Nightcap Hour 1: Cavs PULL AWAY from Hawks + Pistons BEAT Bucks in CADE’S Return + Giannis vs Bucks SAGA CONTINUES

Summary

Club Shay Shay: Nightcap Hour 1

Episode: Cavs PULL AWAY from Hawks + Pistons BEAT Bucks in CADE’S Return + Giannis vs Bucks SAGA CONTINUES
Date: April 9, 2026
Hosts: Shannon Sharpe (Unc), Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson (Ocho), Joe Johnson (ISO Joe)

Episode Overview

This episode of Nightcap dives into the latest NBA drama with a focus on the Cleveland Cavaliers' tight win over the Atlanta Hawks, Cade Cunningham’s return powering the Detroit Pistons past the struggling Milwaukee Bucks, and a deep-dive on the growing conflict between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks franchise. The hosts blend statistical recaps, player dynamics, and candid, behind-the-scenes analysis with humor, lived experience, and sharp takes on contracts, playoff pressures, and NBA business.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cavs Outlast Hawks in Playoff Atmosphere

Discussion begins at 03:16

Game Recap

• The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 122-116.
• Donovan Mitchell starred with 31 points, Evan Mobley delivered a near 20-20 (22 pts, 19 rebounds), James Harden added 21.
• Cavs have now won four straight and are surging in the East; Hawks lose a key game amid a tight playoff race.
  "Donovan just kind of took over the game. But I think if we end up playing the Cavs...it'll probably go seven games. Fellas, I'm gonna be honest with you." — Ocho (05:46)

Hawk’s Outlook

• Ocho reflects on Atlanta's struggles: strong bench production & several double-digit scorers couldn't offset the Cavs’ big three.
• Atlanta’s playoff hopes hinge on not slipping into the play-in, requiring clutch performance in upcoming rematch vs. Cleveland.
• Bench play and depth praised: "You got 37 bench points. Joe, when you get that kind of production, because you're not used to getting that...you gotta capitalize, man." — Joe (10:37)
• Coaching credit to Quinn Snyder for adjustments, but stars need to step up.

Stopping the Cavs’ Big Three

• Targeting Cleveland’s stars is key for Atlanta: "When you play Cleveland, you got to cut one of them big three off" — Ocho (11:58)
• Harden’s playoff inconsistency is a discussion point: "He has the record for the most turnovers in a postseason game..." — Joe (13:53)

Series Predictions and Mindsets

• Ocho is confident: “The Cavs don’t scare me…I know we can go in Cleveland and steal one.” (15:50)
• CJ McCollum highlighted as a postseason x-factor.

2. Cade Cunningham Returns as Pistons Route Turmoil-Ridden Bucks

Discussion from 20:04

Recap & Player Notes

• Cade Cunningham returns after a collapsed lung and registers a double-double as Detroit beats Milwaukee 137-111.
• “The Bucks…they in turmoil right now. Ain’t no more fear the deer. People got the deer head on the wall.” — Joe (20:41)
• Detroit’s depth and their capacity to win even with Cade’s limited minutes (and injury absence) makes them formidable.
• “The Pistons gonna be tough, man. They hang their hat on defense and they got a game changer in Cade.” — Ocho (21:18)

Pistons’ Playoff Prospects

• Role players like Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter recognized as playoff swing factors.
• Charlotte Hornets emerge as a “scary” team in the East, ascending since January and capable of making a series dangerous.

Awards and Contract Ramifications

• Cade’s injury likely takes him out of All-NBA consideration, directly impacting future contracts (“supermax”, etc.).
• “You taking guys that might not be an All-NBA selection again...that puts them in line for a max or super max contract.” — Joe (26:57)
• The new NBA awards rules could make fringe players rich, as more elite stars miss eligibility with games missed.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. the Milwaukee Bucks: The Saga Deepens

Major segment beginning at 30:24

New Revelations & Context

• Giannis’ insistence on playing isn’t just pride—it’s tied to Nike endorsement bonuses lost if he doesn’t play 41+ games.
  “It just isn’t about competitive pride. It’s because he literally has financial incentives in a shoe contract.” — Joe (30:24)

Team-Player Power Dynamics

• The players' power in the NBA: “One of the few organizations where the players have the power…If Giannis say, ‘I'm healthy and I want to play,’ hell, he should be able to…” — Liberty City Co-host (32:01)
• Risks of playing Giannis noted—injury worries (calves leading to Achilles) and organizational wariness.

The Question of NBA Loyalty & Legacy

• Sharpe reflects: “You're their own. They watched you grow. This other team…you just gonna be one of the other hired guns.”—Joe (35:20)
• Ocho echoes: “You think the Lakers love LeBron like they did in Cleveland? Or do they love Dwyane Wade like Miami did?” (36:11)
• If Giannis leaves, he’ll still be a superstar, but the “love” and legacy won’t match Milwaukee’s.

The Trade Clock and Contract Game

• Bucks poised to move Giannis: "I think they gotta trade him this summer, fellas...He probably will never come out and actually say it or demand a trade. But...they probably gonna be working when this season’s over with to get him traded this summer." — Ocho (38:40)
• NBA contract incentives: Supermaxes, taxes, and contract mechanisms compared to NFL franchise tags.
• Big markets vs. small markets: State taxes dramatically affect take-home salary; Miami/Florida and Texas pointed out as advantageous.

Return Value & the OKC Precedent

• “You cannot let Giannis walk out the door like that, because if you do, you're ruined.” — Joe (49:06)
• Reference to Oklahoma City Thunder’s smart rebuild after losing Kevin Durant; Sam Presti praised for masterful asset management.
• Shay Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise highlighted as exceeding expectations and tilting the trade narratives.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On playoff pressure:
  "You wanna keep that same momentum going...you don't want to win 13 and then lose your last four and find yourself in the play-in." — Joe (07:09)

• On bench production and missed opportunities:
  “Bench points, you gotta capitalize, man.” — Joe (10:37)

• About All-NBA team selection loophole:
  "While you hurt somebody...you make it dirty, clean it up on the back end...you taking guys that might not be at all NBA selection again. And guess what? Don't matter. I got this one on my record." — Joe (26:57)

• On the business of basketball contracts:
  “Run that little bread, O’Joe.” — Ocho (27:04)
  “When you see all that money you having to spit out like that...that Miami don’t sound bad.” — Ocho (41:47)

• On Giannis’ legacy dilemma:
  “They're not gonna love you like they did.” — Joe (36:56)
  “You got to own it, though, bro. It's okay. You're not the first to request a trade...Superstars get certain privileges, and that's okay. But don't hide behind it, bro.” — Joe (46:34)

