Ja Morant's Trade Market + NBA Weekend Winners & Losers

Summary

No Dunks – "Ja Morant's Trade Market + NBA Weekend Winners & Losers"

iHeartPodcasts | January 12, 2026 Skeets, Tas Melis, Trey Kirby (T.K.), JD

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Overview

In this episode, the No Dunks crew dives into the breaking news that the Memphis Grizzlies are open to trade offers for Ja Morant, exploring possible trade partners, player value, and what an actual deal might look like. The show also highlights NBA weekend winners and losers, discusses Anthony Davis’s injury status and impact on the trade market, and touches on several buzzy league storylines with their trademark blend of insight and humor.

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Main Topics and Key Insights

1. Ja Morant Trade Market: Shifting Dynamics

Segment Start: [07:20]

• Grizzlies Now Accepting Bids: After months of speculation, Memphis is actively soliciting offers for Ja Morant—a significant change from their initial stance after rumors of a split surfaced in November.

  • T.K.: "He gone." [07:51]
  • Skeets: Both describe the move as likely preempting a deal already in place, with the team publicizing the open market to spark a bidding war.
  • Tas: Notes Morant’s recent injury issues and long-term contract as complicating factors for trade partners.

• Comparison to the Trae Young Situation:
  Ja Morant offers longer-term security (under contract) but more risk due to injury history. The Morant deal could net a higher return than the recent Trae Young trade to Washington—unless his value is deeply depressed due to recent performance/future injury fears.

• Potential Trade Destinations:

  • Heat: Most mentioned; they could offer Tyler Herro, Simone Fontecchio, and possibly Terry Rozier or Nikola Jovic plus a pick. Skeets questions if Miami is holding assets for a bigger fish (i.e., Giannis).
    • Skeets: "Are the Heat just, like, waiting and hoping for Giannis ... I have reservations about the Heat making a move for Ja." [11:12]
  • Kings: Tas’s favorite, though reporting says Kings want to rebuild patiently and aren’t currently interested; still, he remains convinced. [13:21]
  • Nets/Warriors (Three-Team Possibility):
    T.K. proposes a multiteam swap involving Michael Porter Jr., with Ja ending up in Brooklyn and the Warriors landing MPJ.
  • Raptors/Bucks:
    Discussed as possible, but both are viewed as highly unlikely or unwise fits.
  • Timberwolves: Only feasible with a many-player, multi-team trade—too complicated.

• Trade Value & Suitors' Reluctance:

  • T.K.: "It's about which team is willing to take a chance... there's not a lot coming back. That's the risky part here." [20:32]
  • Skeets, Tas, and T.K. all ultimately predict Ja is on a new team by the deadline.

Notable Quote:

• Tas: "It definitely feels like he's played his last game [for the Grizzlies]... that's the big difference between Trae Young and him. Trey was available; Ja has had a tough three years." [09:26]

Team-by-Team Predictions

• T.K.: Brooklyn via 3-team deal
• Tas: Sacramento Kings
• Skeets: Miami Heat

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2. Evaluating Ja Morant's Decline and Trade Value

Segment Start: [17:53]

• On-Court Struggles:

  • Ja’s scoring is at a career low, efficiency particularly bad (21% from three, nearly worst among high-volume shooters), questions about athletic decline vs. effort level.
  • Skeets: "His efficiency at the rim is on a downward trajectory ... but the question is, is that all athleticism ... or is it that he just doesn’t give a fuck and he's mailing it in?" [19:12]
  • Tas counters that in his most recent games, Ja still flashed plenty of athleticism.

• Locker Room Rifts:

  • Per ESPN's Michael C. Wright, Ja still feels alienated from teammates after being isolated during his suspension.
  • Consensus among hosts: Both Ja and the team are ready to move on, and Memphis is just hoping a bidding war emerges.

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3. Anthony Davis Hand Injury: Trade Market Impact

Segment Start: [26:12]

• Severity & Timeline:
  AD suffered ligament damage in his left hand, could miss weeks; Mavericks are seeking multiple opinions to determine if surgery is needed.

  • T.K.: "This is sort of the basketball gods telling the Mavericks, you got to tank. Just give it up this season." [28:00]

• Trade Implications:

  • Both Tas and T.K. think it may make AD more tradable (lower price, teams expect him to miss time anyway).
  • Skeets: "Some people think who's going to trade for him now?" (Trade possibilities debated.)

• Potential Suitors & Analysis:

  • T.K. floats Hawks interest at a discount, though still doesn’t like it.
  • With the Mavericks falling out of contention, other players like Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford could become more available.

Notable Quote:

• Tas: "Every team that trades for him knows that he's going to be hurt at some point." [27:43]

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4. NBA Weekend Winners and Losers

Segment Start: [34:37]

Winners

Anthony Edwards & Wolves:

• Ant hit a game-winning shot over Victor Wembanyama after confusion on the play, and the Wolves rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat the Spurs.
  • Edwards postgame: "Damn, do I got the shot, do I drive on him? I was confused and I ain't never been confused, I ain't gonna lie." [36:28]
• Tas credits Julius Randle’s defense on Wemby late, as well as the Wolves' fourth-quarter resilience.

LA Clippers:

• 4–2 in January, 9–2 in last 11; beat Nets and rallied past the undermanned Pistons.
• Kawhi Leonard is quietly building an All-Star case.
  • T.K.: "Kawhi Leonard’s going to be an All-Star." [40:17]
• Their strong offense, defense, and schedule give them a chance to move into the WC top 10.

Atlanta Hawks:

• Back within a game of .500 in the post-Trae Young era, thanks largely to Dyson Daniels’ triple-double and a resurgent Luke Kennard.
• CJ McCollum, now with Atlanta, is lauded for shot creation; Jalen Johnson called out as an All-Star-level contributor.

Mo Wagner Returns:

• Played for the Magic after a year out, to a big ovation ahead of the NBA’s European games.

Losers

Houston Rockets:

• Dropped three in a row, including a blown 13-point lead vs. Portland, and currently struggling with toughness and ball-handling (VanVleet out, Reed Sheppard limited minutes).
  • Tas: "They just seem to be lacking a little bit of tenacity. That’s what this team is." [51:45]
  • T.K.: "They have no easy buttons ... All their shots are tough." [55:46]

Dennis Schroeder:

• Suspended three games for a tunnel altercation with Luka Doncic weeks prior.
  • T.K.: "Guess it took a while to get the tapes from the bowels of the arena." [59:32]

NBA Ref Bill Kennedy:

• Sidelined indefinitely due to a hamstring injury suffered during game.

Jazz:

• Suffered worst home loss in team history (down 31 after one quarter, lost by 55 to the Hornets). Cody Williams logged a minus-60 plus-minus—the worst recorded since the stat was invented.

Jabari Smith Jr.:

• Struggling shooting, performance plateaued after getting a big contract.

Jalen Brown (Celtics):

• Fined for calling out refs by name after not shooting a single free throw vs. the Spurs—Boston only took 4 FTs to San Antonio’s 20.
  • Brown: "I'm irate at how they officiated the game today ... If we can't get to the free throw line and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, it's hard to win games like that." [65:32]

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Additional Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Wedgie Updates (inside joke):

  • [06:23] Skeets celebrates wedgie number 32 ("Vijay Wedgecomb") and 33—references their tally and grading system.

• Podcasting Nostalgia:

  • [04:21] Group reminisces, 20 years to the day since their first episode, and jokes about being snubbed by the Golden Globes for Best Podcast.

• Anthony Davis Injury Banter:

  • [26:58]
    • Tas: "He can only play with one hand. Jordan Poole can play with two."
    • T.K.: "This is like a Black Friday deal… you realize they jacked up the price yesterday."

• Ref Banter:

  • [78:23] Skeets/Tas joke about Bill Kennedy flying first-class and rib Curtis Blair as his “rookie.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [07:20] Ja Morant Trade Market Opens
• [17:53] Evaluating Morant’s Decline and Trade Value
• [26:12] Anthony Davis Injury and Trade Impact
• [34:37] NBA Weekend Winners & Losers: Anthony Edwards, Clippers, Hawks
• [51:45] Rockets’ Recent Struggles
• [59:32] Dennis Schroeder Suspension
• [64:35] Bill Kennedy Injury
• [65:32] Jalen Brown Calls Out Refs
• [68:00] Jazz Suffer Record Loss

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Tone & Style

The No Dunks pod stays true to its roots—insightful, stat-driven, and speculative, infused with rapid-fire jokes, inside references, and an easy camaraderie. Hosts trade detailed analysis with spicy soundbites ("He gone" / "Delicious" / "Just one team out there, it just takes one"). Tangents on nostalgia, the reality of injury woes, and pop culture (Fast & Furious/Jurassic World crossover?) provide laughs and perspective.

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Notable Quotes (by Timestamp)

• T.K., on Ja Morant: "He gone." [07:51]
• Tas, on Grizzlies' trade posture: "Right. It definitely feels like he's played his last game…" [09:26]
• Skeets, on Miami’s patience: "Are the Heat just like waiting, hoping, praying for Giannis?" [11:12]
• Tas, on Anthony Davis: "Every team that trades for him knows that he's going to be hurt at some point." [27:43]
• Ant Edwards, postgame: "Damn, do I got the shot, Do I drive on him? I was confused and I ain't never been confused, I ain't gonna lie." [36:28]
• T.K., on Kawhi: "Kawhi Leonard’s going to be an All-Star." [40:17]
• Skeets, on Bill Kennedy: "Hey Curtis. Blair, get your ass to the back of the plane!" [78:23]

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Takeaway

The Ja Morant trade market is about to heat up, but the unique risk/reward calculus and limited destinations complicate the picture—crowding the prediction space with “ifs” and three-team formulas. Meanwhile, the NBA regular season grinds on, with teams like the Clippers and Hawks making moves, young stars coming through, and perennial drama (injuries, ref feuds, tunnel altercations) reminding fans why they tune in. As always, No Dunks brings the fire, the facts, and the fun.

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Don't miss tomorrow: NBA insider Michael Scotto joins to update on Morant, the looming trade deadline, and so much more.

Transcript

[Skeets]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Tas Melis]

Guaranteed Human.

[Ad Read / Promo Voice]

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[Skeets]

Good morning, sweet world, and welcome to the no Dunks podcast presented by FanDuel. It's Monday, January 12, 2026. I'm J. Skeez here in the Classic Factory and alongside me, as always, Tas Melis.

[Tas Melis]

Podcast listeners, this is for you.

[Skeets]

Next to him, it's my top shot, hot boy, Trey Kirby.

[Tas Melis]

Ayo, hey, yo.

