IT IS WHAT IT IS - HAPPY BIRTHDAY KILLA, JAMES HARDEN TO THE CAVS & ATHLETES ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Ma$e, Cam’ron & Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson are back with another one!! Please rate, review, and follow the podcast for more content.  Sign up with promo code IIWII and play $5 to get $75 in bonus funds: https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-itiswhatitis #UDpartnerMake sure to support the show by hitting the link in the bio and downloading the Underdog app. Use code MASE, CAM, or STAT to get up to $1,000 in bonus funds with your first deposit! Follow the show and our hosts on social media: ⁠It Is What It Is⁠, ⁠Cam'Ron⁠, ⁠Ma$e⁠, and ⁠Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson⁠ , ⁠Producer Ayooo Nick⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to It Is What It Is. This episode is presented by Underdog. If you're new to Underdog, today's the day, get $75 in fantasy bonus entries. When you play just $5 on fantasy with code, it is what it is. So the big game is this week. And Underdog is celebrating by hooking you up

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I'm treasure Wilson aka stat baby along with your host Mace and Cam and today we are joined with our analyst Maurice Claret killer was good man I'm good man how you mo what's happening how you know mo you're looking like Wall Street Mo what's going on you blue collar now Wall Street without the trees baby hey Hey, Elmo, you want to make a bet that tree don't get there by, the tree don't get there by March 15th. I'll make a bet. 5,000.

Yeah. So we have to tell that we have to, we have to, no, we got to tell the truth, right? So I gave Mace the address and the link, and then I sent it to the group chat just for proof. and the trees still ain't get here. So I wanted to bring it up close and personal so everybody can see.

My man still got it with the same trees. And then the group text, Mo, he replied. He said, that's easy. That's when I knew him really wasn't coming. He's trying to go on his phone now. I get it to come. I knew it really wasn't coming. Boys, what's the niggas say?

Oh, that's easy. No, see, this is the mix-ups that. The trees he sent me was like $200. The tree I was sending them was $8,000. So I'm kind of confused which tree he wants, you know? If he wants the real farm tree. If you want those, I send those out, Mo. But the other ones, they come from Miami.

You got, it takes time, you know. Bigito, memento, you know. Hey, now, this was, this is a $135 off of Amazon. I could have put a right here. Yo, Mo, do you want to take the bet real quick or not? Because Mace is one of me all type of one of your name. No, those trees ain't coming. Yeah.

Mace was actually supposed to be on Larry's show yesterday. And I bet Larry $5,000 that Mace was short up. and I won the money. I actually went on a live show. Make sure you're tuning the alienated. When's the show come on? Friday. This Friday, you'll see me coming.

Status is on the show this week, actually, too. Yeah, they did get their money. Yeah, they ran down on. Yeah, he was trying to, like, I was like, A.NZ pulled a shirt night, we said we ain't here to really talk. Hey, Mo, I'm like, you want to sit down? You want to talk?

He was like, no. not really get a money up. I was crazy. I was in shock, man. I was in shock. I ain't gonna lie. I never seen that kid before. It was 1996 care.

Nah, we was school, but I just wanted to get to the point. I know they had a lot going on, man. You did get to point. Yeah, Larry was shook. He was like, well, uh... I don't know he's my man, but it was a business call. I've been waiting on that day to come. I knew murder wasn't showing up.

Like I know the palm trees ain't coming, poor. Nah. Yeah. Y'all, y'all forgetting though. It's a great day today, man. Super great date. I don't think anybody forgot. Guys, it's February 4th.

Ooh. And it's somebody's birthday. Thank you, guys. Happy birthday, Kim. Thank you. Thank you, Stad. Happy birthday, Kim. My own, that's not usually how you tell me.

Happy birthday. You told me Happy birthday, man We had to think you're on a couple years now I'm just having a little different happy birthday for you, man. I looked out on your birthday. They didn't get to you. That ain't a clone mace, isn't?

Nah, no, no, I got something for Gellible. I'll be waiting on it like the tree, man. No, no, no, no, I do, I do. I do. I actually went to Lord's Vitton. No, I don't want to spoil the surprise. You're going to like the gift, you know. You're going to love the gift.

Murder, I gave you a bag with money on it in the show. You unzipped it, and you were disappointed. They said, it looked like my mattress money. No, this jacket, this jacket fired. It's going to be a one-on-one. I know this for sure. I know this for sure. Yo, Mo, now we got to make a bet.

What comes first to the tree of the jacket? Neither. I will say this. My mother wanted me to make sure that she let me know. She said, tell Mr. Cameron that we share a birthday. So I had to say that on the show. Just so shout out to my mom's, happy birthday to her. Happy birthday to you.

So this shit wasn't even genuine for me. Happy birthday, mom. Yeah. Tell your mom, I say, happy birthday, man. I appreciate that. From one of queries to another, tell it happy birthday as well. Nah. All good.

Thank you, bro. That's super dope. Okay, so we're going to start with some basketball trade deadline. Got a lot of things going on. So we are going to start with the Clippers. The Clippers are trading James Hardin to the Cavs for Darius Garland in a second round pick. Maris, who do you think wins this trade? And do you see this as like a short-term gamble for the Cavs or do you think it's going to be great?

What are our thoughts here? I think the contract, I don't know if his winners are losing. of this. And I just looked at, when I seen the trade, I looked at what it was that Cleveland had to guarantee. They don't literally guarantee the whole $42.9 billion to James Hardin. When I looked it up, they guaranteed 13.3 of it. So it's really like a short-term lease for Cleveland. And I don't really know how all the aprons work when you, you know, you get into different luxury taxes. But I don't know Cleveland had historically been always at the top-tier apron, whatever it is, up either as to one being the top or two or three, whatever it is, being the top category for

aprons in regards to salary caps or luxury tax is my fault. But to me, Cleveland gets a veteran. You're going to bring him to Cleveland. He's going to sell tickets. He's going to be able to be a piece that can contribute in the playoffs where Darius Garland is typically hurt or he has been hurt for the last few years. So you do get that. Like I told you, it's Cleveland. So James Harding going fill the seats for people who haven't had a chance to historically. watch them be it if he's in Houston over in Brooklyn and even now West so I think that's cool for them but then also for the clippers you can see kind of see what Steve Balmer's doing let's get the team young let's rebuild let's put different pieces around Kaua so I don't know you know it's a short-term

thing but if you get into the contract talk and if it does work out for James Hardin I don't know if Cleveland would commit to a long-term contract with an older player the same thing you'll search it for with the clipper so um even in my regard, but Cleveland doesn't have a bunch of commitment to James Harder right now. Yeah, I think this is an awesome trade for James Hart, not for Cleveland or for the Clippers. I think this is perfect for James Harden. He gets to come and entertain the East and see if he really could do something in the playoffs. Because remember, his Achilles Hills is the playoffs.

