NBA ALCHEMY | Trading Dray |

I have to disagree with Stevie. We are headed to a shit show with this virus. Stevie is on the side that think everything is going to open, and that's going to drive infections through the roof. Look, we could open sporting events like South Korea, but we aren't in the same situations are S Korea. They have eliminated new infections and we are on a HUGE trajectory up. In SK people wear masks. Here people take PRIDE in not wearing a mask. In SK they take people's temperatures everywhere. Here we do not. In SK they track the shit out of contacts with infected people. Here we do NONE of that.

e40

Now that is a take I can get behind 👍🏽

Tao Rodriguez-Seeger

16:30 "Y'all know I love to trade Draymond. I do it once a month. I do this shit once a month!" LOL that had me snorting water up. If anything, Draymond's media post makes me respect him even more and is completely on brand. I get the argument of "You don't do that to Steph" which is an exponentially stronger version of "You don't do that to your teammate." That is the ONLY argument against MY GUY DRAYMOND that I'll acknowledge as having validity. And why is it valid? Because that can mess with the locker room dynamic and thus mess up play on the court (energy level, attitude, smack talking, stepping up to backup teammates in scraps)...which is exactly the Worst Case Scenario we worry about as fans. But let me play devil's advocate and lay out a Best Case Scenario: 34:01 "...Steph was with the liked Tweet." He REALLY wanted Draymond to put Ayesha in check because he can't get away with it. Ayesha has been stepping out of line for A WHILE NOW and I sure as hell am not the only one who is sick of it. Every black woman without Ayesha's light skin tone, light eyes, fairy-tale relationship, automatic national platform for her NBA-Martha-Stewart persona to succeed is rolling their eyes at her pain, and she keeps being a distraction to Steph. Day-Day is low-key putting her in check. *Snorts* Yeah it's hard to call liking a public tweet "low-key," but remember this is Day-Day we're talking about. Plus, what other way is there for Draymond to put Ayesha in check? Reach out to her directly? Have his wife reach out directly? Maaaybe, but that's probably a WAY more awkward discussion to have and likely to snowball to more shit. By liking someone else's tweet, Draymond hasn't said anything himself, but publicly supports the VERY SPOT ON call out of Ayesha's damaging whining. Thus Draymond maintains his honorable reputation as the most brutally honest, effective, shit-talker in the game (speak up louder Paul Pierce, I can't hear you). Day-Day keeps his respect in the shop with Lebron, in our locker room, and Steph thanks him and leans on him even more to shoulder the "bad guy" role when he can't or doesn't want to. Draymond is the engine oil that keeps the myriad of moving parts working in harmony. We need him to train the rookies and keep the integrity of our defense up, especially with Andre Iguodala gone now (damn I miss Dre). Draymond is the villain you love and love to hate. He's the fool. He's the court jester that can call out the emperor has no clothes. He keeps EEEEVERYONE *Gary Oldman as Det. Stansfield* in check: Teammates, SUPERSTAR teammateSS (PLUURAL), SUPERSTAR TEAMATE'S WIVES (y'all think that's easy?), the coaches, the ownership, himself, Dub Nation, NBA fans, band-wagon, fake fans, racist fans...*Gary Oldman as Commish Gordon: "...because he's the hero Golden State deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him...because he can take it. Because he's not a hero, he's a silent *giggle* guardian, a watchful protector, a Dark Knight!" In conclusion: *DRAYMOND BICEP FLEX*

Dave Han

Yes the intro at the beginning!! Thanks unc! Gotta listen to the pod now

Dirty Spud

Hopefully Poole and can become that. It’s hard to find guy’s that create their own and defend..

Athletic Alchemy

On the real though the hype of looters compared to the peaceful protests is a GOP tactic/talking point to discredit the whole movement. Corporations exist as powerful entities in our society and once one gets the pass for business as usual the rest follows. Kyrie is the wrong messenger makes the point harder to hear but doesn't make him wrong. This time needs more than money to make change. Political pressure is also required and corporations act as a bridge to a different kind of pressure not normally available.

G-man

You made a point about looters that was... bad IMO. Games restarting means less protestors & less looters? Sounding like clarence thomas man.

G-man

That was a real fun listen. You and your guest having sightly different opinions on the W's needs makes a good contrast. Wiseman is number one on my draft hopeful list for the draft. But for FA pickups, along with players that play good defense, I think the Warriors could use a guard that can get his own shot. I guess Wiggins can create his own shot but we just haven't seen how he's going to work with Steph, Klay, and Draymond. We really could use someone who can create to help run that 2nd unit.

belikewater

Definitive plans of action would have helped his cause. But easier said than done.

Athletic Alchemy

I'm indifferent to the NBA's COVID Cup. At a certain point, if people are not aware of the excessive use of force from our police and military, COVID hasn't stopped yet, especially in Florida where the games will be held, and now there's been 5 people who have recently died as they were hung in public on trees, despite the contradictory reports of them being suicides, then there's a larger issue at play. You are right about money talks for these corporations, so we need to stop giving these companies (Starbucks) money who are not really with the shits and puts half-ass statements. I think we can agree that Kyrie has been a nut case for some, if not most, of the shit he's said in the past, but you were right on the messenger part. I questioned Kyrie being the messenger, but ultimately he did his job and tried to get the viewpoint of his peers.

William Mitchell

Thanks! I think they definitely envision EP as that guy. You heard me balk on giving up that 21, I’ve taken a peek into that class.

