Postgame Show: What Is Cleveland Doing? (feat. JuJu Gotti)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Postgame Show: What Is Cleveland Doing? (feat. JuJu Gotti)
Date: February 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers around the Cleveland Cavaliers’ rumored interest in a blockbuster trade involving James Harden and Darius Garland. The hosts—Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew—discuss the logic (or lack thereof) behind Cleveland's front office decisions, speculate on NBA player movement, lampoon sports journalism, and share their trademark irreverent top-five lists. Guest JuJu Gotti injects humor and personal insights, while listener polls and a Black History Month “game tip” round out a lively, unpredictable conversation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cleveland Cavaliers' Roster Moves and Rumors

• Cavs-Clippers Trade Rumors: Chris Haynes reports trade talks involving James Harden and Darius Garland between the Clippers and Cavs are intensifying. The crew is surprised by both Cleveland’s underperformance and the nature of this rumored trade.
  • “I do think it's curious to how it is that Harden and Donovan Mitchell are going to play together because they both have giant usage rates.”—Dan [00:52]
  • “Don't you guys find this move a bit curious for Cleveland?”—Dan [01:09]
• Concerns Over Donovan Mitchell: The possibility of Mitchell not extending his contract looms, with speculation Cleveland could blow up the roster if things don’t improve.
  • “Brian Windhorst … said that Cleveland is concerned about whether or not Donovan Mitchell will extend with them beyond the 2027 season.” [01:46]

2. The Fit (or Lack Thereof) of James Harden in Cleveland

• Roster Imbalance: The group questions the viability of pairing two ball-dominant guards (Harden & Mitchell) and scoffs at the fit.
  • “It is hard for two ball dominant, smaller-ish guards to play together on the same team.”—Mike [01:31]
  • “I do think James Harden will end up somewhere else. I think this smoke and mirrors. I think he gonna end up back in Houston or somewhere a contender. That other move don’t make no sense to me.”—JuJu Gotti [02:36]

3. JuJu Gotti on Sports Journalism & Reporting

• Skepticism toward NBA Reporting: The conversation turns meta as Dan and JuJu poke fun at the sanctity of journalism and rumors in the social media era.
  • “No one knows anything.”—Unidentified Speaker [03:12]
  • “Reporters, journalists. I'm over you. I give up. … If you want somebody to care, write [the rules] down.”—JuJu Gotti [03:14, 04:14]

4. Top Five: “People Better at Their Jobs Than Fred Warner” List by JuJu Gotti

Delivered in signature JuJu style, this top five features sports journalists and athletes.

• #5: Ariel Helwani
  • “That boy good.”—JuJu Gotti [05:30]
• #4: Mina Kimes
  • “We already know what sis be on.”—JuJu Gotti [05:47]
• #3: Bryant McKinney
  • “My boy said he didn't allow us a second practice. … Did you not hear it?”—JuJu Gotti [06:36]
• #2: Alicia “The Bomb” Baumgardner
  • “She smelled good, remember? … And kicks ass.”—Panel, JuJu Gotti [07:08]
• #1: Tim Kurkjian
  • “Another three out of five journalists.”—Dan, surprised by JuJu’s picks [07:25]

5. NBA MVP of the Day & Tyrese Maxey Appreciation

• Tyrese Maxey’s Standout Performance: The Sixers’ guard receives praise for a dominant game.
  • “If we're having a conversation about MVP, better be talking about Tyrese Maxey.”—Producer [08:31]
  • “Tyrese Maxey now leads the league in Zaslow MVPs of the day with four.”—Panel [09:01]
• Is Maxey the Fastest Player Ever? The panel debates if Maxey is quicker than even John Wall.
  • "He's probably fastest human ever."—Unidentified [09:14]
  • "He's like the fastest person with the ball I've ever seen in my life."—Mike [09:16]

6. JuJu Gotti’s Black History Month Insight: “Follow Back Your Haters”

JuJu shares an unconventional tip for dealing with online negativity.