So even though this looked like a team that would be more formidable against the New York Knicks, in the playoffs or Detroit, I would say if this doesn't work out, he still got the ability that's some of the follow Janus, wherever Janus goes. So I think we'll get to that later, but wherever Janus goes,

I think this is where James Harden goes a year after today. Janice contract isn't up until next year. That's what I was saying. If I'm a walkie, just be mad at me because he's still got to come back in October. And James Harden contract actually, inspires the same time as Yonester.

Wow. So, yeah, that's not a bad point that you made. But before I actually get my take, we got sincere in the building. He's fidgety because he's a Knick fan, and he doesn't like it. You got something to say about the trades? I give you your time because I see you over there,

Fiddy, Mace making faces. When you said Mesa at the Knicks, you're doing all this. You got something to say about this trade. What's your problem? This is not basketball. This is about tantrums. and attitudes. This is not basketball.

So time out. First of all, let me ask murder questions because I asked you already. And Mo. And Statt, would you pick James Hardin over at Jalen Brunson right now? If you had a team? No, not me.

I would. That's why we're from Harlem. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So hold on, y'all talk about age all the time. You talk about age all the time. So now you want the veteran. You don't want the new hotness. Now you want the question and you manage to answer.

No, I want to know why. That hurts you. Why? Because, like, small guards normally don't win in the championship. You can't make this shit up. Yo, you can't make it out of his body. That's what I'm saying. You can't make it.

You know, you're a liability. So much, man. Yo, Phil, how are we going to say the same thing I said? That's history. That small guards haven't won a lot of championships. So when has James won anything? I know, but he's six, he's six five at the point. So when does he won anything?

He played with Kauai. He didn't play with KD. He played with everybody. When does he won anything? Yeah, pause. Yeah, really pause. Pauls of fame. But on another note, when is Jalen Brunson one?

Hey, yo, your murder. Come on, yeah. I said, yeah, yeah. Yo, work the mother. I said all this. Yo, work the mother. You know, Phil worked a mother. Every answer you get, you know how you're going to family funeral.

They're like, da, da, that you said the same answer. Everything you just said, I say, what is he one? It's the, it's the hand. You, Phil, how does he got the same? How he got the same exact answer? Yeah, come on. You was there, I didn't answer the phone, so you know we didn't talk.

No, this happened right before you came. Poor, this was like 30 minutes when you walked in. How old is James Harden? 36. 36. Okay. And see, the thing about this isn't to start a team. It's talking about for right now.

Like, right now, this is, you know why he mad murder? Because I said James Hardin' the best guard in the East now. You got the attitude about it. Yeah, and what's crazy, he ain't in the All-Star game. Yeah, he knows. And I like James Harder. The whole thing about it, because James Arn ain't playing the East to get an all-star game.

If he's playing the East, he would be an Oscar game. Yeah, who's guarding him on the Nix? Josh Hart or Deuce. Buckets. Good luck with that. They just played us, and we won. Okay. Buckets.

You picking James Hardin over Jalen Brunson? What I picked James Harden over Jalen Brunson. I mean, I still think it's situational. but I feel like I don't know yeah she would I'm not I'm not

I'm not what you said no but also you're making a really good point too that's what I'm like I'm not trying to just be like oh I would choose James Harden because Jalen Brunson

is also a really good pick but situational that's my opinion what's situational like it's situational so does the situation mean James or the situation? I mean it depends

what you like because it's like you're it depends who prefer? So they ask in you? Which one do you? You want the small light skin guy? I'm not even...

That's not even the way that I'm going with it. Yeah. It's not like he's soft just because he's not... No, I mean, but... He didn't say soft, he says small, pause. Yeah, short light skin or tall tall... Why he had to say short light skin. You know what that mean.

What do I mean? You know light skin, niggas supposed to be soft, niggas. You know that. Pause. You know that. Small, right? She's chocolate though.

She might like light skin niggins preferred. I don't, I don't really, but. Yeah, I don't do the light skin, Darson thing. If you black and black. Listen, man, this is a lot of people who's going to say Jaylen Brunson, don't get mad at me and murder something. Listen, look, Moe said Jaylen Brunson. Yeah, he did.

Okay. So it's okay, man. Yeah, Moe. To me, Jaylen Brunson only struggled because he had to do two. much in the last two playoff series. If he had other pieces who could help him score more, that's all I thought, that's the only reason I thought he struggled. Like when it comes down to him trying to put up a thousand shots for the Knicks to win,

it always feels like the last two years he's ran out of gas. And so I would get him some other pieces around him and still roll with Jim versus James Hardin. James Hardin is phenomenal on the regular season, phenomenal if I want to go buy a ticket and watch he play. But in regards to the playoffs, he just doesn't have the track record. This is true. This is true? Yeah. But at the end of the day, who's the best backcourt in the east right now?

Donovan and James Hardin is crazy. It's no better backcourt in the east right now. Spider and James Hardin is crazy. Yeah. I don't know what you're going to do. I'm asking you, who's the best back? I'm asking you, I'm just your opinion. Don't have to be the next.

It can be anyone. I mean, when you put in super teams together, I don't have an option but to see Cleveland right now. Since everybody won't be unfair. Who got the best bad court in the West? Because I think this might be the best bad court in the league. I think Minnesota. Minnesota with Devenchenzo and Ant Man.

I like that a lot. Devenchenzo. Yeah, I don't like that better than... I ain't jacking that. I'm better than James Hart. James Hardin don't play defense. I'm trying to tell you. He's been better.

He has been irresponsible on defense, but it's one thing being irresponsible, and it's another thing being a liability. Jalen Brunson's a liability on defense. It's too little. We got three people going to an All-Star. James ain't going. James played in the West.

