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The State News sports reporters discuss all MSU sports.
Welcome back to Sports Roundtable, state news of sports podcast covering all things MSU sports, but today, we're not actually covering MSU sports. Newsflash, I know that completely negates the intro. But, we're gonna be talking a little bit professional sports because we got a big week coming up, Super Bowl week. But first things first, I'm joined by my guests.
Maddi:I'm Maddi
PJ:And I'm PJ. Welcome to
Jacob:the show. PJ is back as a guest on Sports Roundtable. Very, very nice to see. But, yeah, as I mentioned, we had a really big week coming up. The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and the NBA trade deadline is also coming up.
Jacob:That's gonna be our second topic of this week. We've got some literally groundbreaking moves so far. Like, I still am kind of processing the the big trade that we're gonna get to soon. I don't wanna spoil it just yet. But, We have spoilers.
Jacob:Yeah. So we're actually gonna start with the Super Bowl because it's the big game. It's the final game of the NFL season. It went very quickly. I Yeah.
Jacob:Yeah. It feels like week one was yesterday, but we are here. Kansas City Chiefs versus Philadelphia Eagles. What do we think, guys?
Maddi:Kansas City Chiefs versus Philadelphia Eagles. It feels like just yesterday, it was them in the Super Bowl.
Jacob:Kinda was.
Maddi:Yay.
Jacob:Yeah. They met, this past or two seasons ago in 2022, where Kansas City came out on top to get their first Super Bowl. They went back to back last year, and now they're trying to three peat, against the same team that they did it two years ago. But, Kansas City won thirty eight thirty five in that first matchup. But the Eagles are a little bit different than they were two years ago.
Jacob:They've added a lot of pieces on defense especially, and they've had a very good season this year. They've breezed through the playoffs a little bit. Defeat in Green Bay Twenty Two Ten. The Rams twenty twenty two. The Commander's fifty five to 23 in the playoffs so far.
Jacob:Very, very good statement. I have run for them. What do you guys think about that?
Maddi:You know, not to, like, bring up my feelings, but I wanna know what it would have been if the Eagles and the Lions would have ended up playing against each other because I'm still processing the fact that the Lions are not playing this weekend. It really hurts my soul a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. But it it's obviously, they I mean, let me get words out.
Maddi:The Eagles in the Rams was a really great game because they did keep it close. That was a close game in my opinion when I was watching it. So it would have been interesting to see one if it would have ended up being even the Rams in the Chiefs in the Super Bowl or somebody else that we haven't seen in the past three years in the Super Bowl. Like it it's just it's repetitive, but it's gonna be a good matchup no matter what, no matter if I Yeah. Feel like I wanna watch it or not.
Maddi:It's it's it should be interesting, to see who comes out on top and how many times the refs will get blamed for calls in the next month and a half or year.
PJ:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this whole season, I mean, the Chiefs went, like, what?
Maddi:Fifteen and two.
Jacob:15 and two during the season.
PJ:Yeah. And then there are there are so many games where I feel like it just went down to, like, the final player. Like, it was within, like, three points. And then the game against, against the Bills, I don't there was obviously chatter about that. There are so many games where they've had where it's just been so close, and I think the Eagles are good enough to, like I I think the Eagles are gonna win.
Jacob:Okay. I like that we're getting straight reservations. I love it. I I actually do agree with your point a little bit, PJ, because I think the Chiefs are probably the most vulnerable that we've seen them Yeah. Since the Patrick Mahomes era kinda started.
Jacob:They really haven't had a season where they've had this many close games. They're kinda used to dominating and especially for Patrick Mahomes. He hasn't looked Patrick Mahomes esque the entire season. I mean, reading off his regular season stats, 3,920 passing yards. He didn't eclipse 4,000, I think, for the first time.
Jacob:I know. It might be since he's a starter. 26 touchdown to 11 interceptions, not that bad, but also just not accustomed to what we're seeing from trap or Patrick Mahomes. And I think that just a lot of that wide receiver turnover turnover, their wide receiver room looks a lot different than it has been in the past. They're rolling out Deandre Hopkins in his very old ages now and Juju Smith Schuster who's kind of been around the league a little bit.
Jacob:Xavier Worthy is a rookie, but also Travis Kelce only had three touchdowns in the year in the regular season under a thousand yards again. The Chiefs, they look a little bit vulnerable. We can't kinda shy away from that.
Maddi:No. Yeah. I I absolutely agree with you on that. And, to bring up the they've had a lot of close games this year. 11 games that they won this past season were all within a score.
Jacob:Oh, wow.
Maddi:So it's
PJ:There are no time many.
Maddi:Every single game that has been within, like, that close score, they've come out on top. They've either won by plus, minus, or within that small margin. So it'll be interesting to see if obviously, I'm assuming this will probably be a close game as well, between the Chiefs and the Eagles, but it will be interesting to see if Kansas City can pull off, what they've done in the regular season by keeping that close margin and winning. I would like to see somebody else crowned, but it's just it's there's a lot of media, I think, surrounding Kansas City and what they've done in the past couple years, and I think that people are starting to get sick of it aside from Kansas City fans.
Jacob:Yeah.
