Buddy Hield’s entertainment value stays high

[videos, interviews, transcripts, captions]

Transcripts from Atlanta below. I guess Buddy Hield is living at the team hotel there until further notice, as in the pregame press conference Steve Kerr said he bumped into Hield there.

Buddy’s contract for next season is guaranteed for $3 million and fully guaranteed at $9.7 million one day after the Draft this summer, per SpoTrac, so we can probably assume — as he’s barely getting time on a very young up-and-coming Hawks — that he’ll be waived, ATL will eat that $3 million which is not a prohibitive number, and Buddy will become a free agent.

He could be available at the veteran’s minimum this summer, but we’ll cross that bridge as fans in due time because everything really revolves around the Kristaps Porzingis contract, as well as the Draft itself.

Meanwhile, let’s acknowledge the following: his entertainment value stays high, as the home crowd even chanted for him to come into the game and he faked the crowd out in the process, then gave us a dunk that didn’t count! (Credits: Joseph Dycus of Bay Area News Group, Jameelah Johnson of atlhawksfans.com, NBA)

Pregame and postgame interviews from Atlanta below with Quin Snyder, Kerr and Jonathan Kuminga from the locker room. Keep a lookout for a behind-the-scenes video from State Farm Arena, to drop on our BTS Playlist in due time.

As you’ll see from that forthcoming video, the Hawks might not be a bad “adopted” team to root for if our Warriors don’t make it too far, as ATL is currently the 6th seed, although 5 through 9 are all within two games of each other and, of course, Buddy’s antics and JK’s athleticism add to that entertainment value…

00:00 QUIN SNYDER, PREGAME GSW-ATL: I think this is one of those things and players get trained in the league and it’s never about — you can’t make it about you. I don’t think he is. I think more than anything, he’s looking forward to being on the court, regardless of who the opponent is, so I think he’ll — the the plan is for him to keep doing what he’s doing, no matter who we’re playing. And he’s done that, whether that means six shots or 13 or however many. It’s really not been about his offense, which is good. He’s given us a lift defensively and I think his energy has been really good and it’s been a boost to our team when he’s been able to play and hopefully that’s what we’ll see tonight.

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00:47 STEVE KERR, PREGAME GSW-ATL: How are you?

00:57 You guys announced the plans to get Steph into kind of, some contact practice. I was just curious what the schedule, what the plan is for him to get into those, because I know you obviously aren’t gonna practice as a team in the —

01:09 Yeah, he’s gonna play tomorrow morning here, before we go to Dallas, so there’ll be — whatever players and coaches who are available will play and Rick (Celebrini) will evaluate him and then that’s the next step.

01:26 Is it five, or 5-on-5?

01:28 I think 5-on-5. That’s the plan. Don’t quote me on that.

01:32 Yeah?

01:33 Yeah, yeah. I think we would like for it to be 5-on-5, but that’s gonna be determined by Rick, so yeah, I’m not sure.

01:44 This seems like a major checkpoint.

01:46 Yeah.

01:46 I mean, can you feel his return kinda looming, too?

01:49 I think tomorrow’s probably the big day and we’ll know more at that point, if all goes well tomorrow.

01:58 Do you have a date in mind where you hope he will come back?

02:02 Again, that’ll be up to Rick and Steph, so we’ll see how tomorrow goes.

02:08 Do you know yet for tonight on Draymond, Melton and Post?

02:13 Post is in. Not sure on Draymond and Melt.

02:17 You’ve had a lot of games like this over the years where you’re playing a former player, maybe, who has gotten traded mid-season, maybe not. Is there anything special that you do to tell the team or any message that you have, in particular, for a game like this?

02:31 No, there’s nothing. This is common in the NBA. Kristaps has gone through this, literally, on every stop of this road trip, so it’s all part of the league. I saw Buddy today at the hotel, had a great chat with him. He’s one of the greatest guys, ever, one of the — just such an amazing teammate and guy to coach and so beloved in our locker room. I haven’t seen JK yet, but I look forward to seeing him out there. It’s a weird business. You get to know people and there’s so much at stake and people come and go and you build personal relationships with them and sometimes the basketball part works out, sometimes it doesn’t. And you hope that the relationships are able to withstand all that tumult that comes with this business. And then you really hope for guys to find success elsewhere because it’s pretty meaningful for their families, for themselves, for their career, so I root for all the guys who we’ve either traded or move on from us. I want people to do well. I want people to succeed and I understand that circumstances dictate an awful lot and so everyone’s doing their best.