If he played in East, he'd be number one. Here we got on the All-Star. That's what they said by Michael Jordan. All-Star is not really counting right now, because they got a lot of stuff going on. The All-Star. There's a lot of things that are questionable. A lot of people that they should have on the roster

who now they're like adding squad and they're saying like, oh, we're putting Kauai on. Like they got to figure that out in my opinion. Now they add in Kaua. Yeah, that's what it said. I'm like, okay, y'all are confusing me. So once they figure that out, then we can go based off of that. But right now.

Only other, that's a good point of mind. I was just looking. Only other people that may be, and I'm asking your opinion, what you think about the J. Dove and Shee Gildre's. J. Dubbing, Shea Giltris is cool, but I think when it comes to with James Hardin and Donovan, it's just too many buckets. It's too many buckets. And no teeth. That like a James saw and start this shit through the... Yeah.

This is like Steve Francis and Catino. Oh, no, it's not. Don't do that. No, no, no, no. No, it's not. You need to go moosey Norris on the nigger. No, no, no, no. Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah, this is the best back course is that to me. That's crazy.

Okay, so now I got to ask a follow-up, because these are all good questions, and I like that actually send campus perspective because it is interesting to see kind of where you guys' head go with this type of stuff. So with the James Hardin and Donovan Mitchell duo, because we're seeing that you guys have some excitement there, And given the teams that we see who are leading the East right now,

do you think that this makes them serious contenders? Marie is going to let you go first. Yes. Yes. Yes. And it does. I'm not going to deny that. It does. So part of me, just maybe an older, I do want to see James have a successful playoff run and go to the championship. And with the East being weak this year, I think it definitely puts them in that position.

And I think that, I don't know, who's to say he doesn't catch lightning in the bottom when, you know, he gets excited being around Donovan Mitchell and they do go on some sort of run. You know, you get to a new team, new city. Cleveland doesn't have a lifestyle, L.A. has. And, you know, you focus here for a few months. So I think it does. Yeah, I really think with him going to Cleveland is a turnaround for the whole entire East. Not just this year, but next year. I could really see him figuring it out when he's when he's playing with somebody like Donovan Mitchell

because it's not going to be as much pressure on them to get buckets because Spider is going to look to get buckets. And realistically, they got they got Lonzo ball at the three. So he can even bring the ball up a lot of times and take that pressure off him and give him a rest in that kind of way. And then you look at their front court, their front court is strong. And I think this all sets up LeBron James to come back to Cleveland with James Hardin and Donovan Mitchell and in the front court. And there's even a bigger nightmare next year for the East. Oh, good.

Y'all said the same thing about Philly when Paul George went there. Tyrese Maxie and Paul George, they're the new hotness in the East. And yo, every time somebody go over there to the East, date of new hotness. Paul George didn't play, though, really. No, I'm not talking about that. You don't like that idea with LeBron coming back to Cleveland?

How many times he's going to come back to Cleveland? How many? He got to retire. He retire with a chip. Wait, who getting the chip? Cleveland? If he comes back to Cleveland and getting a chip. You play if you want.

He comes back to Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the front court that they got, he'll be a free agent, so they wouldn't have to give up nothing. That would be super perfect. I think Moe made a really, really good point before we even get to next season, and I think I like that take from the trial murder.

We just, you know, sin scared, and I understand them being scared. You know what I'm saying? I get it. It fucked up everything. This was like a foregone, the Knicks are going to the championship, and now you got to think about it. But I think what you said, Mo, was really, really great, right? Outside of OKC, and he started his career in OKC,

every city that he's played for can be distractions. So you sit there, we know what's going on in Houston. You know, damn well, exactly. We don't even need to get in debt with Houston. We know what's going on in New York. We know what could happen in Philly. He's from L.A. So when he's from L.A., he can be distracted, being at home, playing at home.

There's nothing but nothing to do but focus on basketball in Cleveland. And not only that, it ain't like you got to focus the whole season. You got about two and a half, two months until the playoffs, and then after the play, and then we're going to see what you're doing the playoffs. But of course, he has a history that we all know, not producing in the playoffs. But this is a short-term focus. This is him locking in for three and a half months.

Cleveland, no distractions, basketball, that's it. You may go face as you want. Most boarded it up, and I think it's an excellent point. The hate is bad in here from the Nick fans today. How many chances you give somebody? He went with Kyrie. But just think about, come on, Mo. Well, let me just say.

He always get a super, a Batman and Rahmi. He always gets somebody. Listen, they gave the next 52 seasons of chances, all right? It's still no championship. It's 52 years, 53. How many seasons you get without no chance? What he did with Kyrie? I'm just saying.

He didn't actually play a long time with Kyrie. Remember, Kyrie got hurt? That's an excuse for everything. I'm just telling you they play like 10 games together, then Kevin Durant wasn't playing because he was hurt. And they had Steve Nash as the coach. What that mean? He never coached before.

He never coached before. He never coached A and you before. He never coached anything, not even high school. What is Steve Kerr coached before he went to go to state? It's coached him with pop and all that. Yeah, San Antonio. Well, he was assistant coach? Yeah.

Yes. You got to know the games. Oh. Oh. Suss. Ha, ha. Yeah. This is great.

Yeah. This is great. Yeah. Did you finish your point? I don't know if Mo has some. Yeah. Maris, did you have one more point before we move on to the next? This is a good conversation.

No, I forgot it. It was something to do just essentially just trying to make the point that they only guarantee part of this contract. And even though you have a bunch of money, I was thinking about Aaron Rogers, right, where where Aaron Robinson had came to play to Pittsburgh, and he had did the best he could for the $8 or $9 million they had gave him. And if you look at this contract,

they're only guaranteeing 13 of the 42. I don't care how much money you got. If you're only guaranteed 13, you're gonna do everything that you have to do to get to that 42. And so I'm saying they may have an incentive out of the contract struck correctly along with just him seeing the window closing to win the championship.

And then a thing that may say in regards to LeBron coming back, I didn't even think about that, but it doesn't sound far-fetched. I tell you that. Yeah, that's why I'm one of the experts, you know? New hotness when it comes to the experts. You got, you got Wynhurst, you guys shams and me, you know? I'm right behind shams right now.

