2025 NBA Draft, Luka & Kyrie's Growing Chemistry, LaMelo & Miller's Rising Roles, and BI's Future with the Pels

[00:00:12] It's Thursday, you know what time it is. Front Runner Podcast Collective is back on the air. I am your humble host Vince and we have a really jam-packed show for you today. We're going to talk about a couple things before we get there. I'm going to run down some of the things that will be on the show. Our guy Sam Vicini of The Athletic has dropped a new 2025 NBA mock draft.

[00:00:39] We're going to go through a couple of the insights. We're going to pick and choose some of the players. So we got a couple guys at the top, in the middle, towards the end that you might want to keep your eye on. And then we're going to get into the continued evolution of the Luka-Kyrie duo in Dallas and how their chemistry and their roles and how they see one another.

[00:01:04] And then we're going to stop off in Charlotte and look at LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. And they're developing under the new tutelage of Charles Lee, the new head coach down there. So I'm excited about that.

[00:01:18] And then we're going to take a look at the Brandon Ingram saga that's going on in New Orleans.

[00:01:25] But before we get there, let's break down the socials.

[00:01:31] X at Front Runner PC.

[00:01:34] Then follow the producers at Rhea underscore punch.

[00:01:41] FRPC.

[00:01:43] For up-to-date information on what's going on with the pod.

[00:01:48] For our analysis.

[00:01:52] Also, we will be breaking out this week.

[00:01:56] Polls that will be taking you to the YouTube page because.

[00:02:01] We're breaking out the community.

[00:02:03] Front Runner podcast collective.

[00:02:06] Community page.

[00:02:07] For our hoop heads out there.

[00:02:09] So I can't wait for you guys to check that out.

[00:02:12] And we can't wait to get in the mix with you people.

[00:02:15] So it will be great.

[00:02:17] Podcast.

[00:02:18] Podcast.

[00:02:19] Twitter.

[00:02:20] YouTube channel.

[00:02:22] Front Runner podcast collective has you covered.

[00:02:24] All the way through.

[00:02:26] And you be a friend.

[00:02:27] And you tell a friend.

[00:02:28] And then you tell your friend to tell one of his.

[00:02:32] Friends that you don't like.

[00:02:35] To listen to the podcast.

[00:02:36] And then.

[00:02:37] You can be smarter than he is.

[00:02:41] Because you got some of the analytics.

[00:02:43] That we're going to talk about.

[00:02:44] He does not.

[00:02:46] And then you can look a lot smarter than he is.

[00:02:48] But we've gained a couple.

[00:02:50] More.

[00:02:52] Listeners to the podcast.

[00:02:54] But you look smarter.

[00:02:56] Because you've been listening longer.

[00:02:58] Like it.

[00:02:59] All right.

[00:03:00] With that being said.

[00:03:01] Let's get to the pod.

[00:03:02] I want to first and foremost.

[00:03:04] Take this time to.

[00:03:06] Give credit where credit is due.

[00:03:07] I want to.

[00:03:08] We just talked about Sam Vicini's.

[00:03:11] New draft.

[00:03:12] Mock draft.

[00:03:13] We are also going to touch on.

[00:03:16] Some of the.

[00:03:17] Jonathan Wasserman takes on this.

[00:03:19] We got some of the.

[00:03:21] No ceilings guys.

[00:03:22] Takes on this as well.

[00:03:24] Will Guillory has some insight.

[00:03:26] On the New Orleans Pelicans.

[00:03:27] And I want to go ahead.

[00:03:28] And give him a shout out.

[00:03:29] Read his stuff.

[00:03:31] In the athletic.

[00:03:32] If you want to stay up on Pelican stuff.

[00:03:35] I understand Twitter.

[00:03:36] Is a good way of doing it.

[00:03:38] But boots on the ground.

[00:03:40] Now.

[00:03:41] Guillory is getting it done.

[00:03:43] Definitely check him out.

[00:03:45] And then.

[00:03:45] Jared Weiss also.

[00:03:48] Who.

[00:03:49] Was also on the.

[00:03:50] Boots on the ground.

[00:03:51] In Charlotte.

[00:03:52] As far as that's concerned.

[00:03:53] Getting us.

[00:03:54] Information.

[00:03:55] And we piggyback off.

[00:03:57] Of some of his stuff.

[00:03:58] As well.

[00:03:59] But.

[00:04:01] Producers got all this together.

[00:04:03] So.

[00:04:03] Sereb.

[00:04:04] Bunch of Fudge.

[00:04:05] A lot of credit to them.

[00:04:06] So.

[00:04:07] Let's get into the pod.

[00:04:07] We're going to have a lot of these.

[00:04:09] We're going to have a lot of mock drafts.

[00:04:11] We.

[00:04:11] We're.

[00:04:13] We love them.

[00:04:14] It excites us.

[00:04:16] I don't know why.

[00:04:18] I can't.

[00:04:19] Tell you why.

[00:04:21] It excites us.

[00:04:22] Because we've not really seen these players play.

[00:04:26] So close to the draft.

[00:04:27] Right.

[00:04:28] This is the last year.

[00:04:29] Where they can put good film.

[00:04:31] On tape.

[00:04:32] For us.

[00:04:33] The evaluators.

[00:04:34] Or.

[00:04:35] What you want to call.

[00:04:36] The podcast.

[00:04:37] Draft nicks.

[00:04:38] And things of that nature.

[00:04:39] So this is an important year.

[00:04:41] For all of these guys.

[00:04:43] And.

[00:04:43] We just want to give you.

[00:04:45] As we go along.

[00:04:47] Where they are.

[00:04:48] And how.

[00:04:49] Some of the.

[00:04:50] True draft.

[00:04:51] Experts.

[00:04:52] Are seeing them.

[00:04:52] And then we'll give you some of our analysis.

[00:04:54] And what we look to expect on.

[00:04:56] Early in the season.

[00:04:58] With some of the guys that we picked out here.

[00:05:01] That Sam Vicente.

[00:05:02] Put on his draft board.

[00:05:04] That we're going to start off with.

[00:05:06] The number one.

[00:05:08] Overall consensus pick.

[00:05:10] Which is Cooper Flag.

[00:05:11] Now Cooper Flag.

[00:05:12] Is going to be spending his year.

[00:05:15] In Durham.

[00:05:17] North Carolina.

[00:05:18] Playing for the Duke.

[00:05:20] Blue Devils.

[00:05:22] Now.

[00:05:22] His physical dimensions.

[00:05:26] Might be interesting to people.

[00:05:28] It was interesting to me.

[00:05:31] Cooper Flag.

[00:05:32] Stands in.

[00:05:33] At six foot eight.

[00:05:34] With a seven foot wingspan.

[00:05:37] I always envisioned.

[00:05:39] Cooper Flag.

[00:05:40] At six foot ten.

[00:05:42] So when I saw.

[00:05:43] Six foot eight.

[00:05:43] That kind of went.

[00:05:45] But when he stood.

[00:05:47] Next to LeBron.

[00:05:48] He looked.

[00:05:48] Basically about the same size.

[00:05:50] And I know.

[00:05:51] They list.

[00:05:51] LeBron.

[00:05:52] At six eight.

[00:05:52] But I think he's closer to six nine.

[00:05:54] He may as well.

[00:05:55] He might be six eight.

[00:05:56] He might be closer to six nine.

[00:05:58] But they still list him at six eight.

[00:05:59] I don't know.

[00:06:00] But that did catch my eye.

[00:06:03] But.

[00:06:03] Here's the thing.

[00:06:05] Flag size.

[00:06:06] Pair with his elite instincts.

[00:06:08] Makes him a game changing prospect.

[00:06:10] On the defensive side of the ball.

[00:06:12] This is a quote from Sam Vicente.

[00:06:14] Flag is among the best defender prospects.

[00:06:17] I have ever evaluated.

[00:06:19] He imposes his will on upon onto the game.

[00:06:25] Now some of the stuff that came out of the Olympic workouts and what have you is that the kid was pro ready at that point.

[00:06:32] There were people who were.

[00:06:35] There were people who were.

[00:06:36] Who challenged him at the rim and got embarrassed.

[00:06:39] There were a couple of rundown blocks that he did on very athletic people.

[00:06:44] And also just overall tenacity and just knowing what to do on the court and not feeling like he was below.

[00:06:54] He felt very much at ease in his environment in the Olympic workouts.

[00:07:02] That bodes well for him at Duke.

[00:07:04] It's going to be a lot of pressure on him because the eyeballs and the TV sets will be upon him.

[00:07:11] He will need all the poise that he showed at the Olympic workouts to continue to progress as an actual basketball player.

[00:07:21] Because keep in mind, the development doesn't stop just because he had a fantastic workout with the Olympic tryouts and everything like that.

[00:07:30] And that was in Vegas right in summer.

[00:07:32] Thanks, Rhea.

[00:07:34] Here's another thing that Jonathan Wasserman said about him.

[00:07:39] He's a high IQ player.

[00:07:41] He can defend, pass, and score.

[00:07:44] But scouts are watching the shot creation closely this year.

[00:07:48] So okay, here's the thing that he needs to work on.

[00:07:50] And this is something that we can key on as somebody who really wants to see.

[00:07:56] Because here's the one thing I will say.

[00:07:58] This is from Jonathan Gavone.

[00:08:01] And I believe I might have said it on the last podcast.

[00:08:04] But Gavone has stated on record that this draft class, and he's been doing this for 20 years.

[00:08:11] He says this is the strongest draft class he's ever seen.

[00:08:17] So when I'm giving you these guys that are like a little bit further down the list, there's a reason for it.

[00:08:24] Because they're going to be able to play in this league.

[00:08:28] And they might be able to play in this league for a very long time.

[00:08:31] We might have more excitement in the later lottery this year than we've had in a long period of time.

[00:08:40] Let's get to know these guys some more.

[00:08:42] Now his role at Duke, Flagg is expected to be a two-way anchor, contributing immediately as a defensive juggernaut and growing as an offensive weapon.

[00:08:53] Now, we already know that Brooklyn is trying to capture the flag or lag for flag.

[00:09:02] I love them all.

[00:09:04] So keep them coming to Frontrunner PC on X.

[00:09:11] I love them all.

[00:09:14] We will use them here on the podcast, and we will give you credit.

[00:09:19] Continue with these.

[00:09:21] I want some really interesting ones.

[00:09:24] Can we use his first name?

[00:09:26] Is there a way we can dupe for a coop?

[00:09:32] I don't know.

[00:09:34] There has to be something with the first name as well.

[00:09:39] Listen, the internet is undefeated.

[00:09:42] So I expect high quality, high entertainment value in some of these puns for Cougar Flagg and tanking teams.

[00:09:57] We digress.

[00:09:58] Now, here's the thing that I want to talk about with Cougar Flagg.

[00:10:02] We talked about the spotlight being on him.

[00:10:05] We talked about what his role is.

[00:10:08] His defense is ahead of the offense.

[00:10:11] Doesn't mean that he doesn't have offensive skills.

[00:10:13] The offensive skills are there.

[00:10:16] They are behind.

[00:10:20] There's going to be work on the jump shot, which I've been told that there has been a ton of work on the jump shot.

[00:10:30] But his ability to be.

[00:10:34] I hate to use this man's name, but people are really.

[00:10:38] And I think Bill Simmons will love this because this will be a cross interracial comparison.

