about it, I suppose. Yeah. I think he was in a... co Whoever's around him is advising him really badly because the way he's handling the media too, he's giving these ridiculous cryptic answers. And it's like Michael Scott. like He doesn't even know where the sentence is going on himself. He's just going to find it along the way.
00:08:17
Speaker
And he just repeats the same thing because he's obviously been told, oh, just say you're focused on your basketball. You don't care about the teams who picked He even said that after the team picked him. Like you're there now, but just you have to...
00:08:28
Speaker
Like, they're after picking you. You're going to go there. That's the way it works. But, like, the fact he turned down draft, you know, I think the Sixers may have selected him, but always in my mind, he's not the type of player that Daryl Morey would select.
00:08:42
Speaker
And, ah he like, Edgecombe was the perfect pick in my
Praise and Criticism: Draft Picks Reactions
00:08:45
Speaker
eyes. that He has that explosive play, but he's excellent defensively as well. And he seems like an incredibly hard worker. um So, to me, that was a great pick. And that was I don't think it was ever going to be Bailey there because...
00:08:57
Speaker
The stats are kind of not there. Whereas Daryl Morey likes a guy who he can rely on in multiple ways. He's not going to pick up this kind of project player. He never really has done that. So I thought, yeah, that was, and especially with Nick Nurse as well, fitting into a defensive system.
00:09:12
Speaker
Yeah, so I thought that was good. One I really liked was the Hornets picking Concanipple. That's pretty hype. People were saying he's going to go outside the top 10, then he moved higher and higher. so He's obviously a really impressive and in interviews. and I heard him interviewed, obviously with teams, but I heard him interviewed on Bill Simmons' podcast and he came across like really, really well.
00:09:34
Speaker
So I think he's probably made a really good impression on on people and he fits in well to that team. But I don't know, did you see a after the Raptors selected Colin Murray Boyles, he just stood up and like the camera is on you after you get picked and he literally just shook his head and he was like,
00:09:53
Speaker
like literally just like f-bombed right at the camera on him like all these the attitudes that some of these lads have it's like you're you're going live in your dream okay you have to go and do it in canada but still getting paid a pretty penny to go and play for a team that not too long ago was like they were in a shout of winning championships so i don't see why like again as you said it must be down to the people who are who are advising them like so yeah Everyone knows how the draft works. You're not going to just and i could be drafted in the top 10 by by the the Warriors or by OKC. It's not how it works. like It's the worst team to get the picks first.
00:10:31
Speaker
yeah if If you're good, make yourself the face they want to build around. be to Be the person that this team builds their future around. that You eventually do win a title there.
00:10:42
Speaker
To me, the Raptors signify a good team for that too, because I know it's far away to say that anybody's going to turn into Kauai because of how good he is. Like when he went there, the whole country loved him. And you're yeah basically the face of the whole country. for like Obviously, they have their own players like from there. But in terms of who everybody looks at, it was Kawhi.
00:11:03
Speaker
And everybody loved him. And I don't think he should have left when he did because he had a good thing going there. And we've seen how it's gone since then. But you know you should have that in your mind as something you can do.
00:11:13
Speaker
Obviously,
NBA Trades Analysis
00:11:14
Speaker
not all these guys are... i are interested in that. But I think with Bailey, what he wanted was a team who could guarantee that he would be their star and the guy who could do everything rather than as part of a unit, which is an awful way to be only going into the league. An awful attitude, yeah.
00:11:30
Speaker
So, you know, I think with the Jazz, that's not going to be the case because they're building something there and they have Markkinen already and they have some other guys that are probably going to get, you know, Walker Kessler is already out of you in terms of he's been there for a year. So he wanted to go to the Nets, I think, because obviously New York, but secondly, he could have been the main guy on that team. But then, you know, they picked five people last night in the first round instead of trading any of those picks, which is crazy because you're not going to play five rookies. So even that might not have worked.
00:12:06
Speaker
But, A couple of other things maybe that stood out later on into the round was then the Blazers drafted Cedric Coward, but then they traded him to the Grizzlies.
00:12:18
Speaker
So the trade was... Let me get it up here. ah Yeah, so I have it there. So it was on Memphis got Cedric Coward and Portland got the 2025 number 16 pick. So they got Jan Hansen, a 20-28 first round pick for Orlando and two second round picks.
00:12:37
Speaker
Okay. Interesting. That's a lot to give up. For a rookie. It's not as much as ah we saw later on from the Pelicans, who made one of the most ridiculous decisions I've seen in a long time in the and NBA draft. So what they did was they said, look,
00:12:56
Speaker
Atlanta, we're going to move up to 13th here because we really want to pick Derek Queen, who I've heard a lot of people say some good things about. I don't know a whole lot about him. I really only looked into some of the guys at the top and then some of the the sleeper names, but he was getting mentioned a good bit. and But, you know, to move up from, I think, where they were, 23rd, I think, in the pick.
00:13:15
Speaker
Yeah, 23rd, yeah. Yeah, so from 23 to move up to 13, they gave up their next year first-round pick. You're only moving up to 13. You're not moving up to second or third in the draft.
00:13:27
Speaker
And you're going to be bad next year. So to unprotect that pick, you're basically going give up a first 10 next year because there's no way they're going to be good next year. And for what? A number 13 makes no sense.
00:13:40
Speaker
Yeah, so da day the pick for next year is the more favorable pick of the New Orleans or Milwaukee. It's not going to be a top 10 pick. Yeah. it's not going to be's some weird top ten pickic like No.
00:13:51
Speaker
It surely won't be. It will be, I think. I think it will be a top 10 pick. And they've given it away to the Hawks. Oh, sorry. Yes. Yeah. upon his disease yeah yes So they've given away the worst, the better pick, if you like, or the worst pick.
00:14:05
Speaker
yes yeah Whichever team is worse, basically, you're going to get their pick and next year, the Hawks are. So like the Hawks are absolutely laughing because they just only moved back 10 spots in you know in a range of a draft where you can actually pick up someone very good in the 20 range.
00:14:22
Speaker
compared to like the 13 range, there's not much of a drop-off there really in the and NBA draft. Quite often it's a bit of a toss-up once it gets past the top three or four or ice. So I think giving up that much is very, very risky, especially when you're probably going to be bad again next year, so you would want to keep your own pick.
00:14:41
Speaker
So there's a lot of pressure on them now, and Derek Green would want to perform very well. It has to be worth it. but And there there was two other ones then as well. as Sacramento and Oklahoma bopping the 24th pick for 2027 top 16 protected.
00:14:57
Speaker
And the Utah Jazz bopping and getting Walter Clayton for four picks as well. So 2025, number 21, number 43, and then 2031 and 2032 second rounds as well. So lot of teams making some very fishy moves, really.
00:15:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think the ones that include second rounders, it's so hard to gauge them. like yeah if you like to see it Some teams don't value them at all and other teams value them a lot they want to hoard them and try and get more guys.
00:15:24
Speaker
So it's quite interesting when it's in the NBA because it's very different to the NFL draft the way teams approach it. One thing towards the back end of the draft that I thought was was very, probably one of the most interesting parts to me was the Suns.
Suns' Strategic Moves
00:15:39
Speaker
Obviously, they got Malawatch with that number 10 pick that but you guys had to pick for him in the Rockets. But then... late in the draft, they traded away um pick 29.