With my predictions. I'm just saying, shout out to the people who know, you know. Ain't that what the kids say, it's that. You know, you know, right? You know, you know, that it needs to be my, My little tag, if you know, you know. This is why as the Knicks, when y'all have a chance to win, you got to win. And shout out the World Wide West, man.

Y'all have been putting this together. I really like this Nick team. This might be the best Nick team I've seen. But if they can get rid of cat and get Janus, that would be great. So you do want to see that happen. If they get Janus, then I might be a Nick fan. I might come on. Okay.

Set it here. Get rid of cat. And who else? Hmm, what's the nigga with that band? Josh Hart? Yeah, you gotta get rid of it. Oh, no, no, no, no, that's no deal. You keep OG, you keep OG, you don't think-

Josh Hart is the heart of the team. He's the only one that's going to be. He's not Dennis Rodman. Hey, my nigga, you won't win championships with Hart. You win championships with a point. No, no, you need a Dennis Rodman. You rather a Dennis Rodman or John Sally. You need a Dennis Robman.

No, we're talking about a Dennis, Rodman or what's his name, Mark McGuire or Vinny Johnson. You need a Vinny Johnson if you're going to win it. What do you think, killer? I totally agree. Of course you're just going to win the shit with just Bruce Bowen every time. You know what I'm saying? You're 100% correct.

We need buckets. I do want to correct and say sentence correct and me and you are wrong murder and senior rights. Steve Cardden coached before Golden State. I thought he was with San Antonio because he was hanging around pop so much. But I go through fact-checked and you're right. But you walk right in to a situation Mark Jacksonville. I said that.

Yeah, absolutely. I'm just giving you, I'm telling you you're correct. Thanks, man. You appreciate that. He's on defense mode. Murdering double check. Yeah, I'm right. Tim is wrong.

Killer going to say we both wrong. Nah, because they're going to tell us tomorrow we were. Oh, I couldn't wait. You didn't know. You know, I would have looked at it, essentially. Listen, I'm giving you up in your phone live television. Do you count some elite? Yeah.

You can coach that summer league. Me, can't be wrong. You can't be wrong. You can't go to summer. Hey. Hey. Well, while you look up what you need to do. I'm already here.

That's what I'm trying to figure out what he was talking about. He wasn't a coach nowhere. I don't remember seeing him. Okay. They robbed Mark Jackson. They robbed him. Gave somebody else the glory. Okay.

I'll let you. No, Steve Kerr, was a Somal League coach. I don't know what Ken was talking about. I was speaking to me. I was thinking that he coached under Pop, but I know he played for Pop. So I was getting that confused when I said, San Antonio, so I'm mistaken.

Him and Steve Nash was... Okay. That's why you got me up here with you. Okay, got you. You know, to cover all the bases. Okay, got you. Yeah, I'm looking. You still running with the Summer League?

Yeah. That's coaching. That's murder. Come on. Summer league, my nigga. Yeah, I got you. It's touching. Technically.

You know? Yeah. If you want to be touching. You know, that played out good for you because don't act like you sell him coaching that summer league and remembered that. No, I didn't know. When he, when he didn't know,

I knew. You know, that's why I told you. I'm right there behind Shams. When there's Brian Winhurst and Shams, I'm right under that. So you was watching Summer League and saw him on the bench. You was watching Summer League and saw him on the bench and remember. I said I'm behind them post because they put, you know, different nationalities first, but I'm really up there. Okay. Okay. Good conversation and good counters, y'all. Put the camera on sent. He doesn't like to be wrong. count. That's debatable.

That's debatable. We're at the comments aside. Thank you, Statt. Come home, Pat. Come home. Matt's right. He played in Summer League. Percy Miller.

He plays Summer League. That don't count. But we tell my coaching him. I'm coaching. He got the polo on with the Golden State. He's a coach. Didn't Becky win a championship in Summer League? We said that another night, right?

Yeah, we count hers. Yeah, we counted that. It count just like the, uh, The NBA championship in the halfway point. Yeah, that's what you said. No, you said the season tournament. The season tournament. It count.

Whoa. Put the camera on them. That's a good one, Larry. Silence. Yeah, that's a good one. The seasonal championship. You were you. I'm trying to help you.

It's supposed to be my league. He's right. We just talked about that other day. She did want some elite. Summer League trophy. Yeah. And I think that is the equivalent to the NBA Cup. It's a good point, Larry.

Counts. Okay. So ironically. The thing I ain't let them get away with it, right? I'm happy you court it. I just say, well, good job, Mer. Niggas is stealing. You got to watch niggins.

Good job, money. Yeah. Okay. So since we're talking about the clippers and the calves, they actually play two nights. So let's actually get into our underdog picks. Underdog has quiet, 26 and a half points. You have a higher, lower,

I think he goes crazy against Jameson, the approval point. So I'm going higher. Cobab and bowling, higher. Okay, Donovan Mitchell's at 29 and a half points. You have a higher lower cam. I'm going to go higher. Um, I'm going lower. Okay, and Jared Allen's at 14.5 points.

You have him higher, lower Mace? 14.5 points? Yeah. Niggie here get more than 14. I'm going higher. low. Hey, make sure you all down on the underdog app and you can make your picks too. So Grizzlies made a trade. They're trading star forward. Jaron Jackson Jr., John Conchard, Jock Landale, and Vince William Jr. to the jazz for Walton Clayton, Jr.,

Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendrix, and George's Nunge in three future first round picks. Marise, how do you feel about the real Triple J being on the jazz? I looked at this as the Grizzlies. How I feel about him being on the jazz probably came in second. That was the second thought. The first thought was, like I said, this is the start of the move on from John Morant, seeing them get rid of bang last year. You take your bang defensive piece and then you ship him over to Utah.

And then I remember Walter Clayton Jr. was part of the Florida team that ended up beating Yukon last year in a tournament. So I had seen him play last year. And I said Memphis is basically structurally going into a different direction. And when I looked it up, over the next seven years, they have like 13 or 14 first round picks. And so I know Utah got better from a defensive standpoint, but this was more about Memphis basically creating a path to make their team into a new team.

