Hour 3: Should Knicks Trade for Giannis Now?

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Hour 3: Should Knicks Trade for Giannis Now?

Original Air Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don La Greca (calling in), Peter Rosenberg
Episode Main Theme:
Should the New York Knicks seize the opportunity to trade for NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo immediately, or should they stay patient, keep their current promising roster intact, and wait until the offseason?

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Episode Overview

This lively hour delves into urgent Knicks rumors swirling around a potential blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Hosts Alan Hahn and Don La Greca, taking calls from passionate fans, debate if now is the moment to go “all in”—or if risking the Knicks’ momentum and team chemistry is a mistake. Throughout, they reflect on lessons from past trades, weigh the realities of NBA team building, and assess the real value of patience in the championship chase.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Urgency for the Giannis Trade

• Background: The Knicks reportedly have an exclusive window to negotiate for Giannis before Milwaukee opens talks with other teams. Giannis reportedly prefers New York and, per Alan Hahn, is unhappy with the Bucks' direction after 20 games into the season.

  • "Do the Knicks feel urgency to get a deal done right now?" – Alan Hahn [01:05]

• Argument Against Rushing:

  • Don cautions giving up “everything” for Giannis risks making the Knicks just like the Bucks: a superstar with too little support.
  • “Well, then you become the Bucks. What are the Bucks winning? They have Giannis… where were they going?” – Don La Greca [02:13]
  • Chemistry and depth are valued—gutting the team for one star could destroy what the Knicks have built.

• Counterpoint:

  • Some callers and Alan see the allure—Giannis is a perennial MVP and could be the final piece.
  • The current Knicks core is locked in contractually, so trading now or waiting until the summer likely demands a similar package, except perhaps an extra draft pick after July.

2. Comparisons to Past Blockbusters

• The Carmelo Anthony Trade Cautionary Tale:
  • Alan clarifies myths around the “Melo Deal”—the 2010–11 Knicks were .500, leaking oil, and needed a spark. That trade did supercharge fandom but also ripped up chemistry.
  • “People don’t remember those details. They only remember… it was like an eight player trade. So they really remade the whole roster on the fly.” – Alan Hahn [06:34]

3. Patience and Team-Building Philosophy

• Let This Team Run?

  • Knicks are 14–4 since November 2, second in the conference, and had a deep playoff run last year.
  • Don and multiple callers urge patience: let the new coaching staff gel, let the team prove its ceiling against powerhouses like OKC before taking drastic measures.
  • “Why can’t the next step be taken to say now we win that Pacer series… This is how good this Knicks team has been, where you can have that conversation.” – Don La Greca [08:39]

• Front Office Trust:

  • Leon Rose and William Wesley have rebuilt the franchise—should the fans and ownership simply trust their process?
  • “They have way more wins than losses when it comes to roster decisions and moves.” – Alan Hahn [21:05]

4. Fan Perspectives and Call-in Highlights

• Caller Victor (Brooklyn) [13:26]:

  • With Don, doesn’t want to “blow up” the roster, would reluctantly include Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns with picks if forced.

• Caller Akasha [14:58]:

  • At 20 years old, never seen a Knicks title; wants to be aggressive: “Just do it… whatever it takes.”

• Caller Jim (Longtime Fan) [17:21]:

  • 67 years old, recalls 1970 Game 7: “Don’t do it! Don’t fall for this. I want this team as it is.”
  • Worries Giannis’ injury history could leave Knicks gutted and snakebitten if the superstar gets hurt.

• Caller Jay (Bronx) [19:20]:

  • Wants to see the experiment run for this season, would only make a deal if the core remains intact.

• Caller Jose (Connecticut) [35:17]:

  • Warns, “We haven’t learned our lesson… I would kind of wait until the offseason.”
  • Points to how other teams (Lakers) seem to get stars for less—asks why the Knicks always face “fleece” proposals.

• Caller Ike (Troy) [43:34]:

  • Believes Brunson’s adaptable, could coexist with Giannis—but insists, “no matter what, we need to get Giannis in New York.”

5. Chemistry vs. Star Power

• “It's not just assembling stars. It's about making sure that it works and that everything fits the way it's supposed to fit… Right now they're building on something here.” – Don La Greca [16:02]

• “Will the whole thing work in totality? Not Will Brunson. Brunson gets along with everybody… can it work at a championship level?” – Don La Greca [44:53]

6. Leon Rose & James Dolan Dynamic

• Dolan has historically been hands-on, but lately he's trusted Leon Rose’s basketball operations team.
• “What we've seen since Leon Rose took over... is that Dolan has said, 'I'm out of the basketball business.' I hire people and I trust their decisions.” – Alan Hahn [46:14]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don on Overpaying:
  “You give up everything for him. Well, then you become the Bucks. What are the Bucks winning?” [02:13]

• Alan on the Carmelo Parallels:
  “People don’t remember those details. They only remember... it was like an eight player trade. So they really remade the whole roster on the fly.” [06:34]

• Don on Knicks’ Growth:
  “Let’s see what this looks like. So far so good, right? ...They’re outstanding at home... They haven’t even been whole.” [05:27]

• Don expressing the central dilemma:
  “If there isn't much of a difference [between offseason and midseason offers], make the deal now. But a part of me just thinks, be patient.” [08:39]

• Alan on the front office:
  “They have way more wins than losses when it comes to roster decisions and moves. … They have a feel for the team and a direction they want to go...” [21:05]

• Jose (Caller):
  “Like, I don’t like these callers or people saying, like, give them whatever they want, man. Like, we haven’t learned our lesson.” [35:23]

• Jim (Caller, old-school fan):
  “Don’t do it. Don’t fall for this. I want this team as it is, to go on, see what they can do. I don’t want anyone injury away...” [17:47]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:57] — Urgency around trading for Giannis and Knicks team status discussion
• [02:13] — Don argues against gutting roster for one star; Bucks parallel
• [06:33] — Alan breaks down Carmelo Anthony trade differences
• [08:39] — Don: “Be patient. Wait, see how this looks…”
• [13:26] — First notable caller: “Don’t blow up the team”, specifics on potential trade
• [14:58–20:00] — Multiple caller perspectives: impatience, “do whatever it takes”, fear of injury, team culture, “don’t do it”
• [21:05] — Alan on trust in the front office, Leon Rose’s process
• [35:17] — Jose’s call: Don’t let the Knicks get fleeced, “learn our lesson”
• [43:34] — Caller Ike: Brunson–Giannis fit, “no matter what, we need Giannis in New York”
• [46:14–47:00] — Dolan/Rose dynamic; Dolan’s trust in current front office

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Tone and Style

The episode is conversational, passionate but measured, with typical New York sports talk energy. Hahn is analytical, Don is more skeptical and protective of team chemistry, and callers run the gamut from cautious old-timers to young, championship-starved diehards.

