- 12 hours ago
It really comes down to two players for Mike and Rico.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hour number two, good to have you with us.
00:02We're going to continue the conversation in a little bit different way.
00:05You know, we started with Trajan Langdon.
00:07You can hit rewind if you want.
00:10Playing the comments is a waste of time.
00:12It just comes down to what's your confidence level that, honestly,
00:16that they're going to make the big move they need.
00:18Because if you watched last night and you were honest with yourself,
00:22this team's nowhere close.
00:24They're nowhere close to San Antonio or OKC, and that's the bar.
00:27If you're in the NFL, you know, there was a long time in that league.
00:30You were building to beat the Patriots.
00:32You're in baseball.
00:33You're building to beat the Dodgers or Yankees or whomever.
00:37You know, hockey right now, the bar is the bar.
00:39It's the Avs or it's Carolina who every year is in it.
00:43Or it's Vegas.
00:44It's Florida, albeit an off year.
00:46The bar is the bar.
00:48Correct.
00:48So here's what we did.
00:50Let me give you just a list of players.
00:53I want to know, because it's one thing to say, look,
00:56Trajan needs to make a move.
00:58And whether you have confidence that he will,
01:01I think that is subjective.
01:03I think it all depends on, look, I don't have a great deal of confidence.
01:07I think my biggest fear is they're going to overpay for Duren.
01:11I won't be surprised in the least if at some point Otto comes in here
01:14and says they've paid him $5 at $200.
01:17And I won't yell or anything.
01:19I'll just sit here.
01:20I mean, there's nothing I can do.
01:21I think that's everybody's belief.
01:23It's kind of like the Gibbs contract.
01:26It's inevitable that you know it's going to happen.
01:28Right.
01:28Even though, and again, there's no chair throwing.
01:31I just, I have an opinion and whatever.
01:35But like, here's a list of people.
01:38Some are free agents.
01:40Some require trades.
01:41Some of these are awful.
01:43Some of these, I don't think the guy's available.
01:46But here, do what you want.
01:48Like, for instance, I mean, we talk, like LeBron James is a free agent at 42 years old,
01:55but it sounds like the Warriors are Cleveland.
01:58But would LeBron help you as a free agent signing a mid-level exception?
02:02Yeah, of course.
02:04But do I think you can get him?
02:05No.
02:06We've talked about Michael Porter Jr.
02:08Now, again, I'm not going to overstate MPJ.
02:11Do I think he puts you at a level to beat those teams?
02:15No.
02:16Does it get you closer?
02:18Yeah, depending on the roster construction.
02:20What?
02:20Can we split the difference?
02:21I think he gets you to the conference.
02:25I mean, he gets you to the NBA finals.
02:26I don't think that you beat the teams out of the West,
02:28but I think with Michael Porter Jr.,
02:32you would be playing the Knicks right now,
02:34and I think you would be defeating the Knicks
02:36and waiting to get slaughtered a few weeks from now.
02:41Yeah.
02:42We've talked Laurie Markkinen.
02:44That's a trade.
02:45Three at 148.
02:46He's 29 years old.
02:48He's seven feet tall.
02:49He'll shoot the three at 38%.
02:50Perfect stretch four to put next to Durant.
02:54You tell me.
02:55It's going to cost you a lot.
02:56Trey Murphy, it's the same deal.
02:58Three at 87, but he's 26.
03:00He's not as good as Markkinen,
03:02but he's proven to be a really good basketball player.
03:05You know, the rest of the names, you know, Kyrie Irving.
03:08Like, Jalen Brown is probably getting dealt.
03:10Do you want any piece of three at 182?
03:13I'll tell you as a Celtics fan.
03:14I don't think you do.
03:16Is JB going to guard?
03:17Yes.
03:18Is JB a finals MVP?
03:20Yes.
03:21Can JB shoot?
03:22Also, yes.
03:23Has he handled fourth quarter ball handle duties?
03:27Yeah, and I don't love it.
03:29The point is, I don't think he's going to be a Celtic much longer.
03:32I don't.
03:33You know, do you want Kevin Durant?
03:36Like, where are we going?
03:38Probably not Durant because he kills every team that he goes.
03:40Correct.
03:41After he leaves, he just burns it.
03:42I don't make the news.
03:44I just reported.
03:44I'm giving you the names because the free agent class is terrible.
03:48And when you inevitably are going to tell me Markkinen,
03:51which is where I'd be at,
03:53that is by far and away going to be the most expensive acquisition here.
03:58You know what?
03:58Let's play a little game, Michael.
04:00Sure.
04:00You know Jalen Brown more than anybody.
04:02What would it take for the Celtics to make that move?
04:08You're Celtics GM.
04:10Yeah, the Celtics, honestly, you could probably go straight up for Dern.
04:16They don't have the size.
04:18They have the shooting.
04:20They have all the shooting in the world.
04:22But look at what they had to do because of the luxury tax.
04:25They had to get rid of KP.
04:26They had to get rid of Al Horford.
04:28They got rid of Robert Williams a couple of years ago.
04:30And their center combination was expiring Vooch,
04:34Nemeus Cata, who's our version of Dennis Jenkins, just a hard O.
