1. What got you into basketball? How did you find the CSL and what prompted you to join?
Basketball's been a part of my life forever. Pretty much started with watching the New Jersey Nets growing up with my dad. I lived only a few minutes away from their arena in Jersey so I grew up going to games all the time to watch Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter.
I actually originally found R2G I think from a buddy of mine named Matt. Don't know if he was ever in R2G or if he was how long, but that's how I got started. After things went south in that league, Myles and I created CSL and here we are all these years later. I was a literal child then and now I'm a 23 year old man, so I grew up with this league.
2. Tell is about the situation you took over with the Clippers? How would you assess the team you took over and what was the goal moving forward with the team?
The situation here was rough as you would know best BI. Screwed by DDS 3 with Lillard walking for no apparent reason when I got here, and it led to a pretty bare cupboard. Very few picks remaining and the team's star just left for nothing.
I think the timeline to the playoffs could have been sped up a bit but my goal is to build a lasting contender. I've done a lot of wheeling and dealing in an effort to find that core, but I think I might finally be getting there.
3. How long do you think it will take to push this team into playoff contention and how long until it's a contender?
I don't think it's unrealistic to think we'll be vying for a playoff spot next season. Without control of my pick, next year, it will certainly be the goal. At this point, I'm hoping to contend for a playoff spot starting next year and we'll see where it goes from there.
I have a lot to learn on the coaching front before I contend for titles, but that'll come with time.
4. Take us behind the scenes on the deal for Mikal Bridges and how do you feel he is performing thus far?
The deal for Bridges came together pretty quickly honestly. I messaged Dejan with a general inquiry about a McCoy/Bridges deal and about two or three days later he messaged me back that he was in for it. Wasn't much back and forth, pretty much just a couple of messages and boom.
Bridges is someone I've had my eye on for a long time but I kind of figured he was unavailable. I kind of envisioned a defense-first team especially once I drafted Rui, and Bridges is about as good as they get for 3&D guys we all covet. He's a limited player for sure without much of an offensive game beyond being an outside shooter, but he does what he's good at and he does it really really well.
5. Tell us about the pick for Cam Reddish, take us behind the scenes?
The Cam Reddish pick was difficult, but he was pretty much my guy from the beginning. It ended up coming down to Reddish, Bowen, and Barrett for me. Given I'm envisioning more of a defensive-minded team, Ky Bowman was never a serious consideration for me.
Bowen was the most tempting, but I felt I needed a bit more of a dynamic offensive player even if my goal is a defensive-minded squad. Someone who can create and will be one of the best shooters in the league once he develops (take my word on that, if he develops he'll be elite outside) while still being respectable enough on D. His mid-range game also played a factor as he'll be a very capable shooter from there as well which is an area that not a ton of players are real good at at this point.
6. Tell us about your young core and what piece is missing?
Steady point guard play that doesn't turn the ball over is the thing I'm missing the most at this point I'd say. Russell is a talented scorer, but he's been a turnover machine for me regardless of the offensive system I play. I think a bit more of a steady hand at point and a center upgrade over Myles Turner and I'll have a pretty much perfect core.
7. Finally, who do you feel will be your rival moving forward in the division and in the conference?
It's gotta be the Lakers, right? We've been at the bottom of the division together for a while now and are both on the comp up together with really nice young cores. It's on us to take over the division from Sacramento and Phoenix and the rising Warriors.
I hope you enjoyed this look into yet another integral player of this league, and if you are interested in being interviewed please express your interest either in this thread or a PM if you prefer. It'll be first come first serve, and I'll gauge interest and go from there.