• On the small-market grind vs. LA:
  “Everyone wanna play in LA, bro...Milwaukee don’t have an attraction.” — Ocho (53:49)

• On uncertainty in rebuilding:
  “When you lose a player like that, it’s hard to ever ever get another...but you have to try to get great value from him.” — Ocho (54:45)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cavs vs. Hawks breakdown: 03:16 – 18:21
• Pistons beat Bucks, Cade’s return: 20:04 – 27:04
• NBA contract awards ramifications: 25:11 – 28:09
• Giannis vs Bucks, contract & business talk: 30:24 – 50:00
• Reflections on NBA star mobility & market size: 53:13 – 55:17

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Final Notes & Tone

The tone throughout is unfiltered, humorous, and real—equal parts sports bar banter and deep-dive NBA analysis. The hosts revel in calling out posturing by teams and players, dissecting the realities that happen behind the money and headlines, and reminiscing from both a player's perspective and as invested fans. The Giannis-Bucks segment is especially rich in insight about the invisible chess behind every move in today’s NBA.

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For listeners needing a quick encore:
Expect witty takes, OG player insight, and a peek into NBA realities beyond box scores—essential for NBA diehards and anyone curious about the league’s power dynamics, playoff stakes, and business machinations.

Transcript

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[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Start your free [e-mail] Shoot your shot on Prize Picks and get 50 instantly in lineups when you play your first five dollar lineup. That's right, Prize Picks is now giving you 50 in lineups. When you sign up and play your first five dollars prize picks make every dunk, every dive, every board more exciting. So don't miss this chance to get started on America's number one app for sports. Pick it's peak basketball season and you already know more points, more threes, more assists. It's go time baby. Find your community on Prize Picks with new social feed features, you can share Prize Picks with your friends and copy lineup from winners with a single click. Copy lineups you like or use them as inspiration for your own picks. You can even follow Prize Picks partners like US and Taylor fade our picks with just one click. Get in on the action at Prize Picks is now available in all 50 states including California, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Prize Picks is simple to play. Just download the Prize Pick app today. Use Code Shannon to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code SHANNON to get $50 in lineups AFTER you play your first $5 LINEUP. Prize picks. Good evening ladies and gentlemen and thank you for joining us for another episode of Nightcap. Y' all know who I am. I'm your favorite uncle. There is my partner and co host, Liberty City's own Bingo's Ring of Fame honoree. Before I'm a Pro Bowler and an All Pro. He's Chad Ochocinko Johnson and the third member of the Big Three, a seven time NBA All Star, a Little Rock, Arkansas native, a University of Arkansas alum known as ISO Joe Johnson.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Joe baby, what's happening?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, slow motion. Better than no motion. Stay in motion. Hey, please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button and go subscribe to the Nightcap podcast feed wherever you get your podcast from. Each and every one of you. Each and every one of us at the Nightcap family would like to thank each and every one of you that have subscribed that watch, that have talked about, that have watched us, that have retweeted something that we've done. Because none of this at Nightcap is possible without you. You make this possible. Ocho and I and Joe can tell stories all we want, but if no one is watching, if nobody's laughing, if nobody's entertained, informed or educated, it doesn't mean anything. So we sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts. So thank you again for your support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shea by La Portier, head over to la portierconac.com if it's currently unavailable, any state or city near you. It is a premium VSOP Cognac. The smoothest, best tasting VSOP cognac on the market. Just try it. Compare it against other cognacs you may have had or you're looking to try. I guarantee you Shayballa Portier is the smoothest, best tasting cognac on the market. Please, please drink responsibly and stay safe. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley helped the Cavaliers hold off the Hawks. 122, 116. Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points. Evan Mobley almost had a 2020 game. He had 22 points and tied a career high with 19 rebounds and James Harden chipped in with 21 points. The Cavs have won four straight and seven of eight Cleveland 51 and 29 can finish no lower than fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and they're currently a half game behind the Knicks for third. The Hawks have dropped two of the two, have dropped their last two after winning four straight. They're one game ahead of Toronto for the fifth seed, but only one and a half game in front of Orlando to avoid the playing Eastern Conference. I don't know if you guys can see it, but Detroit is comfortably in front. They're three and a half games in front of the Celtics, so they're 58 and 22. The Celtics are 54 and 25. The Knicks are 51 and 28. The Cavaliers are 51 and 29, hence the half game back. The Hawks are 45 and 35, Toronto is 44 and 35, the Magics are 44 and 36, the Sixers are 43 and 36, Charlotte is 43 and 37, and the Miami Heat are 41 and 38. Joe, what's going on with y'? All?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Oh, man, we. We just had a little bump in the road, Uncle Ocho. I thought we played a great game tonight. We scored enough points. Great playoff ball game, great playoff atmosphere. We just couldn't come up with the win. Man, I thought we had a lot. We had what, seven guys in double figures. So it was a pretty good game. I thought we was actually going to pull away. You know, we were playing great ball at one point, and then, you know, Donovan just kind of took over the game. But I think if we end up playing the Cavs, if the Hawks end up playing the Cavs in the playoffs, it'll probably go seven games. Fellas, I'm gonna be honest with you.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I mean, Joe, you guys, you mentioned you had seven guys in double figures. All five of your starters, Nikhil, Alexander, Walker, still walk, is still playing. Unbelievable. 25 points on 10 or 19 shooting. But you got 30 off the bench for 30 minutes. Kamingo gave you 11 of 20, 24 points. When you get that kind of offer production, I mean, you shot 48% from the floor. You're right there with the rebounding. You gotta. Those are the games, Joe. And, and we've seen this before, last couple of games, is that you guys have a league because you led a lot of this game. And then like you said, Donovan ended up taking the game over late in the ball game. But these are the type of games. These are. These are actually playoff type games because these are the type of games that you're going to be involved with more times than not because the likelihood of your, your starters being out a midway through the third quarter or to sit the entire fourth quarter, that's not going to happen very often. You might get one of those games. If you're fortunate enough to make it all the way through the NBA Finals, you might get one game where your starters get the rest for the entire fourth quarter. Other than that, it's going to be clutch time. Possessions matter, turnovers matter. And so I, I think that the, and I know the Falcons had to, excuse me, Falcons. The Hawks had this great stretch, Joe. They had won like 12, 13 in a row. The last thing that you want to do is kind of like tail slide going into the playoffs. You want to kind of keep that same momentum going. You don't want to win 13 and then lose your last four and then get into the playoffs and find yourself. You, you was probably right there at the fourth seat and now all of a sudden you find yourself in the playing. That wouldn't be good for them.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

