Detroit Pistons aren’t Interested In Making Big Trades? | Pistons Talk Podcast

Detroit Pistons aren’t Interested In Making Big Trades? | Pistons Talk Podcast

Hey guys, I want to welcome you back to another episode of Pistons Talk podcast. I’m joined by two very special guests that are regulars on this show. Absolutely love it. Uh got Sean Murphy. Had him on last week. Uh you guys want to follow Sean, definitely do. It’s going to be a Super Bowl this week. Pistons play the Hornets. So I know he’ll be in his bag. So I mean >> I’ll be covering that one. Yes. >> There we go. There we go. Um, and to my right, if you want to follow Eric, you know, he’s a Clutch Points, Detroit Pistons reporter. Uh, Eric is always on the timeline arguing with Drake stands, Derek White stands. It’s a good follow. Both of these guys are good follows. It’s very entertaining when I’m scrolling the timeline watching games. But fellas, how you guys doing? >> What’s going on, man? Thanks for having me. You know, I I knew that it it was only a matter of time until this trio was back on on a podcast together, and it it feels right. It just does. >> It was very highly requested. I will just say that. >> Yeah. These combos of us together are therapeutic. It’s a lot going on, you know, in the Pistons timeline. A lot going on with this team. And any of those trolls of Derek White or Drake, I’m undefeated. So, if y’all are here today, we can get popping right now. It don’t matter. You can do it here or the timeline. It don’t matter to me. Let’s go. There’s got to be a lot of crossover there. >> Oh, yeah. Of course. Absolutely it is. They ain’t got nothing else to do. So, let’s get to it. >> Okay. Before we even get into talking Detroit Pistons today, Eric, I I I have to ask you, man, how does it feel to have some random ass guy at like pin his tweet about you? Cuz I was dying when I saw that. I was like, dude, what is this kid on? And all the conversation started with is he was trying to make an argument about Anthony Davis. He said he he he basically said Jay Nyvy has averaged more time off than Anthony Davis has. I’m like Anthony Davis has missed 200 games. Is this really the argument you want to lead on? And that’s what sparked that entire thing and I’m still pinned over to his profile. So he might ask me out to dinner next week, too. I don’t know. But hey, I’m glad I’m on his mind and his timeline. Appreciate you, Pooky. Thanks for the support. At least get a good ribeye out of it. You know what I’m saying? >> Might as well. LET’S NOT WASTE EACH OTHER’S TIME. COME ON. UH, I I saw that like both of you guys I I think respectively. I feel like Shawn is undefeated though. Sean like pisses off multiple fan bases. >> Sean be going crazy this season. Sean been going off this year. >> You know what’s funny? It’s It’s like it it’s I I don’t go out of my way to. It’s just these interactions happen and people try to come at me and it’s like, well, you best not miss, buddy. [laughter] >> Oh yeah. You ain’t playing around this season. Like if if you’re gonna come out and say something like, “Hell, even if Zack Reese plays >> and and say we’re gonna win then like how do you expect me to not keep that in my head?” Like that’s a surprise to we’ll use for later. Like you know, like that’s it’s just what that is. >> Shout out to Hawk TV. I I feel like he’s taken so many L’s on the chin by the Pistons in the first three matchups. It’s just like, “Oh, we didn’t have Zachary.” You should say, “We didn’t have Christophorzinga.” So I was like, “Well, you traded for a guy that couldn’t breathe during the NBA finals.” I mean, that’s your own fault. >> Yeah. I was like, “When are you ever going to have Chris Stops Porzingis?” >> Man, it’s it’s funny. I I do want to say one more thing because I found it very um Sean, you tweeted about this when you said you were moving to Detroit and you freaked out 90% of Atlanta Braves Twitter. [laughter] That was so funny. >> Oh my gosh, that was so good. Just when you’re when you’re trying and like I like the problem the problem is I tried to do it in a cheeky like cute like breaking sources say that Shawn Murphy’s looking at apartments in Detroit, you know, like like not thinking about the the real world ramifications of the fact that there are other more famous and way more relevant Shawn Murphy’s to society than myself. And uh my favorite thing is I went and posted on I went on like Braves Reddit like like a day or two later and I was like, “Hey, this is the other Shawn Murphy. My bad.” [laughter] Everyone was just cracking up. So I I I’ve I’ve become I’ve become low-key uh accepted into into Braves Reddit. So >> with that being said, I put your name in a podcast title recently. >> Uhhuh. And bro, your name has weight. I’ve never had that many downloads. I thought I had Seawn Murphy from the Braves on apparently. [laughter] Then when like you go in the Spotify and you click on Shawn Murphy, it’s nothing but Atlanta Braves. And then like a couple of episodes that you’ve been on here. I thought it was honestly funny. I remember you tweeting that and you you broke Atlanta Braves Twitter. I remember texting you in the group text. I was like, “Bro, I said like the baseball player Sean Murphy.” It like went right over your head. I was like, “It’s pretty big time down in Atlanta, dude.” my buddy uh on fa like someone on Facebook I hadn’t talked to in a while. They sent me apparently an NL East Facebook account saw the follow-up tweet of saying maybe I should verifi clarify I’m a basketball reporter and not an all-star catcher for the Atlanta Braves. Like like the an NL East fan page caught that and put that [laughter] on there. It got quite a bit of hits on there too. It was just like it was so funny, >> man. It’s a bit both of you guys are so entertaining on on the timeline to follow and then like anytime something blows up, we kind of like text each other about it. Like uh recently the Morris brothers reached out to me to share their stream with Jaylen Duran and I had clipped like him talking [ __ ] about like Amen Thompson and that went viral and then they’re like, “Oh, they don’t like each other.” I was like, “No, [laughter] they don’t [ __ ] with each other.” But uh >> you always find a way to just drop bombs and just like kind of lay in the cut about it. >> Yeah. Kind of like the Joker when the building kind of goes on fire walking. >> It was legitimately Yeah. Legitimately I thought of you walking out of the hospital in your little gown like doing that crazy walking nuts >> and it happened several times a week I feel like on my my timeline. It was like >> Absolutely. >> I’m going to post this. Have some lunch. Oh, it it popped off. Let’s go. You started my Derek White uh beef, I think, just from the trade proposal that they had. [laughter] >> Well, that and I kind of photoshopped you getting putting in the walls of white from Derek White. >> That too on top of that with Drake. [laughter] >> All right. I I I think that’s enough of uh >> Sorry, y’all. Sorry. [laughter] >> Wait, you come here just for shenanigans and stupid banter? >> Lock in. >> Oh, no. We we still got 175 people still listening to us talk about just like how our timelines are just hilarious, but appreciate appreciate all you guys watching. Don’t know if you’re watching the NBA Cup. Um should be some good games. I mean, I think it’s the first time I’ve actually even watched the NBA Cup. We had six days off and I’m like, “Oh, thank God, man. I needed a break.” I don’t know about you guys, it’s been a grind lately. >> Yeah, that first uh that that first 25 game push is is a very real thing, you know? It’s like it’s kind of it’s nice to have this in the calendar as like a little mini exhale >> for sure. Well, I I think a lot of people on here want us to talk about, you know, the latest trade rumors. It’s been so weird to follow. Uh Shams Corania this week had touched on three teams that could possibly be interested in Anthony Davis. The Pistons were one of them. So, I wanted to kind of ask both of you guys like what are your takes on this whole Shams Karania Anthony Davis trade rumor saga as it does relate to the Pistons. Um, whoever wants to take it first, go for it. >> Yeah. So, I think th this one’s interesting because, you know, when you’re looking at a guy like an Anthony Davis, he he he’s certainly when you talk about a trade prospect, certainly a fascinating topic, right? I mean, he’s someone who uh when you look at his uh like his time throughout his career, like when he is on the court, he is one of the most electrifying players in the league. And I do think it is fair to look at some of his time in Dallas and you can say, yeah, the health issues have started coming back up. I would also venture to point out why he was some of those health issues came up specifically with coming back early, trying to like Nico Harrison rushing them out onto the court to try and make the trade justified. Like I think there were some things in Dallas that that caused some of these health issues to really flare up and be what they are. Having said all that with kind of some of the reporting that we’ve heard, you know, after the the Sham’s report where yeah, the Pistons actually haven’t had conversation at all about Anthony Davis and it seems like it wasn’t really entirely in their plans to have conversations about Anthony Davis. This immediately kind of makes me believe that uh this wasn’t as much a list of places that are actually going to be trading for Anthony Davis as much as I think this was the desired teams of Anthony Davis’s camp. And um I I think when you uh you know when you kind of look at like possible reasons as to why that can be I I point you to the game over pod with Max Cellerman and Rich Paul where literally this week Rich Paul one of the first episodes he has a clip where he stops mid pod and answers a call from Shams and says you’re my guy I have to answer. And uh and they’re like oh who gives who information? He’s like don’t worry about that. So like it it’s it like it’s pretty well known that Sham’s the way that he gets information is a lot more player and agent driven than uh than like a a woouge who was more executive and front office driven. So all that to be all that to say I have a pretty good feeling that this might not have come from in-house. >> Eric, you have anything to kind of add on to that or >> Yeah, I I hate all of it. Honestly, I I I don’t like this at all. I just I I think it’s so silly. I think people who are buying into it are just really just like you have to understand this isn’t even in the Pistons nature. Like this doesn’t make any kind of sense at all. And shout out to Amari San Kofu for being the one to stomp out the fire. He’s always been a reliable reporter. Love his work. He’s always done great stuff for the free press. Um so for him to kind of stomp out and and say and even um Brett Seagull as well from Clutch Points. Yeah. Stepping out and just saying yeah, there hasn’t been any conversation yet. I wish reporters and media would frame it the way Shawn just said, places that make sense for Anthony Davis, and then I’d be fine entertaining the conversation because there’s no question, yes, Anthony Davis would make this Pistons roster better if he’s playing and reliable on the court, which is the problem because he’s getting older in his age. He’s not getting more healthy as he’s aging. And the idea would make more sense if the Pistons were like in the eighth seed. If like Duran was playing terrible, if like they weren’t just like vibing or, you know, living up to the expectations that were sought off before the season started. It would make sense to then have that conversation. It it’s not a it’s not a thing that they really have to consider right now. when you’re sitting here playing as good as you are in the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, Trajan’s never really been the guy to kind of tip his hand if he were to be looking for a big move like this. And for all kind of players to be bringing in this kind of situation, even when they just