00:15:49
Speaker
So they they sent pick 29 to the Hornets and their 20-29 first round pick also for Mark Williams.
00:16:01
Speaker
So I think that's actually very, very interesting because now they've got from having basically no centre at all to having two really talented big men who are You know, like Malawatch looks very good. He's he's very raw, obviously, coming out of college, but he's huge. He's like 7'2", and he has like a 7'7 wingspan.
00:16:18
Speaker
And then looking at Mark Williams as well, who obviously and last year the Lakers wanted him after they got Luka. So yeah it's very it's very interesting to have two big men. I think ah i like I like the way that they...
00:16:33
Speaker
I like the way that they've gone about it now from kind of changing the strategy. So maybe Booker will stick around if they have a bit of a project and an idea in mind. Yeah, maybe. I think they needed to do something, especially after trading away Kevin Durant and Welberts kind of.
00:16:47
Speaker
They needed to do something that would show the fans that we're not just going to sit on our hands here now and just waste the rest of Devin Booker. Yeah. Like, it Mark Williams is a good centre. Like, there's a reason the Lakers wants him. They thought he was a centre that could bring him to a title.
00:17:00
Speaker
And then you have the new pick learning under him as well for a year or two before taking over. Yeah. I thought was smart. And Jodie didn't give up too much either.
00:17:11
Speaker
No. Just the first rounder in 29 and the very end of the very end of the draft like Yeah, and Mikic. Yeah, daily I don't even know who he is. yeah no you know Yeah, he's kind of ah an NBA nerd. If you're really into the NBA, you've got to know about him. In general, fans don't know about some of these guys that are getting thrown around in these trades, I think.
00:17:37
Speaker
And often there's a reason behind that, not to be too harsh on some of these guys. Yeah. Yeah, I think, let's see what happens now. um I think but a lot of this is going to be up to the next couple of years. We're going to see some guys that went in the 10s and the 20s break out and be very good.
00:17:56
Speaker
I'm really excited for the top, I think, four guys. And I'm also really excited to see Trey Johnson because I liked him a lot. And I thought if the Sixers did Trey back, I would like them to pick him. because I think he can have an impact straight away. So I like what the Wizards are building, actually.
00:18:10
Speaker
They have a lot of good young guys, and he's another one to add to that. So looking forward to the season ahead. But some other then big moves that were, I suppose... Not part of the draft at all, but happened beforehand.
00:18:23
Speaker
We had, but as we mentioned before, as we talked about last week, right after the episode, the next day, the Kevin Durant trade goes down. He ended up going to the Rockets for Jalen Green, Dylan Brooks, the number 10 pick, which turned into Malawatch, and five second round picks. So what was the feeling when on that landed?
00:18:42
Speaker
I was delighted. um like Like I said to you last week, I didn't want it to be drawn-out saga where we still didn't know what the story was in two or three weeks' time and everything was going down from the air.
00:18:53
Speaker
It was great to get it done so quickly. had to ask you for the calm me down a bit when I saw those five-second earners, but as you said, it's not actually that bad. Jalen Green, as much as I loved him and I really wanted him to do well, he wasn't ever going to get better than he was.
00:19:09
Speaker
And Dylan Brooks is no loss. He just loves... i just Oh, he drove me insane all year, getting technical fouls left, right and centre. So I don't think I won't miss him either, to be honest. and It's great to have someone like that in Houston.
00:19:22
Speaker
yeah We've never had, because like since Harden and Westbrook left, we haven't really had someone who was a name. We've been building off a young core, building off a young core, and we haven't really given up too many of day the future stars. I mean, Thompson is still there. I didn't want Jabari to go. He's not. We have a young core now to build around with Kevin Durant. Mm-hmm.
00:19:42
Speaker
I think it puts us in a really strong position for next year. I was already i surprised that Jabari wasn't included, that it wasn't demanded that at least someone like him was... So you did really well in that aspect, I think.
00:19:53
Speaker
Yeah. I think it puts us up there now as one of the top teams in our division for next year now. so I think you're probably the second second best team in the West right now.
00:20:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think so too. It makes a huge difference and the fans are going to love them. So... I think that's a massive upgrade, especially it's right in the position that you need it.
00:20:15
Speaker
And then to run through another few trades heavy on the Celtics. So obviously they, we talked about this before, that they might look to shed some cap space or shed some cap heavy salary, should I say, to make cap space.
00:20:29
Speaker
And they did exactly that. So they got rid of Drew Holiday and they sent him to the Blazers for Anthony Simons and two second rounders. I think this works on both sides because first of all the Celtics shed a big contract that they can't afford and and they get in Simons for one year and if he does well they can sort out a contract with him and If not, then you know they can park ways with him because he's expiring after this year.
00:20:52
Speaker
He's a good three-point shooter. They need three-point shooters. They love to shoot threes. And then also Holiday heading to the Blazers. I think it's good because they need kind of an old head on that team. And they're good defensively, so he'll only improve that.
00:21:04
Speaker
So actually do like that as well for for their perspective. And yet then also looking at another move the Celtics made. Three-way trade between three teams, Boston, Atlanta, and Brooklyn. So um this basically the headline of this was Chris Stapps and a second rounder went to the Hawks. Terence Mann and Atlanta's number 22 pick to the Nets. And George Niang and a second rounder to the Celtics. So more three-point shooting for the Celtics. And Chris Stapps is going to head over to the Hawks to play alongside Trae Young.
00:21:34
Speaker
yeah I think they're all good moves. I think Porzingis definitely needs to move on as well. And I don't think they trust him as much as they did anymore. And especially now when they have probably lost Jason Tatum for all of, if not most of next year, they needed someone to step in and kind of put the points up that he's not going to be able to do, obviously, when he's sitting on the sidelines.
00:21:54
Speaker
I think it's smart from the Celtics. They have decent year, obviously, but they can be better. So we'll we'll see if this helps them. Yeah, I think they're just looking to get by this next year because I think like Chris Stapps and Drew Holiday are obviously like more talented than Niang and Simons. But these two guys feed into what the Celtics want to do.
00:22:16
Speaker
And they're probably looking to shoot a lot next year and try and put up as many points as possible because I can't see them finishing any higher. Even if the East is weak after these two trades and Tatum being injured, I can't see them finishing any higher than a fifth seed.
00:22:30
Speaker
So I think this is just the kind of a cover off for a year. Save yourself some money and then you can go make some moves next offseason when Tatum comes back. and like that Outside of that then, um i think the only other one that's kind of of no um was looking at the Pelicans. They traded CJ McCollum, Kelly Olenek and a future second rounder.
00:22:52
Speaker
to the Wizards for Jordan Poole, Sadiq Bey, and the number 40 pick. To me now, I don't know if this makes it make more sense or less sense, what they did in the draft, because suddenly now you have Jordan Poole and Sadiq Bey. I actually like Bey.
00:23:06
Speaker
I don't know how Poole is going to work out there when you've already, I don't know, you've got Zion, who's unreliable. I really like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones, but like, Like, I don't know, are they going to still look to move them? Because there's words being said around that.
00:23:21
Speaker
I don't really understand at all what they're doing. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Can you wrap your head around it? honest, no. Jordan Poole has turned into such a journeyman after such a promise in stars.
