How to Scale Your Agency After Work | Episode 082

What's good, everybody? You should boy, Cal game face Lee and it's me, Warren Shaw. And we are officially live on millions, y'all. That's right. The baseline NBA podcast is officially live. Just go to millions.co and go to our profile, the baseline NBA podcast to check out more dope content curated just for you. And if you're looking to book with us, collaborate us or get with us in any way, that's the spot to make sure that that happens y'all. Absolutely. So be sure to go to millions dot CEO. You already know keep it real here. The baseline NBA podcast. You boy Cal game face Lee and my man Warren Shaw hit us up on millions. Don't miss out. This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Welcome everybody. You're tuned to the baseline. We are focusing our attention towards NBA all star weekend or NBA all star break. But there is something going on in the air out in the Queen City. There is a buzz I guess is probably the best way to put it because there is a team on a come up that has decided to enter themselves into the Eastern Conference chat and maybe up end things as to what people had previously predicted about this specific team. But I think it's a good thing because now we're talking about another team that wants to make a how we say change the narrative about what people perceive as their team that organization and ultimately the future of the franchise. And I think it's always good when we're in that space, especially by the time we get to NBA all star weekend because it means we get to look forward to good basketball on the back end stretch. So as always, man, we're going to go and rot the red carpet to my right hand man, www.Shotsport side. Nebby Koonopee and see my man, Mr. Warren Shaw, ripping out a Fort Lauderdale Florida. What's good, my friend? Obviously, the cold has not relieved itself of us up here. Hopefully things are a little bit better down where you are. Absolutely. I appreciate you asking for sure. And we're back up into the mid 60s. So, you know, nice, cool, but relaxing temperatures, nothing like these sub-zero things and windshield as a shallow. But I'll tell you one team who's hotter than Fish Grease as you alluded to, was a Charlotte Hornets. And I'm excited to be able to put the narrative as you alluded to, talk about a team that we don't often spend a lot of time with, especially on the positive side. So I'm glad the things are trending in that direction for us here. I'm in a couple of the news and nose before we get to all star break. Yeah, absolutely. And of course, you know, once we get past NBA trade deadline, that means it's our favorite time of the year as well too. And by we out season, right? So we got to kind of dig a little bit into some of the potential buyout players and maybe some possible destinations that they go to and hopefully may change the discussion of how they can help enable or bolster a couple of teams that are either playoff or or contending in the NBA and see if they're going to be an ultimate asset. So as always, we appreciate you and yours. But I'll put it all up with this this week. Be sure to get in my man shot at the Warren Shaw. You can get at me a game basically the shows Twitter handle at NBA baseline. You can find us on all the major platforms. You can also go to www.thebaselinenba.com. Don't only check out this episode, but also all the episodes that we previously rolled out for your listening pleasure. And if you catch us on the YouTube channel and you see the blue and white logo down in the lower part of the screen, we like to say hello to you when yours and the 19 media group family always running these content streets. Be sure to go to www.19mediagroup.com. Channel to check us, but also the great family of content creators that are a part of the 19 media group family sports culture, entertainment. You name it. 19 media group has got it. So don't be afraid to enter into that space man and you know, you're definitely going to enjoy a lot of the good stuff that our people's be dropping for you. All right. As we get right into it, man, we got to let you know this episode of the baseline NBA podcast is brought to you by prize picks. Shoot your shot on prize picks and get $50 instantly in lineups. When you play your first $5 lineup, that's right. Prize picks is now giving you $50 in lineups when you sign up and play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks makes every dunk, every dime and every board that much more exciting. So don't miss the chance to get started on America's number one app for sports picks. This basketball season, I've been having a blast making lineups. It's super simple and quick. Here's how it works. Just pick more or less and at least two player projections. And if you get them right, you can cash in. I've been checking out projections for Yokeech, Jalen Brown and Cooper flag lately. And trust me, seeing your takes hit is the chef's kiss. You can also find your community on prize picks with the new social feeds feature. You can share prize picks with your friends and copy lineups from winners with a single click. Copy lineups you like or use them as inspiration for your own picks. You can even follow prize picks partners like us and tail or fade our picks with just one click. So what are you waiting for? Download the prize picks app today and use the code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code CLNS prize picks. It's good to be right. Coming up, Shawn and I break down the buzz that's happening out in the Queen City. Don't miss it here on the baseline. We are back, Cally Warnshaw based on NBA podcast and the big topic of conversation has to be the team that's repping out of Charlotte. The beginning of this season, it was really a foregone conclusion about whether or not this team was going to argue would be the worst team, not just in the Eastern Conference, but probably in all of the NBA. And it's been such a struggle to see the Charlotte Hornets put themselves in a place where there's a level of relevancy for them to be able to contend, not just to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but arguably just to be a team that's contending to be in the play in picture or be playing worthy. But as of recently, the Charlotte Hornets are not nine game winning streak. This is the longest winning streak since 1999, man. And this is meaning that this Charlotte team has found something. They are clicking in all the right places and they're one way, they're one win away as we're recording this podcast from setting the all time franchise record of consecutive wins, which is 10 games. And that's been almost 30 years, right? Like this, this has been more than 20 years, excuse me, that this team has been able to achieve this, this feat. So clearly, something's happening out there in Charlotte. We've got to talk about it. And to our team that arguably was among one of the worst year and a year out over the last five years in the Eastern Conference. And now, finally, find themselves as a tenth seed, 25 and 28. It's a lot to take in, Shaw, but I think much of what we can take in and basically can digest if this is, hey, something's good happening in Charlotte and they're making things happen. I'm really excited as I alluded to in the intro to see that this has flipped. And we've gone a long way from even the beginning of the year where Lamello was involved in trade rumors. And then, as we've had