Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast

NBA marketing agent and Move Insoles co-founder Nate Jones joins Nate Duncan for a player-side look at load management, the tradeoffs of shortening the 82-game season, and potential rule changes to reduce the physical demands of the modern game. They also discuss working with Damian Lillard, transparency for fans, and why the second apron isn't the whole story behind a tougher free-agent market. 1:26 Jones's role at Goodwin Sports and building Damian Lillard's off-court partnerships 8:48 Why Jones speaks out on Twitter and what fans misunderstand about player empowerment 12:16 Who actually decides when players rest, and why even stars can't simply insist on playing 16:55 Injury reporting, transparency for ticket buyers, and the uncertainty around load management 23:01 The physical costs of pace and efficiency, plus the effect of offseason travel on recovery 25:22 The case for and against a shorter season: revenue, player availability, and predictable game days 34:05 Could rule changes help? The charge circle, gather step, hand-checking, and a pickup basketball detour 41:48 The second apron, luxury taxes, revenue sharing, and why extensions matter more than free agency

Nate and Danny Leroux debate what Philadelphia’s win in Detroit reveals about the Sixers’ offense and the Pistons’ playoff outlook, then break down Victor Wembanyama’s 52-point, 24-rebound, eight-block performance against Dallas and the decisions that shaped a one-point finish. They also discuss Kon Knueppel’s abbreviated return, Kristaps Porziņģis’ situation in Golden State, and injury news and game notes from around the league. 0:00 — Sixers–Pistons: Debating Philadelphia’s offense, defensive success, and early-season outlook. 8:22 — Detroit’s spacing, Cade Cunningham’s shot creation, and the absence of Jalen Duren. 17:34 — Joel Embiid’s offensive game and LeBron James’ evolving role. 22:25 — Mavericks–Spurs: Victor Wembanyama’s 52 points, 24 rebounds, and eight blocks. 29:28 — San Antonio without Wembanyama and how Dallas attacked him in crunch time. 32:16 — The Mavericks’ final possession, clock management, and both teams’ closing decisions. 36:42 — Kon Knueppel’s return cut short and Charlotte’s injury and offensive concerns. 39:18 — Cavaliers injuries: Jarrett Allen, Peyton Watson, and Jaylon Tyson. 42:27 — The Warriors withholding Kristaps Porziņģis’ salary and potential trade or buyout scenarios. 46:00 — Injury updates and game notes for Houston, Indiana, the Clippers, and Memphis. 48:37 — Toronto and Denver updates, Nikola Jokić’s scoring, and the remaining injury news.

We finish our first look at the West with eight teams. Luka Doncic is on fire. Yaxel Lendeborg changes the Warriors' outlook. 0:22 LAL: Luka's shotmaking reaches another level 9:02 GSW: Yaxel Lendeborg makes us reconsider ⁠Full Daily Duncs⁠⁠ Ace Bailey Joan Beringer Western Conference Luka Doncic Pacers-Hawks Oklahoma City Thunder Dalen Terry Norchad Omier ⁠Full Daily Duncs⁠

Nate and Danny discuss the latest Kawhi Leonard news, then answer listener questions from around the league. We hit on the Grizz start, Spurs 3-guard lineup, OKC trading for wing help, and much more. News • 0:29 Kawhi Leonard's left-knee swelling and Toronto's outlook Mailbag Questions below use the submitted wording. • 6:29 Scantron: What team have you changed your priors on the quickest and why? With the Grizzles, although the competition could be better, have you change your feelings on their ceiling seeing how they have played thus far? Boozers vision has been insane, Edey has been so good on D, etc. • 11:32 @corpseinorbit: If you're OKC and Chet is having a career-average season, do you consider moving him if you can find a legit big 2-way wing? Everyone on the Thunder is either 6'4" or 7'0 ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Anthony Edwards Malik Beasley Heat 0-4 Heat mentally weak Nikola Jokic Yaxel Lendeborg Stephen Curry Muggsy Bogues Correction ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Nate and Danny Leroux discuss every game from tonight’s 11-game NBA slate, including Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s partnership, Anthony Davis in Washington, Tyrese Haliburton’s return, and Warriors–Lakers. They break down new-look lineups, key rotation decisions, and early-season questions around the league, plus Kristaps Porziņģis’ uncertain future with Golden State. 0:27 — Timberwolves–Heat: Edwards, LaMelo, and Giannis, plus Miami’s defense and rebounding. 11:00 — Bucks–Wizards: Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and Milwaukee’s defensive matchups and rotation. 25:26 — Hawks–Magic: Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s offensive changes, and Atlanta’s revamped bench. 37:03 — Pacers–Pelicans: Tyrese Haliburton’s return, crunch-time tactics, and New Orleans’ rotation decisions. 54:23 — Hornets–Nets: Naz Reid’s expanded role, Dennis Schröder, and Brooklyn’s defense. 1:00:35 — Suns–Trail Blazers: The Lillard–Morant pairing and Phoenix’s starting lineup. 1:09:53 — Rockets–Mavericks: Houston’s offense, Dallas’ roster fit, and the possession battle. 1:15:06 — Grizzlies–Jazz: Ty Jerome, Memphis’ depth, and Utah’s defense and rebounding. 1:23:46 — Warriors–Lakers: Luka Dončić, Walker Kessler, and Golden State’s frontcourt. 1:28:53 — Kristaps Porziņģis’ uncertain future and the Warriors’ trade options. 1:34:04 — Kings–Clippers: Darius Garland, Sacramento’s defense, and rookie guard debuts. 1:42:58 — Bulls–Raptors: Toronto’s defense, Kawhi Leonard’s return, and Caleb Wilson’s debut.

