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Don Hahn
This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Alan Rosenberg
That sounds like heaven to me.
Don Hahn
Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Alan Rosenberg
Here's the who's behind the Door, lesser known of the two Zebra songs, but.
Don Hahn
I also like this one Bringing Me Back Man.
Alan Rosenberg
Game time is brought to you by Tell them our Dew Irish Whiskey, because when it's game time, Alan, it's Tully time. The Knicks face the Raptors up in Toronto coverage beginning right after us on 880 at 7 o'. Clock. Rangers visit the Islanders with coverage on 1050 at 6:30 and St. John's will play host to Butler at MSG with coverage on the ESPN New York app at 6:40. So quite the busy day here for ESPN New York telemore du the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast matured Iris Whiskey. Be sure to grab a Telemore Due or try the new Telemore Due honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Due responsibly. All right, The Giannis of it all.
Don Hahn
Again says with disdain in his well.
Alan Rosenberg
Just because we've been on this way ahead of everybody else, thanks to the work of Alan Hahn and the conversations today are that the Bucks are talking to the teams of the Knicks or one of the teams they're talking to. And honestly this feels to me like a lot of the people on the NBA beat they're trying to get through with right now are kind of the dog days of the NBA. All right, you've already had the in season tournament. We're a long way before the season's over. The All Star Game nobody cares about anymore. So you need to kind of keep people awake until we get to the playoffs. And so and this is going to keep people awake because it's one of the biggest players in the league and the Knicks are one of the most popular teams in the league. But here's the money quote from Shams for me on NBA Today because if you want a world in which the Knicks are going to make a trade for Giannis now the question then becomes what are the Bucs looking for in a Giannis deal?
Shams Charania
The Bucs are being patient, but my sources say that they're giving indications that they want either a young blue chip talent and or a surplus of draft picks and probably a combination of both things as they sift through these offers this week and next week's. They're not in any rush because they could handle this in the offseason, but in the offseason, that's where Giannis will have even more level of control, because next year will essentially be the expiring final year of his contract, because he is a player option in 2027. And so the closer you get to the end of your contract, the more leverage a player like Giannis will have in determining where he ends up. Because any team that trades for Giannis needs to know whether he wants to be there long term, given how much they're going to have to give up.
Alan Rosenberg
Do the Knicks have anything that Shams just said?
Don Hahn
No. And no one else talking about? Well, no one else does either.
Alan Rosenberg
That's why this has to happen in the offseason, because once he. Once he gets to the off season, says, I want to be a Nick.
Don Hahn
Game, set, match, that's, here's the problem. And this is all. Everything he said there. God bless Shams. He's talking to a national audience. I've told everybody this in New York. Everybody that is, you know, that wants to get hysterical about this stuff and people that can't understand why I'm not just going crazy about it, why I keep tamping it down is all the things he just said. Giannis is the one that has the power. The problem is he's afraid to wield it. He will not say the words that need to be said, and that is, I want to be traded. My time here is done. I've done all I can in Milwaukee. I loved my time here, but I need to move on. He won't do it. He blames his agent. Or he says, well, the team's trading me. I have no control over this. He refuses to say it. And until he does, the Bucks have no reason to trade him. In fact, they don't want to trade him. I can tell you this. They don't want to trade him. They could still offer him a four year, $280 million extension in the summer before the season starts. They could offer him that, and they want to convince themselves that he'll take that money because no one else can offer him that. And that's what they're hoping for. So, believe it or not, they're also looking at the tread deadline, and they're looking at teams saying, well, maybe we could shake up our roster and try to get a better player or two. And Giannis will go, I kind of like this guy. I want to play. This guy's pretty good. Maybe I want to stay here.
Alan Rosenberg
Or.
Don Hahn
Which I think is going to happen. And Wendy was saying this this morning on. On get up. One other option is he's had two cap strains. He's not happy. He doesn't want to be here. Well, we're going to shut you down for the rest of the season, and we're going to go right into the tank and we can keep our draft pick. We can make a really good draft pick. Maybe we'll land. Maybe we'll get lucky in the lottery like Dallas did, and maybe we'll get. Be able to get ourselves a player that Giannis looks and goes, all right, there's actually an interesting future here. All of a sudden, maybe I want to be part of that. And then he won't want to leave. They're hanging on to that because until he walks in the door and tells them, guys, I'm done, I'm out, I need to go, let's make something happen. They're not going to really push to make a trade. And one more thing. You're seeing reports that there are teams making aggressive offers. Yeah, they're calling, as I said this yesterday, the Knicks will be one of them because there's. This is what a good functioning franchise does. Star player wants to play for you. It's a very difficult trade to make, but you still call anyway because you want to see, what's everybody offering? What's the asking price? Can we meet it? How would it look for us? Let's just make sure we stay in the conversation. Don't do anything without talking to us. You stay involved, because that's what a smart organization does. So everybody's doing that right now. But what no one knows is that the Bucks are putting the price so high that it can't possibly be met. And then they can once again look at Giannis and go, we tried, man. We just can't get good offers for you. And that's what I think is going to end up happening here. Is it possible he could be traded by the deadline next week? It's possible. Do I think it's going to happen? I don't. I still say, as I've said all year, it's going to be an off season move. It'll probably happen in July, if not on draft night.