[Skeets]

And over yonder, making the magic happen, super producer jd Hello. There he is. Here we are. Hello to everybody on YouTube. Hello, podcast listeners. Trey, Kirby, congratulations on your Chicago Bears moving on task fellows. Your Buffalo Bills moving on. Good weekend for the football guys.

[T.K.]

There's Bill.

[Skeets]

Super Bowl.

[Tas Melis]

Let's do it.

[T.K.]

That'd be awesome.

[Skeets]

Okay, do a live watch party here in the Classic Factory for the Super Bowl. All right. Book it. You also were down at the state or. No, not state farm. Mercedes Benz Benz. For Friday night's college football game, saw the Hoosiers. Holy. You watched a lot of football this week. Hoosiers, okay.

[T.K.]

That's their thing. They do this cool IU celebration as well. I'm on board with Indiana football. That's a thing now?

[Skeets]

Okay.

[T.K.]

Because of Mark Cuban.

[Skeets]

Oh, he just pumped a bunch of millions into.

[T.K.]

He sold the Mavs and bought the Indiana Hoosiers football team. Basically college sports. Guess what?

[Tas Melis]

It worked.

[Skeets]

All right. Okay, excellent. But what a comeback from the Bears again against the Packers.

[T.K.]

It was destiny. There's no other way to put it. They had their, like, greatest comeback ever a few weeks ago, the December 22nd game or whatever. Coming back from, you know, 12 points down with two minutes left. And then this was their biggest comeback ever, period, against the Packers. And it happened in the playoffs. Delicious.

[Skeets]

Oh, my God. Delicious. Stadium was rock.

[T.K.]

Oh, my goodness. How many times did we see the guy who was grating cheese?

[Skeets]

I know.

[T.K.]

How many blocks of cheese.

[Skeets]

So much wasted cheese.

[T.K.]

So much wasted cheese. Laura was furious. She's like, I hope the guy in front of him is just sitting there with his mouth open.

[Tas Melis]

That's a great move, though. You bring in a grater and cheese into the stadium. That's pretty cool. Did you see any at the stadium? Did you go to Jacksonville to watch?

[Skeets]

I did not know I was going to ask you what. Do you have any thoughts on the Bills with their comeback win?

[Tas Melis]

This is so sweet. I knew it was happening. I knew Josh Allen was going to be on his back foot with that bomb. That was a sweet pass.

[Skeets]

Did you think. Were you worried that they scored too early because they got this kicker, this guy named Little, that apparently kicked from like 80 yards? So it's like, oh, no, you got to kill more clock before you punch it in. No.

[Tas Melis]

That tush push was too hard. No. I mean, no. Are you worried about that?

[Skeets]

No. I also don't care at all.

[T.K.]

But it is crazy that it would see field goal range be at the 50 yard line that, like the red line coming across the field.

[Skeets]

Okay. It's amazing.

[T.K.]

Don't give him a chance.

[Skeets]

So there's your football talk. More to come as the playoffs move on and maybe the Bears and Bills can advance. We got a lot of basketball to get to here because that was played over the weekend. We also shared something on Sunday. I'm sure a lot of you either watched or listened to in your podcast feed, but if you didn't go check it out. This, the Basketball Jones pilot episode. We unearthed this. Tess had it on a hard drive, which eventually found its way to his computer. Episode 000 basically never released before.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

And it was 20 years to the day yesterday, January 11, 2006, that we sat down in Toronto and tried our hand at podcasting. And so we thought, you know, this would be fun as we celebrate 20 years here this month. Let's throw this up. And people seem to get a kick out of it.

[Tas Melis]

You sound a little bit different.

[Skeets]

I do. You sound identical.

[Tas Melis]

I sound pretty close.

[Skeets]

I was called. People said, I sound like, I was 17 years old, 14 years old, and the lowest number I saw. 12 years old. I was 25, I think, at the time. But, yeah, I definitely sound younger than I am. What a shock.

[Tas Melis]

It's great to hear the. The dogs in. In JD's house or heard some. Could you hear some nails?

[Skeets]

Oh, I didn't hear that. I didn't look that up. I like when the phone rang. Clickety clackety, clickety clacks.

[Tas Melis]

Phone went off. Yeah, it's great.

[Skeets]

JD didn't have a mic. Anyways, history in the making there. I mean, think about this. How crazy is this? 20 years to the day, they hand out a Golden Globe for the first time ever to best podcast. And we started podcasting 20 years before. Like, we were one of eight people podcasting. Nobody knew what it was. We barely knew what it was. We were doing it. That's just crazy to me. And we weren't nominated, unfortunately. So maybe next year, guys, go up against Amy Poehler. Yeah. Congratulations to Amy on the big win.

[Tas Melis]

Well, there's like a $70,000 entry fee or something like that, so.

[Skeets]

Okay. You don't think the sickos in the no Dunks universe would pool together the money and get us, you know, a submission for a nomination next year?

[Tas Melis]

I wouldn't want. I wouldn't want that for them, to be honest.

[Skeets]

Well, let's take all those boys.

[T.K.]

Yeah, exactly.

[Skeets]

I was going to say take all the wo Boy money. Put it to that. And then we get to go. I think you get to go if you're nominated. I don't know what seat they'd put us at way in the back.

[Tas Melis]

You're going on your own dime, though, like it was, so. Yeah, okay. Okay.

[Skeets]

Well, hey, look, we can't win if we're not nominated, JD.

[Tas Melis]

100%, right? 100%.

[Skeets]

We got a whole year to plan this. All right, let's get on it.

[Tas Melis]

All right.

[Skeets]

Should we get into it? Let's do it. On today's show, we got NBA Weekend winners and losers, the latest on Anthony Davis's hand injury, and I guess the Grizzlies are open to trade offers for John Moran. We'll actually start the show with that, but we got two more wedgies on Friday night. Number 32, Vijay Edgecomb. Please call him. Vijay Wedgecomb here with the corner three. And then Ryan Rupert got fouled on his drive to the basket there, but we're counting that. That's number 33. So good stuff as they tick, tick, tick, tick up. And we're on pace for 62. And if you want to check out how we grade every wedgie or how I do, that's on our substack link in the show notes.

[Tas Melis]

We had a Ryan Root pair of them. Nice to see. Yeah. And you said it with a little French Canadian accent.

[Skeets]

It sure did.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Just like our first episode there was a little more Canadian.

[Skeets]

Yeah. Yeah. I definitely sound much more Canadian, I think.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, I do, too.

[Skeets]

Well, we both do that, which makes sense. We are Canadian, especially way back then. Okay, John Morant. Let's start with this. The Grizzlies reportedly opened two trade offers on Ja Morant, a drastic change in tune after initial reports surfaced back in November of a possible divorce between the two. But now, TK they're saying, call us.

[T.K.]

Call us, please.

[Skeets]

What do you got for John Morant? Maybe this is because Trey Young recently traded to the Washington Wizards, but. Yeah. Your thoughts on this report over the weekend.

[T.K.]

He gone.

[Skeets]

I agree.

[T.K.]

That would be my number one report from this report and John Hollinger kind of spelling it out. The way that this thing, these things kind of happen in front offices is that there might already be a deal that the Grizzlies are okay with taking.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

But now that they're saying we're opening up the bidding to whoever they're trying to increase the offers strike up some sort of a bidding war. Because once we get into it here, it's going to be tough to kind of figure out a perfect team for JA Rant. The way it went down with Trey Young was only the Wizards really made sense. When we went through, like, our five deals, we graded them all, kind of. Only the Wizards was the one that seemed to be be a fit for both sides of the trade. That's one more team off the roster for the Grizzlies at this point. So they have to canvas the entire league, figure out if there's anybody who's willing to kick in for John Moran. I wonder what the return will be. And compare to Trey Young, Ja is signed through a longer contract, whereas Trey has a player option for next season. It's more of a rental. So I guess you could say we're getting more stability with Job Morant. We at least know he's going to be around longer for the team. I don't know if that's a good thing for the teams that are trying to trade for him, but definitely feels like the writing's on the wall. I think. Hollinger said he thinks probably John Morant has already played the last game of his career for the Grizzlies. Since he's out with an injury right now, they wouldn't want to risk bringing him back and having him tweak something and being completely untradable. So yeah, feels like this hit on Friday afternoon, I guess pretty soon after we finished recording. Feels like he is going to be on a new team by at least the deadline, if not earlier.

[Tas Melis]

Right. It definitely feels like he's played his last game considering he's a guy the last couple years that has had injury problems. And that's the big difference between Trey Young and him is that Trae Young has been solid in terms of just being able to play basketball games until this season. While John Morant has had a tough three years, it's been almost three years now. 22, 23 was his last All Star season where he was fantastic. This is different. This is about which team is willing to take a chance on John Morant. Because the other big difference, as you mentioned, Trey two guaranteed years after this one versus what Trey was able to to get back from the Wizards for just one year essentially with his player option. That is the big question. It sure feels like it's the Heat if they're willing to take a risk. I don't know if you feel the same way as you did Skeets a couple months ago when you thought go get him. They can bring back John Moran into that culture, you know, of who he is with what we are. But the Sacramento Kings also just seem like that's the right one.

[Skeets]

The reporting on that one though from the Kings is they're not interested and they actually want to do this rebuild the right way and sort of not panic and do something like that. So yeah, for the Heat though, let's talk about that. They could do Tyler Herro and Fontechio. That would get you to the John Morant deal. Others wondering if the league will even allow the Terry Rozier expiring deal to be packaged then you could do that. So Terry Rozier, Fontechio, maybe Jovic or something like a young player that would entice the Grizzlies and then yeah, future first round pick. My thing with the Heat, like that's not a whole lot, of course, like Jesus, Terry Rosier, Fontechio or whatever and then one future first round pick for John Morant. That's good. But are the Heat just like waiting, waiting, waiting for a potential Giannis wants to actually get traded or Giannis is looking to go somewhere else that isn't maybe New York or even just leaving Milwaukee that's like where I would like. I have reservations about the Heat making a move for John Moran because they just seem like they're just like waiting and hoping and praying.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

That they hold on to all these picks and young guys and some of these expiring deals to maybe make a move for Giannis, but kind of like.

[Tas Melis]

They were the rumored team. Like they were the ones that were going to get Damian Miller. Yeah. So here we are in that similar scenario.

[Skeets]

Do you have a team in mind here when it comes to John Morant trade? Because you're right. I'm with you. It's. It's difficult. There's not a lot. There's like four. Maybe I can talk myself. Yeah, there's.

[T.K.]

There's four teams that are sort of could get in the mix. Like the Raptors could get in the mix. They've got the contracts to make it happen. Ja would. I don't know. Is he an upgrade over Emmanuel quickly?

[Tas Melis]

No, he's not.

[T.K.]

