HOUR 1 | Milwaukee Bucks making the most noise in NBA Free Agency with waiving Damian Lillard for…
Hey, this is JJ and Alexen. [Music] As you wrap up your day, it’s time to get your fix of the teams you live for and the sports you love.
This is JJ and Alex, presented by G2G Bars on 975, the KSL Sports Zone. [Music] [Music] Welcome on into the program everybody. Thank you for being a part of it. It is a Tuesday. It’s a beautiful Tuesday. It’s hot here in the state of Utah. It’s July. It’s officially the first day of July. That means we’ve had just about 18 hours of dealing with the NBA free agency news that has just been dropping over the just trickling in here and there. Shay Gildas Alexander gets himself a payday. We’ll get to that in a little while. That’s a fun thing though. They sign him up. What was the actual years? How many years did he get extended then? Is it four? Four on the New Deal. Four years and a cajillion dollars. And so SGA gets himself paid. It pays to be the guy who’s the NF the NBA MVP, the finals MVP, and the scoring leader. The first time somebody’s done that in what was 30 something years or whatever. So, you know what? That’s all you need, kids. If you’re listening out there,
that’s all you need. If you’re listening out there, just set those goals high. It’s not good enough to be the MVP anymore. No. be the finals MVP on top of it. Be the be the league scoring leader on top of it. And then somehow even after all of that, people still find a way to diss on uh on that on that Oklahoma team on that Oklahoma Thunder team. Have you seen that Oklahoma City Thunder? Like have you known a team that’s been this dominant has gotten this much hate after winning a title? Yeah, we only won it because Hallebertton his his Achilles tendon blew up. That’s the only reason you got it happens every year.
And look, it’s an argument you can make.
It’s an argument you can make.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. So, in the end, you have one of the most dominant runs in the history of the NBA. Yeah, but you’re Oklahoma City, dude. You’re not LeBron. SGA has now carved his uh his name uh in the in the archives of the NBA as one of the richest men ever paid on a yearly basis. And so, there it is. Steven Sylvester Sly joining us on the program. Sly, what’s going on, man? Good to see you.
Oh, man. Absolutely loving it. I love getting outside.
The stunner glasses are in are in effect.
See, he’s saying it right, too. Stunner glasses, man. We on the west coast.
They are They are in effect
in full effect.
They were put on in the studio as we started up here. Um
I’m happy, man. You know, it’s it’s July. That’s that’s birthday month for me.
Oh, is it really?
Yeah, man. 17 days away now, folks.
Hey, producer Alex,
you know,
let’s put on the calendar of uh
expect my locker to be full of G2G bars. and uh barbecue. Kenny Jay’s barbecue. I won. Uh
it’s fun. It’s Oh yeah. You know what?
We are going to be there on Wednesday. You know what? That’s my gift to you.
You know what?
There’s some You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to send you home with some of those smoked uh smoked
burgers said about you, bro. You know, I’m getting some Kenny Jay’s from you tomorrow. I You’re a swell guy. Swell.
Good. I told you my my thing is I’m like I’m I’m always like I get these legitimate business owners, guys who are like are starting a business and Kenny Jay’s out there and I’m like I’m just going restaurant to restaurant and going can you get me a smoked bologn sandwich just like mama used to make.
Let’s uh let’s I know you’re I know you’ve worked hard and you’ve absolutely dialed in your menu. Could we add a piece Can we add a smoked baloney sandwich to that? Let’s let’s take it back
just to just to really really dial up my fat childhood. All right. That’s That’s going to be my memoir. That’s I found the book name. My fat childhood.
Baloney Bowl.
There we go. The Baloney Bowl. If they don’t if they have a Duke’s Mayo Bowl, we can’t have a baloney bowl.
Come on.
That’s baloney.
That’s That’s phenomenal. All right. Our program brought to you by G2G bars. All natural ingredients and no preservatives. Contains zero smoked baloney. Uh that’s their commitment to you. That’s their commitment to you. Uh let’s kick off the hour as we always do. Let’s get right here to the cut and let’s jump in right here.
It’s time for the biggest story of the day. This is what made the cut with JJ and Alex on 975 the KSL Sports Zone. Trajan Wealth brings you this portion of the program. A trusted local financial fiduciary for your retirement. Give them a call today or just go to their website trajunwealth.com. That’s tranwealth.com. Traan wealth for all your local needs in retirement. Okay. Uh let’s get right to it because the interesting stuff that’s happened over the last little bit and as soon as things trickle in and I will say the disappointment that I had that I brought into uh to our pre-show meeting. I was chatting with our producer Alex uh Napololis. What did you say? What did you call what did you say about the free agency stuff? It was basically a pouty adult version of everybody else gets fun stuff. Wait on we
Is that about right? What is the way that you put it? What was What was the way you put it? I can’t remember how you put it.
I said everybody else is having fun for the Jazz to do something.
That’s what it is. Why is it everybody else gets to have fun on free a on free agency day in the NBA? Why does everybody else get to have fun?
