The volume. No, oh my god, how could he do that?

The volume. No, oh my god, how could he do that?

No, don't watch.

No, don't watch.

What Charles Darwin.

What Charles Darwin.

The nerves is where it's at.

The nerves is where it's at.

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash. As always, I'm Carson brev and alongside he is Logan Camden, and today we are going to embark on a very fun journey that'll basically be taking up the next week of our show. We've been hinting at it for a while, but here we are. We've got just under a month until playoff basketball starts, so before we get into that real final crunch time of the regular season, we are going to be ranking our top thirty players in the NBA. We are not gonna do that all in one episode because we would die of exhaustion. We're gonna do numbers thirty through twenty one today and we'll ignore or some honorable mentions too. We are considering injured players for this list. So with that said, Logan, would you like to just sort of offer a brief insight into how you viewed this list, in what your criteria really was.

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash. As always, I'm Carson brev and alongside he is Logan Camden, and today we are going to embark on a very fun journey that'll basically be taking up the next week of our show. We've been hinting at it for a while, but here we are. We've got just under a month until playoff basketball starts, so before we get into that real final crunch time of the regular season, we are going to be ranking our top thirty players in the NBA. We are not gonna do that all in one episode because we would die of exhaustion. We're gonna do numbers thirty through twenty one today and we'll ignore or some honorable mentions too. We are considering injured players for this list. So with that said, Logan, would you like to just sort of offer a brief insight into how you viewed this list, in what your criteria really was.

I rank the thirty best basketball players a.

I rank the thirty best basketball players a.

Lot as Oh, I agree, I think that the same things that I favored for this list I always favor when we talk about the best players in the league, but I do think that I lean more on guys who have that ability to scale alongside other really good players, basically who have ceiling raising traits, and of course, as always, when we are talking about the best guys, those are the best guys in terms of driving winning. It is not about putting up box score numbers. It is about the impact that you have towards the ultimate goal of winning as many basketball games as we can and specifically ideally winning the title. I think we're aligned on that. So before we get in to number thirty, who were some of your toughest cut slogan? Because when I really sat down and went through the names on this list, I felt like they or were at least thirty five guys I wanted in my top thirty, but didn't have spots for all of them.

Lot as Oh, I agree, I think that the same things that I favored for this list I always favor when we talk about the best players in the league, but I do think that I lean more on guys who have that ability to scale alongside other really good players, basically who have ceiling raising traits, and of course, as always, when we are talking about the best guys, those are the best guys in terms of driving winning. It is not about putting up box score numbers. It is about the impact that you have towards the ultimate goal of winning as many basketball games as we can and specifically ideally winning the title. I think we're aligned on that. So before we get in to number thirty, who were some of your toughest cut slogan? Because when I really sat down and went through the names on this list, I felt like they or were at least thirty five guys I wanted in my top thirty, but didn't have spots for all of them.

I'm glad you bring up the ceiling point because there is a ceiling versus floor dynamic with a lot of these guys where I feel like I did go with the number one instead of a number two option in certain instances, even.

I'm glad you bring up the ceiling point because there is a ceiling versus floor dynamic with a lot of these guys where I feel like I did go with the number one instead of a number two option in certain instances, even.

Though I do prefer the other skills set.

Though I do prefer the other skills set.

So there is a little bit of that dynamic at play, but I think for the most part, I went with the better players. My toughest cut, honestly, Carson was a player that I'm really really fond of and I think is having an awesome year this year. It's Pascal Siakam, and I thought Siakam was going to be a lock for my top thirty. I really considered him, honestly, in between twenty seven and thirty all of these spots.

So there is a little bit of that dynamic at play, but I think for the most part, I went with the better players. My toughest cut, honestly, Carson was a player that I'm really really fond of and I think is having an awesome year this year. It's Pascal Siakam, and I thought Siakam was going to be a lock for my top thirty. I really considered him, honestly, in between twenty seven and thirty all of these spots.

But there's a certain position.

But there's a certain position.

That I have a lot of players in in this range, and Siakam's so damn good, dude. He does so many things at a high level. He's been one of the best transition scores in all of basketball this year. He's been an elite defender, He's been an elite post scorer. Like I just think Siakam does so many winning things and so many connective things that you want out of your number two. That being said, when I looked at him in this context, I favored guys that I could see more easily in that number one role. And that's the interesting dynamic to me because I think I would take Pascal on my team over some of the guys that I've ranked above him. But I ultimately decided to go with other guys. So Siakam, in my opinion, was my toughest cut. I will let the cat out of the bag. We are considering injured players. I don't have Joel Embiid, I don't have Kawhi Leonard and the reason the reason why I do that, and I've been consistent with this opinion for about a year or two now. They're spoil goods to me. They're guys that I just don't want on my roster. Kawhi, I think is slowly regressing and I think we've seen a little bit of that this year.

That I have a lot of players in in this range, and Siakam's so damn good, dude. He does so many things at a high level. He's been one of the best transition scores in all of basketball this year. He's been an elite defender, He's been an elite post scorer. Like I just think Siakam does so many winning things and so many connective things that you want out of your number two. That being said, when I looked at him in this context, I favored guys that I could see more easily in that number one role. And that's the interesting dynamic to me because I think I would take Pascal on my team over some of the guys that I've ranked above him. But I ultimately decided to go with other guys. So Siakam, in my opinion, was my toughest cut. I will let the cat out of the bag. We are considering injured players. I don't have Joel Embiid, I don't have Kawhi Leonard and the reason the reason why I do that, and I've been consistent with this opinion for about a year or two now. They're spoil goods to me. They're guys that I just don't want on my roster. Kawhi, I think is slowly regressing and I think we've seen a little bit of that this year.

Athletically.

Athletically.

I don't think he's falling off a cliff anytime soon, but.

I don't think he's falling off a cliff anytime soon, but.

I just don't want him.

I just don't want him.

I can't bank on the guy being healthy the playoffs, and to me, that's a complete deal breaker. Joelle Embiid, the Philadelphia seventy six ers are considering a medical retirement for the guy, and he didn't look good when he was available this year, and so.

I can't bank on the guy being healthy the playoffs, and to me, that's a complete deal breaker. Joelle Embiid, the Philadelphia seventy six ers are considering a medical retirement for the guy, and he didn't look good when he was available this year, and so.

I don't want them on my team.

I don't want them on my team.

I look at those guys to spoil good So I think Siakam was the toughest cut that I had as a healthy, available guy.

I look at those guys to spoil good So I think Siakam was the toughest cut that I had as a healthy, available guy.

But I didn't.

But I didn't.

Include Embider Leonard either, just because I think the injuries are just too overwhelming right now.

Include Embider Leonard either, just because I think the injuries are just too overwhelming right now.