• “If you got a hater online that just be hating on your post… Follow that hater back. It reduces the noise. Trust me … I ain't heard a peep since the day I followed them back.”—JuJu Gotti [09:41]

7. Listener Poll Results Segment

Rapid-fire takeaways from the day’s audience polls:

• “Does Zas deserve a third championship more than hockey fans in Buffalo?”
  • 64% say No [10:41]
• “Is dying deathbed redundant?”
  • 95% say Yes [11:23]
• “Better nickname: White Chocolate or The Glove?”
  • 62% say White Chocolate [11:39]
• “Bigger star: Bad Bunny or LeBron James?”
  • 55% say LeBron [12:17]
• “Is the Winter Olympics more popular than the Summer Olympics?”
  • 74% say No [12:51]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cleveland trade rumors:

  • "Don't you guys find this move a bit curious for Cleveland?" —Dan [01:09]

• On NBA journalism:

  • “No one knows anything.” —Unidentified Speaker [03:12]
  • “Reporters, journalists. I'm over you. I give up.… I seen somebody online just go attack my Bo Shexter himself.” —JuJu Gotti [03:14, 03:25]

• On Top 5 picks:

  • “That boy good.” —JuJu Gotti on Ariel Helwani [05:30]

• On Tyrese Maxey’s speed:

  • “He's like the fastest person with the ball I've ever seen in my life.” —Mike [09:16]

• On Black History Month advice:

  • “Follow that hater back. It reduces the noise. Trust me.” —JuJu Gotti [09:41]

• On poll results and jokes:

  • “That's out of context. I'm saying I'm dying on my deathbed. I'll never forgive Roy.” —Mike [11:29]
  • “What's the opposite of hello? … Goodbye? I never apologize for being wrong.” —JuJu Gotti [13:00]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Cleveland/Harden Trade Rumors: [00:32–02:31]
• Skepticism Toward NBA Reporting: [02:31–04:25]
• JuJu Gotti's Top 5 List: [04:52–07:25]
• MVP of the Day Segment (Tyrese Maxey): [07:54–09:30]
• JuJu Gotti’s Black History Month Tip: [09:41–10:27]
• Audience Poll Results: [10:41–12:55]

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Closing Tone

As always, the episode blends genuine NBA analysis with comedy, skepticism, and inside jokes. The panel questions NBA front offices, pokes fun at journalists, and demonstrates the show's unique culture through polls and culturally savvy banter. JuJu Gotti adds flavor with personal anecdotes, a comedic top-five, and thought-provoking “game tips”—illustrating why this postgame show is must-listen entertainment for fans of both basketball and media satire.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

According to Chris Haynes, the Clippers and Cavs have ramped up conversations on a hardened Darius Garland package. Both sides motivated to execute a deal relatively soon. I've been surprised that the Cavs are not better this season. I've been surprised that Darius Garland is not better. They made improvements with Evan Mobley and his usage rate last year, but they have regressed this year. And I do think it's curious to how it is that Harden and Donovan Mitchell are going to play together because they both have giant usage rates. And I don't think that Donovan Mitchell necessarily wants to play the way Kawhi will play with James Harden. Don't you guys find this move a bit curious for Cleveland? Before we get to jujugatti here and the updating of the polls, even though this is an upgrade for Cleveland, they are not good enough the way that they are and Cleveland has a problem with the Knicks most of all. They cannot beat the Knicks. They do not match up well with the Knicks.

[C]

I think an interesting part about this whole Cleveland situation is that it is hard for two ball dominant, smaller ish guards to play together on the same team. And it feels like if James Harden is making a play to play in Cleveland, that Donovan Mitchell may not may not be there for a long time.

[D]

Well and Brian Windhorst in the last hour or so on espn, Cleveland has said that Cleveland is concerned about whether or not Donovan Mitchell will extend with them beyond the 2027 season. Tim Bontemps reported the same thing earlier and he said that Cleveland's trying to in on both Giannis and Anthony Davis, that they've made calls there. So it seems like Cleveland might be comfortable just blowing the entire thing up.

[B]

Well, it's not good enough and they're going to go all in if they do that. Let's get Juju Gotti. His expertise on alley OOP on basketball matters is excellent juju. Do you have any thoughts here before we get to the polls and Zas's MVP of the day. Did you have any thoughts on the idea that James Harden. Were you surprised by any of this?

[E]

Yeah, I'm very surprised to hear that from them. But at the same time, I do think that them acquiring a couple of days ago, Dennis Schroeder, that's gonna be big for Cleveland because their back court is doing a lot right now, especially with what's his name, Mobley, Evan Mobley been hurt for a little while. So Dennis Schroeder can provide a bigger help than people actually are seeing right now in the. In the near future. But I do think James Harden will end up somewhere else. I think this smoke and mirrors. I think he gonna end up back in Houston or somewhere a contender. That, that other move don't. Don't make no sense to me.

[B]

The cast, Chris Haynes is reporting it though. We trust Chris Haynes, do we not? Are we not? We're not trusting the reporting.

[F]

No one knows anything.

[B]

Okay? No one knows.