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Bottom Line

The episode captures a classic sports debate: “Do you risk a good thing for a shot at greatness?” The hosts and fans are clearly torn—starry-eyed by Giannis’ talent but bruised by history. Ultimately, the message is trust in the process… but if the opportunity aligns, don’t miss your shot.

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For Knicks fans and NBA observers, this episode is a rich, nuanced listen that weighs the cost and payoff of swinging for the fences versus building something sustainable.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Kids, they grow up so fast. One day they're taking their first steps and the next they don't fit into the tiny sneakers they took them in. You blink your eyes and their princess dress is two sizes too small and their dinosaur backpack isn't cool anymore. But don't cry because they're growing up. Smile because you can profit off of it. For real. There are a bunch of parents on depop looking for the stuff your kid just grew out of. Download depop to start selling.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Don Hahn]

That sounds like heaven to me. Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3.

[Alan Hahn]

On 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers. 502 in the big city with Don Legreca. I'm Alan Hahn, 800-919-3776. We'll get back to your calls as we just had a caller, Dave, in the car.

Who reacted to reports about the Giannis and Knicks situation. Being as the Bucks are trying to open the window up to other teams and once they do, the Knicks exclusivity window closes, meaning they are the only team right now in the deal. And you've seen all the reports. The Knicks right now not really interested in doing anything. They like their team. They want to see what they are. That's what all the reports have been about. This from everybody here in New York, but as Sham Charani, our ESPN NBA Insider, has been reporting, Giannis wants to trade. He doesn't want to be in Milwaukee anymore. He has not said this publicly. He probably needs to, but he doesn't want to be around anymore. And he's trying to push for the Bucks to do something. The Bucs had talked to the Knicks in August. The Knicks and you know, Bucs have kind of put some ideas together. Nothing came to fruition and they decided to move on. But Giannis has seen this team already 20 games in, not happy, doesn't think they're a championship contender, and now he wants to finally move and New York is his preferred destination. So do the Knicks feel urgency to get a deal done right now? Our caller just before said, yes, whatever it takes, do it before you lose them. And mar question is, do you agree? Don, you clearly don't.

[Don Hahn]

Well, his premise was all over the place. Number one, you give up everything for him. Well, then you become the Bucks. What are the Bucks winning? Right? They have Giannis. Even when Giannis was healthy, where were they going?

[Alan Hahn]

The idea is you have Giannis and Jalen Brunson because, you know, Jalen Brunson is kind of going anywhere.

[Don Hahn]

But you're saying. He's saying Jalen Brunson's not a superstar. That's the other problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, that's the call.

[Don Hahn]

I understand that, you know, traditionally that position does not create a championship, but it's a position that they haven't been able to fill in years and now have it filled. And they're just trying to put everything else together. They went to the conference final last year. They had the odds on favor to go to the final this year. So I understand you want stars, but you don't want to gut your team to get the star. And he kept going back to Monroe. Well, we don't, we didn't have the reporting back in the 70s that we have today. But he even admitted in his conversation that he wasn't demanding a trade to the Knicks. He just wanted to get out of Washington.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

This sounds like, according to the reports, he wants to be a Knick. So I don't see the same sense of urgency. But the question I have for you, Allen, is how much different will this deal look in the off season as opposed to if they made the deal?

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great question. It's a great question.

[Don Hahn]

It's hard to really, like I'm saying, be patient. But if you're telling me it's pretty much the same deal, then maybe just do it now.

[Alan Hahn]

It probably is pretty much the same deal because the bulk of the Knicks core is all under contract now. No one is due anything. Towns is due something in another year. He, he and I think he and Giannis actually line up. But he's, he's got an opt out in two years, so he, he's, he's still under contract, under control. You know, Bridges just got his extension and Anobi got an extension. We all know Brunson got his extension. So the key pieces here, the big money guys are all, nobody's going to be walking through the door into free agency. The only one that can walk is, is Mitchell Robinson. He doesn't make a ton of money. So that's it. So whatever you would do at the deadline, you probably end up doing in July. I don't think it would be any different. It's the draft picks that, you know, I guess if you wait till July, then one more draft pick becomes available for trade because of how the rules go.

[Don Hahn]

All right, so if essentially the deal's the same.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

Then why not now?

[Alan Hahn]

Because it's the middle of the season.

[Don Hahn]

But if you don't believe you're good enough now, if they believe they're good enough. Unless just posturing by the Knicks to say, I think we're happy with our.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I actually think they really do believe.

[Don Hahn]

If they're happy with their teams, then why not see what it can become? Because let's say they win the title. And listen, I know OKC is coming off a championship, all right? So they've proven that they can do it. But Alan, we've been around long enough where we've seen teams with regular seasons and then just for whatever reason, they don't win. And you can look at no further than Golden State when they broke the record for wins in the season and didn't win. So as much as I think it's going to be really difficult to beat okc, and I wouldn't bet on them losing. If you believe as a nick organization that you're good enough to compete, wouldn't you want to try to see if you can beat OKC without making this deal? And then what if you did, how much better would you feel?