And I know we had talked about John Moran a few weeks ago, but I was more or less looking at that. But Utah is going to get better from a defense standpoint, put him in the mix, but this probably more or less signifies what Memphis is doing with their team and low-eastern. up with Young Draft Capital and rebuild for what they got going on in Memphis. Yeah, I think this is a sad day in Memphis. I think they really had something they could have built around when they had EDI and they had job playing together, especially with Jackson.

And then with Bangor, it just seemed like whatever coach they got wasn't able to put together schemes. Because sometimes you need a coach that could put together plays and put together some kind of system. them that work for the personnel you have. Sometimes you could be a good coach, but you don't have the right schemes for the particular team you have. Well, with everything that happened with Jai, I think for them to get rid of Jai last is a big

problem. I think they should have gotten rid of Jaya first. What they're doing with everybody else, I think it's going to make it more, more setting them back more years the way they're doing it right now. So I would give them an F in the way that they handled this. trade deadline. Just ain't no really ever good trades going on. We're talking about team that's in

10th place and the team that's in 13th place. I've been checked, stop checking on that tall nigger from fucking Memphis. Jared Dave fuckers of his name is. I don't know why checking. Look, man. Murder right. I love John.

I thought Memphis, look, we had thinking about this probably about four years ago before the guns and all the injuries. They were up to one in the playoffs. Golden State until John Moran got hurt. This is when Drum Pool was still there. And it ain't been the same ever since. The guns came into play.

The videos came into play. The suspensions came into play. You got to think the Jared Jackson, he was defensive player the year during that era as well. But it's just been all downhill since. I really don't care about this trade. To me, it's more about no other big trades that's happened outside of James Harding and Garland.

So now they're trying to act like this is a big deal. When neither these niggas are not even in the playing, let alone the playoffs. And they're not going to even be in the playing with the trades. I don't care. Yeah, I think if I was Memphis, I would have really pushed for Ace Bailey. If they was going to get anything from Utah, it would have been Ace Bailey. I think bringing him off that team would have made this Memphis team a much easier rebuild and make it Ace Bailey team. He wants his own team.

And I think Utah is setting up for that kid, AJ, that's coming out of college right now or high school, wherever. BYU. Yeah, BYU. So I think it makes more sense to just go in that direction because A's Bailey is not going to want to play second fiddle to AJ. So I thought they missed out on a moment. What made you say get rid of jaw first? Like what would be the significance of getting rid of jaw versus? this, you know, bang last year and then, uh, Triple J this year.

Um, because like when you, when you get rid of Jai first, then everybody else will begin to play at a higher level. So you might end up getting more for them as the time would have went on. If you, if you save it to like you went with them first, then it's like everybody's not seeing them at their real best. You know what I'm saying? They've been playing second job. They've been playing third to Jod. So, you know, you're trading them as a third, a third, um, situation and when they could have been looked at as a second or first situation. And you would have got much more for the, I got you. Yeah. Okay. And then one more trade we'll discuss before we go to break. So the Bulls are trading

center, Nikola Vustovic and a second round pick to the Boston self-six for Anthony Simons and a second round pick. So Maurice, how do you feel about this trade? And then people are saying bulls got too many guards. What's your thoughts on that? Yeah. My goodness. Well, this train for the Celtics may sense with Porzig is being gone and then Al Horford not returning. So I see how they're trying to equip some pieces for a playoff run. I don't know if they'll make it. I don't know if they, you know, sometimes you catch lightning in the bottom when they won a championship a couple of years ago.

I think they're trying to recapture that and at least have the pieces on the court for it. I don't know if it's going to work, though, but I see them doing that. But in regards to Chicago, I don't keep up with Chicago. as much as that. So I don't know how many guards they have, who's there now. I don't want to say this. I don't want to sound like Cam sounds like this one, but like with Chicago not being a prominent team right now, just don't keep up with them. Yeah, Chicago is like any New York City PSAL team. It's loaded with guards. The whole team is full of guards. They may have like three or four big men. The rest is all guards. Like one time I was.

I was thinking they kept switching the lineup. I'm like, man, I forgot where most of these people were. That's on their team. Like, there's people on that team that we totally forgot about. And then when they put them in the game, you'd be like, oh, that's such and such. You know, but you don't want a whole team full of such and such. You got to get rid of them. And there's been this way since they let, let on, what's his name, Zach Levine go.

Ever since Zach Levine left Chicago, it's been horrible. It's been terrible. but they do have a promising three that's really good from overseas. He's really, really good. At one time, killer says Kobe with a K, man, it's not even a Kobe with a K, man. But I think they're going to get rid of Kobe. He ain't boss.

I got a pivot conversation. You said what, Maurice? No, I had something to pivot too. So I was with Shameka Holtz last weekend, right? And so she told me both of y'all to tell me hello. And she said, if you get a chance on the show, could you ask him how nice Richie Parker was? And I don't know who Richie Parker is, but she was like, I used to go, she was telling me stories about her going to watch y'all play. And then she just was like, yo, could you ask him about that?

but she was like they could actually play basketball and she'd start reminiscing with me like while we had time behind the stage before we went on to talk. Who did you say this was? Chimaker. She'd be called home. Okay.

Let me real quick before I answer that. Yo, Mo, I mean, said, why when he said Richard Park, you start breathing hard moving your share like he wasn't good? What was you doing all that for? This is the argument that we've been having for a long time. And shout out to Richie Parker, man.

I've seen him when you, you said what's up to him. I have nothing against Ritchie Park. I just didn't think, I didn't see where everybody else saw. I saw, you know, I didn't see it. And yeah, he, I heard he was nice. You didn't see it. But I also heard he was a bigger kid than the rest of the people

that he played with. What do you mean you didn't see it? I didn't see it. How did you not see it? You know, I mean it was six four, jump out the gym, shoot three. He's over half court. As soon as he get over half court, he can hit the shot. Yo, what are you, the hype police?

He can't be. So that's his four, he's six, four? What are you talking about? He was a wing. He was, he was like a two, three. Yeah, but Sim and trying to dis Rich Parker for you. I'm not guessing. You have been dissing his game.

Not as a person. Rich Parker was nice. Yes, as Mo. Yeah, he made his Sports Illustrated. He had to be some. Yeah, Rich Parker was really good, man. He was really, really good. Zendon Hamilton was in Sports Illustrated.

