A.J. Brown traded to Patriots, Pulisic breaks goal drought, Where do the Thunder go from here? | FTF

Moving to the pitch, USA took down Senegal 3 -2 in a warm -up friendly for the World Cup.Christian Pulisic found the back of the net, ending his 154 -day scoring drought.Also added an assist, 11 days until the U .S.takes on Paraguay.Danny, Pulisic had had a rough 2026 for club and country, entering August through December, a goal every other game plus a few assists, January up until yesterday.

21 games, zero goals, two assists.How critical, in your opinion, was Pulisic's performance yesterday?

Massive.Felt like it was priority item one, two, and three for the men's national team.He said, I've been playing well, and now hopefully people can just stop talking about it.That's not how this one's going to work.You're the face of the men's national team when we're hosting the World Cup.Like best player on the host country.

We're going to talk about you if you've gone 21 games for club and country without finding the back of the net.So his celebration was huge.Like it just clearly seemed like some sort of weight off of his shoulders.And it's tough to put much importance or take a ton of takeaways from these friendlies.You're doing so many substitutions.You're playing multiple keepers but it is your real roster.

No.Now that they've set the roster.No doubt.To me, given all the substitutions that they had in playing multiple goalkeepers, you give me they lose 3 -2 but Pulisic has a goal, or they win 3 -2 and he doesn't have a goal.I'll take lose 3 -2 with Pulisic having a goal.But instead they got both.

Exactly.Instead they got both.They were able to come back and get that third goal.But I thought it was by far the biggest thing they needed to get out of the friendlies.

No, I agree.And I don't think you can overstate the importance of it.You know, we had several guests overthe weeks.Talk about how you just have to see that ball go into the net and he is now and I'm I mean, he was saying the right thing to act like it wasn't a big deal, but inside I'm sure it was and so this is a huge burden off him and the team.because he obviously is your guy and I'm sure it bolstered the confidence of the team to see.

Okay, he's back.He's got it going and look Senegal is the 14th ranked team in the in the world the same ranking.They're ranked a little bit higher.Yeah, a little higher than us.So that was also a good win for the team and it happened against a top team.

Well, that's the other piece of it is and I don't know if we have this graphic or not like the US.Yes, these games don't count.But you didn't want to go into the World Cup on a multi -game losing streak.And now listen, they play Germany in a few days.We'll see how they do there.But big chances is kind of a fuzzy stat, but it's a real stat, meaning either where you score or you had a great opportunity to score.

Against Portugal, they didn't, not only did they not score, it's not like they got unlucky not to score.Against Belgium, they had three.Five in this game, Balligan was awesome.Had one goal disallowed, scored another goal, and they had an amazing opportunity late in the game where they had three great shots on goal.One hit the post, one just missed.I agree with everything you guys said.

The most important thing was Pulisic to feel good going into the tournament.And I don't know how much to judge the back end struggling because some of those defenders won't be starters.My guess is The one goalie that didn't play yesterday, Matt Freeze, is going to play the whole game against Germany and then be the starter for the actual World Cup.But if the U .S.is going to have success, I actually think it's going to have to be through its front -side.

guys.I don't think they're I don't think they're going to.In the past some U .S.teams like try to scratch out a goal and then defend.I think this team is going to have to try to win games like this three to two.

So seeing Balligan get going Pulisic get going.I you know Puccettino.It seems.quietly confident throughout, despite the fact that they had been struggling.You don't want to take too much from it, but nobody got hurt in this game.That was what I was going to say.

Pulisic feels good.One more warm -up, and then World Cup in 11 days.

Chris Richards getting healthy would help a lot for their defense with his ankle injury.But otherwise, coming out of these games healthy is going to be massive.Right.

So I wonder how much we see Pulisic in the final warm -up game.Heading back to game seven.Thunder can't get it done at home.SGA drops a game high 35, but it isn't enough, and the repeat dreams are over.Danny, all year long you promised us that, and I quote, this is chapter two in the Thunder version of the Count of Monte Cristo, is I think what you called it, end quote.Turns out last year was just some version of green eggs and ham or something.