[Alan Hahn]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

All right. But you know, everybody's hell bent on saying that nobody's beating okc and maybe that's the case. But God, I think they deserve to. Let's see what this looks like. So far so good, right? No, no, there hasn't been a ton of growing pains. They're outstanding at home and they haven't even threw injuries. They haven't even been whole.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, even through injuries, as I mentioned earlier. So they got off to the 2 and 3 start, but since then. So since November 2nd, they're 14 and 4. It's one of the best records in the NBA. They have one of the best records in the NBA already. But I'm saying 14 and 4. They have 10 games over.500 over an 18 game span. And they have one of the best offenses in the game. They have gone through some injuries. The bench has not been what they've hoped it would be with some of the pieces, but whatever. They have been playing very well under Mike Brown. They have been. But do they look like a team that can win a title? I don't think I could say that about them right now, but it doesn't mean that as we go along in the season with a. Again with the trade deadline. Can also give you a tweak here and a tweak there in other areas instead of doing something mega like this.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And before we get back to the calls, the other thing I just want to add is everybody likes to equate the Carmelo trade with this because the Carmelo Anthony trade was done in season right before the deadline. And a lot of people felt like, oh, you blew up the roster. And that was a good team. And I have to correct people, that team was I think 500 or a game under 500 when they made the trade. That team got off to a good start with Amari Stoudemar. It was sort of a little engine that could kind of team. It was fun. Then it was leaking oil by January and it was really starting to wear down. They were asking Amari to do too much. He had to carry the team offensively every night. And by the time I remember games, watching, covering games and saying to myself, this team's starting to run out of gas. The mellow trade reinvigorated them. They made the playoffs and then injuries in the playoffs cost them a chance to take on the Celtics. They had too many injuries in the first two games of that series in Boston. People don't remember those details. They only remember a lot of play. I think it was like an eight player trade. So they really remade the whole roster. And on the fly. They had to kind of assimilate two superstars to play together and figure that out. Adding a point guard in Chauncey Billups and other pieces and had to figure out what do we got? And let's get it right before the playoffs. So this, while it would look the same, this team is one of the best teams in the NBA. That team in 2010, 2011 wasn't one of the best teams in the NBA. It was just a.

Competitive team. But the Knicks have been bad for so many years before that that there was this sense of wow, this is, this is really good. You were just so used to seeing them lose for so many years before that. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And let's take a deeper look at this Nick team. They're in second place in the conference and that's after a two and three start, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Two and a half back of Detroit.

[Don Hahn]

Went to the conference final last year, losing to the Pacers made a coaching change. And so far that looks like it's worked. The team that you lost to in the conference final took OKC to seven.

[Alan Hahn]

Games and lost their star. That cost him the championship. You know, that game was up, that game seven was up for grabs.

[Don Hahn]

So now you've improved your team in your eyes by changing the coach. You responded to that. So why can't the next step be taken to say now we win that Pacer series and if the Pacers could have taken, okay, OKC to Seven. Then we can dance again. This is all hypothetical, but this is how good this Nick team has been, where you can have that conversation. And now you want to bring in a major piece to win that championship. That could disrupt a lot of things that are happening here. I still. That's why I asked you about, like, how much different is the deal? So I could see the temptation. If there isn't much of a difference, make the deal now. But a part of me really just thinks, be patient. Wait, see how this looks. And then during the off season, you could say, do we. Do we need to make this deal or not. You might look at this even if you don't win Allen, and say, I don't think it makes that big of a difference. Let's stick with this. It's possible.

[Alan Hahn]

What? And you have, like, right now a game tonight, which is an NBA cup game, and I do that in air quotes. It's a quarterfinal game. You win this game, you go to the semifinals in Vegas. You become like, you know, it's like a Final Four weekend kind of feel to it in Vegas where you're playing for something. Is it a Fugazi championship? Yeah, but it's still something. You come out of that weekend and you get some wins and you roll off some wins and come away with this thing. You're going to tell me that people in our organization are like, you know what? I like, what we're made of.

I don't want to touch this.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you're tapped in, Alan. When they look at this team, do they like what they see, or are they just saying that publicly for leverage in a possible deal with Milwaukee, or do they honestly believe. I think they're a contender?

[Alan Hahn]

I think they truly believe that at their best, at full health, they can beat anyone.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I was there last year in Oklahoma City. I called the game sitting next to Mike Breen. I called that game, and it was a banger. Like, this game was unreal. Really good game. Early fourth quarter, because there was such heavy workload on the starters, the Knicks got tired. They ended up losing the game late. But that game was. Anyone could have won it. It was a phenomenally played game. And I said to Mike Breen on the call, I'll take seven of these. And his response was, well, that would take the NBA Finals. And we both, like, looked at each other after the game like, you know, they can play with this team now. The next time they played them at the Garden, they were a different team. They were kind of battered, bruised, tired, and they got Smoked. So it's a bit. The second time around was a bad look. But that first one, like a lot of people, the organization were like, you know, with the better bench we could. You know, we might be able to beat. So I do think there's a real feeling inside that they could. They play faster now. They play a different way. The ball does not stick with one or two guys. It does move around. They have wings that really you need. They rebound. Well, there's a lot of things. But I'm telling you with my eye, I. There's a. There's flaws that need to be fixed throughout the course of this season before I could really buy in.

[Don Hahn]

Now, I haven't followed it admittedly outside. Well, you're Knicks are doing. Yeah, but where's OKC as far as. Obviously they just have one loss.

[Alan Hahn]

They're not like there's no one close to them right now.

[Don Hahn]

Right. No way they're playing from the cup thing. Can these two teams meet?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that's a great.

[Don Hahn]

In the NBA, you know, I had.

[Alan Hahn]

I have honestly have not paid attention to the other side of the code. I have not paid attention to the other side.

[Don Hahn]

At some point they probably have to cross paths.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, what are they? Tomorrow's games is what I need to know. Tomorrow's games.

Tomorrow's game. Yeah. Sun's Thunder is. So they're there. So they would have to. Because they've only lost one game. So there's no way that's what. That's what I figured. Son's Thunder and the Suns have been good and Spurs Lakers is the other quarterfinal tomorrow, so.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, so they could meet.

[Alan Hahn]

Wouldn't that be something?

[Don Hahn]

And let's say you beat them again. What does it matter? It's not a championship, but it's the NBA. You might have a different impression.

What you could do with them in a best of seven series. And when do you play them after.

[Alan Hahn]

That schedule? Now I'd have to look up because.

[Don Hahn]

You haven't played them yet. So you got two meetings with them. Assuming they're all going to be.

[Alan Hahn]

They haven't had a lot of west coast games yet, but they're. They're all coming. Trust me, they're coming. So are the calls. Lots of them. 800 now a 93776. Want to hear from you on this because it's clear that everybody is wondering when this will happen, if it'll happen, how it'll happen. And of course, should it happen, we start with Victor in Brooklyn. Go ahead, Victor.

[Caller]

Hey, how you doing, guys?

[Alan Hahn]

What's up?

