Beal and Strus Join the Clippers

Lucas, Rob, and Shap get together to talk about actual Clipper moves in the midst of the Kawhi Aspiration saga STILL not being done. Bradley Beal returns to the Clippers and Max Strus was brought in as part of the Peyton Watson deal that sadly landed Watson on a team that's not the Clippers. What do the guys think about this jumble on players at the guard on wing on this squad? What moves are left? When will Kawhi be gone?

Speaker 1: Hi, this is Ralph Lawler.

Speaker 2: Welcome to the law the Jam Jazz. What's up everyone,

It's the lat the Jam. The cost comes to you

as I'm always with.

Speaker 3: Rob as Rob you know what chap. It is going well.

Speaker 4: The weather out here in Michigan is great today. Kind

of late summer so it's not too hot.

Speaker 3: It's it's very nice out.

Speaker 4: And I just came off of squeezing about forty key

limes to try to get enough juice for a lime

pie that my wife is making.

Speaker 2: So oh I love that.

Speaker 4: Yeah, my fingers are are slightly sore, but and I

cut myself disasting, but it's fine.

Speaker 3: I'm ready to roll, ready to talk about clippers that

they actually did stuff. You know. It's it's funny.

Speaker 2: You got some, you got some extra for some like

savice or something. Rob.

Speaker 4: We literally had to use two full bags of key

limes to get enough juice. It's I mean, we're in Michigan.

It's not like these are freshly grown key limes, so

I think they've seen better days.

Speaker 3: But you know, they smell good.

Speaker 2: Man.

Speaker 3: I've never cooked with key limes before.

Speaker 5: This.

Speaker 2: Does Meredith make a key lime pie? Is that like

one of her one of her. That sounds really good.

I've never I've never made a key lime so ratch. Yeah.

Speaker 4: Yeah, this pie is actually does not call for key limes.

It's just a malted lime pie. But she saw key

limes and we've never heard.

Speaker 2: This is the thing. This is the we're just gonna

talk about pie.

Speaker 1: I just zoned out and then I came back and

I was like the.

Speaker 2: Clippers, Clippers their face for months speaking of pie.

Speaker 3: Yeah, this is the Max.

Speaker 1: The first segment is about Max Shrew's.

Speaker 3: No, that's about it's about lime pie. But anyway, I'm

excited to eat it.

Speaker 2: That sounds great. Lucas, how are you, Lucas, I'm good man. Yeah,

we're doing good. Yeah. The Clippers made some deals. Finally

we thought they were out of the CHOI littered pergator,

but they're not. We'll talk about that in a second too.

But the Clippers made some moves. Max Shruce is now

a loss ade of the Clipper, and Bradley Beal is

surprisingly an La Clipper. Let's talk about Max Shruce because

a lot of people have been waiting for Pete Watson

to maybe be a Clipper, myself included. I was hoping

Peyton Watson to be a Clipper, but that's not what happened,

and Peyton Watson's going to Cleveland. The Denver Nuggets are

getting a pick, a twenty thirty one cass first round

pick and a King's second rounder, and the Clippers are

absorbing Max Streus into their TPE. That's sixteen point seven

million dollar Bax shrews contract was falling into that seventy

million dour TP the Clippers had in the John Collins deal,

and Max Shrewce, who's an expiring contract, a really nice player, honestly,

a Tayloo type of connector wing that I would imagine

from the contending years type of player is now going

to be an LA Clipper. Let's start with this deal, Lucas,

what were your thoughts on this trade after it happens.

Feels like it's been a long time waiting for Peyton

Watson to go somewhere and the Clippers were involved, just

not for Watson directly. Yeah, I mean, I.

Speaker 1: Think initial disappointment, right, because Watson is the younger, better player,

and probably from a athleticism and defensive perspective, a guy

who addresses more urgently critical needs in the short term

for the Clippers that are probably gonna you know, if

if the Clippers like fall short of the play in

tournament next season, it's probably gonna be because they are

not big, athletic and defensive enough. So getting bringing a

guy in like Peyton Watson would have hopefully really addressed

some of that concern. But ultimately the Cavaliers had to

trade you know, a player in Struce who's an important

rotation player for them, and a first round pick and

a second round pick, and you know, you start really

looking at what the price is of Peyton Watson beyond

the contract that you give him, and probably to the

point where we had talked about on this show, right, Like, yes,

bringing in the talent of Watson is intriguing and it's

probably worth overpaying him to do it at his age,

But once you start overpaying him and giving Denver first

round draft capital, it becomes a much riskier gamble, probably

a gamble that makes more sense for a team like

Cleveland at the current moment they're in in their trajectory

than a team like the Clippers, who you know, potentially

being saddled with the downside of that and having lost

the first round pick, would have been really hard to swallow.

Mat Schruz is a nice players. It's sort of He's

not a perfectly comfortable fit on this Clippers team. I mean,

he's thirty. The Clippers are not particularly good, and they

are trying to get younger and rebuild. He's a support player,

you know, probably best as a twobe, but can play

the three. The Clippers I have a lot of guys

competing for minutes in that spot. You almost wonder a

little bit, you know, is he a guy who can

stunt the development of others because he comes in and he's,

you know, a six' five wing who's got eight THOUSAND

nba minutes under his, belt and is you, know another

two thousand in the playoffs and was just in The

Eastern conference finals With. Cleveland, like is this a guy

who you, know maybe it's a little harder For King

woggler to find minutes if he is really struggling in

the early months of the, season because a guy Like

Max STRUS i feel a little bit of that. Concern for,

me what this really looks like is that seventeen million

dollar trade exception that The clippers had could only ever

be used to bring in a player making seventeen million

dollars or, less and Now Max, struce like the seventeen

million dollar trade, exception you can't take that Plus Derek Jones,

junior who makes ten million dollars and bring in a

player who makes twenty seven. Million you're not allowed to

combine the trade exception in that. Way Max, shruce once

you sit on your hands for a couple of, months

is going to be eligible to be traded at the

trade deadline and in combination with other. Players and then

you start looking at like the forty million dollars expiring

The clippers have For Brandon ingram and this sixteen million

For Max, shruce and you're talking about really you could

go match for any contract in the league that you

wanted to with expiring. Money so, THAT i think is

really what The clippers were doing here more than necessarily

requiring a. Player Although Max struce is a good, player

he probably like probably adds a couple wins being in

The clippers rotation versus the replacement wings that they would

have had for. Him BUT i think the real value

of this for The clippers is getting that expiring deal

in the door so that they can have more salary

matching and, aggregation combination options at the.