Well, I don’t know how fun it is, but Damen Lillard has found him uh himself a uh
on the street
a he’s he’s now a free agent. No weirder moment than tearing your Achilles and then having the team go, “Thank you so much for all that you’ve done.” I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know what a version of Damen Lillard’s uh life in the NBA that looks like for him. That from a marketing standpoint you could probably accomplish. The problem is is that he’s a what at the very least. What’s your guess on what on what uh on what Damen Lillard would be getting on a one-year if you sign him to a one-year deal? What would Damen Lillard be getting like on the cheap? It’d be a $35 million.
I mean, hold on. Right now? Hold on. He’s on the other end of his career right now. I mean, uh, you’re talking about right now after the injury or if there was no injury.
I’m just saying what what a what like a one-year deal would look like?
A one-year deal for him? I would say around 30 million, 31, 32 million.
I I mean, I just don’t know. What’s he currently making? I bet it’s in the 50s. No,
everybody. Oh, dude. I I’m telling you the amount of people that are in the 50
you’re gonna wave a $50 million guy. I think that there are
I give him mid-30s. I’d say he’s 34 to 36 million a year.
Okay. And is that worth bringing him into a Maybe it’s even dumb having this conversation. Do the Jazz bring him in, waste some money on him.
Why would that be a waste
and say hey and say
the Utah community loves that guy?
They really do. And it probably would help you
with the young guys. not just with the young guys, but also you’re not necessarily adding a bunch of wins by adding uh an older Damen Lillard to your uh to to your roster. And yet at the same time, if Damen Lillard’s on your roster, I don’t know. I maybe I’m even Is this a total pipe dream or is it even a smart move by the Jazz? Is just a massive waste of money? I don’t know.
I I think that’s one of the smartest things you said. Okay.
I love that idea. I mean, even if he’s injured this year, you want that veteran um kind of coach. What What look Look at who we’re looking at on the TV right now. Yonis Hasslam. What the hell did he do on the
uh the Miami Heat bench for the last six years?
Hey, brought leadership.
He brought he got in the game and fouled out instantly for the last four or five years.
So, you know how they’re working the Damen Lillard contract, by the way. So, he’d be interested to go, I think, a lot of different places because he’s not going to whatever he gets is going to be gravy. So, he’s got two years left on his on his current deal. Do you know how much it is for two years?
Probably 80 million.
113 million. So, you’re talking about
that’s a 50 that is you’re talking about uh 57 57 for each one of those years. Now, as they’ve waved him, they’re going to stretch that. They’ve negotiated whatever version of this is going to be a 5-year for the 113 million. Okay. So 5 years 113 million then wherever he goes because I can’t imagine you’d be I I don’t know who’s going to sign him up for a long long time. Uh but you you’re getting a guy that you could probably get a little bit more on the cheap. Maybe not though. I I don’t know. I don’t know what he’d be asking. So Damen Lillard waved out in Milwaukee. make way for Miles Turner who has been who has played every every day of his life as a professional in Atlanta. I mean, that’s that’s a guy who or Indiana, excuse me, Indiana.
He goes he goes since 2015, he’s been playing on the same team. Miles Turner was a piece that people were looking at and going, “That’d be nice have Miles Turner kind of.” And what was funny about it was is that Jazz fans, why did they get all mad about it? Somebody suggested Miles Turner. What if Miles Turner goes to the Jazz? And they’re like, “What? That’s stupid.” And you’re like, “Wait, why?”
It feels like he’s been in trade conversation the last four years, right?
He has. He has. I remember the Lakers were after him. There were a lot of different
So now he goes to Milwaukee and what’s he going to bring to the table? Um I, you know, it’s an interesting prospect.
I like it. I mean, they got rid of Brook Lopez and they saw how important Brook Lopez was um to their even their championship run. And you bring in Miles Turner, who if you watch the Pacers during the playoffs, he shot the three really well, right?
For a big man to be shooting a three and he’s a paint pro uh a paint protector right there.
I mean, that that’s a great pickup, a great combination to Brook Lopez, who I think is a better defender, a better shooter. Uh I think he pair well with Giannis with how Giannis plays. He likes to play on the perimeter. That opens up the lane for Giannis and then on defense he can guard the paint.
Giannis isn’t happy apparently. Reportedly Giannis is actually and and all the moves by the way
because Giannis is a love guy as far as his brothers and stuff like he loves his brother. So not resigning Lopez was probably something that bothered.