Maddi:Those are the only ones that are like Right. Go Chiefs and Jacob.
Jacob:Yeah. Both. Yeah. We'll get to that. What do
PJ:you guys think the Eagles have to do to win this game?
Jacob:Yeah. I mean, I feel like the Eagles have kinda showed their formula a little bit, especially through the playoffs. They relied heavily on Saquon Barkley this year. That's no secret. He's obviously been their best player for them all year.
Jacob:Mhmm. In the playoffs, he's had 442 yards alone throughout three games, five touchdowns, and he had 200 over 200 rushing yards against the Rams in that matchup in the divisional round. So he's been doing this the entire season. He had seven sixty plus rushing yard touchdowns. Like, the yard gainage of the touchdown was 60 plus yards.
Jacob:Seven of those. Three in the postseason, by far, nobody has ever done that before.
Maddi:He's insane. Yeah. I I mean, you see Saquon Barkley, obviously. He was the Giants didn't win games, but Saquon Barkley was the only reason that they ever scored touchdowns. Saquon Barkley was the reason that the Giants were still talked about in a positive way.
Maddi:And to just see him I mean, that's one of the reasons why I'm rooting for the Eagles is because you see where he came from and you see where he is now. That guy deserves a ring. He deserves a ring more than anything. But he's he's been the MVP of this season. In my opinion, there's been other talks of, different candidates, obviously, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow.
Maddi:But Saquon Barkley is at the top of the list for me because he's helped the Eagles so much do what they're doing now. I also think that they're definitely gonna have to stop Patrick Mahomes. He's a mobile quarterback. They gotta they gotta they have to get him. They Yeah.
Maddi:They have to be able to keep him in the pocket and not let him get anywhere. So, yeah, it it's gonna be a toss-up between the Eagles defense and Saquon Barkley trying to pull through for them, I think, for this game.
PJ:Yeah. Kinda going off that, like, correct correct
Jacob:me if I'm wrong,
PJ:but, like, okay. Patrick Mahomes, like, at his best, he's amazing. Mhmm. When he's not at his best, he's still an incredible quarterback. Right?
PJ:Like, he will still make these plays. Right? So I going off what you said, like, the Eagles really have to stop him even if he's not playing this well this postseason. It's still gonna be tough.
Maddi:Yeah. Absolutely.
Jacob:Yeah. And I agree as well because I think they've kinda the Eagles also have had had to take a step up and really show that they're gonna hang around in games too because they've also been in close games throughout the season. They've been down a little bit. And their defense has been a big reason why they've been winning as well just beyond the fact of Saquon Barkley being Saquon Barkley. Throughout the regular season, they had the first ranked pass defense in the entire league.
Jacob:So they have been accustomed to playing that. They've really kind of clamped down opposing quarterbacks pretty well. But in the postseason, it spiked to 245.7 pass yards per game, across the three games they played against Jordan Love, Matt Stafford, and Jaden Daniels. But it was a 74.2 yards per game average against opposing quarterbacks, that they let up in the regular season. So that's a big, big jump.
Jacob:And then Patrick Mahomes is better than the three quarterbacks they faced in the playoffs so far. And the three quarterbacks that I mentioned before met Patrick Mahomes, they are all proven quarterbacks in this league. They're very, very solid. Absolutely. Probably in that top 15, top 10 range range for quarterbacks.
Jacob:So the Eagles are still gonna have their hands full a little bit, especially how they've been playing a little bit the past, throughout the playoffs, but I think that the Eagles still hire are built enough. They their defense was just nowhere near as good as it was, two years ago when they faced Kansas City in the first in the first Super Bowl match that they had. And I think that the additions of the rookies, Cooper Dujean, Quinion Mitchell, their secondary has been locked down this year. And those two guys that I just mentioned are rookies. They've also had TJ Gardner Johnson back.
Jacob:He played for them in 2022 when they went to the Super Bowl, but he is back as well. James Bradbury and Davante Max were kind of the guys back there in 2022, and they've had their Philly treatment. They've got kinda cursed out by the fans and pushed to the curb a little bit bringing these two rookies, but they have been doing their job. And I think that's a really good reason why Philadelphia's had some success this year as well.
Maddi:Yeah. Absolutely. And you mentioned Cooper DeJin. I think that he's probably been one of the best defensive corners in the league this past year. I mean, I mean, the video that sticks out to me is him, Derrick Henry trying to, run towards the end zone, and he just grabs him by the waist and takes him down.
Maddi:I mean, I feel like that just says so much about Cooper Dujene and how much he's helped this Eagles defense, this season.
Jacob:Yeah. By far. And it's it's really kinda nice to see, especially from a rookie, like like you said, tackling Derrick Henry. Like, that's Mhmm. There's NFL players that have been in the league for ten plus years that can't do that.
Jacob:I mean, that's that's really impressive stuff, and I think the training that Cooper Dujene puts himself through, his body is obviously in great shape. Like, he is the guy he's got the physique. Physique needed for to get quarter lockdown quarterback in this league. And, I think the Eagles are set up for success on defense to at least have a better effort than last time. I mean, 38 to 35 in the last Super Bowl that these guys met in, that's a whole boatload of points.