a loss to locker room and Shaw, as the Lamello weren't getting along. And now, the sudden we're in the midst of this great winning streak. Guys, we record right by the time this comes out, they will be gearing up or might have already played the Detroit Pistons, who is obviously the biggest test at the Eastern Conference for a squad like this. And if they can tie their all-time franchise winning streak with 10 games, we'll see what that goes. Has a kind of head into all star weekend. They also have a big game coming up again with Atlanta Hawks, who they are chasing in the playing conversations. Well, too, potentially for home court advantage in a playing potential matchup if things were to kind of stay in this in the same kind of a lingo limbo right now. So this is a big week for the Hornets, but the last two, three, two, three weeks have been immense. And a lot has changed in a positive direction for them. Trollsley has figured out a way to get this team to buy in defensively and has found a little bit of a shift on something with some of the rotation as well, too, which I find to be immense. So some of the things the Hornets have always done right from being in the season, they've always been a good offensive team this year. And we had some early stretches early on. I think they started off like maybe four in two or whatever the case to be. Like they were okay in the beginning and then they kind of like went into the crapper again and a little had another injury, et cetera, et cetera. But offensively, they've always been good so far this season. And rebounding wise, they've been all, they've been pretty good this year, regardless of what the wins and loss records were ultimately saying throughout the course of the year. And now it's shifted to where the defense is now catching up to the offense. And it's just been an amazing sort of watch over here to last two through the weeks. Yeah, I think one of the things that really stand out to me, and I know we can talk about this in a few moments because I think it, it, it, it's now resonating through what you were saying before about whether or not Trollsley actually had the locker room. You know, one of the things that I think took place when they drafted Lamellal Ball is they were looking for an exciting basketball player. Somebody that people can be like, wow, you know, kind of like their Jama rant, right? And listen, with all of that talent and all that athleticism and excitement, that's good. But how does that translate collectively for a team that struggles to win basketball games? Right? And I think the formula to that level of success, you know, you can go back to when they had Kimber Walker. He wasn't the most athletic, but he was a winner. And he elevated a lot of very marginally good Charlotte Hornet teams with that back back then it were to Bobcats, but he basically elevated them to play above their shoulders, right? Like this team just basically competed and won. I think this is where to your point shot, Charles Lee has kind of put the bug in Lamello's ear. Like do you want to be known as like, you know, part of the ball family and this is the ball family brand, you know, a lot of sizzle, a lot of fizz but no sizzle, you know, and a lot of that is the numbers may look good, but if it's not translating to this team being relevant or winning, this is why you're gonna continually be put on a trading block, right? Like this is why you're gonna always be in those conversations. And now we're starting to see where Lamello is having an impact because he doesn't have to show that a low to score the basketball like he did in his rookie season. A lot of that responsibility is now disseminated through other guys who are showing you what happens when you do have a good ball distribute, a like Lamello ball feeding them the rock, getting them in their spots. So Con Canipple is having an awesome rookie year. That happens because Lamello ball is not, you know, holding a ball, all Canipple gets to the spot, Lamello is hitting them. Brandon Miller, marched, marked with injuries, you know, an early outset of his season, we're now finally seeing what this tandem kind of looks like. And I will say this, Brandon Miller, you know, from last year and maybe even his rookie season is showing you a level physicality that like, you can play, you can punch above his waist for his size. You know, this was one of the things we questioned about Victor Wemond-Yama and you can see the difference. But he comes out and he shows you that he can play physically with some of the other wing players and some of the other guys on, you know, on formidable Fort, Fort Court teams. That says something to the rest of the guys in the locker room. You know what I'm saying? He's got like, what he's losing like 20 pounds on, on down in the blocks and somebody's guys and he's still going into post-ups, he's still fighting for rebounds. So there's something in the air with the way Charley is instilling in them. And to your point, defensively, I think that's what, that's the part of it that comes out of it, that effort defensively is now translating to making things look even better for what they do offensively. So it's all coming together. Whether or not it's gonna, you know, mean something when they do play against the big dogs, right? The pistons, you know, the nicks. I think those stretcher games are really gonna kind of be a tell tale about whether or not this is gonna be sustainable for the rest of the year. But I gotta tell you, none of these teams are gonna sleep on the Hornets. They're going to respect them because this nine game winnest week is not a fluke. And if this is something that is transferable, it's definitely a good sign that, you know, maybe this is worth keeping this team another year and seeing what Charley can do with them. If they are showing you that this is how they really do want to play basketball, this is how they want to win basketball games moving forward. - And he said a lot of things that, you know, I think we need to follow up on it. And I think why I want to start is in the increased play of Lamello and understanding, yeah, does he over-drouble at times still? I think that's inherently who will be. And there'll be times where they'll have to kind of rein that back in. But for the most part, he is very much sharing the basketball. You know, and even when this nine game winning streak, he has not been the leading scorer in nine of the games, right? And like that has been this, you know, committee, if you so to speak, well, where it's Brandon Miller, where it's Miles Bridges, Lamello, Alexi Knipple as well, all those guys are shared the scoring load. But then they also have this toughness in terms of how they rebound with Calkbrenner and Musa Diabate, like those guys come in and play their proverbial roles. They're not like feeding me in the post, you know, get me the ball type thing so they say, well, we'll get the offensive rebounds, get us a couple of extra positions and make sure that we can kind of keep things alive in that way. And one of the things that, you know, has really, really impressed me about this is the notion of what you said with Brandon Miller. Like he has been maligned with a couple of injuries in the early season, even this season as well. But he's kind of fire, bro. Like he's not like just like Ho-Hum, just kind of too cool for school. Like no, he's out there, he's trying to win. And I love that. You know, I