04:38And then the ghost of Luka Garza.
04:41The Celtics, look, the Celtics would trade for beef stew in a heartbeat.
04:45But you're talking about something where if it's beef stew plus what for Jalen Brown,
04:50that's where you don't have the stuff.
04:52You know, do the Celtics need an Assure Thompson because they have enough shooting?
04:56Okay.
04:58I'm spitballing, by the way.
05:00And I kind of put you on the spot.
05:01No, no, it's okay.
05:02I like stuff like this.
05:03I like stuff like this.
05:04No, they have a desperate need for a big.
05:07And look, do I think they'll...
05:09So you think you can get it straight up?
05:10I think Jalen Duren for Austin Reeves is a straight up deal.
05:16The Lakers may even have to throw in a one there.
05:18Just because one guy is going to make more money and one guy's a big, they're in short supply.
05:24Look, though, I think there's always moves to be made that aren't reported about names that aren't reported on.
05:31It's do you believe Trajan Langdon has the chops to do this?
05:38Like, we've heard about Jalen Brown to the Pistons for a long time.
05:41Do you want to take a swing?
05:43Look, I don't want to villainize JB.
05:45I'm just tired of him.
05:46It's different when he's played for my team.
05:48No, no, but here's the thing.
05:48I'm thinking a lot of people are kind of done with Duren here.
05:52So maybe it's you take ours, we'll take yours.
05:56Except the team's not, but yeah.
05:57Right.
05:58But no, I think there'd be something there.
06:00And look, the marketing thing is more complex.
06:03What are you offering, Utah?
06:05They just acquired Jaren Jackson Jr.
06:08What are you offering that makes Utah better by getting rid of Lowry Markkinen?
06:16You see what I'm saying?
06:17I mean, the only thing I can think for Utah is you.
06:21What?
06:21No, I mean, yeah, you're right.
06:24There's not a ton unless you send over some players that they can get rid of and free up cap
06:31space.
06:32Because I think Utah is about to make the power play to get the number one overall pick.
06:36Which Washington would be idiotic to do, but I hear you.
06:39Look, people, solve the puzzle.
06:41Let's have some fun for a minute.
06:43What is the name that gets you closer?
06:46And again, do I think anyone's beating OKC or San Antonio the next two to three years?
06:52No, I don't.
06:54Now, of course, injuries happen or team chemistry can change.
06:57The point is, you don't get to just sit it out and waste people's time.
07:02Your job's to get there and let's go play the damn games.
07:06What name on that list?
07:08Now, I'm not good.
07:09I couldn't do this.
07:09I know you put someone put a name on here and I don't even want to know who because it'll
07:13make me think less of them.
07:14Don't do it.
07:15Don't raise your hand.
07:16Don't even look at me funny.
07:18Somehow, the name Drew Holiday got on this list.
07:20You can't put, you may as well put Dick Clark on here.
07:23You can't put dead people on this list to make $32 million.
07:26I don't care.
07:27I put the name on there because it's for the fans.
07:30Because the fans are always looking for cheaper options and pieces that you don't have to give a lot for.
07:36So, I threw the name on there for that reason.
07:38Not because I want them, but because it's an option for the fans.
07:42No, David said he put it on there and he said it with his chest.
07:46Michael Valente.
07:50But here's the thing, though.
07:52I always laugh when it's, we need to go get player X.
07:55We need to, it's like, oh, what about this guy?
07:57No, not that guy.
07:59We need help, though.
08:00Okay, what about this?
08:01No, he sucks.
08:04No, I've told you that.
08:05It gets to the point where, yeah, you know what?
08:08I don't think that Wemby's available.
08:10So, like, they're certain, I've heard that.
08:12Yeah, they're not going to be available.
08:13So, if you're waiting for one of the top players, then that's not going to happen.
08:18So, that's why I always laugh when people get, well, that guy, we don't need him here.
08:24Well, you need somebody here because this team's not going to win a title unless you make some moves.
08:30248-539-9797.
08:33What's the name?
08:34What's the move?
08:35It's one thing to clamor for Trajan to make a move.
08:37Who's the player?
08:38Like, for me, it's been Laurie Markkinen for two years.
08:40I don't have a reason to change.
08:42He's perfect.
08:43He's absolutely perfect for what you need, and it'll open up Jalen Dern's ability to patrol the paint.
08:49I'm resigned to the fact they're keeping Dern, and they're going to spend more on him than I want.
08:54There's nothing I can do.
08:55But let me just tell you this.
08:57You acquire Laurie Markkinen, you're replacing Tobias Harris with him, okay?
09:01There's no world where Markkinen is going to average eight points a game over the last four games of a
09:06playoff series.
09:07And second of all, no slander.
09:10No one could be worse defensively than Tobias was towards the end of that series.
09:14No one.
09:16And that also is the mindset shift that Piston fans need.
09:20Well, he's not a great defensive player.
09:22You have to score.
09:23Did you watch last night's game?
09:25There is no defense for the best players in this league.
09:28Right.
09:28Your job is to create that situation for Cade.
