00:03All right, how do you feel about Isaiah Stewart no longer being a Piston?
00:08I'm a little bummed.
00:09I like Isaiah Stewart for what he brought.
00:10I mean, that was just toughness personified.
00:13He stood up for his teammates, and he would lead the way.
00:18There's a lot to like with that.
00:19I think Detroit really likes players like that, whether the Red Wings or Pistons
00:23or Tigers or Lions, for that matter.
00:25But when you get one that wears a basketball uniform and plays like that,
00:29and it's kind of like in some ways there's some Rick Mahorn qualities that you like.
00:34And I like that he was trying to work on his game, become a more complete player.
00:39He's been working on a three-point shot over the last few years,
00:42and he's knocking down 34% in his career, which isn't great,
00:45but it's not awful either for a guy that wasn't on the court as a starting player.
00:51So the other thing I love about Isaiah Stewart that I think we're going to miss,
00:55the defensive effort where he was – if you're going to take it to the rim, good luck
01:02if you're going to go try it against Isaiah Stewart.
01:04Not that you won't make the shot, but you're going to feel it.
01:07It's going to be a punishing basket if you make it,
01:09and it'll be embarrassing when you don't because he's just going up there
01:13to block the shot at the rim.
01:14And having guys like that that don't mind getting posterized
01:18or that will give you the hard foul right around the cylinder,
01:21those are guys you like.
01:22And there's a lot to like with Isaiah Stewart, and I'm a little saddened that he's gone,
01:27but I'm anxiously awaiting to see what the next shoe to drop out of this is.
01:33He was a bad boy.
01:34Yeah.
01:35He was a total bad boy.
01:36He was the kind of player Detroit absolutely embraces in every way.
01:41I think most sports cities are very similar,
01:44but the one thing that's different about Detroit that I believe
01:48is that Detroit elevates role players and treats them like stars.
01:52We treat our role players like stars, and so it's hard to see a guy like this go.
01:56Now, it's done for a purpose.
01:59It's a cost-saving measure that helps them make a bigger move.
02:04Understand why it was done.
02:05But, you know, one of those guys that's just a heart and soul guy,
02:09kind of a fan favorite.
02:10Kang, how do you feel about the Isaiah Stewart era coming to an end?
02:14You know, it's bittersweet for me, man.
02:15I love Big Stew.
02:16He brought a lot of things you guys mentioned, you know, heart, soul, toughness.
02:20You didn't mess with him.
02:20When he left the court, you know, he embraced it like Bill Lambert,
02:23which showed the chest, Detroit, you know, versus everybody.
02:26And he brought that mentality that, hey, don't mess with not just me,
02:30don't mess with my teammates, right?
02:32And he helped build what they have here, the toughness and the grit.
02:35But, you know, business is business.
02:36And I think this actually works out for him as well because, obviously,
02:39the development of Paul Reed allowed them to do this.
02:42And he's a good enough player where he is a valuable player on another team.
02:45He's a good backup power forward or a backup center.
02:48He brings toughness wherever he goes.
02:51I think it's going to work out well, hopefully, for both sides.
02:54You know, I'm more concerned about the Pistons, of course.
02:56So it's not just trading Stewart for three-second round picks.
02:59It's what you do with the money, right?
03:00And as far as Stewart leaving, hopefully, you know, I'm sure Trajan Langdon let him know
03:05as soon as the season ended that this was probably a possibility
03:08because I think Langdon had a plan before the season even ended,
03:11what he was trying to do and going to do.
03:13And I'm going to miss Big Beef Stew, man.
03:16He was definitely a fan favorite.
03:17And he's leaving in a way like probably the opposite way of Larkin,
03:22the way Larkin's leaving.
03:23I think they might do an actual tribute video for Stewart, you know,
03:27when it comes back.
03:28They will, yeah.
03:30Let's get back to your phone calls.
03:31We've got a Bill of Madison Heights here on 97.1.
03:33Hello, Bill.
03:36Hi, guys.
03:37How's it going?
03:38Hey.
03:38Good.
03:39Hey.
03:41Yeah, yeah, it is.
03:44There's a little bit of a bummer about Beef Stew.
03:46I liked him.
03:47His toughness.
03:48He was throwback, you know, team guy.
03:54But I think that, you know, I think like Keg just said,
03:57I think it might work out well for him going on in Memphis.
04:01He could get, you know, he might start.
04:03Who knows?
04:03I don't know.
04:04But, you know, as far as LeBron goes, I really couldn't stand LeBron for a long time.
04:12But that's kind of worn off of me a little bit.
04:15And I wouldn't mind seeing him here.
04:18I definitely would for him.
04:20I mean, it's immeasurable what he would bring, you know, not just with his – he obviously still has a
04:29lot of skills.
04:29But the intangibles are kind of immeasurable with someone like LeBron James.
04:35But he's not my first choice.
04:38You know, a quiet letter would be good.
04:41But I like – even though his scoring was down last year, I like Andrew Wiggins.
04:47And he's a free agent.
04:49And there's a lot of – I don't know exactly what Miami's situation now since they made that huge trade.
04:56But they've got – I think they want to hang on to Powell – I think they would rather hang
05:02on to Powell more than Wiggins.
05:05And Andrew Wiggins is – he's kind of a complete player.
05:09He plays defense.
05:10I think he's 6'7", but he's got like a 7'2 wig span or something.
05:16And he could be – I mean, he could be a scoring option.
05:21He shot really good from three last year.