Alan Rosenberg
Well, it keeps gaining traction because what else is there to talk about? I mean, it's really too early to start talking about playoffs and seating and scoreboard watching. Right. Of course, you know, we all kind of know it's. It's basically OKC versus the field, and there's only a handful of teams in the East. I think the Knicks are one of Them.
Don Hahn
Detroit. Detroit's really good.
Alan Rosenberg
Detroit's really good. But I think people need to see it to believe it in the postseason. Just like Cleveland last year, they're running away with the conference and what ended up happening in the playoffs. And that team certainly had more postseason experience than Detroit does.
Don Hahn
Yep.
Alan Rosenberg
And the Knicks. Right.
Don Hahn
So.
Alan Rosenberg
So really, what else is there to talk about? I'm not saying that there's. These are made up, but I just know there's smoke. People are. But I think they're trying to fan a flame at the same time because it's late January and there's just not. There's not a lot going on in the NBA regular season right now until we get to the playoffs. It's a problem. That's why they have the. The in season tournament. They. But drama is always something to kind of move the needle. Of course, in the NBA and you got people covering it and there's. What other hot story do we have? Nobody's on any kind of a real run that's been overly impressive. OKC started out like a house on fire and now they're kind of playing with their food because they know how good they are. I mean, you tell me you're close to it every day. What are the stories other than Giannis?
Don Hahn
It's the fact that first of all, the trade deadline in itself is every year, annually, this time of year. There's always the name player that is disgruntled every year. There's a disgruntled player every year. And really no one is spending enough time talking about John Moran. That's the guy that I would keep an eye on because he's miserable. His franchise knows they need to blow the thing up and that's somebody that. He's a little toxic. But there's always that one team that's willing to, you know, to make an effort to get a player of that caliber and hope it works out for them. So, you know, like it's always the big name players on the move that, that are the big sells. So a week before the trade deadline you put out, okay, this is what we think's going on here are some things people love the NBA is. You said it. Drama. Fans love rumors, they love speculation and they love that when it involves brand names. And those are the ones that you're, you know, you're talking about. You know, Zion Williamson is always involved in the conversation. Are the Pelicans ever going to trade him? Are they ever going to get fed up and trade him? So there's that Anthony Davis could be on the move again. The problem is Ja's hurt, Anthony Davis is hurt, and Giannis is hurt. So all you can do right now is speculate and create that kind of movement. What will end up happening is, is other subtle moves that teams will do. And I think the Knicks might actually make a subtle move or two. And if they do, it will be unheralded. But come April, May and June, there's going to be a player that is traded that you will say then, wow, that team got him. And boy, what a difference did he make. But no one's going to talk about at the deadline because it's not probably going to involve a brand name. So you're right, Don. This is every year. It's the annual tradition in the NBA, the trade deadline rumors and the drama, and the players love and hate this time of year. They love it because they all think it's fun, too. It's interesting. But they hate it because they don't want to be involved in it themselves. They don't want to see their name in the trade rumors. And so that's what this next week's going to be about. And as I've always said, every year it's the same thing. 90% of what you hear never happens.
Alan Rosenberg
But, but, but what percentage of the rumors? Now, I'm not talking needle mover in the sense that it's a big name going to a popular team. I'm talking about moving the needle as far as affecting who might be able to make a run. Like right now, the favorite, obviously would be the Pistons and okc.
Don Hahn
Yeah, and the Pistons, I think, are trying to be active, to add like that one more piece. If they can get a big man, like a big man that can score or add to their offense, they'd like that. Like, so can they do something along those lines that. That can affect them? I think that's why you have to keep your eye on them.
Alan Rosenberg
And the Knicks making a move because they're obviously a team, and the Knicks.
Don Hahn
Because there's a level of desperation here in New York.
Alan Rosenberg
Is there a player that can end up on a team and move that and elevate that team into the conversation? Because, all right, Detroit's already in the conversation.
Don Hahn
Oh, you mean, so take a team that isn't right now being talked about, that a trade's made and suddenly they're talked about?
Alan Rosenberg
Yes.
Don Hahn
No, I mean, that was Jimmy Butler last year going to the Warriors. Jimmy Butler going to the warriors suddenly elevated the warriors back into, hey, they can be a contender. Now, Jimmy Butler got hurt this year, but that was last year. Like, that kind of a move, you know, Again, Luka going to the Lakers blew everybody's mind. That wasn't at the trade deadline, but you know what I mean? I don't. I don't know if there's a move that a team can make that suddenly elevates them, that they aren't in contender status, that suddenly now they are, but you don't. Again, I never say never, because the LUCA deal last year taught us to never say never.
Alan Rosenberg
That is true, but I just think. Yeah, I just think it's like a daily thing, because I just think it's the one thing that is going to get people's attention.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
Because it involves a star and it involves the Knicks.
Don Hahn
Yes.
