In Defense of Rudy Gobert, Jamal Murray Gets a Huge Contract, Butler to the Nets? & More! | Ep. 9

welcome back to state of the association I your host n Roberts we've got some fun stuff to talk about today stuff I'm really passionate about actually Jimmy Butler is reportedly fond of joining the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 off season Shaquille O'Neil Call of Duty go bear the worst NBA player of all time Kyle kusma said that the LA Lakers would still be Champion Championship contenders if they did not move on from him and Jamal Murray just signed a 4-year $28 million contract extension with the Denver Nuggets welcome back I've got defend rud goar a little bit Shaq the other day one of the greatest big men of all time called Rudy G the worst player of all time and Rudy he he catches a lot of flag for his play because in the modern NBA we see so many great offensive talents at the center position guys who who can move like a guard you got a guy like lmy 7 foot4 he's not as smooth as a guy like the top Echelon like Kyrie or Paul George but wiy he can handle the rock better than pretty much any big has before him and you see an influx of talented Bigs like that that can move almost like a guard and then you see R Gober and he he's the opposite of that he doesn't take three-pointers he lives in the paint and he locks down on D and it's just more of a connecting piece on the offensive end and that's pretty much all he is he does it efficient efficiently but it doesn't take too many shots either he's not the most aggressive offensive player you've ever seen that's for sure and that's okay rudo goar is a very valuable player in the modern NBA and he shows that you can go against the grain and be able to still impact the game at a high level he catches a lot of FL for being oh he's not really that good a Defender he shouldn't be a four time DP y look at the Utah Jazz teams in the playoffs they fell apart you know why because Rudy goar had no Defenders with him on that jazz team you can look at the roster it's just led by guys they might be good on offense but they can't hold a candle to what a guy like Rudy goar does defensively so he has to carry the load not to send the post on the perimeter as well and he's a solid perimeter Defender for for big man he's not Marcus Smart he's not Drew holiday and he doesn't need to be because his role his bread and butter is in the post and so if you hate on him for his fer defense you're you're missing the whole point of what he brings to a team he can take a a horrible horrible defensive roster and turn that into a top five defense in the league he was the leader of one of the best defenses we have seen in recent memory maybe all time for this past Year's Minnesota Timberwolves rud go is a very valuable player in today's NBA because of Defense alone and talk about the r Team One play that he caught a lot of flack for was when he was guarding Luka donic and Luka hit a step back three no one in the league is guarding that there's a very select few guys in the league who are going to guard that and R goar he did all right for what he had he uh just due to his wings span he was able to contest it a little bit and most guys can't even do that on luuka donic so the fact that he was even able to put up a little bit of a contest on a luuka johnon step back three while being a post Centric player is very impressive so I think Rudy a lot of time we miss the plot entirely when it comes to his his defense and what he brings to a team because he he deserves his four de wise he is one of the greatest Defenders that we have ever seen he has been the anchor of great defensive units that wouldn't have been able to do it without him now the Minnesota T wolves you can make a little bit of an argument for that but that's another thing because he's really showed his value this past year and Stat is a lot of hate but he really showed his value in what he can be because the Minnesota TS they're the opposite of that Utah Jazz those old Utah Jazz teams because they have so many guys that can defend Anthony Edwards Jaden McDaniel is one of the best two-way players in the entire league uh Mike Conley solid cat cat cat's there he's got size on him at least I can give him that nil Alexander Walker one of my favorite players in the entire league to watch there's so many there's Nas Reed there's such great defensive talent and just general Talent on that team that Rudy he's really able to impact the game best as a Defender when he's just you know sent to the post and goes to work and he doesn't have the block numbers of a guy like wmy sure but he doesn't need to guys are scared to go to the ring because Rudy goar is guarding it so he is one of the most impactful Defenders we have ever seen one of the greatest Defenders of all time he catches a lot of he shat called him the worst NBA player of all time that could be further from the truth it's time we put some respect to talk about who doesn't impact the game as much as goil bear for sure especially on the defensive end and that is Kyle kma he came out recently and said that the Lakers would still be contending for titles if he was not traded and that they made a mistake by by giving up on him I disagree with this for an a of reasons Kyle kma ultimately I think he wanted out really he wanted to have his own show because CZ as solid as he can be as a scorer he's not great at playmaking for others so as a role player as a third option he doesn't really succeed as well in that role as he would the first option and as the first option you're not going to get that far with Kyma but at the very least KZ is able to put up n he's going to get his money he's going to be the face of a team over in Washington right so I think for the most part that c he kind of wanted out of Washington so now you maybe he's a little bit bitter about that but I think overall as a player Washington is better for him because you've La their to their star Duo is Fords so there's less of a place for Kyle kusma I guess ad is Power Ford FL Center but you get the idea there's less of a