just like, how can you not? And if he's in the mold and say, I think he was gonna say that Paul George is like his OG and somebody who we really appreciated. He has obviously the similarity in terms of the overall size, maybe not even all the strength just yet. But he has some dog in him right now and Paul George in the end. I remember those Paul George days in the end and that's where he made his bones as like this gritty defender whose offense kind of came around. I think Miller's the opposite is offense is made a little out of his defense, but he has the fire to win. And those are things that I think the owners can hang their hat on as we push into the rest of this regular season. And what you talked about sustainability. And I think that's a great point here now to kind of talk about during this nine game win streak. Like what are some of the things that have changed dramatically? One of them obviously we've talked about already defensive rating. So their defensive rating for the entire season is 18. But during this win streak, they moved up to fourth. Their net rating was only plus two. They've been plus third team. And they've been beaten the snot out of teams for the most part during this nine game win streak. And they have a lot of signature wins even outside of this nine game win streak. Early in January, they beat the crap out of OKC and OKC. They beat Denver, they beat San Antonio. Like signature wins that make you say, you know what? Yeah, this is for something for real. Something else you say to the cow that I thought was really interesting is if they are able to sneak in, they are not going to be anybody. Oh, I can't wait to play them. I can't wait to play this young team because they're young in an experience. They have firepower, they have grit, they have defense. And it is all working in a way and coalescing the way that makes me very like interested, you know, kind of raising my brow. And one last thing before I let you jump in, Copprenna got hurt as a rookie got hurt, you know, a couple of about six weeks ago or so to speak. The Abate had to kind of like step in and take those starters, men to sit be well. When Copprenna came back, he didn't pow, he just said, hey, this is working now, the Abate is now the starter. Since the Abate has been starting, especially during this night game winning streak, he's been averaging a double, double, he's clogging up the paint and it's just been really wonderful in essence to see. And they are again, they are rebounding the basketball. So I'm just excited about this one this team and can't wait to see if they're able to push forward to shout out to our gosh, he's Serrano. It's been a lamello fan for a very long time. For a very long time, right? Absolutely. Keep the graphic up there. And for those who are listening to us via through audio on the podcast, just a highlight what Shaw was talking about. This team during their win streak has the fourth best defensive rating. They are first in defensive rebounding percentage. They're holding the opposition to seventh best in field goal percentage and their net rating is a plus 13.2. So one of the things that I think I appreciate about what you put up here Shaw and the thing that really sticks out to me because we're putting the emphasis on defense. And I know we talk about defensive rating and the fact that they are obviously defending, defensively rebounding the shit out of the basketball. To me, the opposition field goal percentage stands out. And here's the reason why. When we're talking about this team possibly getting into the plane. We don't know if whether that is or isn't going to be the case. To me, what this comes down to when I see a team that is putting into kind of effort in defending the basketball, it's about the efficiency, the effectiveness against how you are stopping other teams from getting quality shots, right? And if this team is going to show that to you, knowing that they have in their pocket the ability to score the basketball, but to be able to defend in a way that is forcing the opposition to speed up their clock or to probably play slower than what they want to or to make reckless passes or to jack up shots that normally would be open against other teams that just don't seem to defend hard enough. If you're seeing that from this team, right? That's exactly to your point, Charlotte, reason why they're going to be a problem. Should they get into the plane or should they become a playoff worthy team? Because of the fact that they have the capability to do that. It's not necessarily a fluke. You know, sometimes you see some streaks that teams have and it's all well and good and we highlight it and we make it seem like, you know, we talk about that like with the clippers, right? The clippers that, you know, if they get on it defensively, we should start watching them and how many years in a row, right? Two, three years in a row, we keep talking about, oh, if Lou has this team playing like this going into the playoffs, you know, watching it, you don't want to be messing with them if they're going to defend and know what happens. They like, they just completely lose all of their defense when they play against a good team in a seven game series. But what we're talking about here with the Hornets is these are young players who are now seeing why it's necessary to defend the way that they're defending, to play that kind of style of basketball. And listen, we saw this last year with the Detroit pistons. When the Detroit pistons started to figure out how to better defend because they knew that they weren't as great offensively, but the offense will come. It will get opportunities to score the basketball. But when you can't stop a basketball team during critical moments, when you can't prevent a team from getting to their spots and getting whatever shots they want, you don't defend and you don't rebound that you don't prevent second opportunities, that's when it goes all bad for some of these teams. And the problem is, is you're trying to do that through an 82 game schedule. So for me, that often, the opposition field goal percentage sticks out more than anything because they're proving to me that when they play the kind of defense they're capable of playing and we'll see if it matches up against the better teams. But if you're holding those defensive teams to a less than expected field goal percentage, it's telling me that they're gonna have to put up more shots. They're gonna have to deb-- They're gonna have to rebound the basketball more. They're gonna have to give themselves more opportunities. And the more opportunities that they take away from that opposing team, the better the chances are for the Charlotte Ornits to walk away with victories. And I think that that is an awesome thing that doesn't get noticed or doesn't get spoken to, but we're seeing it in this win streak. - And for me, one of the things about that defense is like, it's not this, hey, we're gonna turn you over, type B defense, so they're speeding you up. Like they're sitting with you. with you in the pocket, right? In the half-core and just defending for the most part. They're not forcing a lot of turnovers, wish you knew you always wish you could, but right now they're only 28th and turnovers forced. So, it's not happening from that lens, but they are blocking shots, they're fourth in the league in terms of block shots, but for the most part, again, they're just playing good solid