Alan Rosenberg
Or the Heat or, you know, and that is somebody that, if you're able to land and he's healthy come playoff time, that can, you know, certainly change the landscape.
Don Hahn
How about this, Don think about it this way, too. You know, he wants to go to New York. Right. That's the worst kept secret in the league. And you're the Bucks, and you can't be painted into a corner, because if you can only negotiate with one team, you're not going to get max value. And you already know the Knicks really don't have a lot to offer. You have to create a market for him. The only way to do that is to listen to teams and pretend like, yeah, we could do this. And as you heard Sham say, the problem with some teams is he has to agree. Because if I'm trading for you, you gotta agree to sign an extension with me. Otherwise, I know I only got you for a year. And while that worked in Toronto, not everybody really wants to do that, especially when somebody's 31. So. And the assets you'd have to give up. So to me, like, that's what. That's what you have to do as the Bucks, is create this facade of, oh, there's a frenzy for Giannis, and have Giannis just look and go, but I don't want to go there. But I don't want to go there. You know what I mean? And so that's the problem that the Bucks are dealing with, which is why, again, they don't want to trade him. It doesn't do them any good. It doesn't benefit them to trade him. Now, eventually they're going to have to, because they know he'll just walk, but they'd rather stare down that barrel and dare him to Walk to opt out of something. I think a $61 million opt in. They dare him to opt out of that because would you really get that on the open market in the place you want to go?
Alan Rosenberg
But you're right, there's smoke around Giannis, but there's. I don't think there's any smoke about a deal happening at the deadline. This is not going to happen.
Don Hahn
I have felt like that all season. But you don't want to say that.
Alan Rosenberg
To people because now you're telling them, hey, there's a story every day, but it's really not a story here.
Don Hahn
Well, there is a story. Teams are calling. There are conversations being had, and I think a lot of teams are realizing a. The asking price is exceptionally high for someone that's had two calf strains in one season.
Alan Rosenberg
Right.
Don Hahn
And someone that I gotta give a massive contract extension to that he's gotta agree to. Otherwise, why would I give up a ton of assets if I think he's gonna walk? So that's. There's a lot there that you have to. That you have to think about before you make a move like this. And I don't think there's enough time in a season to do that. And then just think you're gonna go downhill. But we've seen it before, as I said. That's why I don't. I never say never.
Alan Rosenberg
And also, he's trying so hard not to be the bad guy.
Don Hahn
He has.
Alan Rosenberg
He's being the bad guy.
Don Hahn
You know what's funny? You're right. You're right. I think people are going to start getting sick of it because. And this is where he's got to get he. Somebody, his agent, whatever it is, somebody has to give him better advice than to pretend that this is out of your control and that you're happy here. And like, the things he's been saying, that's my agent. I'm happy here, but I can't control it if they want to trade me. You know, that's just out of my. You can't do that. Doesn't work that way. People will respect the fact if you just come forward and say, my time here is up. I've done everything I can here. I want to explore new things. I'll always love it here. Kareem Abdul Jabbar did the same exact thing in Milwaukee. He reached a point. He won a championship there, and he reached a point where he's like, you know what? I want to go somewhere else.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah.
Don Hahn
And he did. It's.
Alan Rosenberg
Here's the way you handle it, because we saw it happen with Matthew Stafford. We saw it happen with Ray Bork. We've seen it happen where a player doesn't want to be there anymore, can't win or whatever, and they want out. Yeah, but they don't want to be the bad guy and say they want out. You can't have it both ways. If you want out, you got to own it or you got to keep it behind closed doors. There's no reason this has to ever go public.
Don Hahn
Well, it did a year and a half ago. And you can't close that door. What is it? You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. Right.
Alan Rosenberg
You can't put the milk back in the other. All that. But that's what happens, is that these guys can't help themselves. You want the publicity. You want all of the smoke and. And the conversation to be about you, but you don't want to own being the reality of being that guy. Like, I don't want to be in Milwaukee anymore.
Don Hahn
But here's why that stuff has to sneak out. Number one, because you want to. You want to. You want to stir up the hornet's nest, which is the fan base, not yours. The place you want to go. You want to get the market going into a frenzy. Wait, he wants to be here. What we got, right. We've gotten the calls. Do whatever it takes. Then you also want to get ownership to see reports. Wait, he wants to be here. We should look into this. We should be part of this. Right? Like, so you're trying to get the other team to feel the pressure that they have to make the trade, and then you try to get some leverage back. That's why that stuff.
Alan Rosenberg
But it doesn't have to be played that way because. Because we never. Unless. Unless somebody was really on top of it in Detroit about Matthew Stafford, and then all of a sudden, he gets traded to the Rams.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
Like, if Giannis went to the Bucks and said, listen, it's not working here. I want to leave. I'll be the good soldier, but I want to go to the Knicks, make it happen. And then you call the Knicks and say, listen, Giannis wants to come to you. Yeah, we're going to try to work something out.
Don Hahn
We got to make a good offer, if any.
Alan Rosenberg
If this gets out, then it's not going to happen. And you could keep it behind closed doors if you want to, but you said they don't want to.
Don Hahn
Well, the thing about the Luca trade, nobody knew about it until it happened.