00:23:34
Speaker
And then now it's it's actually like nobody wants him. Everywhere he goes, he seems to be just getting turfed out. I don't think the New Orleans are going to do much of him either. As you said, they have loads of players that unless they're going to move them around, then I don't see but but like he'll be a sixth man maybe.
00:23:49
Speaker
and think Sadiq Bae is good. But I think giving up Cedric McCollum to get in Jordan Poole is a strange move unless it's contract-based. But... Yeah, but again, i don't yeah I don't know. It feels like they're kind of shedding some of the older guys trying to move younger.
00:24:05
Speaker
The whole thing makes no sense to me, but I really like what the Wizards have done because they've gone and grabbed some more expiring contracts. So after this season, you know like I'm pretty sure at the end of this season, CJ, Kelly Olenek, Chris Middleton, who they already have there,
00:24:25
Speaker
Malcolm Brogdon and somebody else I think they're all going to be expiring so like they've got all these young guys now and they might keep a couple of those guys around whoever they see fits the most but i so I actually really like what they're doing I think it's like going to be over 120 million per year gone off the books once all those guys leave so they're being very smart um just taking these expiring contracts looking to build for the future so I really like what they're doing actually in fairness to them I think they they need their props for for the way they're running things but yeah I think the maddest part about all this is there was no talk at all about Giannis.
00:25:01
Speaker
like There was no team giving up their first or second or third picks and a couple of other things to get in Giannis. So yeah that's a trade now that's probably going to go down to the wire. It's going to be next year picks or a load of players.
00:25:14
Speaker
I wonder if the Desmond Bain thing had messed it all up with a lot of what we spoke about last week. where everyone's like, what's the market now? What do we do here? If Desmond Bain is for first round pace, what are we going to do to Giannis? So yeah i think that's when we'd have to wait and see what happens now.
00:25:29
Speaker
I think judging as well by some of the things Giannis has been saying, it looks like he's going to stay there. Now, It makes, as I said already, it makes so much sense for the Bucs to hold on to him, at least until when teams get more desperate and then try and grab him.
00:25:44
Speaker
So maybe that's what they're doing. But listened to an interview ah podcast with Doc Rivers. He was also on Bill Simmons about a week back. I was telling you, there was actually some interesting bits on there. But there was one, he was talking about Giannis, and the two of them kind of discussed the fact that like the East is going to be weaker next year.
00:26:02
Speaker
It was kind of more pushed by Bill, obviously. yeah Doc isn't going to go and say that, but he's kind of saying, you know, you had the best player in the East, so why would you let him leave when you don't know how the East is going to pan out? You might as well give it a go with him. And I think that's the smart thing to do. so i think Yeah, probably makes more sense. Yeah, I don't think we'll see him move unless there's a massive, massive deal before the deadline, but I don't think we'll see him move until maybe later this year.
00:26:28
Speaker
and But... Yeah, that's pretty much it. A lot of moves in the and NBA, a lot of stuff going on with the draft. As I said, next week we'll break down how the NBA finals went and but what our last thoughts, because I think we kind of need more time to even think about that after the way it ended for Halliburton and stuff. So we'll get into that next week.
00:26:46
Speaker
Then we're going to do what we've done the last few weeks and we will continue to do. We're going to preview two more teams for the football. So we'll start. We're down to the team who finished fourth last season and the team who finished 17th last season, which is mad to say because these are two of the bigger teams in the league and of them finished 17th.
00:27:06
Speaker
But let's get going first with Chelsea. and I'll throw the first question to you. It's where do they need to improve most from last season? and So there was a loss here that annoys me about Chelsea.
00:27:19
Speaker
We've said it now over the last couple of weeks, but when they're trying to just dig down into something they can improve on outside of not signing 500,000 players every single summer, I know the amount of draws they had. They had nine draws and nine losses in the league last year.
00:27:33
Speaker
If they turned some of those nine draws into some more wins, like There was no way Man City should be finishing third in the league last year after the run they went down towards the middle of the season. and Someone like Chelsea should have had enough. And even Arsenal drew 14 games. How are Chelsea not closer to them?
00:27:48
Speaker
If they can turn some of those tighter games into wins... with ah a new striker or that score goals or anything really stop conceding then I think they've then they have a good chance of getting in the top three again for next season and but yeah I think like during the law of Brentford that shouldn't be happening when you're spending so much money on strikers and wingers and attacking fielders Yeah, what I had was that they're going to need to work on how they utilize their squad because last year they had the Conference League and they pretty much played like a B team, a U team during that whole competition.
00:28:25
Speaker
So I think now they're in the Champions League, that's going to need first team attention. That's not going to cut it anymore what they did last year. So that's a big challenge. I think that's something I guess they need to improve on because it's not something they had to do last year.
00:28:39
Speaker
and then next question is who are the three players on their team that will make the biggest impact this season who have you got here ah so have Palmer Liam De Lape and Myles Caicedo I think Caicedo last year was incredible I'm not Cole Palmer's biggest fan but he is the tallies man for this team I think if you're building a team around him though you are you're not going to win a title with him as your main man but I think he is still the main man for him at the moment and i just put Liam the lap in there because Nicholas Jackson you can't trust him and didn you did they you they do need a striker that can score couple goals so he might be able to provide it for him I also hate all their defenders You weren't going to go and pick Cucurada now anyway were you?
00:29:25
Speaker
But that I think I picked two of the same. So I want a Palmer because want to see him on the Champions League level. I think that's going to be an interesting one to watch this season, how he performs there again.
00:29:36
Speaker
and And then Caicedo I also picked. and And one of the reasons I picked him was not only because of how good he was last season, but because of the third guy I picked. which is Romeo Lavia. I really, really like him and I hope he gets more game time.
00:29:50
Speaker
I think if he stays fit, he could be really important for this team. I like the way he plays. um Whenever I watch him, I just think he's such a good, athletic, talented player. He has a good control. He has good ability on the ball as well as to win the ball back.
00:30:06
Speaker
And I think next to Caicedo, just an engine in that midfield, I think that would really, really work for them if the if the two of them can play together. Yeah, I think his biggest issue is that he can't stay fit though.
00:30:17
Speaker
yeah Maybe a full pre-season might help him this year, but he was injured for all his first season and then nearly injured for all the last season as well.
00:30:28
Speaker
Yeah, no, that's the big caveat here, I guess. Yeah. so i see i I do think he's class. Liverpool were looking at him. I really wanted him to get him. So yeah I can't really turn around now and say that I think he's rubbish, because when he's clearly not, I think he's a really, really solid footballer.
00:30:45
Speaker
Yeah, I think if he is fit, then they'll be in a very good position in that midfield. But again, he might not be able to make much of an impact if he's not fit. So the next thing then is what's the ceiling of the team with their current manager and squad and for the season ahead. So I've gone with fourth place.
00:31:04
Speaker
I think they can't finish any higher than last season. because I just don't think they have enough to do so, despite all the money they've spent. And I think the lack of a clear striker who's kind of proven at this level, you know, they have Dillap and Jackson. I think both of them are on quite a similar level, to be honest. And being back in the Champions League is going to take a lot of them too. So keeping all that in mind, I think the best they can do is for what have you gone with.