defense. And yes, as a young team, what do you expect there are some lapses? I was watching that in a hot-skam, and you know what Johnson is a monster. He like, we talked about him a couple of weeks ago, we know that and their size was like, I'm like, stop the ball, stop the ball. Johnson, which is rebound and goes great to the rim, and then you'd see them kind of looking arms around, like the Mellos, hey, I thought you were gonna get 'em. Those things still happen, especially in Linus where the bots here at Concrin are not out there, but ultimately they are trending in the right direction. And one of the things though, back to the offense, or back to the overall team chemistry thing, is like, the Mellos deserves a lot of credit for this. The front office has a lot of credit in terms of their ability to draft and create free agency, to get free agent to this roster. They made a trade here, I think we're really gonna help them, you know, getting Copi-Y, my former young son from Chicago, and he's going to be able to give them some ball creation off the bench, but also some deep level scoring off the bench as well too. Copi-Y can get hot. So I really like that move for them. I think I wish they might have kept Conley just for the veteran presence, 'cause they waived, I think, Conniton, and so there's not like this shoe, like real veteran on the team right now, but I think they did Conley a solid by that. But what they've been able to do, especially with some of the younger guys, and rookies like Conniton, and one of the things here that has just blown me away all year is Conn is, I think, already been leading rookies and three pointers for a friendly rookies season. Like, he's knocking it down. I was watching the broadcast, and he's already had 15 games this year already. Not even before all server, 15 games already, where he's hit five, three or more. But the thing about Conniton is not, he's not just a three point shooter. He's a movement basketball player. He can score at all levels. He can drive, he can kick. He's not selfish, he can rebound. He can take the rebound and drive it up to four as well, too, in terms of the play creation. There's a lot that Conniton does for this team as a connected piece that's not just scoring, and I think for those who are initiated, they might have just saw him at Duke and Todd. He was maybe that, he's gonna be a glorified score. I listened to a podcast much earlier in the year when he was starting to have success, and they're like, well, a lot of people thought he was gonna be more like a Clay Thompson-ish. So to speak, right? Like maybe not that a level of a leap. But like, hey, he's more of a shooter. You know, he can do a little, maybe a couple of things off the balance, but not too too much. He's probably then, somebody says, well, is he more like Devin Booker? Because of the dribbling and the ability to kind of mid-range hits, some floaters and things like that. And I don't know where the comp's really lie, but he's not, he's not either one of those things I think right now, but what he is is really good. And he's making it work for Hornet's team that needs him to be this connective tissue, especially as a physical and tough defender. Again, he's not a knockdown defender, but he's a tough defender. And he's smart as well too. I love what Khan has been able to do for Hornets. - I find it interesting that we ranged, you know, the wrath of Khan. And I like that. That should, you should probably send that down there to the people in Charlotte, man. You gotta have some signs for that stuff, man. If people were pointed ears. - Should people with some pointed ears for our man of Conconniple? What I think I love more than anything about Conniple is how calm and sound he is when the basketball is in his hands. I say that because when you have someone as frenetic and as athletically freakish, or not let me not say athletically freakish, when I say ball freakish as Lamello ball, man, it's exciting as Mellelball. Sometimes you just need a person who is kind of a calming presence that is very stealthy, very judicious in his approach, Daly dribbles, and you notice that. You know, he's got some game to his dribble, but he's very, very sound and very polished. Would be probably the reason why he does not turn the basketball over, you know, as much or a lot. And I think there's a lot of confidence and trustfully allowing him to have that ball in his hands, which makes the Charlotte Hornets a dual threat. And I think having that part of it, along with what you were saying before, the ability for him to master the mid-range in his rookie season is just phenomenal, right? Like because it's usually an inner-out scenario, right? Like because the mid-range seems to become this obsolete thing. And I remember we were having in our previous shows that everyone is loving the fact that the mid-range is now being resurrected. And aptly so, because for most of these guys that come in, if they're not hitting threes, they're just seeing the bench, right? But you gotta be able to hit these mid-rangeers, right? Because when the threes are not falling, you gotta get points somehow. The one thing I think that stands out for me about Khan is because he plays with physicality, he gets to the free throw line. And I don't care who you are. If you want to be in that conversation of being one of the best scores in the game, the most deadly scores in the game, you cannot do it by just only making shots, right? Maybe if you're Steph Curry, cool. If you were Clay Thompson, cool. And you can get away with that, but you've got to get to the free throw line. 'Cause if you've got other guys that are talented that need the rock, you're not gonna be able to jack up 15, 20 shots unless you're like the Charlotte ones right now, which is probably the best rebounding basketball team in the NBA. But if you don't have that to your arsenal, you have to be efficient with how many shots you can be able to make with the limited number of takes that you do. And seeing Khan can be able to do that and still be physical, get to the free throw line, it sets a pattern, it sets a trend. The guys like the Brandon Miller's, the Miles Bridges, these guys know, get to the free throw line, force the other team to foul, get those extra points. And I think that speaks volumes with the mentality and the approach team that the teams take is how you attack the opposition. And seeing Khan can do that in his rookie season is absolutely phenomenal. So yeah, I'd make to your point, 'cause I didn't see it, but to your point, this is what we saw with Devin Booker. People weren't talking about it like that, but this is what you saw from Devin Booker, why he elevated himself to skyrocketed in the conversation of being one of the best scores in the game of basketball because it wasn't just his ability of hitting that mid range, it was also his ability to force the team to foul because they couldn't figure out how to stop him from getting to his spots. - Yeah, and one of the things the Hornets can improve on is I think that's the great point, is their overall ability to get to the line because they are heavy three point shooting team or a jump shooting team in a lot of ways, and they don't have a traditional postup presence as I alluded to. So Bridges and Miller are probably the most physical of the guys, it's Kinepple maybe third, outside of the bigs, right? In terms of like driving and trying to get to the