Alan Rosenberg
It can be done.
Don Hahn
It was two teams. They only talked to each other. That's why everybody got mad and said, wait, you could have gotten more if you offered them to other teams. And the point was, but we weren't going to offer them to other teams. We knew what we wanted. This is what we were going to do, and that's it. And so that, yes, that could have happened. You could argue them talking in August. That was reported. That wasn't reported in August. That was reported in October. No one knew about the August conversation.
Alan Rosenberg
You want to keep it quiet. You can keep it quiet, but these teams want to stir the pot. The player wants the attention. You know, that's the, that's the problem with the modern day player is they want the attention until they don't want it. And now, now Giannis probably wishes if I kept my mouth shut, you know, but now he's booing the fans and just got contentious and all they're doing is talking about this. But yet he still wants to play the just say it, man, just own it. All right, I'm Milwaukee, but I'd rather be a Nick, just be done with it.
Don Hahn
And to me, Don, I don't think his dream comes true, which is to play for the Knicks, until he says the words. If he doesn't say the words, he, his dream won't come true.
Alan Rosenberg
And how bad do you want it? And you sometimes you got to own it because guess what, you know, the cat's out of the bag at this point. I mean, I think everybody knows it. So now you're just coming across as even worse guy. Everybody knows you want to be a Knick. You won't say it and it just, everybody's getting teased and they feel like they're being led by their nose here. And then that's not right either. 1-800-919-3776 your thoughts on this. The Belichick Rangers, Islanders tonight, Knicks and the raptors in Toronto enn 6:00 clock with Anthony Pusick don on a Rosenberg till 7:00 clock here on ESPN. New York.
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Don Hahn
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Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
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I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. So I'm in trouble.
Alan Rosenberg
Why is that?
Don Hahn
So we had a whiteboard Wednesday, apparently, in the studio, which I have not been. Nor I. And the topic was favorite boy band ever.
Alan Rosenberg
Okay. None.
Don Hahn
Backstreet Boys, The Beatles, which I will argue, were not a boy band. Jonas Brothers In Sync, New Kids on the Block, or One Direction. Now, I'm not ashamed to say, now everybody knows I love the Beatles, but I don't consider the Beatles a boy band. So my name was put under Beatles for obvious reasons, because they know my affinity for the Beatles, and that was me. Okay. Anthony did it, and now Gracie's furious with me.
Alan Rosenberg
Right.
Don Hahn
Because she knows I apologize to Gracie. You're gonna have to send a message to Gracie about this, because One Direction is actually my favorite boy band. Okay, here's my logic. And New Kids on the Block number two. Stephanie loved them. We went to the show last summer at Jones beach, hung out with, by the way, Donnie Wahlberg, who's a great guy. Drop. I had to get that in there. I do. But I just really, really like One Direction's music better. So here. I didn't even look at the question. I saw a list and the Beatles were on it. Yeah. So I wrote my name near Beatles because if there's a list for anything, the Beatles should be on it. I tend to agree with you. I did not consider the Beatles a boy band. Okay. But they're the best group. Of the six that were on the whiteboard. Yes. That's the one I'd put my name on. Baka wrote Jackson 5 in. In the bottom corner over there. You know, he's not wrong now, because.
Alan Rosenberg
I was gonna say, what about the Bay City Rollers?
Don Hahn
Didn't know they were boy.
Alan Rosenberg
What's a boy band? A bunch of boys in a band. I'm gonna say, what about Beach Boys? Like, they're. If you want to consider Beatles a boy band.
Don Hahn
Yeah. Again, now we're stretching it because Beatles and the Beach Boys were in their 20s. If you got Beatles out of the group, we wouldn't necessarily have a problem with this list because everything else was Pretty current. Well, the five. Those five. But you put Jackson five in New edition in there. Well, no, Matt wrote it and you can write anything you want. Clearly there's no rules to the whiteboard. Oh, I could tell. But, but I'm in trouble now at home. And now she's telling Emma and now Emma's gonna start, she's going to start spamming my phone right now because they're both going to give it. It's not it. I have. You have to make it clear that you put my name in without my consent. How would you like me to do.
Alan Rosenberg
That on the air?
Don Hahn
I just did.
Alan Rosenberg
Your word isn't good enough with your own family.
Don Hahn
No, that, that's that.
Alan Rosenberg
See, now we got the, now we.
Don Hahn
Have a bigger problem down we have to address. Listen, you have multiple daughters and then you'll then talk to me, okay? Multiple daughters, they conspire and then they give you those eyes and you go, fine, what do you want? Let's go shopping.
Alan Rosenberg
Well, what, what is the definition of a boy then?
Don Hahn
I would say they had to have been in their teens or late teens, not in their 20s when they started. And you know, like obviously tweens and all that scream and yell. Don't hear a word of the music because all they do is scream the whole time.
Alan Rosenberg
But, but I understand the Beatles were that, but they sensational as far as like people screaming and everything. But they weren't, by the time they recorded their first album, they weren't teenagers.
Don Hahn
You know, they were a bar band in Britain.