[E]

I'm glad. I'm glad you brought that up. Reporters, journalists. I'm over you. I give up. I'm sorry. Yes. The sanctity of your little organization.

[B]

Yes.

[E]

Sanctity of what you should right here. Am I a fan? Am I. I'm done with it, man. I seen somebody online just go attack my Bo Shexter himself. Shecky, AKA Dave Damshek. Yikes. A reporter just asked my Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel if Sunday super bowl game is a must win. This is one of the worst questions of all time. Come on, man. He's doing a thing.

[B]

Damascus has been doing that for years. He wanders around the super bowl asking must win game as yammering and yeah, he delights himself and he is doing a thing. How many straight years has damage done that where he wanders around and just bothers people by asking the coach if it's a must win game.

[C]

14.

[B]

Right. He's being annoying on purpose there. That's the Danishek way. The yammering, the Yammershek way.

[E]

Juju, do you attack the Jaguars, lady? The Jaguars. Nice, kind lady. That was giving him enough. I'm over your news. Reporters rules. They're unwritten for a reason. Write them down. If you want somebody to care.

[B]

You're. You're late to this game of hating journalists. Juju. Everybody.

[C]

Welcome, brother.

[B]

Everybody. Everybody hates journalists. Poor Pablo is doing the Lord's work and everybody is burying him.

[C]

What Lord? Amen.

[B]

For daring to do journalism. The Lord cares so much about NBA salary caps or convention.

[C]

Thank you, Pablo.

[E]

Thank you.

[B]

I broke the mold when I made you juju. Do you have a top five list of any sort for us today?

[E]

Oh, yeah, man. Earlier in the show, my brother Mike said that Fred Warner is probably better at his job than anybody we've had on in a while. Other than, what, Aaron? Back to Aaron Donald. So I was like, I don't know, big brother. I think I might have a top five list of people who are at least just as talented at their job as Fred Warner, who we've had on.

[B]

All right, let's see what you can think of. Any Olis. Or we just go on five straight.

[E]

To number five, big brother. Number five, Ariel Helwani.

[B]

Good answer.

[D]

Good answer.

[E]

That boy good. That boy good.

[C]

Good, Good and terrible.

[E]

He's a good journalist. You like that one?

[B]

You like that one? You're quoting. You're quoting a movie I thought was before your time.

[C]

That's one of my favorite movies of all.

[B]

I mean, that's. But that's a long time ago. Arsenio hall and Eddie Murphy doing that. Like, that's a long time ago.

[E]

Number four, Mina Kimes. Come on now. We already know what sis be on.

[B]

I don't think that you're getting agreement back there from Mike Ryan. Mike Ryan, taking the controversial position of not liking your number four pick, is.

[C]

Mina Kimes the best NFL analyst in the game?

[E]

Yes.

[B]

Then she's just as good at Fred Warner, middle linebacker.

[E]

Another good journalist, huh? For being.

[B]

You've really. I've got no moves here. Take out one of my friends or.

[C]

Double down stubbornly and refuse to capitulate. I'm no Dan.

[E]

Checkmate.

[B]

Mina's better. I think that Mina Kimes would acknowledge that Fred Warner is better at what he does than she is at what she does. I'll text her. Without it being an indictment. Yes, go ahead.

[E]

No, text her. Text her and tell her to make her own list as well. Number three, Bryant McKinney. My boy said he didn't allow us a second practice. I mean, did you not hear it?

[B]

Brian McKinney's gonna be a Hall of Famer, right? Like, is he gonna be a whole.

[F]

I don't think so.

[E]

I don't think so.

[F]

No, I don't think so.

[B]

Because Fred Warner is going to be a Hall of Famer. Yes.

[E]

For sure.

[F]

Yeah.

[E]

Touche, Tashay. Number two, Alicia the bomb. Bomb gardener.

[B]

That's recent, too. Yep.

[F]

She smelled good, remember?

[B]

Yes.

[E]

And kicks ass. And the number one person that is just as good, if not better than Fred Warner is at his craft. Come on, man. Timmy, AKA Tom Kirkjin.

[B]

Another journalist.

[E]

Another three out of five journalists.

[B]

I thought he was gonna go like.

[C]

We were going somewhere.

[B]

Denzel Washington. I thought he was going to go old school. But he went with friends of the show, a bunch of journalists.

[D]

Jeremy Tashay.

[B]

Nobody mentioned Tashay except to say, touche. Tache, what do you have for us in terms of MVP of the day? Let's play the music here. So, yes, he and Zaz can do MVP of the day.