[Caller]

I just want to say I'm with Don. I don't want to blow it up completely. Now. Now, that corner that was adamant about trading yesterday. Yesterday, yesterday, the one thing, if I heard right, he said, call Anthony Towns and Bridges if that's all I got to give up. Besides, let's call it two first rounders. I think I do it. I mean, I don't want to blow it up completely. Adeloby goes nowhere. Josh Hart goes nowhere. We got to keep the chemistry. I like what I'm seeing right now. I don't want to make any drastic changes. We know what Karl Anthony Towns is and we know what Giannis is. So, I mean, what do you guys think? Do you think we can get him for a Bridges and a cat and a couple of first rounders?

[Alan Hahn]

It's. It's going to take that at the very least. And I wouldn't be surprised if that was probably not. I don't know if it was Bridges, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was kind of what they were discussing and that wasn't enough for the Bucks in August. But that's. You got to match the money. You got to give them some. Some talent.

[Don Hahn]

So, yeah, I would think they'd take a little bit more, but that would be. I think you're going to need more bodies.

[Alan Hahn]

You probably have to take a contract off their hands. Whether it's Kuzma or Turner, they're going to want to get rigged, dump something on you that they don't want anymore.

[Don Hahn]

They're.

[Alan Hahn]

That you're not going to really want either, but you'll do it. So that's why I'd keep an eye on all that stuff. Akasha in New Brunswick. Akasha, you're up next.

[Don Hahn]

Hi.

[Caller]

I just want to say I'm a big fan of the show, but my thing is, you know, I'm 20 years old. I haven't really seen the Knicks win anything in my lifetime, so maybe I'm a little bit impatient here, but I think they should just do it. I think, you know, obviously, outside of Brunson, I think they should just give up, as, you know, whatever they should, whatever they can to make it happen, whatever it takes.

[Alan Hahn]

Akasha, I'm 54 and I haven't seen the Knicks win a championship, so join the club. Yeah, 20. You got more time to wait than the rest of us, but, yeah, he's all in. He wants it all. Miles in Harrisburg, though, disagrees. Miles.

[Caller]

Yeah, I don't think you can give.

[Don Hahn]

Up the team and expect to win.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to wait another couple.

[Caller]

Years to figure it out with my Giannis as a superstar. I just don't think it'll work.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, again, it's. How does it fit? Because remember, they had Damian Lillard and Giannis and it wasn't like they weren't tearing it up. So would Brunson and Giannis work? We don't even know that. We know that it works offensively, at least right now with Brunson and Towns.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the Batman and Robin thing seemed to be a formula in the NBA, but there is, as we were just talking about with the Mets, is that it's not just assembling stars. It's about making sure that it works and that everything fits the way it's supposed to fit, you know, And I think Giannis would fit here, but would it be enough? Right now they're building on something here. You change the coach because you felt like that was the difference maker here. So if they believe this core could make it, it's hard to agree considering they haven't won since 1973. They got essentially with the same roster, got beat by a Pacer team that everybody thought they were better than.

But the coach, they've responded with the coach and the party wants to see where this can go. Now, I am curious.

[Alan Hahn]

You're right. You know what the problem with me is? I'm curious about both. Is that fair? It's probably not, right?

[Don Hahn]

Very fair.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, I'm equally curious about both situations. Very curious about, like, what would that be like and how good could they be versus this team, though, if you gave it more time and more adjusting and maybe tweak a piece on the bench or some, you know, before the trade deadline, could. Could they. Could they be that team in the east that gets it done? But I like that. That's. I'm kind of curious about both. That's why I can't say either. Either side is wrong. Jim Enlarchman's next. Jim.

[Caller]

Hey, guys. How you doing? Love the show.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you.

[Caller]

So. So I'm 67. I listened to the 1970 game seven Willow three game on my older Brother with Marl Albert doing the call and been a Nick fan ever since. And my parents let me stay up and watch the midnight replay of it on tv. So that's why.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that amazing?

[Don Hahn]

Isn't that amazing?

[Alan Hahn]

That's unbelievable.

[Caller]

Yeah, that's what people forget. Those games in those days were not televised.

[Alan Hahn]

They were blacked out because they wanted you to buy Tickets.

[Caller]

Yeah, they did another thing sometimes during the season back then, they were, like, on channel nine. They would do it on delay. Like, the game would come on like an hour and a half after the game actually started. But we could listen to the radio broadcast if we wanted to live. But the TV was an hour and a half. It was weird. But anyway, about today. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't fall for this. I want this team as it is, to go on, see what they can do. I don't want anyone injury away. They bring this guy on, he's got all kinds of injury history. What happens, you sell off half the team and then they, you know, he gets hurt right before the playoffs or something. That's it.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Caller]

I mean, well done. If he gets hurt. Right. Based on what I'm hearing, who you're going to have to trade away.

[Alan Hahn]

I get it. The only. The only response I have for you, Jim, because I'm not saying you're wrong, but the only response I have is if you don't do it and someone you didn't trade gets hurt and you're kind of in the same situation. Right. Like, so. I think the hurt thing works both ways. You can't predict an injury. Anyone can get hurt at any moment in sports.

[Don Hahn]

True. So I don't like saying he's just got hurt.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, he's right. He's already hurt. That's the problem. That's. Again, that's my red flag, if there is one. Let's go to Jay in the Bronx. Jay.

[Caller]

Hey, guys, thanks for taking the call. Look, it's. For me, I want to see what this team could do.

[Alan Hahn]

Do.

[Caller]

I love Giannis. If it's a. You know, if it's something about just sending over some serviceable pieces and keeping the core group together, fine. But I just don't see Milwaukee going for that unless a third team could get involved. I really want to see what this team could do. You know, we've had a lot of issues with getting into injury, getting into injuries in the playoffs. We're deeper now, and this is a coach that seems to be doing well and kind of spreading the minutes out. I want to see what we could do and if we could wait for next year and see if we can get them in, great. But I'm really excited about this team. I don't want to do anything drastic.

[Alan Hahn]

Thank you, Jay.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's just think, as a Nick fan, what we went through during the off season when they let Tibbs go.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Is that the feeling was that they weren't a player away. The organization said we're a coach away.

[Alan Hahn]

So.