Athletic Alchemy

Great episode! As flawed as Draymond is, it will be hard to find someone of equal value once we're in the playoffs again. The 2019 playoffs weren't that long ago, and there were moments when Dray was the best player on the floor (WCF vs Blazers). Instead of replacing him, I like the idea of finding someone to take some of his minutes so that he has less wear on his body and he can focus on closing games. Maybe that can eventually be E, or a vet big. That combination of size/length and his off the charts IQ make Dray irreplaceable...and he's shown time and time again that when he's dialed, he's a beast. He's really gotta work on the 3 ball though...Also, Minny's pick next year is much more valuable then just a sweetener to get someone to take Dray. 2021 draft is deep AF, and if it rolls over to 2022, we are in the Emoni Bates race, aka LeBron 2.0

Yeah he should help Wiggs a lot.

Athletic Alchemy

Kerr and Steph have accepted that Draymond is their own Rodman and they know to look passed the antics and the attention seeking. The MOST valuable thing about Draymond is that he is currently needed to be for Wiggins what he was for Steph, because without Draymond Green Steph Curry becomes Andrew Wiggins.

topstreams

I think AG would look much better on our system. Dray just makes everybody nervous as far as how he is aging, I know we are jumping the gun...

Athletic Alchemy

My biggest concern would be replacing the toughness.

Athletic Alchemy

Well said.... but I also think they have to evolve. If AD and the lakers are going to be to push the league that way.

Athletic Alchemy

Glad you're keeping up with the Pods. I don't agree with the takes of your co-host, but I do appreciate that he recognizes and acknowledges when he's been wrong in the past. Here's my bone to pick with him (and others) who analyze Warriors basketball: They don't get how the center operates in the Warriors system. AND they over-value centers in general. The Warriors offense is designed to create shots for the splash brothers OR to use their gravity to get easy points in the paint. It is not a P&R system. Getting an offensive big or a big who spaces the floor reduces the offensive efficiency of the Splash Bros. It's why Cousins mucked things up. It's why Javale was only used in spurts. It's why Mo Speights was effective only from the bench. AND it's why the most efficient offense came with guys like Bogut, Green, West, Pachulia on the floor at the 5. And the Warriors keep fucking up by having too many centers. When injuries strike and when depth is needed, they have none. It's their biggest roster building mistake. This team does not need more bigs, they desperately need guards and wings (and, no, Lee and Bowman and Mulder are not going to cut it).

Thomas Ogas

That was a good episode. I have to admit that I have a difficult time evaluating Draymond’s contribution to the Dubs’ game but it does seem hard to argue that he hasn’t been instrumental to their success over the years. That being said, nobody is irreplaceable (except maybe Steph and Klay) and I’m sure there are other players in the league who could play better alongside the SplashBros. From a team perspective, it comes down to chemistry more than anything and if Draymond messes that up with Steph the way he did with KD then I would have no choice but to trade him if I was in Bob Myers’ shoes

Tao Rodriguez-Seeger

Don’t know where all this love for AG is coming from. His stats were almost identical to Paschall’s and he’s 10X more expensive. Draymond has his issues but we’re not getting close to winning a championship without his defense, so we should stop this talk about trading him unless Steph is going to start guarding LeBron and blocking shots at the rim.

Hg80

The deal is going to look different in the light.

Athletic Alchemy

😆

Athletic Alchemy

Great Pod, I have a strong feeling we will get top 3 pick. The warriors if they play this right can win another chip or two. I want Steph to get a finals MVP! Also I love the talk on Wiggins. He gets so much hate and he's not even that bad. There are so many more players in the league who are worse.

KendrickTheCreative

Love these chats w Stevie Ray. It's all hoops! And screw the McRib, Dude, it's gotta be the CrispyCreme with fried chicken on Harden's thighs.

Dan Doerge

AG back home tho 🙌🏽.. could be something special with Splash Space!

Athletic Alchemy

OG approved!

Athletic Alchemy

That’s the thing about Wiseman.. that archetype doesn’t exactly grow on trees. That’s the intrigue, if you hit! It sets us up for the next 8-10 yr.

Athletic Alchemy

That’s valid.. everyone is very sensitive right now. I don’t want this thread to turn into that. But I understand consistency is important. The media has too much influence. I’ll leave it at that.

Athletic Alchemy

Dray for AG has been stirring in me for a while now. Orlando gets that grit, we get younger and more athletic. Dude's just so unaware of himself at times. and it costs the Dubs. The pendulum though, he has brought a lot to this team and is a ridiculous high IQ baller.

John Z

Thanks! Idk exactly why, but I feel good about landing top 3. Would you trade Ball @3?

Athletic Alchemy

I also am for Wiseman even if Dubs have the 1 or the 2.

Steven Stanley

I think we can get another wiseman on the open market or later in the draft. We need another Livingston and André. A Saddiq Bey and a Devin Vassell will help fill their roles.

John

Everyone's going to hate me for it, but I'm tired of hearing about the "systemic racism". Black lives only matter if a white cop kills a black man. If a black cop kills a black or white person, complete silence. If a black person murders another black person in the streets of Chicago, complete silence. People saying black people are getting slaughtered by cops. Compare about 4 unjustified police killings last year to the thousands of black lives lost every year from murder. If black lives really mattered, they should matter at all times to everyone, not just when racism can be tied to it.

OhSomeABeanLoadin

Money is power

Athletic Alchemy

Great work! I have to say all I think about is trading up for Edwards or Wiseman if we don't get either

Jim

I don't know who the guy is that's co-hosting with Alc, but he's not from the hood. All the money in the world won't stop racist, corrupt, thug cops from killing Black people. That requires changes in hiring, training and discipline policies.

Strong Foru