The more interesting thing is he’s really upset about the Damen Lillard waving too. And so it’s weird because everything they’ve done in the offseason has been basically to just appease whatever
Giannis
Giannis wants. Yeah, they really have. They’ve been like, “Hey, look, um, what is it that you want? You want to play a you want to play that four spot and never be a center ever again? Fine, we’ll do it.” And they’re going to make it to where he’s happy and then they have to make this move. The pro I mean, Giannis can say whatever he wants, but the reality is is that what were you going to What’s this move here? It benefits everybody. Uh, Damen Lillard is not going to play basketball next year. So they would be paying him $60 million almost to not play any basketball next year. Instead, they defer some of that contract. They stretch it over five years. They wave him and they make room on a roster for somebody who could make a difference this year. It’s a smart move. It’s a really smart move. This is a guy who if he was 26, if he was if he was Jason Tatum, if he was Tyresese Hallebertton and he had this injury,
this not we’re not talking about this. you’re talking about you’re talking about a guy that you would keep on that roster forever and you’d have to kind of just eat that cost and you’d have to uh wave everybody else to make sure that you could have him in the future. But in this case, you do something right. You made that you’ve you’ve waved him and that is the way that you have to approach this thing. Now, what’s the future look like for him? Don’t know. From the Jazz perspective of things that have gone on, the buyout of Jordan Clarkson is uh is it is it is it complete or what? They got it all done, right? And now the now it’s just the now it’s just the the the formalities of getting getting him to the New York Knicks, right? Intends to sign with New York. That’s a great move for them. It’s a good move for the Jazz. I know it’s not a fun one for Jazz fans, but really ask yourself when the last time you were still in love with Jordan Clarkson was, right? I’m not saying that JC is is from a franchise. You love to see him on the bench. You love to see him in the commercials. You love to see him representing the community. there. There’s kind of not anybody who is better in the in the short term. You haven’t seen somebody who’s had that kind of effect on the community like Jordan Clarkson has. JC for three, man. Like that is it’s just been so it’s been awesome to have him here, but for both sides, that was a divorce that needed to happen. Yeah. Right.
Yeah. It was actually really sad, too, man, cuz it’s just the trajectory of the Jazz. As I said, you’re wasting a lot of good players, good years in basketball, and that’s what it kind of felt from from JC. I didn’t think that he was a a locker room troublemaking guy and he just had to kind of accept the role that he was with and and with the tempo of this team and it it just sucked that he was subjected to it. I mean, as a competitor, money is money, but you still don’t like to lose and so just being a part of the Jazz the last couple years has got to been hard for for veteran guys like him.
Look at what you have teams that have been making some moves and I think have done a phenomenal job. The Rockets
as of obviously the KD piece was the most important part, right? But they added KD, they added Dorian Finny Smith, and they added Clint Capella. All right. They lost Jaylen Green and Dylan Brooks. They resigned Fred Van Vleet, which is a huge deal, and and Jabari Smith. Massive deal to get those guys back to add Kevin Durant. Houston is a legit contender in the West immediately.
Say it again. I don’t like to, but the Vernon M the fighting Vernon Maxwells are are going to be
fighting Vernon Maxwell. That’s what it is. Are
you talking about the the dream?
No. All of the Look, the the amount of I’m trying to think of teams that Jazz fans low-key hate more than any other team. And a dark horse in that is Houston.
Right.
Vernon Maxwell being Vernon Maxwell being the chief of the uh of the Utah haters. Yes. He has no thoughts of. Now you have like the Atlanta Hawks for example. What did they get in free agency? They went out and busted their tails and got Porzingis. Mhm. Nquil Alexander Walker
ends up with them. Luke Canard ends up there. And who do they lose? Terrence man
Clinkapella, George Nang, and Caris Levert. All right, those are that’s a win for them. They they have improved their team. Let me ask you as a Lakers fan and I’m asking you with zero guile. I have no there’s zero sarcasm to my voice. How are things going in LA?
We have LeBron James. Did you see Pelinka’s freaking move today? He gets up at the press conference and goes, “Really trying to save some money for the uh the 2027 free agency class?” Like you’re all in on Luca, man. You know you’re going to have to max him out.
LeBron are already there. But
and you’re going, “We’re playing for 2027.” You think LeBron heard that and feels good about the future? No. Freaking
LeBron has said he’s not going to play that long. So, how could you be mad at somebody for playing at that? Now, if LeBron does you because you have LeBron right now and you have Luka right now.
LeBron has literally said over and over, I don’t know how much I’m going to play basketball.
I guess he turned into Shaq, right?
Not don’t know how much.
He just sits back in that chair.
I don’t know how much I play, you know? I just I got to see. I’m like, man, shut up and play ball.
You know what I love?
You got the butt. You’re the You’re the Uncle Rico hero for all of us.
Just play.
Hey everybody, I before you start getting judgy and hateful.
This is the Laker fan of the room that I’m pointing at right now. This is the guy.
I’m also a realist. I love my youths. I love my Lakers. But if they both mess up, you bet I’m going to call him on it.
I love the idea. Like here’s my favorite was when you know when you drive around town and you see somebody and they have like a they have a Utah thing and then they have a Lakers thing and then you’re like ooh
is that sly?
It could be sly. But like every once in a while you get like a 49ers and a BYU thing and like the youth fans who are 49ers fans are like I hate that guy but I I like the 49ers. Like I don’t I have him torn here. I hate half of that car.
It’s very hard for me when like I see you know someone sporting a Lakers thing like a Seahawks thing. I’m like, I I’m with you on the Seahawks, but where are we going with this anyway?
No Sonics. No Seattle Sonics. Throw it back for the retro.
The soon the the the SuperSonics are going to be back. All right. Other people who had good free agency so far. The Memphis Grizzlies. Uh they added uh Caldwell Pope obviously that was part of the deal. Ty Jerome added him. Cole Anthony comes, but they lose Desmond Bane and Luke Canard. They resigned. They resigned Jiren Jackson Jr. Now that’s a massive one. And a team that I think could have done so much better and they are on the cusp of doing of being good and we are like nervous about who this team is, but they haven’t done anything. The Detroit Pistons all they did was add Chris Carris Levert and then they get Dennis they they get Dennis Shruder out of town.
