Hardwood Knocks: An NBA Podcast

Dan is joined by the legendary Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) from Spotrac to cover the ins and outs of the new NBA collective bargaining agreement. Topics include: games-played minimum for awards, the luxury tax, the "super tax," the midseason tournament, players investing in NBA and WNBA teams and sports betting companies, unintended consequences of new items and MUCH MORE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 3:26 - The NBA's focus on parity 6:46 - Is the "Super Tax" good or bad? 18:27 - Will more teams pay the "regular" luxury tax? 22:37 - The impact of a 65-game minimum for awards and All-NBA teams 31:13 - Do the changes in extension rules matter? 36:37 - The future of Jaylen Brown 43:03 - Is it good that players can invest in NBA/WNBA teams and sports betting companies 50:11 - Is the in-season tournament good or bad? 55:13 - Under-the-radar changes to the CBA JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant revisit their NBA preseason win-loss predictions and take ownership of their biggest misses and explain their logic, what went wrong and so much more. We talk about more than half the league, so buckle up! TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 6:11 - Oklahoma City Thunder 9:15 - Utah Jazz 12:46 - Sacramento Kings 17:31 - Indiana Pacers 20:52 - Boston Celtics 24:17 - New York Knicks 27:47 - Golden State Warriors 36:10 - Detroit Pistons 39:35 - Minnesota Timberwolves 45:56 - Phoenix Suns 48:26 - New Orleans Pelicans 53:13 - Dallas Mavericks 56:28 - LA Clippers 1:00:27 - Toronto Raptors JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME, PART 2. In the second mailbag of the week, Dan discusses the Julius Randle injury, playoff offenses, the future of Jaylen Brown on the Boston Celtics, NBA revenue sharing, teams best positioned to trade for Luka Doncic and MORE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 2:23 - Can the New York Knicks survive without Julius Randle 12:23 - Which team would Victor Wembanyama help the least? 17:49 - Will offenses be worse in the playoffs? 21:41 - Biggest winners and losers from the regular season 27:35 - Erase one of these NBA players' contributions from the league: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Michael Jordan 28:39 - Is Jaylen Brown destined to leave the Boston Celtics? 37:30 - How NBA revenue sharing works 42:02 - Is Kyrie Irving a good fit in Orlando? 44:33 - Which NBA teams are best positioned to trade for Luka Doncic JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. Dan goes through questions that cover Evan Mobley and the Defensive Player of the Year race, the growth of Jaden McDaniels and his next contract, the future of Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, playoff basketball, LaMelo Ball and MUCH MORE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 4:45 - The development of Jaden McDaniels 19:20 - LaMelo Ball's value 25:49 - Where would Jalen Williams go in a 2022 NBA re-draft? 28:50 - Woj or Shams? 30:37 - When is it okay to call someone a 'bust?' 33:30 - Is Evan Mobley a Defensive Player of the Year candidate? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan discusses the collapse of the Dallas Mavericks, the prospect of their tanking this season and what the current state of affairs means for their season. After that, he's got five *reasonably bold* predictions to drop into your mindholes. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 2:12 - State of the Dallas Mavericks 19:02 - Prediction #1 25:04 - Prediction #2 29:46 - Prediction #3 33:10 - Prediction #4 38:43 - Prediction #5 JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan goes LONG on the Paul George injury and its impact on the short- and long-term future of the LA Clippers. Then, while nobody asked for this, Dan offers one 2023 free agent every NBA team should already be thinking about— in the name of changing pace. CHAPTERS BELOW⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 2:50 - The LA Clippers without Paul George 24:02 - Atlanta Hawks 24:59 - Boston Celtics 25:24 - Brooklyn Nets 26:15 - Charlotte Hornets 27:06 - Chicago Bulls 27:43 - Cleveland Cavaliers 28:18 - Dallas Mavericks 28:57 - Denver Nuggets 29:53 - Detroit Pistons 30:22 - Golden State Warriors 31:11 - Houston Rockets 32:00 - Indiana Pacers 33:00 - LA Clippers 33:34 - Los Angeles Clippers 34:45 - Memphis Grizzlies 36:03 - Miami Heat 36:38 - Milwaukee Bucks 37:46 - Minnesota Timberwolves 38:26 - New Orleans Pelicans 39:37 - New York Knicks 42:00 - Oklahoma City Thunder 44:15 - Orlando Magic 45:58 - Philadelphia 76ers 46:47 - Phoenix Suns 48:10 - Portland Trail Blazers 50:12 - Sacramento Kings 51:34 - San Antonio Spurs 53:10 - Toronto Raptors 53:52 - Utah Jazz 55:30 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant are trading big-picture observations for that will define the rest of the NBA season, potentially the 2023 NBA playoffs and definitely the 2023 NBA offseason. This journey includes the future of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks, Jalen Williams and more! TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:15 - INTRO 4:45 - The future of the New Orleans Pelicans is complicated 15:32 - Free-agency outlook, Jerami Grant, Nikola Vucevic 24:16 - Are the New York Knicks underrated? 