Trade Deadline Preview with Ron Gutterman

Welcoming on our first ever guest, Ron Gutterman, we take a look at some of the most intriguing teams and situations ahead of the NBA trade deadline.You can keep up with Ron on X @rongutterman24

The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in an interesting organizational position. We first provide a full scouting report and projection of Cooper Flagg. From our evaluatory conclusion of him as a prospect, we go over the complex potential paths forward for Dallas. How do they move forward having two aging (and often injured) stars, with limited draft capital and prospects outside of Flagg? To answer this question, we look to historical examples of organizations that found themselves in a similar position and how the Mavericks could learn their successes and mistakes. Finally, we go over some potential Dallas-centric trade frameworks for the 2026 trade deadline, with the ultimate goal of (to the best of their ability) setting themselves up for a future centered around Cooper Flagg.

The future is now! We go in-depth on the Atlanta Hawks with a specific focus on Jalen Johnson and Trae Young; answering the key questions that the Atlanta front office is currently facing: What is the current state of this team from a roster and salary cap perspective? What are Johnson and Young as players now, as well as projecting forward? And most importantly, what transactions need to be made at the 2026 trade deadline to best set this team up for future success?To assist with answering these questions to the best of our ability, we provide key-player scouting reports, salary cap analysis, and plausible foundations for in-season trades.

We take a step back to analyze the last ten years of who (and what) drove winning NBA basketball and more importantly, how it has evolved over time– using the “Big” archetype as a proxy to tell this larger story. We start with the rise of “pace and space” basketball, coinciding with the demise of a specific “Big” archetype. Then, we discuss the skill sets, player archetypes and strategies that emerged from the ashes of Roy Hibbert and Al Jefferson. However, when first-shot halfcourt efficiently gets more or less solved, what becomes the driving differentiator is the floor/possession game; which in many ways is a strength of this previously antiquated traditional big man archetype…Finally, we look at how these past-player and strategic trends could inform the future of NBA basketball.

We go in-depth on the Spurs Knicks NBA Cup Championship Game. We start with a positive assessment of what (and who) went well for the Knicks; highlighting one of the best per minute offensive rebounding performances in NBA history from Mitchell Robinson, OG’s well-rounded offensive performance and how even when Brunson is not at his best, why he is so important to the Knicks offensive approach. We then discuss how the Spurs fell short, along with the plenty of signs of encouragement for a young team that is currently ahead of schedule. We finish with larger overviews of both teams, with a focus on where they could go from a personnel and tactical standpoint moving forward.

The NBA Cup Quarterfinals! We start with an in-depth discussion on Spurs Lakers. In what aspects did the Spurs crush the Lakers, along with a larger outlook on LA for the rest of the season. We then transition to a preview of San Antonio OKC. Everything from what we expect the pace of this game to be, to intriguing individual matchups. We then venture to the Eastern Conference to discuss Heat Magic. What’s new with these Florida teams since we last discussed them and what specifically popped in this game? Followed by briefly touching on Knicks Raptors and then flowing into a Knicks Magic preview. How OG is working as a rim protector next to KAT and some new unexpected contributors for Orlando.

An in-depth analysis of the Miami Heat’s offense to start the 25-26 season. We go over exactly how this offense has punched so far above its talent weight-class, some of its potential influences, and how we believe this playstyle will fare against higher-end competition. We also explore a fun thought experiment that takes the concepts of the Miami Heat’s offense to a logical talent extreme.

We explore the team and player that dominated the off-season news cycle: The Golden State Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga. We look at what Golden State is on the floor right now and how Kuminga fits into that puzzle. Finally, we look into some of the possible paths forward that the Warriors could explore.

A full breakdown of the Nuggets vs. Rockets NBA Cup Matchup. We provide an in-depth analysis of what we saw from the players on the floor, coaching strategy as well as larger takeaways we had. Some game-specific topics we touch on include: How Jamal Murray looks physically, Reed Sheppard continuing to show positive flashes on offense (while his defense also continues to worry us), what Amen Thompson currently is as a player, and Denver’s approach to dealing with Houston’s offensive rebounding prowess. Our bigger picture, playoff-adjacent, analysis consists of contrasting Denver’s halfcourt shot-creation with Houston’s and how we think Houston will fare against higher quality competition in general.Jokics amazing pass: https://youtu.be/3thjsykjkX4

In this episode we take a look at three Eastern conference teams and how they're faring so far this season. Exploring what we've found interesting and what takeaways there are this early in the season.