Jacob:So, hopefully, for the Eagles case, they kinda clamp them down a little bit, but the Chiefs kinda wanna get that offense going. And to mention the Chiefs again, I think that their last game in the divisional round against Buffalo or the AFC championships, excuse me, against Buffalo was a good sign for them because they did they did they did put up 31 points. Mhmm. They've only done that twice all year, including the postseason. Yeah.
Jacob:So they put up one game in the record season against Tampa Bay with 30 points or more. They did it against Buffalo in the championship round, but they're not used to scoring the ball as much as they really have been for the Chiefs standards. But I think that Chiefs had a good sign, like I was saying, last week against or two weeks ago against Buffalo. I think that they kinda have a little bit of momentum going now, and they should be able to put that product on the field and hopefully put up some more points against the Eagles that is struggling a little bit in the playoffs. Right.
Maddi:So we said what the Eagles need to do to win, utilize Saquon Barkley, make sure that their defenses locked down on Patrick Mahomes. What do you think the Chiefs need to do to win this game?
PJ:Yeah.
Jacob:PJ, do you wanna go first?
PJ:Do I, I I no. You could go.
Jacob:Okay. I I feel bad. I wanted to give you a little bit of screen time. You know? I I gotta show everybody some love.
Jacob:You're the Chiefs fan. No. No. No. No.
Jacob:No. We are not putting that trademark on me. I I am not a Chiefs fan. I just I just think the Chiefs want the Chiefs to win because I live near Okay. Philadelphia territory, and those fans are Okay.
Jacob:Kinda kinda something else.
Maddi:So who do you root for then?
Jacob:I'm a Lions fan. Families families all from Michigan. They've I've grown up a Lions fan my entire life. Dad's a Lions fan. So I'm safe there.
Jacob:Don't don't do that. Fans. No. I yeah. I, I don't wanna put that title on myself.
Jacob:I probably get some some threats coming my way. But, to go off Maddie's question of what the Chiefs need to do, I think they just need to show that their offense is legit. Patrick Mahomes has been here plenty of times before. This is his fourth Super Bowl appearance now
PJ:Mhmm.
Jacob:Or fifth? It's I think it's fifth. Yeah. It's his fifth Super Bowl appearance. Excuse me.
Maddi:Which is insane.
Jacob:But, yeah, for how young he is, he's not even 30 years old yet. So
PJ:Should not be illegal.
Jacob:Yeah. No. I know. He's answering goat conversations already, and he hasn't even, like, aged. But, I think that they just need to show them that they are the Chiefs.
Jacob:They've been here before. Andy Reid is one of the best and most respected coaches in the league. Yeah. So he's gonna be treating this like a business trip, like all the Chiefs players are gonna be doing. Mhmm.
Jacob:I think their defense has been good. It's been kind of around, like, league average this year. Eighth run defense in the regular season, sixteenth pass defense in the regular season. But, they kinda showed themselves. Like I said, they built momentum against Buffalo.
Jacob:I think that's very important for them. They hadn't really had a game like that where they needed to be tested. They played a really, really injury riddled Houston in the first, divisional or divisional round of the playoffs. So, kind of a test, kind of not a test. Buffalo was the first true test I think they had in a good amount of time, and they really handled business.
Jacob:They also handled business against teams in regular season that were good. So I think that the Chiefs just need to show themselves. Just settle down, take a breather, and just say, hey. We're the Chiefs. We got this.
Jacob:We've been here before.
PJ:Also gonna get home court advantage, so that obviously helps a lot. Kinda going off of the Patrick Mahomes goat conversation. I I actually don't even wanna, like, get into it.
Maddi:I disagree.
PJ:What? Not yet. One thing There
Jacob:we go. I've done a break. I
PJ:don't know if Stephen a Smith was talking directly to Tom Brady or not. I don't know if you guys saw this, but, like, Stephen a Smith was saying, like, oh, yeah. Patrick Mahomes, like, with this win, he'll get back to back to back. Or or, like, he might win back to back to back. You know?
PJ:And then he, like, said to Tom Brady, like, you haven't even done that before. And it's just, like, at that like, first of all, that was, like, a slight dig at him, but, like
Maddi:He hasn't done that before, but Tom Brady has rings on both fingers. Like Yeah. Or both hands. Like Yeah.
PJ:Yeah. I just thought I that, like, put into perspective, like, how how efficient he has been in his time as a starter.
Maddi:Oh, absolutely. But I don't think that he's in the GOAT conversation until he's at least five. At least five.
Jacob:Yeah. I think it's safe to say he's on track at least. Because we also gotta remember that nobody else in NFL history has repeated ever. So just because Tom Brady couldn't do it doesn't mean that other people have to do it. This is obviously groundbreaking territory nor new territory for Patrick Mahomes to potentially achieve.
Jacob:So kinda pumped the brakes on that a little bit, but I just think one.
Maddi:So speaking of the goat conversation, what are your thoughts on Travis Kelce being in the goat conversation?
Jacob:Maybe goat tight end. I think for the
Maddi:That's what that's what I mean. Okay.
Jacob:Yeah. Jumping, like, from
Maddi:Not. No.
PJ:No. No.
Jacob:No. No. No. No. Completely different conversation.
