3 in 40; Nuggets/Rockets Match-Up; Cooper Flagg!

Jared Dubin of Last Night in Basketball and the Double Dribble Podcast makes his annual appearance to discuss the key trends he and Nate have been seeing around the league this year. No more spoilers here, just dive in! And you can visit lastnightinbasketball.com/twentyfive for 25% off a year’s subscription to Jared’s work. Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sacramento Kings — 0:00:38Will Sacramento’s ownership accept an intentional rebuild rather than one through ineptitude?Where does Doug Christie rank among the worst coaches of the last 10 years?Who pulls the plug first: Dallas, Sacramento, or Portland?San Antonio Spurs — 11:08Has Stephon Castle’s improved play this season (outside of shooting) altered your stance on whether the Spurs should move him?Do the Spurs ultimately need to move on from Castle to reach their ceiling?Would trading Castle plus picks for Giannis make sense?How should we evaluate De’Aaron Fox so far this season versus his longer track record?Given Wembanyama’s size and historical risk for very tall players, should the Spurs consider a more aggressive “win-now” move?What do you see as the Spurs’ realistic ceiling and playoff outlook this season?Utah Jazz — 26:35Thoughts on Ace Bailey so far — has your opinion changed on his floor or ceiling?Why isn’t Lauri Markkanen getting more All-Star consideration?How has Keyonte George’s development changed the Jazz’s outlook?If the Jazz choose not to trade Lauri Markkanen, should they shut him down? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate and Danny dig into a Western Conference mailbag for the Grizzlies, Wolves, Pelicans, Thunder, Suns, and Blazers, focusing on young bigs, long-term team-building, and how to survive in an OKC/Wemby/Jokic world.Memphis Grizzlies — 0:15What has Zach Edey’s overall impact been so far, and why hasn’t his strong play gotten more discussion?Given that most of Memphis’ wins with Edey back came against sub-.500 teams, what’s actually real and what projects beyond this season?Why are Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. “bad all of a sudden”—how much of it is attitude, effort, health, or role?Minnesota Timberwolves — 12:00If Tim Connelly decides to make a significant move, what sort of framework should he pursue—selling high on Julius Randle, moving Rudy Gobert to lower long-term risk while raising ceiling, or something else entirely?Who is a realistic trade target for Minnesota at point guard who can shoot, defend enough, and still let Anthony Edwards be the primary creator?What is Rob Dillingham’s trade value right now—does he bring back even a late first?Why did the Wolves let Nickiel Alexander-Walker go—could they really not find a way to keep him or other options?How good is the offensive chemistry between Gobert and Randle actually—are they meaningfully helping each other?New Orleans Pelicans — 26:23Do Derik Queen’s flaws—lack of true center size and questionable mobility—ultimately cap his long-term ceiling, or can his creation ability and defensive hands make those weaknesses not matter as much?If you’re the Pelicans, what kind of offers would you need to seriously consider moving each of Jose Alvarado, Zion Williamson, Sadiq Bey, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III?Oklahoma City Thunder — 36:57Is OKC the deepest team of all time when fully healthy, given their bench of Kason Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, AJ Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, J-Will, etc.?Which Western Conference teams, if any, would intentionally punt games against the Clippers late in the season to worsen the pick OKC owns from LA?What is AJ Mitchell doing defensively that makes him so effective?How many All-Stars should the Thunder have this season?If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were to get hurt in the playoffs, how good would OKC’s offense remain—could they still realistically win a series or two?Which Western Conference teams have the best chance of beating OKC in a playoff series, and how would you rank the Rockets, Spurs, and Nuggets as threats?Phoenix Suns — 47:45Given the Suns’ surprising competence plus the fact they don’t control their own firsts, has your view changed on how they should operate over the next 2–3 years?If you were running the Suns and received a strong offer for Devin Booker, would you trade him?With the Suns hovering around the 6-seed race, could they be sneaky buyers at the deadline—and if so, what position or role should they target given their current roster and Jalen Green’s fit?Portland Trail Blazers — 53:05Is Portland’s rebuild a failure—especially considering taking Scoot over Amen, choosing Klingan over Edey, trading out of the Cedric Coward spot for Hansen, and the current returns on Shaedon Sharpe?With OKC, Wembanyama’s Spurs, and Jokic’s Nuggets (plus Houston) as massive obstacles, how should the other Western teams approach big-picture strategy, timelines, and the pursuit of relevance?Have any of Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan actually improved from last year, or is it fair to say none of them have taken a real step forward? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate and Danny tackle Western Conference mailbag questions from the Dallas Mavericks through the LA Lakers, digging into star-trade calculus, emerging young players, and which contenders really scare OKC and Denver.Dallas Mavericks — 0:55Is Max Christie’s 65% true shooting for real, and if/when his shooting regresses, can he still be a starter on a championship team?How should Dallas value and time a potential Anthony Davis trade—what kind of package is “enough,” how much does the extension/player option risk matter, and is it better to move him now or wait?Given their place in the standings and draft-lottery odds, how low can Dallas realistically fall in the West, and how much does that affect the urgency to trade Davis?Would a Trae Young–for–Anthony Davis swap make sense for either the Mavericks or the Hawks in terms of fit and direction?How does the Derek Lively–Cason Wallace–Dāvis Bertāns draft-night trade look 2.5 years later for both Dallas and OKC, and which side would you rather be on now?Denver Nuggets — 17:57How has Peyton Watson grown offensively, and is he finally ready to be a reliable playoff-rotation player?Why is Zeke Nnaji still getting minutes over DaRon Holmes—are the Nuggets trying to pump up Nnaji’s trade value, or do they genuinely see him as the better fit?What are Denver’s best and worst potential playoff matchups in the first two rounds (with OKC assumed as the 1-seed and off the board)?Golden State Warriors — 28:40As in so many recent seasons, the Warriors hit mid-December around .500—what’s the single biggest factor that can actually turn their season around?Is there any realistic “retool” path where Golden State trades some of the youth to become a legitimate threat again in games where Steph drops 40+ (e.g., moving Pods/Kuminga plus picks for a real starter)?Is the fan criticism of Brandin Podziemski this year justified—how good is he actually and what are his limitations?How much faith should we have in the Warriors’ front office to build another contender post-Steph based on their track record?What’s the most likely resolution with Jonathan Kuminga—do the Warriors still see him as a core piece, or is he basically just flotsam matching salary at this point?With Steph still playing at an elite level but the team stuck in the middle, are the Warriors really in an intractable “can’t blow it up / can’t contend” quandary, or is the path forward actually straightforward?Houston Rockets — 44:17If Giannis becomes available, should the Rockets not go after him this season because of OKC’s dominance and instead wait to add another star later, or is this exactly the kind of opportunity you must seize?How much better would Giannis actually make Houston in the next 2–3 years compared with just riding out growth with Alperen Şengün and the current core—and is a Şengün-for-Giannis framework ever worth it?Is a core trio of Amen Thompson–Şengün–Giannis really viable given their combined limitations, and if so, who becomes the odd man out long-term?Is Reed Sheppard being misused when he’s just parked in the corner while others run the offense—are the Rockets wasting his on-ball skills by treating him like a pure 3-and-D guard?Including possible trades, who is the bigger playoff threat to the Thunder this year: the Spurs or the Rockets?LA Clippers — 53:52Do the Clippers’ struggles this season help them at all when the league decides Kawhi Leonard’s punishment, or is that totally irrelevant to discipline?How much of the Clippers’ disaster season is real underlying weakness versus bad clutch luck and opponent shooting luck (teams bombing threes against them)?What is the most likely course of action for the Clippers at the trade deadline—could they or should they do any kind of “firesale” given they owe so many picks?In hindsight, did the Clippers have the worst offseason—essentially gifting Miami an All-Star-caliber Norman Powell while signing a washed Brook Lopez—and how badly did that set them back?What are the realistic odds the Clippers can claw back to the 10th seed and at least mildly salvage their season?LA Lakers — 1:04:21The Lakers’ record is great but their net rating is mediocre—what are their biggest weaknesses or needs, and do they actually play well enough consistently to reach the West finals or NBA Finals?In the MVP discussion, did you underrate Luka Doncic compared with Giannis—if you swapped their team contexts (Luka on the Bucks, Giannis on the Lakers/Mavs), how would that affect their cases, especially when you account for defense?With LeBron driving less and spending more time on the perimeter, would the Lakers’ offense be better if they used him more in the post/elbow or as a handoff hub instead of having him just initiate from outside? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Victor Wembanyama returns in heroic fashion to power San Antonio past Oklahoma City and give them only their second loss of the season.  Plus, the NBA rule that MUST be changed for next year.Jalen Brunson becomes only the 3rd player to drop 40 in Cup play as Orlando had no answers for the new-look Knicks.Then, we look ahead to a fascinating San Antonio vs New York Cup Final. Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate and Danny take questions on Indiana through Washington in the Eastern Conference.  Pacers — 0:13What explains the divergence between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers despite their seemingly comparable losses in talent?Did the Pacers truly “miss” on Ryan Nembhard given their existing guard depth with Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell?Do the Pacers have a starting-caliber center on the roster (Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, Tony Bradley), or will they ultimately need to upgrade?What should Bennedict Mathurin’s next contract and long-term role look like?Heat — 11:01Why has the Bam Adebayo–Kel’el Ware starting lineup struggled defensively and in transition?What is going on with Nikola Jović, and was his extension an overpay?Can Jaime Jaquez Jr. eventually become a starter and primary handler, or is he capped as a high-end sixth man?Why is Kel’el Ware playing so few minutes despite his flashes?Which current Heat players are most likely to remain on the roster by opening night 2027?Bucks — 24:58If Giannis Antetokounmpo is traded, should the Bucks keep Myles Turner or move him next to replenish assets?How much of Milwaukee’s struggles stem from coaching and scheme—offensive rebounding philosophy, defensive rebounding, transition issues, and rotation decisions involving Myles Turner, Andre Jackson Jr., and Amir Coffey?Knicks — 31:27What has happened to Guerschon Yabusele compared to last season?Will the triangle offense ever make a comeback in the modern NBA?Is Miles “Deuce” McBride a starting-caliber guard on most teams?Magic — 40:47How can the Magic realistically get under the tax—moving Jet Howard, Tyus Jones, Jonathan Isaac, or others?If the Magic truly believe in Paolo Banchero’s ceiling, should they consider trading Franz Wagner now while his value is highest?Should the Magic be considered the favorites in the Eastern Conference?With Moe Wagner returning, should the Magic increase minutes for Penda and consider moving Jonathan Isaac?Sixers — 51:55What do we make of VJ Edgecombe’s rookie season so far?Did Tyrese Maxey deserve more All-NBA consideration given how he has carried the Sixers?Raptors — 59:09What do Jamal Shead’s playmaking numbers and on/off data suggest about his long-term role?How much of Toronto’s improvement is due to Scottie Barnes’ development versus shooting and Immanuel Quickley’s influence?How should the Raptors manage R.J. Barrett’s future given his contract and offensive importance?Wizards — 1:09:00Can Cam Whitmore turn things around after being benched for not meeting on-court standards?What should Wizards fans look for when evaluating Brian Keefe—player development, stylistic identity, or broader organizational signals? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hawks — 3:36Should the Hawks trade Trae Young plus two juicy Bucks/Pels picks for Giannis, and how would that look from both teams’ perspectives?If the Hawks keep Trae, re-sign him reasonably, and just add this incoming Pelicans pick, can that path ever realistically lead to a championship?Do you buy Onyeka Okongwu’s three-point shooting, and if you do, is he a top-15 center in the league?Celtics — 13:20If you’re the Celtics, how should you play out the rest of the season—go all out because there’s no super-team in the East, or pull back at some point to protect health?How useful will their increased turnover forcing and more egalitarian offense be once Jayson Tatum returns, and which rotation guys could actually be part of a high-level playoff rotation?Is Jaylen Brown genuinely improved compared to prior years, or is it mostly that the mid-range is falling more; and if it’s shot luck, how long would he have to sustain this for it to be “real”?Nets — 22:36Is Michael Porter more valuable to the Nets as an on-court player to get them back into the playoff mix, or as a trade asset?Can you do as deep a dive as possible on Noah Clowney’s game and development?Were pundits too quick