00:31:32
Speaker
I said Champions League place and a domestic cup. and I said as well, they can't really finish any higher than they did this year, and especially if they keep up this model they have of just kind of just churning over young wingers and, oh, he's not good enough, let's bring in the next best 18-year-old. If you're going to say stay going with that, you're always going to be in a project cycle.
00:31:52
Speaker
And I think they'll get forward because they do have good players, but they won't be pushing anywhere near to a league title anytime soon. No, I don't think so either. And then what's one piece of business do you think that's going to help them the most to fit before the season starts?
00:32:08
Speaker
They need a centre-back that's not called Tosin, Shalaba or Baddy Sheena.
00:32:15
Speaker
Well, look, I think I actually like Shalaba, but it doesn't seem like they like him that much, to be honest. No. And... They obviously still have Caldwell and Fofana there, but again, if Fofana can stay fit is another story again.
00:32:29
Speaker
It seems like there's a lot of issues around fitness, but I've gone with, well, what I put first was it's hard to believe that they need to even do any more business considering how much money they've spent.
00:32:40
Speaker
But I think they need a new keeper if they don't believe in any of the backups to Sanchez. Because I think Sanchez is is utterly useless, to be honest. He can do some amazing things, make some amazing saves, but he makes the most ridiculous mistakes for absolutely no reason.
00:32:55
Speaker
And if they don't believe in him or any of the backups they have, then they're going to need to get somebody else in. But I think they stick with them yeah because it seems like they like him. But in my opinion, that's what they need to do.
00:33:08
Speaker
I was going to go with goalkeeper, but I think for at least four of the teams, I've already said that they need a goalkeeper and not everyone can sign a goalkeeper. There literally isn't enough goalkeepers to go around, so had to go with something else here. I think all their keepers, despite the fact, again, they signed four goalkeepers last summer, chat window I'm pretty sure.
00:33:29
Speaker
And just number on none of them are fancied for the first team role. Yeah. I don't know. They're mad. They're actually just mad. Makes no sense. And it's funny to have a laugh at it too, more than anything.
00:33:40
Speaker
but Moving on then to Spurs, who outrageously finished 17th last year, but yet won the Europa League. They're our next team to look at, so they also have Champions League football. I'll take the first question this time, is where do they need to improve most from last season?
00:33:55
Speaker
I said they need to be more solid defensively. Obviously, bringing in Thomas Frank will completely shift the way they play from how Ange had them set up. So ultimately, that will probably take 20 goals conceded off straight away because they had 65 last year, which is just outrageous.
00:34:10
Speaker
So i crazy yeah I think Frank will help a lot with them. i think Overall, I think he's going to be brilliant for them because he's a great manager. But yeah, that's the main thing for me they need to improve on. Yeah, I said the same, defending with clear weakness and the need to tighten up.
00:34:25
Speaker
Scoring goals wasn't an issue for him. They were leveled with Arsenal for goals scored for nearly all of the season. and It's just, as you said, 60 wide goals conceded is just mental. Yeah, yeah.
00:34:36
Speaker
So then looking at which players are you think would make the biggest impact under the new manager this season ahead, have you gone with? So I have Matthijs Tell, Pedro Poirot and James Madison, especially if he does what I think he's going to do and goes to a back three full time.
00:34:52
Speaker
I think having Tell and Madison as the tens behind a striker, or maybe even Tell up front if Brian O'Brien ends up there and so the United and then Pedro Poirot as a right wing back, I think is perfectly suited to twist No need to even mention that because Mbwemo's going to end up at United. He is en route currently, so don't be saying any that nonsense around here.
00:35:14
Speaker
I've gone little bit different. I've gone with Van de Ven because I think under Frank, he's already really good, but I think he's just going to be super with him as the manager. um I think he's going to help him out a lot.
00:35:28
Speaker
Second, I've gone with Sar because I think I really liked his engine and I think he's one of their best players last year in the middle. So I think he's going to be good in this system too. And then thirdly, I went with Kuleshevsky.
00:35:38
Speaker
If he continues to play a little bit deeper in midfield, I think he could really help out a lot too. So those three guys are are those are people I think would really work, not only next season for Spurs no matter what, but also for the new manager specifically.
00:35:53
Speaker
Yeah. So then looking at the ceiling with the new manager and the squad, what have you gone with for the season ahead? So top seven, try and get back into Europe through league, not just needing to win competition and see if they can win a cup again and just build some momentum of this Like, to to try and get rid of the Spurs' ballers, Tiger, they win two trophies in two seasons.
00:36:17
Speaker
look quote look upon me Look at what's winning the Carver Cup against Newcastle. Like, if Spurs can go and do that or win the FA Cup, finish in the top seven, then I think that'll be a really good year for especially the low bar they're coming from with them.
00:36:30
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. No, I think that's a good enough share. I've gone with something similar, to be honest. I went with sixth place because I think just playing with champions back in the Champions League is going to take a lot out them. And then obviously Frank has never managed a team kind of on this level with that high hopes. And he's never managed a team, you know, expecting to even do well in the European competition either. So I think that's going to be hard on them.
00:36:55
Speaker
I think they will focus on the Premier League, but I think it's going to be hard to finish anything higher than sixth. And then what one piece of business do they need to do to help them? I said that they need more depth at the attack in midfield or wing options that can add some output in the Premier League, which I think is a reason that going after Eze is a very smart move if they get that over the line.
00:37:19
Speaker
But that's going to be hard with Palace. yeah yeah like Yeah, I said a hard tackling centre mid, so someone again to add depth kind of sets the tone. because God knows Basuma is not doing it for him. So they need someone who's better Basuma to kind of set the tone for him in midfield.
00:37:34
Speaker
I think, guys, they'd be a great bit of business for But as you said, it's impossible for Palace. They're really, really hard to negotiate with. yeah Yeah, definitely. I like yeah i think someone in that kind of vein in midfield would be good next to Saar as well, so I like that.
00:37:48
Speaker
Obviously, that was is the idea, I guess, with Basuma or Bentancourt. Again, Basuma is not living up to it and Bentancourt can't stay fit, so it's kind of tough. But that's our look ahead at the season ahead and what the two teams really need to do. But moving on from that into the stuff that's actually going on in the transfer window, our weekly roundup of what's gone on,
00:38:11
Speaker
um i'll I'll list out a couple, let me know what you think. So, Arsenal focus first, I guess. First of all, the they're looking at a deal to sign Christian Mosquera.
00:38:22
Speaker
I believe there was a deal, not sure what the other team was that was looking at him. But something has broken down around that in the last day or so, something to do with wages or something like that. I i can't remember which team it was, but now he's someone that Arsenal are looking at.
00:38:38
Speaker
I've heard a lot of good things about him. I've seen some kind of compilations of his defending at Valencia, 20 years old, looks very, very good. Of course, Arsenal want to sign another centre-back. The second one is them and being in progress to sign Christian Norgard. Obviously, after signing Zuby Mendy, of course, they need another defensive midfielder.
00:38:56
Speaker
A very smart bit of business, I think, though, in fairness to Arsenal, to sign him for such a low price, given he's been proven in the Premier League. And I think Brentford are slowly coming to pieces after losing Frank.
00:39:08
Speaker
And if Keith Andrews ends up there, it's going to be a tough, tough go for him. um But those are two bits that Arsenal seemingly look to be working at. What do you make of that? and Does Christian Norgard take the long throws for Brentford?