No, I, I think we going to pick it up, you know, understanding what's at stake and where we at in the standings and how close and tight of a race it is. I think we'll pick it up. Look, Jalen Johnson ain't gonna, he ain't gonna go four for 16 every night. You know, he didn't, he didn't have a great game, but we were still in the game tour. We still had a chance to win. He fouled out. He fouled out. Daniels fouled out. So I think we, we can take some positives from this. Now. Is Cleveland a great team? Yes. They have two games, actually three game changes and Harden, Mobley and Mitchell. So they gonna be, it's gonna be tough to beat them, but I think we got the squad that can do it. Like I said, I think if we, if we, if we end up playing the Cavs, I do think this would be a seven game series because it's, it's fairly even if you really pay attention to the game. I thought the Hawks mucked it up on the road. We just couldn't come up, we just couldn't come up with the big plays down the stretch to get us over the hump. But we had guys who stepped. Look, Kaminga played a hell of a game. I thought Gabe Benson came in and gave us some great minutes as well. And that's what you need. You don't need a collective team effort, bro. For to, to, to be able to win on the road in the playoffs. You got to be a great Playoff team Ocho, you have to win games on the road. You're gonna have to win at least one game on the road.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah. Especially if you don't have home court. Now if you have home court, you can, you can just win all your home games and be straight. But when you do that, you have no margin forever. Because if somebody, you mess around and have an off shooting night and somebody gets you and you're not a really good road team because you're right. Joe, at some point in time, look at or okc, they had to win a game on the road.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They against it. Think about it. Against Denver, Denver got a game. In order for them to get keep it going, they had to go steal a game back. I think Indiana, I think Indiana stole the game from them. They had to go to Indiana and steal the game back. So you're absolutely right. Great teams. Look, you're not going to be up here all the time. No matter how rowdy your crowd are, no matter how much you love playing at home, you're going to have a slip up, but you're going to have to find a way to win a game on the road. And so the Hawks, like you said, Jaylen Johnson did not play well. They had a couple of guys that had 12 points and those are guys like I said walk has been playing out of his mind. You got 24 plus points from Kamingo who played unbelievable off, off, off the bench. You got 37 bench points. Joe, when you get that kind of production, because you're not used to getting that kind of production. You got to capitalize, man.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

You got to capitalize. I agree. And you know, I, I know our coach, he, he does a great job. He does a great job in making adjustments. And yeah, Coach Quinn, he makes a, he does a great job of making adjustments. So I, we still got a few games left. I don't want us to get in that plan. So we need to, we need to take care of business here at home. Friday I think we play here. I actually think we play Cleveland again. Yeah. So that's gonna be a hell of a game. That's gonna be like a game seven. That's gonna be playoff atmosphere and I'm looking forward to that, man. It should be a fun one.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

You want to stay in the five spot and hey, guess what? And play Cleveland in the first round four, five matchup.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Right.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

But Quinn Snyder, you know how to, hey, look here, you coach Donovan Mitchell for another year, you know how to deal with him. And you know what? He's more than capable.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

There you go.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Doing so. You better fight. Hey, you better. You better turn his light out, because if you don't. We've seen him score 70 in a game. We've seen him have playoff games where he's get 57. Him and Jamal Murray going back and forth. He gets 57. Jamal comes back with a 50. He comes back with a 50 piece. Hey, he's a guy that can get red hot. Ocho, what are you doing? You can't hear me? I hear you now.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Oh, yeah, I'm right here. I'm right here just agreeing with y'.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

All.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Hey, listen, listen. You look at Mobley, you look at Evan Mobley. I mean, hell, Augie had 19 rebounds, 22 points. My thing is, when you. When you play Cleveland, you got to cut one of them big three off. Like, okay, James Harden may. He may get his. Mitchell may get his. But you can't let Evan Mobley, you know, be a game changer like he was tonight. You can't do it.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, you gave up 30. We gave up 31 to. To Mitchell. You gave up 21 to Harden. James didn't shoot well. Mitch was sensational. Mitch had. Was 12.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

He turned it on.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So you can. You. Yeah. And you got. Evan Mobley was 8 or 15. And like you said, Joe, he gave it 22 and 19, almost a 20, 20 game. And. And then you got Jared Allen. You know, Jared Allen's gonna be efficient because all he's gonna do is rim run. He's gonna get lobs, he's gonna get put backs, he's gonna get tip ins. So you're not really running an offense for him, but you got to keep him off. And I thought you.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I just feel like the Hawks. I feel like we got more talent than Cleveland. Like, we got more guys who we can depend on that's gonna play pivotal minutes and play huge in those minutes versus Cleveland. Cleveland gonna rely on Donovan and. And Harden to carry the load, you know? You know, Evan Mobley, he gonna give you a 10 point game, eight rebounds. You know what I'm saying? Like, he ain't gonna be. He ain't gonna be doing it like this every night.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, I don't expect. You know that. I don't expect that either. I think the question is, Joe, is that. And. And now. And plus, we know Harden has his playoff hiccups. He's had them everywhere he's been, even when he was the sixth man in okc. Go back and look at that game. Look at some of those games. That he had against Miami. Go back and look at Houston, go back and look at Philly. We've seen him have a 50 point game and do go crazy against Boston. And then you're like, bro, what the hell happened?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Right?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So you know, hey. And he has the record for the most turnovers in a postseason game, which is, I think it's 14, 12 or 14. So we know what James Harden. There's a, there's, there's a, a great chance that he'll have one of those games that leaves you scratching your head.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