to call the Nets’ draft a disaster given how much their rookies are now playing?Hornets — 31:06What has happened to LaMelo Ball—he was an All-Star before, so is this decline just injuries and lack of progression?What are some potential trades for Miles Bridges, Ball, and Sexton?Do you sense a shift in the Hornets’ organizational philosophy under the new regime?Bulls — 39:10John Hollinger has said the Suns turned down the Pelicans/Hawks pick deal; do you know if that exact deal (or better) was offered to other teams like the Bulls or Blazers, or is that just logical inference?Should the Bulls go all-in and trade for Anthony Davis, and what could they realistically get for Coby White if Artūras Karnišovas canvassed the league?The Bulls are trying to make up for their talent deficit by running on everything—does that strategy backfire (more injuries, better teams separating with more possessions), or is it actually their best path?Cavs — 50:20How concerned are you about the Cavs’ bad start, and in particular about Darius Garland’s play and health?What are your thoughts on Jaylon Tyson’s development so far?Should Cleveland start trying to get out of the second apron, and what would it take to do that?Pistons — 58:06Good or bad, what has been the most surprising thing about the Eastern Conference so far this season?Besides Giannis and Lauri Markkanen, what other players would be a good fit for the Pistons and actually gettable?Would Sam Hauser be a good target for the Pistons given his price point and role, and how does he fit relative to what they already have (e.g. Duncan Robinson–type shooters)? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

With the East so open, should the Pistons push their chips in now for a star forward like Jaren Jackson Jr. (or Markkanen/AD), and what would that kind of trade cost?Is an Austin Reaves–Luka Dončić backcourt too weak defensively for the Lakers to be a true championship contender?⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠Lawrence FrankChris Paul-ClippersChris PaulL.A. ClippersCleveland CavaliersGiannis AntetokounmpoSpurs-MagicPistons-BucksDunc'd On LivePat SpencerDenver NuggetsDenver Nuggets⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠ Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential trade request leads off the show, as Nate and Danny retrace how Milwaukee got here and debate where he could go next.They then break down Bucks/Pistons, highlighted by Giannis’ calf injury, Doc Rivers’ clever 2–3 zone, and Jericho Sims’ decisive and-one.San Antonio/Orlando follows, with Dylan Harper’s electric playmaking, De’Aaron Fox’s tough shotmaking, and Luke Kornet’s game-saving block on Franz Wagner.Jamal Murray’s 52-point explosion against Indiana ranks among the most efficient 50-point games ever.A shorthanded Warriors/Thunder matchup features Pat Spencer’s breakout, Seth Curry’s debut, and OKC’s defensive lapses.Finally, Chris Paul’s exit from the Clippers headlines a lengthy news segment on injuries and updates around the league.Giannis’ looming trade request, the Bucks’ timeline, and possible destinations and returns. 0:30Bucks/Pistons: Giannis’ calf injury, Doc’s 2–3 zone on Cade, Sims’ putback, and Detroit’s crunch-time collapse. 17:30Spurs @ Magic: Harper vs Fox, Orlando’s paint attack, and Luke Kornet’s game-saving block on Franz. 25:47Jamal Murray drops 52 on Indiana and what it reveals about Denver’s season and their home/road split. 45:38Warriors/Thunder in SF: Pat Spencer’s shock performance, OKC’s shorthanded defense, Seth Curry signing, and Kuminga’s health. 50:08Chris Paul sent home by the Clippers, locker-room dynamics, Ty Lue/Lawrence Frank, and what’s next for CP3. 58:59News (league-wide injuries/updates: Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Pelicans, Wizards, Knicks, Kings, Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Hornets, and more). 1:06:41 Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate and Danny take their first crack at the NBA awards. Jokic, Shai, Luka, or Giannis for MVP? 00:01:38We break down a ridiculously deep field for the All-NBA teams, with over 25 legitimate candidates. 00:28:59Then, Defensive Player of the Year, with some surprising and some familiar candidates. 00:57:59Coach of the Year is another great one with coaches who have totally overhauled their systems, and others who have continued consistent excellence. 01:05:42Sixth Man of the Year also has some great options, although Nate and Danny have much different approaches to this award than the typical voter. 01:14:11Who is the leader for Rookie of the Year in a really talented class? 01:22:15People have been low on the 2024 draft, but some sophomores have started emerging. Who is the Sophomore of the Year? 01:29:17 Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.