09:31Spacing.
09:31We haven't even seen the best of Cade.
09:33With good floor spacing, do you understand Cade could average 30 and do it pretty efficiently?
09:39Because he can get wherever he wants to go on the floor, very similar to Chris Paul in his prime,
09:43where he can negotiate space, rise up, take a 20-footer.
09:47Done.
09:48Now, for me, I'm still more of the Michael Porter Jr.
09:51Because I think that, especially after listening to what Trajan Langdon had to say, Michael,
09:56they're keeping everybody.
09:58So, I think that that's going to be the easier move that you can make sure that you can keep
10:03Durant,
10:04you can keep Asar, all the pieces will stay in place.
10:08You'll just add one more spot to this team.
10:10That's what I think.
10:12Now, you're still going to need more pieces, and maybe that's a trade deadline move down the line.
10:17But I think that move right there puts you back into one of the better teams in the East.
10:25It won't be like last year where you beat up on a bunch of teams who were tanking and teams
10:29that didn't care.
10:30But you'll actually be a legitimate team in the East, I think, by just adding that one.
10:35And I think that's the safest move.
10:38I hate that I'm saying this.
10:39No, but you're saying it for a reason, and you're not trolling.
10:42You're saying you don't have the belief that this guy's got the you-know-what's to make a bigger move.
10:49I don't think anyone has to apologize for any of these.
10:53Because the one thing the Piston—
10:55That you would need to apologize for.
10:57That's laced with apology.
11:00But here are the few texts that came in.
11:03The reason why I put that name on there, because these are the names they send.
11:08CJ McCollum.
11:10Then they say John Morant.
11:12Then they come on here and say Colin Sexton via free agency.
11:16Because those names—
11:17I told you why that was going to happen.
11:19It's because Doug and Gator were talking.
11:20Those names come across.
11:21Colin Sexton and—
11:23You know what?
11:23I owe you lunch.
11:24No, I mean, I told you—
11:25No, no, I owe you lunch.
11:26I didn't think anybody was going to—
11:27I told you we'd have to clean up that mess.
11:29There you go.
11:29Colin Sexton.
11:30Good.
11:31Yeah, you know what?
11:31Sand bowl on me.
11:32The difference between you and OKC is Colin Sexton.
11:36Now, the funny thing about John Morant, John would be embraced by this city.
11:41Uh-oh.
11:42Once he came to Detroit, Detroit would make him their own.
11:48All he would need to put on is a pair of silly sunglasses, and everybody would love him.
11:52Well, I will tell you the good news with John Morant.
11:55Executives around the league have termed him a negative asset.
11:58And you go, well, what's a negative asset?
12:00That's an asset that, because of his contract, Memphis would have to attach a pick to get rid of him.
12:06So, if that's what you want to do, God bless.
12:08Do whatever you like.
12:09That's what Phoenix had to do with DeAndre Ayton.
12:12They had to attach a pick so someone would take him.
12:14I'm just saying, like, people laugh, but, man, if Ja came here, he would be the new fan favorite.
12:20Yeah, look, bottom line is I don't care what this team does,
12:22because if it's anything other than, you know, five-star top-shelf stuff, it's an eye roll.
12:27I'm not interested.
12:28You can do whatever you want.
12:30You want to sign more try-hards?
12:31Go ahead.
12:33Want to do more B-minus moves because it's safe and won't threaten your job?
12:37Go for it.
12:38But what you watched last night is the bar.
12:42You're either going to try to get up to that level or not.
12:45And I'll be honest, there's part of me out of a spiteful basis.
12:48I hope your organization doesn't go big.
12:51I hope they alienate Cadeny Leaves.
12:53How about that?
12:55I'm so tired of this town taking less.
12:57I'm so tired of these teams offering less.
13:01Cade Cunningham's a superstar.
13:03Cade Cunningham is the best overall talented player you have had since Isaiah Thomas.
13:09Okay?
13:11Cade is that guy.
13:13You got the number one pick in the draft.
13:15Thank you, Greater Life Church.
13:16You have the guy.
13:19You either get someone that he respects and get someone who helps elevate his game and makes him want to
13:27stay here, or you lose the player.
13:30That's how the league works.
13:32All right?
13:33This isn't 1976 and Bob McAdoo.
13:37So, do whatever you want.
13:39And Trajan's comments today?
13:41No, they don't fill me with a ton of confidence that they're going to go out and go big.
13:46Talking about they're still young.
13:47Talking about how only a few years ago we won 14 games.
13:51Talking about...
13:53Hope I'm wrong.
13:55But if you show up with a Colin Sexton, or I just got texted a name, and I'm not even
13:59going to tell you who texted it to me because it'll make me think less of him.
14:02Ty Jerome.
14:03Here's what you can do with Ty Jerome.
14:09What you watched last night, Ty Jerome ain't fixing.
14:16Ty Jerome.
14:17Amen.
14:18Trajan said this season was successful.
14:22Well, I don't think he was going to cap his own team.
14:25He wasn't.
14:262-4-8-5-3-9-9-9-7-9-7-9-7.
14:29We'll get your calls and texts next.
Comments