Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Giannis’ Future

Date: December 3, 2025
Hour 1

Overview

The crew—Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—dive into a busy news day across NBA and New York sports. The main focus is on the swirling rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks and whether the New York Knicks could be his next destination. They break down the complexities of trading for a superstar under the NBA's new CBA, touch on Chris Paul’s abrupt Clippers exit, and reflect on the state of both the Knicks and the culture of New York sports. The episode is packed with classic banter, hard-hitting Knicks analysis, and big-picture NBA intrigue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Knicks’ Current Status and Roster Concerns

Timestamps: 02:56 – 05:17

• Knicks' Loss to the Celtics: Alan Hahn expresses uneasiness with the team’s current roster, noting their offense can be dazzling but “something is missing” defensively and physically.
• “There’s only one championship roster in this league. It’s in Oklahoma City.” – Alan Hahn (03:23)
  • Alan says OKC looks dominant, drawing a parallel to the Avalanche in the NHL, and asserts, "Nobody is beating that team in a seven game series." (03:23)
• Discussion about the rarity of NBA upsets as opposed to NHL unpredictability in the postseason (04:25).

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors

Timestamps: 05:20 – 19:32

• Brian Windhorst’s Bombshell (05:35):

  • "The Bucks called the Knicks and asked for an offer for Giannis... Giannis said, I want to be a Knick." – (Brian Windhorst, via Rosenberg citing the interview: 05:35)
  • Windhorst points out Giannis apparently requested a trade but ultimately committed to stay for the season. However, many around the league doubt he’ll remain a Buck next year.

• Shams Charania Reporting (06:34):

  • Giannis and his agent are in discussions with the Bucks about his future and whether he should stay or go elsewhere.

• Alan Hahn’s Analysis:

  • Emphasizes the CBA’s second apron as a major obstacle: “There’s so much more now that challenges teams. Ten years ago, this trade probably would have happened already… Knicks saw it as ‘We wouldn’t have any players left.’” (09:04)
  • Predicts it’s “next summer” before real movement can happen: “I keep saying I find it hard to believe the Knicks can make a trade for Giannis Denokounmpo during this season. You would need help… at least one, if not two, other teams.” (09:40–10:22)
  • Outlines the limitations on Knicks’ draft pick assets and trading power.

• Leverage & Timing:

  • The team unpacks why it may be better for Giannis to wait until the offseason for a trade so the Knicks don’t have to “empty everything” and he doesn’t land in New York with a wasted, depleted roster (15:45–16:24).
  • “If I’m Giannis and I want to go to New York, don’t I want to go in the best possible situation?... Why not just wait it out?” – Don LaGreca (16:10)
  • They compare the scenario to Carmelo Anthony’s Knicks trade: the risk of gutting the supporting cast for a star’s immediate arrival (15:45–16:24).

• Looming Leverage Play:

  • Alan expects Giannis’ camp will “float out there another team” to push the Knicks into action, referencing the Melo/Nets precedent (14:29–15:45).

3. Trade Mechanics & Team Assets

Timestamps: 17:36 – 19:38

• Alan Hahn details the contracts and potential trade pieces for the Knicks (Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby) and the limited window for moving draft picks.
  • “The only tradable first you have is in this coming draft and it’s the Wizards pick... if only it fell outside the top eight...” (18:24)
  • Describes how the new CBA complicates matching salaries and assembling realistic deals.

4. Chris Paul’s Abrupt Clippers Exit & Knicks Fit

Timestamps: 19:49 – 22:52 and 28:09–31:23

• CP3 Sent Home:

  • “I can’t believe we’re 20 games in and Ty Lue sent him home, literally, they were done with him.” – Hahn (20:32)
  • Lawrence Frank (Clippers exec) insists the move isn’t scapegoating Paul but the hosts speculate about locker-room issues.

• Knicks Potential?