Theoretical upgrade over Emmanuel quickly. I don't know why the Grizzlies would want to do that unless the Raptors are willing to throw in a ton of picks on the future. The Bucks are just in the mix for literally anybody at this point. Right now they're pedaling their Kuzma plus a future pick, plus Bobby Portis package. That was the same thing that we talked about with the Hawks. Then the Heat, of course, are there. I don't know that I would want to bring John Morant to Miami necessarily. So for me, I think he will be involved in a three team trade with the Nets and with Michael Porter Jr. I don't exactly know how it all shakes out, but MPJ is. Is going to be traded. That was another thing that Hollinger was reporting. We've talked a lot about how the Nets are targeting first round picks for him. So there's a way for the Nets to get picks for the Nets to get John Morant and for the warriors to end up with mpj, who would be a huge help for them as well. So I think there's some sort of a formulation there. Kaminga would have to be involved. I don't know which team's getting stuck with him, but one of these two teams is and maybe they can cut him in the summer because I messed it up. He doesn't have a player option. It's a team option. So you could involve him in a trade and it's basically a trade exception. So I think he's part of a deal that involves Michael Porter. Junior Ends with John Morant in Brooklyn.

[Tas Melis]

Oh, I don't like it for Toronto. That would be a downgrade for me from Emmanuel Quickley, who actually plays basketball. I mean, he missed one year of his entire career and that was last year when the Toronto Raptors got him essentially that season when Darius Garland went under him in game number one. So he has been solid in terms of playing. I think that would be a big downgrade. I don't see them making that move, the Milwaukee one. I don't see them doing it either. It's just such a huge question mark to try and take that chance with John Moran, the next one. I don't think they do it either. And just because they go into this draft trying to rebuild and they ideally would draft a point guard because those are the top guys at the guys at the top of the draft. Excuse me. So I think they, they just stick with what they got. The Michael Porter Jr. I understand you can, you can overbid for him like the Golden State warriors definitely are trying real hard. Michael Porter Jr. A Trey Murphy if they can convince the New Orleans Pelicans to try and get a wing. But I think the Kings, even though they are not in the reports and I trust John Hollinger with all my life on this one because John Hollinger, as you know, coming from the Grizzlies front office, knows that. Yeah, this deal is probably already done as you brought up Trey signed, sealed and delivered. Whoever it is, it feels like it's the Kings for me. Whether it's, you know, Malik Monk as the lead guy, plus DeRozan plus a pick. It's the pick is the important part. But who's. Who's taking a chance on JA + two years.

[T.K.]

You don't think the Nets would do.

[Tas Melis]

It to trade Michael Porter JR.

[T.K.]

They owe a swap to the Rockets next season, 2027. They just would have Ja not play during the second half of this season and keep their pick for 20 and then hope to be a little bit better so they don't lose a good one in 2027.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, it depends what comes back, but I just see a guy from college coming into this environment and to that locker room that's at the exact same spot playing the exact same role as John Morant. I don't like it doesn't really make sense to me. But yeah, you can. I think Michael Porter Jr. Has been good, but you can. Yeah. Overbid from with other teams, but I don't know if he's a lock to be dealt with at this point.

[Skeets]

Well, that's what Hollinger said in his article and he doesn't usually say something like that. So he says he has a trust. Well, he has a very trusted either.

[T.K.]

He said Patrick Williams was going to be good. Whoops.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Knock him all out of the park. Yeah. Michael Porter Jr. I think the idea is like the Nets are just doing what they did with Mikhail Bridges and selling extremely high. Maybe they get a bunch of draft capital for maybe it's a desperate team like the warriors or the Bucks or whoever that just offers a little too much where you're like, okay, we can't turn that down and we'll have Michael.

[Tas Melis]

Scotto on tomorrow who's a hoopside NBA insider who has said, Listen, Michael Porter Jr. Is not going to be dealt immediately. But they're listening. They are listening. So we shall see what he has to say about that.

[Ad Read / Promo Voice]

The playoffs start this weekend and now you can trade on football legally nationwide on Kalshee. Right now Pittsburgh is trading at 38 to beat Houston. That means a hundred dollar trade pays out 264 with a win on Cowshi. You're trading against peers in a live market, meaning there's no house. And as the odds change, you can buy in or out of your position all game long. And for a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code IHEART to get $20 when you trade 100k a l s h I Kalshi trade on.

[Tas Melis]

Anything hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and.

[Skeets]

I'm Cal Penn and we are the hosts of Irsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Tas Melis]

This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[Skeets]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound. Especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Tas Melis]

Listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Skeets]

Per ESPN and Sham's report. You won't believe this. The Grizzlies are prioritizing in a drama rant. Trade young players and draft capital. Just once I want to see a report that has a team not wanting those things. I want it to be like we want really ass old guys and we don't want your dumb ass picks. I just want to see that one day. But we'll see what the market sets for John Moran's value. Now. One thing that John Morant unfortunately has a similarity to Trae Young and his year in Atlanta before he got Delta Washington. Is it just. He is having the worst season of his pro career here. I mean this is very, very bad. John Morant's scoring has dropped to 19 points per game, lowest since his rookie season. His rookie of the year win, you got to go way back then shooting a career lower 40% from the field, 21% from deep. I rounded up to give him 21%. And among 134 players with as many shot attempts as John Moran this season, he ranks 133rd in effective field goal percentage. He's basically the worst sort of high volume shooter in the league. It's been that bad.

[Tas Melis]

And one game where he stopped trying, the one against the Los Angeles Lakers way back when and he's only played essentially like 12 games since that happened on Halloween. So you know, he's rub people the wrong way. Unlike, you know, Trey. It's very different rub the wrong way that Trey Young had.

[Skeets]

Yeah. And with jaw like he's visibly lost some athleticism here now due to injuries maybe over the last couple years. Yes. His efficiency at the rim, it's like on a downward trajectory, as are his attempts even just getting there. But the question is, is that all athleticism that he's completely lost because of these injuries or is it he just doesn't give a fuck and he's mailing it in. We've seen this with other superstars. It would not surprise anyone if he's dealt, when he's dealt that suddenly the highlight dunks are back. You're kidding yourself if you think he suddenly can't jump anymore.

[Tas Melis]

Because I don't buy doing it in games.

[Skeets]

It's a bit of both. I think. It is maybe a little.

[Tas Melis]

No, no, no. But, no. But his most recent game, he, he played a couple times. The Lakers. Philly were his last game as, as the calendar turned. He looked freaking athletic.

[Skeets]

He looked better. Yeah, look.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, he has still got that athleticism. It's, it's. I guess it's a little different in that trace.3 point percentage has dropped this year and last year, like job. When he gets out there, he looks freaking great.

[Skeets]

I mean, something I would not go down.

[T.K.]

He doesn't have one good game. He had a 40 point game saying, bye bye, Memphis.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. This season of his 12 games, no, at the beginning of the season, his first game of the season was fricking great.

[T.K.]

He's shooting 21% this year. The previous four seasons, including this season, is like 30%. Like he can't shoot. That's never going to come around. And he's not the same athlete that he once was.

[Tas Melis]

No, no, listen, it's been three years of bad John Moran, but there are good, they're good games. There's some, I think, unlike Trae Young, that's dropped off a little bit there. There's one team out there, it just takes one that says, whoa, this is the guy. And that's why the package of Michael Port Jr. Whoever it is, whether it's a three team deal, there's not a lot coming back. That's the risky part here.

[Skeets]

League sources told ESPN's Michael C. Wright that Ja Morant still hasn't gotten over the suspension earlier this season because he felt alienated by his teammates who were told to leave him alone so he could work through his issues that led to the suspension. So that was, remember, that did happen this year too. And I think he's held onto that. It sounds like John Moran has not let that go, that he felt sort of the franchise and whatever they told his teammates and all that to like just leave him alone, stay away from him. So he's pissed off. And look, we've said this for a long time. We've been early to this. John Moran's going to be dealt and it's just a matter of time. And I'm with utk, I'm with utess, I'm with Hollinger. They have a deal. It's probably not sexy. It's not probably good, whatever the return is. And now they're hoping, which is why we get this report from Choms. Hey, we're open to trade offers. So, you know, maybe another team's like, ah, well, let's call and see what they're offering. Do we have a pick? We're fine with or another pick or whatever. Young player. Yeah. Can we talk ourselves into going with him? Sure. But you guys have listed all the teams. The only other one I see is like, would the Wolves get into the drama ramp business because they need a point guard. It's very difficult to get there. Second apron team, all that. You could probably has to be a third or fourth team involved. Nasrid would be moving, I would assume, if you're to try and Get John Moran on your team. I don't see it. I don't see it happening. So.

[T.K.]

No, it's too complicated for them. They have to give up too much. As in literal number of players.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

Same as the Trey Young thing.

[Skeets]

Yep, yep, yep. And you, you said no to the Raptors so quickly, Abaji. And let's even say a lottery protected first round pick, Tasmo says no, thank you.

[Tas Melis]

I do not think they do that.

[Skeets]

You're concerned about just complete no shooting on the team and stuff like that? Like on a team that already struggles.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, they're a team that operates in the middle ground. And John Morant is not a three point shooter. That is clear. That's. I think that's clear after his entire career. So yeah, it would be difficult to insert him into a locker room that's clicking. We're going to get to some beautiful work here against Philadelphia 76ers where everybody off that bench. Everybody off that bench. They're playing Elijah Martin who's balling. And to just throw John Moran into the locker room I think is bonkers. It doesn't make any sense to me. That's why I think the second Sacramento Kings are the team.

[Skeets]

But okay, so it sounds like, Trey, you've got John Morant finding his way to the Brooklyn Nets. You've got still believing that maybe John Morant goes to the Sacramento Kings.

[Tas Melis]

I think so.

[Skeets]

I'll stick with Miami Heat again. I think it's a big unknown whether or not they can even use that Terry Rozier expiring deal with him on investigation and all this.

[T.K.]

But it's basically like, try it.

[Skeets]

Yeah, I guess call it in. Yeah. So I'll go with him. Finding his way to Miami.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Hashtag Heat culture. Put it to the test with John Morick. Could go very badly in south beach, but maybe it doesn't. Maybe it works.

[T.K.]

Maybe it will be good for half a season.

[Skeets]

Yeah, sure.

[T.K.]

But then the years after is what I would be a little concerned about. It also makes me wonder with JA likely going to be traded in the next month. Here is Jaren Jackson Jr. A guy that somebody could hop in and steal. He definitely feels more gettable. The reporting is that the Grizzlies want to rebuild around Jaren Jackson Jr. They gave him an extension in the summer. I don't think it happens this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if he looks around in the summer. He's like, bain's gone. Jaws gone.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

Why am I here?