Alan Rosenberg
Right. Well, I'm saying where do we go with this? So, so the Bay city rollers, Tony DeFranco and the DeFranco family. I mean, how far you want to go with this?
Don Hahn
Well, again, it's really has to be something that is at the levels, the epic levels of filling arenas and stadiums with screaming. So again, I think Jackson5 and I do think New Edition should have been part of this conversation.
Alan Rosenberg
Do you know, See, people just gotta wake up Nancy help you wake that like fans screaming in a full arena does not make you a boy band because Nancy said she went to see Duran Duran in the 80s and she couldn't even hear that the girls are screaming.
Don Hahn
So, you know, it's funny, I would.
Alan Rosenberg
Never say Duran Duran's a boy band.
Don Hahn
I, I, I remember those days. Well, yes, Duran Duran, I thought the same way was a boy band until I was told no, they were all like in their 20s. They were older, they were men and it's just teenage girls like their music.
Alan Rosenberg
See, to Me, when you say boy.
Don Hahn
Band, they have voice.
Alan Rosenberg
Boys in sync.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
Also I'll look at it like no instruments.
Don Hahn
Yeah. Dance and single.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah. Because the Jonas Brothers, they play guitar. They're. They're real musicians.
Don Hahn
Yeah, they are. They are musicians.
Alan Rosenberg
Now I just look at these. A bunch of singers that dance in sequence.
Don Hahn
Well, they were also put together.
Alan Rosenberg
Right. That. See, that's the key.
Don Hahn
They were brought together. Like all of them were New Kids on the Block. There was two of them that were friends, and then they were able to find some other singer. Then they were pushed, put together. Essentially, they added to the band. But two brothers and then.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, a band gets together. It's like a buddy plays guitar, another guy's a lead singer. Say they put an ad out for a drummer and a bass player. Then they make a band.
Don Hahn
It's a band.
Alan Rosenberg
A boy band doesn't go, I have a nice voice. You have a nice voice. Let's get three other guys that have nice voices who like to dance and let's form a boy band.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
No, record companies, company corporations form these things.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
So the Beatles shouldn't be on that list.
Don Hahn
It's a crazy documentary, by the way, about the guy that put together. What is it before NSync. Who was before NSync?
Alan Rosenberg
Backstreet Boys.
Don Hahn
Yeah, it was Backstreet Boys to NSync. And then there was one more that they made all. And this guy was notorious. Not a good guy. Ended up in the end. Like, you hear like this, all the stories. Crazy. That documentary is wild.
Alan Rosenberg
Well, we saw in the Brady Bunch when they tried to make Johnny Bravo because he just happened to fit the suit. That was very real. That was very close to reality.
Don Hahn
That was based on reality, based on the story.
Alan Rosenberg
That was a very special Brady, David.
Don Hahn
Cassidy kind of stuff.
Alan Rosenberg
Leif Garrett.
Don Hahn
Leif Garrett. Oh, yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
Oh, my God. How well they did back. It's crazy because his first cousin is our Garfunkel.
Don Hahn
Yes. They actually say that in. Right. That was kind of his. You know, it's. It. Don, I know you're not into boy bands, but the story in this documentary will compel you.
Alan Rosenberg
I might watch that. Yeah.
Don Hahn
Yeah.
Alan Rosenberg
That's definitely interesting stuff. You never know what's going to come up on Don, Han and Rosenberg, Don.
Don Hahn
And Alan talking boy bands.
Alan Rosenberg
That's it. And just. Just our music. You never know where our music is going to take you. Let's go to Rob in Florida. You're on espn, New York. What's up, Rob?
Caller
Hello.
Alan Rosenberg
Hello.
Caller
What's up? I think that the Knicks gotta go after lesser moves like Jose Alvarado, not like Giannis, because he's not going to be available now and wait till the summer. Why can they go lesser moves and.
Don Hahn
Rob, you got to trust me. That's what I think they're doing. What you're saying is, I would expect, like, I think there's a better probability of what you're looking for. Not Alvarado. I can't say I know for sure Alvarado, but I think there's a better chance they'll make a couple of tweaks rather than something that will blow up the roster in season. I think any type of move potentially for Giannis. That's what I'm saying.
Caller
That's what I'm saying.
Don Hahn
But minor moves are much better. Yep, yep, we got it. I think you're right. Thank you.
Alan Rosenberg
Let's go to Merv and Queen. John, ESPN New York.
Caller
What's up, guys? Thanks for taking my call, man. You guys, tremendous work. Alan is doing great at msg. Just. I'm so curious to know how many hours of sleep you get a night.
Don Hahn
My whoop told me all I got last night. My wife got me a whoop because I don't sleep well and this is supposed to help me do a better job?
Alan Rosenberg
Is that what they were singing about when they said whoop, there it is.
Don Hahn
Whoop, there it is. Yeah. And when it comes to my sleeping, whoop there and eight, my boy bands.
Caller
My boy bands are Lost Boys in nwa. Why not?
Don Hahn
Well, that's not a boy. Come on, now. Sleep for me, last night, in case you're wondering, was 5 hours and 47 minutes.