I do have Kawhi on my list, I don't have Embiid here. And the reason that I don't even though we are including injured players, guys who were out for the year, like Kyrie Irving, Victor Wamanyama, Darren Fox, all those guys are eligible for this list. Embiid, I do think has crossed a different line when you are talking about seriously considering medical retirement. And we saw him for nineteen games this year, and I don't think he was a top thirty player in those nineteen games. Logan, I mean he was bad as a shot maker. He was forty nine percent from two, He was under thirty percent from three. His d defense was bad, like way way below the level we've seen from Embiid previously mediocre I in protection and really really poor defense out in space. And the Sixers were a bad team when he was on the floor. They were eight and eleven in games he played. And remarkably, they have a worst net rating with him on the court this year than they do with him off the court. Even as disastrous as they have been in his absence. They were really bad with him too, So I just don't know what to do with him. I have no idea how to evaluate the guy that we saw this year, the guy that we could expect to see going forward, if we ever even see him again. Kawhi Leonard at least he's playing basketball right now, and he's been playing basketball for an extended stretch this year. Like that, to me, is a guy who I can rank. Embiid I really don't know how I could rank, so I don't have him on my list either. Siakam was a tough cut for me. He was among the first five guys left off, but maybe the toughest cut for me. Logan and I wonder if you have this guy because I know historically you've been fond of this guy, but I also know that this guy really discouraged you with his start to this year. I really wanted to find a way to get Bam out of Bio on my list because I think that he's been playing really good basketball as of late. His last twenty games, he's giving you twenty one to ten and four on sixty two percent true shooting. The three ball has actually come along. He's been over thirty six percent from deep on three attempts per game in that time, and even over his last forty five games, you're looking at pretty typical Bam out of bio production, like eighteen and a half ten and four on fifty eight percent through shooting. He just got off to a horrific start to this year. That's why his production overall is below his standard. He's had a good mid range shooting season and obviously is an elite defender. I don't think that he's at his absolute apex right now Defensively, like we are at the point where Bam is not a good rim protector and he's great at everything else. I mean, his switch ability is still incredible, his activity on the glass, he's such a smart defender, but he is like way way below the other elite defensive bigs. When you're just looking at rim protection, players shoot better than their average at the rim against Bam Adebayo and offensively, I have sort of mixed feelings where I think if you put him with a great pick and roll playmaker, could you unlock him and make him a more efficient player and feed him more easy looks off the role. I do think that that is definitely possible, and he hasn't had the luxury of playing with one of those guys. At the same time, we have just seen the tendency in his game to become more prone to settling, to start living on more of a jump shot heavy diet, to push his average field goal distance further and further away from the rim, where he just isn't super efficient. And his touch in the paint has its good stretches, but then it also has its bad stretches. So I do think he's limited enough offensively. When I compare him to the guy who I put in my number thirty spot, who is also an elite, elite defensive player, not quite on BAM's level defensively, but better than him offensively, I ended up giving the nod to somebody else.

I do have Kawhi on my list, I don't have Embiid here. And the reason that I don't even though we are including injured players, guys who were out for the year, like Kyrie Irving, Victor Wamanyama, Darren Fox, all those guys are eligible for this list. Embiid, I do think has crossed a different line when you are talking about seriously considering medical retirement. And we saw him for nineteen games this year, and I don't think he was a top thirty player in those nineteen games. Logan, I mean he was bad as a shot maker. He was forty nine percent from two, He was under thirty percent from three. His d defense was bad, like way way below the level we've seen from Embiid previously mediocre I in protection and really really poor defense out in space. And the Sixers were a bad team when he was on the floor. They were eight and eleven in games he played. And remarkably, they have a worst net rating with him on the court this year than they do with him off the court. Even as disastrous as they have been in his absence. They were really bad with him too, So I just don't know what to do with him. I have no idea how to evaluate the guy that we saw this year, the guy that we could expect to see going forward, if we ever even see him again. Kawhi Leonard at least he's playing basketball right now, and he's been playing basketball for an extended stretch this year. Like that, to me, is a guy who I can rank. Embiid I really don't know how I could rank, so I don't have him on my list either. Siakam was a tough cut for me. He was among the first five guys left off, but maybe the toughest cut for me. Logan and I wonder if you have this guy because I know historically you've been fond of this guy, but I also know that this guy really discouraged you with his start to this year. I really wanted to find a way to get Bam out of Bio on my list because I think that he's been playing really good basketball as of late. His last twenty games, he's giving you twenty one to ten and four on sixty two percent true shooting. The three ball has actually come along. He's been over thirty six percent from deep on three attempts per game in that time, and even over his last forty five games, you're looking at pretty typical Bam out of bio production, like eighteen and a half ten and four on fifty eight percent through shooting. He just got off to a horrific start to this year. That's why his production overall is below his standard. He's had a good mid range shooting season and obviously is an elite defender. I don't think that he's at his absolute apex right now Defensively, like we are at the point where Bam is not a good rim protector and he's great at everything else. I mean, his switch ability is still incredible, his activity on the glass, he's such a smart defender, but he is like way way below the other elite defensive bigs. When you're just looking at rim protection, players shoot better than their average at the rim against Bam Adebayo and offensively, I have sort of mixed feelings where I think if you put him with a great pick and roll playmaker, could you unlock him and make him a more efficient player and feed him more easy looks off the role. I do think that that is definitely possible, and he hasn't had the luxury of playing with one of those guys. At the same time, we have just seen the tendency in his game to become more prone to settling, to start living on more of a jump shot heavy diet, to push his average field goal distance further and further away from the rim, where he just isn't super efficient. And his touch in the paint has its good stretches, but then it also has its bad stretches. So I do think he's limited enough offensively. When I compare him to the guy who I put in my number thirty spot, who is also an elite, elite defensive player, not quite on BAM's level defensively, but better than him offensively, I ended up giving the nod to somebody else.

Yeah, I don't have Bam on my list, and I have been really high on him. I just think his offensive shortcomings are a little too much to overcome. And I do think he's He's not a one man defense, but he's super switchable, can guard one through five like BAM's a special special defensive player. But I just continually get more and more frustrated with Bam when you expect him to step into a bigger role. There's been stretches of seasons where I think people can get fooled, and I was one of them that thought, maybe this touch is real. Maybe he's gonna become a really reliable mid range shooter and a really good post scorer and a good three point shooter.

Yeah, I don't have Bam on my list, and I have been really high on him. I just think his offensive shortcomings are a little too much to overcome. And I do think he's He's not a one man defense, but he's super switchable, can guard one through five like BAM's a special special defensive player. But I just continually get more and more frustrated with Bam when you expect him to step into a bigger role. There's been stretches of seasons where I think people can get fooled, and I was one of them that thought, maybe this touch is real. Maybe he's gonna become a really reliable mid range shooter and a really good post scorer and a good three point shooter.

And at this point BAM's career, I'm off that boat.

And at this point BAM's career, I'm off that boat.

I would, honestly, I'd rather have a Viza Zubats at my center spot than bad Bio.

I would, honestly, I'd rather have a Viza Zubats at my center spot than bad Bio.

Stop it. This is Miles Turner over de mont de Sebona's part two. I'd rather know way you'd rather have Zoo over Bam. Yeah, that's crazy. What if Bam Outebayo was playing with James harden Logan.

Stop it. This is Miles Turner over de mont de Sebona's part two. I'd rather know way you'd rather have Zoo over Bam. Yeah, that's crazy. What if Bam Outebayo was playing with James harden Logan.

I mean, big Zoo brings me a lot of that rim protection value, but he actually has something that he can reliably get to offensively. Bam doesn't really have anything that he can get too easy.

I mean, big Zoo brings me a lot of that rim protection value, but he actually has something that he can reliably get to offensively. Bam doesn't really have anything that he can get too easy.

He's a forty eight mid range shooter, and I think if he played with an elite pick and roll passer, he would absolutely be getting more lobs around rim, more easy touches off the role, and defensively, like, yeah, Zoo is a better rim protector. Bam is so so much better out in space like, BAM is still clearly a top ten defender on the planet. I mentioned the rim protection thing because I think that's worth noting, and sometimes people overlook BAM's issues there. But he is the most switchable big in basketball, and he can absolutely shut down offenses and stretches with his ability to switch everything. He's the best Yiannis defender faster by far. Like he is a game changing defender.