All they did
but I’m telling you they could they are a team who are on the cusp. You notice the teams that are on the cusp like Houston, uh Orlando’s in this boat, too, where they’re like, “We’re going out. We’re going to swing a little bit for the fences here. They went out and they threw everything that they could think of to get Desmond Bane into into Orlando, and he’s going to be and I think he’s going to be phenomenal for that team. I’m scared of the Magic if I’m in the East. I’m scared of uh what the Cavaliers could end up being.
Uh the the the the Knicks, I’m a little bit nervous for the Celtics. It’s not going to be their year for the next two years probably. So, this is a this is a hard thing because you watch teams like LA, if you’re if you’re a Lakers fan, they’ve come up really short. They they got Who’ they get? They resigned LeBron. They extended LeBron or they get that that player option with LeBron. Then they get Jake Laravia. Is that who all we’re talking about? That’s it. That’s it. So, in terms of who’s improved their stock when free agency and drafting is totally flipped in the NBA, I get it. The way you get people now is and and a lot of these additions we’re talking about are team are guys who have been traded or traded for or traded to get. Free agency is not really a way that you acquire people anymore. But when it comes down to it, you better you better have done some work in the draft or in some trades. And right now there’s a lot of teams the Celtics I think are not really all in on losing necessarily. But when you lose Drew Holiday, Porzingis like all in one swoop and then everybody’s looking around going is Jaylen Brown gonna stay around
and you add Anthony Simmons and uh and uh and George Nyang.
That’s what I was just I was like Anthony Simmons. Yeah, but like is he?
Nah.
Is he a guy? I mean, you got to respect the Blazers for whatever they were or whatever they are, but like I just I just didn’t see him as a guy. You can’t put him on a team and he’s going to sit there and average 25 points as a compliment, right? Like if he can compliment Jaylen Brown, is he going to be a 20 plus pointer per game at a 82 game season? Yeah. He’ll have his one or two nights where he gets above, you know, 2530. But like, yeah. Yeah.
Is he a consistent 20 plus night guy per game and then what else does he bring to the table? Because normally guys like that, you got to have other assets. You’re a playmaker. When you get double teamed, can you set everybody else up for success? Are you a good defender, uh, one-on-one defender? Are you this thing? I know he got hops, but outside of that, what is he a guy?
I don’t know if they’re going I don’t know if they’re going to see the J. Look, look, the Jazz’s big moves were the draft, right? The Jazz’s big move and their big coup was getting Ace Bailey. And if you talk about additions in the offseason,
your focus is your focus. That was a great focus.
I think that that’s I think that that’s where they were. And they were totally fine to live inside the draft and go, we like what we got here. And you knew that there was going to have to be names given up. You notice that like people aren’t looking at that and going, the Jazz absolutely blew it. They know that the Jazz are in a very specific spot right now, and that is to be as young as possible, to not win a lot. It’s not a tanking situation, but they are certainly building a roster that is not going to be successful very soon,
right? Which is in essence the same thing. I love how we say that, too. They’re like, they’ve made this commitment to not tank. Anyway, check out our roster. Check out this roster.
Does that make sense to you?
We’re not tanking. And and the reality is is that you can look at it the way it is. Every one of these guys has to get shots up in the NBA. Every one of these guys has to get back in transition defense in the NBA and feel that logging those hours is going to be huge. The reps that they’re going to get is the most important thing. And so you can’t just be like, “Oh, they are absolutely giving up.” What they’re doing is is they’re just going through a process here. And the process, and I hate calling it the process because I know that Daryl my uh and the 76ers, they coined that.
Come on, Joelle.
It was it was uh that’s not the process I’m talking about. What I’m saying is is that every one of these guys on the roster has got to get that NBA experience. And the way it’s going to be experience first is losing a lot of games probably. You know, I don’t know how many that means. And I don’t know what your the version of tanking that you’re going to get, but I can’t see you falling further than that fifth spot, right? You don’t you can’t fall further than that fifth fifth worst team in the league spot. So, you can make sure and just kind of know that you’re going to be inside that lottery and get a and get a a chance at that at a top six top seven pick.
AJ Debonso.
Oh, come on. Look, just put yourself in the 10th best spot and then you’ll for sure win the lottery. You think Ace and AJ are similar?
Could they make it? Could they work together?
Yeah. How about that?
Is that a long-term plan for Danny? Uncle Danny, you thinking about that? I don’t know. I don’t know. I know. I People foresaw that, but you know, you just never know with this lottery and and and whatever that banks out to be. But, you know, I definitely think the Jazz have made moves to um try to, you know, win here in the next couple years. I thought they’re young guys. got a lot of uh experience last year um to go into this year. So, it’s not a completely young young team. Um and this is going to be another learning curve here this year, but I think Will Hardy will be allowed to coach, let him coach, see what it is, and then uh they make their final moves next off season. And that’s where I believe that they’re going to try to be uh extremely competitive in this extremely talented Western Conference. So, um, the next couple years for the Jazz could be interesting, but I think the first stepping stone, as you said, you throw all your eggs into the basket. You get an AJ or Ace Bailey. Uh, Ace Bailey was a a great pickup and we talked about it right before the draft. Um, I think JJ and I talked about it right before. If Ace Baileyy’s there, you go get him. I don’t care if he worked out for anybody. That is a guy right there. You know, he’s that talented. He can do it. He can get it done. if you can uh structure a team around that guy and get it done, that is your future and that’ll be your franchise guy. So, looking forward to to seeing Ace Bailey in a Jazz uniform this year.