said the guys have earned the right to just work together as a young core, it don’t make any kind of sense to say, “Oh no, Anthony Davis is the one that’s going to be the one to just change all this in their direction.” I didn’t really buy it when I first saw it. I tweeted it out and said, “Pissing fans, any of these reports you see, just deal with them cautiously because a lot of people just talk and they don’t have to reveal any kind of sources or anything. So, don’t fall too deep into this. I didn’t believe it from the first moment. I don’t think this is anything that’s going to actually play out. And I think the the the proof is already in the pudding with how the Pistons are playing right now.” I want to blame Kendrick Perkins because I felt like he started this >> dog >> two weeks ago because he said my sources like who knows who he talks to, who knows like what front office executives. So like hey like Anthony Davis wants out. Can you kind of like start it a little bit like get a little bit of fire on this because like Sean mentioned it like Johns is really well connected with agents and players and like this could just be agents and who’s his agent? Rich Paul. >> Rich Paul. Um, who does Clutch Sports routinely go to when they want some news out? Shams. I mean, this has nothing to do with Anthony Davis, but what did Shams say about Malik Beasley? He’s cleared. He’s cleared. Wasn’t cleared. Yep. I >> I think I think Shams really does play on words a lot, and you really have to read a tweet like three or four times just so you can kind of comprehend it. Um, and what you said, Eric, like if the Pistons weren’t the number one seed, Jaylen Duran didn’t take progressions and his scoring and he was just kind of like still averaging 11 points a game this season. Yeah, maybe you kind of take a swing for an Anthony Davis. But, I mean, JB had to go on FanDuel this week and say like, “Hey, like we made a decision to give these guys a green light of just keep on building what they’re doing. uh like we made a decision we weren’t going to make big trades and big splashes because I’m sure that’s something that both of those guys had conversations about this summer is like you know we could make a big move if you want to Orlando just traded for Desmond Bane like do you want to try to keep pace in the east and obviously this front office said you know what you know they tripled their win total they played some of their best basketball in their careers their young NBA career so far and I think a trade for AD or whether it’s a Lorie Markin or any of these big names teams that have kind of been, you know, thrown out by big media. I think it’s just, hey, like here’s a big sexy name. You know, the Pistons are winning. Like, let’s try to, you know, place them in Detroit because obviously Detroit has a lot of, you know, contracts they have to deal out. I think a lot of people don’t even touch on the, you know, the extensions with Jaylen Durn or Jade Navy and Sar Thompson coming up next year. Like, the Pistons have a lot of financial commitments that they have to decide on. Um, and I think trading for a guy in Anthony Davis that makes $50 million a year and also in his camp is kind of saying like, “Hey, he he wants another extension.” So, I think trading for him one is going to cost you some pieces. I don’t think it’s going to cost you as much um as other stars right now. But, I think I think financially it’s just it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for a team that’s not even in the apron. >> Yeah. Especially when you look at the fact I I think they said because I mean I’m sure his camp is going to ask for the max if he gets an extension and I think it was like in his 30 age 37 season he’d be getting paid like $72 million >> for something crazy like that where >> you don’t even like that’s one of those players where like you don’t even like you can’t even imagine what he looks like at that age. like you could see it where like maybe he’s still decently productive, but when a lot of his game like predicates on his shot blocking and his ability to make an impact around the rim because as much as Anthony Davis wants to insist he’s a power forward, he’s not a power forward. And so like I I think that’s another thing too of if like there’s not really like the most natural fit because sure he could be a roaming big in Detroit but like you know when you talk about like what this team needs it’s shooting and it’s spacing which is just like not what Anthony Davis is like like after watching that Hawks Pistons game last night if there’s any team on that court that needs Anthony Davis it’s the Hawks. It’s a team that like doesn’t have that interior presence. It doesn’t have that big you know it’s a true threat. Like I think if you look at this article which again like reading the you know like reading the wording here from Shams it says the Piss the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are expected to be suitors for Davis league sources told ESPN. So it’s like all right cool that gives us really nothing but I think when you look at it I think that goes in the order of teams that Davis’s camp feels as the most strongly he could get to the finals with. Like I think it goes in that order. So, >> um, you know, again, like I just I I I don’t think when you look at the way that the Pistons play, you know, kind of to your guys’ point, I I think this is like a similar situation to Houston last year where it’s like this team’s doing so well. They’re ascending and getting to the top of their conference and, you know, like there’s really no reason to shake things up other than to say other than to say to your fan base, hey, look at this big juicy trade that we made. They only went and made the big move for Kevin Durant after their playoff run when they saw, oh yeah, Jaylen Green just isn’t ready for this moment. And that’s when they go and make a big move. As much as people want to say that about Jaden Ivy right now in December 13th, I think you feel a lot better if you say that in, you know, in May or June of 2026. >> And I think yesterday’s game kind of puts a bow on a lot of everything that you said, too, because it’s not like the Pistons are just winning off of Cage shooting 45 times every game. It’s not like he’s like granted there have been some games where he’s had to backpack and carry for the Pistons, but for a good stretch through a lot of games, we’ve seen a lot of other guys take steps and even when like again they Beef Stew led them in scoring yesterday with 17. Like we’ve seen Duncan really come on strong really over the past like month and some change. Um like a lot of guys are taking like growth offensively. Even Assar where he’s not a a super polished offensive scoreer right now, but he’s finding a rhythm with that little mid-range shot. We’re seeing steps. Endurance game offensively. Um Ivy’s coming alive in some ways. Like they’ve shown the ability to score and be productive in ways that don’t necessarily require a guy like an Anthony Davis. Again, could he possibly help? Sure. We’re not going to like disrespect his talent or his skill set, but based on what they’re doing, the Pistons have all of the leverage right now. If I’m Training, you have to you have to convince me to even consider this right now. We have we’re in the driver’s seat. We’re number one. We have assets. We have a witty direction. And it’s on the back of our young guys. It’s not like Tobias is scoring 30 or, you know, Duncan or Levert is having some revelation as their leading guys. It’s on the back of their young core. Everything is in the Pistons favor right now. And even for some other names, which I’m sure we’ll probably get into, it just doesn’t make sense for them right now at this moment to blow that up with this kind of momentum with the ability to win in so many different ways. Whether it’s a shootout, winning ugly on defense, winning close games in the end, winning blowout in performances. They were able to sit Kate Cuttingham for the whole fourth quarter yesterday. Like nobody played more than 24 minutes for them against the Hawks. So the Pistons have a lot of leverage on their head to just say, “Hey, I know y’all may want to be in the sexy reports by Shams, but we got something sexier. The number one spot in the Eastern Conference, so we’re going to ride with that for now.” >> Yeah. I mean, out of all those teams, I think Toronto makes the most sense personally. Um, I think if you kind of just look at the players that they have, I I think maybe you could throw them like a Quickly or RJ Barrett and maybe that gets the Mavs excited because I I feel like the Mavs want to just rebuild personally. Like they’re not actively saying like we want to rebuild, but right, >> um, I I I think all all the writing’s on the wall, especially after the Luca trade and they’re still trying to just pick up everything that just fell apart with Nico Harrison. And I mean, Kyrie Irving, like, you forget that he’s even with the Dallas Mavericks cuz he’s been injured. Um, they got Ryan Nebard out playing D’Angelo Russell who’s on a freaking 2-way right now. So, I mean, there there there’s a lot. >> Wonder who could have seen the D’Angelo Russell disaster coming. God, if only if only that wasn’t the most predictable bull on the planet. >> Yeah. I mean, I don’t I I I don’t even know, man. like you were better off just like ressigning Spencer Denwitty. And he’s like playing overseas after he saw like what was going on in Charlotte. He’s like, “Yeah, I’d rather go play for some Euros than play over here.” >> It wasn’t a great sign for Spencer Denwitty when on media day the thing that went viral was people going, “Wait, Spencer Denwitty’s on the Hornets?” >> Yeah. >> Right. [laughter] Right. Like I I didn’t even know. I was like, “Oh, they they have Spencer Denwy and Colin Saxon. Maybe they’ll >> maybe they’ll figure [ __ ] out. >> Nah, >> I thought I thought I was I thought I was ahead of the curve. I thought they were going to be doing something. But I mean, it’s you know, it’s a lot of season left. Maybe they’ll find a way to sneak into 10, but it ain’t looking good for them right now. >> Hey, you know what? Of all the teams out in the NBA, they sure are one of them. [laughter] >> They sure are one of them. >> YOU CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM. >> They are. Unless they introduce relegation, but they can’t take that away from them. And current >> exist. >> Yeah, exactly. >> For now. For now. I mean, even New Orleans, maybe they switch again. Maybe they’ll earn it to the Pelican switch again. >> Maybe that’s what they need. Maybe they just Maybe they just both need a little identity switch up one more time. >> Charlotte Bobcats, come on down. >> Bring them home, baby. paint back. [laughter] >> Bring back those ugly orange uniforms with the ugly Bobcat. >> Oh, that looked like they were made in Microsoft Paint. Yes, please. >> Yeah. I mean, shout out to uh Kevin Burlesson, one of the Pistons assistant coach. He was on those Bobcat teams. >> Mhm. >> Man, the more you learn, like I looked on Getty, I was like, “No, he was on the seven- win team, wasn’t he?” I was like, “No, he’s on the 14- win team. He wasn’t on the seven- win team. So, it’s all good. It’s all good.” >> I think I just saw Nick Young on Twitter. I think he was popping off at Stephen Jackson cuz they were having a back and forth. He’s like, “Bro, you can’t talk about me. You played for the Bobcats.” And I’m like, “That’s such a short-sighted argument, but damn, that does kind of hurt a little bit. [laughter] >> It’s going to be devastating when you can just be like, “You played for the Bobcats in [laughter] >> You were part of that history, buddy. >> There’s some younger viewers that probably are googling Charlotte Bobcats right now because they don’t know what the [ __ ] we’re talking.” This is a real thing, guys. Sorry. [laughter] So, um I was looking at uh just some topics for uh this week and I I stumbled across Mark Stein. He uh was on I think Sirius XM radio it was and he kind of