He's a forty eight mid range shooter, and I think if he played with an elite pick and roll passer, he would absolutely be getting more lobs around rim, more easy touches off the role, and defensively, like, yeah, Zoo is a better rim protector. Bam is so so much better out in space like, BAM is still clearly a top ten defender on the planet. I mentioned the rim protection thing because I think that's worth noting, and sometimes people overlook BAM's issues there. But he is the most switchable big in basketball, and he can absolutely shut down offenses and stretches with his ability to switch everything. He's the best Yiannis defender faster by far. Like he is a game changing defender.

There's a lot of other guys that bring me a lot of value at the five spot that are just better offensive players, and I don't know, I look at that as a real limitation for BAM moving forward.

There's a lot of other guys that bring me a lot of value at the five spot that are just better offensive players, and I don't know, I look at that as a real limitation for BAM moving forward.

So you take Jared Allen over Bamm, cause I think Jared Allen's better than Zoo.

So you take Jared Allen over Bamm, cause I think Jared Allen's better than Zoo.

That's a good question.

That's a good question.

I think these are both crazy by the way. I think Bam is clear of these guys.

I think these are both crazy by the way. I think Bam is clear of these guys.

BAM's a great defender, He's I don't want him.

BAM's a great defender, He's I don't want him.

He's not a number two offensively.

He's not a number two offensively.

I don't know if he's a number three like BAM might be a number four offensively.

I don't know if he's a number three like BAM might be a number four offensively.

He's giving you twenty one to ten and four on sixty two percent for shooting for twenty games last games. He's a really good passing big Listen, man, I'm just saying I think some of the dudes you're trying to put above him are crazy, and they are beneficiaries of their situation, like Jared Allen, another guy I mentioned, super efficient, great touch, also playing in such a privileged offensive situation. You put Bam in Cleveland with the best pick and roll ball handling duo in basketball, I think his offense would look a good bit better than it does in Miami. It's still not good enough for me to have him on my list, and there were a number of really tough cuts here. I didn't end up getting either Franz Wagner or Paolo Bancaro on my list. If Frons were shooting the ball better, I think he could be here because I love him as a driver. I really like his playmaking. He's a plus defender. But just the issues he's had shooting the three for the last two years now, they do limit his efficiency. They limit his ability to play seamlessly alongside another big wing who needs to have the ball in his hands a lot like Poolow. Both these guys absolutely will be on this list in the future, and Powlo has been playing better as of late, but still the shot selection, the efficiency can be really really rough, and defensively he's at best a neutral. So there are just guys who I feel like have those more refined games that are going to lead to high end winning impact right now, compared to a Pallo, even if he has so so much ability, I don't have d Aaron Fox on my list. He had a rough season. I think that when he is as reliant as the on the pull up jumper as he was this year, he's just got to be way way better at it. There were guys who I felt impacted the game at a high level in multiple ways, and there's a couple other tough cuts who maybe I can get to indirect comparison to a couple of the guys who I chose over them. But again, so much talent in the league today, it's really really hard to just pick thirty spots. Shout out Zach Levine, Shout out Tyree s Maxie, shout out James Harden. A bunch of guys who I at least briefly considered, But there's only one guy who can be the number thirty spot. Logan, Who is that for you?

He's giving you twenty one to ten and four on sixty two percent for shooting for twenty games last games. He's a really good passing big Listen, man, I'm just saying I think some of the dudes you're trying to put above him are crazy, and they are beneficiaries of their situation, like Jared Allen, another guy I mentioned, super efficient, great touch, also playing in such a privileged offensive situation. You put Bam in Cleveland with the best pick and roll ball handling duo in basketball, I think his offense would look a good bit better than it does in Miami. It's still not good enough for me to have him on my list, and there were a number of really tough cuts here. I didn't end up getting either Franz Wagner or Paolo Bancaro on my list. If Frons were shooting the ball better, I think he could be here because I love him as a driver. I really like his playmaking. He's a plus defender. But just the issues he's had shooting the three for the last two years now, they do limit his efficiency. They limit his ability to play seamlessly alongside another big wing who needs to have the ball in his hands a lot like Poolow. Both these guys absolutely will be on this list in the future, and Powlo has been playing better as of late, but still the shot selection, the efficiency can be really really rough, and defensively he's at best a neutral. So there are just guys who I feel like have those more refined games that are going to lead to high end winning impact right now, compared to a Pallo, even if he has so so much ability, I don't have d Aaron Fox on my list. He had a rough season. I think that when he is as reliant as the on the pull up jumper as he was this year, he's just got to be way way better at it. There were guys who I felt impacted the game at a high level in multiple ways, and there's a couple other tough cuts who maybe I can get to indirect comparison to a couple of the guys who I chose over them. But again, so much talent in the league today, it's really really hard to just pick thirty spots. Shout out Zach Levine, Shout out Tyree s Maxie, shout out James Harden. A bunch of guys who I at least briefly considered, But there's only one guy who can be the number thirty spot. Logan, Who is that for you?

So I do have Fox on my list. He's gonna kind of the number twenty nine spot. Actually, I have John Morant at number thirty, and I did think about leaving joh completely off my list in favor of Seacam, just because when we're talking about championship winning context as a number two, Like I love Seacam, I just think that if he was tasked with the burden of being the number one, that he would struggle. But ironically it's kind of where I also think John Morant can struggle a little bit. I think Jaw's really really polarizing. He's one of the most fun players in the league to watch with his style of play. It's very graceful, it's.

So I do have Fox on my list. He's gonna kind of the number twenty nine spot. Actually, I have John Morant at number thirty, and I did think about leaving joh completely off my list in favor of Seacam, just because when we're talking about championship winning context as a number two, Like I love Seacam, I just think that if he was tasked with the burden of being the number one, that he would struggle. But ironically it's kind of where I also think John Morant can struggle a little bit. I think Jaw's really really polarizing. He's one of the most fun players in the league to watch with his style of play. It's very graceful, it's.

Really beautiful to watch.

Really beautiful to watch.

I mean, Jow flies through the air, has great touch, is a really good finisher. But I do think some of Jaw's limitations can kind of get overlooked. My biggest concern about jaws game and why he can't be higher is his malleyability and his portability. And I really favor a lot of the other guards on this list more highly than that because I.

I mean, Jow flies through the air, has great touch, is a really good finisher. But I do think some of Jaw's limitations can kind of get overlooked. My biggest concern about jaws game and why he can't be higher is his malleyability and his portability. And I really favor a lot of the other guards on this list more highly than that because I.

Just think it's a fundamental limitter.

Just think it's a fundamental limitter.

I think Jaw's one of those guys that needs the ball in his hands, and he's great with the ball in his hands, but I want to be clear about that. I think it's hard for him to scale alongside other offensive players because of that need. He's just a thirty three percent catching shooter from behind the arc. I think when you watch Josh shoot, I'm never confident that John Moran is going to be a really good jump shooter. And it was really encouraging. You remember a couple of years ago, Carson, when we had really started covering the playoffs, every single game going live and stuff like that, and Job was going off for these huge games against the Lakers. It's like, oh shit, man, if this guy becomes a really elite pull up mid range shooter, pull up three point shooter, you're looking at maybe one of the best guards in the league because you're going to combine this downhill rim pressure with this elite jump shooting. And I just don't think Jow is ever going to be a good shooter when I think this is a guy that needs to have his form retooled. He's a twenty nine percent three point shooter this year. I don't like the way his elbow flares out. I think his.