00:39:22
Speaker
Is this why they're signing him? two kind of We already had the corners knocked out. Can we get Christian Norgard to take these long throws for him now as well? Okay, I agree with you that I think Christian Norgard is actually a smart bit of business.
00:39:36
Speaker
yeah they have They've lost Jorginho and they're probably losing Thomas Paraty as well. even So they did need a body in that midfield. I just don't like it.
00:39:48
Speaker
They just always seem to concentrate on the wrong areas. if They're going after like Christian Orgaard. No one else is looking at Christian Orgaard. are you working on it so early? Why aren't you working on getting Seska in there, working on getting a winger in? Go back for Orgaard in the middle of July.
00:40:01
Speaker
I just, I don't get it. And of course, they're another centre back because They have four already at least and they don need a fixed one because... They have centre-backs playing all over the spot. like Yeah, exactly. yeah like You're still ah just yourself looking at currently top-level centre-backs that they have are Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White, Calafiore, Timber.
00:40:29
Speaker
these are all yeah and These are all guys who are supposed to be starting Calibre Premier League players, so you're going to bring in another centre-back. Like you said, I think they should focus on what they really need, which is goals. But anyway, that's kind of been a theme.
00:40:46
Speaker
Another club then is looking at Newcastle. Orange scene reported that they made an offer to Sinalanga around £45 million. Obviously, Forrest went a lot more than that because I believe Newcastle offered like £70 million for him on deadline day.
00:41:01
Speaker
um I'd known January or before that, and it got turned down. Apparently so, yeah. So obviously they're going to want more than that. And then the second one is James Trafford looks to have agreed personal terms with Newcastle, but there's nothing yet on the fee.
00:41:14
Speaker
And we spoke about, well, we both spoke but I've kind of said that he's probably going to be Burnley's most important player coming into the preview and how good he's been. And they need to hold on to him, but it looks like he might be heading to Newcastle. So what do you think of those two pieces of business?
00:41:30
Speaker
I think he's a great signing for Newcastle, James Trafford. I don't think getting a Lange, so I don't really think to the point in Jordan. They're not going to pay the £75 or £80 million for him. He's not worth that.
00:41:41
Speaker
James Trafford's a good bit of business. r and d Burnley signed replacement today as well, I think, or yesterday. and So they know he's gone as well. i just I think if they can get £35 or £40 million for him, then I think they're in dreamland, really.
00:41:55
Speaker
But he will be a big loss after what he did for last season with Hollywood Excellency. Yeah, I think he was superb and it's a good bit of business for Newcastle, I think. Yeah, definitely. A couple more then on the Premier League front.
00:42:07
Speaker
um Looking at Twan Zebi undergoing a medical at Barnaby to go from Ipswich. and I think he's he got a new contract offered to him at Ipswich, but he I don't think he agreed it. So it looks like he's going to add to Barnaby.
00:42:22
Speaker
I like that move because i actually like him. I liked him when he was in the youth setup at United. I thought he would break through, but Never really worked out. So I think a good bit of business from Burnley. And then another one on the Premier League front is looks like your Liverpool are finally, after wrapping up the Kirkus deal, look like we knew that for a while, but yeah it's finally confirmed. So I'm sure you're a happy man with that one.
00:42:45
Speaker
Yeah, thank God it's finally done because still get throwbacks to win. That was Fakir was doing his media duty and the move fell through. So when and like everything pointed to it being announced yesterday, as the choir hadn't been announced since he failed his medical.
00:43:01
Speaker
But thankfully it was announced this morning now. So it's annoying me a little bit. And this is something that would only annoy me. But Liverpool can't announce squad numbers until the deal with Adidas starts on the 1st of August.
00:43:13
Speaker
um I just want to know what squad numbers are. That's interesting. Because they don't want people buying Nike jerseys and putting fiat's frimping on them to wait for squad numbers until the 1st of August.
00:43:25
Speaker
know that we've We've now signed five lads and I don't know what squad numbers are any of them are. I'm trying to work out if... it Is McHannister going to give up to number 10 and go to number 6? Is Grimpongas going to take number 30 like you were at his last of? I don't know. Is 11? They'll have to wait till August.
00:43:41
Speaker
Or Salah's 11? No, Salah's 11. Yeah. And Nunes is 9, right? Yeah, well, he keep he'll be gone, but number 9 will be kept for Alex Izak. Oh, right, of course, yeah.
00:43:53
Speaker
Still holding on to that one. A couple of more just to wrap up then kind of European ones that I thought stood out a bit. adam One is Pogba getting back on the scene, signing with Monaco until 2027. So it's a bit interesting to see him back on the go. I'm sure he still has a good few years left in him. I loved him at United and I thought he had a bad time with injuries and how he was treated by the media.
00:44:17
Speaker
Incredibly talented player. And then a second one is more funny than anything because I saw, so Alvaro Morata looks like he's going to Como. and Looks like they've agreed to take on the same conditions of the loan um plus buy clause that Galatasaray had in January.
00:44:34
Speaker
and That's according to Fabrizio Romano. and But I saw someone tweet that, does Morata know that it's not compulsory to take part in every single transfer window? Yes, I know. Like every, every single window he's on the move. like she he'd see He's always the centre of attention for someone.
00:44:52
Speaker
and This whole, like I saw this thing years ago, where was he the money laundering exercise of the big clubs? He just, he just continues to prove that he is like every single, it was not summer or January, he moves once a year at this stage. Like it's,
00:45:06
Speaker
It's really impressive. Really impressive. And fair play to him. He's somehow still the captain of Spain. yeah And he's going to be going play for Como. In the Euros, when they won it, he was unreal, like the work ethic and everything. And then at club level, he doesn't put in near that amount of effort. So that's a good one.
00:45:23
Speaker
ah One I haven't added here, but I want to know from your perspective, what's going on with and Mark Gahey to Liverpool? I heard some stuff about that, so I don't know. I didn't look into it, but... What's the crap about that one? There was a lot of talk about this last week, but it's gotten very quiet again this week.
00:45:40
Speaker
Now, Liverpool do try and do things quietly as well, and if it's gone quiet, that normally is a good sign. But Kwanzaa's gone now to Bayer-Labor-Husen for £35 million, and Mark Guay is out of contract at the end of this season coming and won't sign a new deal, so Palace will need to sell him. if Apparently he's interested, Liverpool interested, so I think it's about agreeing to feed that's reasonable for a player in his last year his contract.
00:46:02
Speaker
yeah and get him in Dennis third choice. Yeah, I'd say that if you if you've got him, like i think he'll probably end up playing ahead of Kanata before the end of the season. and because i think Yeah, he could very well. yeah I just think he's quality and you need the depth. As we kind of mentioned, that that was a position thing you needed going into this new season.
00:46:23
Speaker
But if you manage now, Karkas is done, Frimpong done, Burt's done. If you manage to get Gehi and a good striker, what an absolute cracker of a window that is. Yeah, and if there's talks of bringing in Gerald Haslow as well from Ajax as the kind of backup left back to Kirkland as if Robertson and Schmidt has fought one to go up. So we'll see. It's been an exciting summer so far and hopefully it keeps up this side of the way.