[00:10:46] But Cougar Flagg reminds me of what Ben Simmons should have been.

[00:10:51] Shot creation for folks.

[00:10:53] Tremendous defender.

[00:10:56] Tremendous offensive rebounder.

[00:10:58] He has excellent timing on the blast.

[00:11:03] It is crazy how good his timing is.

[00:11:06] When he leaps.

[00:11:08] When he goes.

[00:11:09] Which direction he chooses to take.

[00:11:12] It's all planned out.

[00:11:14] Now, I don't know if it's.

[00:11:17] Planned out in.

[00:11:19] Consciousness with him, but his innate ability to be able to find crevices, get into just fly out of nowhere and grab rebounds.

[00:11:29] When you see it at Duke.

[00:11:32] You'll understand because he did it at the Olympic workouts.

[00:11:36] Think of who's there, right?

[00:11:38] This is Jason Tatum.

[00:11:41] LeBron.

[00:11:42] LeBron.

[00:11:43] Durant.

[00:11:45] Embiid is out there.

[00:11:48] Bam out of bio.

[00:11:50] Who's one of the toughest dudes we've ever seen.

[00:11:53] So these are the dudes that he's banging around with.

[00:11:58] And he's flying out of nowhere just picking rebounds off the fingertips of just awaiting NBA All-Stars.

[00:12:08] Just awaiting him to get this.

[00:12:09] Nope.

[00:12:09] No, you're not.

[00:12:10] It's gone.

[00:12:11] Cooper Flag got it.

[00:12:13] They going back the other way.

[00:12:16] You're going to see that.

[00:12:17] The other things is that his defense is going to change that team a little bit because of the fact that they've been more of an offensive team the last couple years.

[00:12:28] So he will imprint himself onto that team, especially on the defensive side.

[00:12:35] Now, he's one of the few players in recent drafts who could step up to the NBA and make an impact from the defensive side day one.

[00:12:46] If you think about that, you put him in the same breath as like an Evan Mobley or a Jaron Jackson Jr.

[00:12:58] With that type of defensive impact immediately coming into the league.

[00:13:04] Now, that's a whole other guy.

[00:13:08] We don't even talk about him because we can't even categorize what he's doing.

[00:13:13] We can't.

[00:13:14] That's a whole different.

[00:13:15] I know people say, oh, you didn't talk about Winby.

[00:13:17] Why didn't you talk about Winby?

[00:13:20] Fool.

[00:13:21] Winby different.

[00:13:23] Winby is different.

[00:13:26] He does stuff like on accident that is great.

[00:13:31] And he said in five.

[00:13:32] So we're comparing them to mortals instead of.

[00:13:38] Gods over here.

[00:13:42] All right.

[00:13:42] A couple guys from the next group.

[00:13:44] I know we've talked about him a lot, but another thing that I was actually surprised by.

[00:13:49] Vijay Edgecombe.

[00:13:51] Right now, he's considered like the fourth overall pick consensus in the draft.

[00:13:57] Now, Vijay Edgecombe is a dynamic athlete.

[00:14:00] He's absolutely incredible.

[00:14:03] I was surprised to find out he was 6'3".

[00:14:08] Now, with a 6'8 wingspan, but he was 6'3".

[00:14:11] For some reason, I thought he was 6'5".

[00:14:15] Now, he's 6'3".

[00:14:18] No shade.

[00:14:19] But we do know that it's a little bit harder.

[00:14:24] And the game is basically more curtailed to the guys who are like 6'7".

[00:14:31] 6'6".

[00:14:32] 6'6".

[00:14:32] Those guys are the ones that have the most.

[00:14:36] Listen, we know the centers are getting down.

[00:14:39] We understand that the big men are dominant.

[00:14:42] But if you really want to win, those wings are super important.

[00:14:47] That's why they're so valuable to get.

[00:14:49] So, Vijay Edgecombe comes in at 6'3".

[00:14:53] 6'8".

[00:14:57] Now, again.

[00:15:05] Here's a guy who's 18 years old.

[00:15:08] We're asking him to shoot like at this marksman-like level.

[00:15:14] Okay.

[00:15:15] Now, Steph Curry had three years at Davidson.

[00:15:19] And then he had a couple years where the angles were bothering him.

[00:15:22] And then it was, what, 24, 25.

[00:15:25] It was Steph Curry, right?

[00:15:27] It was the guy that we know now.

[00:15:30] Yeah, it'll be key that he goes out and does at least perform admirably in these situations

[00:15:37] where he's able to shoot the ball off the dribble.

[00:15:39] He can spot up shoot.

[00:15:41] These are going to be important attributes for him to show when he hits the scene this year.

[00:15:48] Okay.

[00:15:49] So, those are the things that I'm looking for when I'm looking at Vijay Edgecombe.

[00:15:53] Another thing to look for is also the defense, right?

[00:15:58] 6'3", 6'8".

[00:16:00] Wingspan.

[00:16:01] He should be able to cause some chaos on that defensive end.

[00:16:05] He should be able to get a bunch of deflections.

[00:16:08] He should be able to get steals.

[00:16:10] And he should be able to rebound for his size.

[00:16:14] If he's not doing these things,

[00:16:16] we'll see how special Vijay Edgecombe is.

[00:16:20] Now, I don't doubt the athleticism.

[00:16:22] I think it will play at the collegiate level.

[00:16:25] He is a specimen physically.

[00:16:28] So, I think all these things will play out

[00:16:31] and we will get to see the best version of Vijay Edgecombe.

[00:16:35] But those are the things that I will look for early.

[00:16:40] Now, we are going to...

[00:16:44] Oh, no.

[00:16:45] Yeah, we're going to move on to one of my favorite guys in this draft.

[00:16:49] Nolan Traore.

[00:16:50] We've talked about him a lot.

[00:16:52] He's coming in at number 5 in San Vicente's mock.

[00:16:58] He's 6'3".

[00:16:59] I think I listed him at 6'4".

[00:17:02] The last podcast.

[00:17:04] Now, listed at 6'3".

[00:17:05] Still doesn't bother me.

[00:17:07] I'm telling you.

[00:17:09] Traore's ability to score from anywhere makes him a valuable asset.

[00:17:13] But scouts want to see how he manages his shot selection and playmaking.

[00:17:18] Now, his role where he's going to be playing.

[00:17:21] He's playing on a Spanish league team in the EuroLeague.

[00:17:25] Like, Traore could become the lead scorer for his team.

[00:17:30] Taking on a similar role a la Jamal Murray.

[00:17:34] Because he's a pick and roll master.

[00:17:37] And a little tidbit.

[00:17:38] And I think I mentioned this on a pod previous.

[00:17:41] Nolan Traore at 17 years old.

[00:17:43] He was already professional.

[00:17:45] He was playing for, I believe, the same team.

[00:17:49] And I don't know if it was a practice or an actual scrimmage.

[00:17:53] I think it was a scrimmage.

[00:17:55] But it was one of those scrimmages where you could stop and be like, okay, let's do this play all over again.

[00:18:00] He, at 17 years old, felt emboldened enough to talk to a 26, 27-year-old man.

[00:18:08] And told him how to properly set the screen.

[00:18:11] So he could get around his man.

[00:18:14] And put the who's going to roll with him in a more compromising position.

[00:18:23] Things got heated.

[00:18:25] Things got real heated.

[00:18:27] There were bars thrown back and forth.

[00:18:29] And these guys had to be retained.

[00:18:32] Traore is a floor general.

[00:18:36] Like, chef kiss floor general.

[00:18:39] So, I like the kids.

[00:18:41] Moxie, personally.

[00:18:42] I like that he was like, hey, man.

[00:18:45] I need your help to get to the league.

[00:18:48] And if you don't set this pick right, I'm not going to get to the league, dog.

[00:18:54] So, you're going to need to be a good buddy, a good hand right now.

[00:18:59] And set this pick the way I need you to.

[00:19:02] I thought it was great.

[00:19:04] Nolan Traore is one of those guys.

[00:19:06] Now, another guy that we need to talk about is Asa Newell.

[00:19:10] Now, Asa will be playing his basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs.

[00:19:15] Go, Dawgs.

[00:19:17] He is a 6'9", 7'1", wingspan guy.

[00:19:22] Jonathan Wasserman has him like this.

[00:19:25] Newell's shot blocking ability paired with his potential to stretch the floor

[00:19:29] makes him an intriguing two-way big.

[00:19:34] Now, his role with the Georgia Bulldogs, as we see it so far,

[00:19:39] is that he's obviously going to anchor the defense, obviously.

[00:19:42] 6'9", 7'1", wingspan.

[00:19:44] And pretty good athlete, you would hope that would be the case.

[00:19:48] He's developing his offense.

[00:19:50] He projects as a modern big who can protect the rim and space the floor

[00:19:55] with comparison to Jaron Jackson Jr.

[00:19:58] Now, I've seen some of the tape.

[00:20:01] There is the potential for the shot.

[00:20:04] The shot does look good.

[00:20:05] The one thing that I see with him,

[00:20:07] I don't see physical picks set with him.

[00:20:12] Now, you can say, oh, he's young and this develops over time.

[00:20:20] I understand that sometimes physicality doesn't come natural to people

[00:20:24] and it comes more naturally to others.

[00:20:26] I definitely get that.

[00:20:28] But here's the one thing.

[00:20:31] When you're the athlete that he is,

[00:20:34] you need to set that strong pick.

[00:20:36] One, to give your guard a little breathing room.

[00:20:40] Two, allow them to feel your physical presence.

[00:20:45] And three, once they have felt your physical presence,

[00:20:49] when you go to the rim as hard as you possibly can,

[00:20:54] they're going to think twice trying to defend the shot that's about to happen.

[00:21:02] So, little tip from Uncle Vince to Asa.

[00:21:07] But the talent is there.

[00:21:10] The shot is there.

[00:21:12] He moves his feet very well for a big.

[00:21:16] Sometimes I think he does get lost,

[00:21:18] but that's just youth, right?

[00:21:21] This exuberance.

[00:21:22] I'm just super athletic.

[00:21:24] I can be here and there at the same time.

[00:21:27] You see a little bit of that.

[00:21:31] But there's no doubt that the athleticism will play at Georgia.

[00:21:36] There's no doubt that...

[00:21:38] I want to see the shot when it's really contested

[00:21:41] to see if it's as real as it showed so far

[00:21:46] in the under-18 international play and stuff like that.

[00:21:50] I want to see.

[00:21:52] But the stroke does look good,

[00:21:54] and I just want to see a little more physicality on the pick and roll.

[00:21:59] So, now, let's get to a couple guys who are like the underrated guys.

[00:22:04] Now, the underrated guys,

[00:22:06] we've talked about one of these guys,

[00:22:09] Dink Pate.

[00:22:09] Now, Dink Pate is coming in as the 15th overall prospect.

[00:22:14] He's 6'6".

[00:22:17] Pate's playmaking ability is rare for a player his size,

[00:22:23] but his shooting consistently will be the key to unlocking his full potential.

[00:22:28] Pate is a long-term project.

[00:22:30] His size and his ability to create give him the upside,

[00:22:34] and everybody is just asking for the shot to be developed.

[00:22:40] So, right now, we got a real tall playmaking guard.

[00:22:46] 6'6".

[00:22:48] Pretty good athlete.

[00:22:49] I wouldn't say great athlete.