Speaker 5: Deadline, yeah actually literally with The clippers are are giving

up is often the player is often kind of a secondary,

guy but a player kind of needs to be traded

in these sort of.

Speaker 2: Transactions rob isn't my All. KAMAGATI i think this name

is familiar to maybe just us at Other clippers podcasts

or maybe beat, writers because there was a moment here

where Where kavagati. WAS i kind of got excited About.

KAVAGATI i don't know if you remember, Him, Rob maybe

you can Educate clipper fans on what they're literally. Losing

AND i believe that the pick and the broom deal

is also an outgoing, yes, yeah but those are technically

what The clippers are losing. Here i'm gonna let you

you talk about it. Too but after all my emotions

About watson, FADED i generally agree With. LUCAS i thought

this was a good bit of. BUSINESS i hate TPEs

because very OFTEN i feel like they just kind of

sit on the. Books, yeah and they're kind of thought out,

Theoretically oh this is this thing that we could, use

or oh no we. Don't we don't just have cap.

Space we have this, trade we have this player, exception

and then you know often more often than not they

sit on the books for a long. Time we've talked

about this on the bid. Already so to get a

nice player that can be flipped Like, strews that fits

perfectly into THAT tpe at this, MONEY i mean that

money is really this sort of. Player SO i was

happy for that bit of business that The clippers, did

that they got an objectively kind of nice role player

in the money that really an objectively nice role player should.

Get and now they're able to aggregate Like lucas kind of,

mentioned rather than just kind of sitting on this kind

of theoretical money like we've seen them do. Before SO i,

think objectively, speaking that business was a good, thing and

this business all together was good because they were able

to use up THAT. Tpe rob tell me your thoughts

on the trade and A.

Speaker 4: Kamagati, Yeah i'm probably more positive on it than most

People i've, seen which is a little. SURPRISING i think

it's mostly because, ONE i didn't really ever think they

were Getting Peyton. Watson, Two i'm Just i've just never

been A Peyton watson, fan And i'm still not really

A Peyton watson. Fan you, know to, me it's like

if you were able to just sign him for four eighty, EIGHT.

Speaker 3: I think that'll be.

Speaker 4: FINE i honestly don't even love that contract in a,

Vacuum like his track record of being actually really good

is pretty. Limited he's, young he's, athletic he's improved like every.

YEAR i think it's a good bet to, take but,

LIKE i don't think it's a surefire.

Speaker 3: Thing it's like a lot of. Years it's a good

amount of.

Speaker 4: Money but to, me like giving up an unprotected far

out first plus a pretty good second round pick just

to pay him that contract to the media IS i

would not.

Speaker 3: Have wanted The clippers to do.

Speaker 4: That So i'm actually fine with them not getting, him even,

though LIKE i understand he's a good throw on the.

Roster he'd be like in a good age range With.

Garland LIKE i get all. THAT i JUST i don't

think he's quite worth. That maybe he proves me. WRONG

i kind of hope he, does BECAUSE i like The

calves and they're like one of My east teams with you,

know With, harden and you, KNOW i HOPE i hope

they do. Well but LIKE i Just i'm a little

skeptical he's worth that trade package plus. Contract and, YEAH i,

mean Strus is is a good. Player he did not

play much last year because of. INJURY i, mean that's

one of the knocks on. Him he had three pretty

healthy seasons from twenty two to twenty, four but the

seasons before and after that he has not been particularly.

Available but when he does, play he's like a fine.

Defender he's not, great but he's. Fine and he's a

really good three point. Shooter and as you, Said, chap

he's a good connective. Piece like it's kind of. CRAZY i,

mean in twenty twenty four he averaged four assists per,

game as like more or less an off ball, wing

and he averaged three point two last year as, well

or in twenty twenty, FIVE i, guess which was his

last trueful. Season like that's a pretty valuable role player to.

HAVE i, mean, HONESTLY i think there's a decent chance he.

Starts LIKE i think it could be Like Garland Streuce

ingram Ruy Brook, LOPEZ i would be pretty defensively deficient

but really good on. Offense you, know you'd imagine one

of the, Starts BUT i don't.

Speaker 1: Know who do you think is more? Valuable AND i

asked this because The clippers Traded Norman powell For John

collins to do the like move a, guard get a forward,

thing and then they sign and trade Out John collins

and bring Right Max strus into the trade. Exception who

do you think is a more valuable role? Player Max

struce Or Norman.

Speaker 3: Powell that's, TOUGH.

Speaker 4: I would lean quite. HONESTLY i, Mean norman was An

All star last. YEAR i know people are gonna listen

to this and be, like that's kind of. BLASPHEMOUS i,

think you, know if you're looking for like more of

a regular season floor, Razor Norman POWELL i think has

more of. That but, SO i, mean that's where it's,

tough because The clippers right now are not a. Contender

if this is The clippers of two or three years,

AGO i would have much rather Had Max strews Than

Norm powell on this particular. TEAM i Guess i'd probably

still rather Have max S drews just because as you

kind of Described, NORM.

Speaker 1: I think that's a little. FAR i Mean, norm the

just the efficient twenty That norm can get, You, like

this team this year absolutely could.

Speaker 2: Use A Norman.

Speaker 3: Powell but LIKE i JUST i don't, know.

Speaker 1: Even though even though we agree on the like the

upside captain that puts on you and the Whole Norm

powell EXPERIENCE i think we agree, ABOUT i just think

like they're gonna be so bad this.

Speaker 2: Year, YEAH i think That. NORM i Think norm is

a higher regular season floor razor for his team, Especially BUT.