00:46:44
Speaker
it's complete turn-off for you guys. On the United front, it looks like the Embuimo thing is going slowly. A lot of fans panicking, but I don't mind that because it looks like Ineos are not going to be fleeced.
00:46:56
Speaker
and and They're doing things slowly and putting in bids when they feel like it's the right thing to do. and It looks like today there's a lot of reports that they're happy to pay the £60 million. and that Brentford want and then sort out some um some add-ons then after that. So I think that's a good bit of business to spend like 120 mil on two very good attacking midfielders from the Premier League that could also play striker.
00:47:21
Speaker
So yeah, I'm happy with that. And then next is going to probably a couple of weeks of trying to get guys out before we can make more moves. So I'm happy with how things are going. bit slower than some fans want, but I think as long as those two lads are in before the pre-season starts, I'm happy enough with that as a starting point.
00:47:38
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's loop for one they're going to start doing now. They're going to try and start shifting out a couple of lads before they spend any more money. So Darwin's looking like he's going to Napoli. And that would be the first thing to know to do. We get him out and then we kind of work from there then. bos like At the moment, we have too many players. We can't register them all. So a good few need to be moved out before we can even think of bringing in Mark Gay anyone else, to be honest.
00:48:01
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I saw that about Darren today, so I think that would be good to get him get them' off the books. And I think Sancho as well looks like he he's probably going to head to Fenerbahce because they they're going to actually pay the wages he wants. So that would be that would be good just to get that one done. Some crazy some of the deadwood shifted. So yeah, it is crazy. yeah let's Let's move on then to our previews of the NFL teams. So we're going to wrap up the NFC North because we started last week with Lions and Bears.
00:48:31
Speaker
So we've got Vikings and Packers. Who you want to go with first? and We can go with the Packers first and now I'll ask you the questions there so you can sit back and relax. Let's do it.
00:48:41
Speaker
ah So where do the Packers most need to improve on from last year? yeah so Last year, looking at their statistics, and General play, they're solid team and statistically they're solid as well in all facets of the game.
00:48:56
Speaker
But for me, the main thing is the interceptions from Jordan Love. I think he just throws too many needless interceptions. Now, 11 isn't an isn't and overwhelming amount but for the number of attempts he had last season in the 15 games he played 425 attempts 11 interceptions the only players who had a worse interception to attempt ratio were Anthony Richardson, Jameis Winston, Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, Kirk Cousins and Gardner Minshew so that is not company you want to be keeping um so I think for me
00:49:31
Speaker
That is definitely the most important part of their team into the season. He needs to cut some of those needless interceptions out. Yeah, I actually had the same thing. I i just i couldn't really pick too many faults of them.
00:49:44
Speaker
They had really, really good year last year. It was hard to find anything to go on. And I thought I was actually being a bit nitpicky by going after Jordan Love's interceptions. But yeah, I went for that as well. yeah Yeah, I think it's the most obvious one, really.
00:49:57
Speaker
yeah it's Yeah, I think it's's it's hard to kind of look past as Elk. He was only sacked 14 times, which is really, really good as Elk, unless I've gotten that wrong. But yeah, it was 14 times he was sacked as Elk, so I had to go to interceptions.
00:50:11
Speaker
Three players that would make the biggest impact on their team. So for me, I've gone with somebody who kind of falls into that. I've said Matthew Golden. So picking him in the first round, wide receiver, think the first time they picked a wide receiver since something like 2000 in the first round.
00:50:26
Speaker
I think he could be their new wide receiver one because that's a position that they need. They don't really have a number one guy. I know... Reid is kind of the number one, but in most teams, he would probably be the two.
00:50:38
Speaker
So I think, yeah, having Golden is a big one. I actually said love himself because I think if he can cut out those needless interceptions, he can take another leap towards, you know, an even better potential because I'm fully sold on him unless he cuts that kind of out of his game, but he's still very young. So I think if he does that,
00:50:57
Speaker
well it would be excellent for the team and then last I've gone with Xavier McKinney I just loved him when he was with the Giants and I still have a very big soft spot for him and eight interceptions last year second most in the league I'm really sad that we let him let him go and didn't pay him but anyway I'm i'm really happy to see him do them all over there and I think he'll have another big season Nice.
00:51:19
Speaker
Yeah, there are three solid picks. I've gone for Love as well as one of mine. and Again, I just think, i think he has all the talent in the world if he can just sort his armhouse and stop doing silly things, stop trying to overthrow to people that aren't that fast. I think he could be a real teller for him.
00:51:35
Speaker
um I put in Nicole Hardman because i think they like I think he's a good, solid wide receiver. He's nothing special. if If they get six or seven good games out of him, it's six or seven good games that they'll win, which is what they need. I think he's good. He's multiple Super Bowl winner. He's bringing a good kind of atmosphere into the dressing room.
00:51:52
Speaker
And then Golden can kind of step up and take over slowly. And then I put in Nate Hobbs as well as my last one. I just think he's a really, really good defensive player. Yeah, I like the Hardman shout, actually. It's a bit of a kind of sticks out a bit as one that could be a culture setter if he's taken that over from Super Bowl wins. So I like that as a nice shout.
00:52:15
Speaker
Definitely, yeah. Do you think they'll hit their over-under? So their over was nine and a half. and ah I found this one a little bit difficult, but I don't think they will.
00:52:27
Speaker
I think they'll literally get to nine. i cant I just can't see them getting above nine. I just think it the schedule is so tough. The teams they play are so tough.
00:52:38
Speaker
Obviously, they're on division, but then even outside of that, it's I don't know. I just can't see where they get more than nine wins, despite how good they are. i just think I just don't think they will. I don't think they're there yet.
00:52:49
Speaker
What do you think? I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and they're going to get 10. I put in, I've literally written night nine or 10, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and give them the over because I couldn't see going lower than nine or higher than 10.
00:53:03
Speaker
I just, I think they'll be in or in around that line. I think they'll just about get over. It's a really good line. I think for the Buckees and Werners. Yeah. Yeah. I think it they yeah they did a really good job there.
00:53:15
Speaker
Sometimes they know exactly what they're at. And yeah, had they they made it. And it's definitely a tough one. So it's funny, we ended up like just one win outside because I don't see them. Like I can't really see them going for 12 wins or like falling very short of the nine and a half either. No, definitely not. I think they'll be there or thereabouts. If they do get more than 10, I think they'll be doing extremely well.
00:53:37
Speaker
And touching on that, how do you think their ceiling is? I think just one step further than last year, i think they could get to the wildcard game again, but I think they can win it.
00:53:48
Speaker
Obviously, it's not a very high ceiling, but I think they're in a tough side of the league. They're in the same side as the likes of the Vikings, who we will touch on, and then the Lions, Eagles, and some other teams that are going to kind of hoping to be strong contenders in the Rams and even the Niners if they bounce back. So I think it's a very, very tough side of things. I think if they got a good matchup, they could win a wildcard game, but that's as high as I'm going to go on them this year.
00:54:16
Speaker
Yeah, I do not need to say much more. The exact same. Just get the wildcard game and win it this year was what I put in. Yeah, yeah, nice. We'll continue on to the Vikings. The Vikings line for everyone is eight and a half.
00:54:28
Speaker
and So we'll get to that in a couple of minutes. But where do you think they need to improve most from last year? I think they had a pretty low tier run game. In general, they found it hard to get the run going with Aaron Jones.