You like, God dang, Harden, I don't

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

know what the hell happened to you tonight. He. He has one of those games and he's had one of those games. Everywhere he's been, there's not one, there's not one stop on James Harden resume where he hasn't had at least one of those games in the post season that you like. God damn.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah. And I think when you look at Quinn, he ain't gonna let James just play free like he was tonight. I know he missed a lot of shots, but it's gonna be a lot of trapping making him get that ball up. And we're gonna make some of these other guys make some plays versus, you know, versus letting James go one on one, let Donovan go one on one. We're gonna see what some of these other guys can do. You know what I mean?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yes. I think the problem that you run into like, okay, you give the ball up. Now you do realize he's probably gonna give that ball up. He probably gonna give that ball up to Mitch. Now Mitch, you come to trap Mitch, he's gonna swing it to one of those bigs. Now you gotta dunk by Moby or you gotta dunk by Allen. That's the problem that you. Because they're one of the few teams that com that that play traditional, they play two bees. They play, basically play two seven footers, Evan Mobley and Jared Allen. Only OKC really plays like that. Now they're in okc. Nobody else really plays like that. Everybody else got guys they, that, that you know, that can play multiple positions. Those are two conventional big. They play 80 90s style basketball. And so the problem that you have, and it beats you up on the glass too, you got to be real careful because like you said, Mobley had 19 tonight. You know, Jared Allen is capable of giving you a 20, 20 game and he'll give you 20 points when you don't run. Not one offensive set for him. He'll get him on lobs Put, put back and re.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah, but they, they, they don't scare me, though. I'm gonna be honest with y'. All. The Cavs don't scare me. I feel like, I feel like we'll take care of home court whether we're the lowest seed or not. And I feel like we can go in Cleveland and steal one. Yeah, I think we can go in. I know we can go in Cleveland and steal one. This was a playoff game tonight, man. We, we were right in the game. We was up by 9, 10 points. At one point. I looked up, yes, I said, damn, how we get down by nine. But, you know, we end up fighting back, getting back in the game, you know, C.J. i feel like C.J. mcCollum is going to be a guy who you're going to be able to rely on in the postseason. Uncle Ocho, to where if we do get a little flat and stagnant offensively, he's a guy who can go out and get it. He's, he understands, you know, who needs to touch the ball, where the ball needs to go and being poised and patience, you know, understanding. He's been in these situations before, and he thrives in them. He knows, you know, this is an important year for C.J. because he, I'm sure, you know, C.J. would love to come back to Atlanta and play with the Hawks. You know what I mean? Like, he gonna be a free agent at the end of the year. So I, I look forward to him, you know, having a huge playoff series against whoever we play in that first round.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

But if you look at some of your key contributors that you're really expecting to give you valuable minutes, you look at Dyson Daniels, he was 5 of 11.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

C.J.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

was 6 of 16. Jalen Johnson was 4 of 16. I, I, I, I need, I, I, I need, I need a little. Because, because you did get great production out of Kongu. You got great production out of Walk, and you got great production out of Kaminga. They shot a very high percentage. And for those guys, your key guys, to struggle like they struggle tonight, like I, like you said, I don't expect Jalen Johnson. I don't expect CJ to have that kind of D. Daniels didn't. I mean, he only took 11 shots. He's 5 11. So you can live with that. But I just think the thing is, like, C.J. and, and, and Jaylen Johnson, they're gonna have, they're gonna, one of those guys are gonna have to shoot a higher percentage. You can't have two guys because the congu's getting dumped. Yeah, he did take two. He getting two. But he's a rim runner. He's a big that can run the rim. You can throw him lobs. You can know you, you guys break down the defense and get to the hole and throw it up and he can finish it for you. So you're not, it's not like you're just running a whole lot of sets for him. He's not a, a big that you run sets for. He's not embiid, he's not Jokic, he's not wimy. He's not a guy that you're actually running sets for, bro. You got to get your. You got to get.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

But when like you said, Jaylen Johnson and C.J. didn't play well today, Uncle. Oo, but look, man, we only lost by six points. Ain't like we got blew out by 20 or 30, you know what I mean? Then you had to drawing board like, damn, I don't know what we can do, you know, we only lost by six points and those guys didn't play great at all. So I don't expect that from them, you know, Come Friday night here in

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[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

And I bet you it'd be a totally different game, right?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Well, it better be. Y' all gonna be head y' all ass to the player. K. Cunningham returned with a double double as the Pistons routed the Bucks 137. 111. K 13 points, 10 assists. In his return from injury, Cade had in place and sustaining a collapsed lung in a win against the Wizards on March 17th. He appeared comfortable playing 26 minutes in short stance tonight. Jaylen Duran had 2021 points, nine rebounds. JB Bicker staff kept all five starters under 30 minutes. The Pistons won for the sixth time in eight games. Well, I mean, hell, he could have paid him under 25 minutes. He played the box.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They in turmoil right now. Ain't the.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

The Bucks. Yeah, ain't no more fear of deer. People, people. People got. People got the deer head on the wall. Don't nobody fear the deer no more. Hey, hey, Joe, you remember these fear.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Right, right, right, right. Books fans.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Hell, well, y' all got. Y' all got Bullwinkle over there.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

K didn't even have to play tonight. The way. The way Pistons been playing.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I mean, the Bucks got so much turmoil going over there, they didn't need K tonight. But I'm. I'm sure they tried to get him acclimated before the postseason start.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Got to get him some roll, man. You gotta get him to run, Joe. You don't want that man going to playoffs. Yeah, man, that joke alone I already

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

know, but they got so many. Hey, hey, they. They kind of. They similar to the house too, because they got so many guys who they can throw at you in waves. You know what I mean? Guys play pivotal minutes throughout the season because K was out, you know, they were still able to still keep that, that, that. That number one seed in the Eastern Conference. So that lets me know, man, they got. Look, they got guys who can come off the bench and get to that chicken Uncle Ojo. The Pistons gonna be tough, man. They hang their head on defense and they got a game changing. Cade. They gonna. They. They gonna be in good shape.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

And you look. I. I think that the. A key for them, Joe, is that come playoff time, how consistent can Duncan Robinson and hurt shooting the three. How can. Because we've seen Duncan Robinson catch fire with the heat with week and we've seen Herder, you know, Red Rifle when he was in Atlanta. We seen him in Sacramento, Chicago, so we know what he's capable of. Can. Can they keep everybody honest from packing Lane? Because. Because K's going to try to break down your defense now. If you try to. Hey, somebody send help. I'm gonna kick it to one of those guys. And can they Knock down the three. But I, I, I agree with you. You know, he's like, look, it ain't gonna take much for us to beat them. They don't quit. Let's go ahead. Let's go ahead and help them finish quitting. Let's jump on their ass. And they. Hey, they tried to get a lot. Listen, but if you.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

The Pistons, I'mma tell y', all, man, that Hornets team, they scary, uncle oo. And, oh, my God. And if they get that AC and you playing against the Pistons playing the Hornets.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Hey, man, I don't know if the. I don't know if the Hornets can beat them, but I think they could. I think they'll make it.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They scare the hell out of.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They'll make it very interesting.