talked about how what he’s hearing uh with the Detroit Pistons, I’ll get the exact quote, uh saying that the early noise about the Pistons have been they don’t want to go out and make a splashy trade. So, what do you kind of I know we just talked about, you know, making a big splash for an Anthony Davis. What do you kind of think about like what, you know, big media members like Mark Stein are hearing from the Pistons approach. Do you do you think that’s the right approach for them to just kind of stay pat and just maybe add something marginally for what the team possibly needs at the deadline? >> Yeah, I mean, this is a team this is one of this is one of the two teams in the league that has 20 wins. this is one of the youngest teams in the league that has a clear identity that knows exactly who they are, knows exactly what they aren’t. Um, and I think you have like a group of veterans where you know like you that complement what they’re doing well and when you look like up and down the roster, I mean like the fact that they’re still like I know there’s like a lot of jokes that are made still about the, you know, about the rotations and things like that, but they’re still able to go like 10, 11, 12 deep and still win a lot of games. I mean, they’re still seven and three in their last 10. I imagine as the season goes on, you’re going to see that whittle down to 10, you know, and, you know, eventually probably eight in the postseason, but the reality of it is is right now you have guys, you know, who are contributing from from top to bottom. And so, when you look at like the the Pistons going out and doing something at the deadline, like, yeah, I think they can fortify the rotation. I think like similar to how they went and got a Dennis Shruder last year. I think it can go out and get you know like someone you know as like a potential like three-point marksman like you know like I I know uh I Anthony I think you might have floated out this name um in our conversation before but you said you know like if like what if what if Detroit could go get like a Dante Devanchenzo or what if they can go get you know like a three-point marksman you know who’s who’s able to come off the bench and and contribute in like multiple different ways. I think like this team can potentially get to the finals right now, you know, as constructed and not have to go make any major moves. Like not as much because of, oh yeah, the Pistons are just that good, but also it’s like who really scares you in the Eastern Conference right now? >> Maybe the Knicks. uh just because like the the way Mike Brown has them playing like offensively they’re playing even more uh fast-paced but we haven’t seen them yet this year which is kind of surprising given the schedule. I feel like we play the Hawks and the Bucks every other night but I know we’re talking about that before we went on but I mean schedule’s kind of been uh pretty gracious towards the Pistons so far but >> yeah uh yeah also what the hell Adam Silver of making us wait until the end of February for the first Pistons Thunder matchup. The fact that we have to wait until the end of February for the two best teams in the league to play war crime. >> Very absurd. >> War crime. >> Maybe it’ll be on a 40game win streak when we can snap it then. >> Yeah, that’d be that’d actually be pretty [laughter] sick. >> Um, yeah. I don’t I’m not expecting it either. Again, I feel like this is a very advantageous position for them to be like kind of citig like, you know, we’ve seen the conversations on social media. There are areas of course where you know their roster could possibly use some improvements. There are some areas that may look a little clunky on some nights where you know you wonder about what player A or whoever else could be here what they would look like. So I understand the conversation and again if they were like in a situation like the teams I mean like Toronto who’s kind of what I think they lost like three straight if I’m not mistaken. Um Atlanta’s you know sitting there in like the playin area right now. Um, like there are some teams that could afford to be, you know, buyers at the deadline or sellers and the Pistons are not in a situation where they have to be that. They could, again, there’s some names that I would love just fantasy booking wise I think would be awesome on a in a Detroit Pistons uniform. We’ll get into that later probably, but for now they’re in a position where they don’t have to. And that’s the difference. Um, again, the way that they’ve I don’t want to say that they’ve been overachieving because I do think they were capable of being one of the better teams in the East based on what Sean said. There’s not a lot of teams that are scaring you. New York is good, but I don’t think they’ve been extremely impressive um for a lot of stretches in a lot of different areas, too. Um, Boston is a good team, but again, I don’t think they’re, you know, scaring anybody based on what they have now. They can still be a little inconsistent. Orlando’s a bit up and down. They just lost Fron. Like there’s a lot of things that are in the air for them. Um Philly, Toronto, I knew Cleveland was going to be fraudulent, but there’s just a lot of things looking at the East where you don’t really have to be shaken and thinking, “Okay, we really got to sell in on this player or buy in on this one player to take us over the edge.” Could it possibly work with some names? Possibly. But again, they’re not in a position where I feel like they have to make that happen right now. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean I I I think when you just kind of look at the landscape, the only thing that worries me a little bit is Boston has not ruled out Tatum coming back. And I keep seeing all all these clips. Apparently, he had a surgery to kind of just fast track his Achilles tendon tear that he had. Um he looks like he’s getting more explosive by the day. I mean, like if they get him back like around, you know, midFebruary to March, uh they’re rolling right now. The Pistons play them on Monday, by the way, which it’s going to be a really good test, obviously. Um, and I feel like anytime we play them, it’s just much watched TV, especially the the way it ended last time of like being able to tie the game at the free throw line. Couldn’t do it. But, I mean, maybe the Knicks and Boston right now, I mean, like the East is not what it was last year. There’s not like a whole lot of teams. Like Sean, we were talking about expectations last week. Like a lot of fans are saying like if you don’t make it to the NBA finals. It kind of feels like a failure just because the way that they’ve started off. They’re 20 and five in the first 25 games of the season. Like the expectations have completely like kind of flipped with fans. >> The fact that like like can we just take a moment and reflect on the fact that we are like legitimately in 2025 based off of where this team has been in years past. We are unironically saying the statement. If this team gets to the finals, it will be a failure. And we’re not laughing when we’re talking about it. Like I personally don’t think it’s a failure. If they get to the finals and I if they if they don’t get to the finals, like I think if they get to the Eastern Conference Finals, I think that’s a massive win for this organization. But at the same time, I could definitely understand why people feel that way and the standpoint of like especially through the first, you know, again, it is about a third or you know, just over a quarter of the season, they have looked like the best team in the conference. I mean, they have looked every bit, you know, the the the, you know, the step up that people might have hoped they could be. I I mean, I personally didn’t see this. I don’t know about you guys, but I didn’t think I didn’t think first seed in the East. I thought like I thought third and I thought like that would be you know exciting you know let alone this is best start since 0506 went to the finals that year >> right the one thing that does I don’t want to say worries me but the one thing I guess you would possibly think about is okay fine if we’re not going to get any of the you know potential names that are on out there you know for the market that’s cool but I am nervous about other teams going after them as well like I’m definitely Um, a little I’d be a little worried if Trey Murphy ended up on a few of these teams in the Eastern Conference. Um, like I don’t know. I don’t know how Lori Markin is weird to me honestly. I feel like he just needs to stay in Utah and figure it out cuz I don’t really see a whole lot of teams where I would at least not for the Piston sake. Maybe some others could work, but again, his defense kind of worries me a lot. I know he’s a great offensive player, but I I don’t I’m not as high as him other people are, but there are some players out there that could tip a scale and change a lot of teams for some teams that could be buyers in this wide open Eastern Conference. So, I do think some names are going to shuffle around. Um, again, it’s going to be interesting to see how aggressive the Pistons try to be. >> I mean, hey, with New Orleans, I mean, they seemingly had no idea what they were trading away to get Derek Queen. So, who knows what you can swindle out of them to get Trey Murphy the third. Maybe they think they’re actually getting Shawn Murphy, but they’re actually losing Trey Murphy. [laughter] >> Well, let me get on the phone, you guys. I got my two phones. [laughter] >> Troy, we need you to understand, man. Come on. You owe us a solid here. >> That is that is as brutal of a report as you can have about a front office that they had no clue what they were trading away. Even though all of the reports have said Atlanta went multiple times. Hey, so you do realize this is what you’re giving. This is some man Ray is this your wallet type stuff, man. >> Here’s the thing. Like Derek Queen is excellent. He’s He’s a really good pick. >> Yeah. >> So, who gets the praise? Is it Joe Dear or Troy Weaver >> for that pick? >> They fight for it all the time. I’m sorry. Yeah. Uh-huh. [laughter] >> They arm wrestle over it constantly. I bet. >> I mean, that feels like a Troy pick through and through, >> but it also But it also feels like a Troy move to just give up way too much to do it. >> I feel like Troy gets praised for drafting Derek Queen, but Joe gets the brunt of it for uh trading two, mind you, two lottery picks, two top five lottery picks. You look at Tankathon right now. Uh they had the Pacers pick. bases are getting their pick back. They’re going to get a lottery pick. Uh the Hawks are going to get a lottery pick. Like if the Hawks win another lottery and it it turns into Peterson, like I know they drafted and traded up to get Jeremiah Fierce, but I mean, you can’t tell me you wouldn’t love the idea of a Peterson in New Orleans because they desperately need a point guard right now. There was just like to me the Pacers one is the most inexcusable from the standpoint of there was no reason that had to be done before the finals. >> None. Like you would have been in the same place as an organization if well actually you would have been in a better place if you waited, but like like things would HAVE BEEN THE EXACT same because it’s not like you’re going to BE GOING OUT AND PLAYING A game on Wednesday. It’s like no, just wait. Yeah, I mean I I think you look at the draft picks that we have. Obviously it’s you know Troy has his fingerprints on a lot of the core guys like Jaylen Durr Thompson, Kate Cunningham, Jaden Ivy, but I mean just the process and the losing, man. Like I feel bad for New Orleans because I know they’re going to head towards a rebuild. I know they’re going to get swindled for the Herb Jones trade. Like Herb Jones is probably going to the Lakers and they’re probably going to get like what like really hot Gmora and then he’s going to forget how to play basketball down there. It’s just it’s just going to be like just a fleece like a typical Rob Pelinka fleece. >> Yeah. I don’t