[Don Hahn]

And you. And you have faith, like I said, that I have trust in David Stearns.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Hasn't Leon Rose and this brain trust done enough that you have faith that they, that they could feel that they did the right thing by letting Tibbs go and bringing in Brown and seeing this through? Yeah. Again, this is not a team that finished.500 last year.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

This is a team that was in Game 6 of the conference final.

[Alan Hahn]

They had the thing.

With Leon Rose, William Wesley and his front office and that whole crew that has come in and revamped this franchise. I mean, you talk about a complete overhaul. What they have done and the track record and the receipts now that you have with them.

I do feel like you almost have to trust their decision making here because look, there are they. Are they 100 for 100? No. Right. There's always mistakes, but they have way more wins than losses when it comes to roster decisions and moves. Right.

[Don Hahn]

They certainly do.

[Alan Hahn]

And with that in mind, they have a feel for the team and a direction they want to go and how they want to do it. And what is smart when it comes to making a deal. They have a guy who handles a lot of the capology, right. His name is Brock Aller. He's a very smart guy and he's like, very similar to like Brian Cashman has guys like this where I want to make a trade.

And you are. These are the pieces that the other team wants. And Aller and his crew are the ones that then crunch numbers and tell you whether or not, no, that's a bad trade or, you know, we can do that's workable. Not just finances. It's all the other stuff. It's. What is it? Where does it hurt us? Can we make it up somewhere else? All those things like what Basically it can predict will we be better off after this trade than we were before or will we struggle somewhere else now that we didn't think about and now there's another leak in the boat. That's what they do. So I, that's why when they, if they decide right now and say, you know what, we're all set, we want to see this, this through, we like this team. We're not ready to make that trade. I kind of would have to trust their. They're thinking on this.

[Don Hahn]

Believe me, they're working with a lot more information than we are.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, hell yeah. Yeah. But it's still from the outside looking in you see somebody that every year is a top five in voting for mvp, which equates to this is one of the best players in the sport. He already has a championship. Who carried a team to a championship who had a 50 point game in the finals. Right. Like and you haven't won in all that time. That makes it hard to just say no.

[Don Hahn]

That's why it's such an interesting conversation.

[Alan Hahn]

It really is. And we'll continue it. 800 now. 193776, we have your calls. There's lots of them. Everybody wants to sound off on this. There's also the winter meetings in baseball moves being made. The Mets lose their closer Edwin Diaz. He is off to the Dodgers. Now what do they do? And the Cody Bellinger of it all between Mets and the Yankees, who's the more desperate team? And are the Yankees operating in a budget that might end up losing him to whether it's the Mets or someone else. Lot more to get to.

But first, Don, I need a bath because this has been hard work. There's been a lot going on today.

[Don Hahn]

A lot going on.

[Alan Hahn]

But if I wanted to take a bath, I have, I could take a beautiful shower in my house because I had an old bath renovated, completely remodeled by bath fitter. And they actually do this. They, they rip out your bath, they put it in a shower. They also, of course, have what everybody has seen before, their unique permafit solution. You get a watertight fit, goes right over your old bath and it is gorgeous. It makes the whole bathroom brand new again. It is a permanent solution. By the way, this is not something that's going to bubble up in a couple of years. They're the leader in bathroom renovation for a reason. So that's why you don't go to any other imitators. This all gets done in one day. That's what you love. It's durable, easy to clean, no demolition, lower cost than a full replacement. And, and by the way, the most important part of it, the lifetime guarantee. So you can trust the bathfitter team just like we did. Start designing your bath [e-mail] because there's only one bath fitter.

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know, one of the perks about having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to know the big the best gift that you can give someone is the gift of Mint Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month. Now, you don't Even need to wrap it. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent.

[Don Hahn]

To $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com if you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place. From inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.comnetwork. go to shopify.comnetwork shopify.comnetwork.

This is Kevin Clark from Manscaped.

[Alan Hahn]

Fellas, it's the season to shine and not just from holiday lights. Manscaped is here to keep you looking sharp for every holiday party. Family photo. Mistletoe moments. Guys, I'm going to be honest with you. The last few years I thought I looked really cool with like a darker beard during the winter. Oh, I'm going to wear a flannel and have a darker beard. And like I thought I pulled it off. But looking back, looking some of these holiday photos, guys, I didn't pull it off. I didn't pull it off. I, I, I, I gotta do. I'm a man who thrives with a controlled, precise stubble. Let that jawline out, let those cheekbones shine. But I'm not doing the thicker beard this holiday season. I gotta look good in these sweaters. And I, I, I pull off, pull off some pajamas look great in that. You can't be doing a beard with that. I can't I can't. It's not my look. The Lawn Mower 5 body trim plus face shaver deliver. Precision, comfort and control worthy of Santa's. Nice list. Whether you're tidying up before a big night out or prepping New Year's Eve, Manscaped has your back and your face, too. So gift yourself some grooming greatness this season, because looking good is the best gift of all. And now you can find Manscaped products at your local Walmart. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want to. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

Oh, you got to know this song too, right, Don?

[Don Hahn]

I have heard it, yes.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't know who it is, though.

[Don Hahn]

You made a multiple choice I think I might be able to get.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay. They just said he kind of gave away the band name.

[Don Hahn]

Okay, I didn't hear it.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, is it Tribe Called Quest? Okay, Is it Leaders of the New School? Or is it De La Soul?

[Don Hahn]

De La Soul.

[Alan Hahn]

Nailed it. I knew you'd get.

[Don Hahn]

I had a feeling it was De La Soul. So that confirmed it. That's why I said go multiple choice. I didn't go too much out on a limb. No, not completely ignorant to the subject, but. No, not at all. In a special class.

[Alan Hahn]

And it was a trick question because actually all three bands are sort of related. Oh, yeah, they actually are. Well, are interconnected in some ways. But anyways, they all did one song together, which was great. Game time right now, brought to you by Tulla Mardu Irish Whiskey. Because when it's game time.

It'S tolly time. It's tolly time. See, I went deep voice thinking you were gonna go with the. With the metal. Don. Game time. Yeah, that one. It's Tully time.

Yeah, the yeah part really gets me. Knicks in the Raptors tonight. NBA cup quarterfinals coverage immediately follows Dan Grass on 80 at 8pm so yes, it's an 8:30 tip off, everybody. I'll be on MSG tonight doing a pregame show at 8 as well. Speaking of MSG, Don and the Devils will be on MSG. He is in Ottawa. The Devils take on the senators tonight at 7:00pm 7:08 puck drop.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

708. Even with the Canadian exchange is still. 708. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Believe it or not.