[Liberty City Co-host]

They make it seven games.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I don't know if they'll make it seven, Ocho. But I just like the Hornets, man, because they play great basketball. They play together. And if Lamelo can continue to play at this mega star level that he's been playing at for, like, the past month or two, man, they gonna be tough to beat, bro. They got so many guys who could score the ball. They play the right way. They play hard. They gritty defensively. So they're a scary team. You don't. I mean, they are ascending. They've been ascending since about the new Year, probably since about January, February. So it ain't. They ain't no team who you want to see, bro. I watched them play against Boston the other night. I think it was last night, if I ain't mistaken. And they had control of the whole game and end up losing, you know, in that second half. But for the most part, man, they can hang with anybody.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

The way they shoot the three, they gonna get a bunch of them up and on in that stretch that you was talking about. Joe had two months. A lot of them was falling. You go back and look, and they were 20 or 43. There was 25 of this. And they had. I was like, well, damn. Cause you got Mellow. Can go get you 30 on a given night. Canippo can give you 30 on a given night. Miller, you got Miles, you got Bridges. So you got. What, What.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

What's my guy coming off the bench from Chicago?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, Kobe White.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So they got guys, they, they, like you said, I don't know if they can beat him, but they can scare the hell out of them. They go like, damn, I sure wish we didn't have to play them in the first round. And, and, and, and they're just young enough and naive enough to not know any better. There you go.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

There you go. Because see when you don't understand the magnitude of the games because you rely on a few rookies, you know what I mean? Like anything can happen, bro. Like look, I love Con canipple. He ain't just no spot up three point shooter. I seen him go off the dribble, shoot the midi, get to the basket. Like they got a lot of guys man who can beat you in many different ways. You know the Hornets have been a fun team to watch.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They have, they have. But I'm glad to see, I'm glad to see Cade back. I think it might be a little bit too late. I don't think he's going to be able to qualify for any of the awards. I mean he's all out. Damn them. I mean he, he last played, he got injured against The Wizards on March 17th and here he is coming back today, it's the 8th. So he's a couple of days, you know, basically a couple of days short of being out a month.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So I think he's probably missed too many games to be. Cause I think he's going to be a first. He was going to be a first

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

or second team all oh no question

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

now that's out of the equation. And what that does Ocho and guys we're gonna have probably two guys that miss it.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Kate Ant man gonna miss the two Ant man.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So that's three guys. So guess what that does guys that brings somebody that wasn't gonna make it, that moves somebody from second team to first team. Somebody from 13 to second team and that takes somebody three guys that weren't going to be make it. They're gonna make it. And guess what that does that puts them in line for a max or a super max contract. So here's the thing. NBA why you tried to why you tried to do one thing. Clean up something on one end. You make it dirty, clean it up on the back end because guess what you did. You're gonna have guys that probably are just like French players that they're gonna have an all NBA selection on their resume and all the NBA selections that means guess what? I in I'm in line for a max and a super max contract. So while you hurt somebody, while you might have hurt a Cade or Luca or Ant man because they already playing on that number and they, and I'm sure you, they'll. They'll next year they'll be able to play and get right back there. But you taking guys that might not be at all NBA selection again. And guess what? Don't matter. I got this one on my record.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

That's all they. That's all that counts. That's all that counts. Because when I, When I. When we go to the negotiating table, you know, I got this in my back pocket. Now what you gonna tell me you got. You're gonna have to run that little bread. You got to run that little bread o. Joke.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Well, you know, we don't. I don't know what you think, but this is what I know. What I know is that one of those three, all them big. So that basically saying I'm a top 15 selection, right? So guess what? Somebody was going to be 16, 17, 18. All of a sudden it's going to be 13, 14, 15.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, my goodness. So now you get to add that extra year. Now you get to add 50, 60 million dollars in the fifth year.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So NBA, I know you tried to do all good, but no good deed going unpunished, man.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

It's. It's some guys looking at, looking at it right now. I'm talking about. They like, oh, we. I know I'm next in line. I'm make third team now.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, yeah, yeah. We're in the money. We're in the money.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Hey, it's a. It's a good thing for those players that are friends, players that might not ever have. Might. Might not ever have the opportunity, you know, to be first or second team. All NBA selections where you get to get to get to that bag man.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Hey, hey, Joe, Y' all remember a players club with. What's it called to be? Cabinet? That's eight. Uncle Lou here. Hey, hey, hey, hey.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

What about. Hey, what about Trading Places? Mortimer.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

And that? And that's how it goes. We back the fight between Giannis and Milwaukee over playing time just got a little bit more complicated.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual, even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[VRBO/Serving Pancakes Host]

Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this your first date?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, no.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[VRBO/Serving Pancakes Host]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

Anyways, only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Liberty.

[VRBO/Serving Pancakes Host]

Liberty.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Liberty.

[VRBO/Serving Pancakes Host]

On the serving Pancakes podcast, conversations about volleyball go beyond the court. Today we have a little back best friend compatibility test. Okay, how long have we been Best friends for since the day we met. As the League1 volleyball season heads towards its final stretch, there's no better time to tune in. We really are like yin and yang, vodka and tequila. You'll hear unfiltered analysis, behind the scenes stories and conversations with leaders making an impact across the sport. Today we have Logan Lednecki. I feel like our fan base in general is very connected. Just like a comforting feeling getting to play at home. Whether you're following the final push of love season or just love the game, serving pancakes brings you closer to the action and the people shaping the future of volleyball. Jordan Thompson had that microphone. Oh, God forbid we make mistakes or cuss at our coach. Like when talking. Open your free iHeartradio app. Search serving pancakes and listen. Now, this has been serving pancakes. And we'll catch you on the flip side, okay? Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

As it turns out, the real money on the line is that nobody's talking about publicly until now. Multiple sources said the Bucks decision to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo caused him significant bonuses in his Nike endorsement contract that would have been triggered if he played at least 41 games. That adds a lot of context behind Greek freaks insistence on playing despite the team wanting to shut him down for the remainder of the season. The truth comes out. It just isn't about competitive pride. It's because he literally in financial incentives in a shoe contract. Milwaukee decision is costing him. I think it's twofold, I believe. Obviously, man, bro, they might add some extra years at 10, 15, $20 million.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Second.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Who's on his. Who's on his team?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yes, sir.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Now, what are the likelihood Pat Ry. Let's just say for the sake of argument to appease Ocho Joe the Heat trade for him. What do you think the likelihood of Pat Ryder said you know what? I want the two brothers too. What you think the likelihood is that Ocho.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Hey, no, Pat Riley ain't good, huh? Okay, I'm just being honest with you. Unless Pat decides all of a sudden Blue changes what you what you know he's not gonna do because he stuck to his guns since hell for how long now?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