Jacob:But for tight ends, I think definitely, I think what comes to mind is Gronk, Tony Gonzalez
Maddi:say it's Gronk.
Jacob:And then Travis Kelce, I think that's kind of the big three. I think Rob Gronkowski is a little bit more accomplished than Travis Kelce was. Obviously, Kelce is great, puts up thousand yard seasons like it's making breakfast in the morning. He does it consistently. He catches all those touchdowns.
Jacob:But I think Rob Gronkowski was the more skilled player.
PJ:Yeah.
Jacob:He was definitely stronger. He played the tight end position more purely. He obviously had Brady, but Kelsey has Patrick Mahomes. So I think it's a very similar comparison, but I don't think Kelsey's crossed that Gronkowski threshold yet. He still could, but I think Gronk's you can't defeat the Gronk spike.
Jacob:Right.
Maddi:That's what I was gonna say. You can't you can't Gronk. Kelsey. Yeah.
PJ:I also have a feeling that Travis is gonna retire at the end of the season.
Maddi:That's what So That's been a
PJ:long run.
Maddi:Feels like this season or possibly next season kinda talking about a retirement for him, which I feel like he's probably got more gas left in him, but it would be interesting to see if he wins if the Chiefs three peat, is he gone or not?
Jacob:Yeah. It might be safe to go out on top too because, obviously, he's got more gas in the tank, but he's got a 50 k miles on himself. Like, he's he's put up a lot of steps in this league, and I think for his sake, obviously, go out on top. I mean, you've already account like, what more do you need to accomplish? Kinda just going back and try to win more Super Bowls.
Jacob:You already have plenty of them. He's also dating Taylor Swift, so, like, that's very respectable. Just go home to that. Like, you you don't even need to play football, but, he would probably he'd break the Internet if he proposed and won a third. But
PJ:yeah. He also is doing other things. Like, he was just in a show, like, grotesquery or something. Yeah. He's, like, doing more commercials.
PJ:So I think he's kind of building this, like, entertainment empire besides playing football, which I think we'll see a lot more of after. And his podcast. Totally forgot about that.
Maddi:And I think that's
Jacob:kinda what
Maddi:I think that's what Jason kinda did a little bit more towards the end of his career as well. Like, you saw him and Kylie in a couple commercials together and, obviously, building the podcast a little more, like
PJ:Yeah. So I'm I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at something else today.
Jacob:Here to show. Okay.
PJ:I was just I I just remember the Jason Kelsey lookalike competition, and there were, like, three people that I thought were him. I was just thinking about that. Like, I don't know what I was thinking about. Yeah.
Jacob:Yeah. Those kinda went around too. There was a Dan Campbell one
PJ:Yeah.
Jacob:Jason Kelsey, Jalen Hertz had a look like competition. I mean, they are funny. I'll give you I'll give you that.
Maddi:I love Jason Kelsey. I as much as I I'm not a fan of Travis Kelsey, I love Jason Kelsey. That guy. Yeah. He deserves everything.
Jacob:Yeah.
Maddi:I love that family. Princess Kayanna, Jason, all of their children.
Jacob:They're great they're great models for each other. Like, it They are. They're great role models too, just for the game of football, but also for family. Yeah. Absolutely.
Jacob:I think they're one of the most influential brotherhoods, families Mhmm. That football really has. I think it's good for the brand. They got the podcast. Like, Jason retired last year, setting up the podcast.
Jacob:Travis can retire whenever he wants. Mhmm. They got a they got a full media career ahead of them if they really want
Maddi:it. Yeah. They're set for life. And Jason's on, what, Sunday night football now too. So
Jacob:Yeah. Mhmm. So he's analyzing the yeah. Yeah.
Maddi:He's got that going for him.
Jacob:Yeah. Travis will privacy. Plenty of calls too
Maddi:Oh, I'm sure.
Jacob:When the game's over.
Maddi:They both just got the personality to do it.
Jacob:Yeah.
PJ:So yeah. I could see them doing the whole Eli, Payton. Like
Maddi:but nobody can do Eli
Jacob:and Payton.
PJ:Right. Of course. Of course. Yeah.
Jacob:I mean, they're as close as it gets, though. I feel like they Yeah. They are very, very good, and they complement each other, like, perfectly Oh, yeah. As brothers should. But yeah.
Jacob:So I think that's a good preview. But before we move on, I gotta get a prediction from everybody at the table. Give me a score prediction, and who you think is gonna win Super Bowl fifty nine.
Maddi:Eagles.
Jacob:Score.
Maddi:Eagles. I say 3427.
PJ:Wow. Eagles.
Jacob:I like that. Some some points. Not as much as last time, but have the Eagles.
PJ:Wow. I'm gonna say Eagles twenty eight twenty four.
Jacob:Okay. Twenty eight twenty four. We got two Eagles. I feel like I am gonna mess it up if I go eagles, but also if I go different in Chiefs. I've been thinking about this leading up to this podcast.
Jacob:I have no idea who's gonna win this game. I feel like it's very close. My heart wants to say eagles just because, like, the Chiefs have already done it twice, but the Chiefs got the three peat going. I'm gonna go I'm just gonna be different. I'm gonna say the Chiefs are gonna win, not out of my kindness of my heart, but just my instincts.