hoops, but the Hornets are 20 second and free throws drawn, but they are third, I think it free throw percentage, right? Like they shoot it. Like if they get there, they're not gonna them down, right? Yeah, I think five, six guys are over 80% on the year. Bridges is somebody too who's just still freakishly up. Like he's doing things in the air. - He's killing the nervousness. - Just think of the fear that are just, again, you can marvel at, you know, and he did some stuff in the game, I was watching him and I was like literally the guy jumped at him and he was like, let me just wait, oh no, I'm still gonna dunk it. Like he moved in, he could put it in his body, just out home to dude, he was able to dunk it without even just like kind of laying things up. So there's a lot right happening in Charlotte right now. And I gotta give that general manager, you know, a lot of credit and Charles Lee, a lot of credit for the things that are trending in such a positive direction for them in a way now. And in a season that is very wide open. And if they're able to get in, we have a lot of season to go and injuries in the whole nine. I just have to reiterate, this is not somebody you're excited against. Yes, you're like, oh, well, they don't have the experience and that is true, but you would not be excited about seeing this hornets team because they can they kind of don't care, right? They give that like out with their, they're almost too, too, too, too inexperienced and too ignorant to some degree to be like, listen, well, why should this matter? We out here, we go letter real. - Zero F's. Zero F's to give, right? They're playing with house money. - They're playing with house money. - So there's one last point I wanna throw out there a shot and I'm glad that, you know, we're kind of talking about Miles Bridges. Listen, I was excited to see Miles Bridges be a part of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team. I thought that him coming out of college, man, he was probably the one person that I was so excited to look forward to seeing play basketball because it was so much opportunity for him to thrive. And he did, right? Like in his first two seasons, he was like arguably one of the more exciting basketball players and he was kind of putting a spotlight on the Charlotte Hornets. Then he had the troubles that he had off the court, which I really think hampered. And I don't know if whether or not he was in a good space, where he felt like he was with the organization and where he felt like with the game of basketball in and of itself. And I gotta give the Charlotte Hornets kudos, man, they stuck with this kid, right? There was so many opportunities. I think the Charlotte Hornets could have probably figured out a way to move on from him or to move him. I don't know if whether or not that had or hadn't happened if things just didn't work out, maybe they didn't get what they like or whatever the case may be. But Miles Bridges has proven time and time again that he is worth his keep on any basketball team that he plays with. He is giving you exactly what he has been giving you since he came into the league. And now we're seeing that what he's giving you for the Charlotte Hornets is exactly what they need. And we were talking about that level of physicality, right? like. Nobody brings it with that like that at the best level for the Charlotte owners right now Then Miles bridges, which I think is part of where that you know Infectiousness is is is you know now landing on a Brandon Miller and Landing on the the conca nipples in those guys and they're seeing your front court guys going Diobate right like with his double doubles They're physical double doubles, but that's because you're seeing that level of physicality from a guy like Miles Bridges And that's kind of always been there, but it's just never been spotlighted now It's being spotlighted because the Charlotte owners are winning basketball games And he has always been an intricate part to that right now He's lighting it up into this this this win streak But I got to give him his flowers man because look most guys would have probably wilted in this scenario situation Maybe be unsatisfied that they're you know the attention's not being drawn to him But he has stayed true to the path the hornets have stayed true to him and I think now we're starting to see the you know The it all bear fruit which I think is a good thing and again This is this is probably during the win streak But I think by the time that we look at the the body of work through the course through the rest of this season We're gonna say mom bridges is was an intricate part to the Charlotte Hornets team Exceeding expectations which they already are as far as their win totals and everything like that They're gonna wind up doing it and I think he's gonna be a big reason why that's the case Yeah, and I can only color it from this land right We are not talking about what he does or what he did was alleged of doing off the court Should be from the basketball sense. He's been able to fit in the hornets have been able to meld and put whatever all that was kind of all behind them and like for all intents of purposes from what I've gleaned and heard He's been in he's been an amazing person since that incident and a great person within the locker room And has a pretty good standing around the league in terms of like you know his rapport with that again Whatever happened off the court that's not for us here to to judge here on the baseline We're took strictly talking about his on the court and chemistry fit with the Charlotte Hornets team that is clearly on the rise You know and for him and guys who have been here before when they were losing like this is amazing and It's very easy for a veteran guy because at this stage what he's like seven years into his career Right it's easy for a veteran guy to like hey, I've been here through the hard times and I'm gonna Sock up all of the success. It's like I need to be the driving force of that I think both he and Lamello have recognized that you know what it's better when we do it together with friends And we share the the responsibility So if my numbers don't look exactly the same Lamell is not averaging 30 a game because we know he could you know But if he's that averaging 30 a game and bridges not averaging 22 23 a game So that Ren and Miller and Knapple and guys like that can also be involved That just goes to show you that things are heading in the right direction, which I think we continue to look to Absolutely so you know again, man There's a buzz going on in Charlotte and you don't want to get stung if you're the opposition But certainly you definitely want to be a part of that a team that looks like they're giving us a lot of honey They're giving a given is a lot of sweetness You know to to watching what they like to do out there on the basketball court and we are all right with that You're tuned to the baseline Cali Warren Shaw discussing the hot button tops of the NBA coming up We'll have a little discussion about Players that should be available in the buyout market and what destinations we think they may be headed to or can at least Go to to enable those teams to take another step forward to possibly that chase for the chip. Don't miss it here on the baseline We are back Cali Warren Shaw baseline NBA podcast time now to get into buyout in the waiver market, right? like so NBA trade deadline is done and While some