Speaker 4: I don't care about, That LIKE i. Don't they're not

gonna be good this year.

Speaker 2: Regardless who WOULD i have rather had in That nugget.

Speaker 4: Series, yeah they probably Wouldn't mad series if they Have.

Speaker 3: Maxters but, anyway, anyway so just.

Speaker 1: When just when we think, about like The clippers ultimately

like Traded John collins for this guy and Get Peyton

watts in, right LIKE i, think you, know trying to

make a little bit of a point that Like Strus

struce is not the volume scorer That Norman powell, is

but in he is the more well rounded basketball.

Speaker 4: Player he's a better, defender better, passer.

Speaker 1: And and who is more valuable on aggregate probably those two.

Guys it probably Is. NORM i think it definitely would

Be norm for this context that The clippers are in

right now where they are like low on, Talent BUT

i do think it it's objectively just not really a

terrible like it's a side, grade similar to the side

grade The clippers made last summer with this contract slot

to go From norm To collins To. Strus he is

not actually really gaining or losing value in any of these,

transactions just sort of getting a different.

Speaker 3: Guy WHAT i will say about the same WHAT i

will say About.

Speaker 4: Streuss he's a little younger than The Norm, powell and he's,

cheaper and he's on an expiring so LIKE i do

think if he he's pretty good this, SEASON i, mean

The clippers could keep him. Low marie said immediately after

they traded for him that The clippers like him and

he's probably gonna play for. THEM i think that does

open the door to them bringing him back as like

a longer term. VETERAN i do, know like EVERYBODY i

know In cleveland like loved Having Max strus. There he's

apparently like a great locker room, guy very, fiery good,

leader all that sort of. Stuff he, culture, yeah heat,

culture good vet to have. Around but like if he

has a good, season like if he's shooting well from,

three the mobility looks a little bit back on, defense,

like and The clippers are at least. COMPETENT i don't

think they'll get a first round pick for, him BUT

i think they could get several seconds for him at

the deadline or maybe like a semi interesting young. Player

SO i just think it's a good value. Trade LIKE i,

MEAN i don't think it's like AN a, plus like,

WOW i can't believe they did, this but considering the

assets they, had.

Speaker 3: You, know The Jeni broom second was you, know.

Speaker 4: A decent, second but again they basically got that for.

Free so if you just consider, that they Got broom

And strus for basically nothing outside of the rights To Ismael,

kamagatte WHO i did like in the, DRAFT i think

it was like four or five years, ago but has

just never come over and seems unlikely to come over

to The states at this. Point he plays In, ITALY

i want to, say or somewhere In, europe and he's you,

know Fine european big, man but, LIKE i just don't

think he's probably gonna be AN nba. Player but, like

they basically got up nothing to give, up nothing to get.

This if you factor and they acquired that second Four.

Broom so, YEAH i think it's a good piece of.

Business LIKE i Think struce will be helpful for this,

team whether it's as a starter coming off the bench

As lucas alluded, TO i mean more moves.

Speaker 3: And it'll talk About Brad puel in a.

Speaker 4: Second more moves have to be coming because The clippers

have like nine guys on the roster right now who

played the two in the three especially you, know and

again we'll talk about this at the end of the,

podcast that The Kawhi leondard trade is probably still gonna.

Happen like if you factor and you add In Grady

dick And Brandon ingram and take Off Kwhi, leonard this

roster becomes insanely. Overbalanced it has like two point, guards

one two power FORWARDS i guess Count Boba, miller three,

centers and then like eight or nine twos and. Threes

AND i just don't think that's. Sustainable like there are

guys who should be rotation players who right now would

not even be close to the. Rotation SO i do,

think and just contract, wise right now they would have

if that The quiet trade goes, through they have seventeen.

Contracts you Cut Cam, chris do you still need to

move one guaranteed contract that's still not Counting Benedict, matherne

who we could talk about a little.

Speaker 3: Bit, so, like more moves have to be.

Speaker 4: Coming it could be as simple as like just salary

dumping or just dumping Like christain or for a pick

or two Or Isaiah jackson or. Whoever like you, know

they're easy ways to get off one of those. Contracts

but like The clippers are now officially like over fifteen

in terms of guaranteed, Deals so more moves have to be,

coming and they're probably going to be, small but you

just you never.

Speaker 2: Know, yeah let's take a quick break and talk About

Bradley beale after. This all, right we're. Back So Robert

Bradley beal is A clipper for a couple more years

or maybe however long until at Least, december Brad beal

signed a two, year thirteen point two million dollar deal

with a player option second year and only about half

of that guaranteed in the second. Year kind of, surprisingly you,

KNOW i don't think a lot Of clipper fans or

maybe Even clipper, people had Brad beal in their head

as a returning kind of. Player especially after The Quiet

leonard deal was you, know made semi, happening including, Myself

how do you feel about The Bradley beal.

Speaker 3: DEAL i, mean it's kind of objectively a horrible.

Speaker 4: Deal but WHAT i will say is WHEN i wrote

my exit interview on two and three hoops For Bradley

beal at the very end in terms of future on The,

CLIPPERS i wrote that it was more likely than not

you'll be back on The clippers because he had a

player option that he, declined and as soon as he

declined it or reports, like he might return to The.

Clippers SO i, think AND i don't think this is

anything like tampering or worth an investigation. Whatever it seems

pretty obvious The clippers And bill had like a wink

wink handshake agreement that like you would, opt that's.

Speaker 1: Allowed it is allowed to talk to your own like. This,

yeah so The clippers could The clippers could have, said

if you decline your, option we will bring you back

using your non bird rights at this, salary and it's.

Allowed so it Is that's probably what they, said and

then that they ended up doing when they realized they

weren't going to do The Payton watson. Deal they need

The catholics ability for.

Speaker 4: It and yet you can, argue, like why would you

have that for a guy who like barely played last

year was horrible and he did play and is not

on this team's timeline at, All and, again is that

a position where the team is most. Crowded and the

simple fact, is you know they this is probably part

of their agreement with him last. Summer he technically the

reporting at the time was that he had more lucrative

offers than The, clippers who it was a you, know two,

year eleven million dollars. Deal IS i think what was last?