I think that you should be extremely excited because the most minutes you’re going to get if you’re Ace Bailey is is going to be Well, I I think that’s not true. The best minutes I think you’re going to get are with this team. You know what I mean? Like, they are willing to put they’re willing to log it.
Yes. Look, he could have gone to the to the Hornets. Let’s say he goes to the Hornets of the Wizards and he’s on the he’s on the freaking floor every second of the time that he’s that that he as soon as he gets there.
And how much how much is he is he getting out of that? He’d be the guy. He’d absolutely be the guy. But I think that there’s I this could be Keante George. This could be this could be his year in two different directions. Mhm.
He could he could absolutely make it or he could break it this year.
Maybe it’s not as clearcut like that, but I think that you’re going to be able to see. And how positive of a vibe would that be for this team if you’ve got Ace Bailey who comes in and immediately out athletes a ton of people with some raw talent and you see the development stuff going on there and Keonte George has a jump in his development. Allah like you saw with uh with Walker Kesler this year where he just goes I figured some things out. I hit the lab and all the stuff that I’ve been doing all the time that I’ve been logging all the minutes that I and all the things that I’ve been asked to do including sitting on the bench have made me a better player person and I kind of know what my role is in this comm in this uh on this franchise now. And then add Ace Bailey’s talent to that. add the names you already have on there and then when they sign Dame Lillard. There you go. I love it, man. I I love it. Even if
when they sign Dame to a one-year, two-year deal and they go, “Look, guess who’s back and they do this whole thing back.
He helps that locker room and yeah, he’s not going to be on this team next year. He’s going to have to go through.” But when they get him in and he shows up and then you kind of see where this starts to I’m just saying it for fun. No, it’s not fun. But you got to think about it.
I don’t know if it’s the smartest move to be around a team, right? He needs to be around a team. If he’s gonna be around a team, get him in a community that he loves that you can also benefit marketably and and promotionally with, right? And uh he can essentially be a veteran coach. He’s going to be sitting and he’s waved right now. Let him sit here on the Jazz team. He likes the he likes this Utah community, right? I even know my wife’s job, they have him come in and do different things. Like Dame likes being here in Salt Lake City. Just have him here. He’s injured. You have him rehabbed. He’ll be part of the team, understands the scheme. So, it’s not like he’s a fresh guy a year and a half from now, right? He’s going to be good. I say you work on him because this year you’re not going to be a winning organization this year. You could be on the brink of a playoff. You’re not going to be as bad as you were last year. But when Dame Lillard gets healthy, he’s that valuable veteran with Larry Markin. Walker Kesler, Ace Bailey second year, Kente George fourth year.
I don’t know if you’re going to see the Jazz organiz for as much as they probably love the idea of Dame. I don’t think they’re going to make that move.
All right, we’ll see. Ryan’s a lovable guy.
Oh, he likes
I want Dame. Make it happen.
He’s a sentimental guy.
Danny Jr.
Make it happen.
Uh, it makes a lot of sense. Hey, remember when you owed $20 million to somebody and you said you promised you’d pay him back over 25 years? The Mets do. The Mets remember Bobby Bonia. Everybody’s favorite everybody’s favorite uh everybody’s favorite day of the year. It’s Bobby Bonia Day. He’s not the only guy who’s got really dumb deferred contracts that have been signed by Major League Baseball clubs. But Bobby Bobby Bonia, who by the way turned 62 and he’ll be 72 when that final payment hits that bank account in 2035. Nice.
Talk about making a deal. All right, we’ll take a break. We’ve got more to go, including uh more on the Bobby Bonia day, but also let’s get to some of the free agency signings that happened uh when it comes to the hockey side of things. Names added to this Utah Mammoth squad that are making people pretty excited. So stay right here. More to go. 975 DKSL Sports Zone. Your home for the best coverage of the Jazz Utes and Cougars is right here on the zone. This is JJ and Alex presented by G2G bars on 975 the KSL Sports Zone. Welcome back everybody. JJ and Alex 975 KSL Sports Zone. Thanks for being with us on the program. uh the free agency. You know, it’s interesting to see the it’s interesting to see the timing of the NBA in the NHL and just like how much it matches up when their seasons start up basically the exact same time. Same amount of games,
drafts, free a
drafts, free agencies, the the uh the finals for each of them kind of running in concert with one another. They they compete directly with one another, right? When it comes down to it and so that’s an interesting thing. I mean, when you have Ryan Smith who owns two teams in town and they are playing their seasons are running parallel next to each other in and out of uh the offseason, right? And so, it’s an interesting thing to watch because the Utah Mammoth are making some moves here. We’ll see if we can get up to date with uh with what’s going on here in a little while. We’re going to be uh our our guy Cole Bagley is going to join us in just a little while to chat about kind of where where these things are uh where these things are headed as well. So, some of the biggest names um let me see here. Uh Brandon Tenev who gets signed gets himself a a free a free agency signing with the Utah Mammoth. This is now by the way who are they trying to replace? You’re talking about or not necessarily replace but other names that they are. Think about when Josh Jones walked out the door. Uh, think about when Machelli walked out the door and what that gives these teams obviously. I mean, okay, so you got Machelli. Who who else got traded in that uh in that in the deal to uh
Castle Ring.
