Trae Young Trade Rumors, Grizzlies Silver Linings, All-Star Festivities, and Does Pop Still Got It?
Feb 16, 2024
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The podcast covers topics such as the Grizzlies' upset win over the Bucks, the Warriors' trade rumors involving LeBron James, the potential of young players like Victor Wembanyama and Lamar Stevens, the NBA All-Star festivities, and the playoff chances of the 76ers. They also discuss the utilization of different point guards, shooting performance in the regular season and playoffs, and the upcoming post-All-Star break stretch run.
01:25:16
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Quick takeaways
The Western Conference top 10 teams are starting to take shape with close competition between the top four teams and potential for unexpected contenders.
Rumors of the Los Angeles Lakers exploring trade possibilities involving LeBron James or Trey Young have surfaced, but no concrete moves have been made.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been performing well with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland leading the way, showing potential to become a formidable team.
Deep dives
Top 10 Teams Settled in Western Conference
The top 10 teams in the Western Conference have been settled, although the order may change. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, LA Clippers, and Denver Nuggets are the top four teams within two and a half games of each other. The Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings are also within a game and a half of each other. The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, despite their struggles earlier in the season, are part of the top 10. The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are still in contention but are a few games behind. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs round out the bottom of the conference.
Potential Trade Rumors for the Lakers
Rumors surfaced about the Los Angeles Lakers exploring the possibility of making a trade involving LeBron James or acquiring a superstar player. However, no concrete moves have been made, and it appears that the Lakers are focused on finishing the season and reassessing their options in the offseason. There is speculation that the Lakers may have interest in pursuing a trade for Trey Young, but nothing has been confirmed. The team is currently playing well and may be in a position to reload and make a strong push in the future.
Analyzing the Playing Field in the Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference, the top 10 teams are also starting to take shape. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been particularly impressive, going 9-1 in their last 10 games. However, there are several teams competing for playoff spots, with seven and three records in their last 10 games. While it remains to be seen if any team can challenge the top teams like the Brooklyn Nets or the Milwaukee Bucks, there is potential for some unexpected contenders to emerge. It will be interesting to see how the playoff picture unfolds in the Eastern Conference.
Cleveland Cavaliers thriving with Mobley and Garland
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been performing well with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland leading the way. Mobley has returned from an injury and has shown significant improvement in his game, scoring 15.3 points per game and shooting 57 percent from three-point range. Garland has also been playing well, despite not shooting well from beyond the arc. With the depth and versatility in their roster, the Cavaliers have the potential to make a strong impact and become a formidable team.
Expectations for the Philadelphia 76ers with Embiid's return
The Philadelphia 76ers have been facing challenges with Joel Embiid's absence due to injury. However, with Embiid expected to return soon, there is hope for the team to improve their performance. Although they might face some struggles with a difficult schedule ahead, the team is still in a good position in the standings. The key will be for Embiid to regain his form and for the rest of the team to step up their game to support him. While the Sixers may not be favored to win the NBA Finals, a deep playoff run is still within reach.
Verno and KOC discuss the Grizzlies' upset win over the Bucks as well as Klay Thompson’s hot performance after getting benched (00:24). Next, they have a leaguewide check-in entering the All-Star break, starting off with all the noise surrounding the Warriors after it was reported that they looked into LeBron James's availability (25:05). They debate whether Victor Wembanyama is a top-20 player (39:00), wonder how far the 76ers could fall in the standings (01:04:01), discuss what they are looking forward to in this weekend’s All-Star game festivities (01:11:20), and so much more.
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