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

So I would not be surprised if he moves during 2026, though unlikely, I think at the trade deadline.

[Tas Melis]

And here's a reason that Terry Rosier's contract could be guaranteed, because it's all up to the NBA League office as to whether he will be or not. But his contract just became fully guaranteed after they let him stay with the team after Wednesday, January 7th. That was when his contract became fully guaranteed this season. So they could have saved a little bit of money if they released him. If they were allowed to release him. I guess they were allowed to. Yeah. But at the same time, his number became bigger. Bigger here. So 26 mil expired. Yeah. So maybe that. Maybe that helps out if they can. Yeah, that's a big number for Terry Rosier.

[Skeets]

In other sort of trade rumors or reports, the Pelicans, I guess, are making it known that a number of the guys on their roster will not be on the trading block as we get closer to the February 5 deadline. According to Chris Haynes, Pelicans will not make Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and then their two rookies. This is not a surprise. Derek Queen or Jeremiah Fierce available for trades. You scoffed at me a little bit there, tk you don't buy it?

[T.K.]

Nobody's available until the team says they're available. Nobody's going to trade anybody. But I think Zion would be available if the right package comes along. And I definitely think Herb Jones would be the next most available as well. I'm comparing him with Trey Murphy. I think the Pelicans are more likely to keep Murphy than they are Herb. Herb's a guy. I think that's definitely gettable. But, you know, we're a month out from the trade deadline. You have to act like you're keeping them so you get good deals.

[Skeets]

Yes, yes. And also there's a bunch of names I didn't list there. Or Chris Haynes didn't list Jordan Poole.

[T.K.]

You can have Jordan Poole get you a DK if you want.

[Skeets]

Jose Alvarado. We already talked about him maybe being linked to the Knicks. So we'll see what the Pelicans do here as we move forward.

[T.K.]

Saw Jordan Poole made a left handed three pointer this weekend.

[Skeets]

Yes.

[T.K.]

So you're getting two players for one if you trade for Jordan.

[Skeets]

Pool point. All right, let's move off of John Morant. There'll be more Morant talk as we move forward. The Dallas Mavericks are likely to be without Anthony Davis for several weeks after he suffered ligament damage in his left hand in Thursday's game against the Jazz. You guys were downplaying it on Friday. Everyone's like, ah, he fought through it. He'll be fine. No, this is Anthony Davis, baby.

[T.K.]

That's Anthony Davis, baby.

[Skeets]

The team announced that AD is currently seeking multiple opinions to figure out whether he needs surgery, but he's expected to miss extended time. Even if he, you know, decides a non surgical route here like this is looking like weeks, if not longer. So another setback here. Tassen could drastically change the impact of the trade market here too.

[Tas Melis]

Maybe it helps every other team that wants Anthony Davis won't have to give up as much. He can only play with one hand. Jordan Poole can play with two. This guy can only play with one right now. So looking forward to the reports, really it's about whether you, whether you think this hand injury is going to last forever. We know Anthony Davis ain't playing every single game. So that's what it comes down to, really, the team that's willing to, to give up something for Anthony.

[Skeets]

So you only think this changes the trade package being offered for Anthony Davis? You don't think this completely puts to bed Anthony Davis being traded here in the next month? Some people do. People like, why the hell who's going to trade for him now?

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Well, unless you're, I guess, projecting a little further into the future. Yeah. And getting him even lower. Like you could be right.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, we just every, every team that trades for him knows that he's going to be hurt at some point. I don't know how long.

[Skeets]

So it's better that he's hurt now.

[Tas Melis]

For the package coming back. Yeah, possibly.

[T.K.]

Bag is worth two in the bush, but this is for injuries to his hand.

[Skeets]

What do you think?

[T.K.]

Maybe Tass is right. Maybe this is like a Black Friday deal where you're like, wow, what a great price. But then you realize they jacked up the price yesterday and it's only a good deal for today. And you're still going to have it long term because you still got to pay Anthony Davis. But it definitely wasn't a good sign when he showed up to games with a hurt hand wearing a sling. Nothing's happened surgery wise, but he can't even mobilize this thing. So I suppose a team, if they're interested in Anthony Davis, could buy even lower knowing they got to give him an extension. Pretty much. But for next season, like I don't, I've said a billion times, I don't think the Hawks should do this, period. But if they can do it for super cheap and they can get him on the books for next season, maybe they want to do it. I don't like it, but I do think this is sort of the basketball gods telling the Mavericks, you got a tank. Just give it up this season. It ain't going to happen. They're three games out of the 10th seed. They're 10 and 10 when Anthony Davis plays this season, 4 and 15 without him. So Anthony Davis needing surgery on his hand just means to me, klay Thompson, you're super available. Daniel Gafford, you're super available. These are guys that were already going to be on the trade block, but now I think that they kind of have to be traded because the Mavs might not be able to get great value back for him, for ad. We've already been told the packages aren't going to be all that sexy going forward. And now he's gonna have an injury likely at the trade deadline. So delaying his start for whichever team, which is the same thing that happened when he got traded to the Mavericks. He was hurt. They had to bring him back a little bit early. And then guess what, he got hurt again. So I do think it's over for the Mavericks this season. I had a little confidence that they could make a run at the play in tournament, but if AD's out, it's not going to happen. So I do think he could still be traded, but you can get them for even cheaper right now. Except for, of course, the massive contract you have to give him at 34 years old.

[Tas Melis]

Well, yeah, there's that part. Do you need to give him an extension or do you just have how it works when you make a trade for Anthony? Yeah, you never know.

[T.K.]

No, that's how it works, especially with the rich Paul clients. Like, he gets his guys paid.

[Tas Melis]

$120 million is owed already for the next two seasons.

[Skeets]

Yeah, he wants an extension of like four years, 280 million.

[Tas Melis]

We all do. Yeah, I mean, that's. That's.

[Skeets]

I gotta get me a rich Paul. Yes, we do.

[T.K.]

We gotta sign with Clutch Sports.

[Skeets]

We'll see on AD here. But these guys sounding like, yeah, they think he still might be moved even though he's hurt now and it sounds like he's gonna be out for a while.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Is he consulting all of these doctors to just get him on the court as early as possible? If they say, oh, you don't need surgery, you can just fight through it. Just so he plays a game before trade deadline? I suppose that's a possibility.

[Skeets]

So he can hurt his other hand or another body limb.

[T.K.]

He's already got hurt eyes and a hurt hand. Yeah, his legs are okay right now, though.

[Tas Melis]

Well, he's saving his eyes this season.

[T.K.]

That's true. He's saving his eyes.

[Tas Melis]

He's worn goggles every single game. He got the Mavs training staff fired this off season. I wouldn't say it's just him, but as you said, he came back a little early. Nico Harrison said, oh, bad move. Don't like that. Get out of here. Training staff before he was fired. A lot of things going on there in Dallas.

[Skeets]

And you do wonder now what impact this has on Kyrie Irving potentially coming back or not. I've always been on record that we're not going to see probably Kyrie Irving or very, very, very little of them. You guys were more like, no, he's probably going to come back. But now maybe now with AD if he's shut down, if he's moved, if they lean into a tank. Why the hell would you be rushing him back at his age to potentially first off, get re injured and just like help your chances in the lottery as well? You don't want Kyrie helping you win games. Yeah, we'll see.

[Tas Melis]

Cooper Flag needs some help too. Anthony Davis went out. Cooper Flag, bad game. Who knows? Who knows?

[Skeets]

We're going to get to NBA weekend, winners and losers. But first, a quick break for Dom Toretto.

[T.K.]

It's all about the nos. But on FanDuel, it's all about the boost. Because game days mean your chance to boost your bet and make every play pay off. That's right, all customers get a 25% profit boost on NBA parlay and single game parlay bets. Tonight I got Dom winning with Brian hitting the NOS first and ja rule not finishing it plays pays one plus 160 on fanboom.

[Skeets]

Oh, pretty good odds.

[T.K.]

Yeah. Meet me down at the quarter mile track later where the pace is fast, the games are furious. And with FanDuel, you got more ways to make every win even bigger. So lock in your bets, boost your odds, and make every night count with FanDuel, official sports betting partner of the NBA.

[Skeets]

Are we waiting on another Fast and Furious movie?

[T.K.]

Yes.

[Skeets]

Okay. Yeah. So Fast Friends will be back to recap another movie.

[Tas Melis]

Well, what are we. Is it coming?

[Skeets]

Hold on. He just told me the movie was coming. What are you talking about?

[Tas Melis]

I don't know, Trey.

[T.K.]

Oh, 2027 J.D.

[Skeets]

Oh, that's soon.

[T.K.]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

You are an optimist.

[Skeets]

So tell me why you don't think it's coming.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, they haven't shot anything.

[T.K.]

Oh, you think it matters what they shoot for these movies?

[Tas Melis]

Well, kinda.

[T.K.]

They're just gonna have to shoot something.

[Skeets]

No, I'll just do it in AI.

[T.K.]

At this point, I guarantee they could hack together a movie with what they've already filmed.

[Tas Melis]

I mean, fair, fair point.

[T.K.]

They made a whole movie after one of the lead actors died. Yeah, they just found his. We got his brother, put his face on him.

[Skeets]

Yeah, that's a good point.

[Tas Melis]

I mean, the character is still alive as well.

[T.K.]

He just drove off.

[Skeets]

Yeah, right. Oh, yeah. Very emotional ending. Fast Friends. We did do a recap on every Fast and Furious movie. It's up here on no dunks. It's on YouTube. Just search for it. We also did Jurassic Park. So what comes first? A new Jurassic park movie or a new Fast and Furious movie Movie.

[Tas Melis]

Oh, fanduel. Get on this one.

[Skeets]

Wow. There you go.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, I'm hitting Jurassic hard.

[Skeets]

Okay. Sounds like Trey's leaning FF first.

[T.K.]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Wow.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Yeah. I think 27.

[T.K.]

They're going head to head. 20. 27.

[Skeets]

I mean, let's be honest.

[T.K.]

Jurassic Fury.

[Skeets]

Bring them together.

[T.K.]

Furious World Rebirth.

[Tas Melis]

Hell yeah. Hell yeah. I mean, they've been to space.

[Skeets]

Exactly.

[Tas Melis]

Why not?

[Skeets]

That'd be sick. Like Dom Toretto.

[Tas Melis]

Literally.

[Skeets]

Like we could beat this dinosaur in a race.

[T.K.]

Let's go, Dom. Out running a pack of cephalosaurs.

[Skeets]

Fighting like a Tyrannosaurus rex.

[T.K.]

I would actually like to see the rock fighting the headbutt ones. Oh yeah, that'd be a good scene.

[Skeets]

I can't remember the name of that. We call them Friar Tuck. Okay, NBA weekend winners and losers. We're doing one batch each year task. Get us started. Your big winner of the weekend.