Jacob:And I'm gonna say they're gonna win twenty four seventeen. Oh. A little bit low scoring.
Maddi:That's a low score right there. Yeah.
Jacob:I don't I don't know. I I kinda just pulled that out of my behind, so we'll we'll just kinda see how that translates.
Maddi:But yeah. We'll see.
PJ:And then after, we'll text each other and see who's closest because Uh-huh. I was really close one time for something. Remember?
Maddi:It was for MSU football.
PJ:Yeah.
Jacob:Yeah.
PJ:Yeah. I was like was. I was, like, real like dead off. He's like a
Maddi:number off or something.
Jacob:Oh, wait. Wait.
PJ:Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Maddi:Say, I think you switched on back and
PJ:or yeah. Yeah. Anyways.
Jacob:So who knows? Prediction master.
PJ:Yeah. He is.
Jacob:Yeah. We'll definitely cut back to these, but that's just a little bit fun to end the Super Bowl segment. But transitioning a little bit to a different sport in the sports world, we got the NBA. And if you follow the NBA, any much like me and Pia do and a little bit like Maddie do, you're in for a treat this week because we had the trade deadline. It's still not even here yet, so there's potential for more more moves to kinda come in the next few days.
Jacob:But I think Saturday night at about twelve, like, I think it was 12:18AM
Maddi:It was just after midnight.
Jacob:I was actually asleep. I didn't
PJ:Oh my god.
Jacob:Witness this live until I woke up, and I thought I my phone was just bugging out. But Yeah. If you missed it, the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. And there's other pieces in there. So the full trade details, Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, Markieff Moricks, and Maxi Kliba, from the Dallas Mavericks.
Jacob:The Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis, MSU, Tom Izzo Prad, Max Christie. Shout out Max Christie. Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Los Angeles Lakers twenty twenty nine first round draft pick. And the Utah Jazz Utah Jazz were actually thrown in that trade as a third team partner, which they acquired Jalen Hood, Shifno, and the Los Angeles Clippers twenty twenty five second round pick. So initial reactions, guys.
Jacob:That was a great that was a crazy one.
PJ:Yeah. So I I was literally getting ready for like, I was in bed, and I was just, like, I was about to fall asleep, and then I saw the alert. And I was I was, like, is this real?
Jacob:I was That was everybody's reaction.
PJ:Yeah. I was, like, is this real? And I I was telling Maddie this earlier, like, that happened. And I was, like, texting my parents, and I was, like, did you did you just see what happened? And I was, like, texting my friends from back home who also follow basketball.
PJ:I was, like, what is happening? This is not like, why would they do this? And then it kinda came out for the reasons why we could which we can talk about in a sec, but which just seemed a little bit absurd. But yeah.
Maddi:I mean, I I don't follow basketball, NBA all that much, but I obviously, I know who Luca is. And I was sitting on the couch, and I got the notification, and I just went I was like, hello? Like, he's he was supposed to be they were supposed to build a statue of Luca outside of that arena, and then they ship him off to LA. Yeah. So that was like, oh my.
Maddi:Like, anything can happen.
Jacob:Yeah.
Maddi:It But you just don't expect the key piece of a team that's gone to the NBA finals
Jacob:Just last year.
Maddi:To get rid of that key piece.
Jacob:Yeah. This is one of the most puzzling initial trades that I can ever remember in NBA history. I mean Yeah. Compared to, like, KD signing to the warriors, I feel like this is a little bit more surprising. Like Yeah.
Jacob:I really don't remember a trade kinda happening like this in recent basketball history, but, obviously, the initial public reaction was this trade was a little bit puzzling, and I think it it still was. It still is too. The Mavericks, like Manny said, they made them NBA finals last year. Based off Luka Doncic kinda getting them there. Obviously, they got Kyrie Irving there now, but, I think most of it was because it was from Luka.
Jacob:He's a generational talent. He's been there since he got drafted in 2018. He's done so much for that city in such little time. He's 25 years old. He's still incredibly young.
Jacob:One of the best players in the NBA right now, probably a top three player, and they trade him to the Lakers. And that really came out of nowhere. We didn't know that Luka Doncic was available. We didn't know that Anthony Davis was available because I feel like as the NBA world kinda circulated that they really weren't until this kinda happened. But, obviously, the big concern with the Mavericks and Luka Doncic was Luka's weight.
Jacob:Whether that's a good, justifull justifiable reason to trade him, I'm not entirely sure, but I think they said that Luka's weight was reaching that two sixty, two seventy kinda, peak, and I think that was just too much for them. They also came out with reports saying that Luka complained to the refs a lot. Mavericks didn't like it. Just his conditioning issues didn't really seem right up to par with what they hoped for, but I feel like it's a puzzling read reason to trade your franchise player. Yeah.
PJ:I feel like, yeah, it's it's very puzzling. Like, okay. Yeah. He doesn't he's not the best at conditioning or whatever, but Yeah. He's also putting up, like, 50 points against any team.
PJ:Like, it's nobody's business. Like, okay. You can eat a chocolate bar if you want. Like, I I don't care. Like He's putting up
Maddi:the points that you are. You can go get Chipotle any time.