Why weren't the Thunder inevitable as you promised us they were?Or alternate question, do you think they still are?

Bonus question.Bonus question.I think it's inevitable that the Thunder will win another title.Inevitable.Inevitable.Great.

If you want to jump right ahead to that.The Thunder ran into an incredible team that ultimately, while they were hurt, were not as hurt as them.And they lost in game seven by eight points.I mean, that is what happened.

Yeah, but that has nothing to do with him being inevitable.The thing about being a dominant dynasty juggernaut, it means you don't fall prey to a guy making $2 .8 million a year.his calf.

Okay, well like we can look at the regular season and then what happened in the series against the Spurs.The leading scorers in the regular season were not there for them.The left -hand column is...Jadob missed more than half the season.What do you mean we're not there for them?

basically didn't play in the series.No, no, he was literally there.I know, but he got taken out of the JW Mitchell each missed four games in the Western Conference finals.Not a lot of teams with their second, third, and fourth.I don't want to hear about injuries either.Not What do you mean?

I don't want to hear about the injury.Okay, I know this is unanswerable, but hold on.No.If J -Dub and Mitchell were healthy, who do you think had the series?

J -Dub missed two -thirds of the season, and they had the best record in the league.Nick has shown graphics that show their record is a significant sample size.Which feels ridiculous after that game.Their record is better without him than it is with him.AJ Mitchell, that's a 14 -point score.Stop it.

He was their second -leading scorer in the playoffs.Your boy Chet did not show up.and he just did not show up.And they first played two games without De 'Aaron Fox, without a legitimate ball handler, and still won that first game.

And the biggest, one of my biggest takeaways on that is not the guy's not there with injury.It's that Chet's production fell off a cliff, and so did Shea's until game seven.Their two best players weren't good enough.The Spurs are the Spurs are great.No, that's what their two best players weren't good enough.

And then their third and fourth best offensive players were not even there again.So you guys think they would have won if J Dub would have been healthy.

I don't know.They have played the Spurs 12 times this year.The Spurs have won eight of them.So here's what how in the world can you sit there and say they're better when they lost eight of 12 games against this one team and they run over everybody else in the playoffs.

I mean game one was a coin flip.It was a double overtime game.Yes.And then they were up three to and then their guys.

I mean they got Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon Jadon J does not one for one translate to dominant postseasons.Because the sample of that is growing dramatically.In 2024, they were the number one seed.They were the deepest team.They were the best team.They didn't have experience on their side, but they had everything else.

And they didn't come close.to winning the championship.They lost in round two in six games to a very flawed, put together at the trade deadline Mavs team.They played.They were very young, man. I understand.And they lost to a team with a rookie starting center and Derek Lively.

They lost to a team that was not replete with a ton of veterans.Shea and Luca are the same age and they, they, They underperformed their regular season seed by a ton.Last year, they were a 68 -win juggernaut.In round two, they went seven games with a team that suffered the exact type of injuries you're talking about costing the Thunder their season.And then in the NBA Finals, went seven with a Pacers team that was nowhere close to their caliber in the regular season.And this year, they were a 64 -win juggernaut.

went seven and lost.Like, is it not possible that what makes them so special in the regular season, their defensive tenacity and the fact that they have endless quality players doesn'timpact the game quite as much in the postseason, and doesn't the last three years show you that?

It is of course possible, and there's no question that the playoffs are different than the regular season.I would like to see a version of the Thunder where Chet, J -Dub, and Shea are all healthy at the same time.

We saw it last year, and if not for an injury, They that's why I don't want that's another reason.I want to hear about injuries.If not for an injury to the Spacers best player.I they might not even be champion.Okay.

Can you just real quick and we have breaking news.We're going to get to in 60 seconds.Are you not is it not possible to you that they are way closer to the 2021 box or the 2023 Thunder?then you have opened your possibility to a good, a really well constructed good team that has one.What did I say?You said the thought.

Okay.Yeah.2021 bucks, 2023 nuggets.Pardon me.One all time.Great multi -time MVP, a nice supporting cast and a team that was never going to rip off a dynasty.

