Previewing the Miami Heat's training camp, including Damian Lillard trade talks, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo
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00:00 All right.
00:03 Hello, everybody.
00:04 My name is Jaden Armand.
00:05 I'm here with my boy, Anthony.
00:07 Anthony, how are you doing today?
00:09 I'm doing well.
00:10 How about yourself?
00:11 I'm doing good.
00:13 We are your undrafted rookie free agents.
00:16 And today we're going to be talking about the Miami Heat and things going on around
00:20 the NBA, WNBA and NFL world today.
00:24 So let's just get right into it.
00:26 Yep.
00:27 Jumping straight into things with the Heat.
00:29 As usual, Damian Lillard stays on everybody's mind, right?
00:33 And as we're approaching training camp, things are starting to pick up in discussions, it
00:38 seems like.
00:39 But not just with the Heat.
00:41 Also, the Raptors and Bulls have been reported to be showing some interest in Lillard.
00:47 How do you think he would fit in those organizations if he did decide to open up his willingness
00:52 to play with other teams?
00:53 And I mean, what would their package look like?
00:57 For the Raptors, I mean, you'd have to imagine they send Pascal Siakam, even though he's
01:03 not a guard like Damian Lillard, they have to get like significant, a significant player
01:09 for him.
01:11 So him, maybe package Gary Trent Jr. and a few picks, maybe throwing Scottie Barnes.
01:19 So that's what I think Toronto's would look like.
01:22 Chicago, I mean, they'd have to give up.
01:26 And think Zach Levine, probably and Amar DeRozan, which sounds crazy.
01:31 But again, it's Damian Lillard.
01:33 And you see the way that, you know, Portland, you see the amount they want for him from
01:39 the Heat.
01:40 So you'd imagine that they'd want a significant amount from any other team.
01:44 So having both of them is not out of the picture.
01:47 Now, would Chicago agree on that?
01:49 Probably not.
01:50 But that's probably what Portland would ask for.
01:53 Absolutely.
01:54 I mean, I really don't think it makes any sense for either of those teams to go after
01:58 Lillard.
01:59 I mean, look at a team like Toronto all offseason.
02:01 They've been talking about trading Siakam as is and, you know, starting kind of a fresh
02:07 start with Scottie Barnes as your your main guy.
02:10 So I don't really think it makes much sense to bring in a aging guy like Lillard to make
02:15 one final playoff push.
02:17 Right.
02:18 And as far as Chicago goes, I mean, if you have to give up the Marderos and Zach Levine,
02:24 what's the point of making the trade in the first place?
02:26 You're going to be stuck over there with Lillard and Vucevic as your your top two guys.
02:32 And that obviously that's not going to work out.
02:35 Right.
02:36 Definitely.
02:37 But to the point of other teams getting involved, like I just feel like this was inevitable
02:42 just because the Heat are taking so long to get him.
02:45 Like you'd have to think other teams are like, all right, well, if they can't get him, let
02:49 me throw in, you know, my let me throw my head into the ring and try and, you know,
02:54 put a trade package together to see if I can, you know, get Lillard.
02:58 Yeah, definitely.
02:59 And I think, you know, one final team that has maybe not reported interest, but I think
03:04 it was a Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix was talking about potentially if the Oklahoma
03:10 City Thunder are playing well this season and Lillard isn't traded before the season
03:14 starts, I think he said he could see them making a real push for Lillard.
03:18 Is that something you foresee?
03:21 I think the the Thunder, I think where they're at right now with all their picks and the
03:26 way they've developed players like Shea Gildas, Alexander and Josh Giddey, I think they're
03:31 on the right track.
03:32 I don't think they need to trade for a big player like Lillard.
03:35 But then again, maybe that, you know, that's the benefit of having so many picks and so
03:40 many young players that you can be able to push for a big superstar.
03:45 So that wouldn't be ideal, in my opinion, but I could see it happening.
03:51 Yeah, I think even in two years time, they could go out and make a push for Giannis if
03:56 he decides he wants out of Milwaukee.
03:58 Right, right.
03:59 I remember you talking about that a couple of episodes earlier.
04:02 Yeah.
04:03 And, you know, following up with these other teams showing interest in Lillard, earlier
04:08 today it was reported that the offers the Portland's front office is receiving from
04:13 these other teams.
04:14 And maybe it's not Toronto or Chicago, but a team like the Knicks or the Magic, whoever
04:20 it may be.
04:21 Apparently, these offers are even worse than the Heat's offer, which, you know, I think
04:26 is a little disrespectful to Lillard's value.
04:29 But I mean, what what do you foresee the Heat giving up?
04:35 I mean, you'd have to think they trade Hero to a third team.
04:39 They get, I'd say, like maybe two first round picks and maybe like a role player.
04:47 And they take that package and put together Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry and probably a couple
04:53 more other draft picks.
04:54 And then obviously, either Jaime Hawkins or Nikola Jovic.