00:54:40
Speaker
He had a bit of an up and down season. and and They had the was kind of mid-level. It was like 13th worst in the league, closer to the lower level, just less than 110 yards per game.
00:54:51
Speaker
They relied heavily on the passing game with the sixth best in the league, in nearly 240 yards per game. But then when you look at a new quarterback coming in, that's not obviously going to stay the same. It may go up, it may go down, but you can't be guaranteed of what you had last year. You never can, but even less so with a new quarterback. So i think they really need to improve their running game.
00:55:10
Speaker
That's the standout for me. Yeah, I mean i just said that they need to improve on what Sam Darmond was giving them last year. I thought he he did have a really good year, but if JJ McCarty can do, just be a step up from what he gave them, then I think their season could be anything going into next season because they have some really, really good players. They an unbelievable regular season last year.
00:55:31
Speaker
And if they can just get the playoff game, they can win that wildcard game and just kind of just see from there then. Yeah, yeah. and First playoff game. Yeah. yeah If there were three players on their team would make the biggest impact for you.
00:55:44
Speaker
So falling into that last one, I've gone with Jordan Mason as the first one. I think he's a great pickup. I think he elevates them in the run game straight away. Last year, he only had 153 touches from the backfield and he had an nearly 800 yards. so I think if he can add more than that to the team with more touches, I think it would be really beneficial. Like if he had over 200 attempts, he's going to get over 1,000 yards.
00:56:10
Speaker
He has a lot of potential. I thought that was a good move. Second one is an obvious one, I guess, because I went with Justin Jefferson. But I think it's so important this year more than any because he's going to need to bail out McCarthy at times.
00:56:21
Speaker
A guy playing in his first year, a quarterback, is going to need all the help he can get. So I think it's going to be really important more than any other year. And then the third guy is someone... I'm really excited to see when they come to Dublin, and that's Andrew Van Ginkle. I really like him.
00:56:36
Speaker
I think he was great at the Dolphins, but he's taken a massive step up now, coming over um back again with his old coach on the Vikings' defensive side of things. and He's kind of had a career year across his stats, so he had 79 tackles last year, which was the most he's ever had, 11.5 sacks, which which is Five and a half more than his previous high with the Dolphins.
00:56:57
Speaker
And then two interceptions, which he both returned for touchdowns. One, unfortunately, was against the Giants. But yeah, I really like him. And I think and think having him there and seeing him live in the flesh is going to be class.
00:57:08
Speaker
So that's another one. Class, I actually had two at the same with you. So I had Jordan Mason. had Mason and Justin Jefferson as well, but I had TJ Hawkinson in. And I kind of put him framed for reasons that you said about Justin Jefferson, das with that with basically a rookie quarterback, he's going to need someone he can count on that's going to catch...
00:57:28
Speaker
badly throwing balls for one of the better, putting his buns where he's under pressure and just kind of flings him up. He's going to need his tight end to be able to step up for him. So I put in TJ Atkinson as my my last pick of the three. Yeah, I think that is definitely, especially coming off that injury too, he's going to want to have a big year. So I think, yes, shorter passes over the middle are probably going to be more abundant now a young quarterback. So yeah, like I think that's a good shout.
00:57:51
Speaker
Moving on then to the wins. Obviously, you mentioned at the top it's 8.5. What did you go with? 8.5, yeah. um I think they'll go over. I think they'll get 10 or 11. If JJ McCarthy can step up and do what everyone... Joey's kind of with a year on now, the expectation is higher, if anything, than it was when he came in. So if he can do what they think he can do, then I don't see why they don't get over that again because they have so many offensive weapons.
00:58:16
Speaker
They can just get him working and get him right, then they shouldn't have any issues with 8.5 games. Yeah, I'm the exact same. I think the line is way too low, to be honest. um Getting 14 wins last year, I don't think you knock five wins off a team just from going from Sam Darnold to JJ McCarthy because Sam Darnold is not, you know, he's not Tom Brady. So...
00:58:36
Speaker
so you know He had a great season, but I think JJ can do the same, especially with Kevin O'Connell, who is an unbelievable head coach. So I think, yeah, not to spend too much time on this. I think it's pretty obvious for me that I think they will go over it. I think it's one of the safest bets.
00:58:52
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's a mad line how low it is. Like taking, as you said, taking five wins off a team because they've changed their quarterback is crazy. If you put me in a quarterback, they wouldn't lose five more games than they did it last year. So I think it's a mad line.
00:59:04
Speaker
Kevin O'Connell going to coach you. Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure he'd have no issue with it. And finally, and what's their ceiling for the season, as? Well, I've said the NFC Championship game.
00:59:15
Speaker
I think they can get to the level of what the Commanders did last year. I think Kevin O'Connell is my favourite head coach in the league. I just think he's he's unreal. I love the way he coaches the team. I would love if he was my head coach at the Giants.
00:59:29
Speaker
and But look, I'm happy with Dave's as well, so can't go too far. But I think he he's he's very good at elevating the talent on a roster, which is already very talented as it is.
00:59:40
Speaker
And they have Brian Flores there, obviously, as I mentioned already, on the defensive side of the ball. So, yeah, I think there's no reason why they can't get that far. Not saying that, you know, they're not they are going to get that far. we'll We'll get into that later on when we predict ahead of the season which which teams are going to get all the way. But I think that is a ceiling for them, despite the QB being in his first year.
01:00:02
Speaker
Yeah, I have to say, again, no point going too much into it. I said that they can definitely do, as you said, what the Commanders did last year, but I don't they're getting the Super Bowl this year or next year, in my humble opinion.
01:00:13
Speaker
Yeah, i've mentioned I noted that as well. They just don't have the QB in my eyes yet to go far enough. Now, he could be the QB in two years, but it's not early. I mean, it is too early for us to say, you know, they're a Super Bowl team already.
01:00:28
Speaker
ah Quarterback's the most important position in the team and we don't know enough to really go with that. So I think that's fair on both our parts, really. I guess let's let's wrap it up then, the way we have been doing for the last few weeks with a draft topic.
01:00:42
Speaker
So this week we've gone with the best and NBA talent under 25 years of age. So we're going to draft five people each, snake-style draft again. Who went first last time?
01:00:54
Speaker
It was me, i'm pretty sure. So I think it's you up first this time. up but Okay, sweet. So I'm going to go with my number one. i You know, I actually would have rather to go two. because it's tough to go first in this draft.
01:01:08
Speaker
But for me, God, I'm going to have to go Anthony Edwards. I know you're going to go Wemby, but I just think we're looking in this draft, we're not doing like a redraft of you know who's going to win you the championship if you get this roster. I think if you're doing that, which we did before, Wemby is the obvious pick. But right now i'm looking at the best talent under that age and how much talent Edwards has already and how much he's shown and how far he's taken his team already in the playoffs last year to the conference finals and making a run this year.
01:01:42
Speaker
Although they did fall fairly flat, I think yeah i think he was my my one pick, although it probably is controversial. Wow. I actually i had Edward Stout to be my first pick when I was going second.
01:01:53
Speaker
boy But i'm obviously I obviously am going to take Wemby as my first pick here. I just demand the fruit. He really is. And hopefully he comes back from these low-clots and he's as good as he was before he left. Yeah.