[Alan Hahn]

That's amazing.

[Don Hahn]

The second anthem and all that.

[Alan Hahn]

The Islanders, they are at home at ubs. They host the Golden Knights at seven. How about that? Yep. They're going through New York Telemardu, the original triple distilled, triple blended, triple cast matured Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a telemardu or try the new telemarketer, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Telemardo responsibly.

[Don Hahn]

Now, I. I have this all written down, but so I can confirm it at another time, I believe excluding the local arenas that I've gone to as a fan, I might have been in this arena in Ottawa more than any other in the NHL. I always draw the Senators when. When I did the Rangers. That's interesting. And now I'm here. Yeah, it's odd, right? And then I was here for the 07 Stanley Cup Final when they played the Ducks.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So. And again, I feel bad because it is a great city that we never see.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I told you, I love it there. And I loved when we would have games in, like, if it was. It had to be January because that's when the canal is frozen over. Yeah. And you can skate it. And one year we. We had. We were there for a January game. And you remember John Wideman, of course. Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Well, John did the Islanders when. When. When we had the station and.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

He's a great guy. Terrific Blackhawks now.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, he is. For many years. So he told me, bring your wheels, which means bring your skates, because he said, the canal's frozen. So I packed my wheels in the. In the bag. And when we went and we met at the. Right by that bridge, right in front of the Chateau Larrier Hotel and ski. It's like three miles and it was at night. It was like a postcard, man. It was unreal. It's like. It's like shinny hockey going on left and right. There's just family skating around. And apparently people. That's how they commute to work sometimes because it goes right into a neighborhood. It's not gonna skate to work. So it was such a cool thing. I love. They get beaver tails, you get the hot cocoa. It's awesome.

[Don Hahn]

But. But the problem is, like, right now I am in the arena, and I just looked it up on Google Maps. It's 14 miles away from the hotel that you. You just mentioned.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So you're never really in. It would.

[Alan Hahn]

The bus ride was long to get to that arena. Oh, the old one. Now you're in. There's a new one now, right? Is there a new arena?

[Don Hahn]

Not yet. They're going to build a new arena and it's going to be downtown. Oh, just haven't gotten that yet. This is still the same the Corel from back. Remember when they first came into the league in 90. Was it 92, 93. They played at the football stadium. Oh, wow. Where the arena was attached. And on the one the only. The fans can only sit on one side. Remember this indent of the upper deck of the football stadium was on the other side. They played there for a couple of years and then they eventually, I want to say Corral Center, Coral Center. And now, now they've been here at Canadian Tire, at least that's what it's.

[Alan Hahn]

Called in the last few years, which.

[Don Hahn]

Is in Kannada, so you never get to see. But like again, they're, they're, they're. Ottawa is like going to D.C. i think Parliament a lot, but it's so far away so beautifully.

[Alan Hahn]

This is a trip.

[Don Hahn]

It's bas. It's. It's hotel to the. You know, hotel to the arena.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, my. In my day, Donnie, before, because Kanata hadn't been built up, there was just an arena and a highway and nothing.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Like it was tumbleweed. So you had to stay downtown, which was great. And there was a year that the Islanders played Ottawa in a playoff series. So we were there for a couple of days and it was in the spring, so we really.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

What was that?

[Don Hahn]

Oh, three.

[Alan Hahn]

It sounds about right. Yeah. Yeah, that's where we were.

[Don Hahn]

I was at all those home games. When they played the Islanders in the first round of the playoffs.

[Alan Hahn]

That was another one. Five and out. Yeah, yeah, those. Those were the five and outs. Those two years. By the way, I want to remind everybody. Sure we are. Tuesday we have our holiday party. It's almost here. It's Friday. Friday we. And of course the Michael K. Show will be before us. He'll be there as well, bringing the holiday cheer. And we're going to be at a place called your mother's house. It's in Garden City Park, Long Island. It's right on Jericho, by the way. I mapped it out. It's an easy to get to spot. And Garden City park is a great area. It's easy if you're in the city, it's easy to get to. There's a train gets you right into Garden City if you live on the island. Very easy. Again, if I tell you Jericho, everybody on Long island knows. If I say Jericho, you know what I'm talking about. Jericho Turnpike, everybody knows. Jericho goes from one end to the island to the other. Easy. But it's called your mother's house. We're going to be there. It's this Friday. That's December 12th. Of course. We are again, as always, collecting unwrapped toy donations this year to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation. So please don't come empty handed. It all kicks off at 1pm with Michael K. And then us, of course at 3. Myself, Don and Peter and all our crazy friends. Including some fun guests that we are starting to line up right now that you're going to love to see.

[Don Hahn]

Got an update this afternoon. It was awesome.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So that is again at your mother's house in Garden City Park. For more information and to purchase VIP access. That means you can sit right next to Don. Check out the ESP New York app. It's brought to you by Amazon. Pickup, Security Dodge and Spiked Aid. Made for big city social stamina. We got tons of calls on the Honest Nick. Stuff everybody wants to talk about. Everybody has an opinion. So let's continue with it. Eric in Queens is up next. You go, Eric.

We got you, Eric.

[Don Hahn]

This is good.

I think I'm good.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we are good. So Eric's out. Next up, Chetty and Bud Lake. Chetty, what's going on? Chetty, what's happening? Everybody's. Chetty. I don't know what he said his name was.

[Don Hahn]

Name. He messed up and he hung up and he panicked.

[Alan Hahn]

So then we'll go to somebody we know won't panic. He's a vet, Jose in Connecticut. There you go, Jose. My guys.

[Caller]

What's up? I'm good, guys. Thanks for my call. Like, I don't like these callers or people saying, like, give them whatever they want, man. Like, we haven't learned our lesson. And like, listen, right now I'm more with Don. Like, I would kind of wait to the off season, but if we got to do it now because remember, we can't trade Mitch, so we have less options to. So I would just say, hey, give them. Offer them whatever you're comfortable with. Maybe it's just Mitch, a young player and picks and be like, hey, that's it. If you want that.

[Alan Hahn]

Jose, Jose, he makes $60 million. You gotta match up. Yeah, you can't just.