04:09 It’s only been a few games, but what have you seen from JK in here?

04:12 I haven’t. I haven’t watched much of Atlanta because, obviously, we’re on a back-to-back and we’ve been preparing for every other team that we faced on this trip, and got in at 3:00 AM last night, so I can’t give you a, yeah, much of a scouting report.

04:33 Jalen Johnson has been a late scratch, so he’s got left shoulder inflammation. Just, obviously, he’s had such a breakout season. How much does that change for them?

04:42 I don’t know. you gotta talk to Quin about that. For us, it’s a big deal in terms of our scouting report. I mean, he’s obviously is a very ball dominant, efficient, great player, a lot of guard to guard screening roles with him handling at 6’10. It’s really a problem. They beat us in san Francisco, whatever it was, six weeks, eight weeks ago and they got into the pain at will and the penetration hurt us, the pick and roll, the guard-guard stuff really hurt us. So they’ve got other guys. I mean, Nickeil’s having an amazing season and I think CJ McCollum has been great for them, just the veteran experience, playoff experience. He’s such a pro. He’s such a a great teammate. Everything I’ve heard about him from Terry (Stotts), we know how big of an impact CJ has made here, so I’m just impressed. They’re rolling right now. I know last night was a tough loss, but 11 in a row before that. They’re doing a great job.

05:57 Coach, just on Jalen, he’s had a breakout season and he was an All Star this season and I said to him earlier this year, he reminded me a little bit of Scottie Pippen, the way that he plays. He’s a sort of point-forward, he’s 6’9, he’s athletic, he can hit the three. You played with Scottie. I’m just wondering if you sort of have seen any similarities in their game.

06:14 You’re talking about Jalen Johnson? Yeah, I think anytime you get a guy that size who can handle the ball and see the floor, it’s a devastating combination and I think there’s some comparisons to be made. I don’t know him well enough, him being in the East. I’ve only seen him live a few times, so tough for me to make that comparison, but the length and the athleticism and the feel, it all appears to be there and that’s why he’s an All Star player.

06:44 Hey, Steve.

06:45 How you doing?

06:45 Good, how are you?

06:46 Good.

06:47 As you said earlier, you sort of separate the basketball and the personal.

06:51 Man, that mic is all of a sudden.

06:52 Maybe I’m just popping out. You sort of separate the personal and the basketball.

06:57 Yeah.

06:58 How would you sort of characterize your relationship with Jonathan? Obviously, the basketball didn’t work out —

07:03 Right.

07:04 With the Warriors, but you had always in the past spoken highly of him.

07:07 Yeah.

07:07 Personally, how —

07:08 Yeah.

07:08 Given all this, now that the dust has sort of settled, how do you — ?

07:11 I like Jonathan. We always got along well. The basketball part was the hard part. We couldn’t quite offer him what he needed and vice versa. We were a championship team. He needed a, really, a lot of freedom and 35 minutes and make mistakes and grow and learn because he came in with very little experience and we just couldn’t offer him that, bottom line, trying to defend a championship after his rookie year. So we offered him what we could, which was 25 minutes and maybe a role that he didn’t love. And it was never comfortable for either party on the basketball floor, so on a personal level, he was great. He was a really good guy, got along well. We had our share of conversations about basketball that — we had our differences, but on a personal level, we all root for him here, well liked in our locker room, and I’m sure the guys are looking forward to seeing him.

08:30 Where do you think Brandin’s at on this road trip? How do you think he’s kind of playing?

08:34 I think it’s a great experience for Brandin. I mean, 20 games without Steph, I think, where he is in his career, he’s proven he can help drive winning. I think that’s been apparent during his, is this his third year or — ?

08:53 Third.

08:53 Yeah, it’s been apparent. He does a lot of things that can help drive winning. He is, in my mind, really exploring how good he can become and what type of player he wants to become. And I think you’ve seen lots of hiccups along the way where he’s trying things that aren’t working, but playing without Steph for 20 games is gonna expose some of that. So in my mind right now where he is, is if he’s playing off Steph, off of the ball, if he’s playing more of a secondary ball handler role, he’s really good. He does a lot of things that other players don’t do. He’s got a knack when he tries to be too on ball, you see him get into some trouble. You see the warts. And this is all part of being a young player. And then I think for him, he has to sort through all of that and the idea of what it means to be on a team and explore this stuff, explore your own game, while also trying to help the team win. And that’s a complex thing and so this is a very interesting time for him, for sure. Thank you.