teams obviously made some very big moves in in order to bolster their lineups There you know there were some teams that decided to stand pat and I think sometimes people get that Misconstrued that if you don't make a play during the NBA trade deadline it means that you're not trying to do anything to improve your roster Which is not necessarily the case? There's usually a strategy by the by the organization by the front office that their best play maybe to acquire certain assets via through the buyout market through the waiver wire And and probably the reason being is because you don't want to mess up what or he has You know you in a position where you're successful You're probably in the playoffs or you're playing worthy and you're just trying to tweak the lineup a little bit Maybe add a little bit of depth add maybe some veteran presence Put an element in there that might allow this team to take one step closer one step further You know, which is the goal is to compete in the NBA playoffs So there's a few players that are out there showing. I know that you you kind of highlighted and elicit them and Listen these are guys that have been in the league quite a long time one is an NBA champion The other is is arguably one of the best you know scores out there that's available And it's just kind of interesting because across the gamut the idea is is that these are ball handler type players That are available via through the buyout market and we're just wondering you know Hey, is there not a team that could use an additional ball handler an additional floor leader That can come off the bench and essentially help would be an asset You know for a team that is in contention and may need that additional help so guys like Chris Paul Lonzo ball Chris Middleton came Thomas and Mike Conley all which you guys have handled the rock can score the rock in some way shape or form But again, they're available and so what do we make about this particular market usually in the buyout market? There's like a range between that court and front court players But I think the fact that these guys stand out more than anything Chris Middleton being you know obviously I think like the tallest of all of them But you know outside of that man What do we make of the opportunities here in this buyout market in the potential where some of these guys can go? Yeah, I mean, and I would just amended from the lens of like this is guys who I listed the but market is gonna potentially include Like I'm here in Nercut to make it bought out in Utah Maybe Chris Boucher who was also in Utah. So like those are two big bigger names if you're big guys in terms of size You know could go and help some others not sure if Marvin Badgley's going to stick in Dallas You know as somebody who's at the six 10-inch range so to speak and obviously it's been in journeyman around the league So you know like there's a lot of different different names out here I've just thought about some guys who like hey, we all recognize no clear And they also in San Antonio somebody that people are talking about maybe I should be ultimately gets bought out but Lonzo ball is somebody who I think going to say might be looking at our our guy Jake Fisher who've had on the pod Has indicated. I know I think it is sub-stack on YouTube that you know the warriors are gonna convert Spencer salary Into a full-time contract to create a create a roster spot and that may allow them to sign Lonzo ball Maybe right and for Lonzo that's that's a nice potential landing spot for him to get behind the two-legged of Chris Paul And I mean sorry the two-legged of Steph Curry rather And then ultimately have a chance to at least compete right and have a chance at the playoffs this year I don't know if there's any other teams out there that would look at Lonzo and that way But it would talk when it comes to these point guards. It's gonna be the same usual suspects I think you sin is it gonna be a They're gonna inquire about anybody who has you know play creating capabilities, especially with Van Blieh now for presumably the The entirety of the year so I don't know if Lonzo or Chris Paul would make sense for them But that's somebody a team I'd be looking out for if any of these guards kind of Become available or not that they are available whether or not But what you know that's something a team wants ultimately try to bring in the guy that really confused me go ahead I know I was gonna I was gonna ask you what do you think about Christmas in with Goldist a Yeah, I don't know. I mean a nice Because because Butler is gone for the rest of the year Situation there and you know and again if they have the roster spot I think the middle 10 we make more sense for them then then maybe Lonzo ball But you know, I'm not my dumb leave you right and they'll figure out what they want to do You know with Johnny coming to now trade it off to Atlanta. I think with the in the case of middle 10 though He's somebody like he very much. He as I that's been my to draw my been bang is like he could probably go home again You know from the walk. He just wanted to lay. Hey, you know what come on. You're not gonna help us from Tanking the situation come on back, you know, give you honest some good vibes You know as as a yes a former teammate. So I think Milton could he did say he said he said what did he say? He says legends don't don't don't run they attract they attract. Yeah, yeah bring back your boy You know what I'm saying he was part of that legendary run, right? Yeah, I I don't know I have no I'm not sourcing any of that as just something I think is middle to word of play again this year He might end up back in Milwaukee, but again a team like Golden State potential utilizing I think the Celtics potential utilizing like middle 10 as well too, you know veteran guy Especially if you know whatever ends up happening with with Adam But just as some potential pseudo insurance there on on the wing Milton is not the score the after assignments was but you know again as the ability to get hot at times But the name that was the biggest surprise for a lot of people I think was camp Thomas and him being released by the Brooklyn That's and now his ability to try to go anywhere he wants to after betting on himself and now the dinner shooter means or all all over social media with camp Thomas has to kind of echo yes, right and does he want to go somewhere and be this Just gunner and I watch him at times and Brooklyn this year and I was I my guy like what are you doing and I've been somebody who's like I've been trying to rule from because I think there's a There should always be a skill, a place for somebody with his skill set. But, and you're just so singularly focused, like you're not even trying to pass the ball, unless you are triple teamed and jumped and all, I have no way, and now you just kind of throw it backwards, like into outer space. Like that can't be the way he matriculates with whatever situation he ends up with next, or he will find himself playing in overseas basketball somewhere. I think he's very talented, but very disappointed with how he handled himself in Brooklyn this year in addition to obviously all the injuries as well, too. So anyway, that's a lot, but yeah, I think Cam Thomas can stick somewhere where they need some bench scoring. He can't be going somewhere, he's going to start doing some things. You think that Cam Thomas is the most attractable of the ones that you know, that