[Tas Melis]

Well, Anthony Edwards hit a game winner pass Victor Wembanyama. Easy winner. You could see him line him up. They got the switch on him and he just went side to side. He didn't know what he was doing. You could read his quote after the game. He said, damn, do I got the shot, Do I drive on him? I was confused and I ain't never been confused, I ain't gonna lie. But he was able to drive right past him. Then there was another seven footer there. Luke Cornett, no problem. Scores right over top of him. So huge winner for the Timberwolves. Just beating the San Antonio spurs there. I thought Randall guarding Wemby was the big difference in the fourth quarter. That Julius Randle really got super physical with him because Rudy Gobert was tossed from the game about seven minutes left when he stepped under Victor Wembanyama's shot. It was so funny to see Rudy Gobert, walk away from that and say, video review. Video review as in, I didn't go under him, and then I'm get tossed for that same thing just because he got under him. Julius Randall did a really, really good job. And then as you saw, Victor Wembanyama tried to make a game winner over Julius Randall. His quote was, all you can do is pray. So I'm not about to sit here and block your shot. But he just played him. I just played him more physically. And that's exactly what happened. The Wolves come back in the fourth quarter was classic wolves. They started the game down 16 0. They trailed by as many 19 by 19 points and then stormed back in the. In the fourth to do it. That's. That's what it was. And then everybody contributing a big DiVincenzo 3 Jaden fade on WEMBY. Under a minute left. Jay McDaniels has been great, and that's what they do. That's what they do. They come through in clutch minutes. Now, they lost a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers this weekend where five guys score 20 points against them. You can say, yeah, they're a loser of the weekend. But just. Just seeing Anthony Edwards do that, he's a winner. He's a winner because he adds that to the resume. And this team, as questionable as they are, as questionable as we see them against sub 500 teams, they're fourth in the Western Conference right now.

[Skeets]

Yeah, they're 16 and six since Thanksgiving. So solid.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, they started getting better earlier this season than they did last season because they did that after, you know, in March, essentially, when they went 16 and 4 to close the season. So, yeah, they're looking good.

[T.K.]

It does seem like the Timberwolves generally take a little bit of time to get roll, and I think it's because both Randall and Gobert are like tricky offensive players to make fit with the styles that they play. But once they finally start clicking, they can look pretty good on offense. That was just a clutch flagrant foul from Victor or from Rudy Gobert because he was getting torched completely by Wemby. Wemby was giving him every kind of basket that he could possibly have. But kind of the secret sauce against Wemby is to have a smaller guy who's super physical and can get up underneath his center of gravity, which is what Randall and definitely what he did on that last play when Wemby just couldn't shake him at all. So awesome stuff from a physicality standpoint. Zero airspace from Randall. He really stepped up when The Timberwolves needed him. Just making defensive plays. I thought that was really cool. I can't believe the Timberwolves shot 30% from three in this game. It felt like they were on fire. They only made 12 threes but they got enough from DiVincenzo and Nas Reed. Those guys are out there basically to give some space for Ant and for Randall and and Gobert to do some stuff inside. So enough three point shooting and yeah you're right, it was looking like the Wolves wanted to be losers of the weekend. That was an ugly loss against the Cavs and then they were down 16 to 0 to start this one and looking kind of dead in the water for a huge chunk of time. But a nice win. Timberwolves took forever to get their first win against the 500 team. Now they're 9 and 10. I would have to go back and check the old stats, but my guess is that they started like 07 against 500 teams which would mean they've been a lot better basically since December.

[Skeets]

We're definitely struggling. Hell of a shot for Matt. Always good for a post game quote, isn't he? He might be the best. I just like how like I'll just honest and really is when talking to the to the media after the game. So the Wolves and Anthony Edwards specifically get our first winner. What about you tk? Where are you going?

[T.K.]

Two wins this weekend. You got to watch out for the January Clippers. The middle of the season, that's when the Clippers thrive. They suck to start the season. You don't trust them in the playoffs, but right now it's Clippers time. They beat the Nets easily on Friday. Had a comeback win against the shorthanded Pistons on Saturday. Clippers trailed by 14 early in the fourth quarter and got it back within like two minutes. Basically because the Pistons had nobody play. And Cade's out, Duran's out. That's their majority of their offense. No Tobias Harris. It was just brutal turnovers for Detroit. Throwing it straight out of bounds or straight to the Clippers. They could not stop fouling. Clippers finished the game on a 28 to 8 run to get the win. They're 4 and 2 in January. They've won nine of their last 11 games. They're only a game and a half behind Memphis for 10th in the Western Conference. We know Memphis is looking at trading John Morant. That means it doesn't really hurt their team because the guy doesn't play anyways and doesn't have an effect when he does. But I do think The Clippers can catch the Grizzlies in their last 11 games. LA is third in offense, seventh in defense, second in net rating. They've got one of the easiest schedules left in the Western Conference. And Kawhi Leonard continues to dominate. 26 points against the next 26 against the Pistons as well. Both on 60% plus shooting. Is that 28, 6 and 4 this season. 50, 38, 94 shooting splits. He's played 22 straight games. Kawhi Leonard's going to be an All Star.

[Skeets]

Wow. Seven time All Star coming up.

[T.K.]

It's not all the real possibility. Lucas played one more game than he.

[Tas Melis]

Has in the home arena.

[T.K.]

Yeah, yeah.

[Skeets]

He should be an All Star into it though. Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously it'll be a selection. He's not getting in there with the starter votes. We find those out on Wednesday, well, we'll learn. Luca is obviously an All Star starter, I'm sure. Well, we learn of the fan returns, I should say, and then obviously figure out the whole media and player votes of it all. But I think it's announced on this Wednesday, the starters. But yeah. Do you think Kawhi makes it in a crowded All Star conversation?

[Tas Melis]

He's playing for the team. United States of America. I think so. I think there's a chance he might.

[T.K.]

Be playing for United States or America. They got two teams maybe.

[Skeets]

Who knows? Hadn't thought about that. Otherwise it's just USA1, USA2. Yeah, I like that.

[Tas Melis]

Do that with different colored jerseys for sure. Yeah, yeah. Kawhi has been. He's been old Kawhi. And I think that trickles down to guys like John Collins. John Collins has been playing his best ball. He looks like the guy that they traded forward. They traded Norman Powell. He looks so good. His numbers In January, ridiculous. Six games played, he's only shooting 72% from the field. He just looks super, super good. It's trickling down. So Kawhi. Yeah. I'd have to look through every single guy that's being selected, but I don't see why he wouldn't.

[Skeets]

Well, you might as well start doing that because I'm thinking later this week we should start doing our legit All Star selections. Once we know the starters, it's always nice to get those 10 names out of the way and then we can start debating the remaining 14, right? I guess.

[T.K.]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Skeets]

If there's 24 selected. Yeah. So maybe we'll do that on Thursday or Friday later this week. So, yeah, you start thinking. You start looking at that list you start wondering if Kawai is going to make it over. Who?

[T.K.]

I don't know.

[Skeets]

Denny Avdia.

[T.K.]

Booker.

[Skeets]

Booker.

[T.K.]

You know those are got Jamal Murray are guys that are far down the ballot for the Western Conference.

[Skeets]

Right, Right. Shen Goon, he's in. He's injured though.

[T.K.]

Came back last night, but. Oh, you did a little, little resteroo I thought. Kwai's been awesome.

[Skeets]

This is the most he's ever scored.

[T.K.]

Yeah. And he has been leading the Clippers to wins and there's guys out right now. So I don't think think his games played are going to look ridiculous by the time we get to the All Star break. And by then the Clippers might be in the top 10 in the Western. Yeah, it's not very impressive, but it's better than not.

[Skeets]

Yeah, the record is the only thing keeping him out of an automatic All Star selection. That's it. And that's fair. I mean I think we have to do that when you have so many guys that are viable.

[T.K.]

People are saying Larry Parker is a lock and no.

[Skeets]

Yeah, lock. Whoa. I wouldn't go that far.

[T.K.]

I'm just telling you what people are saying.

[Skeets]

Well, I think Kawhi will be above Lowry marketing if coaches are selecting in my opinion, but we'll see. All right, I have a winner of the weekend. And don't look now, but the Atlanta Hawks are back to within one game of 500. Yes, that's right. They picked up two more wins over the weekend in the post Trae Young era. And a lot of it was in large part to their very strong guard play Friday night. Dyson Daniels triple double for this guy. 17 points, 11 boards, 10 assists. Hawks used a huge fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets, outscored them 36 to 12 in the final 12 minutes. Now Denver is still, you know, missing a million guys, but the Hawks did the work there in the fourth, got the victory and then on Sunday night, Nikhil Alexander Walker scored 24 points. A bunch of Hawks scored in double digits as Atlanta beat the Warriors 124, 111. Luke Canard, his best game by far. He was feeling of the season. This guy was looking like frickin Klay Thompson I guess there in Golden State. He had six three pointers off the bench. And like a couple weeks ago they basically had to tell Luke Kennard, Quinn Snyder and the staff and maybe other teammates like hey man, when you're out there you gotta shoot. You're a three point shooter. You ain't out there for defense or really even moving the ball or anything. Like you got to shoot the ball because he does it for a really good three point shooter. He'll go many stretches and a lot of games where he just doesn't get a lot of three pointed shot attempts up. He's starting to let it fly here and obviously this was a huge game. He was knocking them down, they were finding them. CJ McCollum played, so did Corey Kispert. Not much from Kispert. CJ looked good in limited time off the bench. 12 points, couple assists to Luke Canard. He had four assists total plus 19. And yeah, this is great. This is a good start here for the Hawks. Post Trae Young being traded as they try and get back to 500 or at least one game within 500. And they're there and they're looking solid with the guard play especially. Nikhil had a good game on Friday night too. And then Jalen Johnson, I mean he's an all star and he filled up the box score both games.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. And fitting. It's a perfect lineup for the Golden State Warriors. Lineup that's too teeny tiny was great. Yeah. Looked really, really good. Luke Canar looks so good. I think he basically saying Corey Kispert ain't taking my minutes. I know he can shoot, but these are my shots. Corey Gisberg got out there. But CJ McCollum really liked the coming out, running out of the the hall in onto the field. He had a good smile.

[Skeets]

Onto the field.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, onto the field, onto the court. It feels weird running from the hallway. It's a court, but it just feels like you're running onto the field. Yeah. They obviously were perfect opponents for them.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

As you said, Nuggets lacking. Although they wouldn't got to win against the Bucks. And as I said, warriors are too teeny tiny to play against this athletic team.