[00:22:51] I say pretty good athlete.

[00:22:52] But at 6'6".

[00:22:53] And very good ball handler.

[00:22:57] He can get to squats on the floor just because of his physicality.

[00:23:02] Now, the shot.

[00:23:05] It's a work in progress.

[00:23:08] He reminds me of a Ricky Rubio type.

[00:23:11] I wouldn't say as fancy of a passer or as ingenious of a floor general as Ricky Rubio,

[00:23:18] but a guy who is, you would say,

[00:23:21] oh yeah, that guy could run my offense.

[00:23:23] He could run my offense,

[00:23:25] and I would feel comfortable with him running my offense.

[00:23:28] He respects the basketball.

[00:23:30] He doesn't turn it over.

[00:23:31] He had a 3-to-1 assist ratio last year.

[00:23:36] Now, the next guy we're going to talk to is a little bit different

[00:23:39] because his passing and what have you is a completely different situation.

[00:23:44] But Pate has that ability to really entice you

[00:23:49] because if the shot comes along with his overall playmaking ability,

[00:23:55] you really have something.

[00:23:56] Because on the defensive side, he knows how to use his size.

[00:24:00] He knows how to use his wingspan,

[00:24:03] which we don't have an accurate wingspan at this point,

[00:24:06] but we are efforting to get.

[00:24:08] He uses angles very well in shutting off

[00:24:13] when he is on the weak side of the operation.

[00:24:19] So if he can play the middle of the floor,

[00:24:21] he can be like towards the paint

[00:24:23] and also be able to get out to the three-point shooter standing in the corner.

[00:24:27] So he understands his spatial awareness

[00:24:30] and where he needs to be on the defensive side.

[00:24:33] And his instincts seem to be, I would say, decent.

[00:24:37] Or he's well-coached, one of the two.

[00:24:39] But he seems to be well-schooled on where he needs to place himself.

[00:24:44] Now, the next guy that we're going to talk about is Hugo Gonzalez.

[00:24:48] Now, Hugo Gonzalez, we do have wingspan on him.

[00:24:51] He is 6'6".

[00:24:53] He's got a 6'11 wingspan.

[00:24:55] This is what Sam Vincennes said about him.

[00:24:58] So Sam Vincennes says this about Gonzalez.

[00:25:02] He has the defensive tools to succeed immediately in the NBA,

[00:25:07] but his swing skill will be his three-point shooting.

[00:25:10] He could fill a key 3 and D role for any team in the NBA

[00:25:16] if he can shoot the ball and provide the floor spacing necessary

[00:25:22] if the shot is legit.

[00:25:24] Now, here's another guy who's young, who's overseas,

[00:25:29] and I will tell you that he will fall into this role this year.

[00:25:36] If you remember what Zachary Roussache looked like in his Euro time,

[00:25:43] if you look at what...

[00:25:46] Who am I also thinking of?

[00:25:49] There's another one.

[00:25:51] Bilal Koulibaly, what his role was.

[00:25:53] They have very distinct roles, right?

[00:25:57] There wasn't a lot of, okay, we're going to let you do this,

[00:25:59] you can dance around, or whatever.

[00:26:01] However, Hugo Gonzalez is going to be able to switch on defense.

[00:26:09] He's going to be able to be a point-of-attack defender,

[00:26:13] and they're going to stick him in the corner,

[00:26:17] and they're going to say, hey, listen,

[00:26:20] if you get a hard drive out to you

[00:26:25] to counteract the three-point shot,

[00:26:27] pump fake, two dribbles,

[00:26:29] move the ball along,

[00:26:32] because he does pass very well,

[00:26:33] and he makes quick decisions.

[00:26:35] They're not fancy, super crazy fancy passes,

[00:26:39] but they are effective,

[00:26:41] and they get to where they need to go

[00:26:43] without other people touching them.

[00:26:46] That is something that we can look forward to

[00:26:49] in the early days of what Hugo Gonzalez looks like.

[00:26:53] And remember, he's like a 16th overall draft pick,

[00:26:56] so this is like right outside the lottery.

[00:26:59] So this is when we start taking swings

[00:27:01] on guys who have a lot of upside

[00:27:05] and hoping that maybe we got a real diamond in the rough

[00:27:09] on 16th.

[00:27:12] The next guy that I want to talk about

[00:27:15] is a big, or a big,

[00:27:17] Noah Asingwe.

[00:27:19] Now, he's also going to be playing abroad this year.

[00:27:22] He's 6'9".

[00:27:23] He has a 6'11 wingspan,

[00:27:25] so not that much of a difference.

[00:27:28] Asingwe's defensive versatility

[00:27:30] makes him a compelling option in the late first round,

[00:27:33] but he needs to develop more on the offensive end.

[00:27:37] He is a developmental project at this point in time.

[00:27:40] Asingwe has the physical tools

[00:27:42] to become a switchable defender.

[00:27:44] His offensive game is still raw,

[00:27:46] but with the team's track record

[00:27:50] that he will be playing with,

[00:27:51] I think they will put him in favorable positions.

[00:27:55] He has good hands.

[00:27:57] He catches the ball very well.

[00:27:59] He is able to contort his body in such a way

[00:28:03] to get layups off and things of that nature.

[00:28:07] He is an absolute demon on the defensive side of the ball,

[00:28:11] and this is where he can make his bones

[00:28:13] at this present time.

[00:28:15] But yes, the offensive game is super limited.

[00:28:19] So this is why he's a late-round first-rounder.

[00:28:22] Okay?

[00:28:24] So this is a little taste

[00:28:26] of what the 2025 NBA draft prospects are looking like,

[00:28:32] and we'll continue to give you updates on these guys

[00:28:37] as they come along.

[00:28:38] And once in a while, we'll have a feature on them,

[00:28:41] and we'll let you know when it does come up.

[00:28:43] Keep it locked here

[00:28:45] with Frontrunner Podcast Collective.

[00:28:48] Now, we move on to Dallas,

[00:28:52] and I want to spend some time

[00:28:56] talking about the Kyrie Irving,

[00:29:01] Luka Doncic's cohesion project that's going on.

[00:29:07] This is what Kyrie had to say about Luka.

[00:29:10] Luka's game is unlike any I've ever seen,

[00:29:13] and what he brings to the team

[00:29:16] and his ability to create every...

[00:29:19] His ability to create on every play

[00:29:22] for the entire game.

[00:29:25] So he's obviously saying, like,

[00:29:27] he's just masterful at getting people into good shots.

[00:29:31] Making the right play most of the time.

[00:29:34] And his ability to handle that bandwidth

[00:29:37] the whole game

[00:29:38] is truly impressive to Kyrie.

[00:29:41] So these are words of Kyrie.

[00:29:44] It's weird with Kyrie

[00:29:45] because he has so much respect around the league.

[00:29:48] Now, I understand that everybody's quick

[00:29:52] to come off, like,

[00:29:53] all the off-the-court issues

[00:29:54] and what have you.

[00:29:56] I know you guys are saying,

[00:29:57] that's old stuff.

[00:29:58] Why are you bringing it up?

[00:29:59] Blah, blah, blah.

[00:30:00] I'm not bringing it up.

[00:30:01] What I'm saying is that

[00:30:04] Kyrie is very talented.

[00:30:06] He has had a checkered past.

[00:30:08] We can all agree on that.

[00:30:09] It's not something that is

[00:30:12] under some sort of redacted file.

[00:30:16] But at the end of the day,

[00:30:18] to see just clarity

[00:30:21] and see just peace with him right now

[00:30:26] and be able to enjoy just the athlete,

[00:30:30] just the NBA player,

[00:30:31] just how he gets down on the court.

[00:30:34] He's one of the most beautiful players to watch

[00:30:38] as far as he looks balletic when he moves,

[00:30:40] when he's trying to get to the basket.

[00:30:42] Some of the contortionist situations

[00:30:45] that he puts his body in

[00:30:47] to be able to get the English up on the glass

[00:30:51] to get the ball in the hole.

[00:30:52] It's incredible.

[00:30:54] It's,

[00:30:55] he's someone,

[00:30:56] it's,

[00:30:56] he's one of the best to ever do it.

[00:31:00] He's one of the best to ever do it.

[00:31:04] Now,

[00:31:05] the other thing that Kyrie gives Luka

[00:31:08] is he gives somebody that Luka can respect.

[00:31:12] You know that,

[00:31:13] because there's certain things that Kyrie can do

[00:31:15] that Luka can't.

[00:31:16] Kyrie is,

[00:31:17] you know,

[00:31:18] Kyrie is a small,

[00:31:19] shifty guy.

[00:31:20] Luka is big,

[00:31:21] longering guy,

[00:31:22] but they all got their different talents.

[00:31:25] But they've been able to go,

[00:31:27] okay,

[00:31:27] I see you

[00:31:28] over there.

[00:31:30] Okay,

[00:31:31] you see me over here.

[00:31:32] You know what,

[00:31:33] you know what time it is over here.

[00:31:36] Let's go ahead and try to get this done together.

[00:31:38] And it seemed to work.

[00:31:40] At first,

[00:31:41] I didn't know,

[00:31:41] I didn't know if there was going to be enough basketball

[00:31:44] for these two.

[00:31:46] But,

[00:31:46] Jason Kidd gets a lot of credit

[00:31:49] for what he has done.

[00:31:51] I think,

[00:31:51] Nico Harrison behind the scenes

[00:31:55] gets a lot of credit

[00:31:56] because I think there was a clear

[00:32:01] message and vision

[00:32:03] to Kyrie

[00:32:05] about what this team

[00:32:07] and like,

[00:32:08] what the packing order was.

[00:32:10] And I think there was a clear

[00:32:12] direction to Luka

[00:32:13] to say,

[00:32:13] hey,

[00:32:15] we got you a start.

[00:32:16] You got to implement him.

[00:32:17] And if you don't,

[00:32:18] this is on you.

[00:32:21] So,

[00:32:22] they definitely found a way

[00:32:23] to work together.

[00:32:24] And we got some stats

[00:32:26] to prove it.

[00:32:27] Them as a duo.

[00:32:30] Offensive rating,

[00:32:31] 120.4,

[00:32:33] placing them

[00:32:34] among the elite.

[00:32:35] This is like the

[00:32:36] Devin Booker,

[00:32:37] Kevin Durant's.

[00:32:38] This is that group.

[00:32:39] Okay.

[00:32:41] Jason Tatum,

[00:32:43] Jalen Brown,

[00:32:43] that group.

[00:32:45] Three-point shooting.

[00:32:47] Kyrie shot 41%

[00:32:48] last year.

[00:32:49] Luka shot 37%.

[00:32:51] Their pick and roll efficiency

[00:32:53] was top 10%

[00:32:54] of the league.

[00:32:56] So,

[00:32:57] offensively,

[00:32:58] they have found a way

[00:33:00] for both of them

[00:33:01] to be able to pick their spots

[00:33:03] and be able to be effective

[00:33:04] on the court

[00:33:05] and be able to

[00:33:07] also

[00:33:08] parlay that into success

[00:33:10] for the team

[00:33:11] because they made

[00:33:12] the NBA Finals

[00:33:13] last year.

[00:33:15] Now,

[00:33:15] albeit with some

[00:33:16] mid-season trades

[00:33:17] that really worked out.