Summer and then he shows The clippers because of the

starting spot that was kind of promised to, him AND

i guess because he knew The clippers would take care of.

Him and you, know it is what it, Is like

there's at least a chance he's good this season or

at least, fine and The clippers are able to move

off him at the deadline for neutral. Volume maybe he's

good enough that they get positive. Value i'm a little,

skeptical but like it's not impossible to. Me this is

the guy more than struce To lucas's point about like

they have to Play beale like he's a high enough profile.

Player and the other thing noting is he is rapped

by like the most powerful agent in the in THE

nba outside of Maybe Rich paul And Mark, bartelstein and

for a long time was one of his premier. Clients

like there are agent politics here. Too Like beale is

going to be, playing and probably playing a good. AMOUNT

i don't think he we'll Start that would be really.

Bad but he's not just gonna sit on the bench

and not play unless he's they have a sample size

of him being really bad enough that it's you, know

it's feasible for them to do.

Speaker 3: So so to, me he's the guy more Than strue.

Speaker 4: Where it's, like you, Know Kobe sanders not in the

rotation right, Now Jordan, miller like maybe kind of in

the rotation right, now you, Know Keaton woggler many fewer

minutes than we probably would have, thought you, know a

month or two. Ago And bill is the kind of

guy he you, know he can't play off, ball but

he got he's a guy who likes to cook on.

Ball he's a you, know, ballhandler. Playmaker LIKE i.

Speaker 3: JUST i don't even if he's good in a.

Speaker 4: VACUUM i just don't really like the idea of him

siphoning minutes from The clippers younger guys much more Than, struce,

who to, me is just kind of like an off

ball three IN D. Connective he's, Who LIKE i guess

The clipper's equivalent to that Is Kobe. Standers but, YEAH

i Mean, bill, LIKE i get, It like it seems

like they had an agreement to do.

Speaker 3: This it's.

Speaker 4: Fine it's not like it's in insanely long deal or

insane lucrative like it is what it. Is it's still

just two. Years thirteen in the second year is partially,

guaranteed but just, objectively it's not a good, contract AND

i understand why fans are upset that they're bringing him

back and be playing him over, younger more promising.

Speaker 1: PLAYERS i think my thing with the minute, SIPHON i

think this is WHERE i kind of draw the, line,

right is if the team is going to be five,

hundred and these guys are going to be putting shifts

in and doing well enough in their shifts that the

team is hovering around five, hundred then like fair, enough,

right compete for minutes and earn your, minutes but you.

Know so if the team is fourteen and sixteen after

thirty games and Brad beal is playing and he's helping

the team win the games that they're, winning and you're,

COMPETING i don't hate, that just from like a sort

of team culture, perspective, RIGHT i think that like it

can be a good tone. Set but if you're nine

and twenty one after thirty, games put the kids out,

there like that's and that is where you can really

get into. Trouble so, yeah for the first the first

month of the, season like you, know up Through, CHRISTMAS

i am fine seeing the veterans BECAUSE i would rather

watch The clippers win more basketball games next. Year but,

yeah if they once you really start seeing like five

hundred slip away from, YOU i think you have to

throw the young guys in. There there's no point Playing

Bradley beal when you're you know that. Uncompetitive but, YEAH

i told someone on the, discord my thing, IS i

think there's like a fifty to fifty chance that he's,

decent just based on like he was decent In. Phoenix you,

know he was solid In phoenix's last. Year he definitely

the engagement levels weren't always that. High but he was

scoring the, ball you, know, efficiently and if he can

do that without being, engaged you would hope that if

he's engaged in a different context that he could be

even more effective than he was that last year In.

Phoenix that was the argument last year when The clippers

brought him. In then you take the hip fracture and

the entire year off from, basketball and you come back

at thirty three years, old and now you're like quite

a ways away removed from being effective in a meaningful.

Context i'm not saying that he's not going to be,

good BUT i think it's a fifty to fifty chance

that he's like solid or, not and then there's maybe

a twenty percent chance that he's like genuinely good enough

that some other team out there, thinks, Hey bradley bial

can help us in The, clippers can you trade him

at the. Deadline so, maybe similar to What rob was

saying About, Struse clippers taking a couple of short term

gambles on the front half of the season on some

veterans to see if they can flip for some trade.

Value we'll see if it works out at, all if

they get you, know If Bradley beal has a great

thirty games and then they trade him for a first

round pick at the, deadline then it's going to look

like a brilliant. MOVE i think the odds of that

happening are very.

Speaker 2: Low, Though, yeah you, know it's almost kind of running

off your riff With Norman, powell, like could The clippers

use a a kind of ball, hungry sort of proven

scorer to raise the floor of this team that really

just doesn't have many of those? Guys Darius garland who

did recently say that he's he's healthy and he feels,

well which is, great real summer type, stuff summer type,

talk but it's still better than him saying. Otherwise you,

know there's like one competent on ball offensive PLAYER i

feel like on this team And garland now That harden's,

gone now That quite is likely, gone And ingram you,

know If ingram comes, in will be the other. Guy

but you, know he's really let me cook in this.

Area Bradley beal is maybe you, know ideally a bit

more versatile and can get his touches in a variety of.