05:01 Those two, I think one of them is going to have to be involved that minimum, but I'm
05:05 sure the Blazers are going to try and squeeze both of them out of the Heat.
05:10 And you know, jumping forward, Brian Winhurst earlier this week, I believe, was talking
05:15 about, you know, the Blazers, like I was saying, trying to squeeze every last asset out of
05:21 Miami.
05:23 And from Miami's perspective, if you want to go out and get Lillard, that's totally understandable
05:28 because you want to form that big three with Lillard, Butler and Adebayo.
05:32 But at what cost is it worth giving up?
05:36 Right, I completely agree with you.
05:38 And it's the fact that they did make the finals.
05:41 So it's like you're taking I mean, obviously, you know, players like Duncan Robinson and
05:48 Kyle Lowry didn't get you to the finals, but they contributed.
05:51 And so if you're giving up so much that you take away the pieces that got you there, it's
05:57 kind of like what's the point of the trade?
06:00 Yeah, Miami's always thrived off of those deep teams.
06:05 And by acquiring Lillard, like Brian Winhurst was saying, it might be a point where it's
06:10 not worth it.
06:11 And then you put Portland in a really tough spot where you have a guy that wants to go
06:16 to the Heat, but at the same time, the Heat don't want him at the point of the Blazers
06:21 asking price.
06:22 Right.
06:23 No, I completely agree.
06:26 And you know, now jumping around the rest of the league, it's the dust has kind of settled
06:31 in this situation now.
06:33 But Kevin Porter Jr., you know, there's been a lot of controversy around him the last week
06:39 or two.
06:40 I wouldn't expect to see him in the NBA ever again.
06:43 But what's your take on the situation?
06:45 No, I mean, like you said, the NBA is much more strict in the NFL in terms of their suspension
06:51 and player punishment.
06:52 So I would not be surprised if we don't hear, you know, a lot from him.
06:57 But Miles Bridges was recently seen in a Hornets jersey.
07:02 So you never know what, you know, what can happen.
07:05 Yeah.
07:06 And I saw one thing going around of the idea of another trade, another team, excuse me,
07:13 trading for Kevin Porter Jr.
07:16 And even if they have no plans to keep him on the roster, it's that media attention that
07:22 you're bringing to your organization, that's just going to be such a negative impact that
07:27 I think it's going to get to a point where they're just forced to cut him.
07:30 Yeah, I completely agree.
07:32 And I just don't see what team would trade for him.
07:35 Yeah, no team wants that in their locker room.
07:38 What's that part of the organization?
07:40 Right.
07:41 And as much as it as crazy as it is to say, you know, if this were, you know, a budding
07:45 superstar, maybe, but not a young guy who hasn't really proved a ton in the NBA yet.
07:55 And transitioning over to the WNBA, the semifinals are coming up.
07:59 So just doing a little preview on those.
08:02 We have the Wings versus the Aces and the Liberty versus the Suns.
08:06 What do you expect to come of those matchups?
08:08 Who are you taking?
08:10 So right now I have the Aces and the Liberty.
08:13 That's kind of the matchup that everyone was anticipating all year.
08:19 Aces Wings, I like Rike Ngubowale.
08:22 I like Sattel.
08:23 I can never know.
08:24 I never know how to pronounce her last name.
08:30 Sabali or something like that.
08:32 Yeah.
08:33 Yeah.
08:34 OK.
08:35 I think they're good, just not good enough.
08:38 You got Asia Wilson, who's unstoppable.
08:41 Then you have Kelsey Plume.
08:42 You have Chelsea Gray.
08:44 You have Jackie Young, who are all all-star, all-star caliber players.
08:51 So I think that's pretty, I think that's going to swing in Las Vegas' favor very easily.
08:58 Sun and Liberty, that's actually a decent matchup.
09:01 I'm still going to lean towards New York, just because Breonna Stewart is, in my opinion,
09:07 the MVP this season.
09:08 And then Jonquell Jones has played better.
09:11 Then you got Benaji Laney.
09:13 Sabrina Ionescu, if she can be consistent, that would be really good.
09:17 And then Courtney Van Der Sloot, if she can continue to be a facilitator and then contribute,
09:22 you know, 13, 14 points a game, I think, you know, they'll come out on top.
09:28 And if I'm not mistaken, I believe it was Sabrina a few days ago took a shot at, you
09:33 know, some of the other New York basketball teams.
09:36 She said something like, "This is the best New York basketball in a long time," I believe.
09:42 You know, I think that's a little disrespectful to laymen.
09:45 Right.
09:46 I mean, she kind of has a point, like, in terms of this year, but historically, absolutely
09:52 not.
09:53 Oh yeah, absolutely not.
09:54 Easily the next.
09:56 But yeah.
09:58 And then, you know, finally, moving out of the NBA over to the NFL, Miami Dolphins took
10:03 home the win in week two over the Patriots, went into Gillette Stadium, you know, got
10:07 the win 24 to 17.
10:10 What are a few takeaways you have from that game?