[00:33:19] But those are the two

[00:33:21] core guys

[00:33:22] and those are the,

[00:33:23] that's the engine

[00:33:24] that runs the team

[00:33:25] and that is what's

[00:33:27] going to help them

[00:33:27] get to the finals again.

[00:33:30] So,

[00:33:31] it's good to see them

[00:33:32] being able to

[00:33:34] see Luka's

[00:33:35] playmaking ability

[00:33:36] compliments Kyrie's

[00:33:37] off the dribble

[00:33:39] shooting

[00:33:39] and his ability

[00:33:41] to spot up

[00:33:42] and shoot

[00:33:43] his ability

[00:33:44] to get the ball

[00:33:45] in a secondary

[00:33:49] like a second side

[00:33:50] roll

[00:33:52] and then be able

[00:33:53] to attack

[00:33:54] off the dribble

[00:33:55] because he's facing

[00:33:56] the,

[00:33:57] the second best

[00:33:59] defender.

[00:34:01] Okay?

[00:34:02] Luka is always

[00:34:03] going to be assigned

[00:34:04] the killer defender

[00:34:05] Kyrie getting

[00:34:07] the second best.

[00:34:08] Shoot.

[00:34:09] That's like a,

[00:34:10] a holiday

[00:34:10] for Kyrie.

[00:34:12] I'm gonna get

[00:34:12] second best.

[00:34:13] Cool.

[00:34:15] Then I'm definitely

[00:34:16] getting to the line.

[00:34:16] But their,

[00:34:17] their chemistry

[00:34:19] and their

[00:34:19] continued chemistry

[00:34:21] is going to have

[00:34:22] to be

[00:34:23] on display

[00:34:24] this year.

[00:34:27] It leads

[00:34:27] to their success

[00:34:28] and it's the key

[00:34:30] factor

[00:34:30] where the

[00:34:31] Madgers end up

[00:34:31] this year.

[00:34:33] Those two dudes.

[00:34:35] How many points

[00:34:36] can they put up?

[00:34:37] Is Klay Thompson

[00:34:39] now standing

[00:34:40] out there?

[00:34:41] Is he more

[00:34:42] of a deterrent

[00:34:42] and somebody's

[00:34:45] not able

[00:34:45] to leave him

[00:34:46] that gives

[00:34:47] Luka

[00:34:48] and Kyrie

[00:34:49] more space

[00:34:50] to operate?

[00:34:51] These things

[00:34:52] are going

[00:34:53] to be

[00:34:53] very important

[00:34:55] as we go

[00:34:55] along

[00:34:56] into

[00:34:57] the preseason

[00:34:59] and into

[00:35:00] the early part

[00:35:01] of season.

[00:35:02] this is

[00:35:02] exactly

[00:35:03] what I'm

[00:35:03] looking for.

[00:35:04] And I want

[00:35:04] you guys

[00:35:04] to tell me

[00:35:05] your thoughts

[00:35:05] on it.

[00:35:06] I want

[00:35:06] you to

[00:35:06] tell me

[00:35:07] when you

[00:35:08] first,

[00:35:09] when the trade

[00:35:10] came about,

[00:35:10] did you think

[00:35:11] that this was

[00:35:12] going to work?

[00:35:14] Did you have

[00:35:15] your doubts?

[00:35:17] Now that

[00:35:17] you've seen

[00:35:18] it and

[00:35:19] you've seen

[00:35:19] just the

[00:35:21] beauty of

[00:35:21] the basketball

[00:35:22] that was played

[00:35:22] in the playoffs

[00:35:23] between those

[00:35:24] two.

[00:35:25] Now I know

[00:35:25] that Kyrie

[00:35:26] has some

[00:35:26] off and on

[00:35:27] games and

[00:35:28] he's gonna

[00:35:28] have to clean

[00:35:29] that up.

[00:35:30] Hopefully

[00:35:31] having somebody

[00:35:32] like Clay

[00:35:32] on the other

[00:35:33] side where

[00:35:34] you can't

[00:35:35] just load

[00:35:35] up on

[00:35:36] Kyrie

[00:35:37] will help.

[00:35:38] And also

[00:35:39] keep in mind

[00:35:39] what Kyrie

[00:35:40] is 31,

[00:35:41] 32 and

[00:35:45] he's a

[00:35:45] smaller guard

[00:35:46] and he has

[00:35:47] had some

[00:35:48] lower body

[00:35:49] injuries so

[00:35:49] we also have

[00:35:50] to keep a

[00:35:50] lookout for

[00:35:51] that as

[00:35:51] well.

[00:35:52] But yeah,

[00:35:53] I would love

[00:35:54] to hear your

[00:35:54] thoughts so

[00:35:54] hit me up

[00:35:55] on x

[00:35:55] at

[00:35:56] frontrunner

[00:35:56] PC.

[00:35:57] Also hit up

[00:35:58] the producers

[00:35:59] at

[00:36:00] reya

[00:36:00] underscore

[00:36:01] punch

[00:36:01] FRPC.

[00:36:03] Now our

[00:36:04] next thing

[00:36:05] that we

[00:36:05] want to

[00:36:05] get to

[00:36:06] is this.

[00:36:06] I have

[00:36:07] been

[00:36:07] slowly

[00:36:09] and quietly

[00:36:11] been more

[00:36:12] and more

[00:36:13] intrigued by

[00:36:13] this next

[00:36:14] team and

[00:36:15] it's the

[00:36:15] Charlotte

[00:36:15] Hornets.

[00:36:16] And shout

[00:36:16] out to

[00:36:17] our guy

[00:36:17] Tony Milton

[00:36:19] in Charlotte.

[00:36:19] I hope

[00:36:20] everything is

[00:36:20] well.

[00:36:21] I know

[00:36:21] a lot of

[00:36:22] devastation

[00:36:23] down there

[00:36:23] with Helene.

[00:36:24] I hope

[00:36:25] your family

[00:36:25] is fine

[00:36:26] and I

[00:36:27] hope

[00:36:27] the residents

[00:36:28] of North

[00:36:29] Carolina,

[00:36:30] Florida

[00:36:30] and all

[00:36:32] of

[00:36:32] those areas

[00:36:34] that have

[00:36:34] been ravaged

[00:36:35] by these

[00:36:36] hurricanes

[00:36:36] and also

[00:36:37] Milton

[00:36:37] that's

[00:36:38] touching

[00:36:38] down.

[00:36:39] Be safe.

[00:36:41] Keep yourself

[00:36:42] safe right

[00:36:42] now.

[00:36:43] Get yourself

[00:36:44] to the

[00:36:45] shelters if

[00:36:46] they're available

[00:36:47] or if you

[00:36:47] have somewhere

[00:36:48] to stay

[00:36:49] or whatever.

[00:36:50] I hope you

[00:36:51] guys are

[00:36:51] safe.

[00:36:52] That's all.

[00:36:53] All right.

[00:36:54] Now,

[00:36:56] the reason why

[00:36:57] I'm so excited

[00:36:58] to talk about

[00:36:58] Charlotte is

[00:36:59] because I

[00:37:02] looked at

[00:37:02] this team

[00:37:03] after the

[00:37:04] draft and

[00:37:06] after the

[00:37:06] free agency

[00:37:07] and I was

[00:37:07] like,

[00:37:08] Brandon Miller

[00:37:08] really played

[00:37:09] well.

[00:37:09] You saw him

[00:37:11] come on as

[00:37:12] the season

[00:37:13] went along

[00:37:14] and he seemed

[00:37:14] comfortable in

[00:37:15] his skin and

[00:37:16] he was able

[00:37:17] to get into

[00:37:18] his shots

[00:37:20] pretty easily

[00:37:22] because he's

[00:37:23] such a

[00:37:24] physical

[00:37:25] specimen

[00:37:25] at 6'9".

[00:37:28] And then

[00:37:29] you bring

[00:37:29] back

[00:37:30] LaMelo

[00:37:30] Ball.

[00:37:31] Now,

[00:37:31] yeah,

[00:37:32] there's an

[00:37:33] injury history

[00:37:33] there when

[00:37:35] it comes to

[00:37:35] the ankles

[00:37:36] especially.

[00:37:38] You hope

[00:37:39] that with

[00:37:40] maturity,

[00:37:41] age,

[00:37:42] also some

[00:37:43] just some

[00:37:44] grown man

[00:37:45] strength that

[00:37:46] these things

[00:37:47] would just

[00:37:48] alleviate

[00:37:48] themselves.

[00:37:49] I remember

[00:37:50] saying that

[00:37:52] LaMelo

[00:37:53] should go

[00:37:53] talk to

[00:37:53] Steph Curry

[00:37:54] about his

[00:37:55] early season

[00:37:56] ankle

[00:37:58] situations

[00:38:00] in the

[00:38:01] early years

[00:38:03] but at

[00:38:04] this point

[00:38:04] of the

[00:38:05] game,

[00:38:05] let's talk

[00:38:06] a little

[00:38:06] Charlotte

[00:38:06] Tony's

[00:38:07] basketball,

[00:38:07] shall we?

[00:38:09] Now,

[00:38:09] remember,

[00:38:10] Charles Lee

[00:38:10] is the new

[00:38:11] coach,

[00:38:12] okay,

[00:38:13] a long-time

[00:38:14] assistant,

[00:38:15] very well

[00:38:16] respected

[00:38:16] among NBA

[00:38:18] personnel,

[00:38:20] executive

[00:38:20] scouts,

[00:38:21] what happened.

[00:38:22] The one thing

[00:38:22] I do want to

[00:38:23] talk about is

[00:38:24] LaMelo Ball's

[00:38:25] pick and roll

[00:38:25] mastery.

[00:38:27] Here's a stat

[00:38:28] for you.

[00:38:29] This is

[00:38:30] LaMelo Ball's

[00:38:31] pick and roll

[00:38:32] usage.

[00:38:34] He uses it

[00:38:35] at 38%,

[00:38:36] so he's

[00:38:37] using that

[00:38:38] action a lot.

[00:38:40] Now,

[00:38:41] points per

[00:38:42] possession

[00:38:42] LaMelo Ball

[00:38:44] in the

[00:38:44] pick and roll

[00:38:45] action.

[00:38:46] He is

[00:38:47] 1.02

[00:38:48] ranking him

[00:38:49] in the top

[00:38:50] 20 of the

[00:38:51] NBA guards.

[00:38:52] generated

[00:38:53] assists are

[00:38:54] 45%

[00:38:55] off his

[00:38:56] pick and roll

[00:38:56] plays.

[00:38:57] Now,

[00:38:58] why is this

[00:39:00] important?

[00:39:02] Two-fold

[00:39:03] reason.

[00:39:04] One,

[00:39:06] who they

[00:39:07] drafted.

[00:39:09] Tajon Salon

[00:39:10] is a

[00:39:11] physical

[00:39:12] wing.

[00:39:13] wing.

[00:39:14] He's a

[00:39:15] 3 and D

[00:39:16] wing,

[00:39:16] but he's

[00:39:17] a physical

[00:39:17] wing.

[00:39:18] He likes

[00:39:19] people to

[00:39:19] feel his

[00:39:20] physicality.

[00:39:22] Also,

[00:39:23] Mark Williams,

[00:39:24] who was

[00:39:24] injured last

[00:39:25] year,

[00:39:26] is a

[00:39:26] 7-footer,

[00:39:27] I want to

[00:39:28] say 250

[00:39:28] pounds,

[00:39:29] big boy,

[00:39:31] sits,

[00:39:31] solid picks.