And I don't think he was in my since he was the head coach of the Lakers.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Hey, listen, if he didn't. If he didn't buzz for the King,

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

he not buddy Greek you.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

He gonna have to get his ass in line like everybody else. And hey, look, we trading for Yanis. Your damn brothers. Them they gonna have to Figure it out. But they gave me. Yeah, they ain't doing that.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Yeah. Hey, you know what's funny is when I think about the NBA and I think about the power that the players have. One of the few. One of the few organizations where the players have the power, not the. You know, the owners of the gm, owners of the gym. To the head coaches is if Yanis say, hey, if I say I'm healthy and I want to play, hell, he should be able to. You would think the way they operate, hell, I'm gonna put my uniform on, and I'm going in the starting lineup. No matter what y' all say. No matter what.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

No, they didn't. Now you get. Now you insubordinate. Now I'm gonna take some more. I'm gonna take your money from you. Is that what you want? Conduct detrimental to the team? Yeah, that what you want. At least Joe right now, you know this. He getting his bread. You do something like that. Now I gotta. I gotta take Contour. Yeah, yeah. And them checks. Oh, yo, don't check. Probably like 3, 400,000 a game, man. Really? What you want?

[Liberty City Co-host]

I know. I know what they're looking like, man. Well, you ain't got to tell. You ain't got to tell me twice, but.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, but now. Now y' all doing me wrong, but I'm gonna sit on over here.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Yeah, but listen. Listen. You're sitting over there, you're obliging with what they want, but now you're messing up my shoe money. My. My shoe money add up, too.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

You messed up my season by talking about you wanting to be traded, right? You messing up my money. You. You messing up my leverage, right? My ability to trade. You right? You see? You see what you did? Okay? Even swap ain't no swindle. You mess my. You mess up your trade value, I mess up your money. We both got something messed up.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Hey, it's funny. You know what? Now that you said it like that, that's probably exactly how they think.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Well, yeah, of course it's exactly.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Well, the thing is, it's protocol.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Fellas, they.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They just. Just. Cause you say you healthy, man, like I said before, you got to show us something in practice before we just throw you out there on the floor. You know what I mean? And I think Giannis has.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

He. He.

[Liberty City Co-host]

He.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

He hasn't been one to, you know, cooperate when it comes to, like, playing two on two, three on three to prepare to gauge and lead. Up to him getting out there playing five on five, he just feel like shit. I'm healthy, but so just put me out there. I'm gonna put up numbers. And they ain't willing to do it for a number of reasons, because, look, you put him out there and he get hurt, then what? Oo, okay. Like, they ain't the man. They ain't trying to deal with that.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

And you've had. And what have we had over the last couple years? Those calves. Calves lead to what?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yep.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Achilles. Nah, you're not gonna do that. You're not really going to suppress the market. But here's the thing, what we're talking about. Oo, he says he wants to play. We took your word. When you say you was hurt and you couldn't play, we took your word for it. Now you want us to take your word for it and say that you can play, right? We didn't question you right now. Now all of a sudden, you see, and I'm. Everybody knows I'm pro players, but sometimes when you start to own a business, you have to look at things from a business standpoint, right? And so that's what I'm like, okay, okay, I can see. I can see what you're talking about. So all these concessions that they've made, I'm a firm believer is that nobody is going to love you like your original. The team that drafted you. I had a conversation with a great wide receiver once, and he's like, man, he's like, oh, man, I need to just leave. And I say, I'm going to tell you this, and it's going to be your decision, and I'm never going to steal you.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Wrong.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I said, yeah, you can probably go and you might win. I said, but they're not going to love you like they do where you are, man, because you're their own. They watched you come in and they watched you grow in the community, and they watch you as a young man come into a full grown adult, man. They watch that. This other team, they just gonna be happy to have you. You're just gonna be one of the other hired guns that they've had along the way. Nothing's gonna be special about you, bro. Nah, he thought about it for a couple days. Like, man, you're right. So Yanis go and think. So he gonna be sweet. You think the Lakers. You think The Lakers love LeBron like they did in Cleveland? You think Miami love LeBron like they did in Cleveland? Or do they love Dwayne Wade? Or do they love Kobe? Do they love Shaq, huh? Or do they love Bam? Or they do love do they love Alonzo? Marty?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I know.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

See, that's what. And I, I think. I don't think enough players think about it like that. It's like, man, I just need to go, go, go, go. Okay, fine. I. I'm never going to stand in the way of a person wanting to get his money. But just understand. And when they don't gravitate towards you like they did in your original Destin location, you can't be mad. You just can't. You can't even. Even though. And think about it. Even though Lonzo. Lonzo was at the Hornets first. Yeah, he was at the Hornets first. People. And people. And for whatever reason he was. They like, nah, nah, Zo hours. He was not D. Wade. He not. Bam. That are OGs.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah,

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

that's how it goes, man. So Giannis, wherever you go, and you might win a championship, I hope you do, they're not gonna love you like they did.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Nah, they not. But I. I bet you Giannis is thinking like this, okay? Ocho, he thinking, okay, I got two years left on my deal. But if they trade me this summer, then wherever I'm at, I can play. And then the next summer I can get that five years versus you gonna

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

get full because he got traded.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

But I'm saying he'll get to play. He'll get to play a full year wherever he got traded.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yes.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

So at the end of the next. At the end of that season, they'll be able to offer him that big deal.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I think once you get traded, Joe, I think that is out. Look that up, Ash. Look that up. I think that's the thing. That's what they try to do because they want to keep you at the.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

So you say he can't get.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So that's why they can offer. That's why they could offer you that extra year, which is that fifth year at that max number.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Right? Okay.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Look that up, Ash. I. I think. I think now maybe if you stay for. Because a lot of times you have to. I think Luca could only sign a four year deal now if he wants. He plays, he can come back again.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Because this is. Luca got traded in his contract year, right?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

No, I think he had another. Oh, did he?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

So it'd be the same as Giannis. Giannis got. Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, they would have never let him get that. Oh, no, because remember, that's what. See, that's what Milwaukee is saying. Milwaukee said sign the deal or we trading you. We're not gonna let you walk out the door like K. That'd be foolish business. You can never let a guy, you can never let a guy of that caliber get to the last year of his deal. Because if you do, he done. It's done.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

That's why they, that's, that's why they got it. That's why I think they gotta trade him this summer, fellas.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They can't bring him back. You know, considering everything that they're going through right now, I think, I think Giannis is a little disgruntled. He probably will never come out and actually say it or demand a trade. But I can bet you behind the scenes they probably gonna be working when this season's over with to get him traded this summer for sure.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, he gone. According to, according to ESPN, Giannis is eligible for a four year, 275 million dollar extension in October if he stays in Milwaukee. If he's traded during the off season, he would need to wait six months from the trade date to sign the extension. Which would be four years, correct, Ash? Yes. So.