Not on the cover. Yeah, but at the end of the day, what I'm saying is, you sit there and say Zendan Hamilton like he wasn't good at the time. No, Zendezer was nice. Yeah, but what I'm saying, don't act like everybody just Sports Illustrated, bro. Everybody wasn't just sports illustrated in cover, man. Come on, man. Not her own names.

She asked about that. Him, Mo? He was good, man. He was nice. He was nice. He said so. this is this was illustrated. Look, it was good, man.

So she watched the show, and we was laughing and joking about the show. And so she told me how she got into basketball, and then she was telling me stories. She was like, yo, she looked at me, she was like, you know, Cam was really nice. Like, no, I'm serious. He was really nice. And so she started going over all these stories about just the time and Felipe Lopez and Stefan Marlborough.

She just basically started talking to all these things from that time. But she said, if you get a chance, she said, I asked him about Richie Parker, and that's when she, uh, and that's when I was like, okay, I remember it. So I was just, you know. I don't know what the hate was sin is about with Rich Parker. It's not, it's not hate it. Was he a McDonald's a light skin thing?

Yeah. Yeah. He was? Yeah. What else you want him to check off? Rich does he has some outside off the court problems that henders for him, probably maybe, definitely could have been a second round pick. If he was supposed to go to Seton Hall.

And then he didn't go to Seaton Hall. And he ended up going to, what was the school, murder? With Charles Jones. L.I.U. L.I.U. Yeah. Before that, he went to somewhere in Phoenix. Yeah. Kent Tempe.

Yeah. Kid was good, man. I just know his favoritism. You know, and I like how they just skipped over this whole Memphis thing. I was sitting here smiling the whole time. Mo, do you know they used to compare John? Maratha, Alan Iverson? Am I looking at the right camera?

Do you know that they used to do that? Now it's, we wouldn't have had no conversation about Alan Ivison talking about, oh, I think he should have left first, or I think he should have left last. There would be no conversations like that about AI. And what they do, they have favoritism. They like Kyrie and they fuck with Jai.

Those two nigs, they don't really have nothing bad to say about. They was comparing to John Moran. They were talking about Jai. They were off the court. This is something. So we just talked about this on Talk with Fleet Murder, and I'll bring you in, because I know you got something to say. I'll just say this, right?

We just had this conversation on the show. And he was asking me, basically, and I asked you, or you can answer it how you want, I won't even ask you, what's some of the most disappointing things since we started this show? And I said the fact that athletes get sensitive, right? And they get sensitive. So when somebody has two points, and we say they got two points, and then somebody gets 40 points, and we praise don't forget 40 points.

The nigga you have 40 points, be like, oh, now you want to be my friend because I have 40 points, yo, that's crazy. So we're not supposed to acknowledge that you had two points and just wait until you get 40 points. This is the same situation. If we're seeing John Morant have Sparks Allen, obviously during his rookie career, second year. third year and then he goes down the drain

or whatever's going on with him. So we can't acknowledge that and then acknowledge that he's not what he used to be. So I just don't understand that. We're not, so we're just supposed to not see it. I don't get it. I just don't want y'all to live in a moment all the time. Bro, that's what we get paid to do.

You can't live in the moment. You can't go with the height train. They're living in the moment every day. Yikes what you're saying, bro. What are you talking about? We can't do yesterday's news. Yeah. I talk about what's happening today.

Exactly. That's like the cool thing about sports because you can see people change or you can see them decline and we've got to talk about it and talk about those changes that we see to be able to better evaluate that player as a whole. I'm glad we're having this conversation

because people act like I'm changing all the time. Things are changing. But just because somebody has a couple of good games, don't compare them to nobody who's like great. Just give them a chance because I asked you one time, I said you want John Marin or Abdul Raouf, Chris Jackson or Abdul Ravu.

And you pick John Moran over Abdul. You still feel that way? You being stubborn. Do you still feel that way? I actually do. If you put Jai in a good environment where he's enjoying himself, the kid got intangibles that you can't teach. Like when you know the game of basketball,

it's certain things you can't practice. It's either you have that or you don't have. habit. He has those same intangibles. If he got with a coach that he really respected, like if he was in Miami and Pat Rowley could really get in his head pause, he could be one of those players, like for real. And it's like certain players don't have that and you can't give them. Like, like his athleticism, right? The last guard that had that was Derek Rose. That was the last guard we saw that had that. And y'all put him over Derek Rose at the time. Y'all went straight to the top, Alan Niverson.

Y'all couldn't go like Lindsey Hunter or something? See, that's the thing about it. The thing about it is that... He said, Lindsey Hunter. The thing about it is that he gets mad because he has his favorites, and when you see something, then you want to pick. I'm just telling you, it's the truth. If you see him his rookie year,

and you're doing side-by-side clips of Alan Iverson and him, and he's doing things that Alan Iverson is doing in his rookie year, and we comparing his rookie year to Alan Averson's rookie year, Nobody said he was going to be the best ever like Alan Avicen. But if you're seeing similar situations and we're not supposed to acknowledge that. Now because he isn't, it may have made some great points, but because of whatever he's going through and not in a great situation, we're not supposed to remember what he did his rookie year or his second year.

And now because he's not in a good situation, be like, oh, remember y'all was saying this? Yeah, we remember. We didn't forget. Was it wrong? No. No, according to that time. That time, that's how he was looking. Today he's looking like Steve Francis,

then we dial it down to Steve Francis. Because that's how you're looking right now. Oh, well, I just, you know, I do have my favorites, Iverson, D. Rose, and they was like putting them up there, putting John Moran up there with them. And I was just like, can we wait? Can we see? Listen, to be totally honest with you, Alan,

I think Derek Rose did too. Only reason that John Moran didn't because they were favoritism for Zion. Zion didn't even play half the games. John Moran's supposed to be, it's the truth. John Moran is supposed to be rookie here. So when you're putting them in the class just with Derek Rose or Allen Arleson,

he's on the same trajectory. It just didn't turn out like that. Who you want us to compare him to? Marbury? You want us to say Marbury? No, I wouldn't go that far. Marbury is great. He's considered great.