[00:39:33] And then

[00:39:34] you have

[00:39:35] Miles

[00:39:36] Bridges.

[00:39:37] Miles

[00:39:37] Bridges,

[00:39:38] like 6'7",

[00:39:39] 6'8",

[00:39:40] 235,

[00:39:41] tough dude.

[00:39:43] You got a

[00:39:44] lot of

[00:39:44] dance

[00:39:45] partners

[00:39:45] for pick

[00:39:46] and roll

[00:39:47] right now,

[00:39:47] for LaMelo

[00:39:48] ball.

[00:39:49] And the

[00:39:50] hope,

[00:39:51] and the

[00:39:53] hope for

[00:39:54] LaMelo

[00:39:54] is that

[00:39:55] the ankles

[00:39:56] have been

[00:39:57] strengthened.

[00:39:58] Whatever the

[00:39:59] issue is

[00:40:00] with his

[00:40:01] ankles,

[00:40:01] whether they

[00:40:02] were weak,

[00:40:03] whether there

[00:40:04] was something

[00:40:04] in there

[00:40:05] that they

[00:40:05] needed to

[00:40:05] go ahead

[00:40:06] and take

[00:40:06] care of,

[00:40:07] and now

[00:40:08] it's being

[00:40:09] reinforced,

[00:40:10] or whatever

[00:40:10] the case

[00:40:11] may be.

[00:40:12] I hope

[00:40:12] that he

[00:40:13] has gotten

[00:40:13] just the

[00:40:14] top-notch

[00:40:15] treatment

[00:40:16] that he

[00:40:17] needs so

[00:40:17] we can see

[00:40:18] him on

[00:40:18] the court

[00:40:18] on a

[00:40:19] more regular

[00:40:20] basis,

[00:40:20] because

[00:40:22] my

[00:40:23] excitement

[00:40:24] for the

[00:40:25] Charlotte Hornets

[00:40:25] are tempered

[00:40:26] by his

[00:40:27] injury history,

[00:40:28] but I'm

[00:40:29] more leaning

[00:40:30] to be more

[00:40:31] excited,

[00:40:31] because I

[00:40:33] think this

[00:40:33] is a

[00:40:33] breakout

[00:40:34] season for

[00:40:35] LaMelo

[00:40:36] Ball,

[00:40:37] Brandon

[00:40:37] Ingham,

[00:40:38] and also

[00:40:38] the entire

[00:40:39] Charlotte Hornets

[00:40:40] organization.

[00:40:42] But we

[00:40:43] will get

[00:40:43] to predictions

[00:40:44] next week,

[00:40:46] and I'll

[00:40:47] talk about

[00:40:47] that as

[00:40:48] we get

[00:40:49] towards the

[00:40:49] end of

[00:40:49] the show.

[00:40:50] But let's

[00:40:51] talk about

[00:40:52] Brandon

[00:40:52] Miller a

[00:40:53] little bit

[00:40:54] and his

[00:40:55] development

[00:40:55] and his

[00:40:56] versatility.

[00:40:57] Now,

[00:40:57] the one thing

[00:40:58] also that I

[00:40:59] want to say,

[00:40:59] I don't know

[00:41:00] this for

[00:41:00] certain,

[00:41:01] but I

[00:41:02] did catch

[00:41:02] a preseason

[00:41:03] game with

[00:41:04] Brandon

[00:41:04] Miller.

[00:41:05] Brandon

[00:41:05] Miller looks

[00:41:06] bigger,

[00:41:07] not just

[00:41:08] bigger

[00:41:08] physically,

[00:41:09] he looks

[00:41:10] taller.

[00:41:11] Brandon

[00:41:12] Miller looks

[00:41:13] like he's

[00:41:13] 6'10",

[00:41:15] 6'11".

[00:41:15] He looks

[00:41:16] duranish.

[00:41:18] Listen,

[00:41:19] I don't

[00:41:20] know,

[00:41:20] I'm not

[00:41:21] saying,

[00:41:22] I'm just

[00:41:22] saying it

[00:41:23] looks that

[00:41:23] way.

[00:41:25] I could

[00:41:26] be completely

[00:41:27] wrong,

[00:41:29] but it

[00:41:29] does look

[00:41:30] that way.

[00:41:31] Couple

[00:41:32] stats for

[00:41:32] you.

[00:41:33] Isolation

[00:41:33] points per

[00:41:34] game is

[00:41:36] .90,

[00:41:37] showing his

[00:41:38] ability to

[00:41:39] create for

[00:41:39] himself.

[00:41:40] His three

[00:41:41] point shooting,

[00:41:42] 38% on

[00:41:43] catch and

[00:41:44] shoot threes.

[00:41:46] Bingo.

[00:41:47] Catch and

[00:41:48] shoot threes are

[00:41:49] one of the

[00:41:50] hardest things

[00:41:50] to do,

[00:41:51] because everybody

[00:41:52] has a

[00:41:53] whatever

[00:41:54] ritual,

[00:41:55] rhythm that

[00:41:56] people want

[00:41:56] to get

[00:41:56] into.

[00:41:57] Remember

[00:41:58] James Harden

[00:41:59] early in

[00:41:59] the season

[00:42:01] when he

[00:42:02] was doing

[00:42:03] pick and

[00:42:03] roll,

[00:42:04] and then he

[00:42:04] got the

[00:42:04] ball,

[00:42:05] and then he

[00:42:05] had to do

[00:42:06] his little

[00:42:06] dribble,

[00:42:07] side step,

[00:42:08] and then

[00:42:08] get into

[00:42:09] his three,

[00:42:10] and it

[00:42:11] was bogging

[00:42:12] down the

[00:42:12] offense,

[00:42:12] and then

[00:42:13] it broke

[00:42:14] away,

[00:42:14] and he

[00:42:15] was able

[00:42:15] just to

[00:42:16] put up

[00:42:16] the shot,

[00:42:17] because he

[00:42:17] put a lot

[00:42:17] of work

[00:42:18] into it.

[00:42:21] It's the

[00:42:21] same thing

[00:42:22] for Miller.

[00:42:23] Miller's not

[00:42:23] doing that.

[00:42:24] He's just

[00:42:24] putting it

[00:42:25] up.

[00:42:26] He's

[00:42:26] getting the

[00:42:26] ball and

[00:42:27] shooting it,

[00:42:29] and for

[00:42:29] him to

[00:42:30] have that

[00:42:30] at such

[00:42:31] a young

[00:42:31] age,

[00:42:32] and then

[00:42:32] to be

[00:42:33] able to

[00:42:33] just,

[00:42:33] oh,

[00:42:34] I'm going

[00:42:34] to just

[00:42:35] grow this

[00:42:35] muscle,

[00:42:36] I'm going

[00:42:36] to grow

[00:42:37] this skill,

[00:42:38] man,

[00:42:39] this is

[00:42:39] just leading

[00:42:40] to a lot

[00:42:41] of real

[00:42:41] positive

[00:42:42] things down

[00:42:43] in Charlotte.

[00:42:44] The other

[00:42:45] thing that

[00:42:45] I want to

[00:42:45] talk about

[00:42:46] with Brandon

[00:42:47] Miller is

[00:42:47] this,

[00:42:48] his defensive

[00:42:48] versatility

[00:42:50] ranks in

[00:42:50] 80th percentile

[00:42:52] on guarding

[00:42:52] both guards

[00:42:53] and forwards.

[00:42:54] Very good.

[00:42:56] This is something

[00:42:57] from Brandon

[00:42:57] Miller.

[00:42:58] Just create

[00:42:59] good habits.

[00:43:00] That's what

[00:43:00] everybody's been

[00:43:01] trying to do

[00:43:03] around here,

[00:43:03] is create

[00:43:04] good habits.

[00:43:07] I said

[00:43:08] when Charles

[00:43:09] Lee was

[00:43:11] acquainted

[00:43:12] the head

[00:43:12] coach of

[00:43:13] the Charlotte

[00:43:13] Hornet,

[00:43:14] I said

[00:43:14] you will

[00:43:15] see an

[00:43:15] accountability

[00:43:16] with that

[00:43:17] team,

[00:43:17] you will

[00:43:18] see a

[00:43:19] maturity

[00:43:20] and a

[00:43:20] professionalism

[00:43:21] with that

[00:43:22] team,

[00:43:22] and it

[00:43:23] was circa

[00:43:24] Eme Adelka

[00:43:24] style.

[00:43:26] I think

[00:43:26] you're starting

[00:43:27] to see the

[00:43:27] remnants of

[00:43:28] that.

[00:43:28] I think

[00:43:29] we're starting

[00:43:30] to bear

[00:43:30] fruit of

[00:43:31] some of

[00:43:31] the comments

[00:43:31] that I

[00:43:32] made earlier

[00:43:32] on in the

[00:43:33] offseason

[00:43:34] in regards

[00:43:35] to what

[00:43:36] a Charles

[00:43:36] Lee

[00:43:37] Charlotte

[00:43:37] Hornets

[00:43:38] team

[00:43:38] looks like,

[00:43:39] and I

[00:43:40] couldn't be

[00:43:40] more impressed

[00:43:41] by him.

[00:43:42] I couldn't

[00:43:43] be more

[00:43:43] impressed

[00:43:44] by how

[00:43:45] the guys

[00:43:45] are

[00:43:46] understanding

[00:43:47] the philosophy

[00:43:48] and trying

[00:43:48] to implement

[00:43:49] the philosophy.

[00:43:50] Now,

[00:43:50] we still

[00:43:51] got young

[00:43:52] guys doing

[00:43:53] this,

[00:43:54] so there

[00:43:55] are going

[00:43:56] to be some

[00:43:56] ups and

[00:43:56] downs.

[00:43:58] We also

[00:43:58] got a

[00:43:59] very

[00:44:00] ingenious

[00:44:01] and very

[00:44:03] flamboyant

[00:44:04] passer

[00:44:05] in LaMelo

[00:44:06] Ball.

[00:44:07] So,

[00:44:07] are we

[00:44:08] still going

[00:44:09] to see

[00:44:09] the

[00:44:09] turnovers?

[00:44:10] Probably.

[00:44:12] Is Charles

[00:44:13] Lee going

[00:44:13] to try

[00:44:13] to beat

[00:44:14] that out

[00:44:15] of LaMelo

[00:44:15] Ball?

[00:44:16] Most

[00:44:17] definitely.

[00:44:20] And,

[00:44:20] is Brandon

[00:44:22] Miller the

[00:44:22] conduit

[00:44:23] between the

[00:44:24] two?

[00:44:25] There's

[00:44:26] your key.

[00:44:28] There's

[00:44:28] your key

[00:44:29] right there.

[00:44:30] Brandon

[00:44:31] Miller

[00:44:31] showed

[00:44:32] professionalism

[00:44:33] and maturity

[00:44:34] beyond his

[00:44:35] years last

[00:44:35] year.

[00:44:35] You saw

[00:44:36] marked

[00:44:37] improvement

[00:44:38] every single

[00:44:38] month.

[00:44:39] You saw

[00:44:40] that he was

[00:44:41] able to get

[00:44:41] into his

[00:44:42] midi.

[00:44:43] You saw

[00:44:43] him be

[00:44:44] able to

[00:44:44] spam that

[00:44:45] move.