Caller
That's not bad.
Don Hahn
No, that was a good night.
Caller
Alan, Don, I got. I got a question in common for you guys. Management. I know what you're saying. So I think the Knicks have upper hand and that he wants to come to the Knicks. He doesn't want to go out west. He doesn't want to go to a team where they got the roster. And he's going to. He's going to lose anyway. Leon Rose is a sharp guy. I really think that they're gonna make it happen. And he's a championship top three guy. Where do. If you guys had to say, where would you draw the line? Like Towns and which other core guy or two do you go to? Two guys like a Hart and OG or try to pull like Towns and McBride or Townsend Hart and I also follow, please, if you can answer another question for me. What do we do with Mitch? Thank you.
Don Hahn
Guys. Okay, well, Mitch, you love him. He does everything you need him to do. You got to keep him healthy. You do a smart extension with him. You don't go crazy because you're aware of how delicate it is with him and that you have to. He can't be available for every game. Like he's not playing tonight because it's a back to back when it comes to what will it take as far as players you're giving up. Once again, you're naming players that kind of really blow up your roster, you know? And if you're Yannis, do you really want to blow up the roster? You have to do that. You have to be smart with pieces that you have to give back. You understand that you have to find contracts that match. He has a massive contract. And you also know that because of the rules, you can't take back more money than you give out. No. Yes, you have to. Whoever you have to send out more, then you get back because of the. The second apron. So you also have to mind that. That's why I've told everybody you can't take out the trade tracker and say, let's just do this, or the trade machine. You got to understand there's a second apron in the CBA that is restrictive. And the Knicks are like, you know, 50 cents under it right now. You can't go over is debilitating if you do not financially debilitating. It is restricts you from making any kind of moves to fill out your roster. So you're screwed. So just understand that it's not as simple as you think. This is not 1973 trading for Jerry Lucas. Right. It's a lot harder.
Alan Rosenberg
Let's go to Moose in Jamaica. You're on espn. New York.
Caller
Good evening, fellas. How are we?
Don Hahn
Good.
Caller
Chilling from a neutral perspective, not really a Knicks fan, where I ride and die with the team, but considering the logistics of a new offense, new head coach, new teammates, and less than two months to get chemistry cohesion together, it seems like a recipe for disaster for them to trade for Giannis in season. And that's my perspective on that.
Don Hahn
And I've been saying that Moose since October.
Caller
No. So, I mean, yes, it may pull you up, put you over the top, but in crucial moments like Ken has showed and I'll close with this, Cat is shown to be a dominant force in playoff series when. When the coaching staff and analytics can game plan away for him to dominate, they can organize the defense where you can get 20 touches a game, get you 25 and 15 and get foul shots and get other teams big in trouble. Trouble. Thanks for taking my call.
Don Hahn
Well, here you go. And I'll add this to the call for everybody that is right now railing about Carl Anthony Towns this season. He's having an off year. His shooting from 3 point range is way off compared to his career, especially last year. Right. Yet, Don, he leads the league in rebounding. He also leads the league in double doubles. So he's having a, he's having a bad year and everybody's mad about his performance and he leads the league in rebounding and he leads the league in double doubles. So it's like that's his bad year.
Alan Rosenberg
Right. But.
Don Hahn
So that's why it behooves you to figure out how do we get this guy's head right? Because if we can get his head right, he could be really special.
Alan Rosenberg
But it just doesn't seem to get there. I mean, you saw the stuff last night with, you know, Clyde's talking about where's Cat defensively?
Don Hahn
Right.
Alan Rosenberg
Every. It doesn't seem like it's ever getting right. His attitude is bad and I don't know when's it going to correct itself. Why would it correct itself at this point?
Don Hahn
Well, you've also seen him have big moments in the playoffs. Yeah, we've also seen him against the Pacers really struggle. So, you know, they're, you're, that's what you're battling with him right now.
Alan Rosenberg
But no, it's tough.
Don Hahn
But, but I just wanted to point out that his bed, as bad as people, you know, were making him out to be this year, how bad of a season he's having. I just wanted to put the perspective that his bad season leads the league in two very big categories.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, no, it is a conundrum for sure how he's going to be dealt with and you hope by the time you get to the playoffs, he knows he's not going anywhere. At least maybe now and, and he'll be able to perform because, you know, get there more Your calls on 1-800-919-3776 and Anthony Pusick led ENN at the top of the hour or take up until 7:00 clock here on ESPN New York.
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Can recommend a shop for you.
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Don Hahn
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
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I didn't listen to anything you just said.
Don Hahn
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
Alan Rosenberg
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Don Hahn
One of his greats.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, that's a good one.
Don Hahn
I love that song. Enn's gonna have a lot of fun stuff in it, by the way. I was just. I was discussing with Pusick during the break. It is. Oh yeah, it is. No, no, it will. There's some good. I'm telling you, Don, there's some. There's a little bit of hockey.
Alan Rosenberg
All right.
Don Hahn
I wish there was a visual on this one, though.
Alan Rosenberg
What do you mean there's not a Visual? We got YouTube.