Jacob:That's what I'm saying.
PJ:Like yeah. It it was so, yeah. When I read that that they just didn't like his conditioning, I was like, really? I remember, so Pablo Sandoval from the San Francisco Giants, he so his family, they ran like a candy shop. And in the summer, he was, like he would gain weight because he would just go back and or, like, during the off season.
PJ:Sorry. And he would just, like, go back and, like, eat candy. But then, like, it was fine because, like, in, like, the 2010 to, like, 2014 era, he was insane. Like, if he can still play well, who cares? Right.
PJ:You know? So
Maddi:Yeah. I I that's what I was gonna say is, if you're the Mavericks, why do you care so much about his weight if he's the reason that you're he's scoring half of your points on a singular night?
Jacob:Yeah.
Maddi:Like, what's the problem then? It's not like no other player in the league argues with the ref. Like
Jacob:Right.
Maddi:You see other players that are even more popular than Luca who argue with the refs, and they're with the team for their whole career. Yeah. So it's interesting to it's interesting for Dallas to give these reasons as to why they're trading Luca when there's other players in the league who are probably doing the exact same thing that he is.
PJ:Yeah. It's back.
Maddi:Yeah. Like, you you put up 50 points a night. You're the reason that your team is winning some of these games. Also have fun in LA.
Jacob:Yeah. I mean, that's a crazy trade destination to go to. I I mean, it one of the things that I didn't even realize, like, initially right away is that Luke is being added to another like, he's being up there with the Lakers grace. Like, he is now on the Lakers. He is playing amongst the likes of Kobe and LeBron and all these guys that have put on a Laker uniform.
Jacob:He joins them, and it's just crazy. I feel like there's gotta be something a little bit maybe going behind the scenes that we may not know because, obviously, you can give a player, like, recommendations or, like, time frames to get your weight down or, like, hey. Like, if you don't start to work on your conditioning, we're gonna have to discuss some things. Not just ship them off right away, and I think that's what's kinda really crazy about this whole thing, but it's a good fit for the Lakers. Let's not deny that.
Jacob:And, obviously, it kinda sets them up post LeBron era because LeBron's only got a year or two left. But his his time is coming to an end as sad as it is to say. But now that you got Luka Doncic, who's 25 years old and obviously one of the best players in the NBA, you can pair him with kinda anybody Mhmm. And you're still gonna win games. You're not gonna be in the like, you you're especially with the play in tournament and stuff, like, you're gonna keep if you have Luka Doncic on your team, you're gonna be competing for a 10 seed.
Jacob:I don't care what team he's on. You could put him on the Washington Wizards. He'll do the same exact thing. And I think that's it's it's a really good trade destination for Luka Doncic.
Maddi:Yeah. Absolutely. It's it's a good trade destination, but it's just still there's so many questions of, like, they gave us a couple of reasons, but what are you hiding? What are you not saying?
PJ:What are
Maddi:you not talking about of Luca Luca getting traded? So
Jacob:Yeah. It feels like a big hole. And It does. Looking at the Mavericks side too, it's obviously a signal to the rest of the league that they're trying to win now. And I think that Anthony Davis getting shit there kind of got overblown obviously by the Luca Luca trade, but Anthony Davis is still a top 10 player in my opinion in NBA.
Jacob:His defense is unbelievable night in night out. He was just on a podcast with Shams Karina the other day talking about, we need another center because I am doing all the dirty work myself. I'm getting all these blocks, all these rebounds. I'm playing center. He's probably a true four, borderline true five, and, I think he's gonna fit really well there, especially with Kyrie Irving that got plenty of talent to kind of to make a push or twenty four and twenty three right now.
Jacob:So it's not like they're at the top of the standings, but they're right in the mix, and that's where they need to be. Put in Anthony Davis and Sakiry Irving, and they got shooters around. I know they traded Cleaver who's one of their biggest shooters, but adding Max Christie also is an underrated piece. I'm I'm not just saying that because he went to MSU. He's actually a very good role player in NBA.
Jacob:He can shoot the ball and stuff like that. So I think that adds another dimension to the Mavericks, and I think their identity changes a little bit. Obviously, they're not gonna be playing the same kind of basketball that they were with Luka Doncic. But now that Kyrie operates the offense, changes a little bit of the dynamic. Anthony Davis in the post, blocking shots.
Jacob:I think it looks good.
PJ:Yeah. Yeah. And, also another piece of this is, like, obviously, like, Luka is kinda getting more attention because he was, like, the star for Dallas. Right? And Dallas
Maddi:franchise guy.
PJ:Yeah. And, like, Dallas loved him. But also, LA loved Anthony Davis. Like, they really did. He just, like I mean, he's obviously one of the most well known players in the league, but also, like, you're if you're on a team with LeBron, you're not gonna get you're kinda gonna be overshadowed a bit.
PJ:But, yeah, like, LA loved him. So it's really strange to see two players that are, like, just loved by the city and the fans just completely switching. It it's so weird.
Jacob:Out of nowhere too. Yeah. Out of nowhere. Yeah. Man, it's crazy.