[00:44:46] You saw

[00:44:46] him be

[00:44:47] able to

[00:44:47] take shots

[00:44:48] right off

[00:44:48] the dribble

[00:44:49] and drain

[00:44:49] him.

[00:44:50] You saw

[00:44:50] him be

[00:44:51] able to

[00:44:52] flex his

[00:44:53] defensive

[00:44:54] versatility.

[00:44:55] There were

[00:44:56] a lot of

[00:44:56] great things

[00:44:57] that went

[00:44:57] on with

[00:44:58] Brandon

[00:44:58] Miller

[00:44:58] as he

[00:44:59] progressed

[00:45:00] as a

[00:45:00] professional

[00:45:01] in his

[00:45:02] rookie

[00:45:02] year.

[00:45:03] So now

[00:45:04] we go to

[00:45:05] year two

[00:45:06] with Brandon

[00:45:06] Miller

[00:45:07] and a

[00:45:08] new

[00:45:08] regime

[00:45:10] and Miles

[00:45:11] Bridges

[00:45:12] got to

[00:45:13] knock off

[00:45:14] the rust

[00:45:14] so to speak

[00:45:15] and play

[00:45:16] last year

[00:45:16] in pretty

[00:45:17] much autonomy

[00:45:18] in Charlotte

[00:45:19] North Carolina.

[00:45:21] So when I

[00:45:22] look at this

[00:45:23] team and I

[00:45:23] see all the

[00:45:24] pieces and I

[00:45:25] see all the

[00:45:25] faces and then

[00:45:26] I see the

[00:45:27] depth behind

[00:45:27] it and then

[00:45:28] I see the

[00:45:28] pick that

[00:45:29] you got

[00:45:30] with

[00:45:30] Tajan

[00:45:31] Salon

[00:45:31] another

[00:45:32] French guy

[00:45:33] another guy

[00:45:34] that we

[00:45:35] have to

[00:45:35] look out

[00:45:35] for and

[00:45:36] by the way

[00:45:37] he's a

[00:45:37] marksman

[00:45:38] at the

[00:45:38] highest level

[00:45:39] this dude

[00:45:40] shoots

[00:45:40] 40%

[00:45:41] from three

[00:45:42] and he's

[00:45:43] not scared

[00:45:44] at all.

[00:45:46] I'm excited

[00:45:47] I want to

[00:45:48] temper it

[00:45:48] because I

[00:45:49] need to see

[00:45:50] LaMelo

[00:45:51] get past

[00:45:52] the first

[00:45:53] 20 and

[00:45:54] still look

[00:45:55] strong.

[00:45:56] Like we

[00:45:56] don't have

[00:45:57] these oh

[00:45:57] he's dealing

[00:45:58] with an ankle

[00:45:59] oh he's

[00:46:01] got a

[00:46:01] slight he

[00:46:02] turned it

[00:46:02] and we

[00:46:03] just know

[00:46:04] he day

[00:46:04] to day.

[00:46:06] That's

[00:46:06] where my

[00:46:08] excitement

[00:46:09] level gets

[00:46:09] watered down

[00:46:10] a little bit

[00:46:11] but everything

[00:46:13] is on the

[00:46:14] up and up

[00:46:14] when it

[00:46:15] comes to

[00:46:16] the Charlotte

[00:46:17] Hornets and

[00:46:18] I want to

[00:46:18] leave with

[00:46:18] this is that

[00:46:19] this is a

[00:46:19] Charles Lee

[00:46:20] quote.

[00:46:22] It's all

[00:46:22] about competitive

[00:46:23] habits and

[00:46:25] how we all

[00:46:26] affect each

[00:46:27] other.

[00:46:27] If one

[00:46:28] person isn't

[00:46:28] holding up

[00:46:29] there and

[00:46:29] we all

[00:46:31] feel it.

[00:46:31] Boy oh

[00:46:31] boy let

[00:46:32] me tell

[00:46:33] you something

[00:46:33] the first

[00:46:34] LaMelo

[00:46:34] ball behind

[00:46:35] the back

[00:46:35] pass that

[00:46:36] goes into

[00:46:36] the third

[00:46:37] row and

[00:46:37] he goes to

[00:46:38] the bench

[00:46:39] he is

[00:46:39] going to

[00:46:39] be bewildered.

[00:46:43] He like that

[00:46:44] never happened

[00:46:44] to me last

[00:46:45] couple years.

[00:46:46] Yep it's a

[00:46:46] new day.

[00:46:47] Yes it is.

[00:46:50] Shouts

[00:46:50] out to

[00:46:51] Kofi Kingston

[00:46:52] shouts out

[00:46:53] to Xavier

[00:46:54] Woods of

[00:46:54] the WWE.

[00:46:56] I know

[00:46:57] y'all going

[00:46:57] through some

[00:46:58] hard times

[00:46:58] right now.

[00:46:59] I know

[00:47:00] there's a

[00:47:00] lot of

[00:47:02] shrouded

[00:47:03] and mystery

[00:47:04] what's going

[00:47:05] on with

[00:47:05] y'all but

[00:47:06] we still

[00:47:07] love y'all

[00:47:08] but in

[00:47:09] Charlotte is

[00:47:10] definitely a

[00:47:11] new day.

[00:47:12] You will be

[00:47:13] held accountable.

[00:47:14] This is the

[00:47:15] thing that we

[00:47:16] talked about

[00:47:16] where he's

[00:47:17] closer to

[00:47:18] the Emi Adelka

[00:47:19] style than

[00:47:20] he that he

[00:47:22] than the

[00:47:23] past regimes

[00:47:24] like Clifford

[00:47:25] and the

[00:47:26] Borregos of

[00:47:27] the world and

[00:47:28] things of that

[00:47:28] nature.

[00:47:29] No no shade

[00:47:30] to Borrego

[00:47:31] because I

[00:47:31] think he's

[00:47:31] an offensive

[00:47:33] just guru

[00:47:34] but with

[00:47:37] Charles Lee

[00:47:37] if you turn

[00:47:38] the ball over

[00:47:39] you don't

[00:47:39] respect possessions

[00:47:40] you're going

[00:47:41] to sit on

[00:47:41] the bench.

[00:47:42] If you're

[00:47:43] lost on

[00:47:44] defense you

[00:47:45] might sit

[00:47:45] on the

[00:47:45] bench.

[00:47:46] So it'll

[00:47:47] be very

[00:47:48] interesting to

[00:47:49] see how

[00:47:50] this all

[00:47:50] shakes out

[00:47:51] but I

[00:47:51] love the

[00:47:52] direction

[00:47:53] that the

[00:47:54] Charlotte Hornets

[00:47:54] are going

[00:47:55] in.

[00:47:55] Now our

[00:47:57] last piece

[00:47:58] of business

[00:47:58] that we need

[00:47:59] to get to

[00:48:00] and I

[00:48:00] want to

[00:48:01] shout out

[00:48:01] Will Guillory

[00:48:02] again of

[00:48:03] The Athletic.

[00:48:04] This came

[00:48:05] a lot of

[00:48:05] this stuff

[00:48:06] came from

[00:48:06] well the

[00:48:08] idea of

[00:48:08] this segment

[00:48:10] came from

[00:48:10] his piece

[00:48:11] so I wanted

[00:48:11] to give him

[00:48:12] a tip of

[00:48:13] the cap.

[00:48:13] So we're

[00:48:14] going to

[00:48:14] talk about

[00:48:14] Brandon Ingram

[00:48:15] and we're

[00:48:16] going to

[00:48:16] talk about

[00:48:16] bringing Ingram

[00:48:17] in a way

[00:48:18] where it's

[00:48:19] not just

[00:48:20] a player.

[00:48:20] We're going

[00:48:21] to talk

[00:48:21] about this

[00:48:22] in a more

[00:48:22] panoramic view.

[00:48:24] We're going

[00:48:24] to talk about

[00:48:24] it in the

[00:48:25] way of the

[00:48:26] front office.

[00:48:26] We're going

[00:48:27] to talk

[00:48:27] about it

[00:48:28] in Brandon

[00:48:28] Ingram's

[00:48:29] way and

[00:48:30] hopefully we

[00:48:31] can get some

[00:48:31] clarity and

[00:48:32] we got a

[00:48:32] couple little

[00:48:33] nuggets at

[00:48:33] the end of

[00:48:34] this.

[00:48:34] Stay tuned.

[00:48:35] So Brandon

[00:48:35] Ingram

[00:48:36] is now

[00:48:38] he's still

[00:48:39] a Pelican.

[00:48:39] he came

[00:48:41] to media

[00:48:41] day.

[00:48:42] He's been

[00:48:43] with the

[00:48:43] team.

[00:48:44] Now if you

[00:48:45] saw any

[00:48:45] of his

[00:48:47] time during

[00:48:48] media day

[00:48:49] he looked like

[00:48:50] somebody who

[00:48:51] was getting

[00:48:52] sentenced to

[00:48:53] prison for a

[00:48:54] long period of

[00:48:54] time.

[00:48:56] Now I don't

[00:48:57] know if that

[00:48:58] was just

[00:48:59] Brandon in

[00:49:00] his head

[00:49:01] or his

[00:49:04] real emotions

[00:49:05] just outwardly

[00:49:06] just expressed

[00:49:08] facially.

[00:49:10] But at the

[00:49:11] end of the

[00:49:11] day we

[00:49:13] thought that

[00:49:14] this was going

[00:49:15] to be an

[00:49:15] issue.

[00:49:17] Frontrunner

[00:49:17] Podcast

[00:49:18] Collective

[00:49:18] said that

[00:49:19] there weren't

[00:49:20] a lot of

[00:49:20] takers out

[00:49:21] there for

[00:49:21] Brandon

[00:49:22] Ingram but

[00:49:24] BI going

[00:49:26] back to

[00:49:26] New Orleans

[00:49:27] couldn't be a

[00:49:29] thing because

[00:49:30] of what

[00:49:31] it means to

[00:49:32] Zion and

[00:49:33] his vibe.

[00:49:35] So let's

[00:49:36] get to it.

[00:49:37] No doubt

[00:49:38] that Brandon

[00:49:39] Ingram is a

[00:49:40] bucket.

[00:49:41] All right

[00:49:41] let's get that

[00:49:42] straight right

[00:49:44] here and now

[00:49:44] his offensive

[00:49:46] impact on the

[00:49:47] team is this

[00:49:47] his offensive

[00:49:49] rating is

[00:49:50] 110 when

[00:49:51] he's off the

[00:49:52] court.

[00:49:53] It's 116.2

[00:49:55] with him on

[00:49:56] the court.

[00:49:57] Now

[00:49:59] when Ingram

[00:50:00] is on the

[00:50:01] court

[00:50:03] defensively

[00:50:03] wise

[00:50:05] they're at

[00:50:06] a 113.7

[00:50:08] oh this is

[00:50:09] when he's

[00:50:09] off the

[00:50:10] court.

[00:50:10] Okay so

[00:50:11] it actually

[00:50:12] improves to

[00:50:12] 113.7

[00:50:13] when he's

[00:50:14] off the

[00:50:14] court and

[00:50:15] it's a

[00:50:16] 114 when

[00:50:17] he's on

[00:50:17] the court.

[00:50:18] So you

[00:50:19] lose a little

[00:50:20] defense with

[00:50:21] Ingram.