I, that to me, I will be honest with you.has not entered my consciousness by what you still think they're going to be a dinosaur.

Hold on.

Jared McCain is22. AJ Mitchell is23. Chet Holmgren is24. JW is25. SGA is 27.They have a great coach, a great general.

This is lunacy.

Their whole court is in their early 20s.Here's their problem.The Spurs are three, three of their four best player, Wimby, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle are all going to get markedly better.Wimby's probably 70 % of the player he is, same with Dylan Harper, if that.That's the problem for the Thunder.If the Spurs were a finished product, I would be fine with you being like, okay, we lost game seven by eight points.

We had a couple injuries.We'll be back.The Spurs, this is the worst Spurs team that's going to be in the next five years.

One thing all the dynasties have in common is at least one start to finish kick -ass take name playoff run.And the Thunder are 0 for 3 in that regard, since they've had three number one seeds.We'll talk more about the Thunder and whether or not Chet's even going to be on the team more in about 15 minutes.But somebody FaceTime Kevin Wilds.I'm actually not joking, guys.Can you FaceTime him and see if we can punch him up?

I don't care if the quality is bad.It's finally happened.And they did end up giving up a first.Eagles trading AJ Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first round pick.and a 20 -27 fifth round pick.I guess that's what they were haggling over.

Greg Jennings, since I just had to scoot my seat over because you're back.You went from being written out of today's show to just being a feature component.Greg, your reaction to the trade?There was a little bit of doubt over the last couple weeks.Oh, could someone else jump in?Could the Chiefs jump in?

Somebody else, your reaction to AJ Brown going to the Pets?

I think we all kind of saw this happening.I was kind of skeptical after the news of Myles Garrett being traded to the Rams.I'm like, man, will the 49ers try to jump in there and have a knee -jerk reaction based on that, them being in the same division?But this is, I mean, I'm excited to see what it looks like.I'm excited because now the Patriots get a bona fide number one receiver, AJ Brown.He's going to be out of the situation that he was in.

He obviously wants to be with a quarterback that can push the ball down the field.He can be featured.He can be the guy.It'll be interesting to see what the Eagles look like.without AJ Brown because he was a key contributor to who they were and how they were able to unlock that offense and Jay.

I really want to know what this is going to mean for Jalen Hurts.Like I think a lot of us on the Patriots.We have almost been the Patriots whole offseason.They assumed this was happening because hey, you know what the power of a handshake.And so they knew they didn't need...Don't tell that to Jerry Jones.

Yeah, right.They knew they didn't need to draft a receiver high.They knew they were confident they were getting A .J.Brown.I am curious what you guys think this means for Jalen Hurts.

Addition by subtraction or just flat -out subtraction?

I mean, look, A .J.Brown is a phenomenal receiver.There's no question about that.But, I mean, I'm curious, too, to see what it looks like.But I do think... it's going to be, it's probably a relief for Jalen Hurts that you just don't have this guy that's going to be constantly in your ear, demanding the football, on the sidelines, demanding the football, a constant distraction.

They got Devontae Smith moves to number one, the draft pick, they got a receiver who looks like he'll be good.So, I still think they've got a strong receiving core and I expect Saquon Barkley who's kind of been great one year mediocre to next throughout his career to come back with a bounce back year.So I think Jalen will be fine without AJ.And I think for the Patriots, I'm not sitting here saying they're the team to beat in AFC, but I think they'll be, they're going to be right there contending again.

I mean, I think it's on the board that that 2028 first round pick is used to draft Jalen Hurts' replacement.I think that's obviously in play.Sure.There's not a lot of there's no guaranteed money right for Jalen hurts after this upcoming season.There was that report thatcame out right at the end of the season.

There's a ton of pressure on Jalen Hurts.I think Devontae Smith is a legitimate number one, and then every move they did around it is at least somewhat of a flyer.Hollywood Brown, injuries, Dontaevion Wicks, a incomplete wide receiver.Makai Lemon, everybody likes him, but he's a rookie, so who knows.So they are going to say, all right, Let's see what you can.