Nate and Danny Leroux break down extensions for Cason Wallace and Jaden McDaniels. 0:33 — Cason Wallace’s extension and Oklahoma City’s long-term finances. 10:16 — Jaden McDaniels’ one-year extension and Minnesota’s approach. ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Jaden McDaniels Minnesota Timberwolves Brandon Miller Cason Wallace Oso Ighodaro Ben Simmons Waivers Steve Kerr ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Nate and Danny Leroux make their 2026–27 NBA predictions, working through all 30 teams’ regular-season outlooks before picking conference finalists, a champion, and the teams most at risk of relegation. They also debate Victor Wembanyama’s next step, the MVP race, coaching honors and the hot seat, defensive breakout candidates, Sixth Man of the Year, and the top rookies and sophomores. 1:15 — Eastern Conference standings and tiers. 10:13 — Charlotte, Washington, and the bottom of the East. 14:10 — Western Conference standings: Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and the next tier. 22:07 — Western Conference depth concerns, the play-in race, and the lower tiers. 33:50 — Relegation predictions and leaguewide win totals. 35:55 — Which teams qualify as championship contenders? 40:25 — Conference finals predictions and a potential Thunder–Spurs showdown. 46:04 — Eastern Conference playoff matchups and the biggest threats to the Knicks. 49:02 — NBA Finals and championship picks. 49:40 — Victor Wembanyama’s next step and the MVP race. 58:54 — Coach of the Year. 1:02:28 — Who will be the first coach fired? 1:07:37 — Defensive Player of the Year. 1:09:52 — Defensive breakout candidates. 1:12:57 — Sixth Man of the Year. 1:15:57 — Rookie of the Year. 1:18:56 — Sophomore of the Year.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com joins to preview the Cleveland Cavaliers, from the lessons of last season’s playoff run to the fit of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. They examine Evan Mobley’s next steps, Peyton Watson’s arrival, and the shooting, depth and defensive questions that will shape Cleveland’s championship hopes. Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic joins to preview the Minnesota Timberwolves after their major offseason overhaul, including LaMelo Ball’s fit alongside Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Kuminga’s opportunity, and Jaden McDaniels’ expanding offensive role. They examine Minnesota’s new playing style, concerns about frontcourt depth and shooting, and whether the changes can help the Wolves contend in the Western Conference. 0:22 — Lessons from the playoff run and Cleveland’s defensive concerns 9:59 — Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and the offensive ceiling 18:13 — Evan Mobley’s development and the fit with Jarrett Allen 27:41 — Peyton Watson’s fit and the new starting lineup 35:24 — Mario Hezonja, backup ballhandling and the bench rotation 43:15 — Jaylon Tyson’s development and earning playoff minutes 47:36 — Team strengths, weaknesses and shooting questions 55:39 — Season predictions and Cleveland’s place in the East 1:04:19 — Looking back at last season and Minnesota’s offseason overhaul 1:07:27 — LaMelo Ball’s fit, defensive challenges and the future alongside Anthony Edwards 1:18:34 — The faster offensive approach and Jonathan Kuminga’s role 1:26:31 — Jaden McDaniels’ development and expanded offensive opportunities 1:30:15 — Joan Beringer, Rudy Gobert and concerns about frontcourt depth 1:36:42 — Terrence Shannon Jr., Ayo Dosunmu and the rest of the rotation 1:44:55 — Closing lineups, shooting, Donte DiVincenzo’s return and team strengths and weaknesses 2:01:51 — Season predictions and Western Conference playoff matchups

Jared Weiss of The Athletic joins to preview the San Antonio Spurs, including the three-guard lineup, Dylan Harper’s development, and Victor Wembanyama’s next steps after the Finals. They examine the shooting and rotation tradeoffs, how Tobias Harris and Carter Bryant fit, and the matchup with Oklahoma City in the race for the West. - 0:02 — The three-guard lineup and Dylan Harper’s development - 5:24 — Offensive spacing and playing through Wembanyama - 10:17 — Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and the starting lineup - 15:35 — Closing lineups, guard roles and De’Aaron Fox’s health - 22:09 — Victor Wembanyama’s next steps after the Finals - 30:11 — Tobias Harris, Carter Bryant and the bench rotation - 36:13 — Team strengths, weaknesses and defensive adjustments - 41:45 — Season predictions and the Oklahoma City matchup

Kostya Medvedovsky, creator of DARKO, joins Nate to explain how his projections work, what we can learn from preseason, and where his team and player evaluations differ from conventional wisdom. They also explore aging curves for the NBA’s veteran stars, the impact of tanking reform, and which player profiles translate best to the playoffs. 0:00 — Introducing Kostya Medvedovsky and DARKO’s player projections and historical ratings. 4:17 — How DARKO weighs career history, recent performance, and garbage time. 7:02 — Sample sizes, shooting percentages, and identifying real improvement. 9:30 — What Summer League and preseason results can tell us about teams and players. 14:46 — Team projections: Houston’s young core and potential for improvement. 17:10 — Boston’s roster through an analytical lens. 20:15 — Philadelphia’s talent, offensive fit, and changing player roles. 23:27 — Miami’s depth and regular-season outlook. 25:15 — Kawhi Leonard’s offensive impact. 28:02 — Aging curves for veteran stars and which skill sets hold up. 33:43 — OG Anunoby and the value of ceiling raisers versus floor raisers. 37:08 — Tanking reform, competitive incentives, and the league’s win distribution. 44:51 — Projecting playoff performance: which player profiles translate best?

Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian joins to preview the Memphis Grizzlies, including Cameron Boozer’s rookie expectations. - 0:46 — Last season’s reset and the franchise’s new direction - 5:09 — Cameron Boozer’s game, fit and rookie expectations ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Sacramento Kings New York Knicks Jalen Duren Detroit Pistons CBA Bub Carrington Hinge players Philadelphia 76ers ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Derek Bodner of PHLY joins to preview the Philadelphia 76ers, including how LeBron James and Jaylen Brown fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They examine Embiid’s health and conditioning, how the stars will share the offense, and the shooting, depth and defensive questions that will shape Philadelphia’s season. 1:29 — Looking back at last season and Philadelphia’s offseason transformation 7:48 — Joel Embiid’s health, conditioning and defensive role 14:54 — LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and their fit with Tyrese Maxey 19:58 — Sharing the offense, managing roles and building chemistry 26:56 — Starting lineup fit and staggering the stars 30:40 — Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon and the bench rotation 36:37 — Backup center depth and small-ball options without Embiid 40:07 — Team strengths, playmaking and offensive efficiency 49:06 — Defensive questions and VJ Edgecombe’s development 54:03 — Season predictions and Philadelphia’s place in the East

Caitlin Cooper of Basketball She Wrote joins to preview the Indiana Pacers, including Tyrese Haliburton’s return, Ivica Zubac’s fit, and Andrew Nembhard’s development. They examine how Indiana’s playing style could evolve, questions about the bench and health, and the path back to contention in the Eastern Conference. Read and support Caitlin’s work at ⁠Basketball She Wrote⁠: 0:29 — Looking back at last season 3:09 — Andrew Nembhard’s development and role alongside Haliburton 9:14 — Ivica Zubac’s fit and the defensive scheme 20:56 — Zubac’s offensive chemistry with Haliburton and Siakam 26:13 — Kelly Oubre’s role and fit 30:46 — Backup centers, T.J. McConnell and the bench rotation 35:44 — Jarace Walker’s development and deeper bench options 43:19 — Tyrese Haliburton’s return and potential additions to his game 48:22 — Team strengths, weaknesses and health 55:28 — Season predictions and Eastern Conference playoff matchups

David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and founder of the Locked On Podcast Network, joins to preview Utah’s season, including Keyonte George’s development, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s fit alongside Lauri Markkanen, and expectations for Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey. They examine the rotation, Will Hardy’s system, and the offensive and defensive questions that will shape Utah’s place in the West. 0:47 — Looking back at last season and Utah’s rebuilding progress4:07 — Keyonte George’s breakout, extension and defensive development14:27 — Jaren Jackson Jr.’s fit alongside Lauri Markkanen22:57 — Darryn Peterson’s game and rookie expectations30:07 — Ace Bailey’s development and next steps39:30 — Starting lineup, closing groups and bench rotation52:18 — Will Hardy’s offensive system and playing style55:19 — The NBA’s emphasis on push-offs and flopping59:00 — Team strengths and weaknesses1:10:36 — Season prediction and Utah’s place in the West

Nate and Danny make their over/under picks for every Eastern Conference team, weighing roster changes, health, depth, and fit. They also examine how lottery reform could redistribute wins across the league and complicate this season’s projections. Joel Embiid’s conditioning and defensive outlook Eastern Conference Over/Unders Philadelphia 76ers ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Jalen Duren unsigned Jalen Duren offer Karl-Anthony Towns Miles McBride Nikola Jokic LeBron James Bulls-Hornets trade Tyler Nickel ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Nate and Danny make their over/under picks for every Western Conference team, weighing roster changes, health, depth, and fit. They also examine how lottery reform could redistribute wins across the league and complicate this season’s projections. - 3:46 — Dallas Mavericks - 16:31 — Denver Nuggets - 20:06 — Golden State Warriors - 27:04 — Houston Rockets - 30:08 — Los Angeles Clippers - 37:20 — Los Angeles Lakers - 40:18 — Memphis Grizzlies - 46:28 — Minnesota Timberwolves - 52:09 — New Orleans Pelicans - 56:26 — Oklahoma City Thunder - 1:01:18 — Phoenix Suns - 1:06:29 — Portland Trail Blazers - 1:12:18 — Sacramento Kings - 1:17:38 — San Antonio Spurs - 1:20:52 — Utah Jazz

Blake Murphy of Sportsnet joins to preview the Toronto Raptors, including Kawhi Leonard’s fit, how the rotation and playing style could evolve, and the development of Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. They also discuss Toronto’s strengths and weaknesses, potential roster moves, and expectations for the season and playoffs. 0:52 — Looking back at last season and the playoff run 5:56 — Kawhi Leonard’s fit and impact ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Bob Pettit Karl-Anthony Towns Jalen Duren Stephen Curry Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Lineage White shoes ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Jovan Buha of Buha’s Block and Lakers Collective is our guest to break down LA’s new look this season around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. How good will Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton be in their new roles? Who will the 5th starter be? What will the Lakers scheme be defensively? Plus, we make our predictions for the 2026-27 Lakers season.

Dan Feldman and Danny Leroux are the teams and Nate is the player agent, as they try to navigate rookie scale extensions in this increasingly impacted environment. Can they come to agreements on the key players like Keyonte George, Brandon Miller, Cason Wallace, Ausar Thompson, Anthony Black, and more? 3:13 Brandon Miller 14:22 Scoot Henderson

Adam Mares of DNVR and the All-NBA pod joins to discuss a pivotal season in Denver. We look back on what went wrong for the Nuggets in their brutal loss to the Wolves after a promising season, and how the new version of the team addresses those issues. What do we expect from newcomer DeMar DeRozan and how will David Adelman deploy him? Plus, why Jokic didn’t extend, and Adam invokes geopolitics as he discusses whether the Nuggets would ever consider trading Jokic. Finally, we discuss how the Nuggets match up against potential playoff opponents and make our win prediction for the Nuggets season.

