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?

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.

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]

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]

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

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.

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.

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.