[Liberty City Co-host]

So he gonna get it no matter where you go then, huh?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I don't think you can. I don't, I don't know if he can get that. So if he signed, if he signed. If he waits six months after the, the trade and sign the extension, how much does, how much is the four year extension then? Because it's kind of what they try, what they try to do is kind of like what the NFL did, Ocho, because they didn't want the quarterbacks to leave. That's what the franchise tag was. Really, really. The key guys, the quarterbacks, your Bruce Smith, your Jerry's, your image, we want to keep those guys. So we'll pay you the average of the top five. So what? This is the max, the super max is basically to keep. Because we can give you something no other team can. We can offer that fifth year. The other team, they give you four.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Now if you want.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

For. Look, four years at 225, okay, that's good money. We can give you five. We can give you five years.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

But hey, hey, hey, depending on where he go though, he can, he can make it up in and off the court. Endorsements, depending on where he go. Because this markets. Because Milwaukee ain't no huge market. So if he was. So if he was a ghost, well,

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

he need to get a Harley deal. He should have got a Harley deal.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Hey, I know, I know one market he can go to. He'll make it up no matter what.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Damn.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Texas gonna kick his ass though.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

California, even worse, 13.3 that state. And when you kick it, and when you kick in that for that 36 at the Fed level. So they taking 49 of your money. Hey, you gotta kick in metal and fica, your agent fees, your attorneys. So when it's all said and done, that. Let's just say somebody getting a hundred million, you down to probably like 47, 46, right after taxes. And you pay. Cause they take it three and a half percent. Your agent take three and a half percent. Your financial guy got to get his cut. Come on now with your ass. Whoa, you think I'm working for free? You ain't working for free. Yeah. Hey, you and I both know we. We got managers, we got, we got attorney, we got agents. Hell, I've been paying money since 90. Well, my first couple of contract, I ain't played nothing because I had my brother's agent. He's like, nah, he ain't making no money. You can't charge.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

What you talking about? When you see all that money you having to spit out like that? Because I know exactly what you talking about. Attorneys. And, and, and, hey, but look, that's why. That's why. Boy, that, that Florida, that Miami don't sound bad. Yes, don't sound bad, fellas.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Hey, they got a team. Where else they got. They ain't got no taxes that. They ain't got no tech. We ain't got no team in Vegas yet.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Oh, no, he's not.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Dallas.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Dallas, Houston.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Dallas.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

No, I'm just trying to say. Where you at? Look, look here. I don't know if y' all noticed, but 13, when you making that kind of money, you do realize 13, if you making $50 million a year.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Hey, hold up though. Hold up, hold up. Houston got some pieces over there, though.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, I thought you got some.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I'm saying

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

they got some two legged pieces.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

You talking about them quarter pieces, the dying pieces?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I know exactly what you talking about. But they got some pieces they could. They, you know, if they underachieve this year, they could possibly give. Get up off of and bring Giannis over there with kd.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I still think they need a point guard. I think Van Fleet. I think they need Van Fleet. I think he's the missing ingredient. They need a point guard. They need a point guard.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They do. But it's gonna. Hey, it's gonna be some furniture moving this summer. Fellas, I'm talking about. I think I know Braun just built that. I know he building that old however 100 million. But I can see Braun teaming up with some Guys, bro,

[Liberty City Co-host]

where at? Joe, what do you think about.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Hey, look, I can see Giannis and Braun teaming up together,

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

but you know What? If I'm LeBron, man, I'm done chasing rings. I'm gonna go to a bad team. Cause we've seen on a bad team what he can do.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

At the number one or number two auction, LeBron can still give you 25, 26 a night. Did you just not. Did you not see him on a bad team? When you just play Sunday against the Mavericks, he gave you 30. He gave you what? 30, 15 and nine.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

It's just, he need, he needs some more ball handling duties and, but he understand the role he's. He's in right now with Ar and Luca playing the way they've been playing. Like I said, because he started off the season slow, meaning he, he missed the first, what, 15 games or so, and, and they were playing great. He just, you know, put himself into where he wasn't going to be disruptive. Know what I mean? He was going to be a complimentary piece to those guys, and I think he's done a great job with that. But yeah, Unc, I agree with you. You put him on a team, I ain't saying necessarily to where he is the guy, but where he can handle the Rock, make decisions, you know, make plays. Yeah, he still, he still got some ball left in him.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, word. Oh, no worse than two.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah. No worse than.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, he gonna get. He. Yeah, yeah, he. He'll give you the numbers that he gave you last year. Cause if you go back and look like when games were okay, Lucas out or game where AR is out, and now he has more responsibilities.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

He gonna do his thing.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yes, but I'm not surprised by this. The only thing is, is that Giannis kept trying to be sneaky about it. Oh, you know, whatever my agent decide, you know, I don't. Bro, your agent works at the behest of you. And he doesn't want the criticism, but with coming. Because he saw the criticism that LeBron got. He saw the criticism that KD got, he saw the criticism that some of these other guys got, and he doesn't want that. So he wants to pretend he wants to throw the rock. We know you broke the window. He got I, I. My agent. No, bro, Agents don't just like the same thing oo we talked about with Nico. Yeah, okay, Nico. That fell on Nico. But the owner, Josh Dumont, throw the, threw the, threw the table on him.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So Giannis leaving Milwaukee, I got no problem with it. So I don't want y' all saying, but. Oh, so you got a problem? No, I don't. The only problem I got is that he won't stand up and face. He won't stay. Face the music.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah. I want out. You know, I don't feel I can win here anymore. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't think they can put the pieces around me. But everything that they've done over the last four to five years was at your bequeath, at your. They got rid of the coach. You don't think. You think they did that without Yanis blessing? That man was second in the East.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, they went. God dang. You don't think. You think. Y' all just didn't sign up on that. They got rid of Holiday. They got rid of all those pieces. That was because of Giannis. That was Giannis's blessing.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

You got to own it, though, bro. It's okay. You not the first to request a trade. You're not the first to move pieces. That comes along with the territory. You're a superstar. Superstars get certain privileges, and that's okay. But don't hide behind it, bro. Don't make it seem like they want to get rid of you. You know, you've been asking for this for a minute, and they should have moved you last year.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah, he don't want that.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