You can go Dana Bowles. Take anybody from the Knicks. That's why I did. That was true. Yeah, he's strong. Yeah. I would have gave him Damon Stadamier around that level. We understand what you were at first.

No. No, I'm saying he's an explosive guard. I was comparing him in the realm of explosive point guards, right? So you got, you had Russell Westbrook, you had, who else? It's only been a couple of... Derek Rose. I said, Steve Francis.

Steve Francis, right? It's all that same style of guard. And before that, it was guys like Kevin Johnson. You remember guys? Okay. I'm just making sure. Phoenix. Yeah.

Good conversation, y'all. Okay, so does NIL have more good elements than bad? We will discuss Lincoln Riley's comments after the break. Okay. Okay. Hey, if you want to put the light on it. DJ, the dime life brand is serious. I love that shirt you got on.

Like this and your bank account is that much? You say whatever the fucking want a second. Rally around him with that, you know, the picture of his daughter sitting on the lap, the LSU player. Will we happen as you can join us? Man, thank you for having me. Look, I tell you.

Hey, boys, okay, let me tell you like this. I got too much money to be fighting. We ain't got that number. And we've taken that song the long time and made it our anthem. Paul A. Jenkins. I even put your bullshit-ass book up here on my, you know what I mean? Welcome to start with the facts. Welcome back.

So Lincoln Riley was asked if there is a part of NIL culture he liked and he noted that there are things and storylines happening that wouldn't have. have happened. So he threw a little bit of shade at the SEC, noting that there's not just one part of the country paying players. Everyone's able to do it. And it's a great thing because it's created a much more level playing field and it's giving schools the opportunity to compete if they really want to invest. So Maurice, does that change the way you look at how powerful the conference was? And what do you think about the comments that he did have to make regarding

NIL? Yeah, a lot of people like to say this stuff like in a tongue and cheek away, but these are serious thoughts. And, And for so long, the SEC was just known for just paying athletes. And that's why so many guys stayed in the South where they went to the SEC schools. And just how they regulate sports in the South is a little bit different from the Midwest to West and, you know, it's on to the East Coast. It has been known for a number of years. And so it does make you look back and say everybody wasn't playing by the same rules.

Everybody wasn't playing or having the ability to play. So guys who were, you know, very good, they just stayed in that conference. So now you can look at the last three championships. Of course, we didn't win this year, but you had Ohio State, you had Indiana, you had Michigan, and it was other people who were able to equally invest. And so it makes me look at the SEC a little bit different,

not to take away from all the athletes and things that they did for those schools because those guys were still great. But it goes to show you that everything comes down to resources and if we're all playing by the same rules. And since we're all playing by them now, you kind of see where the power has shifted. has shifted it shifts where the money is that so um i look at it differently yeah um can you say the

question again yeah so basically he was saying there's not just one part of the country paying players now that we've introduced nil so basically throwing shade at the SEC because we know some things were kind of going on there so does this change the way that you look yeah they've been moving the money the whole time you know growing up growing up um in new york but having a lot of family in florida you know, the SEC was king when it comes to like football, probably still is to some degree. I know the ACC is coming up in a little bit, but when it comes to football,

I would think the Nile money is going to be bigger in the SEC. And I think it changes it. As you start going to other schools, people start figuring out ways to get that money to other places. So I think it does change it. Big time run shit. That's what it boiled down to, bro. Mo, you did this was a set-up question, bro.

You just wanted niggas to know that the Big Ten run shit, bro. Because you're in the Big Ten. That's basically an SEC. Y'all been running around having your way because y'all had Nick Sabin, all them big-time coaches, and then that was the only way to get to the NFL through Alabama and LSU and everything else. And the last three years, it's been Michigan.

then it was Ohio State and now it's Indiana. Mo did this on purpose to let niggas know. Fuck your SEC, niggas. This is why he put it on the topics. Yeah, and shit, you know, he's going to throw it on Riley. Lincoln, right? Like, yo, Lincoln, Riley said, nah, this is how you really feel

that the SEC been running around talking shit for years and now the niggas can spread that baby love around. It's just like, yo, shit doesn't change, my nigger, just so you. y'all know i dig it moe been tennis running shit right now and that's just what's going on man tusha didn't even

deny it okay so we've seen a lot of athletes and entertainers speak in support of or against a lot of dividing issues in society meanwhile there are some who have refrained from comments altogether so marie how do you feel about athletes

or entertainers weighing in on social justice activism and politics One, I'm always in support of it. You know, anybody just speaking their viewpoints on life in general about any social issue, whatever or what, but what I will say is I think that it's over. And the reason I think it's over, I think that, you know, all of that stuff that took place, I don't know, maybe was that four or five, six years ago,

where you had patches on jerseys being represented by different social groups and you had logos all on NBA courts and you had money being donated and everybody acting like they love black people all of a sudden. I think all of that stuff sort of grew athletes tired, but then at the end of the day, I think they looked up and realized

ain't nothing change. And I think when you come behind people who have more prominent platforms and then you look at them and then you ask yourself, like, what has really changed from you sticking up or you speaking up? And then you can look out over the country

and you say nothing. I think it kind of discourages people from wanting to do more or at least put themselves out there to either tell you. take a public hit or some sort of public discrimination from their own personal brand. So I think the days of athletes doing it over,

that's like literally why I brought this up. And I just think that too many people care about themselves versus a collective group of people who they represent. So all four people speaking up, but I think like those days of like social activism or athletes representing something bigger than themselves is over to me. Yeah, I think when it comes to

sports. I would like to see athletes stay on the court until they know what they're talking about, right? I'm all four of people speaking out for things, but I really am a stickler for people knowing what they're talking about, especially if they jump in a fill. That's not their fill, because it's one thing to be a great and an elite person on one level, but when you, just because you hit a lot of threes don't mean you know what, what Bill need to. be passed, right? So I think a person need to be very much educated. Not that they can't talk, but they should do a lot of research and have people that could bring them up to speed. So when they talk, they know what they're talking about. I think that's correct, murder. It's a clip

of you going around reading. And it seemed like you didn't know what you were saying in the clip. Now, no, no, no, I like that. I like that. I'm shocked, you know? I'm shocked. So at that moment, I'm getting so excited because the way my brain works, right? I can see outside of myself, right? So while I'm trying to read, Mo, my eyes are watering up.