[Skeets]

They don't need Anthony Davis is what you're saying. Or any other big. The Hawks do when they play teams like this because a Kangu can cook as obviously a small ball center. This is not an issue. And I thought he played well and just C.J. man, like his, his pull up game that unlocks something for the Hawks. Like it's like a lot of guys are driving and stuff like that, but he's unconscious and he is like bucket. You know, he's like a bit streaky at times but he can get to a shot and the guy can still score even at his age. Especially with the bad year Trey Young was having. This is an ink. This is a Value play here. This is a great AD this season. Maybe not moving forward. Trae Young, better player, but not right now. So C.J. close. I mean, Snyder closed with C.J. mcCollum or Vitcre Chi. You're going to see a lot of that.

[T.K.]

I hope so.

[Skeets]

Yeah, you would think so. So he came off the bench in this one. I don't know if they'll continue to do that or he'll be starting, but he'll be closing games regardless.

[T.K.]

Yeah. Will he start for Vit Kreche? I mean, I guess Porzingis is out as well, but who knows? Literally, who knows with Porzingis? I imagine CJ will start some of these games, but I think he will often finish these games as a ball handler and a shooter. Dyson Daniels has really regressed on the offensive end this season, but I do think that McCollum can play alongside Daniels or alongside Nikhil Alexander Walker, depending on whatever Quinn Snyder wants to go with. You know, Risa Shea will be able to play eventually as well. So they've got options for starters there. But the Nard Dog is an interesting player. The guy's taken 3.33 point attempts per game this season. He only takes wide open threes unless he's on fire and then he lets it go in a split second. Just got to change the brain a little bit and always let it go split second. His percentage would go down and that's why he only takes the open ones. But you know, 42% on more threes is better than 48% on few threes.

[Skeets]

I've watched a lot of Hawks, especially earlier this year, and it's like he is pointless out there otherwise if he's not shooting. Yeah. And you can see them, they tell them because you're good, man, you gotta fire it up. Yeah. Even if it's a fighter.

[T.K.]

He's got a slow release though.

[Skeets]

He does, he does. And he's not obviously athletic at all compared to. To the rest of these NBA players. But.

[Tas Melis]

But he's got to shoot.

[T.K.]

He's.

[Tas Melis]

He's had no problem shooting it in the past. Yeah, he's taken six threes a game. Been the league leader in three point percentage of those years. Those are. He's led it. How many years he's led and he's leading it this year at 47.5. And he's led it two other seasons when he had, you know, six ripping from his hand in one year. So he can, he can. It's just, it's surprising really.

[Skeets]

Other winner just Quickly here before we go to losers. Mo Wagner, he's back, man. He got a rousing ovation when he came off the Magic bench late in the first quarter against the Pelicans. Played 10 minutes, first NBA game in more than a year for him. And then now he's on his way back to Europe. He's going back to Germany with his Magic teammates as they're going to play later this week in Berlin. They eventually are going to play a game in London. Magic versus the Grizzlies in a two game set over there in Europe. So Franz not back. Mo is, though. I hadn't seen him in a long time.

[T.K.]

Yeah, I guess that's good for the fans in Berlin because no John Morant, no Franz Wagner, right? Kylo's stinking it up right now. But at least Mo is back.

[Skeets]

Mo Wagner's back, baby. Now you got Tristan da Silva. Who else am I forgetting?

[Tas Melis]

Is there any other German Anthony Black can speak German?

[Skeets]

That's what it is. That's what it is. I knew there was another time he.

[Tas Melis]

Spoke it when he was a kid when he had to live there because his dad was playing basketball there. But he only lived there for I think like three years. Does he still have it? He will be asked.

[Skeets]

We're gonna test him for sure.

[Tas Melis]

Apparently he could speak it and no problem. When he was three years old, he spoke it in his dreams at times. That's a story. It's apparently it's real. But guys coming back. Grant Williams also coming back for the Charlotte Hornets. You know he came back from ACL injury. He hadn't played in over a year. He played this weekend. Good to see Drew Holiday back. It's been a while. Come back for Portland. Guys are coming back.

[Skeets]

Shangun, you did say did make his return. He wasn't gone that long.

[Ad Read / Promo Voice]

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[Tas Melis]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms.

[Skeets]

And I'm Kalpen and we are the hosts of Irsay the audible and iheart.

[Tas Melis]

Audiobook Club this week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[Skeets]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you.

[T.K.]

Right into the stands.

[Skeets]

You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Tas Melis]

Listen to Hearsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Skeets]

Let's do NBA Weekend Losers. Taz, who you got?

[Tas Melis]

Rockets. Changuna's back. But they're not winning. They have lost three in a row now. They just seem to be lacking a little bit of tenacity. That's what this team is. And the ball handling thing, we'll get to that. Portland and the Kings beat them this weekend. Surprising on Friday against Portland. They're up 13, beginning of the fourth quarter and then they just didn't have any fight and they didn't drive. Imo Ducko was asked about after he said we don't have mental toughness. I took the 37 year old out for a couple minutes, Kevin Durant, and we just didn't have it. The guys he was poking at were Reed shepherd primarily, I think, and then it was a man Thompson, Dorian Finney Smith, Jabari Smith and Stephen Adams out there. But Reed shepherd, he kind of got yanked in the second game of this weekend and that's why I think he was going directly at Reed Shepherd. Now Tar Eason got injured as well in that first game against Portland and Jabari Smith took his minutes in that fourth quarter where he was super, super, super stinky over seven from three in the quarter, over, oh, from eight overall in the game. Just a bad game. So then you think, okay, here comes Sengun for game number two against the Kings. All right, they should be back. It didn't happen. They started Aaron Holiday and as I said, Reed shepherd was really kind of locked down to the bench. He only played about 14 minutes in this game. I, I think, I think he made oka is trying to go at him and you could see as we've talked about Fred Van Vliet, the ball handlers that are lacking on this team with Van Vliet's injury, they can be had if they are Pressured hard enough and they're if they are fought hard enough. And that was the surprising thing. Maybe it was Tar Eason not being out there, but the Sacramento Kings had a higher fight level. They just wanted it a little bit more. The offensive glass was ridiculous. 30 to 18 and second chance points. You think that's what the Rockets do. They should be able to take care of that. But Dylan Cardwell was out there grabbing boards. That's what he does in the NBA. That's what he's out there for. Maxime Reyno had three, Cardwell had nine. I don't know if I mentioned that number. Achua had three. Russell Westbrook, of course going against Kevin Durant, he had a couple of. So just bad to see them overall the entire game they just fell apart. They didn't have fight. And Jerari Smith, again, another bad game. 4 of 13. That's kind of a concern. He's shooting 34.4% for the entire season from 3. It's a little surprising. I mean that's why kind of what he shoot throughout his career, but it is a little surprising. They've given him the keys. He has been cold and a man. Thompson had a good game in that one. But I don't know how concerned you are, Skeets, about the Houston Rockets. You picked them as a team to get to the NBA Finals. They're literally seventh in the Western Conference now. They've had a really road heavy schedule. So they just haven't played a lot of home games. Maybe that's a part. They're 11 and 2 at home. They've only played 13 of their 36 games at home.

[Skeets]

So it's gonna flip here soon.

[Tas Melis]

You're right. But yeah, but still, I don't love.

[Skeets]

Udoka having to like multiple times this season he has done the we're mentally weak. He's played that card. He's not wrong a lot of cases. I mean he's got a great point is like, damn, we take Durant out and like There goes our 13 point lead. Just like that. Like, you know, that should not be happening. We should not be relying on the guy that's 37 years old to be the guy that's bringing it, bringing the aggression and playing tough. It's like his point is like you guys with less talent, you should be playing twice as hard. So like they've been a good team this year. They've had some injuries. Now they could use Van Vliet. That would help. That's like where a steady Freddy is perfect. Obviously sort of like can help write a ship, but that's not for a while here. Even if he comes back. So I mean, I'm not freaking out. There's still a really good team. Of course he's just trying to. He's obviously just trying to prove to them like we have to out hustle teams.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, Jabari Smith hits a couple shots in that fourth quarter and they probably win that game on Friday against Portland. But he's just cold. And it probably does stem from them being able to penetrate and get those shots out there because they were lacking that.

[Skeets]

What are your thoughts on the Rockets here? Little slide tk they need to make a trade.

[T.K.]

I just don't think that they have the right offensive formula to make a real run in the playoffs. In the game against the Kings, there was issues on both sides. They just couldn't finish possessions in the fourth quarter. Like you mentioned, Dylan Cardwell was unstoppable on the glass. He had seven offensive rebounds in the fourth alone. And this is a team that's playing Adams and Changun next to each other. That shouldn't be an issue for the rap for the Rockets. But on the offensive side of things, they have no easy buttons. None of their shots that they get are easy. It's all ISO Shangun hitting tough shots over somebody or Durant hitting tough pull ups over somebody. Against the Kings they went 5 of 14 from the field in the fourth quarter, had four turnovers. And on the other side of the court, the Kings are whipping the ball around nine assists on 15 shots. They looked so much quicker with the ball than the Rockets did. You look at both losses this weekend, 10 of 44 from three against the Trailblazers, 7 of 30 from three against the Kings. That's not going to cut it. They need somebody to give them a little production on the perimeter going forward. So like they got to be calling about Kobe White. They should be involved in some of these teams that are going to be sloughing off their veterans. Maybe they want to chase after Chris Middleton for something cheap. I think he would also throw in Jabari Smith here. Like Task is saying. They asked him after the game what went wrong there in the fourth quarter. He said Jabari Smith brought it on himself, but he's really plateaued this season. He got the big extension over the summer and really hasn't lived up to it. His three point percentage is down and all he does is shoot three pointers at this point. So I don't exactly know what he's bringing to the table. Because he's not like a lockdown defensive player. He's a fine positional team defender, I think. But Houston, I don't know how this is possible. They're 28th in the league in fourth quarter defense over the course of the entire season. That seems completely untenable to me. And actually I don't understand how that's the case. Because they're a decent defensive team. They've got a ton of size out there. Usually that adds up to being a stopper on that end. But from watching the Kings game alone, part of it, I think was fight. That was something Udoka did all the time with the Celtics. Every time they lost, he would blast them for being softies. Softies, softies. Until eventually they turned it around and went on a huge run. They didn't win with the Udoka, but, you know, he helped build the culture there and actually got him a little bit tougher. Maybe that's what the Rockets need as well because they're fraying a little bit here. They're struggling on the court and Kevin Durant seems to be getting pretty upset.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

The way things are going.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Any Kevin Durant tried to get Jabari Smith going shooting. Wise tech free throw happened. Kevin Durant should shoot it right now. He goes. Jabari, you go. You go to try and get him going. It hasn't happened this season. It has been a problem. Tar Eason, you know, missing him in this game I think is important. But also Tar Eason maybe. Maybe becoming a little prone to injuries is also a problem. He's got an ankle problem. We'll see if he can come back. But that seems to be a thing over his whole career. But the ball handling and the fight level are two problems going forward here. And yeah, do they make a move. There's a Dennis Schroeder out there if you want to go crazy because the Kings are going to give up, up on Dennis Schroeder. But, you know, the thing is, Fred could come back. And I think the push of Reed shepherd into the role that he's been playing really good at would be odd to go get another ball handler to kind of push Reed back.

