00:00Someone with a great future is Nikkel Alexander Walker.
00:05The free agent went to Atlanta and has been the goods.
00:09He started off coming off the bench, but with Trae Young getting injured
00:13and then now being moved to Washington, he moved into the starting lineup
00:18with Dyson Daniels moving from the two to the point.
00:21Well, right now, Nikkel Alexander Walker is having a career year.
00:25If you look at this sample size, right, 20.6 points per game, 3.6 rebounds,
00:323.63 assists, during this run, this isn't about being a fluke
00:40because he's not a fluke.
00:42It's about role plus trust plus reps.
00:47Opportunity, when you're prepared, you're ready for it, and he's ready for it.
00:53He guards multiple positions.
00:55He shoots well enough from three to get stay on the floor on both sides of the ball.
00:59He doesn't hijack possessions just because he's a catch-and-shoot kind of guy,
01:03and he makes smart decisions.
01:05So what does he hold for this Atlanta team?
01:09He's got one of the best contracts in the league.
01:12He's a lot to be in their rotation.
01:15And this is the type of player that contenders steal series with.
01:19You look at Nikkel Alexander Walker, and he's like a Josh Hart.
01:29We'll talk about next segment.
01:30Different player in regards to that.
01:32He's a better shooter than Josh, but the way he impacts the game
01:36is something that's undeniable.
01:40Secretly, Atlanta is building something.
01:44I have challenged this team, just like I've challenged Chicago in the past,
01:50just like I challenged Milwaukee earlier in this segment than in the past.
01:54I challenge teams in this league to not just stay with the status quo.
02:02Make moves.
02:05Take chances.
02:07Find guys that maybe be undervalued in one place that can be valued in your place.
02:14No better example in the last five years as Jalen Brunson going to the Knicks.
02:19Nikkel Alexander Walker is that kind of guy.
02:22He's impacting his team.
02:25You want to talk about impact his team
02:28and guys finding opportunities and meeting them by being prepared?
02:34What about Denny Avdiva?
02:38Denny has been absolutely fantastic this year for Portland.
02:44Putting up all-star caliber stats.
02:47Efficient.
02:48Creating.
02:49Rebounding.
02:5026 points per game.
02:527 rebounds.
02:54And 7 assists.
02:55If you think about it, he's one of the league leaders in a sense for a forward
02:59while providing significant scoring rebounding.
03:03If we're talking about guys that have stepped their games up,
03:07and you talk about Alexander Walker,
03:09he is like the Jalen Johnson of the Western Conference.
03:14This is a career-best level of production.
03:18A massive jump from previous years.
03:20And the sort of all-around game you're expecting from a primary option
03:24from a winning team.
03:27But he does more.
03:29He defends.
03:31Early decision offensively.
03:32Rebounds.
03:33Passes the ball.
03:35Modern forward who scales up in big games.
03:39So it's an interesting part for Denny.
03:43Does Portland move him
03:44and become an unbelievable complimentary piece for a contender?
03:47Or does he become the cornerstone
03:51from an upstart franchise
03:53who is so undervalued
03:56in this modern-day NBA?