05:24And, I mean, it's a lot of money for him, though.
05:26He's got a team option with Miami for $30 million if he wants to opt into it.
05:34He's got to make a decision soon.
05:36But, I mean, I don't know.
05:38I don't know what you guys think about that.
05:41Well, he has been in the league forever, it seems.
05:45You're right.
05:46He shot 41% from the field – from the three-point line last year.
05:50But that's well above his career average.
05:53Is that just kind of a one-off?
05:54I mean, if I were Wiggins and there's a $30 million option, I'll take the $30 million option
05:58and stay in Miami, particularly if you think that other players are going to be leaving that team.
06:03You're going to have a chance to improve yourself on your option year.
06:06Play with Giannis?
06:08Yeah.
06:08I mean, look, Wiggins has to – it's up to him, right?
06:15And I'm kind of with you.
06:16I don't know that he'll hit the open market.
06:18I haven't seen any reporting on that.
06:22Just trying to find out.
06:25Yeah, he hasn't announced yet.
06:28So, I don't mind Wiggins.
06:30I don't hate that.
06:30But he would be expensive because you don't opt out of a $30 million contract to sign for less.
06:36No.
06:36No, you do not.
06:38So, he would eat up the bulk of this cap space.
06:42That's not the guy I want.
06:43That's not the guy I want eating up that cap space.
06:45I think I'm with you.
06:46Let's go to Jake in Auburn Hills.
06:48You're on 97.1.
06:49Hello, Jake.
06:50Hey, what's up, guys?
06:52Hi.
06:53I am beyond bummed about Isaiah Storch, but I think this is a terrible trade.
07:00It's really getting back terrible value.
07:02Three-set ball picks for Isaiah Storch.
07:04I think you could have got way more from him.
07:05And this is someone who was used, I think, wrong in Detroit.
07:08They tried using him as a center.
07:09I think he's more better than a four.
07:11He can actually shoot the three.
07:12He's a top defender, a top-notch defender in the league.
07:15He's someone who has a lot of value.
07:17I think they should have tried dumping Karis LeVert's contract way more than Storch
07:22and not gotten anything back.
07:24I would have way rather there.
07:25I think it's a terrible trade.
07:28And Walker can get back for it.
07:29It doesn't really fix the fact that they got bad value for him.
07:32That's just my opinion over there.
07:33And besides that also, it just also annoys me that why are we always hearing Detroit's name
07:40and these washed-up athletes?
07:41Why don't we go after a star?
07:43Why don't we go talk about it?
07:44Why don't we ever hear Detroit's name after the big name?
07:47Is Kawhi Leonard washed up?
07:49Is Trey Murphy washed up?
07:51Trey Murphy they're not getting.
07:53Trey Murphy's not a star either.
07:55And Kawhi Leonard gets injured all the time.
07:58And he probably doesn't want to be here.
07:59He's not staying here either.
08:01And they're going to have to give away a boatload of stuff to get him.
08:04It's not great.
08:05Why don't we go up to Jalen Brown?
08:07Give away something.
08:08Get Jalen Brown.
08:08I think the Shelf is going to give away Jalen Brown for way less than we think he's going to
08:12get him for.
08:13It's just annoying to always hear Detroit's name in the secondary black market trying to get the secondary players.
08:19Like, oh, maybe we can get him after other teams pass on him.
08:23Jake, Jake, Jake, honestly, we're talking about a guy who finished in the top ten in the MVP voting and
08:30maybe the biggest name in the game.
08:32And you want a star instead.
08:36Who, when you say that, I'm not sure you're referring to LeBron?
08:38Who are you talking about?
08:40LeBron is one of the biggest names in basketball.
08:43One of the biggest stars in basketball.
08:44One of the greatest players ever.
08:45And if he's washed up, washed up, still averaging over 20 a game, and he's still getting it done.
08:55Additionally, please tell me what trade the Pistons can make to get Jalen Brown.
09:04I don't know.
09:05Put together a boatload of first-round picks and Ron Holland.
09:09And I don't know exactly what's going on here.
09:11I don't know.
09:12No, and I'd actually trade Jalen Duren for Brown and things like that.
09:17My point is that.
09:17Well, that creates a whole other hole on your team.
09:20They are trying to.
09:21Boston's trying to win now.
09:22Well, plus they didn't trade a store.
09:24And my point is not necessarily about the specifics.
09:27I don't know exactly what's going on behind the scenes.
09:30I don't know.
09:30It's just there was a common scene here with Detroit that we're always.
09:34Like, the last big move Detroit has made was Prince Fielder in 20-whatever-there was, 2013.
09:39Like, why can't we ever be a big boy on the big boy name and the big boy team?
09:43We make a big move, but we don't have to be a big city to do that.
09:46Cleveland does it.
09:47I got to tell you, man, I think you're way off pace.
09:50If they end up swinging the deal for LeBron, James, and Kawhi Leonard, that's a big move.
09:53The other thing with Isaiah Stewart that I think is overlooked is how many games he's missed in his last
09:59four years in the league.
10:00And he only played 50 games four years ago, 46 the year after that.
10:03He played 72 last season, and then this past year it was 58.
10:09He's got injury issues, too.
10:11Jalen Brown finished sixth in MVP voting.
10:13Kawhi Leonard finished seventh.
10:16We need to start.
10:18I mean, dude, I don't know what else to tell you.
10:20It's Carson Anderson from Shanty Creek here on 97.1.
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