[T.K.]

I think Reed's gonna very struggle a lot in the playoffs. I think he's gonna have a tough time staying on the court.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Defensively for sure. The weird thing was Sunday, you go with Aaron Holiday instead. Aaron Holiday ain't stopping anybody either. So Imi Adoka is just trying to play mental games.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

With Reed Shepherd. I don't know if it's going to help.

[Skeets]

Yeah, he's code. He coaches him hard. It feels like there's like a little pop Tony Parker sort of vibe. It feels like with Udoka and, and Reed shepherd. Maybe that'll be great for his career. We'll see. Who do you have for a loser of the weekend?

[T.K.]

Dennis Schroeder delayed loser of the weekend. He was suspended three games over the weekend for quote, confronting and attempting to strike Luka doncic after a December 28th. Eighth game.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

Guess it took a while to get the tapes.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

From the bowels of the arena. The Lakers smacked the Kings on December 28th. Luca had 34. Don and Schroeder are going back and forth jawing all night. You can find courtside video of Lucas saying to Schroeder, should have signed that contract, baby. Bringing up 2021 Trash Talk to Dennis Schroeder. There are unconfirmed reports then that Schroeder slapped Luca while DeAndre Aiden just watched before security actually broke things up. But fighting in the tunnels, guaranteed suspension. The one that I brought to mind for me was beef Stew was suspended three games for fighting Devin Eubanks before a game. Oh yeah, not too long ago. Devin Eubanks or Drew Eubanks, sorry, Drew Eubanks is a teammate right now of Dennis Schroeder. So they can commiserate over fighting in the tunnels. The tunnels. But I also think it's a little interesting. Lakers are three and three since that fight and there's been some DeAndre Ayton drama. So I wondering if there's lingering effects from him not having Lucas back because Ayton's usage rebounding down. He is becoming less involved and things are going weird for deandre Ayton. And I wonder if it has to do with the backstage drama. Nonetheless, loser. The weekend goes to Dennis Schroeder for getting suspended two weeks after he may have slapped.

[Skeets]

He at least was seeking him out.

[T.K.]

He was seeking him out to do.

[Skeets]

Something because he didn't like how that trash talk was going. Once Lucas started messing with his pockets and talking about his bank account, that's where he crossed the line. Intruder's eyes. I mean they both talk, both these guys.

[T.K.]

Yes.

[Skeets]

Notorious talkers. Great fun. But yeah, I guess whatever it was, whether it was that or other things are said, really pissed Shooter off. And you want to talk to Luke after.

[Tas Melis]

Sure. Seems like there's got to be some camera footage, like something. It had to have happened for a three game suspension to happen a week and a half later. Two weeks later almost. I mean that's a long time. It's gotta be something going on. But this is the annual part of the year where deandre Ayton goes off the rails a little bit. Right? I mean just something, something's going on.

[Skeets]

It was going too well. Yes.

[Tas Melis]

Something's gotta happen at some point. I don't know if it has really anything to do with this at all or if it's just deandre Ayton time. Because they have been trying to get him involved at times. First play of the game, you know, classic here. Big touch that frickin thing and maybe that'll get you going. And sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. There's been a couple good ones, but mostly bad.

[Skeets]

Dennis Schroeder three games. So he served one last night there.

[T.K.]

And that kid's got the win.

[Skeets]

I know they're wanting, they're want to know without him holding them back.

[Tas Melis]

Pablo Torre go find that footage. I mean Pablo Tori can find anything, right? He should be able to find the footage. There's got to be footage. It feels like there's.

[Skeets]

For him to totally.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, yeah.

[Skeets]

For him to get the three games.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. Now so long.

[Skeets]

Yeah, so long after. That's a good point. When I read the December 28th I was like what?

[T.K.]

Huh.

[Skeets]

That's got my typo. Yeah, exactly. What the. When was this? What happened to the NBA media? Why weren't they all over this? We usually love a tunnel fight. Nobody you know like where, where was the footage or where was the reports or where was anything. It's just like leak it skirted by. Yeah, exactly.

[Tas Melis]

Strange. And they would love to trade him. Love to trade him. Who wants that contract? That's a very difficult question to answer. But two years after this one for approximately 28. So 14 per year I think. Yeah, but he can be had. Yeah, for sure.

[Skeets]

That was perplexing when I signed him.

[Tas Melis]

I don't know what he meant. Imu Doka seems like a type of coach that would bring it on. He would like that. He would like to fight Dennis Schroeder essentially, you know, like you know, go nose to nose with that guy. I don't literally, literally mean, you know, fist to his face but I mean that type of push, that type of guy.

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Who won a freaking gold medal last summer. You know, Dennis Schroeder, you know he could still. You put the, the goggles on like John.

[T.K.]

Not last summer.

[Tas Melis]

Was it two summers ago? Yeah, two summers ago. Yeah. This summers blend together but. But he. They Won back to back years. That's the weird. Anyways, doesn't matter. Germany was a champ and you could, you could perceive Dennis Schroeder could be that guy. John Moran, he can be that guy. Schroeder, he can be that guy's.

[Skeets]

Contract isn't all that cheap. So it's not easy.

[Tas Melis]

No.

[Skeets]

Gotta get some salary. Going back a little bit.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah.

[Skeets]

Some other losers of the weekend here. I want to throw a couple at you guys. First one, NBA referee Bill Kennedy. This guy's not going to be officiating NBA games for a little while. The veteran ref was sidelined indefinitely after suffering a hamstring strain in Friday's game against the Sixers. Magic, you guys saw the footage. He comes up limping. Oh, no. And so 59 year old Bill Kennedy, one of the, one of the more well known refs in the NBA. Especially because his sort of gone viral. Colorful replay review explanations where he just kills it on the, on the camera there. He's gonna be out for a while.

[Tas Melis]

People cut clips together of Bill Kennedy talking to the camera. Yep, very funny. Yeah. And you don't see a guy rolled off in a wheelchair very often. No referee, I should say.

[T.K.]

You don't ever you think the other ref should have to take them off on their shoulders like the players do? I do too. They're a team.

[Skeets]

Yeah. Yeah. It's a good point. So that sucks for Bill Kennedy. Jalen Brown blasted the officiating crew Saturday night after the Celtics lost to the spurs in a close game. And Jaylen Brown, he called out Curtis Blair by name. Here's your chance, Curtis Blair. Bill Kennedy's out. You can really step into the spotlight. But yeah, Jaylen Brown for what? This has to be the third or fourth time this season. Jalen Brown after a game has been very upset with the officiating. And maybe as a point here in this one, he didn't shoot any free throws. Not a single free throw. He shot. He comes in averaging like to that game like seven and a half free throw attempts per game. So he gets there a lot, he drives a lot. He's like one of the most frequent drivers in the NBA. I think it's like Denny Avdia and it's Shay Gildus Alexander and it's Jalen Brown. But he didn't get there and he had a lot to say. Like I said, he called out Curtis Blair and he said, quote, I'm irate at how they officiated the game today. If we can't get to the free throw line and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots. It's hard to win games like that. And he didn't get to the line. And Boston finished with a season low four free throws.

[T.K.]

That's pretty low.

[Skeets]

That's very, very low. They do shoot a lot of threes. Not Jalen, though. I mean, he mixes it up. But The spurs received 20 attempts, so he was pissed. And he is going to be fined if he hasn't been already.

[Tas Melis]

I don't know.

[T.K.]

Yeah, he's got it though. You know, the guy's like a top 10 paid player in the NBA. So this is the way to use your big contracts. Complain about the referees anytime you feel like it. It is odd to go from 13 free throws down to zero free throws. He's complaining about the. Or the, the consistency. So, yeah, he's got a little bit of a beef there. But it does feel like Jaylen Brown will cast aspersions on the referees if things don't go well for him. You know, maybe he was getting hit a few times. There it is. Four free throws is tied for the fewest amongst any team in a game so far this season. So probably worth the $35,000. He's gonna get funded.

[Skeets]

Yeah. And he also said something like it always happens against good teams or something. He said we don't get. We get a whistle when we play like the better teams in the league. League. You'd have to go crunch them.

[T.K.]

Is that a Toronto diss?

[Skeets]

Because they had just beat them.

[T.K.]

Yeah. 13 free throws.

[Skeets]

Yeah, possibly, I guess.

[T.K.]

Compliments to the Bulls. Only two free throws for Jalen Brown against the Bulls. Three against the Nuggets. They're a good team, but they're not the same team. Is he on to something?

[Skeets]

I don't know.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, he was mad about Peyton Watson, I think in that fourth quarter, who was balling when they played the Nuggets. Really good defensively. But yeah, it was Jalen Brown conspiracy guy. Is that. Is that what's that we're getting?

[Skeets]

Oh, yeah.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. When he said the, the Scotty Barnes got some. Some chromosomes, some extra chromosomes. He walked in.

[Skeets]

He did apologize for that.

[Tas Melis]

That was fun. Yeah, I think he meant. He meant well there. I think he just meant that Scotty Barnes is literally very, very, very, very strong.

[Skeets]

Right.

[Tas Melis]

I'll give him the benefit of the.

[Skeets]

Another loser of the weekend to the Utah Jazz suffering their worst loss in team history, at least in Salt Lake City to the Hornets. The Jazz threw out an all time stinker of a game over the weekend, it was on Saturday. They were down 31 points after the first quarter, not half quarter. They're down 31. They continued to lose ground for the rest of the game. They lost by 55 to the Charlotte Hornets here. This is obviously not the Pistons or the Thunder or whoever elite teams here in the league. This is the Hornets and they lost by 55. And it was great timing because what was it? A day after I walked back all my hate for Cody Williams saying he was washed at the age of 20 or 21, however old he is. When we did that a couple months ago, I said, you know what, I was too hard on the kid. He's playing a lot better here. Rounding into form, he literally put up the worst plus minus recorded by an NBA player since we came up with that stat line, since we started tracking plus minuses. A minus 60 for Cody Williams in the loss to the Hornets. So great timing. Chef's kiss back to being washed.

[T.K.]