It was Michael Kessle Ring. So Castle Ring was the other name that was that was part of that, too. And then Machelli was also uh he’s also not with the team anymore, right? So he moves on. But all these different names that are on here, Nate Schmidt, he gets added for 3.5 per. And then they’ve added a goalender. We wondered what the goalending situation was going to be like at uh after Veggie, not knowing Ingram’s situation. Uh Stalber was the guy that was kind of that that go-to second guy because they didn’t have really a third goalie. and and so uh VTC Vanichek another ad to this uh to this Utah Mammoth team Sly who is going to be uh a big piece of this. This is a guy who was Florida’s second goalie last year. He started the season off with the Sharks and then ended up getting moved and then he ended up winning a cup a couple of weeks ago with the Florida Panthers. He now comes over. So, you’ve got uh Veggie who’s the bonafide he’s the bonafide starter, right? And then uh Vanichek comes over and he’s going to uh pair very very well. I think it’s a $ 1.5 million uh one-year deal. Okay. So, these are this is an interesting move here because your goalending situation gets gets in focus immediately. You’ve also got guys that arguably have already added uh a lot to this team in terms of what you’re getting back because Nate Schmidt and Brandon Tenev are going to be guys who are looked at like, okay, how do they pair up with the losses that they just had with Kessle Ring and Don out the door? These guys are arguably better, arguably better. A better situation. This team just got better. And if you’re talking about getting to the playoffs, man, it feels really like they’re on that on that pace.
Yeah, man. I I I’m excited, especially, you know, last year was the first year, right? There’s a lot of excitement things of just getting in the door, just playing hockey here in the state of Utah is was was great. And now, okay, how are we developing? How are we advancing? And with moves like this, I just think that you understand where your faults were, where your weaknesses were last year rotationally, ending games. Um because I I I did think a lot of the losses that we had, we kind of lost it in the last couple periods, right? I I thought we started off great and then the last couple periods was finishing off strong. Um great thing Veggie was available for a great majority of of last year. I mean, he had a what was it 20 game playing streak?
23 or something like that. Something bonkers like that
last year. And it was great. He solidified that depth and then um
and they extended him for what it was almost I think it’s 7 million. It’s over 7 million a year, right,
for the guy. So, that’s obviously who they want between the pipes. And then you get you roll the dice on a guy who’s uh not a young goalender by any means. He’s approaching 30 years old, but he’s also a guy who has played on big time teams, including the Stanley Cup winner. Do you notice too like they they add Stanley Cup winners and that kind of that was a big deal last offseason when they added people to come to this team who could who could bring that type of leadership,
right?
That was at a premium for for uh for Bill Armstrong. I think that this probably anybody who comes in and knows exactly what it takes to walk all the way up to raising that cup up after the final. That’s a huge deal for a team.
Yeah, man. And and I always value that type of piece to a team, right? Experience. That’s why everybody always says experience is huge. Whether you were just on the team, a great role player or whatever, you understood what it took to get to that point. And so being in that point, you’re that less green is what they like to say. You’ve been familiar with that territory. And so you can almost help these guys get past that, whether it’s getting into the playoffs here with Utah or getting past, you know, divisional conference championships and into that next level. Adding that that veteran. I think that’s what the Vegas Knights did their first year of winning championship. They brought champions to that team and really solidified the confidence in even being in those moments. So, you could never really doubt them when they were in that moment. So, um I think that’s huge for any team trying to get over that next hump, especially Utah who’s trying to build this strength of this franchise.
I’m going to read directly a a text that I got from my buddy Matt who is uh initially was a Vegas Knights fan and I think we’ve converted him totally to uh
the Mammoth
over to the Mammoth. Oh, yeah. I mean, it’s beyond. I mean, he’s
our logo’s better.
You’ll never I don’t know if you’ll convince him on that, but he does like the vibe. that’s uh that’s going on. But here’s what he said about the two signings. Tenev high energy, high motor guy. He’s going to drag you into the fight every night. Works hard. The fans are going to love this guy. Offense is mid. Better than O’Brien. Will block shots with his face. Love the signing. Blocking shots in the face, by the way, is like an That’s like a Bill Armstrong requirement, by the way. Now, right
Gilmore for scene setter right there.
364. Got to toughen up.
Oh, yeah. I love it.
Yeah. Uh for Schmidt, he says, “I’m so pumped for this one. Loved him in Vegas. Still a fan of him. Ultimate locker room guy. Infectious personality. Media and the fans will fall in love with him.” We love to hear that when they offer him up for uh interviews from the Utah Mammoth. Bring it over.