I think Jaw's one of those guys that needs the ball in his hands, and he's great with the ball in his hands, but I want to be clear about that. I think it's hard for him to scale alongside other offensive players because of that need. He's just a thirty three percent catching shooter from behind the arc. I think when you watch Josh shoot, I'm never confident that John Moran is going to be a really good jump shooter. And it was really encouraging. You remember a couple of years ago, Carson, when we had really started covering the playoffs, every single game going live and stuff like that, and Job was going off for these huge games against the Lakers. It's like, oh shit, man, if this guy becomes a really elite pull up mid range shooter, pull up three point shooter, you're looking at maybe one of the best guards in the league because you're going to combine this downhill rim pressure with this elite jump shooting. And I just don't think Jow is ever going to be a good shooter when I think this is a guy that needs to have his form retooled. He's a twenty nine percent three point shooter this year. I don't like the way his elbow flares out. I think his.

Footwork could use some work.

Footwork could use some work.

I just don't. I'm never confident in Job becoming an elite jump shooter of the ball, and that's a fundamental limitter in him as a team within a team offense. And I think it's also reflected by the fact that the Grizzlies are better with Jow off the floor with there are other two stars. You look at some of the advanced numbers, the Rizlies have an offensive rating of one fifteen point five with Jaw without triple J. With triple J no Job, they have an offensive rating that's three point five points higher. You do the same thought exercise with Bain, the difference isn't as large, but with John no Bain, they have an offensive rating of one to eighteen point five. With Bane no Jaw, they have an offensive rating that's one point four points higher. What I'm saying is Jaw's a really good offensive floor razer. But when we're talking about these ceiling raising context is where I think he has his limitations. I don't think he's as efficient as some of these other point guards. I don't think he scales as well as some of these other point guards. And defensively he doesn't bring me a ton of value. I don't think he's like a significant negative defensively. I think Jow really works, but he's not a significant plus there. And so a lot of these guys in this range, we're gonna have a lot of point guard debates. I don't know if you have a lot of these guys higher. I have a lot of the same positions here. I wondered if jo was gonna make my list.

I just don't. I'm never confident in Job becoming an elite jump shooter of the ball, and that's a fundamental limitter in him as a team within a team offense. And I think it's also reflected by the fact that the Grizzlies are better with Jow off the floor with there are other two stars. You look at some of the advanced numbers, the Rizlies have an offensive rating of one fifteen point five with Jaw without triple J. With triple J no Job, they have an offensive rating that's three point five points higher. You do the same thought exercise with Bain, the difference isn't as large, but with John no Bain, they have an offensive rating of one to eighteen point five. With Bane no Jaw, they have an offensive rating that's one point four points higher. What I'm saying is Jaw's a really good offensive floor razer. But when we're talking about these ceiling raising context is where I think he has his limitations. I don't think he's as efficient as some of these other point guards. I don't think he scales as well as some of these other point guards. And defensively he doesn't bring me a ton of value. I don't think he's like a significant negative defensively. I think Jow really works, but he's not a significant plus there. And so a lot of these guys in this range, we're gonna have a lot of point guard debates. I don't know if you have a lot of these guys higher. I have a lot of the same positions here. I wondered if jo was gonna make my list.

He does.

He does.

I know a lot of people would probably have Jaw as a top twenty player. I don't think he's the best player on the Grizzlies, and so he's not even my highest Grizzly on this list.

I know a lot of people would probably have Jaw as a top twenty player. I don't think he's the best player on the Grizzlies, and so he's not even my highest Grizzly on this list.

I've got Job my number thirty spot.

I've got Job my number thirty spot.

He's not close to my highest Grizzly. In fact, Jaw is one of my first guys off the list. I think that this has been a tough year for Jaw, and I don't think that people are as high on him league wide as they were beforehand. I feel like, honestly, most people have come to a pretty similar spot that I've been at with Jaw over the last couple of years. I do think that he has some serious limitations. He has his superpower with his quickness with the ball in his hands, I mean, it is just supernatural, and his ability to elevate and adjust in the air around the rim absolutely special, really really awesome ball handler as well, really really gifted playmaker. The problem is he is, when he's at his best, extremely ball dominant, but when you give him the keys to your offense, he cannot produce efficient enough results to justify just saying, Okay, Jaw, we're gonna put everything in your hand. Like if you look at twenty twenty one to twenty twenty three, those are the years that the Grizzlies offense was just Jaw run as much pick and roll as you need to get us into our offense every possession. They were a bad half court offense every one of those years, seventeenth to twenty seventh percentile every year. You're not going to do anything in the playoffs like that, And that showed. They were the fourteenth ranked playoff offense out of sixteen teams last time we saw them in the postseason. And I think really the major limitation that Jah does have on ball is just the fact that he is such a bad pull up shooter, and so teams are going to play drop against him every time, and sometimes they'll literally go underscreens, which is so rare to see in pick and roll defense today. But if you can bait him into those shots, you're winning every time. Because he's a twenty nine percent three point shooter. He is a bad three point shooter who will take those shots if you give them to him, or at least will take them more often than he should. And then even if he gets into that floater range, like, yes, he's got good floater touch, but he's only forty four percent in the paint outside the restricted area. That number does not stack up to a lot of the high end guards, so that's more inefficient offense. Like, if you can keep him away from the rim, where he is special as a finisher, and he is special as a kickout passer and a playmaker, then you are going to do well defensively. And we've seen the Grizzlies now actually have a better half court offense this year. They've been averaged as a half court offense as they've shifted more away from jaw, as they focused more in on finding the weak point defensively and allowing other players to attack with the ball in their hands. But Jaw has been worse in that situation. Jaw is a bad off ball player. He is a bad spot up shooter. He is not a good off ball mover. He really is a negative player away from the ball, and in spite of him getting worse, the Grizzlies offense has gotten better by going away from him. More. To me, he would just have to be a super valuable offensive number one lead guard to make this list. That's what all of the other guys in this archetype of being balled dominant lead guards not being high impact defensive players are. They are efficient, They lead to really good team offense in the half court, and Jaw isn't doing that. So he's very, very gifted. But with the issues that we've seen from him this year, the rigidity that I have in terms of building around him, if I want him to be at his best in the ceiling that I think that puts on my team, I left him off my list and I chose some guys who maybe don't have his raw ability, couldn't be a number one, but they are so much more impactful in their roles as a number two that I want those guys.