you highlighted and mentioned, or do you see him as the wild card? I see him as a wild card, and I say that because as, to your point, you know, he is a lightning rod, right? He reminds me a lot of like campaign. He reminds me of, you know, back when Isaiah Thomas was first on to come up. At some point, he's going to have to control that part of him. And I think that is what makes it hesitant for other coaches and organizations to say we want to bring him on there, not because they don't think that they can get him in a space to play within the style of basketball that the team is playing. But the problem is that that's what he believes has gotten him to this point to even be noticed. So then now to change that somewhere, you know, now for the remainder of the basketball season, he may wind up becoming an obsolete player, especially because the agenda for him is, is he's betting on himself saying that I can score the basketball. What's ironic is is that the NBA down was in such a space where scoring the basketball is not a problem when it comes to your starting and lineup and roster. It's probably not even a problem if you go eight, nine, ten deep. Some of these guys that you got on the roster already can score the basketball. So then what we're saying is is what is that place, Cam Thomas? Like what are the other things that he can do that can ingratiate himself to being an asset to a team that's going to take him on a flyer? If not injury, that's going to prevent, you know, that would basically say it's necessary to bring him on to a roster, especially for those teams that are playing in play. Off or contending. Right. And I think whatever his team is telling him, you know, if I was advising, I'd say, hey, let's look for a winning situation where we can go here and we build the brand, right? Show that I can be part of a team concept and just do the things that the team needs me to do and if they need me to score, then so be it. But not feel like I just, because I touched up all like it's got to go up, right? And I think that's, there's a very find a lineage in I think within that. The other thing is like, hey, if you could go to a team that maybe does not have playoff aspirations, but just needs what his skillset provides, well, can you go in there and not destroy the culture? Right? Because I mean, if I'm looking at in the end, I'm like, all right, well, sure, right now, you just traded math, run, Zubak is obviously a center. So he's not, you know, up there on the wing flying around. But what he and Carlisle get along, I think right now as currently constructed, he tried Carlisle, he should. So I don't know if that would be a fit, but I think in terms of what Indiana may need for the rest of the season, yeah, maybe and you take a flyer and you see what ends up happening there. You know, outside of that, like I'm struggling to find a, you know, a team that could as the culture in place, the coach in place, if you will, with the skillset that he currently provides, he's got a lot of brand management that he needs to do. I think over the next, you know, 25 games and maybe we see him size somewhere after the all star break, but I'm rooting for him, but I'm just unconcerned based on what we saw earlier this year. All right. So, so with, you know, with us saying, you know, Cam Thomas is the wild card, does it surprise you that we may not be talking about Chris Paul finding a landing spot before this is all said and done? And do we look back and say, man, whatever happened with that situation with the Los Angeles Clippers? Ultimately was, you know, the, the nail in the coffin to an ugly part of a legacy that he's really worked up and built as being, you know, arguably one of the best point guards that ever played a game of basketball, but to not be aligned with the team, especially a team that needs point guard or some form of leadership for playoff runs or anything like that. There's still, by now, you can be looking to him. I don't even think this is as much as age as much as it is who the person is or what style that person comes off as being on a, in a locker room into a team. Like it really sucks that we're doing this for a guy like Chris Paul because clearly, it would never be that kind of problem with Alabron James. It would never be a problem like that with a Clay Thompson. Why are we doing this would arguably want to, like he's going to be a first ballot hall of favor. Like, I don't even understand like why we're in this space right now. We're talking about Chris Paul, like he should be on a team. Regardless of whether you want to play him or not play him, he should be on a team because of all of that knowledge and everything that he brings to the table has to be an asset for a team that needs something extra for them to position themselves and compete for a championship. Yeah. I think with CP3, it's everything that you just said in terms of like the gravity he brings automatically with him into the locker room and whatever team wants to be able to navigate that. I want to say put up with, but navigate it. And there's only a handful of teams that might be willing to or even could where he could fit again as you aforementioned Houston. But could he get in there with Yudoka, you know, when KDs kind of tangential leadership. So to speak and dizzy, become an asset to that whether he's playing or not playing perhaps, right? Obviously there's the stuff, you know, even going back to the other L.A. team. What's going on in the Lakerl Lanner right now? And imagine him being coached by somebody he played with in J.D. And I just don't know. I just don't think that that's going to be a great mix ultimately. Then it brings down to potentially two teams he's already played for. And whether or not the spurs would be interested in bringing him back almost as kind of like a UD type of role. They don't necessarily eat him because Castle is soaring. Fox is playing great basketball. So he's not going to get a lot of minutes, but is it just, hey, well, we're happy to have you around or the one that everyone thrown around when it first for the first was sent away from the team in the ceremony. And then he says, hey, come back to OKC, maybe get a chip here with SGA and company. Like those, that's what I have, right? Maybe squint to see in Orlando situation, but with the vibes there, I'm not sure he'd go there and be an asset to that locker room in the way that they need him to be an asset because I think he'd go in there and maybe kind of complain like, hey, why don't you guys all have your, your verbal ish together. So those are the teams off the top of my head where I think he could potentially look at. I just don't know if there's a seamless fit for Chris Paul at this point. Yeah, man, it's just, it's tough, no matter how you slice it. You know, I'm hoping that this isn't the way that Chris Paul goes out. I just, I want there to be something on the ticker on the wire that just basically says, hey, he's with the team. And you know, I don't like seeing how coaches, you know, they intend or like, you know, the front office, they intend to make it seem like, we're going to find a way to play them. And then you see the coaches that barely like putting them out there on the basketball court on the floor. But I do think that there is a team that's going to wind up needing his, his, his expertise in some way, shape or form. It's hard to imagine with the, with the, the conferences and the