Let's see what you guys are good enough receiving core that if you're a good quarterback, you can work plus God or plus plus a Kwan Barkley.

So there was there will still be a ton of pressure on Jalen hurts this year.And I think AJ Brown going to get like a hundred and fifty targets, right?He should get, he should be top.Five, six in the league in targets.This upcoming year is a true number one with a quarterback with a massive arm who could throw to all three levels of the field.So, I bet you A .

J.Brown is thrilled.

No, it's obviously great for Drake May.It's very good for the Patriots, at least in the short term.You know, there is some...The day the Eagles use this pick, will A .J.Brown still be an elite receiver?

The odds are probably against that.Like two more, you know, after two more years, will he be?But the Patriots trying to take advantage of Drake's rookie contract and obviously the relationship between AJ and Brable, that makes sense.You guys know I have thought this was not necessarily him going to the Patriots, but that they had to trade him.I did not believe it was tenable to bring him back.I think one of, Howie Roseman does not have a lot of mistakes over the last few years.

I think one of them was not trading him at the deadline.

I don't know how last year would have ended.

Yeah it was so clearly over.It was they it was it had so clearly to me run its course.He was over it.The team had stagnated.I thought and if they had traded him at the deadline, I think I don't think they would have gotten worse compensation and maybe that draft pick would be would have just come in this past year's draft.Maybe instead of 2028, it would have been 2026.

It would have been someone to help them this year.

Yeah, I just don't think when you have them on your roster, if you're Harry Roseman and he said this, you just don't trade a player like that.when you are still feeling like you can still chase another Super Bowl.And I think that that's where they were leading with.I'm not bullish on the idea that Jalen Hurts is going addition by subtraction.I'm not.Because there's a lot of unknowns.

I love wicks.in the role that he was playing in Green Bay.I don't know what that looks like with this roster with with obviously the Devontae Smith going to he's going to be your number one when you no longer have a bonafide bailout safety valve.Like that was AJ Brown.I don't care how you feel about him.I don't care what he was saying, how he was saying it, how many books was on the sideline.

I didn't like it.A lot of people didn't like it.The teammates didn't think it was an issue.However, when it came time and I know he didn't end the season the way that he would have liked to with some a few drops, but when it came time to bail out that offense whose number was dialed 11 AJ Brown.And so it'll be interesting to see who steps into that role because you got a lot of players that are have a lot of good talent.but they've never been asked to be that guy.

Not even a number two like Devontae Smith or 1A or 1B like Devontae Smith was last year.

Sticking with the Thunder, after their elimination Saturday night, this will be the eighth straight season there won't be a repeat NBA champion.SGA, however, is leaving any off -season decisionsto his GM.I think Danny might have written that for him.Amen.Listen, the big question is surrounding Chet.

It's not the only question.He struggled mightily in this series.He was pretty inefficient and struggled a bit in their finals against the Pacers.All his other playoff series has been quite good.Brew, where did the Thunder go from here?

I would seriously look, like, I think they should go get Giannis.And I think Chet would be the main piece in a trade.However, his stock has dropped.If I'm Milwaukee, I would rather have Alperin Shingun than Chet Holmberg.I mean, and I know Shingun's had his issues in the playoffs too, but he's not afraid of anybody in the league.He's not just going to disappear like this.

Yeah, you're shaking your head.You don't think that's close?They were close in all NBA balloting.They were close.Like, you don't think that's...

And even when we just say Chet's been good, he's 16 points a game.

Is Chet the...I mean, I know Rudy Gobert would have an issue with this, but as we used to check the second best offensive.No, that's right.

And so the but go bigger, but Shin Goons, obviously a far better offense, right?But go ahead.Sorry.

And here's the other thing because again, I don't know if just chat and draft picks get you Giannis because if I'm Houston, I'm going for Giannis to I would also be more than open to trading Jalen Williams because I think they can replace.They've been great without him.A .J.Mitchell, we all know.I don't know if he can be as good as Jalen, but he's a good player.

Kayson Wallace, and I'm not just going off game seven when he saved him, had 14 points in the fourth quarter, 17.I always talk about the Spurs, blue chip talent.He's a blue chip talent.He went to Kentucky as one of the top 10 players in the country out of high school.He was the 10th pick of the draft.He's an all -league defender.