Don Hahn
Well, I'm talking about a visual of a topic that one of the topics. I hope we'll get to. Which is Craig Baruby.
Alan Rosenberg
Oh, my God.
Don Hahn
He looks like he had a lobotomy.
Alan Rosenberg
We don't know what happened at that gym, but it is. It is pretty scary.
Don Hahn
Whatever it was, it was real.
Alan Rosenberg
If you are a fan of the original Planet of the Apes, you mentioned lobotomy. One of the astronauts, you know, has a lobotomy. And that's exactly what it looks like. Like a big horseshoe on his head. Scary. I mean, I guess he must have dropped. He must have been bench pressing. Right. And dropped the weight on his head.
Don Hahn
I don't know, but it looks like an entire flap of his skull just. He had to, like, put it back in place and stitch it.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, he's a hockey coach.
Don Hahn
He's. Yeah, he's hockey. All right. And then he has a great answer. Hopefully we'll. Hopefully that'll be part of it. But he. And then. Should be fun. But we have calls.
Alan Rosenberg
We do have calls. And I guess to stay on topic, Derek in Washington Heights. You're on ESPN New York.
Don Hahn
Oh, hey, guys. How you doing?
Alan Rosenberg
Good.
Don Hahn
How are you, Derek?
Caller
I'm fantastic.
Don Hahn
Thanks for making the call.
Caller
So boy band. I think that given, like, the definition of boy band, I think we have to go. Jackson 5.
Don Hahn
Agree. Right, because.
Caller
Right, Because I feel like a boy band, it'd be like a bunch of guys who can either not or vaguely play instruments. And then also, I think the other thing that. That constitutes a boy band would be like a father figure, quote, unquote, father figure who kind of pushes them into it. Right. And that's Joe Jackson. I mean.
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah. Well, no, no, to me, Derek, let's not overthink it. The definition of a boy band is, number one, they have to be boys. Meaning not men. Like teenagers.
Caller
Boys.
Don Hahn
Yeah, like actual, you know, young men. Adolescents. Then sing. And also the ability to dance. That's all part of the package. Right, right. They would that too.
Caller
You nailed it, Han. You just exactly nailed it.
Don Hahn
I am a protest when I go into the studio because Whiteboard Wednesday did not have any black boy bands on it. I have a problem with that.
Alan Rosenberg
Now, the complete opposite would be. How do you feel about the Osmonds?
Don Hahn
The Osmonds? Weren't they, like a creation that was supposed to be like the white version of the Jackson 5? Because Donnie as a young boy had a very similar voice to Michael as a young boy.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, a lot. Very.
Don Hahn
Sounded very similar. They actually covered a lot of the Jackson 5 stuff.
Alan Rosenberg
They were more like the cow sills. Like, they were all related it was. But you're right, it was. It was the white version of the Jackson 5.
Don Hahn
And they were.
Alan Rosenberg
They were getting as many hits. They were dominating early 70s top 40.
Don Hahn
Oh, yeah, very popular. Clean cut kids. Squeaky clean Mormon family.
Alan Rosenberg
Yeah, a lot going on there.
Don Hahn
Oh, there was documentary.
Alan Rosenberg
Let's go to Chris in Franklin Square. You're on ESPN New York.
Caller
Hey, what's going on, fellas? Really appreciate the.
Don Hahn
The call.
Caller
So this boy band thing, by the way, Dirty Pop, that's the name of the documentary.
Don Hahn
Gotta see it.
Caller
And the boy band thing, this is Pandora's box. I mean, we could talk about the Supremes, then we could talk about Boyz II Men. We could talk about 112. If we're talking about just singers who are non instrumental that can dance. Because I think the instrumental component is an element here.
Don Hahn
I agree. But the only thing I'm going to add is Boys to Men, I believe. Were they not. Were they over 20.
Caller
The age thing, we might have an age.
Don Hahn
They were like college age, weren't they? Which to me, I think that takes you out of the running.
Alan Rosenberg
I think by supreme.
Don Hahn
Certainly older. So I. I do think you have to have. You have to be younger. Okay.
Alan Rosenberg
I do think you wouldn't put the temptations in there because they were old, they were older.
Caller
Right, right. I get that qualifier.
Alan Rosenberg
Wow.
Don Hahn
Boys to men were 14 and 15. They were founded in 85.
Caller
Someone who were born in 71.
Alan Rosenberg
73. Wow.
Don Hahn
How about that? Well, we didn't hear about them till later.
Caller
How about that poll?
Alan Rosenberg
But Boys to Men just doesn't feel like a boy band to me because the songs. I think part of it too is how sophisticated the songs are. And their songs just seem to be better put together. Less bubblegum, more very rmb, very R. Really.
Don Hahn
R B. Yeah. Very good. They. They were very good. Yeah, they're very good. New Edition was legit. Boy band. They were. They were kids. Yeah.
Caller
So I. All the qualifiers and Don, when I do not think boy band, when I think Beatles. No, it just doesn't. It doesn't. It doesn't fit.
Don Hahn
No. We're going to have a conversation in the studio about this whiteboard and we're going to have to correct some things. We might even have to put out an apology.