35:07 - Next steps for the Knicks 36:23 - Are the Philadelphia 76ers Tier 1 title contenders? 42:31 - The Memphis Grizzlies playoff stock 47:26 - Is Kawhi Leonard a top-five player again? 53:23 - Can Jalen Williams be better than Paolo Banchero? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In Part 3 of our three-part mailbag, Dan and Grant dive into the future of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, the latest Lonzo Ball injury news, Jayson Tatum's slumping MVP case, the Denver Nuggets' title chances, the Golden State Warriors' transition into the post-Stephen Curry era, the best clutch players who don't score and MORE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:30 - Who gets more wins over the next three seasons: The New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets? 7:57 - Why has Jayson Tatum fallen out of the MVP discussion? 12:36 - Which NBA franchise would you chose to represent the model of how to build a team, culture, manage finances, etc 23:37 - Lonzo Ball update 24:39 - True shooting percentage 26:14 - Who are the best clutch time NBA players based on stats excluding points scored? Guys who do all the little things at the end of the game but don’t hit the final shot. 31:22 - Should the Denver Nuggets be title favorites? 36:26 - What will happen to the Golden State Warriors after Stephen Curry retires? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In Part 2 of our three-part mailbag, Dan and Grant react to Bogdan Bogdanovic signing an extension with the Atlanta Hawks before tackling the free-agency outlooks for Cam Johnson and Hamidou Diallo. After that, they talk about Kawhi Leonard's All-NBA candidacy, as well as the battle for the final center spot. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:30 - INTRO 4:46 - The Bogdan Bogdanovic extension 17:51 - How much will Cam Johnson get in free agency? 22:52 - What will be Hamidou Diallo's free-agent market? 33:51 - Are the Sacramento Kings locks to win the Pacific Division? 39:21 - Will Kawhi Leonard make an All-NBA team? 45:21 - Who's your third-team All-NBA center? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In part 1 of this week's mailbag, Dan discusses the Denver Nuggets' recent struggles, player evaluation, the long-term future of the Miami Heat, Kyrie Irving's next contract, the most important role players of the NBA playoffs and MUCH more. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:30 - INTRO 3:26 - Are the Denver Nuggets in trouble? 17:28 - Who will be the Portland Trail Blazers' next head coach? 23:26 - What matters more in player evaluation: offense or defense? 26:26 - How important is continuity for NBA title contenders? 31:18 - What should Kyrie Irving's next contract look like? 35:58 - Who will make the next Mikal Bridges-type leap? 38:19 - Deepest playoff teams, most important role players in the postseason 48:18 - The significance postseason runs for the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings 51:16 - Can Miami Heat avoid remaining trapped in mediocrity? 54:13 - Will LeBron James play until he's 45?!? 56:09 - Which role players can you NOT imagine playing for another team? 57:41 - Which role player would be the best star in the league if they got... WEMBY-PILLED JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan is joined by Greg Wissinger (@gwiss) of The Kings Herald to discuss—YOU GUESSED IT—the rise of the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings. From what makes them tick to their biggest flaws to breaking down potential playoff matchups, they get into it all. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 1:30 - INTRO 3:31 - How surprising is this Kings team? 9:22 - The defining factors of the NBA's best offense 10:58 - Domantas Sabonis' better-than-expected fit 12:22 - The growth of De'Aaron Fox 15:58 - Staggering the minutes of Sabonis and Fox 19:11 - Development of Keegan Murray 22:28 - Impact of Malik Monk 25:17 - Is the Kings defense really that bad? 30:43 - Revisiting the Kevin Huerter trade 32:47 - Are the Kings underrated? 35:36 - Ideal first-round playoff matchup for the Kings 39:27 - Most problematic playoff matchups for the Kings JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan goes long on one question, which was inspired by Discord user ItsAllen: Why do basketball fans care about the NBA MVP award so much? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant revisit all the biggest deals from the 2023 NBA trade deadline and discuss where their impressions of each transaction stand exactly one month later. Part 2 covers the D'Angelo Russell mega trade, the Toronto Raptors getting Jakob Poeltl, the New York Knicks landing Josh Hart, Jae Crowder going to the Milwaukee Bucks and MUCH MORE. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:45 - D'Angelo Russell trade 14:01 - Jakob Poeltl trade 21:56 - Josh Hart trade 29:33 - Jae Crowder trade 34:31 - Eric Gordon/Luke Kennard trade 42:21 - Bones Hyland trade 44:01 - Josh Richardson trade 44:42 - Dario Saric trade 46:13 - Jalen McDaniels trade JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant revisit all the biggest deals from the 2023 NBA trade deadline and discuss where their impressions of each transaction stand exactly one month later. Part 1 will cover the Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Wiseman moves. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - Intro 3:01 - Kevin Durant trade 11:46 - Kyrie Irving trade 23:03 - James Wiseman trade JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WELCOME TO NBA 'HOT OR NOT?!' You submitted your hot takes. Dan and Grant are here to discuss whether they're too spicy or not incendiary enough. This batch of surface-of-the-sun takes will cover everything from max (or near-max) contract candidates this summer, the rise of the New York Knicks, the future of the Miami Heat, the MVP race and MUCH more! TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 3:01 - The Sacramento Kings are more likely to win a playoff series than the Memphis Grizzlies 5:18 - A 10-seed will win one of the play-in tournaments 7:14 - Damian Lillard will make First Team All-NBA 12:03 - The 2024 Rookie of the Year race will be an all-timer 13:34 - The Dallas Mavericks OR LA Clippers will miss the playoffs 16:18 - The Knicks will win more than 50 games 18:34 - The betting favorites for DPOY and MIP will NOT win the awards 24:26 - Damian Lillard OR Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will receive more MVP votes than Jayson Tatum 25:34 - The Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets have the brightest futures in the NBA 29:02 - A full-strength Los Angeles Lakers team will come out of the Western Conference 31:13 - Anthony Davis never should have been on the top-75 player list 33:52 - Mike Brown should win Coach of the Year 35:55 - The Miami Heat should trade Jimmy Butler 38:17 - The Memphis Grizzlies are better off without Ja Morant 41:32 - Victor Wembanyama is not as good as people think 44:10 - The NBA will make sure Victor Wembanyama gets to Oklahoma City, Atlanta or Orlando 46:04 - Franz Wagner is more important to the Orlando Magic than Paolo Banchero 47:22 - LeBron James or Dwight Howard should have won 2010-11 MVP award 48:52 - The Knicks will make the Eastern Conference Finals 50:04 - Jaden McDaniels and Ant Edward’s will be a better version of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown 51:22 - Jordan Poole will be traded this offseason 53:38 - These players will make MORE THAN $25 MILLION PER YEAR in their next contract JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. Dan drops Part 2 of this week's mailbag, which includes a look at the surging New York Knicks, the ambiguous L.A. Clippers, the NBA MVP race, Anthony Edwards, playoff seeds and more! TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 1:39 - Anthony Edwards 5:02 - Are the New York Knicks actually good? 10:57 - The MVP discussion 32:05 - What happens to the L.A. Clippers if they implode during—or before—the postseason? 39:41 - Top Sixth Man of the Year candidates 48:48 - Predicted the top 10 seeds in both the East and the West...You're welcome? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In Part 1 of a two-pod mailbag, Dan ventures through questions that cover the Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, playoff basketball, Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 1:46 - Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Outlook 13:00 - Is it time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to go all-in this summer? 20:47 - Fred VanVleet's free-agency value 27:29 - What’s a bigger detriment to a team in the playoffs: a defensive ace with no offensive game, or a pure bucket that is an absolute liability on defense? 31:06 - Pascal Siakam's playmaking 35:27 - The Toronto Raptors outlook 41:09 - How much is Gary Trent Jr. Worth? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant go through their EIGHT most interesting NBA teams heading into the stretch run of the 2022-23 regular season. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 3:23 - Most interesting team No. 1 8:55 - Most interesting team No. 2 12:40 - Most interesting team No. 3 13:22 - Will Kyrie be on the Mavs next season? 