I had him on my team.-defense.He made all -defense.And he's got offense that he hasn't really been able to show.And then Jared McCain, to your point earlier, like, McCain can play, like, that's not even to mention Caruso and Lou Dorton.So they have enough there.

So I would look at, I'd be potentially seeing what I can get for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.My goal is Giannis because I need somebody that can match up with Wimby, and Giannis can do it better than anybody.And Chet and Jalen are about to kick in and get $41 million each going forward.I want to get that off my cap, because I got dudes that can replace them.

Run it back.

To get beat again by a better San Antonio team.We don't know that they're going to be better.So are the you're hoping they get hurt.How the Thunder going to be better.

I don't understand why the young guys on the Spurs are definitely going to get better.

But the young guys on the fun, but the young guys on this one is when do you got no match for Wimby?Nobody does.I know, but you got this is the closest thing checks.Not even close.

Nobody is a Wembley stopper.

But you know what?I don't need you to you can't stop him, but I need you to if he's going to give you 30 and 15.I need you to give me 27 and 12.

I don't think Sam Presti is the type of general manager that is going to put all of his chips in the middle for a player who has had as much as I love.He's one of my five favorite players in NBA history.Giannis.He is on the wrong side of 30 with massive injury issues and the idea of the Thunder are built.The Thunder are built to be a 50 plus.I'll go low a 50 plus win team for the next.

I'll go low again.

Five years minimum all with or without Chet with no, I mean withoutsaying that would last year.Chet was the one hurt not Jalen and they still ran off a great record again.

So I want to see what the three guys that Sam Preston the best GM in the sport deems to give the Max to he thought J Dub was willed worthy of a mask.He thought that Chet was worthy of a Max.He thought SGA was worthy of the Super Max.They're all signed through 2031.They have extra draft capital.They got McCain.

They got Mitchell.They'll probably lose Hartenstein.They will lose Dort, but they still have Kaysen Wallace.They've got three picks in this draft.Trade into the top 10.Select a winner.

whether it's a big or a shooter, inject some more spacing on the floor for Wembley.Who knows how healthy Wembley will be.Well, that's your only hope is that he ain't healthy.But if that's the Thunder's only hope, it's the league's only hope.I don't know.The Knicks might beat them in a week and a half.

We'll see.

Run it back.Real quick, will you feel differently about that if the Knicks win?If the Spurs aren't like you, the Thunder are inevitable.Oh, they ran into the Spurs, the Spurs team and Wimby, whatever it is.But if a Knicks team that you don't think is that good, if the Knicks are able to overcome the Spurs, will that make you reconsider whether or not the Thunder just running it back is a good idea?

It would surprise me, but I, listen, you guys maybe disagree or clearly you do.I think the Thunder win this series if they were healthy.So I think the Thunder would beat the Knicks if they were healthy.

Yeah, I got the Knicks are healthy.Minus this Mitchell.Yeah, and I think that I think that if both teams were perfectly healthy.This series is evidence that I was wrong picking the Thunder this first because Dylan Harper was only himself for a handful of games.Darren Fox was missed games and was never himself.Thank you.

So if we're all of a sudden the series in Game 7 the Thunder were the yes the less healthy Danny but they got the lead in the series.

They were the healthier team the first five games, and that got them the lead.Then they were the less healthy team, and they lost it.I think it is I don't know if they'll trade for Giannis.I agree with you.It's not a Sam Presti deal.Also, oddly, the Thunder as of July 1st, our second apron team.

So it becomes very difficult.

It becomes very difficult to trade.

If you trade one or both of those guys, maybe you can keep Hartenstein, who I think showed his value against a guy like Wimby in his playoff.

I don't.Sam Presti this offseason.Add it to his name.Best GM in basketball, Sam Presti.This offseason, he's going to earn his money.because I don't think you just run it back.

I think if they just run it back minus key contributors like Hartenstein and Dort, who would just be cap casualties, I do not know how you can think that's a recipe for being better.