He's not close to my highest Grizzly. In fact, Jaw is one of my first guys off the list. I think that this has been a tough year for Jaw, and I don't think that people are as high on him league wide as they were beforehand. I feel like, honestly, most people have come to a pretty similar spot that I've been at with Jaw over the last couple of years. I do think that he has some serious limitations. He has his superpower with his quickness with the ball in his hands, I mean, it is just supernatural, and his ability to elevate and adjust in the air around the rim absolutely special, really really awesome ball handler as well, really really gifted playmaker. The problem is he is, when he's at his best, extremely ball dominant, but when you give him the keys to your offense, he cannot produce efficient enough results to justify just saying, Okay, Jaw, we're gonna put everything in your hand. Like if you look at twenty twenty one to twenty twenty three, those are the years that the Grizzlies offense was just Jaw run as much pick and roll as you need to get us into our offense every possession. They were a bad half court offense every one of those years, seventeenth to twenty seventh percentile every year. You're not going to do anything in the playoffs like that, And that showed. They were the fourteenth ranked playoff offense out of sixteen teams last time we saw them in the postseason. And I think really the major limitation that Jah does have on ball is just the fact that he is such a bad pull up shooter, and so teams are going to play drop against him every time, and sometimes they'll literally go underscreens, which is so rare to see in pick and roll defense today. But if you can bait him into those shots, you're winning every time. Because he's a twenty nine percent three point shooter. He is a bad three point shooter who will take those shots if you give them to him, or at least will take them more often than he should. And then even if he gets into that floater range, like, yes, he's got good floater touch, but he's only forty four percent in the paint outside the restricted area. That number does not stack up to a lot of the high end guards, so that's more inefficient offense. Like, if you can keep him away from the rim, where he is special as a finisher, and he is special as a kickout passer and a playmaker, then you are going to do well defensively. And we've seen the Grizzlies now actually have a better half court offense this year. They've been averaged as a half court offense as they've shifted more away from jaw, as they focused more in on finding the weak point defensively and allowing other players to attack with the ball in their hands. But Jaw has been worse in that situation. Jaw is a bad off ball player. He is a bad spot up shooter. He is not a good off ball mover. He really is a negative player away from the ball, and in spite of him getting worse, the Grizzlies offense has gotten better by going away from him. More. To me, he would just have to be a super valuable offensive number one lead guard to make this list. That's what all of the other guys in this archetype of being balled dominant lead guards not being high impact defensive players are. They are efficient, They lead to really good team offense in the half court, and Jaw isn't doing that. So he's very, very gifted. But with the issues that we've seen from him this year, the rigidity that I have in terms of building around him, if I want him to be at his best in the ceiling that I think that puts on my team, I left him off my list and I chose some guys who maybe don't have his raw ability, couldn't be a number one, but they are so much more impactful in their roles as a number two that I want those guys.

I understand that I do have a certain amount of respect for Ja though, when it does come to a playoff context where I feel, if you don't have that guy that can stay in front of him and can lock him up, that John could terrorize your team. Like he does have those kind of athletic traits that that's why he ultimately did make my list, because I still do feel it's not as consistent, and that's why I would understand you putting somebody else that is more consistent in their role on a night to night basis little bit more volatility there with Jaw, and there are more flaws that I think you can expose on the playoff stage. But I do think he has a special trade, and that special trade is that elite speed, that elite quickness, that rim pressure, that ability to get downhill, And that's ultimately why I did decide to put Jaw on my list. But he is significantly lower than I think a lot of people would have him within point guard ranks on my list, Like there are a lot of other guards, I still do prefer to Jaw.

I understand that I do have a certain amount of respect for Ja though, when it does come to a playoff context where I feel, if you don't have that guy that can stay in front of him and can lock him up, that John could terrorize your team. Like he does have those kind of athletic traits that that's why he ultimately did make my list, because I still do feel it's not as consistent, and that's why I would understand you putting somebody else that is more consistent in their role on a night to night basis little bit more volatility there with Jaw, and there are more flaws that I think you can expose on the playoff stage. But I do think he has a special trade, and that special trade is that elite speed, that elite quickness, that rim pressure, that ability to get downhill, And that's ultimately why I did decide to put Jaw on my list. But he is significantly lower than I think a lot of people would have him within point guard ranks on my list, Like there are a lot of other guards, I still do prefer to Jaw.

The efficiency's rough, man, I mean, he's a couple points below league average true shooting, and again he's just not leading to efficient offense himself. In my number thirty spot, I have a guy who is not nearly as gifted offensively as John Morant, but he is such a good all around winning basketball player, and I do think that he has an ability to play at a higher level than he did at his little slump this year. Who do you think I have?

The efficiency's rough, man, I mean, he's a couple points below league average true shooting, and again he's just not leading to efficient offense himself. In my number thirty spot, I have a guy who is not nearly as gifted offensively as John Morant, but he is such a good all around winning basketball player, and I do think that he has an ability to play at a higher level than he did at his little slump this year. Who do you think I have?

I don't know. No, I was gonna guess Derek White.

I don't know. No, I was gonna guess Derek White.

Oh, I don't have Derek White this. I know Derek White. I think that he's somewhere around number forty. I have Jalen Williams here. Wow. Yeah, do you think Derek White is better than Jalen Williams. They're close for me, They're not close for me. I do think that Jalen has a lot more on ball juice and offensive upside, and that's why I do have him here. I think that you can justify that offensive value when you pair it with the elite, elite defensive value that you're getting with him. Jadub is putting up twenty one to five and a half and five and a half on fifty seven percent true shooting this year, above average efficiency as a pick and roll in isolation creator, though not elite efficiency. But I do think that he is more gifted offensively than maybe the raw production and efficiency would indicate this year, because I think that he had an uncharacteristic shooting slump when you're looking at like December January, when the three ball is falling like we know it's capable of. He's a thirty eight percent career three point shooter. He was forty two percent from deep last year. Like then, he really can be that second option for you offensively, and he's such a damn good all around player that I want him on my team ten times out of ten. That being said, I have more offensive questions about him than I do almost anybody else on this list. He is extremely shifty with the ball in his hands, but I think he needs to commit to getting all the way downhill more. He doesn't get to the line at a high rate whatsoever. He's relying on the mid range too much for my liking. And he's a good mid range shooter, he's forty five percent, but it's a lot of tough fallaways, tough mid range pull ups, and I think that's why you do see paired with some of the three point shooting issues that he had, that the efficiency right now is just league average, but he is a lead in transition. I do think he is a really good playmaker, and the reason I feel comfortable having him here is he's done a better job in the non shay minutes on offense as of late. This for most of the year has been like the story the question mark with this team. And there was a time earlier this season where the offense with jadub on the floor with shay Off was really really ugly, and again that was when he was slumping in December and January. But overall on the year, now they have a one thirteen offensive rating with jadabon with shay Off, which isn't great, but it's decent enough for me to then justify putting him here because this guy is a first team All Defense caliber defender. If he gets to sixty five games, he is an absolute lock. And that's why I have him here because that is going to bring me elite value in any situation. I mean, he's just a marvel defensively because he's a super high end perimeter defender with lots of on ball versatility, but it's his off ball impact in his off ball versatility that just is different from any other wing er guard in the league right now, people shoot fifty percent versus Jadub at the rim. That is the best number of any player six foot six or shorter to defend at the rim with any sort of actual volume. Right We've seen him anchor their small ball looks at the five. He's got this seven to two wings span in this special athleticism and these special instincts attacking and targeting the ball. That's extremely, extremely impactful when you can be that sort of elite off ball defender. And that is why again I put him over A Bam out of Bio. They're both elite defensive players. I think Bam is more impactful defensively, but Jadub has clearly more offensive juice and defensively, right it's not just what he's doing with the rim protection. He's top five in deflections. He is an awesome on ball defender. He's a ninety fourth percentile isolation defender. So I took him over Bam because I prefer the offensive juice. I take him over Job because Jaw hasn't shown the ability to be a good number one on a serious offense. So at that point, I want the elite, do it all guy who can be my offensive number two and one of the best defensive players on the planet. And then I have him over Jalen Brown. And this was one that I thought was very very close because I think that they both have their clear advantages. Jalen Brown is clearly the better scorer to me, just because of his physical advantages. Right the efficiency for him has actually been worse than Jada. But I do think that Jalen in most matchups just has an ability to get where he wants. Jalen Brown I'm talking about here, and shoot over top of people and bully people. But Jadub is the much better playmaker, much better ball handler, certainly clearly the better defender. And Jalen Brown is an awesome on ball defender. He really really is. He is like, at best a neutral off ball defender. I mean he is a ball watcher. He has lapses, whereas Jadab is elite there and that's so impactful in a team context. So like, if I think about this matchup, who do I think gives the other more problems? I kind of think Jadub and the collective OKC defense they can do such a great job on Jalen that they limit his impact as a scorer. And then on the other end, Jadub, I think just out of pick and roll will be able to get himself a good enough shot diet. He'll be able to play, make and create for others. He'll be able to have the large defensive impact. So I ended up going with him. I think that's really close. But I am still a Jaub believer. Like he's had his issues this year, efficiency hasn't been sparkling like it was last year, but I believe when the shot is falling, he is still like the dream number three, which is what he is for O KC. Because they're so so spoiled, but like, really a good offensive number two and a dominant defensive player, and that's just a guy who's going to succeed anywhere. In my opinion, So is a duo.

Oh, I don't have Derek White this. I know Derek White. I think that he's somewhere around number forty. I have Jalen Williams here. Wow. Yeah, do you think Derek White is better than Jalen Williams. They're close for me, They're not close for me. I do think that Jalen has a lot more on ball juice and offensive upside, and that's why I do have him here. I think that you can justify that offensive value when you pair it with the elite, elite defensive value that you're getting with him. Jadub is putting up twenty one to five and a half and five and a half on fifty seven percent true shooting this year, above average efficiency as a pick and roll in isolation creator, though not elite efficiency. But I do think that he is more gifted offensively than maybe the raw production and efficiency would indicate this year, because I think that he had an uncharacteristic shooting slump when you're looking at like December January, when the three ball is falling like we know it's capable of. He's a thirty eight percent career three point shooter. He was forty two percent from deep last year. Like then, he really can be that second option for you offensively, and he's such a damn good all around player that I want him on my team ten times out of ten. That being said, I have more offensive questions about him than I do almost anybody else on this list. He is extremely shifty with the ball in his hands, but I think he needs to commit to getting all the way downhill more. He doesn't get to the line at a high rate whatsoever. He's relying on the mid range too much for my liking. And he's a good mid range shooter, he's forty five percent, but it's a lot of tough fallaways, tough mid range pull ups, and I think that's why you do see paired with some of the three point shooting issues that he had, that the efficiency right now is just league average, but he is a lead in transition. I do think he is a really good playmaker, and the reason I feel comfortable having him here is he's done a better job in the non shay minutes on offense as of late. This for most of the year has been like the story the question mark with this team. And there was a time earlier this season where the offense with jadub on the floor with shay Off was really really ugly, and again that was when he was slumping in December and January. But overall on the year, now they have a one thirteen offensive rating with jadabon with shay Off, which isn't great, but it's decent enough for me to then justify putting him here because this guy is a first team All Defense caliber defender. If he gets to sixty five games, he is an absolute lock. And that's why I have him here because that is going to bring me elite value in any situation. I mean, he's just a marvel defensively because he's a super high end perimeter defender with lots of on ball versatility, but it's his off ball impact in his off ball versatility that just is different from any other wing er guard in the league right now, people shoot fifty percent versus Jadub at the rim. That is the best number of any player six foot six or shorter to defend at the rim with any sort of actual volume. Right We've seen him anchor their small ball looks at the five. He's got this seven to two wings span in this special athleticism and these special instincts attacking and targeting the ball. That's extremely, extremely impactful when you can be that sort of elite off ball defender. And that is why again I put him over A Bam out of Bio. They're both elite defensive players. I think Bam is more impactful defensively, but Jadub has clearly more offensive juice and defensively, right it's not just what he's doing with the rim protection. He's top five in deflections. He is an awesome on ball defender. He's a ninety fourth percentile isolation defender. So I took him over Bam because I prefer the offensive juice. I take him over Job because Jaw hasn't shown the ability to be a good number one on a serious offense. So at that point, I want the elite, do it all guy who can be my offensive number two and one of the best defensive players on the planet. And then I have him over Jalen Brown. And this was one that I thought was very very close because I think that they both have their clear advantages. Jalen Brown is clearly the better scorer to me, just because of his physical advantages. Right the efficiency for him has actually been worse than Jada. But I do think that Jalen in most matchups just has an ability to get where he wants. Jalen Brown I'm talking about here, and shoot over top of people and bully people. But Jadub is the much better playmaker, much better ball handler, certainly clearly the better defender. And Jalen Brown is an awesome on ball defender. He really really is. He is like, at best a neutral off ball defender. I mean he is a ball watcher. He has lapses, whereas Jadab is elite there and that's so impactful in a team context. So like, if I think about this matchup, who do I think gives the other more problems? I kind of think Jadub and the collective OKC defense they can do such a great job on Jalen that they limit his impact as a scorer. And then on the other end, Jadub, I think just out of pick and roll will be able to get himself a good enough shot diet. He'll be able to play, make and create for others. He'll be able to have the large defensive impact. So I ended up going with him. I think that's really close. But I am still a Jaub believer. Like he's had his issues this year, efficiency hasn't been sparkling like it was last year, but I believe when the shot is falling, he is still like the dream number three, which is what he is for O KC. Because they're so so spoiled, but like, really a good offensive number two and a dominant defensive player, and that's just a guy who's going to succeed anywhere. In my opinion, So is a duo.

You would have SGA and Tatum above. Excuse me, You would have Sga and JDub above Tatum and Brown.

You would have SGA and Tatum above. Excuse me, You would have Sga and JDub above Tatum and Brown.

Yeah, I would.

Yeah, I would.

Yeah, I don't have J doub on my list.

Yeah, I don't have J doub on my list.

Another stat that you didn't mention that I found when I was researching for these guys. JDub has at the Thunder have a higher defensive rating with JDub On and chet Off than chet On and JDub Off like that's crazy, and it's a decent sample size too, because you know, I mean all the time that chet was off when it was really jdab anchoring the defense.

Another stat that you didn't mention that I found when I was researching for these guys. JDub has at the Thunder have a higher defensive rating with JDub On and chet Off than chet On and JDub Off like that's crazy, and it's a decent sample size too, because you know, I mean all the time that chet was off when it was really jdab anchoring the defense.

I don't have j double my.

I don't have j double my.

List historic defense.

List historic defense.

And I understand your argument, there's just way too many offensive questions for me right now about Jadob. I need to I need to see it in the playoffs honestly before I would consider putting him in the number thirty spot. And I do have Jaylen Brown on my list, not not that much higher, just a few spots higher, but I do think there's an a one trait with JB and it is that mismatch attacking, that is that transition scoring, and that's where I feel like even though like in the head to head matchup we saw with Oklahoma City where JADEB doesn't play, Jaylen Brown fouls out, like that's the floor I think for Jaylen Brown and that.

And I understand your argument, there's just way too many offensive questions for me right now about Jadob. I need to I need to see it in the playoffs honestly before I would consider putting him in the number thirty spot. And I do have Jaylen Brown on my list, not not that much higher, just a few spots higher, but I do think there's an a one trait with JB and it is that mismatch attacking, that is that transition scoring, and that's where I feel like even though like in the head to head matchup we saw with Oklahoma City where JADEB doesn't play, Jaylen Brown fouls out, like that's the floor I think for Jaylen Brown and that.

Was a really really, really really ugly game.

Was a really really, really really ugly game.

That being said, I know he's gonna he's gonna, you know, physically exert himself on the game where Jadeb. I feel I've watched games where Jadeb has disappeared offensively and that just scared me enough to where I left him off this list. But he's not far off. I think Jadev's within the first five to ten guys off the list. For me, it's just I need to see him have a more office should run in the playoffs as a scorer, before I'm ready to put him in these conversations. But it's a bold take and one Carson that I think could age very very gracefully depending on what Oklahoma City does in the playoffs.

That being said, I know he's gonna he's gonna, you know, physically exert himself on the game where Jadeb. I feel I've watched games where Jadeb has disappeared offensively and that just scared me enough to where I left him off this list. But he's not far off. I think Jadev's within the first five to ten guys off the list. For me, it's just I need to see him have a more office should run in the playoffs as a scorer, before I'm ready to put him in these conversations. But it's a bold take and one Carson that I think could age very very gracefully depending on what Oklahoma City does in the playoffs.

And that's what I'm betting on.

And that's what I'm betting on.

Man.

Man.

Like I said, I'm fundamentally a Jada believer. I understand everything that you said. I don't have any problem with you not having him on your list. I mean, he's the last guy on my list, But I do think when the shot is falling, he just does so many things at a high level. I didn't even really touch on his off ball playoffensively, where I think he is so good as a cutter. He is usually a very good spot up shooter and a great close out attacker. So like, he is a really good compliment to Shay and if he can just captain them to respectable offensive results when he's on the floor without Shay, which he's been doing as of late, then I do feel good about having him here on my list. I really really like his game. I am a believer and I just value that versatility, and I value that multifaceted impact, and I value how you can impact the game at an elite level even if you aren't scoring twenty five points a game, and I do think Ja is one of the best in the league at doing all that. Who do you have in your twenty nine spot logan? You said it's Daron Fox? Why is he here for you?

Like I said, I'm fundamentally a Jada believer. I understand everything that you said. I don't have any problem with you not having him on your list. I mean, he's the last guy on my list, But I do think when the shot is falling, he just does so many things at a high level. I didn't even really touch on his off ball playoffensively, where I think he is so good as a cutter. He is usually a very good spot up shooter and a great close out attacker. So like, he is a really good compliment to Shay and if he can just captain them to respectable offensive results when he's on the floor without Shay, which he's been doing as of late, then I do feel good about having him here on my list. I really really like his game. I am a believer and I just value that versatility, and I value that multifaceted impact, and I value how you can impact the game at an elite level even if you aren't scoring twenty five points a game, and I do think Ja is one of the best in the league at doing all that. Who do you have in your twenty nine spot logan? You said it's Daron Fox? Why is he here for you?

Fox has one of those A one traits that I'm talking about. Jah has the speed and quickness and rim pressure. I think Aaron Fox has that speed and quickness, and he's also just way more efficient than Jaw and a lot of these guys in this section. They may not have the most all around winning impact if their scoring isn't on, but I do just trust them as number one lead ball handlers that I don't have to worry about that they're going to at least be able to take that load and creating a decent offense out of it. And Fox is flawed too, right, A lot of the stuff that I mentioned with jump shooting, with Jah.

Fox has one of those A one traits that I'm talking about. Jah has the speed and quickness and rim pressure. I think Aaron Fox has that speed and quickness, and he's also just way more efficient than Jaw and a lot of these guys in this section. They may not have the most all around winning impact if their scoring isn't on, but I do just trust them as number one lead ball handlers that I don't have to worry about that they're going to at least be able to take that load and creating a decent offense out of it. And Fox is flawed too, right, A lot of the stuff that I mentioned with jump shooting, with Jah.

I think you can also apply to de Aaron.

I think you can also apply to de Aaron.

I was really encouraged by some of the seasons we've seen in years past where he has been a really good pull up in mid range jump shooter and he's up his volume there. But he's just not nearly as efficient as he has been, and so I'd like to see him improve in those areas. I still think he's very limited as an off ball score and as you know, I'm talking about that malley ability and portability with John Moran. I think some of those concerns you can copy and paste with Fox. That being said, I do prefer Fox's a one trait to Jaws, that speed, that quickness.

I was really encouraged by some of the seasons we've seen in years past where he has been a really good pull up in mid range jump shooter and he's up his volume there. But he's just not nearly as efficient as he has been, and so I'd like to see him improve in those areas. I still think he's very limited as an off ball score and as you know, I'm talking about that malley ability and portability with John Moran. I think some of those concerns you can copy and paste with Fox. That being said, I do prefer Fox's a one trait to Jaws, that speed, that quickness.

I still think he's the I don't know with a men Thompson.

I still think he's the I don't know with a men Thompson.

He might not be the fastest man in basketball, but he still is one of the fastest men in basketball, and so's Jaw. Though yeah, he's marginally more efficient than Job when it comes to scoring, efficiency and turning the ball over, I do prefer that. I think he's a slightly better finisher at the rim. Even though Jo's been statistically a better mid range shooter, I think that's due to the lack of volume. I think the Deern's just a more consistent mid range jump shooter. I think he's got better touch in general inside the arc. I really prefer that he's better at taking care of the basketball. And also one staggering number of that Job that really scared me. And again this is like one of Jo's first years back. He only shoots thirty two percent on wide open shots that's where a defender is within is six feet or further from y. That was really a terrifying number that I discovered about Job that almost made me give him the boot.

He might not be the fastest man in basketball, but he still is one of the fastest men in basketball, and so's Jaw. Though yeah, he's marginally more efficient than Job when it comes to scoring, efficiency and turning the ball over, I do prefer that. I think he's a slightly better finisher at the rim. Even though Jo's been statistically a better mid range shooter, I think that's due to the lack of volume. I think the Deern's just a more consistent mid range jump shooter. I think he's got better touch in general inside the arc. I really prefer that he's better at taking care of the basketball. And also one staggering number of that Job that really scared me. And again this is like one of Jo's first years back. He only shoots thirty two percent on wide open shots that's where a defender is within is six feet or further from y. That was really a terrifying number that I discovered about Job that almost made me give him the boot.

Well, another number that I should have mentioned logan. The Grizzlies offense has statistically been slightly better with Jaw off the floor this year.

Well, another number that I should have mentioned logan. The Grizzlies offense has statistically been slightly better with Jaw off the floor this year.

And I mean it can't be that surprising too, because you're talking about how they used to run their offense super heavy, pick and roll, John dictating every possession. Now it's way more spread out, a lot more guys are involved. It makes sense that being said, Fox still does terrify me in a playoff setting if I'm the opposing team, if you don't have a guy that can stick with him, he can fry you.

And I mean it can't be that surprising too, because you're talking about how they used to run their offense super heavy, pick and roll, John dictating every possession. Now it's way more spread out, a lot more guys are involved. It makes sense that being said, Fox still does terrify me in a playoff setting if I'm the opposing team, if you don't have a guy that can stick with him, he can fry you.

I will never forget the Warrior series.

I will never forget the Warrior series.

I mean, he put the Kings on his back, got them as close as possible, and he's still an elite pick and roll ball handler and score out of pick and roll. Statistically, he's the number seven pick and roll score in the NBA. That's minimum three possessions a game. He's everaging one point zero seven points per possession there. And it's a limited sample size, but in seventeen games in San Antonio, minimum two possessions a game, he was the best isolation scorer in basketball. I hope that's something that we see continue. He was below league average, I think in Sacramento, but I also think he was a little bit checked out there, and I don't think he's a defensive plus de Aaron Fox frustrates me defensively, even though he's a defensive I'd say at best wash. I don't have as many concerns about him as being my number one in a playoff series the way I do about some guys that I left off my list. And so a lot of the guys that I have in this range are significantly flawed in one area or the other. They have flaws that I think you can exploit in a playoff setting. That being set, a lot of the guys that I have in this range, I do trust as my offensive engines, as my offensive number ones is my primary ball handlers, and that is why they get on the list. And that's why both.

I mean, he put the Kings on his back, got them as close as possible, and he's still an elite pick and roll ball handler and score out of pick and roll. Statistically, he's the number seven pick and roll score in the NBA. That's minimum three possessions a game. He's everaging one point zero seven points per possession there. And it's a limited sample size, but in seventeen games in San Antonio, minimum two possessions a game, he was the best isolation scorer in basketball. I hope that's something that we see continue. He was below league average, I think in Sacramento, but I also think he was a little bit checked out there, and I don't think he's a defensive plus de Aaron Fox frustrates me defensively, even though he's a defensive I'd say at best wash. I don't have as many concerns about him as being my number one in a playoff series the way I do about some guys that I left off my list. And so a lot of the guys that I have in this range are significantly flawed in one area or the other. They have flaws that I think you can exploit in a playoff setting. That being set, a lot of the guys that I have in this range, I do trust as my offensive engines, as my offensive number ones is my primary ball handlers, and that is why they get on the list. And that's why both.

John Deerin are here.

John Deerin are here.

They have a one traits that I believe in a playoff setting. I believe in them as my number ones to an extent, and if you don't have a guy that can match up with them defensively on the other side, they could crucify you in a playoff series, even though we haven't seen it just yet. So that's why those guys are here for me, and I've got five at twenty nine.

They have a one traits that I believe in a playoff setting. I believe in them as my number ones to an extent, and if you don't have a guy that can match up with them defensively on the other side, they could crucify you in a playoff series, even though we haven't seen it just yet. So that's why those guys are here for me, and I've got five at twenty nine.

I do like the Aaron Fox. I left him just fairly off my list.

I do like the Aaron Fox. I left him just fairly off my list.

Yeah, last thing.

Yeah, last thing.

I do think this was a down year for the Aaron and I think he's gonna be better because I was.

I do think this was a down year for the Aaron and I think he's gonna be better because I was.

I was disappointed with the overall output this season.

I was disappointed with the overall output this season.

Yeah, the jump shooting is pretty rough, and that's ultimately probably the biggest reason that I left him off my list, just because I'm very concerned that what we saw from him in twenty twenty four from Beyond the Arc could just be an outlier season. He took a leap in volume, he took a leap in efficiency, but like every other year of his career, Daron Fox is a thirty one thirty two percent three point shooter, and he was right back down to that this year. So I do really like his mid range shooting. And he didn't even have a very good mid range shooting season. He was only forty one percent. But I think you can bet on him being more in like the mid to high forties there, which isn't the most efficient, but it's a very valuable shot to have. But I'm really really worried about his increased reliance on the pull up jumpers when that's just not what makes them great as a player. What makes them great as a player is first and foremost that threat of downhill pressure, that elite first step, and he has just become more and more prone to leveraging that to say, okay, well how about I use it to get to my pull up jumper, which when he's nailing his pull up jumpers makes him an absolute problem. But when he's not well, then you get this guy who's inefficient, who isn't a high end playmaker, who isn't super effective without the ball in his hands, who isn't a super impactful defensive player, and that's where I do feel like there are other guys who do more things to impact the game at a really high level defensively without the ball, without their scoring, who I would lean on over Fox. I'm lower on Fox now than I was at the start of the year, and a lot of that is because of the struggles that he's had as a jump shooter. But that's meaningful to me because that's such a major part of his shot diet.

Yeah, the jump shooting is pretty rough, and that's ultimately probably the biggest reason that I left him off my list, just because I'm very concerned that what we saw from him in twenty twenty four from Beyond the Arc could just be an outlier season. He took a leap in volume, he took a leap in efficiency, but like every other year of his career, Daron Fox is a thirty one thirty two percent three point shooter, and he was right back down to that this year. So I do really like his mid range shooting. And he didn't even have a very good mid range shooting season. He was only forty one percent. But I think you can bet on him being more in like the mid to high forties there, which isn't the most efficient, but it's a very valuable shot to have. But I'm really really worried about his increased reliance on the pull up jumpers when that's just not what makes them great as a player. What makes them great as a player is first and foremost that threat of downhill pressure, that elite first step, and he has just become more and more prone to leveraging that to say, okay, well how about I use it to get to my pull up jumper, which when he's nailing his pull up jumpers makes him an absolute problem. But when he's not well, then you get this guy who's inefficient, who isn't a high end playmaker, who isn't super effective without the ball in his hands, who isn't a super impactful defensive player, and that's where I do feel like there are other guys who do more things to impact the game at a really high level defensively without the ball, without their scoring, who I would lean on over Fox. I'm lower on Fox now than I was at the start of the year, and a lot of that is because of the struggles that he's had as a jump shooter. But that's meaningful to me because that's such a major part of his shot diet.

Now.

Now.

I still really like him being paired with Wemby. I still think that he's totally on the fringes of this list, but I ended up going with his former teammate in my number twenty nine spot logan, I have Demanta Sabonis here. Would you like to react with rage? He's just disgusted. He wanted to speak.

I still really like him being paired with Wemby. I still think that he's totally on the fringes of this list, but I ended up going with his former teammate in my number twenty nine spot logan, I have Demanta Sabonis here. Would you like to react with rage? He's just disgusted. He wanted to speak.

I just kind of want to leave for this segment. I don't want to be here for this. This is you put Sabonis on before BAM.

I just kind of want to leave for this segment. I don't want to be here for this. This is you put Sabonis on before BAM.

I was conflicted about that, But I just think that Demanta Sabonis is a really awesome offensive player now and I think that he's gotten better, and I don't think you really give him credit for getting better because I've had my issues with Domos historically in the past, I've had my issues with the fact that he's not an overly skilled post scorer. He relies on brute force down there, and if you can match up with him physically, well, you can stifle him as a scorer. You can maybe force him to commit some offensive fouls. And historically he has not been a willing jump shooter, and so teams can play off him and like, yeah, he can still be a really good passing hub for you and an elite screener and bring positive offensive value in those ways, but he's just not going to be a super effective scorer. I think he's gotten better as a score this year, is giving you twenty fourteen and six and a half on sixty six percent true shooting, is an elite screener, is a really good passing big. The Kings run so much offense through him with handoffs, and he's very good spotting cutters. But I think the significant improvement that he's made is as a jump shooter. He went from a guy who last year was giving you a point per jump shot to a guy who is now giving you one point one to eight points. Per jumper. That is absurd. That's I think better than a ninetieth percentile number. Now, are those wide open jump shots? Yes? Is that still on relatively low volume, Yes, but he only needs to make the wide open ones. He's taking more of them, and he's making them at an elite clip. He's over forty two percent from deep, he's forty five percent on two point jumpers. So he's reached the level now where he's a good enough jump shooter to make me more confident in his scoring, translating in his offensive impact, translating to a playoff series, and he's been super impactful this year. The Kings are eight points per one hundred possessions better with him on the floor. When he was on the floor without Darren Fox, they have a one to seventeen offensive rating this year when Fox was on the Kings. They were significantly worse with Fox on the floor without Domos than vice versa. And the guy usually never miss his games. I mean, Domos has been extremely available, but he did miss some time this year, just came back and the Kings went three to six without him. I also think that he's improved defensively. He plays hard there, he's capable moving in space, and he's not a good rim protector, but he's holding opposing players several points below their average field goal percentage at the rim. That's a decent number for a big. It's not what you want to see from like a high impact defensive big, but I think that it marks improvement for Domos. So he's so productive, he's so efficient. I think that he could thrive alongside a number of different perimeter archetypes, like basically any sort of ball handler he is going to enhance, if it's as a roller, if it's running handoffs, if it's with his super efficient play finishing, and also maybe the best rebounder in the league. So I do have him here. Logan, I know that you absolutely hate the guy, but he's very good at basketball.