Is this guy within the team? And this this is a very com Matt knows his stuff. He knows his stuff. He knows his stuff. Uh quick defenseman outlet pass on the breakout is elite. If the pass isn’t there, he can be a oneman breakout with his feet.
Bill Cooked. That’s what he said about Bill Armstrong. Bill Cook upgraded over Kessle Ring, upgraded over Dunk. Oh, wow. So, if there was any question,
at least per uh
there’s people that know these people coming in.
Yes. Uh superfan Matt is he knows his stuff and he says that that was a good deal. So, if you’re wondering if this team is getting better, if you’re wondering if this team is doing all that they at the very least, do you notice what’s going on here? They’re utilizing the draft. They’re utilizing all that they can. They are adding to this team for the future. Now it’s a different deal. You know, you add Ace Bailey and you’re the Jazz. You need him to come in and play. You add the number four overall pick and Caleb Doy and you go, “Can’t wait for your development, kid. Get out of here and hit the weight room.
Have some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
He said that I got I got to pack
and then and then it but you have to act. It’s a two it’s a it’s a thing that runs parallel to what you’re doing also as a team right now to improve your locker room right now. So you have to make signings happen that are smart. They’re not just throwing money at big names that are out there. They’re not they’re they’re doing the work to find that guy that you wouldn’t necessarily think of as first uh you know a first up or that guy’s going to improve your locker room. But if you improve just a little bit more than on the guys that you had, if you bring a better locker room presence to the couple of guys that you sign, then all the other teams that just kind of don’t really notice because you don’t add a big name necessarily. I I think most people who are league inside, you know, type people, they know that Utah’s on it is is on the rise. They have to know. They have to know. So, all right, we’ll take a break. So, there’s those. I think we’re also going to get uh but Cole Bagley’s going to break all those things down. and I’ll get his thoughts on that and whether or not he thinks that those guys are uh if it’s going to be a a definite ad to what this team is. And uh I think he’s uh I think he’s likely in that same in that same uh boat. All right, we’ve got a win ticket Wednesday to remind you of tomorrow. Okay, we’ve got some tickets to give away. What are we going to be giving away tomorrow? Adam Sandler tickets all day long across every show with a bologoney bowl.
With the baloney bowl. I told you if there’s a Dukes Mayo Bowl, we need to have a bologn bowl as well.
Oh, for sure.
Come on. If we’re gonna go full trashy southern food. Like, give me the big old Dukes Mayonnaise. Give me a bologn sandwich. Brings back my fat childhood again. Adam Sandler, you’re my best friend tour coming October 26 at Delta Center. You get tickets right now or you can listen all day tomorrow during every show. We’re going to be giving them out. So, tickets you see Adam Sandler right there. Uh listen all day long tomorrow. All right, let’s take a break. We’ll come back and when we do, uh, I’ll roll out a couple of things here. I’ve got two ideas here. One’s a Fourth of July themed situation. The other, uh, is a is a is a structured a restructured deal, uh, situation that I’m going to roll out for our producer, Alex, and for Sly, of course. Stay with us. 975 KSL Sports Zone. Listen everybody, real life hypotheticals to get your brain churning as JJ and Alex ask, would you rather Oh, it’s going to be a massive day tomorrow. Welcome to the program, JJ and Alex 975 KSL Sports Zone. Hans and Scotty from noon to three tomorrow at Kenny Jay’s barbecue at the district. And then they hand off the proverbial barbecued football to us for 3 to 6 also at Kenny Jay’s out at the district. Get there and order your halfpound burgers in time for your Fourth of July barbecue coming up this weekend. You will impress. They’re pre-smoked by Kenny himself. You’ve got to take advantage. Hey, and Kenny, we’ll be fine with you telling other people, “Yeah, I made these myself. It’ll be your little secret.” Okay, just do it. It’s a great move. The Fourth of July is low-key one of the best food holidays we have.
Oh, for sure.
And it’s also because I think it you do it’s a real travesty if you just do like some burgers and dogs, which is classic, but you got to dial it up a notch. And I will say also the Fourth of July desserts, some of the best. Okay, I’ve got two things for you on the would you rather. So, we’re gonna
Could you Could you go wrong with this?
I’m just going to go I’m going to go first and Alex Napapolis, you can participate if you’d like. The best Fourth of July dessert, full-on legit regular American apple pie with a little bit of ice cream on it.
Or are you like the flag cake triple berry guy? You know what I’m talking about? the one that everybody shows up and goes, “Mine’s mine’s beautiful because it’s got all 50 states on there.” Because I actually like it. I’m a I’m a flag cake guy.
I think I’ve heard a guy come to a party and sound.
Hey everybody, did you try the flag cake?
It wasn’t pie. No, no. For me, I’m I’m definitely uh
apple pie guy.
The warm apple pie with with uh
No, you guys are both wrong.
With vanilla ice cream.
But these are these are these are preferential, of course. But you’re both dead wrong cuz Alex is in there going, “Yep.” Look, I don’t even The cake has got the American flag on it.
No. No.
Oh, you’ve shunned it. Old Glory is not good enough for you. Perfect.