Couper Moorhead of HEAT.com makes his long-awaited Dunc’d On debut to look ahead to the most anticipated Miami season in some time. We break down Miami’s offensive system last year and how it can be tweaked to accommodate Giannis, and what Erik Spoelstra can do defensively to incorporate the former Defensive Player of the Year. Plus, we hit on the rest of the newcomers, discuss how the holdovers will fit in around Giannis, and break down the Heat’s strengths and weaknesses going into the season.

James Plowright of the Buzz Beat Podcast uses his dulcet British tones to break down the upcoming Hornets season. Was the LaMelo trade the right move? How do newcomers Naz Reid, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and the rookies fit in? How can Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel evolve as they take on more offensive responsibility? Plus, we make our predictions for the Hornets season.

Nate puts on his legal hat and combs through Jeanie Buss’ new legal filings as well as the litigation she relies on from 2017 to see whether she should be able to prevent the sale of the remaining Buss family interest and remain controlling owner. ⁠Check out the relevant filings for yourself here⁠.

Noa Dalzell of CLNS and Nate look back at Boston’s surprising 2025-26 season and debate whether the Celtics’ success justified—or complicated—the decision to dramatically reshape the roster. They examine how the departures and additions change the roles of Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Boston’s group of young wings. They also dig into the biggest questions for the Celtics on both ends of the floor, including shot creation, defensive matchups, rotation decisions, and Joe Mazzulla’s approach in the playoffs. Finally, they give their predictions for the Celtics’ season and discuss how Boston matches up with the other top teams in the East. 1:28 — Reassessing last season and the decision to break up the roster 7:28 — How much will Boston miss Jaylen Brown? 11:25 — Can Payton Pritchard take on a larger creation role? 19:14 — Mitchell Robinson’s fit in Boston 24:36 — Paul George’s role and durability 27:49 — Projected starting lineup and rotation 31:49 — Boston’s defensive approach and who guards the ball 34:33 — Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman 37:47 — Jayson Tatum’s recovery and outlook 43:22 — Closing lineup possibilities 45:52 — The Celtics’ biggest strengths and weaknesses 48:42 — Joe Mazzulla and Boston’s playoff questions 52:01 — Center versatility and frontcourt options 54:36 — Offensive and defensive outlook, plus season predictions 59:19 — How Boston matches up with the East 1:05:30 — Pick-and-roll defense and Boston’s reaction to the Jaylen Brown trade

Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks bats his traditional leadoff role to discuss Atlanta's season. We look into how real their close to last season was, how newcomers Lu Dort, Kingston Flemings, and Aaron Wiggins will fit in, and what Jalen Johnson needs to do to take the next step after a rough playoffs. Plus, we give our predictions for the Hawks' season. ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Golden State Warriors Free agents Bennedict Mathurin Jonathan Kuminga RJ Luis Jr. DeMar DeRozan Sacramento Kings NBA sales ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Nate and Danny can finally sum up the offseasons for the Nuggets and Cavs, improbably through a trade with each other! We put the Peyton Watson deal into context for both teams and give them offseason grades, while also discussing DeMar DeRozan to the Nuggets. We also break down Klay Thompson’s fit in Miami and whether they should have prioritized him over DeRozan or Bradley Beal. 0:00 Denver Nuggets offseason grade — Peyton Watson sign-and-trade, DeMar DeRozan signing, Nikola Jokić’s future 32:29 Cleveland Cavaliers offseason grade — James Harden contract, Peyton Watson acquisition 46:46 Klay Thompson to the Miami Heat 51:11 LA Clippers’ side of the Peyton Watson trade and Max Strus acquisition 53:48 Minnesota Timberwolves ownership sale 57:37 Lakers ownership update 59:36 Jalen Duren–Detroit Pistons contract negotiations

It's time to hold ourselves accountable and see how we feel about the East's 2025 offseason a year on. Which teams' offseasons do we feel worse about now, and which better? Which ones were we right on at the time, and which did we get totally wrong? 0:32 Atlanta Hawks — Pelicans draft trade, Nickeil Alexander-Walker signing, Kristaps Porziņģis trade, Dyson Daniels extension, Onsi Saleh hiring 9:21 Boston Celtics — Jrue Holiday–Anfernee Simons trade, Kristaps Porziņģis trade, Hugo González draft pick, Josh Minott and Luka Garza signings 15:36 Brooklyn Nets — Egor Demin, Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf draft picks, Cam Johnson–Michael Porter Jr. trade, Terrance Mann acquisition, Day’Ron Sharpe re-signing

A quick hitter on today's news of the Buss family voting to sell their remaining shares to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger and evaluating Jeanie Buss' arguments to block the sale. Plus, an ESPN report indicates the league "has no evidence" of salary cap circumvention, what does Nate make of it?