Yeah, usually I think. Yeah, I still don't know that I think Cody Williams has it. And a minus 60 definitely doesn't help. But usually I think when a team gets beat by like 50 or 60 points, they scored like 50 or 60 points. But no, the Jazz put up 95, which is a low number today's NBA, but still a decent game's worth of scoring. Like the Clippers won a game where they scored 96 over the weekend. But giving up 150, I think that's the problem.

[Tas Melis]

Regulation.

[T.K.]

That's wild, man. There's a lot, lot of double digigit scorers here for the Hornets. I think they had nine guys in double digits.

[Skeets]

Wow.

[T.K.]

It's amazing. Seon James, what were you doing out there? Played 27 minutes, scored four points.

[Skeets]

He didn't crack 10.

[T.K.]

What are you doing?

[Skeets]

Wow. That's amazing either. Wow.

[Tas Melis]

But the Jazz do that. They give up a lot of points. They've six games of 140 or more this season that they've given up.

[Skeets]

I saw a stat like they have trailed by like 25 plus points in the first quarter like multiple times this year. It wasn't the first time they were down like, I mean 31 to end the quarter, but they've been down huge holes early in games and we say huge, like 25 points in the first quarter is nuts that you're trailing, but it's happened like three or four times. I saw that stack going around. It's crazy. Any other winners or losers you wanted to tip a cap to or flip a bird to, I guess in the Case of a loser.

[Tas Melis]

I'll squeeze some in in the pick em game. Not right now. I'll save it. I'll save the Colin Murray Boyles, love.

[Skeets]

Yeah, ok. Okay. We'll get to that in a second. Let's do Whoa Boy first. Whoa Boy of the Night, sponsored by longtime no Dunks fan Cole. Cole wanted Whoa Boy of the Night to be Bone Boy of the night, and if I have my facts right, here's why. Cole is dedicating the sponsorship to his latest brew called Captain Bones, which I think you can find at the odd company brewing in Edmonton. So Cole is a brewery. Okay. Captain Bones is a concoction he's working on here. So Whoa Boy is Bone Boy. I think I got that story right, Cole, but it's going to Giannis.

[Tas Melis]

That sounds right. Okay, Sounds right.

[T.K.]

Boy is Bone Boy.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, Captain Bones is his wrestling. He's a professional wrestler.

[Skeets]

Oh, yes, I forgot about that part. I thought it was because he's working on a bruise.

[Tas Melis]

That part of it is probably true. Oh, it must be.

[Skeets]

Maybe it's all maybe. Yeah, maybe he's naming the. The new brew that he's concocting after his wrestling.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, probably.

[Skeets]

Okay.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, he's on tour in, like, Northern Alberta, I think.

[Skeets]

Wrestling.

[Tas Melis]

Wrestling.

[Skeets]

And what do we know his wrestling name?

[Tas Melis]

It's Captain Bones.

[Skeets]

Oh, it's. Sorry, sorry. It is Captain Bones.

[T.K.]

I think it's Captain.

[Tas Melis]

It's. It's a pirate, for sure.

[Skeets]

Okay. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that sounds familiar. I remember him talking to him about that.

[Tas Melis]

It's a pirate. So does he wrestle with a. A. An eye patch?

[Skeets]

I mean, he should.

[Tas Melis]

I think he does. Definitely. Decked out. He had a really bad injury. Wrestling as well.

[T.K.]

Is he.

[Tas Melis]

I think he broke his ankle or something, but yeah, he loves it.

[Skeets]

Okay. Cole on tour. He's on tour. Yeah, he's wrestling.

[T.K.]

W. Boy is Bum Boy.

[Skeets]

Yeah. W. Boy is Bone Boy. Yes, Boy. Here we go. Hit the music again. Why not? 31 points, 8 boards, 11 assists for our Bone Boy of the Night in Giannis. But it wasn't enough. Milwaukee did fall to the Nuggets. 108, 104. That doesn't matter when it comes to Bone boy. He shot 10 of 17 from the field, 10 of 14 at the line. Game high, two blocks, one steal, 33 minutes. So hell of a stat line there for only 33 minutes for Giannis.

[T.K.]

Yeah, And I think he would, more than maybe any other NBA superstar, want to be known as the Bone Boy.

[Skeets]

Yep.

[T.K.]

Yeah, he loves it.

[Skeets]

Good call, T.K. yeah, he is a definite bone boy. All right.

[T.K.]

Hey, we all like to be bone boys, don't we?

[Skeets]

That's right. Pick them tasks. You wanted to show some love here to Colin Murray Boyles. Colin Murray Bones.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah. They played Adam Bona yesterday And the Philadelphia 76ers, Colin Marie Boyles literally set up the game tying shot that went to Jamal Shed. That took them to overtime against Philadelphia 76ers. He just put his head down and just went after 42 minutes. That guy was just playing hard as he always does as their center. Now with Jakob Hurdle out, just an odd lineup that Darko Reakovic went with to end the fourth quarter. He's playing little guys. I mentioned Elijah Martin earlier in this game, early this show. Jamal Shedding and of course Manuel Quickley. So like three point guards to end this game. I loved seeing Elijah Martin getting into it with Tyrese Maxey. It's Elijah Martin. It's on a two way contract. He's a second round pick, barely played in the NBA getting into it with Tyrese Maxey. He's got it, man. Raptors, somehow they win games like they did yesterday against 76ers where they shoot below 26% from three. They are 70 this season when shooting below.

[Skeets]

This is the crazy 26%. We haven't lost when we are garbage from three.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, it's amazing.

[Skeets]

Weird.

[Tas Melis]

Our friend Keeks provided that. Now the Raptors get to host the Philadelphia 76ers again. Two days in a row, same arena. What will the Philadelphia 76ers do? I think they will take care of business. That's why I'm taking them. It's hard to beat that team twice unless. Unless you're Portland. You just did it against Houston, you know.

[Skeets]

True, true, true.

[Tas Melis]

So the Sixers are favored by three and a half tonight against a team that's above them in the standings. Trey and I think the Sixers will take care of that line. Skeets, you've got the Raptors.

[Skeets]

Yeah, I got some points to play with. I do. Like that could be a close one and I could still win. But yeah, you guys need Sixers to win by four or more as they run this back. Crazy play by Colin Murray. Boyles though, that was a heads up play, man. So many people shoot that because the clock is expiring. Basically it was sort of a broken play to begin with.

[Tas Melis]

He could have shot it, right?

[Skeets]

Oh yeah, of course he could have shot it. I'm telling you, 99% of guys would have shot that and no one would have blinked an eye. It's like, yeah, there's not much time left but to see shed there and flip it to him then for shed to have the wherewithal to get it up there and hit that little sort of in between sort of tough little push shots, sort of. I mean, that was nice touch. So yeah, I'm into overtime.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, the headlines would be totally different or the talk would be totally different if he missed that shot because it went from an eight foot shot to a five foot shot. Like it wasn't, you know, good to great. It was just like. But nice little floater, nice little push up.

[Skeets]

And then Scotty Barnes in overtime. See the slick move he did with the purposely missed second free throw because Sixers did have a timeout. But he hit the first one. They should have. Well, they could have gave him maybe the continuation on the call because he hit the shot. The ref said no, it's on the floor. So he goes the line, hits the first one and then he's like, I'm just gonna chuck the second one off. And it worked out because they couldn't get the ball game over. See if they can do it again tonight. But you guys got Philly. You need to win here. Realize it's getting away from you here in the month of January. You're one in five. Trey and I are five and one. So somebody will be six and one after tonight. Top the leaderboard.

[Tas Melis]

Nice. Yeah, this is my worst time of the year. I ate a fruitcake once for a pick and payoff in January. It wasn't. It wasn't February, depending on January, but yeah, this is my bad time of year. That's what. It's what happens to me mid season.

[Skeets]

Lol.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, I also suck to start this season, but yeah, there we go.

[Skeets]

You had a monster month last month though. Yeah. Yeah, huge. All right. If you have a suggestion for the next pick and payoff, let us know. We'll call it there. Fun show. Lots talked about John Morant ad winners and losers of the weekend. Who we miss when it comes to winners and losers. Let us know in the comments. Tomorrow. NBA senior insider Michael Scotto is going to join us on the show. Obviously we're going to have him last week. Then the Trey Young trade went down. He had to work the phones. So we'll have Michael Scotto back. We got to talk to him about John Moran. Talk to him about Michael Porter Jr. Talk to him about all these other trade rumors. So can't wait for that tomorrow morning at 10am Eastern. Join us here live from the Classic Factory. Hit the like button. Subscribe five star ratings and reviews. Until then, Clipper Bros. You heard it here first. Have a great time.

[T.K.]

Turn up. Love you guys. Awesome.

[Tas Melis]

Thanks for joining us. And remember, there are too many NBA games. Everyone's getting injured. See what happened to Bill Kennedy? Yep. Everybody.

[Skeets]

How many games has he officiated this year? I think it was 20. I think it was his 28th game.

[Tas Melis]

Okay.

[Skeets]

It's not that bad.

[T.K.]

Same as Kawhi Leonard.

[Tas Melis]

Oh, yeah.

[Skeets]

I would have thought it'd be more.

[Tas Melis]

Yeah, you would.

[T.K.]

Yeah, I thought it would be more than teams have played. I'm sort of just a roughing back to backs all the time.

[Skeets]

I'm pulling that number out of my ass right now. But I think I saw it was in the 20s.

[Tas Melis]

28 over the course of nearly three months. So 28 in about 85 days. It's not a lot. One every three days.

[Skeets]

So much travel.

[Tas Melis]

That's good. That's a good job.

[Skeets]

You think all officials are flying first class, though? Probably, right? At least.

[T.K.]

At least at Kennedy's level. Established officials. Maybe some of the youngers are still in coach.

[Skeets]

Hey, Curtis. Blair, get your ass to the back of the plane. Hey, what zone you in, Blair?

[Tas Melis]

4.

[Skeets]

See, I'm not waiting around for your Uber. All right, get your own ride to the game. I'll be well off that plane. This is me being Bill Kennedy.

[T.K.]

That's you being Bill Kennedy.

[Tas Melis]

Adults.

[T.K.]

And Bill speaks a lot kinder.

[Skeets]

I don't know why. Hardcore, maybe. Bill's got a real sailor mouth when the cameras aren't on, though.

[T.K.]

Oh, you think he's faking the funk?

[Skeets]

Yeah.

[T.K.]

Nice guy.

[Skeets]

When the cameras are on.

[T.K.]

Isn't that what Dennis Schroeder said about Luca? He's like, you can. You can't call me a B word on the court and then be nice to me afterwards. That's what Bill Kennedy said to critters Blair.

[Skeets]

All right, rest up, Bill Kennedy, and we'll see you guys tomorrow. People, this is an iHeart podcast.

[Tas Melis]

Guaranteed Human.