From back in the day with apple pie to um not even watching the movie, you know, American pie with apple pie stuff, right? But no, it’s it’s you got to have apple pie. That is legit summertime vibes right there. Make it happen. Uh, this might be considered in what Alex Napol sometimes will go, that’s a bad take. Just own it. It’s a bad take. Apple pie is only is only outdone in the bad category and overrated category by pumpkin pie.
Ew. What?
That’s what I’m saying. Pumpkin pie’s overrated. That’s the only one that’s more overrated than apple pie.
Oh, okay. I thought you said that was in the same context. No,
no, I won’t kick it out of bed. I will not put those in the same pumpkin pie.
I will eat an apple pie. I will eat an apple pie.
I’m a sucker for pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie.
Oh yeah,
it is. You’ve been fooled. You’ve been fooled by
Put a little whipped cream on it. Come on, man.
No. No way.
Pumpkin pie and apple pie is pumpkin pie.
You only like it. You only like it because of the tradition. That’s it. You’ve been fooled by nostalgia. You
sure about that?
Yeah. I’m sure about it about that. You sure about that?
You sure about that? You sure about that? Give me the flag pie. No, terrible. Terrible. Apple pie.
All right, fine.
Warm apple pie.
Uh um I just can’t I can’t keep talking about it just cuz it you’ll make me nuts. Okay. Bobby Bonia set to um set to make two. He already it hit the I’m assuming the direct deposit or do you think they sent the check over?
Oh, he should definitely do a social media post every year with this.
I don’t think he does. He just gets the most attention. everybody. We can’t help but talk about it. Um
cuz we wish we had a 1.2 hit our positive account.
We were talking about how it’s a smart move because athletes generally not very good about managing the dough. Very very
this is this is like this deal was made and what’s hilarious about this deal if you don’t know the history of the Bobby Bonia deal. They agreed to a $6 million buyout of his contract in 2000. Okay. But what they had to agree to do is pay him that $6 million. But they had to pay him between 2011 and 2035. He’ll be 72 when his last payment hits the the bank account. And with interest, they will have had to have paid him over $30 million. Okay? That is what people that’s what you this is like what your grandpa said you need to do, right? Like what you should do is and and this is the smart the smartest way to do it. The best part about this story is the reason the Mets had to do it is because they were investing money their owner was investing money into the Bernie Maidoff
Ponzi scheme. This is well documented.
Well documented. Okay. Now so would you rather have that contract or would you rather have Ken Griffy Jr. between 2008 and 2023 was getting between uh it it kind of went up every year, but he got between two and a half to $3.8 million up until last year. He was the second highest paid player on the Red’s roster the last three years up until 2023 when it was his last payment that he got from him. This is a good um side by side here because you wanted it to last over time or what it’s honestly depending on what type of personality you are. I think Ken Griffy is more of an investor anyway. Um but for me
I don’t know that 2 million does that take the one million.
Did you know that Kevin Garnett had a deferred contract situation? The Celtics paid Kevin Garnett $5 million a year up until last year. So obviously you get the title, but he was done. It was almost 10 years past his last appearance as a player. He was getting $5 million a year from the Celtics. Nobody talks about Kevin Garnett day. Bobby Bono getting 1.2 up until 2035. That’s interesting. It’s not even near. Max Scherzer though has the most has the wildest
deferred contract deferred contract ever. So here’s what it looks like. He signed a massive deal with the Nationals in 2015 that was worth $210 million. This is where your guaranteed contracts get you in trouble. Uh Scherzer made $ 105 million through 2018 and then deferred the rest until 2028 or through 2028. So then he goes along and with the Nationals on top of the Nationals deal, he was also getting paid uh at the same time by the Texas Rangers. And between the he’s going to make $15 million just from the nationals up until 2028. He’s getting paid by three different teams right now to a grand total of $47 million. Two of the teams he hasn’t played for for at least five seasons. This is deferred contracts are a real thing. Now, the biggest winner is I think Show Otani’s, you know, $700 million deal that I think he gets a balloon payment of like 680 million or whatever it is in like five years or 10 years.
NIL college contracts being deferred, too. That’d be smart. Honestly, that would go along with my plan of solution in finding LDS. But those any smart college plan right now, I’ I’d be doing that. Especially you get all these third party NIL deals. Defer your college contract. Save your university, but get paid on the back end.
Oh, don’t don’t tempt Don’t tempt some of these universities who are going to be like, he’s Ohio State owes him a million dollars a year for the next 31 years.
He ain’t going nowhere.
Yeah. All right, we’ll take a break. We’ll come back. Jake Scott going to join us on the program. give us an idea as to what the free agency in the NBA has been and where the Jazz stand kind of after the obviously free agency is not the big deal that it used to be, but when you see the the names that have been waved, when you see the buyouts that have happened, we’re starting to get a little bit of a clearer picture as to what this roster looks like, uh Jake is going to join us, give us his uh his expert opinion on how this thing’s going to look by the time summer league is finished up and then camp starts up. So stay here. More to go. 975 EKSL Sport Zone.
Hour 1 of JJ & Alex with Jeremiah Jensen and Alex Kirry.
• NBA Free Agency
• NHL Free Agency
• Would You Rather?