They should have moved you last.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

You don't want that backlash, man.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

No, he does.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

But even with that, even with that, I still think, you know, he'll be all right. I mean, it's just part of it. It's part of being a megastar. Obviously, things ain't going right in Milwaukee, man. You got to at least get you some pieces, get you some good pieces. And I think Milwaukee kind of trying to wait to this draft to kind of see who get what picks and who can really help them, you know what I mean? Because. Okay, we. Okay, we can trade Giannis. We gonna package you with these picks because maybe we can get a top three pick or a top out this draft, right? To send Giannis off. Okay. That's a different story. You know what I mean? Now we bring in one of these young phenoms who can carry us for the next 10, 12, 15 years. So I think that's why they waiting.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Joe. O. Joe.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

I bring OO in. I do everything OO ask. I hire Chauncey, I hire his best. I. I hire Ryan. I give Doug a job. Things don't go Right? Man, I've done everything Ocho asked me to do. Then when things don't go right, man, I can't make bro. I hired Chauncey, I hired Ryan, I hired Doug. And now things ain't going right. You want to dip?

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I don't.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Brought both of your damn brothers in. I got you a new coach. I got up on holiday. I got up off him. Well, damn. You don't think. I mean, does Giannis think that we're that naive to not to think that he has that kind of leverage in Milwaukee? They held on to him because they don't want to trade him. They don't want to trade him, but they just know he's not going to sign. And I'm not going to let you walk out the door. And I don't mean to keep bringing KD up, but KD contract was up and it was well within his right to leave. But KD walked out the door, and OKC ain't get a damn thing. Let that sink in.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They did.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Some people say Katie is a top 10. He's probably a top 15 player in NBA history.

[Liberty Mutual Representative]

History.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah. Walked out the door and they didn't get a thing for him. They didn't get Gatorade. They didn't get. They didn't get socks. They didn't get tape. They got nothing, Joe. They didn't get no iPad. They didn't get a projector. They didn't get jacked. You cannot let Giannis walk out the door like that, because if you do, you're ruined.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

And Milwaukee knows that. They know that. That's why they. They. They refuse. I know they refuse to let that happen to their franchise because they won't be able to recruit from that. It'll set them back, hell, five, seven, even, probably longer than that.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

What got. What got OKC was. What happened. The. The actually Kawhi, because Kawhi going to the Clippers wanting a veteran, someone that he knew. Paul George.

[Liberty City Co-host]

Pg.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Oh, you. You want pg? What you got? Let me see what you got. I'm gonna need Shay, and I'm gonna need probably like four unprotected first round picks. And Sam Presti, we know one thing. He can pick a player. He picked kd. He picked Russ, he picked Harden, he picked the Baca, he picked Reggie Jackson. And look at what he's done. He's picked Chet, he's picked Jalen Williams. He picked Jalen Williams. Look at what he's done. He's got Lou Dort.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

So now what probably would have Been purgatory for okc. Even though they're a small market, they write it and they right back here. Yeah. And they're going to be there for the foreseeable future.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They are, man. They.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Sometimes it's, it's one move change everything. It changed everything. And Presley done a great job, but the linchpin was getting shaped once he got shaped. Yeah, the foundation is strong. It's hard it.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

The building to be strong and you just, you gotta hope, you know, when you make these type of changes and you bring in a guy who you think has a great upside, you, you gotta hope he takes the game serious and he, he meets your standards or over delivers like Shay. I mean, hell, this man finna probably be a two time mvp. You a title. He won you a title, man. You had Westbrook and kd. Y' all made it to the finals, but y' all didn't win one. You get this kid. Yeah, yeah. And Harden, you get this kid and within what, three, four years, man, he didn't want you a title and you're on the brink to win another one. So if you go back to back. Oh my God.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah. So basically you got, you got, you got Shay in 20, in 2019 because. Was it 2019? Yeah, I think 2019, summer 2019.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

Yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Got it because Kawhi came from, came from Toronto and that, that was the domino that started this. We didn't know that a move over here would trigger something over there. You know, sometimes you have the, a tsunami because there's an earthquake that happened in the middle of the ocean, man. Look what this thing triggered. The Clippers wanting getting Kawhi triggered a series of unfortunate events. And I'm not talking about Lemony Snickets. Y' all catch up with that. But anyway, but that, but that's what happened, Joe. So I don't, I don't fault Milwaukee. I'm gonna try to get as much as I possibly can because the likelihood, think about it. You had Kareem, it took you 30 plus years before you got something comparable to Kareem. You had some really good teams. Now I, I remember the Bucks was really good team when they had Nelly. Don Nelson was their coach. They had who the hell Lanier, they had Sydney Moncrie, they had Oter Cummings, Terry Cummings. Terry Cummings.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

I do pile for big body. Yeah, yeah.

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

From. Yeah, from DePaul. They had Brian Winners. They had some really good players.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

They did, they did

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Kareem and Yanis. And so normally when you lose a player like that, it's hard to ever, ever get another. It's hard. And you're not like the Lakers, where people want to come wilt retire, they get Kareem and then you get Magic, and then Magic retire, you get Shaq and Kobe and then get down, and here come LeBron and now you got Luca. You see how everybody don't get it,

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

like, because that, you know, not only is it a big market, it's a great market in LA. And everybody want to play in LA, bro. I mean, let's keep it 100. You know, playing for the Lakers, I don't know about y', all, but growing up watching the Lakers play, you know, the Late show, the Laker Girls, things of that sort, Milwaukee don't have an attraction. They don't. So it's, yeah, they not going to get no big time free agent. You know what I mean? So you do have to go through the draft and hopefully you hit big. And okc, yeah, OKC develop, well, develop your players. But when it gets to this point, to where I know Giannis is going to move on, they know they going to move on from Giannis. You have to try to get great value from him. I don't know if you can get the same value, but you have to get a guy who you feel like, okay, in two years he gonna be a superstar. You know what I mean?

[Joe (Joe Johnson)]

Yeah, well, you don't know. You, you know, it's. I'm saying Giannis, but Giannis is a different animal. But I mean, when they traded PG and all those picks, they like, man, OKC got took. They gave up pg, who was what, second in the mvp, third in the MVP vote in one year. And now they're like, boy, boy, hey, OKC really suckered on the Clippers. That's what people are saying now. It went from the Clippers sucking OKC to, okay, man, OKC got one over on them.

[Ocho (Chad Ochocinco Johnson)]

It's because Shay over delivered, over delivered.