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    The Old Man and the Three with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter

    Brian Windhorst

    Fri Jul 07 2023
    NBASummer LeagueRookie of the YearTeam DecisionsContract StructuresMedia Impact

    Description

    The episode covers various topics in the NBA, including the Summer League, Rookie of the Year contenders, team decisions, contract structures, and the role of media in the league. It also features insights from an experienced NBA analyst and reporter.

    Insights

    Chet Holmgren and Chat Holmgren are strong contenders for Rookie of the Year.

    Both players have shown impressive skills and are expected to have a significant impact on their teams.

    The Kings focused on re-signing current players instead of pursuing upgrades.

    Despite having cap space and a solid young core, the Kings did not make any big moves in free agency or trades.

    The NBA has implemented contract structures that limit free agency rights.

    Contracts are becoming shorter and more heavily structured with team options and non-guaranteed years.

    Rob Palenka has made good moves as the Lakers' decision-maker.

    He has turned the team around and positioned them well for the modern NBA.

    The speaker reflects on their experience in the NBA and the impact of media on players' experiences.

    They discuss their career evolution, the changing landscape of NBA reporting, and the challenges of balancing information and entertainment.

    Chapters

    1. Bite offers clear liners for straighter smiles from home
    2. The Celtics made a surprising decision to move on from Marcus Smart, indicating a significant change in their team.
    3. Teams can use poison pill contracts to backload a player's salary and make it difficult for their current team to match the offer.
    4. Rob Palenka has done an excellent job with the Lakers over the last 11 months, turning the team around and making them better positioned for the modern NBA.
    5. The speaker had no idea what was going on in the beginning of their career.
    Summary
    Transcript

    Bite offers clear liners for straighter smiles from home

    00:00 - 13:33

    • Angi connects you with skilled professionals for home projects
    • Episode 167 of The Old Man and the Three features Brian Windhorst discussing free agency and his NBA career
    • The Thunder and Lakers games in the Summer League were mentioned
    • DraftKings allows betting on Summer League MVP
    • Summer League can be a platform for young players to improve and earn spots in rotations
    • Chet Holmgren is not expected to win Rookie of the Year, but could be a strong contender
    • Chat Holmgren is likely to be the runner-up for Rookie of the Year.
    • He competes fiercely on both ends of the court and has shown strong defensive skills.
    • He has better pieces around him than Victor Fruggar, which will lead to more wins for his team.
    • Victor's injury history makes it hard to bet against him if he plays a significant number of games.
    • Scoot Henderson could have impressive rookie numbers depending on the trade package Portland receives.
    • The Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to have a winning record next season, with Shay Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams impacting their success.
    • If Josh Giddy performs well in advanced analytics, he could also be in contention for Rookie of the Year.
    • Jeremy Grant's contract extension with the Pistons was surprising given Damian Lillard's potential trade request from the Blazers.
    • The Kings opened up cap space but used it primarily to re-sign their current players instead of pursuing upgrades.
    • The Celtics' decision to move on from Marcus Smart was a significant change for their team.

    The Celtics made a surprising decision to move on from Marcus Smart, indicating a significant change in their team.

    13:03 - 27:00

    • The Kings, despite having a solid young core and cap space, did not make any big moves in free agency or trades.
    • The Kings wanted Chris Murray from Iowa but missed out on him and traded the pick for Obax Pro instead.
    • The Kings locked down Domantas Sabonis with an extension, taking advantage of the new CBA.
    • It was unexpected that the Kings didn't make a move to upgrade their team during the draft and free agency period.
    • The Lakers were able to re-sign Austin Reeves at a relatively low salary due to restrictions in the CBA.
    • There was a loophole in restricted free agency rules that allowed teams to offer lower salaries for the first two years and then go all-in with max contracts afterward. This happened with Jeremy Lin and Gilbert Arenas in the past.

    Teams can use poison pill contracts to backload a player's salary and make it difficult for their current team to match the offer.

    26:40 - 39:45

    • The Lakers were able to keep Austin Reeves by offering him a standard four-year extension.
    • With the new CBA, star players are more likely to stay with their current teams through extensions rather than entering free agency.
    • The lockout in 2011 was about controlling the revenue split between players and owners, resulting in a closer split of around 50/50.
    • The NBA owners and players reached a 51% to 49% agreement on revenue sharing, which has resulted in billions of dollars for both sides.
    • Over the years, the owners have gradually reduced free agency rights, moving towards NFL-style contracts with non-guaranteed years.
    • Contracts in the NBA are becoming shorter and more heavily structured with team options and mutual options.
    • The NBA's move towards the NFL model is driven by small-market teams that hold majority voting power.
    • While player salaries continue to grow, there are limitations on free agency and super team building measures.
    • There is a trend towards partially or non-guaranteed contracts in the last year of deals.
    • Winners in free agency include teams like the Bucks, who retained key players, and teams like Houston and Cleveland who made significant roster additions.