Nate and Danny react to the shock sale of the Lakers. Why did this happen now, and what does it mean for the Lakers and the league? Bradley Beal gets a new contract that is clear evidence of circumvention, while Pablo Torre uncovers more evidence of clear circumvention. Dennis Schröder is traded to Charlotte. Why it was an easy call for the Hornets, and what it could open up for the Cavs. We explain why Jeff Schwartz’s comments about the CBA harming veteran players were so off base. Finally we look back on the career of the recently retired Russell Westbrook. 0:00 Lakers sold to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner for $12.5 billion 15:50 Bradley Beal re-signs with Clippers; more cap-circumvention concerns 19:15 New Kawhi Leonard/Clippers sponsorship evidence 21:48 Jeff Schwartz criticism of the CBA and veteran-player market 25:39 Cavaliers trade Dennis Schröder to Charlotte for Tre Mann 35:13 Tyrese Haliburton says he’s ready for the season 35:51 Suns waive Haywood Highsmith 37:45 Russell Westbrook retires; career retrospective

It's time to hold ourselves accountable and see how we feel about the 2025 offseason a year on. Which teams' offseasons do we feel worse about now, and which better? Which ones were we right on at the time, and which did we get totally wrong? Golden State Warriors — Jonathan Kuminga re-signing, Al Horford signing, De’Anthony Melton signing, Gary Payton II return, Will Richard draft pick Houston Rockets — Kevin Durant trade, Fred VanVleet re-signing, Jabari Smith Jr. extension, Dorian Finney-Smith signing, Clint Capela signing, Steven Adams extension

Danny has returned and we catch up on the latest Kawhi Leonard scandal and why extensions like those for Dillon Brooks and Naji Marshall are far more to blame for the league's financial predicament than the dreaded Aprons. Then, we finish out our assessment of the summer leaguers for HOU, IND, MIA, MIN, NOP, NYK, ORL, and POR. 0:00 Kawhi Leonard / Clippers: Daktronics side deal and salary-cap circumvention 9:36 Phoenix Suns: Dillon Brooks extension 16:27 Dallas Mavericks: Naji Marshall extension 20:43 Golden State Warriors: Draymond Green and Gary Payton II 23:10 Philadelphia 76ers: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing, Johni Broome trade/Jabari Walker roster decision 24:43 Draft/roster updates: Jack Kayil, Tyler Nickel, Dillon Mitchell 25:39 Houston Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate, J.D. Davison, Chip Engelland 28:13 Cleveland Cavaliers: Mario Hezonja 30:21 Other signings: Lonnie Walker IV, Quenton Jackson, Braden Smith 31:51 Jamir Watkins: Torn ACL 32:10 Washington Wizards: Anthony Davis extension talks 33:58 NBA: No Abu Dhabi preseason games 35:13 Houston Rockets: Bruce Thornton (35:13), Tristen Newton (41:34), Quadir Copeland (41:34) 41:52 Indiana Pacers: Braden Smith (41:57), Taelon Peter (46:22), Jalen Slawson (46:26) 49:58 Miami Heat: Ryan Conwell (49:58), Trevor Keels (52:07), Tre Donaldson (53:43), Myron Gardner (54:06), Jahmir Young (54:11) 54:30 Minnesota Timberwolves: Isaiah Evans (54:30), Joan Beringer (57:06), Trey Kaufman-Renn (1:00:03), Zyon Pullin (1:01:02), Rocco Zikarsky (1:02:51) 1:05:26 New Orleans Pelicans: Jaron Pierre Jr. (1:05:26) 1:06:31 New York Knicks: Tyler Nickel (1:06:56), Jack Kayil (1:09:24), Mohamed Diawara (1:12:25), Pacôme Dadiet (1:13:36) 1:16:54 Orlando Magic: Izaiyah Nelson (1:16:54), Jase Richardson (1:18:56), Noah Penda (1:22:03) 1:27:00 Portland Trail Blazers: Yang Hansen (1:27:00)

We continue to look at this crazy summer in the West, with huge moves like the Lakers trading for Walker Kessler. Los Angeles Lakers — LeBron James departure, Austin Reaves extension, Walker Kessler sign-and-trade, Quentin Grimes signing, Sandro Mamukelashvili signing, Collin Sexton signing, Deandre Ayton trade, Cameron Carr draft pick

Nate and Danny continue their review of every relevant player in Summer League: Los Angeles Lakers: Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero, Arthur Kaluma

LeBron James stuns everyone by agreeing to join the Philadelphia 76ers. He said it was about the best chance to win, so how good is this Sixers team in the East? What is the best way to maximize the talents of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron, and Embiid? Are they going to be able to guard anyone? Plus, should LeBron have chosen another team as the best shot of winning a championship? Nate and Danny continue their review of every relevant player in Summer League, continuing through the lottery and discussing OKC, Charlotte, Detroit, Toronto, and San Antonio. 0:00 Oklahoma City Thunder: Spencer Jones (0:21), Aday Mara (1:46), Bennett Stirtz (8:55), Thomas Sorber (15:10), Brooks Barnhizer (15:24), Otega Oweh (17:00), Payton Sandfort (18:28) 19:40 Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach (19:40), Christian Anderson (29:26), Liam McNeeley (34:21), Sion James (38:25), Ryan Kalkbrenner (39:48), Tidjane Salaün (40:48), Michael Ajayi (43:36) 44:27 Detroit Pistons: Ebuka Okorie (44:27), Brice Williams (52:46), Chaz Lanier (53:49), Isaac Jones (56:09), Ugonna Onyenso (56:40) 59:58 Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves (59:58), Collin Murray-Boyles (1:04:43), Alijah Martin (1:05:09), Jaden Bradley (1:05:29), Nate Bittle (1:08:29) 1:09:00 San Antonio Spurs: Jayden Quaintance (1:09:00), Tarris Reed Jr. (1:09:56), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (1:14:52), Maliq Brown (1:16:51), Carter Bryant (1:20:56), David Jones Garcia (1:23:58)

Nate and Danny go long on the fascinating Dort/Risacher trade. Was this the right way to save money by OKC? And was giving up on Risacher the right move for Atlanta? Then, we break down the offseasons with our letter grading system for OKC, ATL, DAL, WAS, MEM and CHI, before hitting on some news including Matisse Thybulle in LA. 0:42 – Oklahoma City Thunder 31:06 – Atlanta Hawks 53:56 – Dallas Mavericks 1:07:32 – Washington Wizards 1:18:41 – Memphis Grizzlies 1:27:32 – Chicago Bulls

Nate and Danny start their breakdown of all the projected roster players in Summer League with Washington Wizards AJ Dybantsa, Will Riley and Tre Johnson.