01:02:07
Speaker
yeah I just think he's class. And I think tocent there so the Spurs are really building something special around him and bringing in a good couple of young rookies as well. They have a team, probably all under the age of 25, next year or the year after as well. I'm to see what they can do. But I just think he's absolutely class. yeah and For my second pick, I have Jalen Williams, and just off the back for winning the championship.
01:02:29
Speaker
What a player, honestly, what a player. It's it' really hard to look past him. There's a couple there that are looking at us. i i I just had to go with him. Yeah, I had like a list of guys sitting into the third spot. And then i was like, he just won a championship.
01:02:43
Speaker
I have put J-Dub third. But you've got to snap him up. So in fourth, then, I'm going have to go with Cade Cunningham. I think first all-star appearance this year, the way he's elevated that Detroit team, I think there's so much he can do. And he's the type of guy who can turn into like a massive face for the league.
01:03:01
Speaker
And I really like Detroit going into next year. And I think they're going to be a really, really good. And if they make a move or two, they might be even better. But he's he's my second, well, he's the fourth pick in this draft.
01:03:12
Speaker
And then yeah in fifth, I've gone with Paolo Banquero. I think there's no way he can go any longer than five. I think five is already too low for the level of his talent. and I just think Cade is slightly above him in my opinion right now due to the shot making, but they're very similar levels. So that's my fifth pick, the fifth pick in the drafts on my number three.
01:03:36
Speaker
you want him? I want the bench area. I'm going to stick in Tyree Sadieburn here for me as my third pick. I think the man's class, he was clutch all year for the Patriots up until obviously the unfortunate injury. Hold on, hold Judge rules here.
01:03:55
Speaker
He's not under 25. He's not under 25.
01:03:59
Speaker
so but it So because he's 25, okay. Don't know that, George, but okay, if that's what you're going with. No, no, no. 25 or under would be a different story now.
01:04:13
Speaker
I knew you were going to try pull this fast one and and whip up a Halliburton or something in here. But yeah, I'm not i'm not having that. Okay, I'll take Sengun instead, though. And I need to go through my list of names here and make sure that the Ritam are all under 25 and that's 25 and under.
01:04:33
Speaker
So Sengun is your next pick, so you're you're yeah rolling over again. Yeah. Oh, God. Two seconds out. tonight Throw your next pick next.
01:04:46
Speaker
We'll see if they're 25 not. Can I have Franz Wagner or C25 at all? No, you can have him. He's like 23, think. I'll take Franz Wagner next.
01:04:58
Speaker
and I'm in panic mode now. No, i think I think that's a good pick. he's definitely He was in my top 10 as well, and so is Sengu. ah Yeah, he's 23, so he's well under the mark.
01:05:10
Speaker
yeah ideal You've got at least one Orlando boy there after not getting in Paolo. I'll wrap up. Yeah, I needed one after the year they had. Yeah. I'll wrap up then with my next two picks, so eight and nine in the draft.
01:05:24
Speaker
My fourth and fifth, I'm going go with Evan Mobley. I think, arguably, he could have gone earlier than some of the other guys, but it's probably just because he's more defensive talent that it doesn't spark as much kind of enthusiasm, I guess, outside of some more of the and NBA heads. But I think he's he's like...
01:05:44
Speaker
He's a very good player. I really like him. I think if he continues to add to his shot in his offensive game, he's going to be even better. But defensive player the year this year. And think he's, yeah, he's excellent for his age. And the Cavs would be crazy if they ever consider to trade him away.
01:05:59
Speaker
And then last, there's maybe one or two better options here, but I'm going to have to go with my boy Tyrese Maxey. I'm just being a Philly fan. had his jersey on today in the gym absolutely love him he's my favourite player he so I'm going have to get him in there because he's very very talented and he's probably like in most people's eyes if they were doing a top 10 ranking of players under 25 he's probably 11th or 12th but I'm going to just sneak him a little bit higher for this exercise yeah he was born 7 months after Tyrese Halliburton so he hasn't turned 25 yet so he's he's okay yes he is absolutely okay
01:06:36
Speaker
Shambles. Absolute shambles. The game is in disrepute now over this. Go on, throw your last one out there. I'm going to i'm going to finish up with LeMelo Ball. I think on talent alone, not what he's even done so far. I just think hes he's a joy to watch.
01:06:50
Speaker
um I think if if he was at a top team, I think he'd be doing two, or twice or three times what he's doing already. I'm at a really poor team. I just think he's, I think he's lost. Yeah, I think that's for talent level, I think, yeah, definitely.
01:07:03
Speaker
He's one that's up there. I just don't know about how... Maybe it's, like you said, because he's in Charlotte, he's not putting as much of an effort in as he could called elsewhere.
01:07:14
Speaker
I would like to see him go elsewhere just to see if he will put that effort in because sometimes he just seems like he's messing. But I guess that can happen if you're losing lot. I think one maybe honourable mention on...
01:07:26
Speaker
My side, anyway, i think, well, a of two, what three, let's let's let's double up here because I think Osser and Amen Thompson are both actually deserving of getting close to this list, but they're a bit young at the moment and I don't think they're up there yet with some of these other are guys, but they will be.
01:07:43
Speaker
um And then another one, just another championship winner in Chad Holmgren. I think he is probably just outside this. I think he's on talent alone. He's probably like third or fourth, but he's obviously missed a lot of time. So it's it's a little bit harder. yeah so but i I was really hoping I could sneak out Kevin Durant in there, but he's I think he's just just after turning 26 there a couple of weeks ago.
01:08:06
Speaker
Yeah, I think he's a little bit old. Not too much, but he's just after getting a little bit too old for this exercise. I think if we had Michael on, he'd probably try and sneak in LeBron. Oh, I'm sure he yeah.
Bronny: Future Prospects
01:08:17
Speaker
What about your boy Bronny? Why wasn't he included here? you know I thought you loved him. Oh, yeah, Joe. actually just for forgot he existed and I was really enjoying my summer without him. and I'm sure he'll cup up again next year. he Joe, he might get into top ten this time next year, we'll see.
01:08:32
Speaker
Yeah, you never know you know. I think he could be he could be could be on your board, considering how much you love the guy. I think we'll we'll leave it on Bronny as we have done before. We'll leave that as our last topic just so you can keep
Feedback and Farewell
01:08:45
Speaker
that in your mind. as you Thanks again, lads, for listening.
01:08:48
Speaker
I hope you enjoyed this episode. Let us know if you're enjoying some of the new format and stuff with the previews and the draft and some of the transfer talk and stuff. Let us know if you're enjoying all of it or if there's anything else you'd like to see or something you're not enjoying.
01:09:02
Speaker
We want to hear it all. So appreciate you listening. I'm sharing a throw to you. Thanks so much lads. Just as James said, just keep keep listening and we'll keep going. Thank you very much. It's just it's really enjoyable to keep doing these things.
01:09:15
Speaker
We'll be chatting anyway, so it's nice to have a camera in front of us where we can just have people judge and won't be saying instead. So yeah keep it going. Thanks so much. keith Just keep liking, keep commenting if you want. Give it the idea that we've said before. Whatever you want, just keep engaging and we' we'll keep engaging as well.
01:09:31
Speaker
Yeah, nice one. Nice one lads. Jackie, nice one.