18:47 - Most interesting team No. 4 22:23 - Most interesting team No. 5 26:11 - Most interesting team No. 6 28:49 - Most interesting team No. 7 31:48 - Most interesting team No. 8 JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In the latest mailbag, Dan and Grant tackle Cinderella candidates ahead of the 2023 NBA playoffs, discuss their best head coaches, the development of Mark Williams, Jerami Grant's free agency and MUCH more. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 2:15 - Are the Lakers cooked without LeBron James? 6:10 - Are the Jazz tanking? 10:46 - Do players deserve blame for load management? 16:15 - Can the Kings win a playoff series? 18:47 - Should the NBA implement a target score for overtime? 21:12 - Imagining Victor Wembanyama on a Finals contender 22:17 - Which team DON'T you want to see get Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson? 28:15 - Will the Jazz look at trading Lauri Markkanen over the offseason? 29:10 - The development of Mark Williams 33:56 - Jalen Duren or Mark Williams? 34:18 - Most likely playoff Cinderella stories 39:10 - Which team can steal Jerami Grant from the Blazers? 43:02 - Will the Grizzlies make a big trade this summer? 49:06 - Top five coaches in game management, strategy and x's o's. 56:50 - Top five coaches in development/leadership JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan reacts to some of the most pressing NBA news items: Quin Snyder (officially) joining the Atlanta Hawks, the LaMelo Ball injury, the LeBron James injury and the latest on CBA negotiations between the league and the players union. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 2:02 - Quin Snyder, the future of the Atlanta Hawks 18:47 - LaMelo Ball Injury 25:22 - Can the Lakers survive the LeBron James injury? 36:44 - Reacting to the latest CBA negotiation news: age limit, luxury-tax bands, extension rules JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant pose 10 pressing questions that they'll thinking about over the stretch run of the NBA regular season. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 2:46 - Which teams will emerge as surprise tankers? 6:08 - Which team will go down as a disastrous disappointment? 13:06 - What is the most impactful injury for the rest of this season? 15:59 - Who is the rightful title favorite? 19:46 - Will Russell Westbrook have a material impact, good or bad, on the Clippers' outlook? 24:39 - Which new arrival will have the biggest impact on their team? 29:04 - How concerned are we about the long-term trajectory of the New Orleans Pelicans? 35:25 - Will Kevin Durant's fit on the Phoenix Suns be seamless? 41:07 - Which buyout acquisition will matter the most? 45:26 - Which contenders will make major changes if they don't win a title? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. Dan and Grant plow through questions that cover Nate McMillan getting fired, the future of the Atlanta Hawks, fixes for NBA All-Star Weekend, the current parity, contenders who are actually frauds, rookie awards, the outlook of the Brooklyn Nets and MUCH MORE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 4:23 - Nate McMillan firing, future of the Atlanta Hawks 14:28 - Fixing All-Star Weekend 23:21 - Is this parity in the NBA temporary? 28:26 - Which should-be contender is a fraud? 37:25 - Kevin Love to Miami, Will Cleveland regret it? 39:06 - Mac McClung's NBA future 40:33 - Dark horse spoilers for the playoffs 44:26 - Which contender might blow it up if they have a disappointing postseason? 49:14 - NBA Awards for Rookies 52:34 - Are the Orlando Magic the next version of the Memphis Grizzlies 53:36 - Which 1-6 teams are most likely to fall into play-in territory? Which 7-10 teams drop out of the play-in? 57:27 - How will the Nets operate this summer? 1:02:16 - Predicting post-All-Star leap JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan is joined by Sam Cooper (@scooperhoops) and Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) of The Timeline Podcast to for a DEEEEP dive into how the Kevin Durant trade impacts the Phoenix Suns both immediately and over the longer term. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:30 - INTRO 1:46 - WAS JOSH OKOGIE SNUBBED FROM THE THREE-POINT COMPETITION?! 3:38 - Thoughts about the Kevin Durant trade two weeks later... 6:38 - The opportunity cost of acquiring KD 14:10 - The urgency of Phoenix's window 19:16 - Most fascinating impact of Kevin Durant's on-court fit 24:42 - Concerns about the KD fit 31:51 - Deandre Ayton's fit 36:20 - Devin Booker's role post-KD 42:16 - Terrence Ross' fit 46:13 - Best guesses for the rotation/Buyout targets 52:59 - Should the Suns be considered title favorites? 