This is an IHeart podcast.

You're tuned in to Heat Check with Trista Crick.

On this bonus episode of the Heat Check, we've got a special guest, Kurt Heelan,

the lead NBA writer at NBC Sports, is here to give us the state of the NBA before a free agency hits on Friday.

He joins us on this episode by my co-host, Nick Aschew.

It was recorded on my national radio show, BetMGM Tonight.

If you like betting, give that show a try as well.

Nick, do me a favor and drop that beat that should be Rihanna.

All right, we bring on Kurt Heelan lead NBA writer managing editor to NBCSports.com.

When I see Scoot, Kurt, all I can do is imagine like Anthony Edwards, Davion Mitchell,

a little Donovan Mitchell.

So to me, you talked about what we should expect from Wembe. Like, what can we reasonably expect from Scoot if he gets the minutes?

I'm a huge fan of what I think he can be.

What the expectations are is, I think he might be the rookie of the year.

I mean, it's going to be hard to unseat Wembe because Wembe is going to be a walk and highlight machine.

Could be Rookie of the Year.

I think Rookie of the Year is absolutely reasonable for him,

depending on whether Dame is there, like it affects his point totals, like, obviously.

But like, I think he's going to put up good numbers and be one of these top rookies in the class.

And they're another team, I mean, in the West,

outside of Denver being really good,

I fear predicting anybody else in that conference right now.

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