[Caller]

I meant to say Cat. I meant to say Cat and a young player. So I said Mitch, you know, they're. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what I meant. Like Cat and a young player. Because right now we're falling in love with the team. But we, you know, like sometimes Cat, if he starts playing bad and messing up, we're going to start Saying, you know, we got to get rid of this guy for Yana. So that's my only thing.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Caller]

But I'm not. I'm not going to act desperate and trade the whole team. We should learn a lesson with Melo where we lost. Amari got hurt, and he had no other teammates to play with.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. So.

[Caller]

And I have one more question, too, Alan. Why is it that it always seems like the Knicks are always people always trying to fleece the Knicks? Like, we always got to give up the most. But you look at the Lakers, if how many trades the Lakers make for they looks like they got steals, right. Why does it seem like he wants to fleece us as much as, like, is it just a New York thing? I don't know what it is.

[Alan Hahn]

It is. It is. Yeah, it's. It's. There's something to it because it is true. How did the Lakers get Luca? Are you kidding me? Like, how do certain deals that they've gotten have been like, almost like a gift? The Palga Soul trade, the.

[Don Hahn]

The other thing, you got to match up the money. Money, right. But right now, if you made the deal this season, it's because you caved to the pressure that he might go someplace else.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's the pressure.

[Don Hahn]

If you get to the off season, isn't there a possibility that now all of that has been exhausted? It's clear he only wants to go to the mix. And now you got a little bit more leverage.

Because how are you going to be able to draw? You couldn't get it done in season. Well, that's what to go. You couldn't do.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that. Again, those who don't, you know, who are just joining us. I said this before on ESPN.com Sham Sharania has a story up that has a lot of different rumors he's hearing. It includes John Morant, too, with different players. Could be on the move as the unofficial start to the NBA trade season begins December 15th. Why is that important? Because that's the day every contract in the league is tradable. All right, so because there's certain stipulations on when you sign somebody in the off season, they have to have a certain amount of days where they're not going to be traded. So by December 15th, now, everybody's open. So that's really when things start happening. So he's setting it up. And what he said was, if the Bucks are open to discussing Antenna Kounmpo with teams, the Knicks will no longer have the exclusive negotiating window as his preferred Destination. That's what sources are telling him, which it sounds like that's what the Bucks are telling him. Right.

[Don Hahn]

And so they go through that. The Knicks don't blink. He doesn't get sent anywhere. He finished this season with the Bucks. Doesn't that blow up the whole myth that there's another team? And doesn't that expose Giannis is only wanting to go to the Knicks, and can't the Knicks exploit that in the offseason?

[Alan Hahn]

I think that's what they're hoping for. And you know what? Here's the other thing. If, if Giannis really wants to come here, there's got to be somebody back channeling, telling the Knicks, like, listen, don't worry about it. He's not going anywhere. He's not going to sign with anybody else.

[Don Hahn]

If, if you trust that source that's telling you that, then, yeah. Problem, though, don't feed up and just wait.

[Alan Hahn]

The only problem, like I said, is he does have another year left on his deal. So if you're a contender, and like I mentioned, Oklahoma City, because they're the most dangerous team, why? Because not only are they a great team with amazing, talented young players, they also have a boatload of draft picks that they have been collecting over the years. They could give the Bucks what they want, and the. And the Thunder could just simply say, he might not want to sign here when he can opt out, but we'll get. Get him for one, two playoff years and then we'll let him walk. And in those two playoff years, could we get a ring or two? Now they might think we don't have to do this because we don't need to trade him. Trade for a guy we already are a championship team? You could say that. But wouldn't you rather do a guarantee as much as you can?

[Don Hahn]

I guess. Unless you really don't want to disrupt the chemistry. You just won a championship and you're 23 and one through the first 24 games of the next season. I don't think you got to worry too much.

[Alan Hahn]

It's true. But I. Gratuitous to me, if you're asking me who am I most worried about, there's that. That team because of everything that they have in their pocket.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by State Farm.

[Don Hahn]

Listening to this podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Don Hahn]

Competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling.

[Alan Hahn]

Just another way to save with a personal price plan like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state. Coca Cola for the big, for the small, the short and the tall, Peacemakers, risk takers for the optimists, pessimists for long distance, love for introverts and extroverts, the thinkers and the doers for old friends and new Coca Cola for everyone. Pick up some Coca Cola at a store near you.

[Don Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Don Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything, just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

We got ENN coming up at 6 and it's a loaded ENN doc, including something that happened last night that could spark a debate between you and I and the listener.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, really?

[Alan Hahn]

About something that happens in broadcasting.

[Don Hahn]

I saw it live.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And so this is a good one, really good ENN coming up, but we have tons of calls, so let's just keep going through these because everybody wants to talk about both Giannis and of course Edwin Diaz leaving the Mets as well. And we'll continue, of course, on the other side of Inn with it as well. But George and Staton's been waiting a while, so we go to George next.

[Caller]

Hey, what's going on, guys? How are you? Good, Han, what's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

You tell me. You're on right now.

[Don Hahn]

Here's.

[Caller]

I'm a little excited, as you can tell.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep. Here's.

[Caller]

Here's my opinion on, on what they should do. I don't think we should rush into it. I think we should hold back, wait a little bit. And I also don't think that we should include that on the trade. I think Pat Giannis and Jalen will bring us not one, not two, but three championships. Thanks a lot, guys. You guys have a great night.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know how you make that.

[Alan Hahn]

Work financially, though, I don't either, but, I mean, of course, it would look great. That'd be fantastic. Can the Bucks just take, like, four players from you? But they want to and then what?

[Don Hahn]

No, Cat's got to go. Not. Not meaning you want.

[Alan Hahn]

But.

[Don Hahn]

No, to make this work, Cat has.

[Alan Hahn]

To be a part to make it work with the least amount of loss in manpower.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And again, like I said, could. If the Bucks are like, well, you got to take Kuzma. Oh, my God. Come on, now. I got, like. I don't know if I want to do, like, you know, then it starts to become. It's not fun anymore. Right. Yeah, let's. So to Ike and Troy. Ike, you're up next.

[Caller]

Hey, I. I once wanted to talk about how you guys were talking earlier about will it work? Not work, because of the way it.

[Don Hahn]

Didn'T work with Dame. But you.