We discuss why the Milwaukee Bucks should be punished for their blatant circumvention of the salary cap with Gary Trent Jr, and whether it’s the most ridiculous contract in NBA history. Victor Wembanyama limits himself to the 25% max. How does that simplify the Spurs’ future? Plus, WATFOs on Bronny James, Jaylen Brown in Philly, the dregs of the West, the Bucks being punished, and Bronny James.

We give our early summer league impressions on Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cam Boozer. Then, what to make of the Kawhi Leonard trade being on hold? Is this evidence that the league is handling this the wrong way? We also talk about the ongoing LeBron James drama on where he will play next year, and where he should play next year. Plus, the latest on Peyton Watson and the Clippers and breaking down the six-team trade.

A news catch-up on the DFS trade to Charlotte, Ayton trade to Washington, and something being rotten in the state of Denver. Plus, Nate and Danny explains why the people who are focusing so much on the Second Apron as the explanation for the Jaylen Brown trade are way, way off.

We break down the gobsmacking Jaylen Brown trade, then look at the many other signings league-wide on a Day 2 of Free Agency that did not disappoint. 0:00 — Jaylen Brown trade setup 1:08 — Boston’s side of the Jaylen Brown trade 9:15 — Celtics’ asset return and long-term direction 13:02 — Evaluating Jaylen Brown’s value 19:51 — Brown’s playoff skill set and Boston’s risk 28:26 — Philadelphia’s side of the Jaylen Brown trade 37:43 — Sixers roster after the trade

The Raptors acquire Kawhi Leonard for 2 picks, a swap, and Brandon Ingram. How good can the Raptors be now in the East? Was it worth pushing their chips in to get Kawhi now? And how do we feel about what they gave up to get him? For the Clippers, was this a better move than keeping Kawhi and extending him? And should the Spurs have gotten involved if this were the price?

Jonathan Givony gives his unique perspective on the NBA draft, having followed all of these players around the world for years.  He has Darryn Peterson #1, Nate has AJ Dybantsa, and they both make their arguments as to why.  Further discussions include Cam Boozer’s defense and scoring upside, Caleb Wilson’s rise, the volatility of Mikel Brown Jr., which of the point guards we like most in the top-10, how Aday Mara compares to Donovan Clingan, and much more.

It’s time to break down the last of the contenders for a top-4 pick, AJ Dybantsa out of BYU. He has some unique abilities for the type of player he is, but also some scary red flags. How will it all add up for him?

The Miami Heat have been mired in the play-in.  Should they pursue Giannis to get them out of it? What about lower-level moves for someone like Ja Morant or Darius Garland? How would those moves work?

Oklahoma City is still smarting from a loss to the Spurs, but now they face a huge fiscal cliff with rookie scale extensions kicking in. What are their finances, and how can they cut money to avoid being the most expensive team in history? Can they retain Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort, and for how much? What assets do they have, and should they go after Trey Murphy III or Giannis?

Denver faces a summer of discontent in which Josh Kroenke says everything should be on the table. What could they get for Jamal Murray? Do they (and can they) move one of Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun to retain Peyton Watson below the dreaded second apron? And how can they rebuild their bench with minimum contracts?

Then, we look ahead to the Knicks/Cavs Eastern Conference Finals.  Why does Nate give the Cavs more of a shot in this series than most, while Danny doesn't? FLASH SALE: The first 50 to sign up with code victorgame1 get 45% off a year subscription!

A monster episode in which we discuss the markets for all of the free agents at the point guard position. The key players discussed: Point guards: Austin Reaves, Trae Young, Coby White, Fred Van Vleet, Ayo Dosunmu, Collin Gillespie.

The Wolves took advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s flagrant elbow to Naz Reid to even their series against the Spurs. Did he deserve to get tossed? What were the key elements late, and who has the advantage going forward? We break down what the lotto results mean for each of the 14 teams. Plus, what are the dynamics at the top, who should the top teams take “on paper,” and how do we feel about the worst tankers getting the top picks? 59:16 Plus, we wrap up dominant wins by the Knicks and Thunder over the weekend. 1:33:03

Cleveland made some adjustments in Game 2, but ultimately the game had the same flow as Game 1. Will the series shift in Cleveland? The Lakers have played OKC well through 2 games with their doubling of Shai, but OKC won the game with their MVP off the floor. 41:00 Then, we look at the free agent small forwards.  What does LeBron James want? If it’s just his on-floor ability, what kind of contract should he command? We also discuss Andrew Wiggins with his team option and go deep on the Thunder finances with Lu Dort’s team option and the Celtics’ with Jordan Walsh.  Plus, what should Tari Eason’s market look like in restricted free agency? 1:06:00

Minnesota had a thrilling win against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, perhaps auguring a long series. We break down all the fascinating tactical wrinkles that let the Wolves outduel San Antonio. Join us for 45% off with our Flash Sale! Enter code joelgame7

Detroit completed the second 3-1 comeback of the first round, dominating the paint to control Game 7. What do we take away from the Magic and Paolo Banchero in this series? Does new injury reporting on Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu change our pick in SAS/MIN? Philly and New York is an absolutely fascinating matchup of two similarly built teams that do not like each other.  We spent over 40 minutes digging into all of the matchup issues on both sides of the floor before making our predictions. 34:30 The Cavaliers finally separated in a series that was as close as could be in 6.5 games by using their superior depth to counter Toronto’s tactics against Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. What do we take away from this series in an encouraging run for the Raps? 1:10:15 Join us for 45% with our Flash Sale! Enter code joelgame7 Watch Clutch Calls!