Ways you, know is having a guy like that when

you are not tied to your draft pick helpful When

Darius garland is still has some physicality issues and we're

not totally sure about his. Health you, KNOW i can

see the vision of how Why Bradley beal can be

helpful for this. Team i'm probably a Bigger Bradley beal

proponent than a lot of people, are you. KNOW i

think that there is a role for him on this,

team you, know and as far as him taking it

from younger, guys you, know particularly someone Like, WOGGLER i

still don't totally know What woggler is going to, be you,

know as a, Rookie so as long as he has

minutes to find that, Out i'll be. Happy you, know

specific what specific role he's going to be and how

he's going to find, it you, know is going to

sort of be up to how his play. Dictates and

hopefully The clippers are wise enough that if his play

dictates he needs a bigger, role that they'll just happily

give it to. HIM i assume that they will do,

that AND i Think beale is that better incompetence that

you hope can guide a team like this that has

a lot of guys that are just kind of finding

their space or has a handful of now these three

AND d types you, Know Derrek, Jones, Junior Chris, Dunn

max Shrus now who don't need ball in their hands

and ar connector types and do not want to, cook

do not want to be the focal point of a

pick and roll or you know Some chicago action things like,

That AND i Think beal can do. That whether you

know he does is another. Question you, know obviously he

has a motivation to come in and kind of you,

know play well for his next contract that he was

not able to do last year when he got hurt

to His this hip injury is no small. Thing all

these injuries are no small. Thing but you, KNOW i

was excited for the ways The clippers could Use Bradley

beal last. Year i'm a little bit less excited, now

BUT i understand like his ability to raise the floor

on a team that needs to be, competent and hopefully that.

Happens Like lucas, mentioned he wasn't bad In. Phoenix he

was just kind of in a weird spot where he

had to really adjust to being a role player coming

off of being a high usage guy for so many

years In. Washington AND i think there's just there's space

for him to be able to be that on ball

usage sort of guy that knows how to get buckets

on this team that just frankly doesn't have many bucket.

Getters you. KNOW i think The clippers had a couple

of roots here for their money and how to spend their.

MONEY i was really hoping that they would get a

high upside let's see for the next three four. Years.

Now could that still Be Ben Mathrin, Maybe but if they, don't.

Speaker 1: They just resigned Brad beal and Get Max.

Speaker 2: STRUS i, Agree SO i don't think that there's going

to be that high upside athletic type of player that

let's give the next three four years for see what he's.

Got give them the, Ball let's see What Peyton watson can,

do or if they Got Peyton watson and see if

he has upside to be on the next iteration of

a Maybe clippers. Contender, instead they Have Bradley, beale who

they are hoping can paper things down for a forty

to forty two win team. IDEALLY i, mean that's kind

of my ceiling on this team right now is like

a five hundred, team And Bradley beal would play a

role in getting them, there Assuming Darris garland still has

some injuries, here Assuming woggler doesn't just jettison into an automatic,

starter you, know Assuming yannick has some growing pains with

his with his foot and is an automatically just like immediate,

starter starting caliber player who hits all of our hopes this.

Season And Bradley beal is supposed to be that veteran

competence who brings you at least a degree of competency

that he can get you some. Wins we'll, see you,

know BUT i think that's the idea.

Speaker 1: Here you, know as you were talking About, Beal, chap

who was making me think, about we were just Comparing

Max strust To Norman. Powell and there's probably nobody in

the league who has more experience scoring thirty points in

regular season losses Than Bradley. Beal so you, know maybe

The clipper can get that type of at least sell

some tickets If Bradley beil wants to score thirty points

and some losses again this.

Speaker 2: Season, lucas who are your with this current roster before

we head on to THIS coi purgatory some more with

this current, roster who are your. Starters who would you

like to start out?

Speaker 1: There, yeah that's a great, QUESTION i. THINK i, mean

my real answer is THAT i would have to see

how different combinations and individuals performed in training. Camp, uh

and probably that you would see the starting lineup change

through the first twenty. Games IF i were making the,

CALL i do think it's gonna Be. GARLAND i think

THAT i probably would Start, STRUCE i would Start Derek Jones.

JUNIOR i would put An ingram at the, four And

LOPEZ i think is playing, center although If YONICK i

would REALLY i would be looking for any opportunity to

promote to the starter at, center you, know once healthy

one's playing, well but it might. Take it might not

be at the beginning of the, season, RIGHT i DON'T

i think that that's. Fair so, YEAH i think probably

the big call there is going With struce And jones

and Benching ruy making yourself a little. Smaller BUT i

just think if you Start ruey And, ingram the best

defender in your starting lineup Is Max, struce And Max

dreuce is a solid, Defenders he's not the best defender

in a lineup with like three guys in the lineup

who are actively. Bad, Right and so even Though rui

is not the, greater greatest offender defensively in that, GROUP

i think benching him to Bring jones in just gives

you a little more of a chance to be competitive

on that end of the. Floor so that's probably WHERE

i would be.

Speaker 2: Leading, yeah let's take a quick. Bring i'm gonna Ask

rob about this too and talk About kawhi after. This all,

right we're. Back it's it's kind of of almost uncomfortable

how Important yanick is to This clipper season and his

success in his ability about.

Speaker 1: It it's greatly uncomfortable he is to This clipper.

Speaker 4: Season, well depends what you what you are you talking

about The clippers being?

Speaker 3: GOOD i just, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: NO i but to be, CLEAR i would rather them

do it this way then go get Like Daniel gaffard

or something right LIKE i would much Prefer let's just

see and If.

Speaker 2: I'm, Glad i'm glad he has a path to really

find out this season because you, Know, rob, who, yes

who are who are your starters that you see with

this current? Roster and then maybe, yeah talked to me

About yanick a little.

Speaker 4: Bit, YEAH i MEAN i think the starters the locks Are,

Garland ingram And. Lopez those are the three guys who

are going to. Start after, that you have a pool

Of Kristn, Maxtus Derek, Jones Junior ruey Hot, CHAMA i

think are probably the four guys who were the real

other contenders to. Start you could, say you Know Jordan

miller Was when you look At Jordan miller's, stats he

was really good last. YEAR i think he makes more

sense coming off the, bench AND i, think, YEAH i

don't think he would, start but there are some cases

to be made, that like his downhill juice and stuff

could make some. SENSE i don't think he will start

out of those guys in a. VACUUM i think the

best of those players are Probably Derick jones And Max.

Struce SO i Think lucas's lineup is probably the most.

Talent ruey is not a good, rebounder BUT I ingram

at the four With garland at point guard.

Speaker 3: Just feels so bad on the glass and so. UNDERSIZED

i just don't. Know it's.