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10:17 Where’d you think it went sideways?

10:20 STEVE KERR, POSTGAME GSW-ATL: Beginning of the third, actually, even the last minute or so of the second, but second game in a row we’ve lost our space-5 with Kristaps last night, QP tonight. And I’m not saying that’s why we lost both games. I’m just, I’m well aware of the importance of having a guy who can stretch the floor at the 5 spot, especially when you’re facing great defensive teams. And Atlanta and Detroit are two of the very best in the league at ball hawking, getting deflections, steels, so if you don’t have that space-5, it makes life really, really difficult.

10:59 What did you hear on Quinten?

11:02 Foot started to get sore second quarter. Rick told us at halftime he was done.

11:10 And then we didn’t ask you pregame about Kristaps Do you know much?

11:14 I don’t know much, yeah. I just knew he was out tonight.

11:19 Beyond losing Quinten, I mean, it’s a couple times now. You guys have played pretty well in the first half.

11:23 Yeah.

11:23 You sort of lost touch in the third quarter.

11:24 Yeah.

11:25 Any trend, any pattern you see that that’s causing that?

11:29 I just mentioned it. Yeah, I mean that, that’s the trend, like the space-5, like, now all of a sudden, Melt and BP, it’s harder for them to penetrate. And as I said, both games were going against amazing defenders. Daniels, Thompson last night, guys who can really be disruptive. And if you don’t have the 5 who can space the floor, it makes offense really tricky and when you’re missing Steph and Jimmy and Moses, life gets really difficult.

12:01 The idea for this team has been to stay afloat as much as you can while Steph has been out. That hasn’t exactly been the case. Just how frustrating has this stretch been?

12:10 This is the hardest thing to go through losing being decimated by injury and just feeling like you’re pushing, you’re trying, you’re playing hard, you’re competing, but things aren’t going your way. It’s a tough, tough time, for sure, for everybody. It’s human nature to kind of get down, hang your head and I’m just trying to encourage the guys to keep competing, but to try to bring the energy and stay positive because reinforcements will come and we have to be ready for that. But in the meantime, I’m proud of the way they’re playing. They’re playing hard, but they’re in a tough spot. We’re all in a tough spot right now.

12:59 Steve, what have you seen from Nate so far?

13:01 Nate’s been great. He’s been, he’s a really good young guy, very coachable. He’s got a live body. You can see, he can score in the paint. He knocked down his first three tonight, which was nice. He’s got a good touch and I thought Nate was excellent. I thought Mally, I mean, he got a pretty bad wrist injury last night. He literally couldn’t use his right hand and we needed some minutes and he gave us nine or 10 minutes today and played hard. And I love that. I love continuing to just contribute and do what you can in the face of what we’re dealing with. It’s awesome. We just, we had really good individual performances from some guys, but it just wasn’t enough. But can’t fault the effort.

13:56 Steve, you talked a few times how important Melton is to fuel your offense without Steph and then potentially play alongside Steph.

14:03 Right.

14:04 How significant is it for him to play back-to-back like this?

14:06 Yeah. Yeah, it’s meaningful. The hope is that he can continue to do this and that when we do get Steph and Moses and Al and Kristaps, we’ve got the firepower that we need. Melt will really thrive because he’s not gonna have the best defender on him, which he’s had the last couple of nights, so his health is everything. I’m so happy for him. I mean, guy missed two years with injuries and he’s in the prime of his career and such a great teammate, such a great guy to coach. And just thrilled for him that he’s healthy and playing well and back doing what he loves to do.

14:55 Is it just the past few games you’ve seen the best defender on him or has it been longer than that since Steph’s obviously been out?

15:01 It’s been either BP or Melt has the toughest defender on them, perimeter wise, so if Steph’s out and Jimmy’s out. Thanks.

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15:14 JONATHAN KUMINGA, POSTGAME GSW-ATL: It felt like a normal game. Just our main focus is to come out here and play here and just get better and win games, but it felt like a normal game. Just excited to see my whole teammates and some of my guys out there.