57:36 - Toughest potential matchups 1:03:59 - Offseason priorities 1:06:28 - The Kyrie bugaboo JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In Part 2 of our two-part mailbag, Dan and Grant cover the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker-at-point-guard lineups, the future of the Brooklyn Nets, Mikal Bridges' ceiling, the progression of Evan Mobley, the next blow-it-up candidates and much more. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:11 - INTRO 3:03 - How far can the Nets go in the playoffs 5:27 - The expansion of Mikal Bridges' offensive game 10:11 - Pelicans vs. Magic 12:44 - Which team will look the most different next year after standing pat at the trade deadline? 16:27 - What's the worst destination for Victor Wembanyama and why is it the Rockets? 20:11 - Has Evan Mobley made THE LEAP? 25:12 - More valuable: Distant first-round picks or immediate first-rounders? 31:41 - Which team will do what the Nets or Jazz have done and tear it down next? 39:54 - Who would be the longest tenured Utah Jazz player next season? 42:12 - Did the Phoenix Suns give up too much for Kevin Durant? 48:53 - Will the KD trade have an impact on the CBA? 52:06 - Should Phoenix play more Devin Booker-at-point-guard lineups? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. In Part 1 of a two-part mailbag, Dan and Grant discuss the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and hold their own mock draft. After that, they talk about Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron James, the impact of Zion Williamson's latest injury on the New Orleans Pelicans and much more. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:11 - INTRO 4:05 - MOCK 2023 NBA ALL-STAR DRAFT 10:56 - Zion Williamson injury/availability 17:27 - Fixing All-Star Weekend 23:41 - Is LeBron James a bad leader? 32:55 - Should active players be allowed immediate entry into the Hall of Fame 36:35 - Rudy Gobert's trade value if the Timberwolves wanted to rebuild 42:45 - If the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, where would their rebuild rank? JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan runs through a list of potential buyout candidates and rattles off where he thinks they'd be best suited to play. JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2 of our NBA trade deadline reaction covers the Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and our biggest surprises/most under the radar moves. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 0:55 - Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons 9:18 - Atlanta Hawks 10:11 - Portland Trail Blazers 13:29 - Western Conference playoff picture 14:51 - Toronto Raptors/Jakob Poeltl 22:35 - Chicago Bulls 28:57 - Cleveland Cavaliers 35:38 - Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans 41:31 - New York Knicks, Zach LaVine, John Collins 50:04 - Biggest surprises, under the radar moves JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Part 1 of our two-part podcast on the 2023 NBA trade deadline. Dan and Grant analyze the ins and outs of Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns, the Brooklyn Nets, the L.A. Clippers, Bones Hyland and Eric Gordon, the Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies and Luke Kennard, every Los Angeles Lakers move and the impact of the D'Angelo Russell and Mike Conley trade on the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 6:04 - Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, 21:39 - Brooklyn Nets 38:27 - L.A. Clippers 35:21 - Denver Nuggets 40:03 - Memphis Grizzlies 46:00 - Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan reacts to the three-team trade between the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz and what it means for each franchise moving forward. After that, it's on to the New York Knicks acquiring Josh Hart from the Portland Trail Blazers. Finally, we wrap up with some general NBA trade deadline thoughts and musings. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 4:13 - Los Angeles Lakers trade reaction 12:21 - Timberwolves trade reaction 15:21 - Utah Jazz trade reaction 25:08 - New York Knicks/Portland Trail Blazers trade reaction 34:51 - Live MAILBAG! JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan came up with one realistic 2023 NBA trade deadline prediction for every team. Some already don't look so hot. Others aren't so bad. One already even came true! TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 3:29 - Atlanta Hawks 6:16 - Boston Celtics 7:27 - Brooklyn Nets 9:32 - Charlotte Hornets 10:38 - Chicago Bulls 11:51 - Cleveland Cavaliers 13:19 - Dallas Mavericks 15:03 - Denver Nuggets 17:10 - Detroit Pistons 18:54 - Golden State Warriors 20:01 - Houston Rockets 22:14 - Indiana Pacers 23:43 - L.A. Clippers 25:55 - Los Angeles Lakers 28:08 - Memphis Grizzlies 30:19 - Miami Heat 32:03 - Milwaukee Bucks 33:57 - Minnesota Timberwolves 35:55 - New Orleans Pelicans 37:38 - New York Knicks 38:51 - Oklahoma City Thunder 40:00 - Orlando