Speaker 4: TOUGH i think doing this, exercise The clippers are gonna

be bad next. Year LIKE i, know, oh people have

faith In tyleru and like they have real talent on the,

roster but Like Darius garland does really. Good as much

AS i can't stand Watching Brandon anger play, basketball he's

he's a good regular season kind of flores and type of.

Player they have other competent. Veterans THE nba in twenty twenty,

six twenty seven is, loaded AND i just it's hard for.

Me you said the ceiling.

Speaker 3: Is five.

Speaker 4: Hundred there is a world where they get to five.

Hundred to, me this looks like a just a dead,

on like low thirties win, Team like they're not gonna be.

AWFUL i think their offense is probably gonna be pretty.

Good but when you just go through this exercise like

they it's the same issue they've had, previously which is

a lot of their guys are one way players and

now you don't Have James harden Or Kawhi leonard to

really help raise the floor on this.

Speaker 3: Team, SO i, MEAN.

Speaker 4: I lucas's starting lineup IS i think probably what they

are going to. Do ruy was their big like free agent.

GUY i think mind probably would Be. GARLAND i THINK

i would Bring strus off the. BENCH i think mine

would Be, Garland, Ingram Derek Jones Junior ruy And Brook,

lopez and then the bench would be Like woggler Done

Struce kobe Or Jordan, miller and Then Isaiah jackson Then

yonick when. HEALTHY i think that's how it would, go AND.

Speaker 3: I Bring strews off the.

Speaker 4: Bench but, YEAH i mean there are arguments for all

all four of those guys to be the last two.

Starters but, YEAH i Just janick is important because one

of because the upside in. Two Brook lopez is just

not a starting CALIBER nba. Center he was barely a

rotation caliber center last. YEAR i think he was like

an okay ish backup once he got his feet under.

Him and he's a year, older and, like if he

gets any slower than he was last, year LIKE i

the bottom could truly truly fall.

Speaker 3: Out like he could just not be AN nba guy this.

Speaker 4: Year Isaiah jackson is like an okay, backup like really

good third string, center but like okay. Backup but, yeah

If yanick isn't, ready either in terms of health or

in terms of quality of, play THEN i mean this

team IS i might not even get to thirty one

because the center play would just be so.

Speaker 3: Bad so, YEAH i mean in terms of this.

Speaker 4: Team being, COMPETENT i think is really important in terms

of like long term. Upside he's even more important just

because if they do have like a starting center who

like fits a very traditional like rim, rolling you, know offensive,

rebounding you, know some room, protection all.

Speaker 3: That sort of.

Speaker 4: Stuff, Great but like even just for this, season if

like he is not healthy or not ready to be

like a real rotation, player this team is going to be,

really really really bad because they're just gonna be so

behind the eight ball in the front.

Speaker 2: Court, YEAH i, mean this is the year to find.

OUT i THINK i would maybe consider like a like

A Strus, Garland, Ingram lopez AND DJ djj lineup as

long as you can see That strus And ingram have

a little bit of that on ball capability to be

a release. Valve AND i think that they they do

have just enough That i'm not that worried about like

having like a dun out there to uh hug Around

garland when teams get physical with, him when they throw

out a longer defender and he gets, uncomfortable you, know

as long as those guys are able to handle some

of those on ball, reps AND i think that's probably the,

LINEUP i would lean towards but like you, mentioned like

like both of you, MENTIONED i think there are lots

of options. HERE i think training camp will help see

what combinations work a little bit. Better but you know

that's why we pie so we can kind of talk

about this. Stuff, oh speaking Of, mattha AND i did

really like The Jeff Van gundy quote that's been hovering

around where he talked about dumb. Players he, said he, said,

uh there should be an emphasis for playing more smart.

Players dumb gets you, beat dumb is.

Speaker 3: Forever wait when was there was there Was.

Speaker 2: Jeff Un guddy was talking about smart players getting more minutes.

Speaker 3: But was like an? Article was?

Speaker 2: It it was some video that had been kind of

hubbing around the. Internet and, UH i Mean Van gundy

has always said this, Anyways AND i just love that

quote From Van gundy because it's, true like processing is

important and uh and you, know we think about a

guy Like Ben, mathurin who has so many talent, flashes

but The clippers would love to play smart players out,

there AND i think now they have a handful of

pretty heavy role players THAT i probably would just rather

see out there Over. MATHREN i felt this way before

they got guys Like Max shruce Even Bradley beale to a.

Degree but, yeah, YEAH i MEAN i do not like

watching mathroom, play which we've.

Speaker 4: Discussed it would be a Very clippers if they let

him go and he became really, good and it would

look really really bad if that, Happens like if they

let him walk and he becomes like a very plus,

starter not even like a, star but if he like

figures things out and becomes like a very good starting

level player on like a good, team.

Speaker 1: What's the what's the time on? That BECAUSE i think

like J. R smith was like thirty before he was

like a good two way starter In, cleveland he was

a you, know it takes that. LONG i don't think

for a long, time, Right, like but, YEAH i think

if he goes and if it's like within three, years,

yes like on his next, contract yes he's he becomes

like a really good, player then.

Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah that was always the. Fear and, LIKE i

think you don't want to pay scared like you. DON'T

i don't if The clippers don't really Like mathern and

all the indications are they, Don't, like you don't want

to pay a guy just because you might get. Burned to,

me that's that's kind of not good. GMing that's playing really.

Scared but like at the same, time like this is

a team star for like true star talent and without

ways to easily get it because of their draft situation

the next few. Years so, like, YEAH i, mean if If,

mathern like next year or the year after even turns

into like a really really plus starting, player it's winning

like on like a real winning. Team that could look pretty,

bad but that's a long ways. Away but, yeah the

people who are still claimant for them to Resign, MATHRON i,

mean it's, possible but they'd have to make not just

like a couple of small roster, moves they'd have to

trade out like multiple guys who are currently on the

two or the three For mathroom coming back to make any.

Sense AND i kind of don't think that would. Happen

if they really wanted to keep he'd be on the roster.