Hollinger and Duncan react to Minnesota’s stunning series win over Denver, the Knicks’ historic Game 6 destruction of Atlanta, the proposed lottery reform, and the biggest strategic developments of the playoffs so far. They also hit Celtics-Sixers, Pistons-Magic, Lakers-Rockets, and the players who have either survived or been exposed by the playoff crucible. Nuggets-Wolves fallout — 1:27: Minnesota’s defense, Denver’s offensive and defensive issues, the state of the Nuggets around Nikola Jokić, and whether Denver can still contend in a loaded West. Knicks-Hawks — 12:19: New York’s historic beatdown of Atlanta, the Knicks’ series adjustments, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby’s impact, and Atlanta’s offseason questions. Lottery reform — 24:07: The proposed new system, its anti-tanking incentives, and why it could make late-season basketball more watchable. Best teams and contender check-in — 32:33: Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio, the most impressive playoff performances so far, and Boston-Philly heading into Game 7. Coaching and tactical takeaways — 36:58: The best and worst coaching ideas of the playoffs, including San Antonio’s creativity and Portland’s struggles against Victor Wembanyama. Pistons-Magic and East bracket chaos — 39:39: Orlando’s depth issues without Franz Wagner, Detroit’s concerning matchup problems, Cleveland’s shaky path, and Toronto’s impressive adjustments. The playoff crucible — 48:49: Which players have been exposed or survived under postseason pressure, including Atlanta’s failed counters and Detroit’s center questions. Lakers-Rockets and other series notes — 53:56: Houston’s shortened rotation, Tari Eason’s importance, the Lakers’ health questions, Jalen Brown’s off-arm struggles, and the second-round outlook. Final playoff thoughts — 58:14: Potential Knicks-Celtics, Sixers-Knicks, Thunder-Spurs, and Embiid-Harden scenarios, plus closing thoughts on the postseason landscape.

New York and Atlanta play another one-possession classic. How was Atlanta able to weather the 18-point comeback by the Knicks at the end? Minnesota absolutely derailed Nikola Jokic in a way we’ve almost never seen before. How did the Wolves do it, and what can Denver do to rebound? Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles led the Raptors in what may be an exciting harbinger for the Raptors’ future. Also, Taylor Jenkins will be the new Bucks coach.

The playoffs have truly begun as Atlanta and Minnesota scored big road wins to even their series.  CJ McCollum led Atlanta in attacking Jalen Brunson as the Knicks blew a late lead.

Nate and Danny preview the Atlanta Hawks-New York Knicks first-round series.

Another fantastic night of play-in drama as the old lions for Golden State summon their powers one more time to take down Kawhi and the Clippers. We break down how Draymond Green and Stephen Curry put together virtuoso performances. We catch up on the latest news, including LaMelo Ball’s light punishment, then break down how the Sixers moved on to face the Celtics while Orlando faces another reckoning against the Hornets on Friday night.

Who should be the MVP between Shai, Jokic, Wembanyama, and Luka? Who would have made All-NBA if not for the dreaded 65-game rule?  We pick our teams both with and without the rule. Then, we catch up on Thursday’s action and set the scene for the weekend scenarios. Are we headed towards a fantastic San Antonio/Denver game on Sunday?

San Antonio and Denver played a high-level preview of their likely 2 vs 3 series. What did we learn from this classic matchup between Wembanyama and Jokic? 0:00 — Intro 0:30 — Spurs vs. Nuggets: playoff-preview breakdown, Jokic vs. Wembanyama, and what a potential 2–3 series might look like

It’s time to put on our infallible swami hats and give our fearless predictions for what the league landscape will look like in 2028.  We pick who the best players will be, All-NBA teams, the conference finalists, NBA champion, and the two worst teams in the league.   ⁠Watch Steve Kerr's explanation of how ball-handlers use their off-arms⁠.

Nate and Danny check in on the progression of every young player of note in the West DAL: Cooper Flagg, AJ Johnson, Ryan Nembhard, Dereck Lively II, Moussa Cisse, Max Christie 1:21 DEN: Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson, Jalen Pickett, DaRon Holmes 8:23 GSW: Will Richard, Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski, Quinten Post, Moses Moody 17:03 HOU: Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun, Tari Eason 27:59 LAC: Bennedict Mathurin, Kobe Sanders, Cam Christie, Yanic Konan Niederhauser 42:39 LAL: Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero 48:04 MEM: Javon Small, Cedric Coward, Taylor Hendricks, GG Jackson, O-Max Prosper, Walter Clayton, Cam Spencer, Jahmai Mashack, Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey 52:18 MIN: Jaylen Clark, Terrence Shannon, Julian Phillips, Joan Beringer 1:13:11 NOP: Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi, Jordan Hawkins, Karlo Matkovic, Derik Queen, Micah Peavy 1:18:18 OKC: Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, Brooks Barnhizer 1:33:04 PHX: Oso Ighodaro, Jalen Green, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea, Mark Williams 1:39:30 POR: Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Sidy Cissoko, Kris Murray, Yang Hansen 1:48:29 SAC: Devin Carter, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, Keegan Murray 1:56:02 SAS: Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, Victor Wembanyama 2:02:03 UTA: Brice Sensabaugh, Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Walker Kessler 2:10:18

The last in our position-ranking series, point guards are down beyond the elite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As style of play has changed, teams are increasingly relying on bigger players to create offense. Where does that leave small point guards? Many big names — including Stephen Curry, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Darius Garland, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Trae Young and Fred VanVleet — face far more uncertainty than a year ago. But, as always, there are rising young players like Tyrese Maxey and Dylan Harper ready to climb the rankings.