  • Rosenberg argues Paul would want to chase a title in New York despite long family ties to LA: “You play this long, you decided to play another season when you’re 40 years old... the one thing missing from the ledger is a championship.” (29:02)
  • Hahn sees a possible fit with the Knicks as a high-IQ, experienced backup to Brunson, but notes, “He’s on a veterans minimum contract… it would have to be a one-for-one” for a trade. (21:36)
  • If Paul gets waived and becomes a free agent, “the Knicks can’t sign him until after April 2nd, but you could have him for the playoffs.” (29:55)

5. Fan Call: Knicks’ Giannis Trade Packages

Timestamps: 32:29 – 35:22

• Caller Devin (32:29): Proposes a package for Giannis including KAT, Mitch Rob, picks, maybe Josh Hart or McBride.
• Hahn summarizes the Bucks’ likely reset mode and says most teams want draft picks and contracts that can expire, making any deal incredibly complex under current rules.

6. Bucks’ Playoff Position & Advice for Giannis

Timestamps: 35:22 – 37:54

• Bucks aren’t out of it yet, only a few games back from a play-in spot (35:22).
• Hosts universally agree that patience is best for Giannis and the Knicks: “If you really want[ed] to work with the Knicks and be the best team possible, just be patient. Get through this season rather than trying to create leverage and maybe ending up somewhere you really don’t want to be.” – Don LaGreca (35:43)
• Alan: “It’s funny. We didn’t even get into the middle of December before he got impatient, which shows you how badly he wanted out.” (36:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Nobody is beating [OKC] in a seven game series. Nobody.”
  — Alan Hahn (03:23)

• On Giannis trade talks:
  “This is not about Shams [Charania], this is more about the process. They’ve already discussed this… If he really wants to be a Knick, what’s the sacrifice? Well…Just to get out.”
  — Alan Hahn (12:25, 16:54)

• On Knicks’ tough position:
  “You would need at least one, if not two, other teams… It just doesn’t seem like a realistic move to make.”
  — Alan Hahn (10:22)

• Philosophy on blockbuster trades:
  “Everybody wants draft picks when it comes to moving a superstar.”
  — Alan Hahn (17:48)

• On Chris Paul’s career:
  “He’s one of the all-time great point guards… the one thing missing from the ledger is a championship… He could go for it in New York City for a few months.”
  — Peter Rosenberg (29:12, 29:38)

• Comparing Giannis scenario to Melo:
  “We all know what happened with Carmelo Anthony, and people still are mad about that because Melo didn’t want to wait to the offseason. Well, Giannis clearly doesn’t want to do it either.”
  — Alan Hahn (14:29)

• Giannis’ leverage play:
  “If I’m Giannis… I have to create that leverage. How do I do it? Well, I say to Giannis, you have to consider another team to put pressure on New York to say, ‘Well, we can’t lose him.’”
  — Alan Hahn (14:29)

Additional Segments & Lighter Moments

• New York Mayoral Write-Ins:
  Hosts joke about various NYC mayoral write-ins, with Jalen Brunson getting more votes than Aaron Judge (25:05). A parade of names from Anna Wintour to Dolly Parton and Lou Gehrig are read off for laughs.

• Football Banter:
  Discussion towards the end about Jets’ coaching, culture, and the psychology of being a long-suffering fan.

  • “My whole life as a Jets fan has been a lie. It’s been an absurd waste of time that I’ve cared and believed.”—Alan Hahn (49:09)

• Classic chemistry:
  The hosts poke fun at each other’s sports allegiances, prepping habits, and “Reindeer games”—an ongoing inside joke about meaningless late-season football.

Structure of the Episode

• 00:00–02:45: Banter and show open, hosts' locations
• 02:45–05:17: Knicks’ recent results, OKC dominance in NBA
• 05:20–19:32: Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors, trade analysis, CBA complications
• 19:49–22:52, 28:09–31:23: Chris Paul’s Clippers exit, Knicks backup point guard need
• 32:29–35:22: Fan call on Knicks trade options
• 35:22–37:54: Bucks standing, pros and cons of patience vs urgency for Giannis and Knicks
• 37:54–39:30: Lightbath Fitter ad and some show wrap banter (skipped for summary)
• 39:46–50:06: Lighter side: NYC mayoral votes, Jets fan psychology and team culture

Conclusion

The hour is a quintessential Don, Hahn & Rosenberg listen: boisterous New York analysis, NBA rumor deep dives, and enough barbed wit to keep any sports fan entertained. The Giannis-to-Knicks speculation takes center stage but with sobering caveats—modern NBA finances make such moves vastly harder than fans realize. Most importantly: the crew reminds everyone that in New York, patience is often as important as star power.