But in that same meeting, there was like so many people that experienced miracles, it was crazy. So, you know, they got to go back and do their research. So that was a real hot night, you know. So, I mean, a good morning, you know. They'll never forget that day. Was it a hot night or a good morning? It depends on what the continent you was in, you know.

Gotcha. This is a worldwide thing that's going on and killing. You get what? You're picking out what I'm putting down. This is the worldwide thing. You know, it's what I'm trying to tell you. You had to be there. You know, you know.

No, it's so amazing, right? I can't say everything, but they invite me back to one of the most prominent, most prominent speeches of the whole year. So that was really good. It was really good. No, I just wanted to say, yeah, you know. I got to make sure.

Yeah, you gotta clean it up, you know? I'm just making sure. Yeah. All right. I saw it a few times. They said when a girl say she want a man. You know the Bible. Sounds so excited.

You know, I'll put that up. It was crazy. They're like, you're, you can't read. Oh, man. Yeah. I was just double-shuckered. Yeah, you're right. You got.

You got to. I'm all for that. Yeah, I'm going to do it for somebody else to do it for us. I was just checking, man. You're supposed to. Now, what's the exact question? That was a great question. Basically, how do you feel about athletes or entertainers weighing in on social justice, activism, or politics?

It depends on when it's, when the, so for instance, right, when there's a lot going on and people need to weigh in, I think you need to weigh in, but I do agree with me saying. says, I'm not even going to say people's name. But I've seen recently a lot of people just, and they're just athletes, just people with places talking like, yo, what are they doing there? And I'm like, I'm looking like, yo, what are you doing there?

What are you talking about? Like, you know, I have. I've just been seeing people places like, yo, I don't know what this person is doing there. or what they're talking about. And they be like, yo, they don't know what they talk. They say they don't know. And I'd be like, yo, period.

But I do agree. You need to know what you're talking about. But then when it's issues, like, let's just say when the COVID was going on and George Floyd and Trayvore, so on and so forth. I think standing together and you and the certain things do look good. For situations, like, for instance, the other day, I don't know if it happened or not.

They killed the activist in Minnesota. And Minnesota wasn't going to play the game. I don't know if they played the game and didn't play the game. But if you want to stand in unity for something like that, I'm not against that. You know what I'm saying? I don't know the facts about it,

so I don't want to be too much involved with it. I'm not saying this right around. I don't know the facts. I'm just saying what I read, somebody died of Minnesota wasn't going to play the game or of opinion either or because I don't know the facts. But what I'm saying is something that needs to be addressed or it's worldwide news and you feel away enough not to play a game

or enough to speak out. Cool. It's like Michael Irvin told me the other day when I was talking about you having a gun permit or something like that and you say somebody else is being robbed and you want to step in and protect that person with your firearm. Michael Irvin stepped in right behind me and said, Mace, listen, that won't work for you.

That won't work for somebody. black they'll go to jail for that right so knowing what you're talking about is important especially when your celebrities and your people that got a lot of people following what you're saying because something like that somebody could hear that and feel like they're standing the ground or protecting someone else and put a person in a real bad predicament like when it was talking about the person that got killed in um in minnesota i don't i don't want to hear like sports people feel like they could justify killing. That's like that's like overboard. You're on sports, sticking sports. And if you say something, you got to really know what you're talking about,

especially on sensitive topics. Yeah, I couldn't agree more because I just want to add to like, I know there's always like the shut up and dribble and just like you don't want to hear you speaking. It's like I never want to do that to somebody because if you do feel strongly like you are sitting and watching and you're informed about what's going on, I don't have a problem with you saying how you feel because also too, obviously I do think that we're better in unity, but people are going to feel how they feel about certain subjects and topics. But if you feel compelled to say something, I'm never going to feel like, oh, you get it.

Yeah, I'm not a person that say shut up in box, shut up and dribble, shut up and throw the ball, none of that. I'm in agreement with your latter statement that you should be very much informed. It's one thing to be passionate, but passionate and ignorant is start revolution. You know, solutions come from. from the top, revolution come from the bottom. You gotta pause, have intellect on a different level to be able to fix problems.

And remember, problems are never solved on the level they're created, right? So if the problems are down here, the answer is not gonna come from down here. The answer gotta come from up here. You never solve problems on the same level that they're created. Yeah.

Okay, and then last thing before we wrap, because we got an update on Terry Rozier, so he will be paid his 26 point six million dollar salary this season after winning his grievance with the NBA, which placed him on unpaid leave. So the arbitrator ruled that the NBA cannot put him on unpaid leave. So Maris, just hearing that, what does that say about all the things that he's been accused of? What are your thoughts on that? And then him getting his money? I'm happy for him. I know him. I know his mom. I know his daddy. I know his whole family. So I'm happy for them to get their money. But also,

So I'm happy that this doesn't set a precedent for being able to take guys money for being accused of whatever illegally gambling, betting on games, and so on and so forth. I think even when you get into that space, I know it was a federal indictment that was put on him, but I just don't know how you prove this stuff. And when you start accusing people, taking away careers, taking away games, I think it just sets a bad precedent. So I think this kind of shifts the other way, gets him his money back in his pocket. And then I want to see how this goes for from the federal case, hoping that he gets acquitted.

He gets his career back and he can move on with his life. And so I'm happy for that, for those reasons. Yeah, I'm, I'm ecstatic that he gets his money, especially for his mom. I remember she was talking about coming up on a show or something to that effect. So shout out to the Roseira family. And even even when people, not that he's. going to jail but if somebody was going to jail and they got 26 million at least the family can be taken care of right so even even that sentiment is there but what i would say is that um i'm not sure how

would that work though because when you talk about a federal crime and you talk about money money being involved you know something of that effect they could the feds can try to take the money so i don't know how to feel i'm kind of um split on that Ohio boys up a hundred nigger. Congrats my neck. Okay, y'all. I'm mad at that. Okay, y'all. Well, that is all the time that we have for today.

Marish, it's always a pleasure to have you on the show. Moe, we gonna get you your palm trees, man. We work. You have a good. Happy birthday again, my man. Thank you. I appreciate it, bro. Thank you very much, man. Thank you.

Okay. Thank y'all for watching. And as always, it is what it is.