playoff picture as open as it is, the road to the championship. Everybody needs a leg up. I know how you, you know, I know how I've been, I've been a staunch believer. It's like, listen, it's great to pick up veterans and sometimes they overdo it like too much veteran ship. You take away from the youthful input that, you know, you got to get these kids opportunity. You got to let them fail in order for them to eventually understand how to succeed. But there still has to be some level of guidance. And sometimes, especially with young coaches that don't know how to get into the heads of them, those young players seem to lean more to the veteran players to translate what the coaches are trying to get out of them. Chris Paul has had his way with those guys. And maybe there's a finite amount of coaches that, you know, he has a good relationship with that he can translate that language, that love language, sort of speak for them. And, but there's got to be one or two teams out there that's going to, that would need that. And I'm hoping that they don't, they don't allow what happened with the Clipper situation to dampen, you know, the overall picture, the overall goal that could actually wind up elevating them and not hinder them when it's all said and done. Yeah, I mean, very well said. And one like you rooting for Chris Paul to find a way that ends his career off with fitting of his station. It just is hard right now, I think, based on perception. And those things follow follow players around. And as way as he is, some of the stops have not been amazing. Despite, you know, maybe some of a lot of his teammates saying, Hey, we love them. But if you're up flashing with the head coach, and that just brings, you know, things into the locker room and I don't know what was going to happen at Clipper locker room. Not disparaging CP3 at all. I'd love to see him find a way to get into a championship level situation and, you know, try to get one, you know, as a player. And I think if he wants to be a coach or consultant or with a case of being, he probably will and can probably get a chip that way. But there's something about getting it when you're, you know, I mean, when you're still lacing them up for real, even if you were not the major cog of that championship. And I don't know if there's a spot where he could be major cog right now anywhere, but a couple of teams could at least kick the tires and see, Hey, what's your mentality right now over the last couple of months since the situation happened? Are you willing to kind of fit into what we have gone? going on, mentor some of our young guys, get some spot minutes here and see what we can do. Yeah, man. Listen, if the Indianapolis coast is going to give that kind of love to our man, Phillip Rivers, there's got to be an NBA team that's going to give that same kind of love to our man, Chris Paul, right? If there's anybody who I have no problem with ring chasing, it's Chris Paul, right? Like I don't have a problem with him signing on to a team. If the intent is that he's trying to jump on a team that's best equipped to the best path forward for him to possibly be a part of a championship team. I don't have a problem with it, just simply because it isn't as if he wasn't a part of or wasn't relevant during many of runs where those opportunities were there. Fresh off of especially the Phoenix Sons, right? So I don't have a problem with it. Some guys I do, just simply because I'm just like, you know, their game play and everything about them already told you that this wasn't about, you know, them building up something more of a team legacy as much as a personal legacy. So hopefully that will play itself out, but again, to your point, man, this is going to be an interesting scenario situation as more players enter the buyout market. We'll kind of get more of a gauge on where teams are focusing to bolster their rosters. If it's more front court, more back court, but this is an interesting mix of players that are already out there. And so we'll have to keep watch and see where they wind up landing. Yeah. Well, yeah, for sure. And keep guys eyes on maybe Nick Richards, Cavan Lune, George Nang, like all these other guys. I didn't know dubbing drum still kind of in the leaves. Also there somewhere in Sacramento just wasting away. There at Gordon, Kyle Anderson. So there's a lot of like familiar so to speak, Maxi Kleber could also pretend to get bought out. So, you know, we'll see Dariel Sarrich, but these are a lot of retreads and, you know, whether not they're going to be actually able to make an impact that remains to be seen. I think of the guys we mentioned. Great that my colony's going back to Minnesota. It would appear. So, you know, trade trade it twice and two teams since then and now has the ability to return home for, you know, I think a lot of. We get to tell Conley is a company man. You know, he's got his stock options quite invested quite nicely. And again, it's not, I don't know man. I don't know if there were some wing wing things going on with that to begin with or if that really is just how it played out. But, you know, great that he gets to go back to the team that tech graded him. You know, we could go and you know, he'll be back there with Anne to figure out how or that season is going to parlay for the wolves. But I want to have the conversation with Mike's like, amen, I'll see you when I see you. I'm like, man, I'll see you next week. Yeah. I got to see you when you got to. Is it an even at the, ah, getting off the call unpacked, now have to call movers. I mean, he probably didn't even leave Minnesota the entire. Probably didn't, you know, I was saying is one of the, you know, when you, you know, when you, you're trying to, you're trying to get up again up those, those, those flight points and they say that, you know, you got to take, you got to take that, that one, one trip, you know, basically it's a two hour trip. You know, fly out and then hop back over to the other terminal and hop right back in. That's just basically it. Anyway, it has been a great show. Good discussion, especially about the Charlotte Hornets. Again, they're on a heater right now and I hope it continues. We like it when the Charlotte Hornets likes to upset things in the Easter conference. And so we will keep our eyes peeled on how much further they can go. Hopefully, they'll break that record by the time that we come around, come around to our next show. But if not, it's already been a heck of a run and I think the Eastern Conference is taking notice on how good they are. Yes, sir. So, for the Hornets, they got some of the Elis jerseys and colorways except for that alternate orange yellow one. It's a little, a little wonky, but I'll stick to that, you know, really excited to kind of see them play. But for me, it's really used to growth of the mellow on this, the acceptance of Miles Bridges, you know, and that role and Charlotte's lead trying it after years and years and years and not getting his opportunity going to the Celtics, you know, winning another NBA championship on the sidelines there. And now, you know, having his own team to command and Charlotte, you know, a lot of great stories are happening out there in the Queen City. Absolutely. Once again, we'd like to thank you and you for hopping on board with us this week for the Baseline, Cali. One, shall we appreciate you guys? You know we do and we'll catch up with you next time. (upbeat music)