Opening Statement – GM
“Alright, let’s get started.
First off, appreciate everyone being here. New season, same expectations — we’re trying to win, not just be interesting.
We’ve got a roster that, frankly, we like a lot. Continuity matters in this league, and we’ve kept the core intact. Kevin McHale is back — after what I’ll generously call a very expressive free agency process. Cliff Robinson is coming into his prime. Reggie Theus continues to be one of the most versatile guards in the league. And LaSalle Thompson is still setting screens that should probably require a permit.
Now, obviously, we did lose Darwin Cook in the expansion draft. That’s not nothing. He gave us stability, pushed tempo, and didn’t make a lot of mistakes. You don’t just replace that overnight.
But we do think we’ve got internal answers — Derek Harper is ready for more responsibility, and we’re excited about Johnny High and Mike Phelps in expanded roles.
We also added Chris Morris in the draft — long, athletic, still figuring things out, but there’s real upside there. He’s already asked more questions in two weeks than some guys ask in two years, which is either great or a sign we’ve overwhelmed him.
And yes — before you ask — Kevin’s contract situation is resolved. He’s here. He’s happy. His house is… reportedly no longer for sale.
So we’re moving forward. We’ve learned a lot from last season, especially in how we defend elite offenses, and we’ll be a more disciplined team because of it.
With that — questions.”
Reporter 1
“Can you walk us through the McHale situation? There were rumors he listed his house during negotiations.”
GM
“Yeah, that’s true.
Midway through negotiations, our real estate guy calls and says, ‘Hey, is Kevin relocating or just negotiating through Zillow now?’
Look — Kevin wanted to be compensated like a cornerstone player. We agree that he is one. We just disagreed on how many zeroes that required.
In the end, we got it done. He’s committed, we’re committed, and I think the house listing was… let’s call it creative leverage.
I will say this — he negotiated like he posts up: patient, physical, and you don’t realize you’ve lost ground until it’s too late.”
Reporter 2
“What do you expect from Chris Morris this year?”
GM
“If he can:
• defend multiple positions
• run the floor
• and not look surprised when Kevin yells at him
…we’ll be thrilled.
He’s raw, but the physical tools are obvious. He’s already had a moment in practice where he blocked a shot, ran the floor, dunked it — and then asked where he was supposed to stand on the next possession.
So… high ceiling, ongoing education.”
Reporter 3
“Final question — what’s success this season?”
GM
“Simple.
• More disciplined defensively
• Better late-game execution
• And no one putting their house up for sale midseason
If we do those things, we’ll be where we want to be.”
⸻
[Press conference ends with light laughter as McHale walks past the room and says: “For the record, it was a great house.”]