[00:50:21] It's been

[00:50:22] the bugaboo

[00:50:22] since and

[00:50:23] here's the

[00:50:24] thing.

[00:50:25] In his early

[00:50:26] days with the

[00:50:26] Lakers he

[00:50:28] played defense

[00:50:29] now he

[00:50:29] probably played

[00:50:30] defense because

[00:50:31] LeBron was

[00:50:32] there and

[00:50:33] LeBron was

[00:50:34] like hey

[00:50:34] little bro I

[00:50:36] don't have it

[00:50:37] every single

[00:50:37] night to do

[00:50:39] these block

[00:50:39] these chase

[00:50:40] down blocks so

[00:50:41] can you stick

[00:50:42] with your

[00:50:42] dude so I

[00:50:43] don't have

[00:50:44] to do that

[00:50:45] and it's

[00:50:46] probably pretty

[00:50:47] intimidating when

[00:50:48] you're like

[00:50:48] 6 foot 9 and

[00:50:49] 190 pounds

[00:50:51] and LeBron is

[00:50:52] 6 foot 9

[00:50:53] 260 pounds.

[00:50:54] You probably

[00:50:56] listen to that

[00:50:56] guy but I

[00:50:58] digress.

[00:50:59] He has not

[00:51:00] shown that

[00:51:02] type of

[00:51:02] defensive

[00:51:04] intentionality in

[00:51:05] three years in

[00:51:07] New Orleans.

[00:51:07] He hasn't

[00:51:08] shown the

[00:51:09] ability to

[00:51:10] have a bunch

[00:51:11] of deflections

[00:51:12] steals all of

[00:51:13] that and I

[00:51:14] don't know where

[00:51:15] it went.

[00:51:15] I don't know if

[00:51:16] he just thought

[00:51:16] that I'm an

[00:51:18] offensive guy

[00:51:18] now somebody

[00:51:19] else handles

[00:51:21] the defensive

[00:51:21] role but

[00:51:23] let me let

[00:51:24] you here's

[00:51:25] that's the

[00:51:26] rub with him

[00:51:26] is this is

[00:51:28] that you don't

[00:51:28] know what to

[00:51:29] do with him.

[00:51:30] He wants

[00:51:31] max dollars and

[00:51:32] people don't

[00:51:33] think he's a

[00:51:33] max dollar

[00:51:34] player.

[00:51:35] We said it

[00:51:35] time and time

[00:51:36] again and

[00:51:38] then the NBA

[00:51:39] showing you

[00:51:40] that you're

[00:51:41] not a max

[00:51:41] player because

[00:51:42] we're not

[00:51:42] trading anything

[00:51:43] of value for

[00:51:44] you right now.

[00:51:45] Yeah you might

[00:51:46] be able to get

[00:51:46] a first round

[00:51:47] pick.

[00:51:48] You might be

[00:51:48] able to get

[00:51:48] a dummy

[00:51:49] another dummy

[00:51:51] second round

[00:51:51] pick a faux

[00:51:52] second round

[00:51:53] pick where it

[00:51:53] has all these

[00:51:55] protections on

[00:51:56] it and then it

[00:51:56] turns into two

[00:51:58] second rounders in

[00:51:59] four years.

[00:52:00] I don't know

[00:52:02] but you would

[00:52:04] think especially

[00:52:06] teams that contend

[00:52:07] right now would

[00:52:09] clamor for

[00:52:10] somebody who is

[00:52:11] six foot eight

[00:52:12] or six foot nine

[00:52:13] with a seven foot

[00:52:15] three wingspan

[00:52:16] who puts up

[00:52:18] like 24

[00:52:20] points a game.

[00:52:22] You would think

[00:52:23] somebody would

[00:52:23] clamor for that.

[00:52:25] It's not

[00:52:26] happening.

[00:52:26] And here's the

[00:52:27] other thing.

[00:52:27] The shot diet

[00:52:28] needs to change.

[00:52:29] He is the

[00:52:30] master of the

[00:52:32] mid range but

[00:52:32] you're not as

[00:52:34] good as Kevin

[00:52:34] Durant nor

[00:52:36] Chris Paul or

[00:52:37] others that we

[00:52:38] consider real

[00:52:40] true maestros

[00:52:42] of that area.

[00:52:44] You shoot the

[00:52:45] three-pointer at

[00:52:46] a really

[00:52:48] respectable level

[00:52:50] could you

[00:52:50] possibly shoot

[00:52:52] three to four

[00:52:54] more a game.

[00:52:56] And that's kind

[00:52:57] of what they

[00:52:58] have asked him

[00:52:58] to do and he

[00:52:59] is being resilient

[00:53:00] towards it.

[00:53:03] Now I told

[00:53:05] you to have

[00:53:05] something spicy

[00:53:06] for you and

[00:53:07] here it is.

[00:53:11] This is a quote

[00:53:12] from Brandon

[00:53:13] Ingram.

[00:53:13] I'm focused on

[00:53:14] getting better and

[00:53:15] whatever happens

[00:53:16] in the front

[00:53:17] office.

[00:53:18] It is not my

[00:53:19] place to comment.

[00:53:21] Okay.

[00:53:22] This is yo if

[00:53:23] you don't get me

[00:53:24] traded that's on

[00:53:25] you but I'll

[00:53:27] come I'm gonna do

[00:53:29] me but don't ask

[00:53:31] me to do a bunch

[00:53:32] of extra because

[00:53:32] I'm not doing it.

[00:53:34] No I'm not doing

[00:53:35] all that.

[00:53:36] But the reports

[00:53:36] of the tension

[00:53:37] between Ingram and

[00:53:38] the Pelicans

[00:53:38] especially regarding

[00:53:40] his role in the

[00:53:41] offense and the

[00:53:42] potential contract

[00:53:44] extension discussions

[00:53:45] here's the thing

[00:53:47] Brandon Ingram

[00:53:48] believes he's a

[00:53:49] number one option

[00:53:50] because of Zion's

[00:53:52] absences now

[00:53:53] comes in

[00:53:55] Super Zion

[00:53:56] Zion reportedly

[00:53:58] is around the

[00:54:00] same weight he

[00:54:01] was when he

[00:54:02] was at Duke

[00:54:03] and he's actually

[00:54:05] trying to get

[00:54:05] lighter.

[00:54:06] We have now

[00:54:09] fully activated

[00:54:13] Hulk Zion

[00:54:16] Now Zion's

[00:54:17] always been the

[00:54:18] number one guy

[00:54:18] there.

[00:54:19] I know Ingram

[00:54:20] has been salty

[00:54:21] about that

[00:54:22] situation and he

[00:54:23] continues to be

[00:54:24] salty about it.

[00:54:26] Now they have

[00:54:27] said publicly

[00:54:29] that everything

[00:54:30] is cool.

[00:54:31] I'm sorry.

[00:54:32] I just see the

[00:54:33] looks.

[00:54:34] I see the

[00:54:35] non-recognition

[00:54:36] on plays when

[00:54:38] you guys are

[00:54:38] on the court.

[00:54:40] I see

[00:54:40] complete

[00:54:41] denials of

[00:54:42] the ball

[00:54:43] to certain

[00:54:43] people when

[00:54:45] in crunch time

[00:54:46] situations

[00:54:47] there's a

[00:54:48] disconnect

[00:54:48] between those

[00:54:49] two.

[00:54:50] There has been

[00:54:51] a disconnect

[00:54:51] between those

[00:54:52] two.

[00:54:53] It does date

[00:54:54] back to the

[00:54:54] point when Zion

[00:54:55] wasn't playing

[00:54:56] a lot.

[00:54:56] He played 70

[00:54:57] games last year

[00:54:58] and then

[00:54:59] unfortunately

[00:54:59] he pulled

[00:55:00] the hamstring

[00:55:02] and it

[00:55:03] just

[00:55:03] it all

[00:55:04] went out

[00:55:04] the window.

[00:55:06] Now

[00:55:07] Brandon

[00:55:07] Ingram

[00:55:08] on his

[00:55:09] side

[00:55:09] he could

[00:55:09] say

[00:55:09] maybe

[00:55:10] you

[00:55:10] should

[00:55:11] get your

[00:55:12] such and

[00:55:13] such in

[00:55:14] shape

[00:55:14] and then

[00:55:15] we wouldn't

[00:55:15] have this

[00:55:16] issue.

[00:55:17] So I

[00:55:17] definitely

[00:55:17] understand

[00:55:18] Ingram's

[00:55:19] situation

[00:55:19] and Ingram

[00:55:20] saying yo

[00:55:20] I've been

[00:55:21] holding it

[00:55:21] down

[00:55:22] when you

[00:55:22] was out

[00:55:23] there

[00:55:23] messing

[00:55:24] around

[00:55:24] with

[00:55:24] OnlyFans

[00:55:25] models.

[00:55:26] You know

[00:55:26] what I'm

[00:55:27] saying?

[00:55:27] I was

[00:55:27] holding it

[00:55:28] down over

[00:55:28] here.

[00:55:29] So I

[00:55:30] do

[00:55:31] understand

[00:55:31] his

[00:55:34] POV

[00:55:35] in this

[00:55:35] situation

[00:55:36] but you

[00:55:36] also have

[00:55:37] to understand

[00:55:38] you're the

[00:55:38] lesser

[00:55:39] talent.

[00:55:40] As soon as

[00:55:41] he walked

[00:55:42] in the room

[00:55:42] dude you

[00:55:43] was the

[00:55:43] lesser

[00:55:43] talent.

[00:55:45] And it's

[00:55:46] okay.

[00:55:47] It's

[00:55:47] okay

[00:55:49] to be

[00:55:50] the number

[00:55:51] two.

[00:55:53] But you

[00:55:53] have never

[00:55:54] wanted that

[00:55:54] role.

[00:55:55] You've never

[00:55:55] bought into

[00:55:56] that role.

[00:55:57] You never

[00:55:57] adhered to

[00:55:58] that role.

[00:55:59] Look at

[00:56:00] what he

[00:56:00] did in

[00:56:01] Minnesota.

[00:56:02] He saw

[00:56:03] the writing

[00:56:03] on the

[00:56:04] wall.

[00:56:04] He saw

[00:56:05] who

[00:56:05] Anthony

[00:56:06] Edwards

[00:56:07] was.

[00:56:08] And he

[00:56:09] superseded

[00:56:09] the position

[00:56:10] from number

[00:56:11] one to

[00:56:12] number two.

[00:56:12] Now was

[00:56:13] there some

[00:56:13] clunkiness

[00:56:14] to it or

[00:56:14] whatever?

[00:56:15] Yes.

[00:56:15] But there

[00:56:16] was actual

[00:56:17] effort on

[00:56:18] Carl

[00:56:18] Anthony

[00:56:19] Towns'

[00:56:19] part.

[00:56:20] We have

[00:56:21] never seen

[00:56:21] that from

[00:56:22] Brandon

[00:56:22] Ingram.

[00:56:23] Never.

[00:56:25] Where does

[00:56:26] this leave

[00:56:26] us?

[00:56:29] Where does

[00:56:30] this leave

[00:56:31] us?

[00:56:31] Now here's

[00:56:32] the other

[00:56:32] thing.

[00:56:34] With Zion

[00:56:35] being in

[00:56:35] shape and

[00:56:38] now Trey

[00:56:42] Murphy also

[00:56:43] is this

[00:56:44] favorite of

[00:56:46] this podcast.