Nate and Danny have the first part of their bi-weekly look at the Eastern Conference. BOS: They’re eerily similar to last year — 1:12 CHA: The Hornets will need to upgrade on Miles Bridges at power forward to contend — 11:03 NYK: It’s your yearly “Mikal Bridges is struggling” panic meter! — 20:46 CLE: How should Kenny Atkinson run their playoff rotation? — 28:04 TOR: What is their future at shooting guard? — 42:00 PHI: What VJ Edgecombe showed and didn’t show in two big performances at point guard — 57:02 DET: Is Cade better than Luka? — 1:05:16 IND: Ivica Zubac will look a lot different when the Pacers are trying — 1:13:48 WAS: Kyshawn George will be a very interesting piece for the next Wizards coach to deploy — 1:20:00

Luka Doncic and the Lakers continue their impressive run despite a horrible schedule as he drops his first 60-pointer as a Laker. How did he go off, what didn’t Miami do to counter, and how good can the Lakers be in the playoffs? The Suns once again impress in a loss, but Victor Wembanyama took over late for San Antonio. 28:53 The Charlotte Hornets are one of the best stories in the NBA, easily handling the overmatched Magic. 1:05:33 How will Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung affect the Pistons’ seeding and playoff hopes?

John Hollinger joins Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux in a special crossover episode to discuss the top-10 players in the NBA.  Is Jokic or Shai at the top of the league? Where does the ascendant Victor Wembanyama fit in?  Then, we have to reconcile injuries vs performance in the rest of the top-10, and we also discuss our most controversial omissions and risers and fallers over the last year.

Is it blasphemy to say Victor Wembanyama could challenge Nikola Jokic at the top? ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Lakers-Nuggets Expansion Inevitable? Realignment Expansion fees Seattle, Las Vegas Parity Expansion drought ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Our bi-weekly look at the 15 teams in the Western Conference: DEN and LAL: A fascinating end-game as Denver is hoisted by their own fouling petard GSW: The totally injured Warriors limp towards the 10 seed — 25:20 MIN: They’ve really struggled in the possession game — 32:27 OKC: Why was Shai able to score 20 so many times when others failed? — 39:01 SAC: Dylan Cardwell has intrigued as a rim protector — 46:21 PHX: Jalen Green is being asked to do too much again — 57:21 SAS: How do the Spurs have the #4 offense? — 1:04:00 UTA: Which of the 4 youngs who are still playing could contribute next year? — 1:12:10 LAC: Yanic Konan Niederhauser was solid before his unfortunate injury — 1:18:43 MEM: Ty Jerome has duplicated his season a year ago so far — 1:25:35 HOU: They’ve struggled without Steven Adams — 1:31:47 POR: How has Scoot looked in his first month back? — 1:40:02 DAL: Can Ryan Nembhard be a major part of the Mavs’ plans? — 1:47:57 NOP: Dejounte Murray is showing some very encouraging signs — 1:54:26

Nate and Danny discuss why their definition of a small forward might differ from some others’, and then rank all the heavy hitters at the position.  Where do big stars like LeBron, KD, Luka, Cade, Tatum, and Brown rank?  How about up-and-comers like Brandon Miller and Deni Avdija? What do we make of lower-level scorers like Brandon Ingram compared to three-and-D stalwarts like OG Anunoby?

Should we be concerned with Detroit’s recent struggles? ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Kawhi Leonard ‘smoking gun’ Steve Ballmer Other investigation Magic City Terry Rozier trade settlement Jonathan Isaac contract Shai Gilgeous-Alexander streak All-Contract Team ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

We break down every aspect of Jayson Tatum’s return.  How has he looked so far, and what does it mean for the Celtics’ chances in the East? Plus, we break down Boston’s encouraging victory over the Cavs on Sunday. Then, we get into our mailbag, with tons of questions including these: BOS–How do they match up in the East? How has Neemias Queta improved? CLE–Who is the 5th starter and closer when healthy? 27:39 BRK–What does taking a step forward next year look like? Could they make the playoffs? 42:50 ATL–Are we too low on Quin Snyder? What should they target in July? 51:47 CHA–Who could they upset in the playoffs? What do they need this offseason? 1:00:42 CHI–Why is Arturas still employed? Who might be a keeper in their rebuild? 1:10:02

It’s time to break down which players and teams have surprised us, and which have disappointed. (42:31) We break down all the candidates and each pick a top three for all of the categories. We turn to news, where it appears Jayson Tatum will be returning in nearly unprecedented fashion.  How do we think it will go?  Plus, we catch up on the rest of the news around the league from this week. And of course, we can end the podcast in only one place.

It’s been a crazy year for executives, both for good and for ill, and the trade deadline made things even crazier. Nate and Danny go through the many candidates for Not Executive of the Year. ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠ Luka Doncic-J.J. Redick Jarred Vanderbilt Luke Kornet Awards All-NBA Super-max Tyrese Maxey Steve Kerr-Kristaps Porzingis Mohamed Diawara Celtics-Nets ⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠

Nate and Danny break down the major awards and make their picks for MVP, the three All-NBA Teams, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Rookie of the Year.

It’s time to put aside our usual objectivity and discuss the purely subjective: Who are our favorite watches in the league, and who is making us grit our teeth?  Nate and Danny run through the candidates and each pick their top-5 best and worst watches. We catch up on news, including the imminent return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (1:07:15) then break down a fun Miami-Philadelphia game in a key matchup at the bottom of the East playoff picture. 1:13:58