know what happened where like we all just kind of like have to just like give Rob Pelinka like whatever he wants now, but apparently that’s just that’s just the NBA we’re in. I mean, hey, if you can get Trey Murphy for basically nothing, I mean, that’s a good Tobias Harris replacement if you ask me. Like, everyone talks about Lori and Anthony Davis. Like, go give me Trey Murphy. Like, go get go get me Trey Murphy. He’d be a good fit. >> I mean, I’m sure Trey fantasy booking. >> I’m I’m sure Tan would be pretty excited about having a Trey Murphy on this roster. >> And that’s where I also don’t rule out another swing because that that it just makes too much sense. the fact that he was connected there. You know, you need, we all love Tobias, but we see the wheels coming off slowly but surely. Like, when it’s on a fast break, you hold your breath every single time. And his defense is kind of taking a little bit of a slip. So, knowing that, you know, New Orleans is looking like a complete joke show right now. They’re not going to keep everybody. Trey Murphy would be so perfect fantasy bookie wise for the team like the Pistons. >> That would just that would just be doing Tobias so dirty though. >> I know it would. [laughter] like, “Hey, hey, you came back to our franchise. Like, you helped like build this culture as a as a thanks. You’re going from a team of five losses to a team with not even five wins. Like, have a good day.” It’s like >> to the guy that was just over here recently. So, now you both get to just watch from afar. >> You know what would be funny though? Like, they don’t have to give up Tobias. It’s like here’s Marcus Sasser, Troy. like here here’s a pickback that like we we probably really didn’t really need to trade up for. Like I could totally see them doing that. And like even though they do have point guards, um they don’t really the the way that Troy built teams is just like, you know what, I know I have a guard, but I’m going to disrupt another one cuz I want another shiny toy. >> Imagine he’s like, we’ll even throw in Paul Reed. And Troy’s like, did you say a big? [laughter] >> How tall is he? Above 6’8. Perfect. Bring him in. He’s like, [laughter] >> he’s like, “What’s his wings span?” >> Alibab. That’s all he [laughter] needs. >> Yeah. I mean, like, hopefully New Orleans gets it settled on. I know we’re kind of joking, but I mean, like Sean has last week cuz I thought they had five wins. I was like, “How many wins do they have?” He’s like, “Three.” I was like, “No [ __ ] I thought they had five.” >> Nope. [laughter] >> Oh man. >> Yeah. It’s like, “No, no, it is bad.” >> Oh, man. And I mean like they fired Willie Green which I I thought they should have fired him last year. Uh James Brago has kind of got them playing more fast-paced but they’re still finding a way to lose games, man. Like uh poor Pelicans. Poor Pelicans, man. I feel for them because they they have so much they have so much talent. It’s just like how the hell are you that bad? >> Yeah. Unfortunately, they look like a team that’s ran by Joe Dumars. And I wanted to believe that over the years he he could have grown and and learned a lot from the mistakes that he made. And if anything, he somehow is just going even harder. >> Yeah. >> Consiracy theories with that or Joe had a job in the league office. They’re probably like, “Take the job in New Orleans. Tank it.” And then we we get a team in Vegas. We’ll relocate. >> Adam Silver is like pulling the impractical jokers. He’s like, “Okay, now trade their unprotected pick.” And they’re all like laughing [laughter] in the back room. [snorts] >> Trade to the Hawks. >> [laughter] >> Okay, get back [laughter] on track a little bit. But hey, man, I’m I’m all out good for a good ribbon. We can laugh at it now since we’re kind of out of the basement. Now the Pelicans are in the basement with the door shut and Pistons are back up with the cool kids partying and uh staying up past 9:00. Uh Pelicans are in bed by 8:00 and we’re like partying and like keep it down out there. [laughter] trying to watch Family Feud. [laughter] >> Wheels on at seven. I’m going to bed after. >> So, I’ve been listening to a lot of NBA podcast, national podcast, and I wanted to ask both of you guys, cuz you both cover the team. You’re both reporters. Why do you think the national media still doesn’t buy the Pistons as as a top dog, a top NBA team? Because I I feel like every time I listen to a podcast, it’s like, you know, the Knicks, they might take that number one seed uh from the Pistons, Boston’s hot. Like, why do you think the Pistons still aren’t getting respect nationally? >> No one has a backbone. Like, if you want the truth, like it like when whenever you hear people predict in in the national media like who’s going to win the championship, it’s always the team who won the championship the previous year. It’s always safe to say like last year everyone talked about I just don’t see a world where Boston doesn’t come out and win the championship. I mean it’s Boston. It’s clearly Boston and except it was Oklahoma City the entire time and everyone saw it right like like this year like everyone can see the Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference. All I could see on the timeline during Pistons games is people going I think the Pistons are for real. This team’s legit. This looks really good. And then when and then whenever you like hear, you know, like you mentioned, you know, like the Hoop Collective is a podcast that you and I both really like to listen to. Whenever it gets like talking about the best team in the East, people say, “I think it’s the Pistons.” And it’s like, “Well, let’s slow down.” It’s like, “Well, at what point like like we’re 25 games in now. At what point do we get to stop questioning if this is for real or not?” Like because it’s not like it’s not like how Chicago was winning games to start the season where they were just raining down threes like like hell hath no Fury and Je like uh you know uh like uh Josh Giddy was shooting threes like he was prime Steph Curry you know like like there was clear that that was not sustainable. But the way the Pistons are playing with high intensity, you know, like quality defense, scoring in the paint, um you know, like like all the things that they’ve done like are not things that can’t be replicated night in night out, which is exactly what we’ve seen with this team. Like I just I think the reason why they’re not getting the respect is because when you look at the landscape of the league, the people are only going to, you know, go out and and they’re only going to put their, you know, uh put their name behind it if they’ve gone out and definitively done it before. And so until the Pistons are in the Eastern Conference Finals, people aren’t going to come out and say, “I think this team can get to the Eastern Conference Finals.” Like, yeah, it’s pretty easy if they’ve already gotten there to come out and and go out on a limb. It’s like, “Huh, I’m going to go out on a limb and and I think I I think the Thunder might make the playoffs.” Like, really? You think so? But brave, bold. >> Yeah. I don’t A lot of these arguments are there. A lot of these arguments against the Pistons, based on what Sean is saying, they’re either based on the future or they’re based on the past. They’re not based on what’s happening in this current moment right now. The best team in the Eastern Conference is the Detroit Pistons. The second best team in the NBA right now is the Detroit Pistons. I think that’s a fair thing to say. And a lot of people don’t believe it because like Sean says, they haven’t people argue of they argue it as if who if who were to come out of the Eastern Conference right now if you could bet on it. And I don’t like that argument because it’s not the playoffs yet. We don’t know what it’s going to look like in the postseason. And if you’re basing it on last season, they’re two different teams now at this point. The Knicks aren’t the same team they just had. They got a new coach, some new players. Like, it’s a different philosophy. They got different things that they’re working on right now. Pistons the exact same way. So, I don’t like either of those kind of arguments that they apply for the Pistons because when you watch and see what’s going on right now, it’s clear as day that the Pistons are as good as they are. It’s the same thing I was hearing when I put up my my top 10 um player ranking and I had Cade above Jaylen Brunson. And everybody’s argument for why Brunson is better is because of what he did in the playoffs last season. And that’s just lazy and I don’t like that. Kade is playing better now and it should be based on the now. Um and then even basing it on other things like I think Cade should be higher in these MVP rankings that I’m seeing. Like I don’t like I don’t like where how people kind of pick and choose and change criterias because the first few years we heard impact on winning. We heard winning records being so important and whatnot. Now Cade has his team number one in the East. Pistons playing fantastic on both sides of the ball and Luca Dantis with the Lakers who are fourth in the West if I’m not mistaken. Not a better record, not playing better. Luca’s not a better two-way player, but somehow just because he’s more efficient and scores more, he’s higher in the MVP rankings. Like, that just doesn’t make sense to me at all. I think Cade should be higher in that discussion. He should be no lower than three in these kind of conversations. So, like to me, it’s a big reason why I like normally media people and reporters aren’t supposed to, you know, put their fan hats on. But that’s a reason why I do it because I don’t like the disrespect that this team like has this with this stigma in terms of what they do. And again, as long as I’m staying professional, I think it’s appropriate to do so because it’s clear when people argue against the Pistons, they’re truly not paying attention. And it’s important for us to kind of set the record straight because like Sean said, they ain’t got no backbone to actually pay attention or speak logically when talking about what the Pistons have done thus far this season. I I will say when you do look at the Pistons strength of schedule, it’s 27th. They they have had an easy schedule. I do feel like from a national perspective, they’re waiting for the Pistons. Like we have a West Coast trip coming up the week of Christmas. I think if they come out of that West Coast trip, they take care of the Blazers, they beat the Lakers, who that just got picked up for a um NBC game, by the way, uh Pistons and Lakers. I think if you go and have a really great West Coast trip, maybe they’ll kind of change their tune. But I I I feel like it’s not a Bull situation like you touched on, Sean. Like the Bulls were terrible last year, but they were 5-0. They were the number one seed for the first week of the NBA season, but the Pistons have been the number one seed for multiple weeks. They’ve beaten the teams in front of them. You can’t really fault the NBA for giving them of a more relaxed schedule. They’re taking care of business. And in the losses that they’ve have had, they haven’t really been blowouts outside of the Chicago Bulls loss. And I think that was opening night. Every game has gone down to the wire. >> Yeah. Oh, Cleveland, too. Cleveland, too. But I mean, like, out of like five five losses, only two have been kind of like out out of reach or out of hand for for the team. But, I mean, it’s not like this team last year didn’t make the playoffs and, you know, tripled their win total. It’s not like they weren’t a a six seed. I mean, they’re a six seed last year. They’re a number one seed this year. And they’ve taken progressions. They’ve each gotten better in their own right. I feel like Jaylen Duran’s leap isn’t really getting talked about a a lot. I feel like we do a pretty good job talking about it locally here in Detroit, but I still feel like a lot of people don’t talk about it. Um, you know, Sar Thompson has taken leaps of being