Speaker 1: Already well, yeah and just to add, that a number

of those guys right can't even necessarily be, moved Like

Bradley beale who you just signed to a new, deal

or Like Max strus could be, moved but he can't be,

aggregated Yet Kobe sanderson And Jordan miller have a new,

Deal so like a lot of the guys in that

logjam aren't even movable by, design which a part of

why Maybe Chris dunn And Dare Jones junior are two

popular names and fake trades For clippers, fans just BECAUSE

i mean they're both over, thirty the team's pivoting, young

and they're a two into three where The clippers have

a lot of other twos and threes that they've given

money to this. Summer so, yeah but, yeah some guys

are gonna have to move for sure in the next six.

Speaker 2: Weeks, yeah this is a huge logjam, here and The

clippers are still waiting for resolution on This Kawhi leonard.

Thing there was a REAL i just we thought for a.

SECOND espn put out an article that felt like it

was absolving The clippers to some degree as far as

there as far as anything that could be, proven and

then the league refuted that and said that there was

a lot of information still to be a lot of.

Inaccuracies And i'm there Are clipper outlets that are talking

about this in great. Degree i'm so tired of, it

AND i barely talked about it BECAUSE i really don't

like talking about non basketball stuff on this. Podcast BUT i,

mean it's just not gone. Away it's been the same

thing for what feels like a year.

Speaker 1: Now AND.

Speaker 4: I mean that's the interesting part about this, story BECAUSE

i think Even clippers mans would admit that this story

was leaked by The. Clippers they didn't leak it right

LIKE espn published, it but like most of the information

to me seemed pretty clearly to be coming from like

The clippers, camp with a subdegree of like THE Nba Players.

Association AND i think THE nba releasing that thing about

refuting in, inaccuracies if there were really true inaccuracies in

this and this report was, false there would be counter

reporting or other things coming out about that there is.

Speaker 3: NOT i think THE.

Speaker 4: Nba was just really upset THAT espn released this and

that The clippers and Players association gave up a lot

of information in a pressure attempt to bring this to.

RESOLUTION i think that's the same thing that it's as you, Said,

chap that's been it's almost a. YEAR i think it

Was september fourth or sixth or something That pablo published

the first, podcast so it's almost exactly a, year AND

i think IT'S i think that the basics of the

reporting from Everything i've read and seen and heard, about

and that just that follows that what we what has

actually happened or not, happened is, true which is that

THE nba has not found any hard evidence of The

clippers doing, anything and that rightly or, wrongly they're afraid

to really push for, punishment even if they are convinced

By pablo's reporting and by all the circumstantial evidence that

The clippers did capsure convention or something else, illegal whatever

you want to, say that they are too scared Of,

Balmer balmer's, Resources balmer's, lawyers whatever the case may, be

to really push for. This BUT i think the other,

thing AND i tweeted, this is that in the initial

aftermath of the, thing was there's all this outrage from

people like you, know On zaclow's podcasts Or Bill simmons

or THE espn podcast or, whatever all these people being, like,

oh this is so, unusual this is unheard of, everybody

and THE nba is, furious et.

Speaker 3: Cetera to, me that's the part that is quieted.

Speaker 4: Down like the if OTHER nba owners and teams really

Thought bamber did this and really wanted to punish him,

again Like Adam silver works for the, owners if, all

if almost all of them are on board with the,

punishment this would again have been done by. NOW i

think what we're also seeing is that THE nba is

scared and the owners in particular are scared of setting

a precedent of very heavy punishments without a true red

haring smoke and gun sort of a.

Speaker 3: Thing SO i think it is a.

Speaker 4: Stalemate where THE nba is maybe fairly convinced that The

clippers did, this but for a variety of, reasons are

too chicken to go ahead with a, punishment and are

also too chicken to let them off the hook entirely

because again both they think they did, it and BECAUSE

i think letting them go without anything would result in

a lot of bad pr and pushback maybe from certain

owners or teams or wherever the case may. Be SO

i think this there is probably a negotiation where THE

nba is, like, look we think you did. This we

for pr and publicity, purposes you have to accept a.

Punishment let's agree on, Something and The, clippers maybe rightfully

if they didn't actually do anything or like we didn't do,

anything we don't want to accept a, punishment and notably

also take the pr hit of saying that we did

do this or did something illegal when we. Didn't AND

i think that's where the stalemate. Is and who knows

when it gets, Resolved but to, ME i think that's

what's pretty, clear between the actual report and just the

fact that this is ongoing with no actual. Resolution insight

is there. IS i think that's the, situation and then

the question is do The clippers bend and are, LIKE

i think the other thing that was notable.

Speaker 3: And Then i'll let you guys talk is.

Speaker 4: That in the, article it mentioned this thing about The

clippers getting punished for stuff that's not quote unquote technically

caps or. Convention it would be like bad oversight or

like illegal sponsorship introduction or something like. That and maybe

The clippers take that as long as they don't, officially you,

know accept caps or convention.

Speaker 3: And like it's a minor.

Speaker 4: Slap on the wrist and they say that it wasn't captural,

convention it was this other, thing and thus the reputation

is not sullied, forever et. CETERA i think that's where

this ends. Up but you, know right now it seems

to be a staring match with both sides not really

willing to back.

Speaker 1: Down gonna Be they're gonna get them on the improper

benefits For Uncle dennis. EXACTLY i think the hotel, room

hotel rooms and meals traveling with the. Team he's not

even gonna be the fall, guy because it's not illegal

for The clippers to pay for a hotel room and

meals for guests and. Players it's just WHEN i say,

ILLEGAL i, mean like the government, right it's AGAINST nba

rules potentially as an improper benefit for the. Player and

so what they were talking about in the at, Least

Baxter holmes was Saying kawhi potentially having to like pay

back some amount of money to like rectify the improper

benefit that he had received via his guests travel, accommodations

which by the, way is a completely different issue from

the thing that they're. Investigating so just kind of a

loose end that got turned up by the other, INVESTIGATION i.