place for kusma on that roster anyways and yes he was part of that 2020 title team but in general Cous I think what he brings to the table is widely replaceable you can find a lot of scoring Wings in the modern NBA you know and they might not be the most efficient they might not be the best Playmakers for others they might not be able to play well within a system that's designed to win a championship where they're say the third option the fourth option really a role player if Tobias Harris comes to mind right but that's what Kyle kman was so I don't think the would be in a different position if they had Kyle kma and I think their roster right now it's on paper set up as good as it has been since since that title run because the year after that they got or the year after that it's set of the best it has been since the year after that because the Dennis shooter montz heral experiment I was I was excited for that I thought it was going to be a lot better than it was because those are the top two six-man of the year the Year before and then they come to LA and they're just marred by injuries they end up being a seven seed Leon lost in the first rounds for the first time in his career but other than that this La roster I think has been the best fit in terms of players and play style that since a championship run and that's because you got a back court that can be complimentary to the stard duo and LeBron James and AD DLo I like him a lot as the third off and I think really he could be a very good piece on a lot of teams um his defense obviously isn't the greatest but he's a great offensive engine he can shoot the rock very well he's perimeter threat great playmaker and he's not the best in the playoffs he's had his struggles there but I believe that he will at some point be able to turn the corner and at least have one good playoff series for his whole C it's found happen at some point right because d he's a guy that has been able to show up in clut moments before the lights when not the playoffs aren't too bright like I remember I'm a Minnesota T fan just the other year it was against Philly I believe he had 27 points in the fourth quarter and O and overtime combined and led us to victory in that game and I I didn't have league pass at the time I paid a dollar to watch the fourth quarter in OT while the game was going on because I he's just an exciting player to watch and when he he's hot he's he's on one and so I believe that he can be valuable to this team even though he's a little bit streaky he's a little bit inconsistent DLo is still a positive player to have Austin Reeves people said he's the third bet third best player on that team I disagree I think that's definitively D'Angelo Russell however um if you're H if people are having conversations about that then you're doing something right Austin I think he is better for for a role than DLo is DLo you know he kind of wants to be the primary a higher priority in terms of ball handling Austin Reed plays his role a little bit more he can play more off ball he has his moments defensively more than D'Angelo Russell does I still don't consider him to be much of a Defender but he can have moments where he's pretty solid he's a good hustle player and good lunch pil guy to have on the locker room uh R hamura you know I kind of I think on a championship team ruy hashimura is a more impactful player on than Kyle kusma is because ruy can be a really good play finisher he's athletic and his counting stats aren't going to be as much as a guy like KZ but Kyle kusman demands the ball in his hands more he really hamura can play more off ball he can play solid defense I think haimura and overall this Lakers roster they're really more fit for Championship contention and I don't really know how how much Contender they are especially in the Lo Western Conference I think they are more of a contender than they would be if they had KY Kuser right now so I disagree with the statements overall I think kusba can be a solid player in this league but right now I think he's in the best spot he really can be where he gets to be the number one number one option and just go out there and get some baskets it doesn't matter how efficient you are they don't have win expectations time Jamal Murray signed a 4year $28 million contract extension 50 milli a year for a guy who has never been an all NBA never been an Allstar I I think Jamal Murray what he brings to the team is good for the Denver Nuggets and he's he's solid in the regular season sometimes he'll have good playoff runs last year was kind of forgettable but the year before he was pretty good I don't think he's worth 50 million a year though and I don't think that should be particularly hot take you're paying him with some of the highest paid guys in the league today making a lot of money for a point guard who I think can be his production can be replaced you know in the playoffs you can argue he how he's a very valuable player this past playoff run wasn't all that sell for him and you can make the argument that that was because they were playing a great defensive team in the Minnesota TS in the second round but just in general I think Jamal Murray isn't as great a player as a lot of times he's perceived especially by the ruget fan base and just Jamal Murray I'm not I'm not a fan of the deal I'm not a fan of of his play I think his regular season production is pretty easily replaceable and I think in the playoffs yeah he he's he's a solid little Riser but why not take a chance on another guy who's going to cost a little bit less who can give you the same production and their regular season and maybe we haven't seen him in the playoffs before or he's also a playoff Riser cuz you could find a guy like that there's plenty of solid point guards in the NBA today that can fit within a role on an offense in the playoffs especially you know um because shamal I think the main two man game of the Nuggets that I like the most in terms of how they P off of each other is nicoa yic and Aaron Gordon Jamal Murray I consider him I would say the third best player on