Caller
Sounds like bliss. Don't.
Alan Rosenberg
Of some sort. Maybe we. I get to work on this. For sure. Yeah.
Don Hahn
I like that. Cool.
Caller
Just to my next point, I don't want to belabor the point because I know that some people have already called in and talked about, you Know, the honest trade, what it would take this and that. I'm not necessarily the irrational fan who says, blow it up. And I wasn't necessarily a guy who was calling for Tibbs his job either. I kind of was watching with trepidation to see, you know, what the Knicks did after, you know, success, after all the years of misery. But couple different questions. I'll throw a couple things at you, and you guys just run with whatever you like. So we have two defensive liabilities. Obviously, Jalen Brunson is the guy who brought us all, you know, back to prominence here, and Karl Anthony Towns is a defensive liability. Two of our five starters represent a problem when it gets into playoff basketball. Is there a way that you, particularly Allen, like, can see us getting over the hump with this construction of this team? And if we were to talk about, like, a trade that's going to involve Giannis, whether it's this, you know, season or it's in the off season, how marginalized will our roster be? Like, I'm a big Josh Hart guy. I love that hustle type play player. Like, who. Who do we really lose? And I understand all the components that you said the financials have to match up. Like, maybe from the Knicks perspective, who are the guys that we're not letting go? Right? I mean, obviously, we know the Villanova crew and that dynamic.
Don Hahn
You got to believe that, yeah, Brunson's untouchable, but that would be it.
Alan Rosenberg
And og Are those the two?
Don Hahn
I. I, again, you, you. It all depends. But there's guys that I would probably say, I don't want to lose these guys, because it is going to carve out of your roster, and you got to still be competitive. And I'm telling, I'm warning everyone. Understand? The Bucks gutted their team to get Damian Lillard, and that includes trading away a heart and soul player in Jhu Holiday. And they brought in Lillard, put him with Giannis, and said, it's just going to work. And it didn't. It did not work. So you have to be careful with the pieces you have and the pieces that fit. And there are some times where you just tell yourself, I can't do that. That's why I keep saying, say it with me, everybody. The only way Giannis gets here is if Giannis says it. He has to say it. Then he forces his way, and it helps you because he'll even. He's got to be involved. No, no, no, no. He's got to stay there. He's got to stay like that. How that's how the only way it works because you have to be real careful about blowing up a roster that I got to remind everybody did get to the conference finals last year with all their warts and their issues. So you know maybe you say that about Brunson and you say that about Towns. They still got to the conference finals and we can argue that that conference finals that should have gone their way. There was a lot of self inflicted things that happened early in that series that flipped the series that they should have been able to take care of. They had enough on this team last year to get to the finals. Keep that in mind. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
Alan Rosenberg
I don't want to know how the.
Don Hahn
Sausage is made but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.
Episode: Hour 3: Giannis Ready To Move?
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: Don Hahn, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (focus in this hour: Don Hahn & Alan Hahn)
This episode centers on the swirling rumors about NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential trade from the Milwaukee Bucks—specifically, the buzz around the New York Knicks as a possible destination. The hosts dissect what’s real, what’s speculation, and what it would take for a deal to actually happen. A substantial portion also dives into trade deadline drama, NBA rumor culture, and a lively sidebar on boy bands—showing the show's signature blend of New York sports and engaging, unpredictable tangents.
“The Bucks are being patient, but my sources say that they want either a young blue chip talent and or a surplus of draft picks and probably a combination of both...”
“Giannis is the one that has the power. The problem is he's afraid to wield it. He will not say the words that need to be said...”
“Somebody, his agent, whatever it is, somebody has to give him better advice than to pretend that this is out of your control and that you're happy here.”
“If he doesn't say the words, his dream [of being a Knick] won't come true.”
“You stay involved because that’s what a smart organization does… But what no one knows is that the Bucks are putting the price so high that it can’t possibly be met.”
“There’s always the name player that is disgruntled every year... Fans love rumors, they love speculation and they love that when it involves brand names.”
“As I've always said, every year it's the same thing. 90% of what you hear never happens.”
“I think the Knicks have upper hand and that he wants to come to the Knicks... Where would you draw the line?”
“Considering the logistics of a new offense, new head coach, new teammates, and less than two months to get chemistry together, it seems like a recipe for disaster for them to trade for Giannis in season.”
This hour exemplifies why Don, Hahn & Rosenberg is a New York sports institution: sharp, pragmatic insight into the ever-churning basketball rumor mill, especially as it relates to the Knicks, candid shots at both player and organizational motivations, and an unmistakable sense of humor that always finds room for a few passionate pop culture tangents.
Their consensus: Expect more smoke than fire before the NBA trade deadline. For Giannis to become a Knick, the “worst-kept secret in the league,” he needs to openly claim it—and the Bucks to accept less than their (currently outrageous) asking price.
Until then, it’s “daily content” for fans and media… and, for Don and Alan, plenty to talk about.
For Knicks fans, NBA drama enthusiasts, or anyone curious if the Beatles are really a boy band, this episode delivers insight, skepticism, and laughter in equal measure.