[D]

The.

[A]

Be.

[E]

Of the day.

[F]

Dan, a lot of action in the NBA last night. You may have noticed. The Philadelphia 76ers, they beat the LA Clippers last night, 128 to 113. If we're gonna have a conversation about MVP, somebody better be talking about Tyrese Maxi. 29 points, seven threes, six assists. If we're having a conversation about MVP, better be talking about Tyrese Maxey.

[E]

Oh, yeah?

[B]

What about the Embiid vp?

[C]

He's been playing well.

[B]

Yeah, he has.

[C]

Very undercover. Very sneakily. He's been playing very, very well.

[B]

Like he. Well, everything about Philadelphia.

[E]

VP of the day.

[F]

Can't talk about Embiida's mvp. He's not going to qualify with enough games.

[B]

Dan has changed since Embiid came back.

[D]

True. Tyrese Maxey now leads the league in Zaslow MVPs of the day with four.

[C]

Is he the fastest player ever?

[B]

He's pretty quick.

[F]

He's probably fastest human ever.

[D]

Makes John Wall look slow.

[C]

Dude, he's like the fastest person with the ball I've ever seen in my life.

[B]

That can't be. John Wall looks slow. John Wall never looked slow when he was healthy. You can't say that he. You can't say that. Can you say that? You think, Tone, I think he's the.

[C]

Fastest player I've ever seen in my life.

[B]

Okay, put it on the poll. Is Maxi the fastest player you've ever seen in your life? Before we get to the polls, juju, anything else you want to throw our way?

[E]

Yes, sir.

[C]

Man.

[E]

It's Black history Month, man. So I want to give a gift to the world every, every day, man. I skipped out on it yesterday, so I will make up for it. But I want to put people on game. Some of the DMS I be getting from our Caucasian listeners, I'd be like, damn, you don't know that this mean this. Oh, damn. So, okay, I'm gonna put y' all on some game from me to you first tip out there. If you got a hater online that just be hating on your post. He don't even follow you. He might have a. A great picture. Follow that hater back. It reduces the noise. Trust me. They get a little nervous when you follow them back. I follow, like 12 of my biggest haters back, and I ain't heard a peep since the day I followed them back. Back to you guys.

[B]

That's good. Good advice. That's an interesting advice. If you can navigate the. The minefield. I go with the mute button, but I'll try your way. Let's update the polls here today at Lebatar Show. What do we got?

[E]

Yes, sir. Disass deserve a third championship more than hockey fans in Buffalo deserve one. 64 of the audience says no, he does not. Damn outrage. Is winning a championship in four less fun than winning it in seven, bruh. Never happened before in the history of the show. 50 of the audience say yes, and 50 of the audience say no way.

[B]

You're making that.

[E]

Goodness gracious alive.

[C]

He showed us.

[B]

We don't believe you. It's AI. It's. It's fake news. It's the information disinformation age. That is not in any way true.

[E]

Is dying deathbed redundant? 95 of the audience says, yes, it is.

[C]

That's out of context. I'm saying I'm dying on my deathbed. I'll never forgive Roy.

[B]

Definitely not.

[F]

Could have just said on your deathbed.

[C]

What do you know?

[E]

Better nickname White Chocolate or the Glove.

[B]

I mean, Gary Payton's so wrong here.

[E]

62% of the audience says White Chocolate.

[D]

Couldn't have been more wrong. Selfish.

[E]

When it comes to food? Are hyenas like quinoa to lions? 75 of the audience says, yes, they are. Hello.

[B]

That was my line. Why are you. A victory for you, it's not a victory. You don't do my joke. What are you doing?

[E]

I'm the lion guy.

[B]

You just heard lion. He ain't lying.

[D]

Hello.

[E]

Right. I ain't lying. Thank you. Bigger star. Baboni or LeBron James? 55 of the audience says LeBron James.

[D]

Wrong.

[C]

I think it's fair.

[E]

That's Black History Month. Bigger star bad. My bad. Bunny or Leono Messi? Come on, man. We are. I don't know why we disrespected the goat. 76 of the audience says Lionel Messi.

[B]

Bad Benny.

[E]

And last poll. Is the Winter Olympics more popular than the Summer Olympics?

[B]

No.

[E]

74 of the audience says no. And those are your polls.

[B]

Do you want to apologize, Cody, for being wrong? What's the opposite of hello?

[E]

Goodbye? I never apologize for being wrong.

[B]

Better to end the show on Roy's joke that says goodbye to the audience.

[E]

That was a good one. Yeah.