    Rob Palenka has done an excellent job with the Lakers over the last 11 months, turning the team around and making them better positioned for the modern NBA.

    33:26 - 46:21

    • The contracts that the Lakers signed are tradeable, indicating good judgment by Rob Palenka.
    • The Lakers may have slightly overpaid for Hachimura, but if he performs well, it could end up being a bargain.
    • The San Antonio Spurs made good moves by acquiring Reggie Bullock and Jeddi Osmond for free.
    • The Nuggets did not have a great summer, losing Jeff Green and Bruce Brown without adequate replacements.
    • Phoenix is liked outside of their trade deals.
    • Phoenix signed minimum players who are long and good three-point shooters.
    • Most of the minimum players were given a second year player option.
    • The NBA pays for the majority of a minimum contract to encourage teams to sign veterans.
    • Phoenix's strategy is to have long, athletic players who can stretch the floor.
    • They won battles for some players by offering player options and no-trade clauses.
    • Signing a minimum contract doesn't guarantee success, but the strategy makes sense.
    • The podcast host discusses his career evolution from covering LeBron in high school to becoming an NBA analyst and reporter.

    The speaker had no idea what was going on in the beginning of their career.

    45:53 - 1:12:35

    • They have now gained 20 years of experience in the league and have seen almost everything.
    • They were impressed by Pat Riley's vast experience and calmness.
    • Although they don't have a relationship with Riley, they still admire him.
    • The speaker feels that their experience allows them to see through certain tactics used by teams, players, or coaches.
    • They are still excited about their work in the NBA and feel like they are in a good spot.
    • The speaker shares two 'what if' moments where they dismissed information that turned out to be true later on.
    • They reflect on not making assumptions and being more open-minded when hearing outlandish information.
    • The speaker believes that the Miami Heat organization thought they were complicit in LeBron James leaving for Cleveland.
    • The Miami Heat tried to sign a player to be their small forward, but he ended up going elsewhere, causing some bad feelings within the organization.
    • Fans have become more educated about the NBA over the years, understanding concepts like salary caps and contracts.
    • The speed of reporting has increased, with information often reaching the media before players.
    • Trade negotiations and transactions are now covered in multiple layers by different sections of the media.
    • The Portland Trail Blazers have been quietly rebuilding for two years, making moves consistent with a rebuilding team rather than a competing one.
    • There has been a disconnect between what the Blazers said they would do and what they actually did, leading Damian Lillard to consider asking for a trade.
    • Incremental reporting has become more common in covering NBA transactions.
    • Incremental reporting is a major difference in the news game now compared to before, with the 24-hour news cycle and social media driving it.
    • Social media can create narratives that are not based on facts, leading to misconceptions about player relationships and recruitment.
    • Team USA has regularly created bonds among players that have led to future collaborations.
    • The Olympics in 2021 provided limited opportunities for understanding player relationships due to COVID restrictions.
    • Commodification of information and the need for engagement on social media platforms play a significant role in how the league operates now.
    • There were memes related to Brian Windhorst's appearance on First Take, but the speaker didn't follow them closely due to work commitments.
    • Positive memories were shared by players involved in trades or viral moments, highlighting the impact of media on players' experiences.
    • The speaker reflects on how their job as a reporter can sometimes cause discomfort or unintended consequences for players and teams.
    • They mention a previous report about LeBron leaving Miami, which caused trouble in Miami but was accurate.
    • The speaker expresses concern about negative karma building up and potentially affecting future actions.
    • They discuss the ability to sit on information without making it public, mentioning a big trade they knew about for a week but didn't share with anyone.
    • The speaker emphasizes the importance of being right and having a pulse on the league when reporting information.
    • They mention an example where they were unsure about Max Drew's joining the Indiana Pacers and decided not to report it.
    • The speaker acknowledges that there have been times when they were wrong about something they thought would happen.
    • They talk about balancing giving information while also entertaining viewers and listeners.
    • A favorite moment from a previous appearance is mentioned, where the speaker asks questions while talking and their co-panelists try to answer them.
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