[Caller]

You have to take into consideration that Jaylen worked with Luca before he came to New York. So I feel like he would be a shoeing to work Giannis, no problem. But no matter what, we need to get Giannis in. In New York. Like, can't go somewhere else. Gotta go to New York.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, Ike. You know what, Don? He's not wrong in that. Brunson, while Luca, of course, is a guard, so it's a lot different. And. And a. Luca can shoot right from the outside, which Giannis is not. That's not his strength. But Brunson is the type of guy that can adapt. Like, Lillard never played with another great player before. Like, he's. He had to. I think Brunson could adapt.

[Don Hahn]

This is not going to be. You know, can.

Can Carmelo work with Lynn when he comes back from his injury?

[Alan Hahn]

No, it just.

[Don Hahn]

I'm talking about the overall chemistry of the team, period. Not Will Brunson. Brunson gets along with everybody, and it's just. Will the whole thing work in totality? Not because you remember the whole Carmelo thing. He doesn't want to play with this guy. Remember? I remember during Linsanity, the big question was, all right, it's all going to end when Carmelo comes back. It's not that level. It's. It's just.

[Alan Hahn]

It's.

[Don Hahn]

Can it work at a championship level? And right now it feels like it's working as is. Again, it's a different story if this team's, like, three games under.500 or, you know, dysfunctional. If we're having this conversation going into game six when they were two and three It'd be a lot different, wouldn't it?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Yeah. Well, you'd really feel a different way. That was way too early. Now you've got a pretty good feel for what they are, and you kind of feel like, all right, they could build off this. Could they get better? Look, you and I and our opinions and the caller's opinions are one thing, but there's only one man or maybe two men that could really make this decision. It's how they feel in the moment. Right. That's it. It's a decision where, you know.

All it's going to take is Leon Rose to look and say, you know what? I think we need to do it, or, you know, James Dolan. Yeah, let's do it. And then it's done. And so that's what I'm wondering is what did they see that tells them whether they should or shouldn't? And is it simply just the cost, what it will cost in manpower? Is that the only thing holding it up?

[Don Hahn]

Let me stir it up.

[Alan Hahn]

Please do a little bit. Come on.

[Don Hahn]

Because you mentioned Dolan.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, he's. He's the man who writes his checks.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's what I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Like, what?

[Don Hahn]

Could there be a world where all the basketball people are like, we're good. And Donal goes, no, you're not. You're making this deal. How is that relationship?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, what we've seen.

Since Leon Rose took over it, actually, even before, for Leon Rose, when Phil Jackson came in, is that Dolan has said, I'm out of the basketball business. I hire people and I trust their decisions. And then Phil did what he did and he's like, okay, I can't trust him anymore. And then he put it, put Steve Mills and Scott Perry in charge, and that didn't go well. I can't trust them anymore. Then he brought in Leon Rose and he has, I'm telling you, he has stayed out of it.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, sorry. That's good. Because that's a dynamic that in the past, you, you know, it wouldn't matter what the Knicks thought. It was with Jim Dolan thought.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don Hahn]

But I would think, like everybody else, you've got somebody that you can trust.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. This is.

[Don Hahn]

Have to get as involved.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the most winning that the Knicks have done since the Dolan's first took over the team in the late 80s, late 90s. Yeah, this is the most winning. So how do you not trust it? Where you think I got guys that know what they're doing. I'm going to just. I'M going to ride this. It's, it's been a good business done. It has been. The Knicks and you know every aspect of your business, from the most mundane to the most complex, will operate orders of magnitude better and faster. When you add artificial intelligence. I literally erased to the top. Just like the Knicks trying to get a race to the top. The companies that engage AI first will win. Will that be you or your competitors? You see what I did there? It's like the leverage play. I heard leverage play. Thrive managed AI is your advantage over all your competitors. Founded by tech powerhouses, Thrive part partners with you on smart and secure AI strategies for your business. Then they deploy and manage it for you. Imagine AI solutions working across every part of your business. Automating support, powering chatbots, analyzing competitors, even managing billing collections and orders. That's just a taste of what Thrive managed AI can help you achieve. It makes your talented team even better by letting them focus on what they do best. The race to the top will be won by those who Engage Thrive managed AI first. That needs to be you. Go to ThriveNextGen.com ESPN get started with a complimentary strategy consultation. That's ThriveNextGen.com ESPN ThriveNextGen.com ESPN.

I want to take this call here from Dave in the car. We're going to switch from the Yankees, from the Knicks real quick and go to the Mets because Dave has a very interesting point to make. Go ahead, Dave.

[Caller]

Yeah, thanks for having me on. You know, maybe the Dodgers in some really freakish way because of their ownership, as maniacal as they're buying players and spending money seems maybe they were forward thinking to say, you know what, we better build this thing hardcore before they actually get a cap. And maybe they're actually doing the right thing and maybe teams like the Yankees. I grew up behind Yankee Stadium. I'm a Yankee fan. Maybe the Yankees may want to reconsider trying to be so conservative before there's a potential for any type of lockout. And that's for the Mets fans. I gotta throw an I told you'd so out there. You got this man with all this money and it's just not an easy fix. And the Mets right now in a real bad spot. If this guy didn't want to play for the Mets, how is that going to also resonate throughout the league? If Diaz didn't want to stay with.

[Don Hahn]

Them, I don't think it's a case to stay with them. It was a case of I can make $3 million more a year. And go to a team that's a ready made champion. I don't think Diaz had any problems being a Met. I think the Mets are still a destination. And be careful if this is a long play for the Dodgers. I don't know what kind of cap, if they'll be a cap, but you might not be able to keep any of these players. You might. You might have to be starting, you know, moving some salary around. I don't know if they're going to grandfather anything in Alan.

[Alan Hahn]

They'll have to do so I remember that when they brought the cap into the NHL, there was an amnesty. The NBA did it to an amnesty prop where you can take a big contract and basically just waive it. They give you that opportunity to do that so you can get yourself under the cap. You had to trade some pieces, whatever it is. So I'm sure there'll be some type of program to work it in. But you're right, if you're too far over it, you're going to be kind of screwed.

[Don Hahn]

And the Yankees could be playing the long game saying I want to be at the cap so I don't have to make any tough decisions. When the cap comes in, I'm all set. Everybody else could be scrambling around, but hey, the Dodgers might be scrambling around winning a third consecutive title, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

So it's a little different. It's worth doing it. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

Before you go.

[Don Hahn]

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