more of an aggressor. I mean, he’s had games this year where he’s having seven, eight assists, and he’s not the the lead guard. Like, he’s like maybe a second or a third lead guard. Kate Cunningham’s usually the lead guard out there. Kade’s taken progressions in scoring almost averaging 28 a game. Um, I think there’s a lot with this team that doesn’t really get the respect that I think it deserves. And obviously, I think a lot of people will come back with like, well, you haven’t really played anyone. You haven’t been battle tested yet. And it’s just like, well, you know, the week of Christmas, I think, will be a very good test. And like, if they they take care of business, they beat LeBron and the Lakers, that’s going to be talked about on every type of Sports Center, CBS radio, whatever it is, and maybe the Pistons will get more respect that way. But until then, I don’t really think the N national media is going to give them the fair shake of being a top dog. >> Which by the way, like if that’s the game that like gets people to go, “Oh, the Pistons are legit.” Then I think that’s like a that’s almost like a leaguewide like lit test of who actually watches the games because like with all due respect to the Lakers, they’re they’re front runners. Like like talk about a team, you know, like they they they beat the bad teams and they lose almost solely to the good teams. And I mean, like when you look at the Pistons like like uh season thus far, they’ve only lost like like of the five games they’ve lost, only one of them was double digits. >> Every other game that they’ve that they’ve been in this year, like they they have not been defeated by anything more than single digits like the rest of the season. and every other game has been pretty dominant or if it has come down to the wire, Detroit’s gone out and gotten it done pretty decisively. So, like I think that’s like the other thing as well when you look at like the Pistons are winning in in a multitude of ways. Like they’re winning, you know, like when they’re like, you know, like they’re winning when they’re going out and like putting on offensive displays. They’re winning when it gets really ugly and it comes down to the wire. They’re winning when they have to come from behind and are facing, you know, adversity. like it’s a team that just finds a way to win, which when you talk about the elite teams of the league, that’s the key, that’s the key characteristic that they need. So, if that’s, you know, if that’s not an elite team, I don’t know what is. >> And I can’t stand the the the strength of schedule argument in some spots because you can only play who’s on your schedule. Like, I’m sorry, they can’t play the Nuggets every single night. Like, guys, I’m sorry. They just can’t do that. And we’ve seen them lose games that they should have won, too. And then people want to pile on for that, which is fair. If you lose to the Bucks without Giannis and you had a lead, I totally understand that criticism. But when they beat up on the teams that the way they’re supposed to beat up on them on, they deserve their credit and their flowers for doing so. And they’ve been consistent with how they play. And the way they play it, to me, if they want to prolong and like look towards the playoffs, the way the Pistons play is conducive to playoff basketball, emphasizing defense, playing in transition. Um they’re trying to work on turning the ball over a little bit less. They’re working on their half court sets a little bit better. Um, playing against zones a lot, you know, getting their shooting up with guys like Duncan Robinson. They’re, again, like Shaw just said, they’re finding different ways to win in a multitude of different ways. And again, it it translates to p to playoff basketball, especially when you have a superstar in K Cunningham to lead it. So, yeah, I I’m I’ve never been a fan of the the the strength of schedule argument. And they played good teams. They beat the Rockets, one of the better teams in the Western Conference. Orlando is kind of figuring it out now. They’re what still top five or top four in the East right now. So they’re they’re not just beating up on the Hornets or the Pelicans every not to come back to New Orleans again, but they’re not just beating up on these teams every single night. They’ve played some tough competition in their division in the East. Like it’s been some good games and they’re sprinkled in. I just I just think that’s lazy for for some people to say. >> I know. I mean they’ve they’re 5-0 against the West. I mean people say, you know, you’ve had an easy schedule. You beat the Rockets who were kind of considered one of the top tier. I know it was really early on in the season, but you still took care of the Rockets. You beat a Blazers team that was playing some of their best basketball even after uh Chanty Bilips got removed as head coach and you have Thiago Splitter as interim head coach. Like they’re they’re taking care of teams that they need to take care of. Like last night was a perfect example. They took care of an Atlanta Hawks team that was banged up and injured and it was a layup line. No one was playing defense whatsoever. I felt like it was just a layup line all night. But I mean, you can’t really fault them for, you know, taking care of the teams in front of them. They can’t play all the teams that are, you know, five to 10 games over 500. They’ll play those teams when they get to play them. But I mean, like to kind of give the strength to schedule argument. I think it’s just kind of just lazy at that point. >> Yeah. Eric brought up fantasy booking earlier when he turned in, you know, when he brought when he turned into Eric Vincent McMahon. But, you know, like when when you look at like like this isn’t this isn’t wrestling, you know, like this is this is professional sports. You have a you have a schedule that’s laid out ahead of time. It’s not pre-planned or pre-ordained in any way. I’m so sorry for calling you Vince Mc Eric Vince. >> I want to walk away right now for a minute. I’m You’re not putting me up there with Vince McMahon. I’m not allowing that right now, SEAN. >> IT JUST ROLLED OFF THE [laughter] TOP, TOO. WELL, DAMN IT. BUT ANYWAY, all that all all that to say like again you you can really only do what’s in front of you and you know this is a team before where you know this this time two years ago we were talking about a complete opposite situation. So, the fact that this is the team that’s in this situation when where they were, you know, even just a year ago in comparison, like I just I just again people like keep people keep moving the goalposts all they want, but like just look at the top of the standings and that speaks for itself. >> And let’s not underell the injuries that they’ve dealt with, too. I keep forgetting about how many guys they’ve had in and out of their rotation this year. They’ve missed a lot of guys. Dis Jenkins now has himself a professional NBA outlook because of how he played during this stretch because of Cade being gone because of Ivy being, you know, unavailable. Like that was able to launch and springboard his momentum over right now. So again, it’s not like Cade is just like put up 50 bombs against like a bunch of Bless guys. Like they they played a lot of their backups and they still found ways to win, which shows how great JB Bigger has been as a coach. So, no, I’m I’m not bonding for that at all. >> Can I say something real quick on the Dannis Jenkins point? >> Please. >> It’s going to be another Vince McMahon. >> No, no. I mean, I I I mean, it can’t be. Absolutely. >> No, no, it cannot. It’s such good. No, I’m kidding. Anyway, uh No, I mean like one thing you kind of have to start looking at with Dannis Jenkins, like if you do talk about like potential roster moves, Dannis is already up to 20 games. And when you’re a two-way player, you can only play 50 in a season. So, like there’s kind of a limit to your usage. So, we’re starting to get to the point where I mean clearly there’s still 30 games left on that. You know, you have Ivy, you know, that just came back. You have Sasser who just came back, but like you’re getting to the point here pretty soon because I mean like Danis is a pretty regular fixture in the rotation at this point. like you’re going to have to make a decision about converting his contract or what you’re going to do here because I I just can’t fathom him going back down to the Wayne State Fieldhouse and playing with the Cruz this like no disrespect to the Crews but it’s like with what Danis has shown us it’s like what what does he need to go down to the G-League and do at this point >> going to with Tyrese Maxi [snorts] >> I mean to be fair I think his spot has already been taken in the G-League like respectively like they have Jaden Atkins they have Quincy Olivari like Right. >> I don’t really think that they are anticipating him coming back. And if I did have to guess, I think Isaac Jones gets converted into a two-way because I’ve never seen a player get picked up on an active roster spot and actually play real minutes in the G-League. I I I think the Crews really like Isaac Jones. He’s shown the ability to play power forward. Like I’ve been watching a lot of Cruz games just to kind of you know keep an eye on Marcus Sasser Chaz Laneir like they’re playing double bigs out there with Tulu Smith and Isaac Jones. So I mean I I think that’s probably what would happen with Dannis is he just gets that uh 15th roster spot he gets converted and you lock him up multi-year so that way you have a cheap backup point guard kind of like how Trajan did with Jose Alvarado. It’s very similar where, you know, he goes undrafted. They’re both undrafted guards. He’s on a really cheap deal for multiple years and you don’t have to really worry about going into the backup point guard market. >> I mean, if that’s a guy, by the way, who’s available for trade, I know we don’t need him, but like I would say Alvarado is just a Piston to his core. He He just when you when you watch him play basketball, he looks like a Piston. >> Yeah, he’s an irritant, that’s for sure. He’s got that Yeah, he’s got that uh that pit bull mentality for sure. But yeah, I love what they’ve been able to discover through with with Danis because I feel like they they’ve kind of played into a point where they kind of need him for sure. Like I like Ivy um but I think he plays better at this point a little bit more off ball. Um I think he did a really good job yesterday initiating a lot of their offense, but I think he’s better when Danis is next to him and kind of setting the table, you know, creating looks for other people. Um you know, Ivy still showing the ability to be a catch and shoot guy. Um help spread the floor for Ron. um really good cutter and driver, you know, creating looks for other people at the rim. Um yeah, I feel like they do need him like to kind of be the stabilized backup at this point, even, you know, if they definitely got some decisions to make, but I think he’s found a way to show that he’s more valuable here with >> Yeah. I mean, I I don’t really think he’s going to be at a Motor City Cruise game, even though they keep selling his poster. Like every Facebook ad I see, it’s got like Dandis Jenkins. I was like, “Yeah, you might want to change that cuz I don’t think he’s going to be spending any time with the Motor City Crews, which I’m sure the Pistons are very happy about because I didn’t really You look at like what he averaged last year. He averaged like a point a game and he’s up to eight this year just kind of taking um advantage of his playing time.” But it’ll be interesting to see what does happen. I could be completely wrong and Isaac Jones gets waved and we have an open two-way spot. You never know. >> Yeah. I mean it feels it almost like certainly just I mean like when when Jones is brought in is when you know Tobias was injured and you know like there was kind of that you know like that need for more depth uh in the front court as well whereas now like I just I think things are changing and it’s just it’s it’s pretty abundantly clear to me that Dannis Jenkins is an NBA player like like you like you’ve said I mean uh JB’s literally come out and said himself he’s an NBA player through and through. We’re lucky we have them as a two-way. Um, you know, and it’s just when when guys keep playing like that, they generally get converted to real contracts. So, >> so I I had a fun question for you guys. As you know, December 15th is the date that players that sign contracts could be traded. And I saw someone mention Chris Paul is on a one-year $3.6 million contract. Now, I’m not saying the Pistons. I’m not saying the Pistons. How funny would it be if he goes to the Lakers? [laughter] >> Like >> as if the Clippers experiment couldn’t get worse. He just gonna blow up LA in one season. >> Can you imagine they trade him to the Lakers and then it gets vetoed again just for old sake? >> Hilarious. [laughter] >> Just just for one last FU. >> Just to be petty. >> Uh-huh. [laughter] Well, I’m I’m thinking about it because one of their national games, the Clippers only nationally televised game by Amazon Prime this year is coming up pretty soon. Like, it would just be all the story lines you want. The Clippers suck. Ty Lou says, “Fuck [ __ ] CP3. [laughter] We don’t [ __ ] with CP3.” You imagine like >> Yeah, he not like us. Like, can you imagine like he’s playing next to LeBron on the fast break, he hits a three and he looks at Ty Louu and he’s just talking [ __ ] to the Lakers to the Clippers bench, man. Like I I would like I don’t really watch a lot of Lakers games, but I would tune into that game just for the story lines. >> Certified Laker boy, certified flaker foul. Wow. WOW. [laughter] >> I deserve to get kicked for that one. [laughter] Kendrick glitter slide. It’s all right. >> Yep. >> I uh Yeah, that’s uh something that’s going to be itched up here for probably like the next 10 years. [laughter] >> You’re like, those were words that came out of Sean’s mouth. Anyway, next [laughter] >> that’s documented now. >> No, I mean that that would be hilarious stuff if he did go to the Lakers and then like they veto it one last time. That would be that would be funny. But him like just going there and then like [ __ ] getting to see the Clippers one last time with his retirements were. But >> yeah, man. NBA has just been a wild wild uh business. Um I did want to do one more topic on today’s show and it was the ESPN top 25 under 25. Now, this is a full list. So, I I went ahead and made a graphic cuz I I feel like some people are more just visual people so you guys can kind of follow along. Also did the the listing from Victor Wanyama being one and Reed Shepard being 25. So, I don’t know if there’s a individual player you guys want to focus on with this topic or just kind of maybe you don’t agree with Sar Thompson at 24. Maybe you think Jaylen Duran should be higher. Could you argue Kate Cunningham’s better than Anthony Edwards right now? >> I mean, I would say, you know, like looking at this list, I I personally would rather have Assar Thompson uh over Alex Sar. That’s just me if I’m nitpicking and going, you know, like going through this list, that’s one where I’m like, well, that feels a a little a little questionable. But otherwise, I think a lot of this list is pretty spot-on and pretty accurate. Like if I’m pretty honest, like I think I think Cade’s coming for number two on this list. Like I think Anthony Edwards is his days are numbered in that ranking. I think it’s pretty clear that now that Kade has, you know, like the Pistons winning and doing what they’re doing. And like I I just you look at the direction that Minnesota’s going in. I think the Pistons are going to finish, you know, with a better standing in the season than than Minnesota will. Um, I know part of that’s the conference that they’re in, but I also think part of that, um, is just the level of play that you’re seeing from Kade, the the ability that he has to elevate, uh, what’s around him. So, I I think otherwise, you know, like if you’re just looking, you know, at this list, I I think you don’t really take much issue with uh, most everything on here. Um, you know, I think they got a lot of this right. I think you kind of have to put Wimby at number one, even though it’s kind of like the when he’s, you know, it’s like the it’s like the when he is actually on the court thing. And I know people don’t want to accept that he’s going to be someone with injury issues, but I mean, I’m sorry, someone with that frame, they’re going to have injury issues. So, it’s just the way it is. I’m I’m I’m I’m I’m wondering if this list is based on what they’re playing like now or what we think they’re going to be like down the line because I feel like a lot of these guys um maybe not for I don’t know. I feel like some of this feels like maybe it’s more of a projection than it is of what they’re playing like right now. But some of the list most of the list honestly I don’t really have too much of a problem with. I I would personally move Kade up already. I just think, you know, I think he’s been a lot better of a defender. Um, his two-way ability as a playmaker in elite level and as a scorer. Um, I think that’s kind of just earned him the right. I think Anthony Edwards has always been a dynamic score, but I don’t really see his game like kind of progressing in a whole lot of other ways personally. Um, so I I personally would put Kad to I personally don’t mind Assar being as low as he is. Um, again, I feel like a lot of these guys in front of him have kind of taken a lot of strides offensively. Um, even like guys like Dyson Daniels, Jaylen Suggs has been pretty impressive offensively in some stretches. Um, I don’t understand what Washington does with their young players. Like I think SARS should be used way more than he has been and just kind of featured a lot more and I just don’t see that with them from whenever I’ve seen them play. Um, and I feel like a lot of areas in the SARS game, granted, we’ve seen some progression, I just don’t think he’s really done enough for me to pass a lot of the guys in front of him. Like I love Dylan Harper already. Um, Canipple’s been fantastic. Stefan Castle’s really good. Um, even the Orlando guys, like I think, yeah, Paulo definitely needed to drop because he I I don’t like the way Paulo’s been playing honestly since he’s been in the league. he needs to be a back to the basket like kind of guy instead of oh I’m gonna bring the ball up and facilitate like a point forward like that’s not his game and I hate the way that they use him for that. Um but to me yeah again I if it’s based on how the guys are playing right now I think this list is kind of okay. Um but I don’t know maybe I just need some clarity on that. Is this is this a projection list or just how they’re playing right now? >> I feel like it’s I think it’s kind of a current list. >> Okay. The way I bet >> the way I kind of read it. >> Yeah. Yeah. then I don’t mind. Again, Assar, I love Assar. I just think he has a lot of growth to make still offensively on a consistent level, and I feel like a lot of these guys in front of him have already shown a little bit more of a two-way ability. So, I I personally don’t mind it, but I understand the argument against it. >> Yeah, I feel like if this is a projection, Cooper Flag would be way the of Evan Mobley. >> Facts. Agreed. >> It’s funny you say that because I don’t even feel like he should be in the top 10 to me. I don’t think I’ve seen enough like I obvious Cooper flag like obviously he’s having games right now >> but I don’t think he’s better than Jaylen Johnson right now. >> That’s just to me today. >> Yeah. >> No, not he still had a triple double but I mean like the >> Johnson fantastic. Yeah, I agree with you. >> It’s like I I get the Cooper hype. I really do. I I just don’t think he’s the eighth best player under 25 years old. I mean, >> yet, >> no. I mean, there’s some guys on here that aren’t even even mentioned. Like, Keante George isn’t on this list, which I think is kind of criminal kind of given like the season he’s having in Utah. Um, he’s been putting some games together. But as soon as I saw like the the Keniple, the Dylan Harper, the VJ the VJ Edgecom, like I was just like I I think Cooper should maybe be a tier below. I think he should be in the row with like a Paulo and a Jaylen Durn and a Denny Optia. I think I would I I would feel more comfortable um that way. And it I had to look it up cuz I thought Denny Yavio was like 30. He’s just been playing in the league so damn long. I had no idea he was still under 25 years old. I was like, “Oh yeah, the Seikku draft. That’s right.” I I I will say I think it’s pretty surprising that they already I mean like this is like this is really getting in the weeds here. This is really more so just talking about like the rookies, but like the fact they already have Khan Kppel already already over Dylan Harper. That’s pretty surprising to me. I mean, in part, I think some of that’s just kind of the role and how they’ve been featured. I think Kenneell’s had more of a shot in in in Charlotte. And I think as you’ve seen Harper kind of get more featured in the lineup, he’s been looking pretty good, too. But, I mean, I I think again, this is just one of those things where you look at this list and you just go, man, what a what a freaking future this league has. Like, how bright this is, you know? And specifically like I think I think when you do look at this list like if and if you’re to go hey of of these top 25 players who’s the guy that you feel most confident can bring a championship to his team I’d put Kate Cunningham as high as anybody on this list. Even I’d perhaps even put him over Wimby from the standpoint of I mean if if Wim is healthy I think we’re all pretty confident they can get at least one Larry O’Brien. But the question like my like I think we all have the question of can Wimi get through a playoff run? Can he get through a finals? Can he get through a season unscathed? Whereas like with Cade, I have far less questions about that. The only in the only true big injury Scary had was the shin issue. And that like when you look at like the you know the uh rate that people reagravate that type of injury, it’s remarkably it’s remarkably low. >> Yeah. I mean, when you when you kind of have it in that context, like I think the championship question, Anthony Edwards has been to two conference finals, and I don’t know if he’s going to make it to a third conference finals, but um I I I think maybe that’s why he is ranked above Kade because he’s had more playoff success, but I don’t really think if you just like match them up one-on-one, compared their stats, they’re pretty comparable. Um, I feel like Cade would probably be pretty high up there. So would Wimy. Jaylen Johnson. It’s hard to or Jaylen Williams, my bad. Uh, kind of have that conversation because his team won without him. They won 20 straight games without him. It just kind of shows the depth of his team. Like him and like Chad and him have missed like weeks and they’re still uh the number one seed in the the Western Conference. Kind of show >> they still only lost one time. >> Insanity. Yeah, it’s like this whole list like the more you just kind of dissect it like the conaniple like excellent pick by Charlotte, but some of the conversations people are having about him are just so insanely crazy. Like I I was listening to Zack Low and he’s like, “Yeah, if he keeps it up, he’s going to pass Steph Curry in three-pointers.” I was like, “Well, he’s going to have to do this for the next 15 years and making this many.” I was just like, “Let’s let’s let’s relax.” Someone’s like, “Yeah, he’s the next Klay Thompson.” I was like, “Okay, let’s pump the brakes a little bit.” Yeah, it’s like it’s like you get one exciting white guy and all of a sudden everyone loses their minds. [laughter] >> Exciting white. >> Y’all been waiting for this. Y’all been waiting for y’all. Y’all you got a few. You got Canadible and you got Cooper Flag waiting. >> Hey, man. >> Hey. Hey. We’re feeling insecure. Tonight’s our last night we get to brag about having John Cena. So, we’re trying to find the next guy that we could that we could have as our champion. >> This is National White Athlete Day. Sorry. And sorry, Rever. We didn’t forget you either, pal. >> Dude, when you got when you got a guy like Khan Canapple who’s got mad op aura and and like he’s playing as well as he is in the NBA, like that’s exciting for some people. >> Okay. >> Oh my goodness, >> Sean. I’m going to have to put you on timeout. OP aura. And then last week you made a Twilight reference on here. Eric doesn’t know about that cuz I didn’t even like bring it up. like this mofo like we’re talking about just like people on Piston’s Twitter having their favorites and Sean’s like, “Yeah, now I know how people felt like watching Twilight.” I’m like, “What the [ __ ] >> dude?” It I’m just saying it feels LIKE LIKE THE WAY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT. [laughter] It’s like It’s like people It’s like I’m team Edward or I’m team Jacob. Like that’s what it feels like when people talk about these players, man. >> Sadly, right. This is exactly what it’s turned into for like for Kade, for Asar, for the Ivy fans. That’s exactly what it’s getting into. These like little weird subsections of Twilight Z. [laughter] >> Yeah. And like it’s weird because like with it’s LIKE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE MEN and like grown men who are athletes and like there are people who have these weird like pseudo relationship or like romantic type view towards these people AND IT’S LIKE WHY? [screaming] >> AND THEY’RE on the same team. Like I don’t understand why the division they’re all doing what they’re supposed to do for the same team to win and y’all just oh no it can’t BE HIM LIKE STOP BRO. >> They’re literally all friends. They play like they play like pingpong like after like plane rides together and literally everyone like online you know like fighting and it’s like >> you shall not speak of my plan. >> You know what’s bad? It’s like I I miss the Blake Griffin avatars, the occasional Ishmmith avatars. I love Cade, man. But my whole timeline is Kate Cunningham [laughter] avatars. >> Yes. >> And there’s a there’s certain people that are Cade fans are just Pistons fans. And I read some of these takes and I’m like, do I want to reply? I’m not replying to this because like some of the takes are just so crazy that I’m like I can’t reply. Like this guy’s like, “If we don’t make a move for um and win a championship, the season’s a failure.” I’m like, “Well, your expectations and this front office expectations don’t coexist.” >> No. [laughter] >> Like fans expectations are so outlandous and crazy. Someone’s like, “Yeah, if you don’t trade for CJ McCollum, uh that our windows closed.” I’m like, the fact that you mentioned CJ McCollum and championship window in the same sentence, I can’t take you seriously. And no disrespect to CJ McCollum. >> And they don’t and they don’t even take a break with it. Like you would think I was getting I was seeing it yesterday like they’re whooping up on the Hawks by 30 plus. And I’m getting people saying, >> man, that Ivy run though, man, you just can’t really bank on that on THE TEAM. LIKE THEY’RE UP 30 right now. CAN WE NOT give this a break for one night, PLEASE? OH NO, MAN. I’M TELLING YOU THAT’S JUST THAT’S THAT’S WHERE MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW. LIKE, OKAY, I I I see what we need to handle with you people now. No problem. No problem. >> So, like this is like I I’ve kind of been wanting to ask JB something along the lines of this, but like I think fans much more so I think this just rings true where I think we’re so hellbent and focused on the destination that we forget to enjoy the journey. >> Yes. And this is this is like specifically like not to be corny, but like realistically speaking, 29 out of 30 teams every single year are not going to win the championship. So if you view sports in the context of solely winning a championship, you’re always going to be disappointed just about every single year of your life except like one or two if you’re if you’re most fans. If you’re from Boston, every year you win a title somehow. So, um, but like when you like but when you look at the fact that like and if you focus on the journey and you focus on some of the accomplishments that this team’s having and some of the fun youthful energy, I think that’s why for, you know, like for people like me where it’s like, you know, like I’ i’ve seen how good this team can be, but also like I’ve seen how long it’s been since this organization has been in this spot. And you know, it’s like I I I understand for people it’s like you want more and like you know, like like all the failure of all of your other teams puts the pressure of wanting to see this team go out and put like you know go get the championship this year. But like the truth of the matter is is like there’s fans that like dream of these types of runs, especially with teams that are this young. And so like this is going to be one of those seasons where like we’re going to be looking back years from now going, man, what a special season that was, you know? And so >> that’s where I thought we would be united. I didn’t think it would be this division because again coming from the 28game losing streak and you come back with the same core just a different coach, different front office and some veterans, but it’s the same core of guys that were there from that knowing that they’re all still a part of it and they’re all the leading cause to why they’re winning now. I thought everybody would be able to ride together and just enjoy the ride like you just said, Sean. Nah, bro. They all want to be in that sexy Shams tweet of, “Oh, such and such tweeted all the bomb.” Like, dog, they’re winning. That’s way more important right now. But people have clearly have different goals based on this season. Now, >> it’s funny. It’s not even a Jaden Ivy Ivy thing because like I remember when Sadiq Bay was making all those corner threes during the rebuild and everyone loves Sadi Bay. Mhm. >> As soon as the front office and the coaching staff wanted to expand his game, >> do you remember the conversations? We got to we got to trade him. Sadique Bay is the problem. Like we’re losing games because of Sadique Bay. >> And then the return you got on him turned into James Wiseman and then you crashed out for like a year and a half and like poking fun at James Wiseman. Like what do you think the return on Jade Ivy’s going to be? It’s not going to be anything high. His trade value is probably at his lowest point. He hasn’t really played great basketball since, you know, getting his leg snapped by Cole Anthony. So, I mean, I’m pumping my the brakes on any type of Jaden Ivy criticism. I’m not giving him a a pass whatsoever. I feel like he’s still not even in basketball shape, especially defensively. I mean, because just the way he’s defending right now, it’s just like he’s grabbing on to everybody just because I I think he’s still kind of conditioning himself getting into basketball shape, being on a minute restriction. But I mean >> I it he just played his fifth I mean he just played his 10th game like he just got to 10 and it’s like yeah like I think you can and like I think like that is one thing is when once you get to 10 games when you talk like you know to like analytics people generally you can start talking about players you like in 10 game increments and you know really start to like get some data and it’s no longer really considered like fluky. Um like and it’s definitely like you know it like the returns have definitely been like some of the lowest of his career you know like within like those time spans and it’s definitely you know like you you can definitely have questions when you get to the playoffs of whether or not he’s going to be ready but also I think when you frame that question you have to do so with the context of he’s only played 10 games and there’s still like like 57 remaining in this season. He he just played his highest of the season of 18 minutes. It’s hard to get a rhythm in playing that small amount of time, you know, in all these games. That’s not easy at all for him. And I just I hate the inconsistency of like Greg, yes, Ivy’s not, you know, escape. He can be criticized. Everybody deserves to be criticized. I just don’t like the inconsistencies in the arguments. Like Ivy doesn’t have to be a perfect player for him to fit and work with this team. And every other player for the people that other players they MIGHT LOVE, THEY ALL GOT FLAWS, TOO. Like Kade, we’ve seen tank off his three-point percentage. Like Dur still has flaws. We’ve seen Assar miss layups. Like things happen, bro. I don’t understand why every single time this dude makes a mistake, it’s oh my god, sound the alarm. I TOLD YOU he’s what I thought he was. Like, no. you’re just very impatient with a guy who snapped his leg just in January. So like again we talking about a journey. We should be appreciating what his journey is. The fact that he’s even on the court again like we saw Paul George snap his leg and kind of come back to be even better which is insane. Ivy just being on the court right now and finding a way to play winning basketball with this team. It to me is something that you can appreciate because he’s not pressing. He’s not doing too much. He’s trying to work hard on defense. He’s moving the ball. He’s not shot chucking. He’s playing within the flow of the team. And I I love that he’s able to sacrifice for that. Even if he doesn’t look like what we saw last season, you don’t need that right now. And I think he sees that, which is way more important. >> Yeah. He hasn’t complained either. >> Not at all. Not at all. He hasn’t complained since the Monty Wood. He’s been able to survive the Monty situation, this situation, and he’s just been, “Hey, thank God, man. I’m here for my team. I do what I got to do. I I love that. I love that maturity from the kid. >> You want to talk about robbery? The fact that JB Picker staff is getting paid like like uh more than like like twice le like I think Monty’s literally making like more than double uh JB’s yearly salary right now >> from the Pistons. >> I I saw that he’s like one of the I think bottom five coaches and being paid right now. But I mean like just >> yeah I think uh NBA Central had posted like the top paid coaches and like if you put Monty’s contract into context he would be the fourth highest paid coach in the NBA and he’s still he’s still cashing those $14 million checks and the Pistons still owe him 50 million. >> All he got to do is go walk to the mailbox. He ain’t got to he ain’t got to blow a whistle. He ain’t got to call a meeting. He ain’t got to call no plays. Just walk to the mailbox and just be done for the day. Dude, just pull up just pull up that that that app, watch that checking account refresh and and go coach your sons in high school basketball and call her a day. >> Jesus. Yeah, that that’s even like not to go down the Monty Williams rabbit hole, but I have some people that cover high school basketball down in Texas. And Bruce Bowen’s father was coaching uh his team and they have Tim Duncan son um on the same team and after Monty got fired, uh his son Elijah enrolled into the same school and the athletic director heard that Monty was coming down. So they fired Bruce Bowen’s father who was coaching the team and hired Monty Williams to coach their team and they last year they were like under 500. [laughter] >> Yeah, >> this bad, man. >> I I I genuinely like again, not to get down the rabbit hole, but like we’re already there. Um, like does Monty Williams get a head coaching job again? >> No. >> Yeah. >> No. >> Yeah. >> No way. >> Oh, hell yeah. >> Come on down. >> Come on down. >> Next contestant on the New Orleans Pelicans. >> We talk about rabbit holes. Let’s Let’s go even deeper. him and Shiron Moore are not getting any kind of calls for any kind of names and guys that are just completely done in terms of head coaching. Those two names are out of here. They’re not getting calls anytime soon for any coaching opportunities. That is done. Cook cook for both of them. Go ahead and lean back. You know I’m right. I don’t care how quiet you two are. They’re both done. They’re not getting any calls anytime soon. Neither of those two. Out of here. >> We went to show more, huh? >> Yep. We stay the current topics, baby. >> We brought >> We see everything out here. >> We We went We go all over. WE DON’T AIN’T NOTHING OFF FOR You called me Vince McMahon earlier. WE GOING ALL OVER THIS ONE TODAY. [laughter] [gasps] Oh man. But I hope everybody’s okay in that situation. So, you know, [laughter] >> you want to take a moral high ground. >> Yeah. you know, hey, just laughing all know safety disclaimer right there. You know, >> yeah, >> you [laughter] know, hope everybody’s okay. >> I do think Monty will get a a coaching job because he didn’t he kept his dick in his pants. Um, [laughter] >> hey, you want to go down? [laughter] That’s the theme this week. Untouchable coaches. [laughter] Um, I I think he would get a coaching job and I think there are a lot of desperate teams out there like Sacramento just seems like it would work. You can’t tell me like Vladi would be like, “Yeah, give me the guy that went to the finals a few years ago.” Yeah, I want that guy. Like I I could totally see the Kings firing Doug Christie and just saying, “Hey, we’re going to bring in Monty Williams.” Do you think his Do you think his finals appearance has more like notoriety than his losing streak with the Pistons at this point? >> Yeah, >> I certainly think that goes a little higher on his resume. >> I think I think I mean No, I mean like I think he puts it a little higher on his resume. >> Sure. Right on his Yeah. Right. The gold star of the fridge. Absolutely. >> Yeah. That 28 game losing streak in pretty small font. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. >> I I feel like he could just say I didn’t want the job. Like he gave me like $14 million. He would probably take that job, too. I said the first time. Yep. >> He’d show him the press conference where he says the money. >> I’m here for the money. >> I mean, he was honest. He He didn’t want to be here. He he wanted to he obviously was going through stuff like familywise which I I can respect and understand but I mean if someone’s just throwing you a Brinks truck um I’d probably take the job too. I probably wouldn’t start Killian Hayes though and that’s a whole another rabbit hole. [laughter] >> That’s in his contract. You want me? Killian’s coming too. Come on. Let’s go kill. >> Do we know if Killian ever met Monty’s daughter? >> No. Oh god. God. That was such a funny ass meme. I don’t know if you guys ever were that I I feel like I’m in really deep parts of Piston’s Twitter that you guys aren’t even a part of. >> Uhhuh. >> The meme I saw was I want um Killian to marry my daughter and it like they photoshopped his daughter and Killian and like in a wedding suit and everything and I was just like it was just like a it was like a Grock AI image. I was like bro I got to get off Twitter today. [laughter] He threw his phone immediately like all right that’s enough. No more Twitter today. >> Like, well, we’re good on the internet. >> Yep. Gota gota breathe sometimes. >> No, there there there’s some like just like dank memes part of Piston’s Twitter that I I I really wish the algorithm would stop putting on my timeline cuz some of the stuff I saw today, I was just like, you know what? I’m I’m good. No more Twitter for me today. >> Some of it could be good though. Piston’s Twitter been holding it down when Nick’s Twitter comes through talking trash. When the Hornets whole thing was happening, Kade vers LaMelo, Pist Twitter hold. So, I’ll give Piss Twitter some love for sure. They definitely have had their W’s this season. I’ll give it to him. >> Yeah, Sean knows all about those Cade verse uh LaMelo talks way too well. [laughter] >> I almost said like, don’t go in that. I feel like it’s g I I should have text. I wouldn’t go in that space. Anytime he goes in a a space, anytime I’ve gone in the Twitter space, it’s always just gone off the rails. I don’t know about you guys. >> I Yeah, I clearly had no clue what I was walking into. >> I remember even last season Knicks I was It was after the Knicks uh series loss and they were telling me, “Oh, Eric Vincent just talks trash when they win.” But then I came in after they lost and said, “Hey, congratulations y’all. You know, you did what you had to do. You know, make it happen.” And then when I got off, they still talk trash, man. THAT MOTHER LIKE, “DANG, I TRIED TO BE NICE TO Y’ALL.” OKAY, FINE. Just me and Ben Stewart. I don’t need y’all then. Cool. No problem. [laughter] >> I forgot about that whole fiasco. Sean stole a follow. >> I got to be careful. Like, steal a follow. Dang it. [laughter] I just said how cool IT WAS AND THEN BEN WAS LIKE, “ALL RIGHT, I’LL FOLLOW YOU.” I WAS LIKE, “OKAY, thank you, Mr. Stiller.” Whenever I be talking trash about the Knicks, I gota that’s always on my mind. Like, God, I want to go off, but I don’t want to lose that follow. [laughter] I gotta chill out a little bit, you know? >> No, Sean, you you 100% stole the ball from Eric and got the follow. And then I had the lob >> I had the lob. >> Yes, you help. Thank you. Thank you, bro. >> Lava pose for Ben Stiller. So, he followed you. He doesn’t follow me. I don’t give a [ __ ] But I was just like, “Hey, man.” >> Nah, Ben. Come on, Ben. Help him out, too. Come on. [laughter] Give us all three, man. Come through. >> Hey, I was just shouting out my boy and just so happened to get a Ben Still to follow. And then that if that’s the order of events, then that then so be it. >> You guys were both on the the court at the same time going for that loose ball and Sean [snorts] snapped it before the the Revs. >> Come on. [laughter] Come on. [screaming] >> Oh my god. No, that was probably the funniest thing because Eric’s just like, “Motherfucker, he got a follow and I didn’t.” I was so bad, bro. I was I because I knew it was coming. I was going to wake up in the morning and it was going to be sitting [laughter] there like, “Nope.” He He liked the tweet but didn’t give me the follow. I’m like, “Oh, that’s grimy.” >> I was so conf I was so confused. I was like, I have like I have no clue how this happened. No clue. [laughter] I mean, I think the most random follow I got was John Cena, but I think he quickly got all of me. >> Shout out to John Cena. Last match of the night, >> John. >> Last match of his life. >> Uh, who knows? >> Who knows with WWE? They’ll be like, “Hey, John, I know you’re 60 now. You want to you tussle with Undertaker? He’s 80. Let’s do it.” >> Right. >> Yeah. He’ll he’ll be like, you know, I don’t want to ruin my legacy unless there’s a big Saudi Arabia bag that comes and then, you know, that’s that’s that’s the retired wrestling move right there. >> Exactly. >> And then they don’t tell anybody. Goldberg just comes out, spears it, wins the title, and then walks off the sunset. [laughter] >> And Goldberg’s still not happy. I was supposed to spear him twice. >> Dude, he’s going to come down like he’s going to come down with a freaking walker one day and it’s like going to BE LIKE, “OH NO, HERE HE GOES. MHM. Smack his head on the ring post botching again for the 3 millionth time in his career. When he gets to the ring eventually, they’re going to be in real trouble. >> I’m trying to remember this wrestller’s name cuz it just popped up on my Facebook memories. I I don’t remember who he was, but it was a Royal Rumble and he he slipped and then he went under the >> Oh, Titus O’Neal. >> O’Neal. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> On Facebook. One of the best interests that never happened. [laughter] He slides under. >> I don’t know how that guy became a jobber within like a year. Like had so much. >> I don’t know how. >> I don’t get it, man. Like he had like everything they were looking for, but like I I guess >> What do you mean everything they were looking for? The ability to trip under the ring. Like what did he have? Okay. Before that, he was a pretty good like wrestler and his mic skills weren’t okay. They were trash. You’re right. Never mind. >> What are you talking about? Have you ever heard him talk? >> Yeah. I mean, well, Bobby Lashley can’t talk, but that’s that’s a whole different that’s different. But comparing those two is probably unfair. >> Uhhuh. >> I have not watched wrestling and probably last time I watched wrestling, Roman Roman Reigns was still I think a face. He wasn’t a heel. >> So, it’s been has been years. Like I I just got I was like why are they trying to make him into like a corporate John Cena? I can’t watch this anymore. >> Boys, I don’t want to end the pod abruptly, but I just feel like if we’re at Titus O’Neal O’ [laughter] I think we might have ran out of things to talk. >> Shout out to everybody still rocking in with us right now. [laughter] that we’re talking about once we’re talking about Titus Odal and Bobby Lashley, it’s like I think I think we have covered about everything we can. We really haven’t. We still have 800 people in here still. Unbelievable. [laughter] >> Talking about like John Cena and Bobby Lashley. Um I mean man, but uh I want to give you guys the the floor to plug and promote yourself. We do have all your guys’ social media links down below in the description. So, whichever one of you guys want to go first to plug yourself, go for it. >> Yeah, you can follow myself at uh Sean Halfcourt on Twitter, but also check out the podcast on YouTube at From Half Court. That’s where a lot of the content is coming these days. So, thanks for having me as always, man. >> Appreciate y’all for tuning in. Uh you follow me on my social media, I am Eric Vincent. Uh you can follow all of my bporting work, all of my articles at clutchpoints.com. I have my own YouTube page as well, Toptitle Detroit. And starting next week, actually, I’m going to be streaming um Pistons away games. I’m going to be doing some content with there um on live onass assist.com. Um again, live onass assist.com. I think I’m going to link that to my YouTube page. So again, subscribe to Toptitle Detroit. You can rocket with me on some Pistons away games this season. I’m very excited to get started with that next week. Yeah, if you want to follow Eric, uh, he likes to let Kate Cunningham know he’s a Cowboys fan. Or you want to follow Shawn, uh, you know, this week for sure. I mean, I I I think especially the home game this week is going to be must watch TV, especially with the timeline. [laughter] Oh, they play the Hornets. That’s right. Yes, sir. >> Hey, I’m gonna be I’m just gonna be covering a game that day, man. Low key in the back of your mind when the Pistons blow them out by 30 be like, “Yeah, I told you motherfuckers.” >> Mhm. You better hit that dude up with that spaces. You better be on his ass [laughter] all day. >> I plead the vent. [laughter] [gasps] >> I assert my fifth amendment rights. [laughter] >> Oh, we’re going to wrap this up. I the the fact that we went down the Titus O’Neal rabbit hole. Um, Charerelle Moore mention I I I expect no less with you two. It’s always appreciate. >> I hit the prime time player. Like that’s what that’s what it’s time to call it. >> It’s getting clipped. >> Oh, I I I have no doubts. [laughter] >> We’ll see you guys uh all next week for our postgame shows. But appreciate you guys as always, you know, making the time to come on here. But we’ll see you guys later. As always, go Pistons. Peace.

Today On Pistons Talk Podcast, we will be joined Eric Vincent and Sean Murphy to discuss the latest talk about Pistons trade rumors and much more.

Eric’s Twitter:
https://x.com/IAmEricVincent

Eric’s Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TopTitleDetroit

Sean’s Twitter:
https://x.com/seanhalfcourt

Sean’s Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@FromHalfCourt

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