15:34 What was it like, just seeing everybody?

15:36 It was great. I was happy to see them.

15:44 How were the postgame conversations? Saw a little daps, a lot of love between you guys and some of the former teammates.

15:48 Like you say, just former teammates, just showing each other love and hugs and we all miss each other and stuff like that. Haven’t seen them in a minute, they haven’t seen me in a minute, so we were just dapping each other and just chopping it up.

16:09 And how’d you feel about your game tonight and how’s your knee been feeling?

16:12 I feel great. I feel great. My knee is — I’m working on it, getting better every day.

16:20 How do you feel like you’ve fit in with this Hawks team?

16:23 I mean, I think, I feel well. I don’t have no doubt as a group, we can go as far as we want, but I feel great about where I’m at with them.

16:38 Jonathan, a lot of guys have said how much they enjoy building their relationship with you through time. Have you been able to stay in contact with everybody, whether it’s text, phone, whatever, over the last few weeks?

16:48 What guys?

16:50 All the Warriors guys.

16:52 I talk to most of them. I try as much as I can, but I’ve still got great friendship and connection. I feel like they’re my brothers. I could call them anytime if I need something, and they can call me anytime if they need something, so I think that shows a lot. Our relationship is very strong and we’re brothers at the end of the day.

17:17 What’s that connection like with Steph? Looked like you talked to him at some length after the game.

17:21 That’s my guy. We’re just chopping it up and seeing how he was, just checking him in, how is he doing, he’s checking how I’m doing and just stuff like that.

17:31 Being up against those guys a bunch, obviously, in practice, but what is it like, I guess, maybe the difference seeing them in a more competitive atmosphere?

17:39 It was fun. It was fun going out there playing against those guys. I’m gonna keep seeing them a lot as time keeps going, so it was fun, actually. I enjoyed being out there playing against those guys and I was always just having fun with the guys and talking.

17:59 Any fun trash talk or anything?

18:02 Like, I’m not so much of a trash talker. Maybe with Gui. But it was fun. It was — I had a great time playing.

18:16 Looked like Draymond said something when you came in the game and had a smile.

18:19 That’s my vet. That’s my OG. Me and Draymond connection, it’s always there. brotherhood is always there. We was just catching up.

18:31 Steve said before the game that he always got along with you and thinks highly of you, personally, and the basketball part just wasn’t comfortable, was the way he put it, because they couldn’t give you what you wanted in terms of a role. Is that a fair way? Do you reflect at all on that or is that in your past now?

18:50 Whatever they say. You can take it however you want it, but I’m not worried about the past. I’m here. I’m very happy where I’m at. We’re doing great, and our goal is to get wherever we want to get that comes up to us as a team. And I think that’s just my focus, going forward, throughout my whole career, throughout me and my teammates here, so whatever’s being said or whatever’s going on, that’s not a problem anymore. I’m into the next chapter with my teammate. We trying to build something here.

19:39 How close do you think you guys are? I mean, you won 12 out of 13 now, moving up standings.

19:45 We just gotta stay consistent. I think we’re playing good. There is always gonna be ups and down and just how we react to it and how we get better to it. And I think each and every day we getting better. And just looking forward to keep winning and us be in a great position for the next thing that we’re getting ready for.

20:10 What’s the biggest difference with you acclimating to this team mid-season like this?

20:16 I think the difference is just to come out and try to fit. And I think that’s going really well. Like I said, the most important right now is just how can we stack game after game, wins after wins. I think that’s pretty much been our main focus and we try to bring it as much as we can, every other day to keep stacking those wins, so I think that’s the main focus for me and the rest of the guys.

20:50 How would you compare what’s asked of you here versus what was asked of you with the Warriors?

20:59 What do you mean?

21:00 On the court, like, what the coaches expect of you here compared to what they did with Golden State?

21:05 Everywhere I’ve been, the expectation is being, how can we win? And I think, like I said, that’s my goal here and it don’t matter what to expect (inaudible). I know my goal and I know what I’m trying to do here. I’m trying to help us win as much as we can because we have a great, talented group and things are clicking, so I think it don’t really matter as long as I go out there and help us win and do what it takes. So that’s all it matters.

21:41 Thanks, JK.

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