Guess so WHATEVER i, MEAN i THINK i agree largely

With rob's. ASSESSMENT i also think it is just so

absurd to like get the BIG espn reveal and then

get THE nba being, like that's full of, inaccuracies but

we're not going to say what about it is inaccurate

or provide any evidence that it's an Accurate just trust,

us which is a really hard card to play when

they have handled this so badly for the last. Year

does that mean THAT i believe that everything in THE

espn report was? True, No As rob, said it clearly

came from The clipper's perspective and The clippers. LEAKING i

think another possibility, Here. Rob you know you mentioned THE

nba being really angry that this was. PUBLISHED i think

it's possible that THE nba like wanted someone else to

be the one to say it. First THE nba didn't

want to have to be the first one to say

there's no. Wrongdoing THE nba WANTED espn to say there's no,

wrongdoing and then THE nba can go, wait, wait, wait

we're not done, yet and then come back and, go, okay,

yeah there's NO i don't know, right but whatever is

happening whatever like sort of series of planned media stunts

are being orchestrated by which players in This like it's a, disaster,

man just finish the. Investigation come to your, findings announce

what it's going to, be deal with the, blowback and

let Those sports world do what it, does which is

move on from this controversy in a. Week but the

longer they drag, it the worse it. Gets just decide

if something happened or, not punish them or, don't and

then let the news cycle.

Speaker 2: Change, yeah it's so. Awkward could you imagine if if

the league said that there were significant wrongdoings AFTER espn

said that there, weren't and it just, LIKE i.

Speaker 3: Mean that seems impossible to.

Speaker 4: ME i mean that's like the inactors things, like if

there were clear evidence of, wrongdoing we would know about

it by and the punishment would have been levied. Already

like to, me that's the part that seems the most,

true is that they weren't able to find anything with hard,

evidence because, otherwise why is it taking so?

Speaker 2: Long, yeah, man just turn in your homework. Already it's

it's been going on, forever And i'm excited for it

to be. Done and, YEAH i generally agree With. ROB

i think that there is some active discussion about what

the actual probably minor penalty will be here to save

some face for what's been just an age, long so

long investigation and what it, is we'll see what's. Decided

it's fair and not kind of you, know slippery as

far as the language. GOES i, GET i get that

it is kind of an intricate, thing but, MAN i

just don't give a, Shit like it's just LIKE i

just want them to announce it so we can move past,

it BECAUSE i don't think it's going to be. MAJOR

i really haven't really thought it would be major for a,

while despite whatever reporting had been coming out From pablutory

and all, That but that it's going to be something

feels still still kind of clear that it's going to be.

Something BUT i don't think it's going to be, something,

oh you, know like anything along the lines of what

happened to The timberwolves and for The Joe smith. ISSUE

i think it's going to be something fairly. MINOR i

just wish it would be done. Already and This, KAWI

i think would be announced because he's still technically A

clipper AND i think that'll do. It Rob any closing

thoughts before we close the spot.

Speaker 3: UP i don't think.

Speaker 4: SO i, MEAN i do think there will be Other

clippers news before training, camp which is in you know

that starts like usually at the very end Of, september

so like just over a, month like five six. WEEKS

i don't know about The kauhi. Resolution it might happen before.

Then it could technically happen any. Day it might drag

into the. SEASON i hope to god it does. NOT

i really think they're going to try to push for

this to be a result before the. Season but we will.

See BUT i do think like The clippers will make

at least some other kind Of, AGAIN i Think Cam christie's,

gone AND i Think Ben mathroom will probably sign with

another team where there'll be a sign in.

Speaker 3: Trade but like again they.

Speaker 4: Will if The quiet trade does go, through they will

have to dump another. Contract and how that. Works is

it like just again like a very minor sort of a.

Thing do they like just literally cut AND i brum or,

Whatever like maybe that's all it. Is but you, know

there's gonna be More clippers news in the coming, weeks

and it's probably not gonna be a huge, deal but

like we will. See and, YEAH i just The qui

thing just ended. Already just whatever the punishment, is just

let's have it and be.

Speaker 2: Done, Yeah lucas closing, thoughts.

Speaker 1: Uh, NO i got no closing thoughts On. Kui i've

given everything THAT i THAT i have.

Speaker 2: To say everything why we've given you every, Time.

Speaker 1: I'm much, More i'm much more curious to. SEE i

do think that The clippers will make at least another

trade before training. CAMP i think feels kind of guaranteed

at this. Point in, fact there wouldn't be surprised me

if there were two or even three trades between now

and training, camp if you include the matherin potential sign and.

Trade so, YEAH i think that the in a way

THAT i actually as a from this side of, THINGS

i actually don't love the transaction season seems to have

just been kind of really instead of going at like

maximum speed for two weeks and then being, over it

seems like the transaction period in THE nba the summer

is kind of taking a relaxed stroll for three, months

which MEANS i have to pay attention for a lot

longer to what's going on On. Twitter but, yeah it's

just kind of. STILL i think more to come for The.

CLIPPERS i. DON'T i think it's hard to actually project

the starters Yet chap BECAUSE i don't think we know

which fifteen guys are going to be on the roster.

Speaker 2: On op any. Night that's. Fair, yeah so keep in

my eye on. That, yeah let's see what. HAPPENS i,

mean there's some you, Know Darry Jones junior And Chris,

dunn two of my favorite role players for This clipper,

team very unlikely to both be on this. Team possibly

both might be gone. SOON i, MEAN i would imagine

there's a good chance that both of those guys might

be gone by the trade, deadline if not, Sooner and

when one of them gets, Dealt i'll be. Bummed but this,

trade this team just has too many redundancies AND i

would enter and too many. PLAYERS i would imagine that

gets solved pretty. Soon that'll do. It when that, happens

we'll be back and we'll be talking about. It august

is almost, over which is the worse month of THE

nba off, season And september is not that much, better

but it's a little more interesting With Media day and

training camp and everything sort of starting and first day

of school type vibes With Media, day And i'm excited

to see what the roster is because there's some there's

some cool stuff for This clipper team this, season even

amidst all The stars being gone from the two and

three era and its remnants. Leave it's a nice five

star view whatever platform this is on Five stars By.

Stars it helps nice, words read them on the, air

and as, always Go. Quipper