Magic 41:38 - Philadelphia 76ers 42:42 - Phoenix Suns 44:42 - Portland Trail Blazers 47:03 - Sacramento Kings 49:11 - San Antonio Spurs 49:54 - Toronto Raptors 51:06 - Utah Jazz 52:50 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant break down every angle of the Kyrie Irving trade. Did the Dallas Mavericks make a mistake? What's next for Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets? How will this deal impact the rest of the trade market? Is LeBron James going to be mad? (PROGRAMMING NOTE: Dan goes solo for about the first 26 minutes, and then the ever fantabulous Mr. Hughes hops on.) JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT’S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON, ROUND 6. In the sixth and final podcast of this series, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Southeast Division: Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don’t want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 3:22 - Miami Heat 9:19 - Atlanta Hawks 16:46 - Orlando Magic 22:51 - Charlotte Hornets 31:44 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT’S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON, ROUND 5. In the fifth of six podcasts, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Central Division: Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don’t want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 4:37 - Milwaukee Bucks 12:50 - Cleveland Cavaliers 19:40 - Indiana Pacers 28:30 - Chicago Bulls 37:51 - Detroit Pistons JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT’S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON, ROUND 4. In the fourth of six podcasts, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don’t want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 5:51 - Boston Celtics 15:16 - Philadelphia 76ers 24:14 - Brooklyn Nets 33:13 - New York Knicks 47:35 - Toronto Raptors JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan dissects the latest NBA trade deadline news and rumors before cannonballing into a mini-mailbag. From the complicated nature of a Bones Hyland trade to OG Anunoby's value to Myles Turner's future, we've got LOADS to discuss. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 3:57 - Myles Turner's new deal, What to expect from the Indiana Pacers at the NBA trade deadline 7:40 - Jerami Grant/Portland Trail Blazers trade deadline plans 15:42 - How to sift through the NBA's "slop?" / Jaylen Nowell rumors, Bones Hyland rumors 19:41 - Bones Hyland trade rumors 28:05 - Why a Bones Hyland trade is so complicated for the Denver Nuggets 35:09 - Dorian Finney-Smith trade rumors 37:57 - The future of Fred VanVleet 39:34 - OG Anunoby trade rumors 50:55 - How much should availability factor into All-Star selections? 53:16 - Hawks-Warriors trade idea(?) 54:38 - What is Jarred Vanderbilt's trade value? 59:28 - Here's why the NBA trade deadline will be incredibly busy JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT’S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON, ROUND 3. In the third of six podcasts, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Southwest Division: Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don’t want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 7:50 - Memphis Grizzlies 14:30 - New Orleans Pelicans 22:01 - Dallas Mavericks 32:52 - San Antonio Spurs 38:11 - Houston Rockets JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT'S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON, ROUND 2. In the second of six podcasts, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder. From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don't want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 4:09 - Denver Nuggets 15:18 - Utah Jazz 26:04 - Minnesota Timberwolves 34:26 - Oklahoma City Thunder 41:35 - Portland Trail Blazers JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT'S 2023 NBA TRADE DEADLINE PRIMER SEASON. In the first of six podcasts, Dan and Grant cover the ins and outs of every team in the Pacific Division: Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. From salary-cap minutiae to pressing needs to HYPOTHETICAL TRADES GALORE, you don't want to miss this. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:58 - INTRO 4:09 - Sacramento Kings 16:28 - LA Clippers 25:29 - Golden State Warriors 37:06 - Phoenix Suns 48:36 - Los Angeles Lakers JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan reacts to the trade sending Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. Did the Washington Wizards make a mistake? What does this say about how the Lakers will handle the rest of the deadline? He gets into it all. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 3:35 - Impact on the Lakers 17:13 - Impact on the Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. This trip into the mind of our WONDERFUL LISTENERS has Dan and Grant discussing NBA teams that are one trade away from title contention; trade targets for the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and many more; Rudy Gobert and Walker Kessler; the Sacramento Kings' odds of winning a playoff series; Trae Young's future with the Atlanta Hawks; and MUCH, MUCH, MUCH MORE. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 1:57 - INTRO 2:26 - Is it harder to build a championship team with a point guard as your best player? 11:46 - Can the Sacramento Kings win a playoff series? 16:52 - Which team would you want to be the GM for at the 2023 NBA trade deadline? 21:06 - Trae Young's future with the Atlanta Hawks 29:36 - Wing targets for the Celtics 35:12 - Rudy Gobert and Walker Kessler rabbit hole 42:05 - Do the Nuggets need to trade for backup big? 45:49 - One-trade away contenders, Plus a Bunch of hypothetical trades 1:05:47 - 5 Quick Trade Ideas JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant bounce around the Association to discuss parity in the Western Conference, the title cases for the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets, the 2023 NBA trade deadline, All-Star scenarios, the MVP race and MUCH more. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:22 - Ranting and raving about #TheDiscourse this time of year 9:31 - Parity in the NBA, Are the Nuggets and Grizzlies the heavy favorites in the West? 24:14 - Will the trade deadline suck? 34:47 - This year's All-Star pool is going to be weird 37:25 - Are these NBA players done making All-Star games? 42:49 - Is the MVP debate broken? SUPPORT THE SHOW BY PURCHASING HARDWOOD KNOCKS MERCH: https://bit.ly/hwkmerch JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan recently wrote about every NBA team's best blockbuster trade asset ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline. He goes into more detail about his picks for every squads as well as what went into the process. Check out the article here: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10061630-every-nba-teams-best-blockbuster-trade-asset-entering-2023-deadline ....TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:15 - INTRO 1:08 - The process behind selections 4:31 - Atlanta Hawks 5:37 - Boston Celtics 6:25 - Brooklyn Nets 7:16 - Charlotte Hornets 8:02 - Chicago Bulls 9:33 - Cleveland Cavaliers 9:53 - Dallas Mavericks 11:03 - Denver Nuggets 12:06 - Detroit Pistons 13:28 - Golden State Warriors 14:37 - Houston Rockets 15:54 - Indiana Pacers 17:05 - LA Clippers 18:10 - Los Angeles Lakers 19:06 - Memphis Grizzlies 20:12 - Miami Heat 21:19 - Minnesota Timberwolves 22:24 - Milwaukee Bucks 23:50 - New Orleans Pelicans 25:04 - New York Knicks 27:25 - Oklahoma City Thunder 29:05 - Orlando Magic 30:15 - Philadelphia 76ers 31:14 - Phoenix Suns 33:45 - Portland Trail Blazers 34:52 - Sacramento Kings 36:30 - San Antonio Spurs 37:41 - Toronto Raptors 39:20 - Utah Jazz 41:15 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME...IN MINIATURE. Dan and Grant answer questions from listeners about the Miami Heat, the top five players in the West, Anfernee Simons, Lauri Markkanen, Pascal Siakam, team-building strategies and more. Finally, at the very end, Dan and Grant determine whether every team in the league should buy, sell or hold at the 2023 NBA trade deadline. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:09 - Is it time for the Miami Heat to blow it up? 6:55 - Who are the five best players in the Western Conference, regardless of position? 13:07 - What is the best roster-building strategy? 23:01 - LaMelo Ball/Anthony Edwards 25:39 - What is Anfernee Simons' trade value? 34:52 - Who says no?! Blazers or Jazz? 37:00 - More likely to be traded: Pascal Siakam or Lauri Markkanen? 38:44 - Buy, Sell or Hold: Western Conference 40:48 - Buy, Sell or Hold: Eastern Conference JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Grant debut "That's Something! or That's Stupid!," an idea that is the brainchild of RealSyrup2219 from Discord. (Thanks, RealSyrup2219!) In this pod, we respond to 13 statements that cover the NBA rulebook, league coverage, play styles and much more and then decide whether these proclamations are "Stupid!" or worth further discussion and implementation. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 4:05 - The NBA should look at rule changes to cut down on the reliance of the 3-ball so it's less of a "make or miss" league 6:25 - We (Fans, Media, basically everyone who doesn't work in a front office) should talk more about how "fun" and "unique" teams and players are and less about how "good" and "dominant" and "championship contenders" they are 12:36 - The NBA should abolish the coach's challenge 15:03 - Players should not be allowed to talk to the refs during the game. Coaches can lobby on behalf of their team 17:58 - If you fall down, you aren't eligible to draw a foul unless it's a flagranT 20:10 - All intentional fouls should be considered take fouls 22:35 - Free throws should not be shot in the moment. They should be tallied up and then shot all at once at the end of each quarter to add pressure 25:14 - The NBA should adopt the international rules allowing players to touch the ball as soon as it hits the rim 26:24 - In-arena music and sound effects should not be allowed during play 30:18 - Bank shots are cooler than swishes 31:53 - The NBA should reinstitute the hand check 34:04 - Every team having new jerseys every year will have negative effects on the league in the long run 38:01 - Free agency should come before the draft JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan had a craving for some low-hanging fruit, so he bounced around a little section of the the Association. First up: The impact that the Kevin Durant injury will have on the Brooklyn Nets. Then, it's on to the latest mini soap opera featuring LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. From there, he hits on the John Collins interview while providing a few of his favorite Collins destinations. And finally, he discusses Fred VanVleet and the future of the Toronto Raptors. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 3:56 - Kevin Durant injury fallout...Are the Brooklyn Nets doomed? 17:18 - LeBron James/Los Angeles Lakers/value of THE PICKS 25:00 - The future of John Collins 29:02 - Fred VanVleet/Future of the Raptors JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. Dan and Grant are back with Part 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference mailbag. If you haven't checked out Part 1, please do that now! In the second part of this exercise, we're tackling a BUNCH of questions on the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 0:41 - Detroit Pistons 8:24 - Indiana Pacers 14:25 19:13 - Milwaukee Bucks 27:49 - New York Knicks 40:29 - Orlando Magic 43:13 - Philadelphia 76ers 51:28 - Toronto Raptors 59:56 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAIL TIME. Dan and Grant dive into Part 1 of their TWO-PART Eastern Conference mailbag. First up, we have the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:16 - Atlanta Hawks 12:48 - Boston Celtics 19:54 - Brooklyn Nets 30:43 - Charlotte Hornets 43:24 - Chicago Bulls 48:53 - Cleveland Cavaliers JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan gets into the implications of the Zion Williamson hamstring injury and how it impacts the New Orleans Pelicans both in the short term and heading into the 2023 NBA trade deadline. JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan reacts to Grant "Certified Fantabulous" Hughes' article on Bleacher Report that covers 2023 New Year's resolutions for every NBA team. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:26 - Atlanta Hawks 2:43 - Boston Celtics 3:33 - Brooklyn Nets 3:57 - Charlotte Hornets 4:44 - Chicago Bulls 5:48 - Cleveland Browns 6:08 - Dallas Mavericks 7:06 - Denver Nuggets 8:13 - Detroit Pistons 8:50 - Golden State Warriors 9:23 - Houston Rockets 10:10 - Indiana Pacers 11:10 - LA Clippers 11:58 - Los Angeles Lakers 13:27 - Memphis Grizzlies 13:48 - Miami Heat 14:42 - Milwaukee Bucks 15:29 - Minnesota Timberwolves 16:28 - New Orleans Pelicans 18:17 - New York Knicks 19:45 - Oklahoma City Thunder 20:36 - Orlando Magic 21:46 - Philadelphia 76ers 22:43 - Phoenix /suns 24:07 - Portland Trail Blazers 25:08 - Sacramento Kings 25:59 - San Antonio Spurs 26:45 - Toronto Raptors 28:10 - Utah Jazz 30:48 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan polled people who cover or follow/root for every NBA team to figure out what should be their biggest regret from the 2022 calendar year. TIMESTAMPS BELOW⬇️ 0:15 - INTRO 4:54 - Atlanta Hawks 5:51 - Boston Celtics 6:35 - Brooklyn Nets 7:27 - Charlotte Hornets 8:18 - Chicago Bulls 9:04 - Cleveland Cavaliers 9:57 - Dallas Mavericks 11:32 - Denver Nuggets 13:04 - Detroit Pistons 13:55 - Golden State Warriors 15:05 - Houston Rockets 16:06 - Indiana Pacers 17:25 - L.A. Clippers 18:21 - Los Angeles Lakers 19:44 - Memphis Grizzlies 21:10 - Miami Heat 22:12 - Milwaukee Bucks 23:46 - Minnesota Timberwolves 25:38 - New Orleans Pelicans 26:49 - New York Knicks 28:51 - Oklahoma City Thunder 30:01 - Orlando Magic 31:22 - Philadelphia 76ers 32:31 - Phoenix Suns 34:35 - Portland Trail Blazers 36:29 - Sacramento Kings 38:17 - San Antonio Spurs 39:30 - Toronto Raptors 41:34 - Utah Jazz 42:20 - Washington Wizards JOIN OUR DISCORD: bit.ly/discordhwk SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: bit.ly/31z7eyI FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️ TWITTER/IG: @danfavale / @danfavale TWITTER: @gt_hughes TWITTER: @fromal09 TWITTER/IG: @HardwoodKnocks / @hardwood_knocks TIKTOK: @hardwoodknocks TWITTER: @SportsMathNet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices