Woj on NBA Free Agency: Nuggets pursuing Gary Trent Jr.; Lakers targeting DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Kuzma

Woj on NBA Free Agency: Nuggets pursuing Gary Trent Jr.; Lakers targeting DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Kuzma

16 and even at age 35 one of the top free agents available off season as you take a look at some of the other notable names on the list dear by the way LED the bulls with 24 points per game and 5.3 assists per game last season he of course is headlining a very interesting list of notable free agents Kyle Lowry we’re going to talk about him in a minute miles Bridges Gary Trent Jr a lot of these guys could still be contributors at the next team let’s bring in CBS Sports basketball analyst Chris Walker to talk all things free agents Chris we got to start with Demar D rozan because he’s still playing highlevel basketball when you think about where he’s at in his career he logged the most minutes per game in the association last season he was really productive for a mediocre Bulls Squad last year so with where he is currently at in his career going into year 16 where’s the team that you think would be best fit for what he can bring to the table again you you made some great points about what he did last year for a mediocre team and he’s still a a player that can contribute at a high level I have a couple of interesting places I think that may fit for him now it comes down to are they going to sign and trade for him because he wants a number let’s talk about uh the kings first the Kings have space to sign him now imagine him with dearen Fox and sabonis I think that would be a formidable big three there in Sacramento and the bean team will be back uh in a situation where they have an opportunity to uh really make some noise in a very heavily contested West but my team Haley you know where I’m going I’m going a little bit south of tensel town and I’m going to the Lakers signing trade D’Angelo Russell opting in allows him to be an asset look at ruy hatr that’s 25 million throwing in a couple other guys throwing some scraps vanderbild expir a couple of guys with expiring contract s and the next thing you know we got Demar we got LeBron and we got ad and if that happens cancel Christmas look for the Lakers to be back in the finals I’m going dear Rosen signing trade they get it figured out LeBron was going to take the cap hit I mean it was going to take the hit on his pay he didn’t take it he got his max sign and trade let’s move out a couple of guys and let’s bring in demard d r Ro and bringing home he’s from Compton let’s bring him home haly bring him home I can tell you’re speaking from the heart there uh when it comes just saying just saying just a little bit from a little birdie I heard it from a little birdie but we’ll see what happens okay we like that uh dear’s preferred destinations pre- trade deadline last season by the way were Miami and New York uh maybe still on the table there but we are rooting for you and your Lakers to get Demar to Rosen it was probably a year to forget in Toronto after finishing 12th in the r in the excuse me 12th in the East Gary Trent Jr tried to make the most of it though he shot really well from the three-point line 40% you can never have too much good three-point shooting as we were discussing before we came up here in the break so where’s the team that could maybe utilize that skill set but also just bring in a fresh new face in Gary Trent Jr no Gary Trent Jr that situation is an anomaly uh you know he bet on himself had a chance to get an extension played for 18 million last year and then the team resigns they pick up the option on Bruce Brown that’s 23 million resigned Scotty Scotty I mean Scotty BN to a Max and should I say SC assigned I’m sorry Scotty bnes to a Max and a couple other players and now there’s not enough money to even pay Gary Trent the 18 million he made last year he might even have to take less uh than the midlevel section exception just to come back so it’s a bit of an anomaly what happened with Gary Trent although I know that he likes being in Toronto but it looks like with the moves they’ve made he’s gone I’m looking for him to probably go and the the drum is getting ready to roll to the Nuggets I think that would be a great spot for him they need a fifth starter uh kavus po Carwell is gone off the to the magic got his bread and I think in order for Denver to make uh to have a chance to come back uh after losing and not having a chance to defend their Championship they need a a shooter of his magnitude no I have no confidence in Christian Brown good player not a great player uh Hamilton coming off the bench made some shots uh but I just believe I’m sorry holiday but I just at the end of the day I just believe that they need a more experienced player and more a player who’s been counted on in high level situations even though he’s played in Portland and Toronto he’s just been a high usage player and he can make shots the bottom line is I think they should look to get him to the Nuggets he’s made 553 total three-point shots over the last three season so he knows how to unload the clip Beyond The Arc let’s talk about miles Bridges next coming off a with career highs in points rebounds and minutes per game and when we talk about ideal destinations for him in 2024 Chris you like him headed to the Clippers tell us why I do you know uh it just one that’s something that’s people have talked about and for mil Bridges he’s an exceptional player uh things character-wise have gone downhill from him since he had that runin situation with the law and and again people are just forgetting how good of a player miles Bridges is now losing Paul George leaving losing an apex Predator like the Clippers lost for nothing uh to free agency uh to the Sixers they have to replace that yeah they’ve signed Derek Jones Jr they brought back Nicholas baton but at the end of the day they need in the west along with James Harden Russell Westbrook not what he used to be kawi Leonard we don’t know uh you know how healthy he’ll be down the stretch building a new Arena they’re already in the luxury tax Steve bomber like you you know that this guy wants to win he has all the money but at the end of the day you need the players on the floor they have an excellent coach I think Miles bridges boolers that lineup significantly and gives them another scorer along with James Harden and also when kawi Leonard when he’s out right depending on what happens with Russell Westbrook when he’s out you have two stars that can carry the franchise the Clippers are just so baffling to me because when you you were listing the names on the roster it’s like oh my gosh this should be one of the best teams in the NBA but uh you know who knows hopefully free agency will help improve them going forward if we stick there on the west coast Chris the Warriors couldn’t get it done with Klay Thompson their loss is my gain as he now joins my Dallas Mavericks uh but if you’re Golden State you got to find a way to replace one half of the Splash Brothers in the bay we talked about the three-point shooting from Trent Jr but buddy heeld may be a guy who could step in obviously one of the best deep threat Shooters in the game H could you see him linkoln with Steph Curry and the Warriors or is there another place that you think he fits better no you you would think uh that they would have a situation where people would be clamoring to get to uh Golden State it’s just been really tough and you can talk about the big three is broken up you know I’ve never been a crazy true Draymond Green fan even though he brings a lot to the table Steph is certainly playing at a high level but buddy Hill you know he’s often he was often thought thought less than what he could be in Philadelphia and I don’t think they use him to his full capabilities and a lot of that could be the development of Tyrese Maxi and now he has an opportunity to move on and go play for a Golden State team who favors three-point shooting I think they have to find a way to replace what Klay Thompson brought buty Hill probably can find a bigger role uh playing a longside step and all of the attention that He will draw Andrew Wiggins is there as well and the developing Jonathan kaminga but the bottom line is you know buddy Hill is going to have to deliver this is a a situation where he’s going to a place where going to be a lot of eyeballs on him so what you did not get in Philadelphia which is a football baseball town now you’re going to get in Golden state where the Warriors are it and they’re going to the eye of the Spectre is going to be on you and you’re going to a loaded West and there are high expectations in Golden State so buddy Hill I think will be a decent addition he did play with Sacramento so he knows the west but he’s going to have to really deliver in order for the Warriors to get back to Forum hey he’s delivered from three in Seasons past six seasons with 200 or more triples in a single season so maybe that’s the answer we’ll have to wait and see uh if we talk about Kyle Lowry Chris he has just been on the Move lately Miami Charlotte Philly a well-traveled man last season and now at 38 years old he prepares for season 19 which is still crazy to think about uh kind of feels like maybe it’s time to put some Roots down somewhere Chris where in the world should we see Kyle Lowry play this upcoming season you’re right about that one of my old Villanova Compadres NOA sign up he won’t be going to the Knicks that’s for sure but you know what Kyle Lowry’s from Philly and given what has happened with Paul George coming there Tyrese Maxi uh signing the max that he could get and and Joel embiid why not stay they need to feel rosters they need bodies you’re from Philadelphia you’re going to get the minimum no one’s going to pay you he’s again he’s aged like fine wine but you know and and I hate to say this and I hope Kyle’s not watching this but this is the beginning of the end and you’re at the end of your career I mean you’re one of the oldest players in the NBA although he can be a great asset in the locker room to be a leader he’s a guy that I can see as a coach one day and I think that having that veteran leadership of a guy and the one thing I love about Kyle he’s a guy that will always do the little things that will help you win and I think with the bevia Stars that they have no Tobias Harris anymore but you did get Kelly UB back I think there’s an opportunity with a veteran like Kyle to run the show that cuz that’s what’s going to be needed if you’re talking about Dale myy bring Paul George Tyrese Maxi and embiid and then bringing in Drummond to spell him now you’re talking about trying to beat the Knicks and you’re trying to beat the Celtics and don’t forget about Giannis he’s still in East as well and now you got Orlando the East is ever bit ever bit as good as the West shall I say and I think Kyle Lowry would be an asset again you need to steady the ship and you got to have some other guys or Boston call them the Stay Ready guys and I think Kyle could be an to the 76ers also being able to stay at home as well listen he’s been on his IG working so uh that’ll be an asset for someone whoever gets him heading into year 19 Chris Walker thanks for hopping on with us here on HQ if we take a look at the odds to win the NBA title way too early odds in my opinion but I guess you can never be too early it is the Celtics favored at plus 300 to win the championship again some of the teams we talked about in the mix there Chris’s Lakers the 34 to1 odds my Mavericks 11 and one watch [Music] out for [Music] for [Applause] e e fore spee speech spee spee [Music] spe fore fore spee speee foree [Music] no sign sign don’t me [Applause] speee I come [Applause] [Music] oh e for [Music] spee for [Applause]

Woj on NBA Free Agency: Nuggets pursuing Gary Trent Jr.; Lakers targeting DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Kuzma