[00:56:46] What I want

[00:56:47] for Trey

[00:56:48] Murphy, I

[00:56:49] want Trey

[00:56:50] Murphy to

[00:56:51] start.

[00:56:52] Who is

[00:56:53] in Trey

[00:56:54] Murphy's

[00:56:54] way?

[00:56:56] Brandon

[00:56:57] Ingram.

[00:56:58] I've

[00:56:59] asked

[00:57:01] and I

[00:57:02] will

[00:57:02] deliver.

[00:57:04] Here's a

[00:57:04] front office

[00:57:05] source.

[00:57:06] There's

[00:57:06] definitely

[00:57:07] some

[00:57:07] tension.

[00:57:08] There's

[00:57:08] definitely

[00:57:09] some

[00:57:09] tension.

[00:57:10] Timelines

[00:57:10] and

[00:57:11] expectations

[00:57:11] are not

[00:57:12] perfectly

[00:57:12] aligned.

[00:57:15] We do

[00:57:16] see movement

[00:57:17] coming from

[00:57:18] the Pelicans

[00:57:19] sooner rather

[00:57:21] than later.

[00:57:22] Now this is

[00:57:22] from a

[00:57:23] front office

[00:57:23] source.

[00:57:25] I'm telling

[00:57:26] you right

[00:57:26] now for

[00:57:28] the Pelicans

[00:57:28] too.

[00:57:29] And here's

[00:57:29] the other

[00:57:29] thing that

[00:57:30] is the

[00:57:33] Herb

[00:57:33] their starting

[00:57:34] lineup is

[00:57:35] going to be

[00:57:35] Herb Jones

[00:57:36] at center

[00:57:36] Zion

[00:57:37] Williamson

[00:57:38] is going

[00:57:39] to be

[00:57:39] Randy

[00:57:40] Ingram

[00:57:40] CJ

[00:57:41] Mccullough

[00:57:41] and

[00:57:42] DeJounte

[00:57:43] Murray.

[00:57:46] Huh.

[00:57:47] CJ

[00:57:48] McCullough

[00:57:48] is not

[00:57:48] the best

[00:57:50] defensive

[00:57:50] player.

[00:57:51] Now

[00:57:51] DeJounte

[00:57:52] Murray

[00:57:52] does make

[00:57:53] up for

[00:57:54] that.

[00:57:55] But

[00:57:55] didn't you

[00:57:56] have

[00:57:56] Dyson

[00:57:57] Daniel

[00:57:57] or Dyson

[00:57:58] Daniels

[00:57:58] couldn't

[00:57:58] shoot?

[00:57:59] So I

[00:58:00] understand

[00:58:00] that.

[00:58:01] So they're

[00:58:02] going

[00:58:03] and also

[00:58:04] Willie

[00:58:04] Green

[00:58:04] wants to

[00:58:05] shoot

[00:58:05] 43s

[00:58:06] as well.

[00:58:07] I want

[00:58:07] to put

[00:58:08] that out

[00:58:08] into the

[00:58:08] universe.

[00:58:09] Willie

[00:58:10] Green

[00:58:10] wants to

[00:58:10] shoot

[00:58:11] 43s

[00:58:11] and

[00:58:12] they

[00:58:13] want

[00:58:13] to

[00:58:13] have

[00:58:13] an

[00:58:13] up

[00:58:13] and

[00:58:14] down

[00:58:14] style.

[00:58:14] If

[00:58:14] Herb

[00:58:15] Jones

[00:58:15] is your

[00:58:15] center

[00:58:16] because

[00:58:17] Brandon

[00:58:17] Ingram

[00:58:18] is still

[00:58:18] on this

[00:58:18] team

[00:58:19] and you

[00:58:19] don't

[00:58:19] have

[00:58:20] a

[00:58:20] five

[00:58:20] I

[00:58:21] understand

[00:58:21] why

[00:58:22] you're

[00:58:22] doing

[00:58:22] that.

[00:58:23] And

[00:58:23] here's

[00:58:24] the

[00:58:24] other

[00:58:24] thing

[00:58:24] Brandon

[00:58:24] Ingram

[00:58:25] is

[00:58:25] going

[00:58:25] to

[00:58:25] have

[00:58:25] to

[00:58:26] actually

[00:58:26] play

[00:58:26] some

[00:58:26] defense

[00:58:27] which

[00:58:27] he

[00:58:28] is

[00:58:28] not

[00:58:28] going

[00:58:28] to

[00:58:28] be

[00:58:28] really

[00:58:29] motivated

[00:58:30] to do

[00:58:31] without

[00:58:31] a

[00:58:31] contract.

[00:58:32] This

[00:58:33] is

[00:58:33] going

[00:58:33] to

[00:58:33] be

[00:58:33] really

[00:58:33] interesting

[00:58:34] down

[00:58:35] in

[00:58:55] heard.

[00:58:57] All

[00:58:57] right.

[00:58:58] A little

[00:58:59] dramatic

[00:58:59] at the

[00:58:59] end.

[00:59:00] I

[00:59:00] know.

[00:59:00] I

[00:59:00] get

[00:59:01] it.

[00:59:01] I

[00:59:01] got

[00:59:01] you.

[00:59:02] All

[00:59:03] right.

[00:59:04] With

[00:59:04] that

[00:59:04] being

[00:59:05] said,

[00:59:05] what

[00:59:05] I

[00:59:05] do

[00:59:06] want

[00:59:06] to

[00:59:06] do

[00:59:06] is

[00:59:07] I

[00:59:07] want

[00:59:07] to

[00:59:07] thank

[00:59:07] my

[00:59:08] producers.

[00:59:08] I

[00:59:08] want

[00:59:08] to

[00:59:09] thank

[00:59:09] bunch

[00:59:09] of

[00:59:09] Funch

[00:59:10] who

[00:59:10] had

[00:59:10] to

[00:59:10] work

[00:59:11] and

[00:59:11] I

[00:59:11] want

[00:59:12] to

[00:59:12] thank

[00:59:12] Sarea

[00:59:12] for being

[00:59:13] on

[00:59:13] the

[00:59:13] silent

[00:59:13] ones

[00:59:14] and

[00:59:14] twos

[00:59:15] today.

[00:59:15] I

[00:59:16] want

[00:59:16] to

[00:59:16] thank

[00:59:16] the

[00:59:17] audience.

[00:59:18] I

[00:59:18] want

[00:59:25] to

[00:59:25] podcast

[00:59:26] and

[00:59:26] then

[00:59:27] also

[00:59:27] maybe

[00:59:28] tell

[00:59:28] one

[00:59:28] of

[00:59:29] your

[00:59:29] enemies

[00:59:29] as

[00:59:29] well.

[00:59:30] Let

[00:59:30] them

[00:59:31] know

[00:59:31] about

[00:59:31] the

[00:59:31] podcast

[00:59:31] and

[00:59:32] then

[00:59:33] you're

[00:59:33] still

[00:59:33] way

[00:59:34] ahead

[00:59:34] of

[00:59:34] them.

[00:59:34] You

[00:59:35] been

[00:59:35] listening

[00:59:36] for

[00:59:36] a

[00:59:36] while

[00:59:36] so

[00:59:36] you

[00:59:37] get

[00:59:37] some

[00:59:37] of

[00:59:37] the

[00:59:37] ins

[00:59:38] and

[00:59:38] outs

[00:59:38] of

[00:59:38] what

[00:59:38] we

[00:59:39] talking

[00:59:39] about.

[00:59:40] They

[00:59:40] going

[00:59:40] to

[00:59:41] be

[00:59:41] way

[00:59:41] behind

[00:59:42] and

[00:59:42] they

[00:59:42] going

[00:59:43] to

[00:59:43] need

[00:59:43] some

[00:59:43] help.

[00:59:44] And

[00:59:44] now

[00:59:45] are

[00:59:45] they

[00:59:45] going

[00:59:46] to

[00:59:46] have

[00:59:46] some

[00:59:46] humility

[00:59:47] and

[00:59:47] come

[00:59:47] back

[00:59:47] to

[00:59:47] you

[00:59:48] and

[00:59:48] maybe

[00:59:48] there

[00:59:49] is

[00:59:49] an

[00:59:49] olive

[00:59:49] branch

[00:59:50] and

[00:59:51] we

[00:59:51] bring

[00:59:51] people

[00:59:52] back

[00:59:52] together.

[00:59:53] I

[00:59:53] don't

[00:59:54] know

[00:59:54] but

[00:59:55] this

[00:59:56] podcast

[00:59:56] is

[00:59:57] for

[00:59:57] you

[00:59:57] and

[00:59:57] we

[00:59:58] hope

[00:59:58] that

[00:59:58] we

[00:59:58] entertain

[00:59:59] you

[00:59:59] today

[00:59:59] and

[01:00:00] we

[01:00:00] hope

[01:00:00] that

[01:00:00] you

[01:00:00] got

[01:00:01] some

[01:00:01] good

[01:00:01] information.

[01:00:02] So

[01:00:02] with

[01:00:02] that

[01:00:02] being

[01:00:03] said

[01:00:03] the

[01:00:04] best

[01:00:04] part

[01:00:04] of

[01:00:04] you

[01:00:05] is

[01:00:05] you

[01:00:05] make

[01:00:06] sure

[01:00:06] that

[01:00:06] the

[01:00:06] people

[01:00:07] that

[01:00:07] surround

[01:00:07] you

[01:00:07] are

[01:00:08] just

[01:00:08] complimenting

[01:00:09] your

[01:00:09] light.

[01:00:10] Make

[01:00:11] sure

[01:00:11] that

[01:00:11] you

[01:00:17] everything

[01:00:18] you

[01:00:18] could.

[01:00:19] Let

[01:00:20] the

[01:00:20] results

[01:00:21] fall

[01:00:22] where

[01:00:22] they

[01:00:22] may.

[01:00:23] Go

[01:00:24] out

[01:00:24] and

[01:00:24] do

[01:00:24] some

[01:00:24] good

[01:00:24] in

[01:00:25] this

[01:00:25] world

[01:00:25] and

[01:00:25] we

[01:00:25] will

[01:00:25] see

[01:00:26] you

[01:00:26] back

[01:00:26] on

[01:00:26] this

[01:00:26] feed

[01:00:27] on

[01:00:27] Saturday.

[01:00:27] Remember

[01:00:28] we

[01:00:29] will

[01:00:29] be

[01:00:29] back

[01:00:29] to

[01:00:30] regular

[01:00:30] schedule

[01:00:31] Monday

[01:00:31] Wednesday

[01:00:32] and

[01:00:32] Friday

[01:00:32] next

[01:00:33] week.

[01:00:34] I'm

[01:00:34] sorry

[01:00:34] about

[01:00:34] being

[01:00:35] sick

[01:00:35] last

[01:00:35] Monday.

[01:00:36] It

[01:00:37] happens

[01:00:37] but

[01:00:38] you

[01:00:39] will

[01:00:39] get

[01:00:39] the

[01:00:39] third

[01:00:40] pod

[01:00:40] and

[01:00:41] it

[01:00:41] will

[01:00:41] happen

[01:00:41] on

[01:00:42] Saturday.

[01:00:42] So

[01:00:42] guarantee

[01:00:43] look out

[01:00:43] for that

[01:00:44] on

[01:00:47] set

[01:00:48] deuce.