that team and in terms of you I have always said that the Denver Nuggets are at least until they lost kcp they were the most well constructed roster starting five in the NBA because you had a solid point guard in Jamaal Murray you had a light out shooter in npj you had a great role player in kcp you had the best Twan game in the league be between a great play finisher and the one of the most unique offensive talents we've ever seen in the NBA perhaps the greatest offensive talent for a big we we have ever seen n yic him and Aaron Gordon have a great Twan Duo so really you could make the argument that that Jamal Murray is the third or fourth most important player on that team because really npj what he brings to the table as a shooter you can't replace his shooting production by mostly anyone and Jamal I think what he brings to the table is a little bit more replaceable and I get the city of Denver loves him and that's all right he's a he's a championship point guard I can appreciate him for what he is but I don't think 52 million a year is a good move for Jamal Murray and I I'm sure his family is happy he got that Max extension I'm sure he's happy but I don't know how much it's worth it and if his play if his play to CL in over internationally we didn't see much good from him for Team Canada if his play if comes in next season he's Rusty and not shooting well and all of a sudden Jamal Murray he takes a step down from what he had been and when he had been was just kind of solid and stable nothing extraordinary if he comes in into next season and isn't the same player that he was in the NBA the past couple of years even all of a sudden that contract looks even worse so I don't like the move I I'm just not a big Deonte Murray fan and I don't want to let it bleed into that so much I just think in terms of his impact on the team and the reduction he has I don't think he's worth four years 28 million good on him for getting that money but Jimmy Butler is fond of joining the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 free agency cycle I'm not sure how I feel about this I feel like Jimmy Butler the Miami Heat are the perfect place for him he's LED them to the championship two times although they haven't won either of those but he's been really good for them and I think Jimmy embodies heat culture it's all you know heat culture kind of becomes a meme as some points just because oh people talk about well the Miami Heat they might be the a seed but watch out for them and then they go on to maybe not do anything in the playoffs that year but in general I think the Miami Heat have cultivated a good culture and just have good work ethic with their players everybody's locked in they're going to do all they can lot of defensive end they're just all in trying trying to do the best set they can to win games and be a quality team despite you know maybe not having the most Talent on paper or having the most esteemed players a guy like CB Martin really shows up and out in the playoffs and so I think Jimmy B is a good example of that as well you know his first couple years in Chicago he might have averaged two two points a night but now he's he's multiple time Allstar he's the number one option on that team and so I think Miami was the perfect spot for Jimmy and I would love to see him retire as a Miami Heat player because I think he just embodies the culture of that City and the basketball team so well but now let's talk actually about you know what the Brooklyn Nets would be doing I disagree with it entirely I think that it is a Lou move to go from Trading away Mel Bridges to which after that I think it's time to go go for a rebuild right and then to go to another another forward who who can score who can defend and Jimmy Butler I guess yeah Jimmy has more experience to being the first option absolutely but in general I don't think this this is not League altering for the for the Brooklyn Nets whatsoever I saw someone in the comments on running basketball say Hey you know cam Thomas Nick Claxton and Jimmy Butler they get a stable point guard that's a really solid team and then all the comments were saying yeah for for 30 wins to be the Trump seed and I agree with that mostly because I don't think that what he could offer you with the way this roster is currently constructed is much better than what a guy like Mel Bridges was able to offer you and Jimmy's a better player sure Mel is much more widely accepted and much better as a role player than being the first option especially compared to Jimmy he's a much better First Option than Miguel could be but in general I don't think it moves to needle so I think the Brooklyn Nets really you're better served to rebuild and honestly if this came out last year I would have liked the idea of it a lot more because a lot of people said when the brookin Nets they had Mel Bridges they had everyone on that roster still the general consensus around the league was that yeah this is a great team a great conglomerate of role players they need a guy that's going to take to that next level and Brooklyn still has a lot of good role players don't get me wrong but I think Mel Bridges as the second option to say a guy like Jimmy would be so much better served than Jimmy with a guy like Dennis or Cam Thomas yeah cam Thomas being second option in the end you know I think cam Thomas would be a better third option just because of because of his inconsistency so I think Jimmy the roster would be better fit for him if it was last year than going into the next free AG off season so I don't like the move in terms of where it's at now because I think after the Brooklyn n TR away Mel Bridges that means it's time to rebuild because you're not if you had Mel you could try to bring in a star I believe and then you could talk about maybe being a French Contender but now without muel I I think it's a lot more questionable and I think it's just time to go into a full rebuild I wouldn't like the move for Jimmy Butler the Miami thank you for listening as always I'm your host Nash Roberts this has been state of the association