What attracted you to trade for guard Jordan Poole? Joe Dumars: If you look around the league now, it’s almost a requirement to have high-level guard play, dynamic guard play. Jordan has a skillset that matches the most dynamic guards in this league. We’ve also seen him be a part of a championship team and contribute at a high level. So, with his skillset, he’s a dynamic guard and I know we have proof that he’s helped teams win championships. I look at those things and say, ‘I want him here and I want to tap into all of what he’s experienced so far.’

James Johnson! How scary could he potentially be? He doesn’t seem like a scary guy… When you’re a big, ass-kicking guy, you’re either: A) “Because I have a hammer, everything’s a nail,” or B) You understand it, and you don’t look for conflict. He seems like the latter—but how scary could he be? Rick Carlisle (half-jokingly): Yeah, we gotta be careful—I don’t know where this show goes out to, exactly. But he’s undefeated. He’s an undefeated mixed martial arts guy. I think he’s been in eight or ten matches, something like that. And you know—one time I heard somebody talking to him, like: “Don’t be starting stuff or whatever…” And he said to me: “Coach, in my discipline—we don’t start things, we finish things.” And so… that’s all I really needed to hear. If I even needed to hear anything at all about it. He’s a special guy, you know?

K.C. Johnson: You ever golf with Caruso? He’s pretty good. Matas Buzelis: No, I haven’t. I was supposed to golf with Zach LaVine. Interviewer: Also good. Matas Buzelis: Yeah, he’s also— He’s not better than me, though. K.C. Johnson: You hear that, Zach? Zach, you’re not better than me. I saw him play. He’s all right. He’s not better than me.

Matas Buzelis: What’s my ceiling? I—I don’t know. I don’t know. I think I could be the best. I mean, that’s just how I think. I always believe—I always think—I could be the best. So I never put a limit on anything for me. That’s just how I was raised. I think I could be the best player ever. That’s just how I think. And if you don’t think like that, I mean—it’s not the sport for you.

K.C. Johnson: All right, we’re here with Matas. We’re in Las Vegas Summer League, but I want to start with a look back. I have not asked you what your reaction was to making All-Rookie Second Team. Matas Buzelis: Oh yeah. Honestly, to have your name on something like that, to have the award, is always an honor. It shows the countless hours of working in the gym. Even looking back at playing AAU, sacrificing my childhood life to play basketball. All the memories come flying back — me and my mom driving an hour to go work out, staying there, working out hard three, four hours. It’s honestly a blessing. Hopefully I get more awards soon. K.C. Johnson: Any part of you mad you weren’t on First Team? Matas Buzelis: I’m always mad. I always think I could do better. I wanted that Rookie of the Year, but it’s all in God’s plan. Second Team All-Rookie is not bad either.