PTI Podcast Summary: "Things Heating Up Before the NBA Deadline!"

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: February 5, 2026
Special Guest: Steve Young (Hall of Fame Quarterback)

Episode Overview

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon tackle a jam-packed day in sports on the eve of the NBA trade deadline: blockbuster trades shake up the NBA landscape, Tom Brady’s Super Bowl allegiances (or lack thereof) are dissected, and Hall of Famer Steve Young joins for "Five Good Minutes" to break down quarterback preparations and the evolving world of pro football. The trademark PTI banter is in full effect, with sharp takes and memorable one-liners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mavericks-Wizards Blockbuster Trade (00:40)

• Details: Mavericks trade Anthony Davis and three players to the Wizards for Khris Middleton, three players, two first-rounders, and three second-rounders.
• Wilbon’s Reaction (01:07):
  • Positive for Wizards: Kept their own first-rounders and young core.
  • Quote: "When you keep your own people, your own young guys that you need to build and you keep your draft picks, so you keep your future, I think, with no risk. I like it."
• Kornheiser’s Take (02:14):
  • Critical of Dallas GM Nico Harrison for trading away Luka Doncic for aging assets; calls for accountability.
  • Skeptical Wizards know what they're doing: "On paper, wow. Anthony Davis and Trae Young look great... the problem as you well know, is one of them is always hurt and now the other one is hurt. So we don't even know if they're ever going to play together.”
  • Describes the Wizards' rebuild as confused and ongoing.

2. James Harden Dealt to Cleveland Cavaliers (03:52)

• Trade Details: Harden to Cavs for Darius Garland and a 2nd round pick.
• Wilbon’s Angle (04:15):
  • Thinks Harden brings needed size, experience, and urgency to win now.
  • "Harden is looking at this the way we look at it to say, you know what? I ain't got all that much time left. Let me be somewhere where they can win... I like this for Cleveland."
• Kornheiser’s Numbers Check (05:16):
  • Runs through Harden’s postseason underperformance.
  • "He's never won a ring and he's been in one final. If I'm Cleveland, I make this trade because I want to win now, this year. I want to put him in the backcourt with Donovan Mitchell and see if they can get 60 points every single game."
• Clippers' Outlook:
  • Garland praised, but Clippers' chemistry and relevance questioned.
  • Kornheiser: “They are a perpetually disappointing team... They have names all the time and they never win.” (06:44)
  • Wilbon suggests rumors about Kawhi Leonard and possible discipline are unlikely.

3. Tom Brady's Super Bowl Neutrality (07:02)

• Brady Quote: "'I don't have a dog in the fight in this one. May the best team win.'" (07:03)
• Kornheiser’s Reading (07:26):
  • Connects Brady’s neutrality to business ties as Raiders' part-owner ("He doesn’t want to say anything that could get under Kubiak’s skin") and possible anti-Patriots sentiment in Hall of Fame discussions.
• Wilbon’s Skepticism (08:13):
  • Dismisses deeper motives: “I think you’ve been watching too much conspiracy television.”
  • Sees athletes as mercenaries: “Professional athletes aren’t necessarily like the people who root for their teams. They're doing this, they're paid, they're mercenary.”
• Brady and His Image (09:02):
  • Both agree Brady is free to take a hands-off approach after his career.
  • Wilbon: “He doesn't have to care at all." (09:41)

Five Good Minutes with Steve Young (11:51)

Backup to Starter: Super Bowl Lessons (12:14)

• Young: “If you're a good backup, you're preparing to play, you're ready to go... You've prepared to play in the Super Bowl and then you got out and maybe you didn’t play, but you’ve seen it."
• Emphasizes the importance of experiencing Super Bowl week, even as a backup.

Patriots’ Drake May – Ready for the Big Stage? (13:22)

• Young: "This is a more wide open, fun loving group... Drake is that guy. He's the guy that's the cheerleader of the team."
• Patriots advantage: Young, unburdened energy, but cautions against falling behind early: "You want a young quarterback to be able to stay in what we've talked about for a couple of weeks." (13:55)

Seahawks vs. Patriots – Pick & Player Comparisons (14:35)

• Favors Seahawks’ #1 defense: “When number one defenses show up at the Super Bowl, it's a thing. And that thing is real. So I would...run over the Seahawks with that defense.” (14:43)
• Raves about Jackson Smith-Njigba, likening his movement to Jerry Rice: "They’re both kind of ballet masters. Their body position, always in a good spot, catching the ball, ready to move in a way that’s kind of unusually, you know, abrupt." (16:08)

Flag Football & Olympic Dreams (17:14)

• Laments physical toll of old Pro Bowls, contrasts with “very serious” rise of flag football and Olympic inclusion for 2028.
• Young: "Everybody needs to get ready for this flag. Football is exploding, and it’s exploding all the way to the Olympics in 2028. Men and women, gold medals.” (17:54)
• "I would take a year off of the NFL...I'm going for a gold. I want my gold medal. That's...I would do it. I would give my left arm. Well, I don't know if I give my left arm. I mean, my right arm, right arm." (19:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kornheiser on NBA star turnover: “They're in a complete rebuild. They traded away 25 year old Luka Doncic and they're now in a complete rebuild. That's why he should have been fired that night." (02:14)
• Wilbon, on pro athlete loyalty: “Professional athletes aren't necessarily like the people who root for their teams...they're mercenary.” (08:43)
• Steve Young on Jackson Smith-Njigba: “He moves his body so much quicker than everybody else and he makes people miss...they're both kind of ballet masters.” (16:08)
• Steve Young, Olympic flag football aspirations: “I would take a year off of the NFL...I'm going for a gold. I want my gold medal.” (19:04)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Mavericks-Wizards blockbuster trade | | 03:52 | James Harden traded to Cavaliers; Clippers fallout | | 07:02 | Tom Brady’s Super Bowl rooting interest | | 11:51 | “Five Good Minutes” with Steve Young (on QBs, Super Bowl, flag football) | | 21:22 | MLB birthday tribute, Lakers record, and Tiger great Mickey Lolich | | 23:42 | Fast-paced final headlines (Jets OC hire, Olympics, college hoops, NBA) |

Tone & Banter

The episode is a classic PTI blend of serious sports insights and wry humor, with Kornheiser playing the skeptical traditionalist (“We don't like anything new because we're old. We're muppets.”), and Wilbon balancing local D.C. optimism with league-wide realism. Steve Young brings both warmth and deep football wisdom in his extended interview.

Conclusion

"Things Heating Up Before the NBA Deadline!" delivers a rapid-fire breakdown of high-drama NBA trades, an honest reckoning with NFL legacies, and a forward-looking chat with Steve Young on how football—both tackle and flag—is evolving for athletes and fans. The episode is essential listening for those tracking league narratives as the postseason approaches and for anyone eager to hear original takes on superstar movement and the fabric of modern sports.