Jacob:And I think I feel, like, obviously, both of these guys have handled it professionally very well. Mhmm. And reports are gonna come out, videos are gonna come out of their body language and all that and stuff like that. But there was a report that Luca did cry and that he bought a house in Texas days before he got traded, but despite the fact I know it's very sad. I know.
Jacob:Oh. I know. I I You're a poor guy. Yeah. I I didn't realize you guys didn't know that, but at at the same point, I'd he handled it professionally because, obviously, now he's in LA.
Jacob:He had a initial press conference. He boarded a private jet with, Maxi Klibba and Marquise Morris got to LA, and he's handling it well. Anthony Davis was all smiles in their first meeting with the Mavericks and stuff like that. So
Maddi:Mhmm.
Jacob:I feel like from a professional side, that's what they're signing themselves up for. They know that players get traded. You don't know where you're gonna play tomorrow. That's the reality of the NBA. But for star players like that, it kinda makes you wonder who really are the untouchables in the league.
Jacob:Yeah. Because we just saw Luka Doncic, twenty five year old franchise cornerstone get traded. I don't know who's untouchable anymore.
PJ:Yeah.
Jacob:Crazy. But that's pretty much the round up with that trade. We have a few other little more significant ones, not as big as that. But another one that's very interesting for the NBA world, is the Spurs Kings Bulls trade. We had the Sacramento Kings received Zach LaVine, City Sissoko, and the Charlotte Hornets twenty five first round pick.
Jacob:San Antonio's Twenty Seven or twenty twenty seven first round pick, and Minnesota's twenty thirty one first round pick. They gave up that or they received that, but they had to give up to Aaron Fox who went to the San Antonio Spurs. Him and Jordan McLaughlin are now in San Antonio paired with Victor Wembanyama. And the Chicago Bulls who traded Zach LaVine, a guy that's been there for a very long time now, kinda didn't really work out. They received their own twenty twenty five first round pick back from San Antonio.
Jacob:Zach Collins, Trey Jones, and Kevin Herter, all very, very solid role players, and they waived Torrey Craig and Chris Durotta to clear room for this deal. This one's weird. What do you think, PJ? I know you're thinking of the NBA.
PJ:Yeah. The it I wasn't expecting it, because to me, like, De'Aaron Fox has just been, like, like, when I think of the Kings, I think of De'Aaron Fox. So it was very weird to see him go. But I think he is I to me, he's the type of player that can fit anywhere, and he's he's just such a great player. So I think he'll fit in well with the Spurs.
PJ:Zach LaVine, kind of the same, I don't know, kind of the same where, like, I, like, I could see him play anywhere, and I think he's just he's a solid player. No matter where he plays, he'll do a great job. But, yeah, I I got that alert, and I was confused. Again, I was like, what is happening right now? So, yeah, what about you?
PJ:Or you?
Jacob:Yeah. No. Maddie, do you have any thoughts on it?
Maddi:Not really.
Jacob:Totally fine. Totally fine. Just wanted to open floor open floor in case. But
Maddi:Just smile at your lap. I'm learning. I'm learning.
Jacob:No. It's good. It's good. It's good. NBA knowledge, but I I agree with PJ because this this was also a very puzzling trade to me.
Jacob:There was reports of this kind of getting into the works a little bit. Like, before it happened, there was chatter about Fox going to San Antonio, and it's really good fit for the Spurs. It kinda accelerates the rebuild a little bit. Obviously, they got women, Yama, Chris Paul down there in San Antonio, very good solid young pieces, Stefan Castle, and stuff like that. So they're built to win.
Jacob:They're the the record's not incredibly hot right now, but they're making a play probably a play and push, maybe low playoff seed push. But it's a very good fit for them. Darren Fox is kind of the point guard they need. Chris Ball can mentor Fox a little bit, and help him with his passing aspect of his game because we all know Fox can score the ball. But for Sacramento's perspective, Fox was also their franchise guy for just about as long as Luca Dodge was even before Luca was drafted.
PJ:Exactly.
Jacob:So it's a very similar situation. And, like, I don't really get trading him because they weren't playing bad. They're in the playoff picture.
PJ:They're yeah. So the Kings right now are in eighth. The Spurs are in twelfth. Yeah. But, I mean, the Kings are in eighth, and they have a twenty five and twenty four record.
PJ:The Spurs are twenty one and twenty six. I don't I mean, it's not that big of a difference.
Jacob:That's what I'm saying. Yeah.
PJ:And, like, yeah, like, three three teams. Maybe four yeah. Three teams. The Kings, Suns, and Warriors are all twenty five and twenty four. So Yeah.
PJ:There is it's very small difference.
Jacob:Yeah. Lots of room to make up there, and I think just that's why it's so puzzling for the Kings because they fired Mike Brown, their head coach, who took him to the playoffs for the first time in Yeah. Forever. Broke the longest streak in pro sports North American pro sports. And then they let him go.
Jacob:They start winning games because the Kings were underperforming to start the year, and now they give away Deere and Fox. Obviously, I don't think they're a championship built team with Deere and I don't think that they were really gonna I feel like they kinda reached their peak a little bit. Sadly, they had that series where they lost in seven to Golden State. Didn't really get out the first round, but it's just it's just puzzling. And Zach Zach Lavigne
PJ:Yeah. What?
Jacob:Forgot about that. Zach Lavigne going to the Kings as well is also a very good piece. He's a he was an all star player a few years ago. Shooter, can dunk the ball, kinda do everything for you. Just I don't really know where the Kings go.
Jacob:I feel like they're going from mid to mid.
PJ:Exactly. Yeah.
Jacob:But they weren't good. Really, I get before. Now just kinda makes it worse. I don't
PJ:know. Yeah. I yeah. It'll be interesting to see for the rest of the season and next season because, like, I I think they'll both teams will need some adjusting. Same as, like, the Mavericks and Lakers, obviously.
PJ:Yeah. I don't know. Any any team after a big trade is gonna need some adjusting. But, yeah, I I I don't think the Kings or the Spurs are really going to improve so much.
Jacob:Yeah. I I have to agree. Spurs is the only way I can see it working in the long term. Kind of rely on Fox at least for a little bit if he's not gonna stick around there, but Chris Paul's not gonna be there forever. So that kinda obviously leads Fox to be that main point guard.
Jacob:You got one man, Yamah. He's probably gonna be as good as Luka Doncic's for NBA comparisons for those of you that don't follow the NBA as much, but it's just weird. He's just so weird. And that that trade really did puzzle me. It didn't make a ton of sense, but I think San Antonio got the biggest benefit.
Jacob:Mhmm. Probably go away as winners of that trade, but the Kings did receive a lot back. Yeah. They they so they they got three first round picks from this. So kind of works out for them shipping off their franchise.
Jacob:Yeah. But, the last trade we're gonna touch on today and kind of the last segment of the episode, was a trade that went down today, probably while most of you were in class or at work or whatever, and it was between the Bucks and the Wizards. Kinda something I don't think any of us expected, but the Wizards are receiving or they trade I'll start with what they trade away. They trade away Kyle Kuzma, who went to the Milwaukee Bucks. Very interesting, but they also had to give up.
Jacob:The Bucks had to give up Chris Middleton and AJ Johnson. The Wizards also received Patrick Baldwin Junior, and the Wizards also received the twenty twenty four first round pick from Milwaukee. So it makes sense, but Khris Middleton's been there forever. Kyle Kuzma obviously has a different aspect to his game, but I'll let you touch on that, PJ.
PJ:Is it crazy of me to say that Kyle Kuzma isn't good enough for this trade?
Jacob:I
PJ:Sorry. I I I don't know.
Jacob:Sorry. I agree with you. I it's like it's like a younger version of Khris Middleton with a different ish play style, but weird. It's weird. Go ahead.
PJ:I I just don't think he's good enough to trade Khris Middleton, Aiden Johnson, and the pick. Oh, and Patrick Baldwin junior? I don't know. Yeah. I yeah.
PJ:That's that's my thought. I just don't think he's good that good. No. I he's good, but I don't think he's good enough for that trade.
Jacob:Yeah. And I think giving up Khris Middleton's a little puzzling because that was their cornerstone. Obviously, I feel like the butt like, the Bucs window's kinda coming to a close, I feel. Like, it's it's it's there, but it's not. And Khris Middleton obviously helped them win a lot of games.
Jacob:It was very impactful for a lot of their playoff series, like, early Giannis days. But now he's 33 years old. He's not producing the same as he used to. Kyle Kuzma is a younger version of that, a little bit different in a play style like we said, but he can still score. He's Kyle Kuzma putting a little bit of empty stats in the Wizards.
Jacob:He's not playing, like, amongst the names of Giannis or whatever until now, but, he's I feel like to your point, PJ, he's obviously not up there with the top five, whatever small forwards in the game, but he's respectable. He can score the ball. He's okay on defense. Didn't help the Wizards win a lot because he's not a one number one guy, but I think he fits into his role a little bit as a third option. Yeah.
Jacob:That's behind Damien Lord and Giannis, and I think this is the Bucks' kinda last chance. I think that's what they're going for. They know that they won their title a few years ago in 2021. They have kinda come up short of his recent this is kind of their last push, I think. And this should be interesting to kinda see how it works out in the future.
PJ:Definitely. Yeah.
Maddi:Shout out Kyle Kuzma, Flint native. That's all I have to say.
Jacob:That was very necessary. Matt needs NBA knowledge and and,
PJ:That was very necessary. Yeah.
Maddi:If you had me in here talking about the trade deadline line for the NHL, we could be sitting here for hours.
Jacob:Different story.
PJ:I would
Jacob:let you I would let you go on all about that.
Maddi:Exactly. Exactly.
Jacob:So it it balances out, everybody. That's that's what we get here with Sports Roundtable. But that matters. That is all that matters. We we love it.
Jacob:But, yeah, I think that's pretty much gonna do it for today's episode. Obviously, a lot to talk about and a lot of interesting story lines developing. If I'm sure we'll see a lot kind of in this next week before the next episode next Wednesday. So, probably lots to talk about there, but we appreciate you guys tuning in. It's been a pleasure to talk alongside PJ and Manny for
PJ:an hour.
Jacob:So I really appreciate you guys tuning in, and I hope you guys have a good one.