10:12 Yeah, well, first, I got to mention, they took a win over your Patriots.
10:16 So I got to rub that in your face a little bit.
10:20 Yeah, didn't look as explosive as they did week one, but they're facing a harder defense.
10:26 So I anticipated it was going to be a little bit of a lower scoring game.
10:30 Raheem Mostert looked pretty good.
10:33 Tyreek didn't look as good, but I, you know, again, they're facing a more difficult secondary.
10:39 They're not playing, you know, JC Jackson.
10:44 So yeah, I mean, Tua still looks good.
10:47 Other than that under throw on Tyreek Hill that led to an interception.
10:51 I still believe as of right now, he's probably a top two quarterback in the league because
10:57 Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow still don't look that great.
11:01 So yeah, I have very high expectations for Miami.
11:05 If obviously if Tua can stay healthy, if they can stay consistent, because I remember last
11:11 year they won three games and lost three games.
11:14 They won five games, they lost five games.
11:16 And like, that's just like very streaky.
11:21 So yeah, if they can maintain that, I have them coming out of the AFCs as a on top.
11:27 Yeah, and touching on that last point about last season, their streakiness, I mean, most
11:33 of that had to do with Tua's health and all the concussions he went through.
11:37 And I mean, everybody's seen that play in preseason where he kind of fell back like
11:42 on his back instead of his head.
11:44 So hopefully that's something he's been working on a lot this offseason to prevent those injuries.
11:49 Right.
11:50 You know, taking a little more in depth look at the box score, you were saying Raheem Mostert
11:55 had a nice game, 18 carries, 121 yards for two touchdowns.
12:00 And I think that's something that we didn't see as much with the Dolphins last year.
12:04 They were super reliant on Hill and Waddle to go out there and get 250 plus yards a game
12:11 between the two of them.
12:13 And now they're a little more lenient on the run game.
12:17 Right.
12:18 And I think that's definitely going to help them.
12:19 It's going to alleviate some pressure off Tua.
12:22 So I like seeing them incorporate the run game a little bit more.
12:26 And then, you know, I got I got to talk about my Patriots for a second.
12:30 Mac Jones, man.
12:31 I mean, week one against the Eagles, he came out and he looked like a different quarterback.
12:36 I thought he played very well in week one for his standards.
12:40 And then, you know, he comes out in week two, and he's just he's just not making the right
12:45 plays.
12:46 Sometimes he's looking over the middle.
12:47 He's forcing things on third down.
12:50 You know, I really think the Patriots have a very good defensive unit and it's just let
12:55 down by the offense.
12:57 No, I completely agree.
12:59 As a Steelers fan, I can completely relate to having like a heavily defensive team with
13:04 a terrible offense.
13:07 And Mac Jones, I really thought after week one, I'm like, OK, well, here he comes.
13:11 Maybe, you know, he'll redeem himself after last season.
13:14 But we're just going to have to see.
13:16 Yeah.
13:17 I think the Dolphins will come out of the AFC East, like you were saying, especially
13:22 after Rogers goes down.
13:25 I was pretty high on the Jets with Rogers, but, you know, Zach Wilson under center isn't
13:29 exactly the best look.
13:31 Right.
13:32 What do you think about the Bills, though?
13:35 You think I have them in the mix with the Dolphins, but like I just can't trust Josh
13:41 Allen that much.
13:42 Well, you know, I'm curious when you said to it looks like the second best quarterback
13:46 in the NFL right now, who's your number one?
13:51 I have to take a look at my my QB ratings, probably like I know this is crazy to say,
13:56 but maybe like Justin Herbert, just because like as of right now, I can't put Patrick
14:01 Mahomes, I can't put Joe Burrow.
14:03 Lamar Jackson looked better this week than he did, you know, after week one.
14:08 But yeah.
14:11 So yeah, I'd probably put to a one or two, probably probably one over Herbert.
14:16 Yeah, but jumping back to your question to me about the Bills, I agree, I think they're
14:20 going to be right there with the Dolphins.
14:22 I mean, I would it's going to be a toss up.
14:25 It's really going to come down to those divisional matchups and who can come out of there with
14:28 those.
14:29 And, you know, you have two quarterbacks that are essentially exact opposites.
14:34 You got two on one hand who's known for his accuracy and his underthrowing.
14:38 And then you got Josh Allen, who's got maybe the best arm in the league and tends to overthrow
14:43 guys for interceptions.
14:44 Right.
14:45 Or just make like careless turnovers.
14:48 Absolutely.
14:49 I'm not sure what weeks they play, but those matchups will end up determining that division.
14:55 Definitely.
14:56 I would agree with you.
14:59 Well, that wraps up episode two, unless you have anything else to say here.
15:03 No, that's it for me.
15:05 Thank you guys for tuning in again.
15:08 My name is Jay Narmont.
15:09 I'm here with Anthony Pasciola.
15:11 Pasciola.
15:12 Pasciola.
15:13 All right, I'm going to get it one day.
15:15 All right.
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