Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association

The NBA Top 100 debates are getting difficult. Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize work through some of their toughest player-ranking decisions, including Anthony Edwards vs. Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant vs. Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell vs. Cade Cunningham and — somehow — OG Anunoby vs. LeBron James.Then, did the Utah Jazz actually win the blockbuster trades that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland and Rudy Gobert to Minnesota? With Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Utah’s young talent forming a promising core, the guys revisit both deals and ask whether “winning a trade” even matters if both sides got what they...

New Orleans Pelicans face an identity crisis as they juggle “win-now” ambitions with a roster packed with young talent. Bennedict Mathurin joins the team, Taj Gibson is waived for cap flexibility, and Jamahl Mosley takes over as head coach—but what exactly defines success for this unpredictable squad? Trey Murphy III and Yves Missi’s trade rumors, the ongoing Zion Williamson saga, and confusing two-timeline strategies fuel uncertainty about the Pelicans future.Tony East and Andy Kamenetzky spotlight Phil Jackson’s statue honor at Crypto.com Arena, debating which active NBA coaches—like Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Mark Daignea...

What do the Los Angeles Clippers owe their fans after the Kawhi Leonard scandal? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize revisit the fallout and debate whether Clippers ownership and the front office need to provide real answers about what happened — and how they plan to recover.Then, extension season is here. After Amen Thompson landed a five-year, $208 million deal, the guys tackle some of the toughest decisions involving the 2023 NBA Draft class. Is Ausar Thompson worth five years and $130 million? How much should Detroit invest around Cade Cunningham? And what should teams do with Brandon Miller, Anthony Bl...

NBA front offices brace for a seismic shift as the new Collective Bargaining Agreement ushers in an era where max contracts and player loyalty are no longer guaranteed. Is the reign of automatic supermax extensions for stars like Jaylen Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns coming to an end?Hosts break down how the second apron, trade restrictions, and evolving restricted free agency rules are increasing parity across the league, with teams like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder rethinking their roster strategies. Key topics include the squeeze on rookie contract extensions for players like...

What if every Western Conference NBA team got a one-time amnesty clause to erase one contract from its salary cap? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize finish their two-part NBA Amnesty experiment by putting the West under the microscope.Which teams would actually use their amnesty? Which expensive contracts would disappear overnight — and which surprising stars could suddenly become free agents? With the second apron and luxury tax creating difficult roster decisions, the guys debate whether some teams would actually make themselves WORSE simply to clean up their books and regain financial flexibility.From contenders ca...

Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit, Locked On Mavs) & Camille Davis (@CamilleMonae, Locked On Bucks) break down the Toronto Raptors' massive range of outcomes as the Kawhi Leonard trade looms, weighing Scottie Barnes' rise against Toronto's thin center depth behind Jakob Poeltl. The hosts then turn to the Milwaukee Bucks, exploring how new coach Taylor Jenkins could unlock a deep, star-less roster built around Tyler Herro and Myles Turner. They dig into why the Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards — both bottom-five teams a year ago — might have the talent to leap into the playoff picture behind Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Trae Young, and...

What if every NBA team got a one-time amnesty clause to erase one contract from its salary cap? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize put the Eastern Conference through the ultimate roster-building experiment.With the NBA’s second apron making expensive contracts more restrictive than ever, which teams would actually use an amnesty clause — and which players would suddenly become free agents? Could the Philadelphia 76ers make the unthinkable decision to wipe Joel Embiid’s contract off their books? Would contenders sacrifice good players simply to escape the luxury tax and regain roster flexibility?The guys e...

On this edition of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) breakdown their picks for who is set to take a leap this season in the Western Conference. The guys begin the conversation talking about Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in San Antonio, Cooper Flagg in Dallas and LaMelo Ball in Minnesota. Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesCheck out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/ Email the show: LOCavsmailbag@gmail.comSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Odoo...

On this edition of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) breakdown their picks for who is set to take a leap this season in the Eastern Conference. The guys begin the conversation talking about Toronto’s Scottie Barnes building on his postseason performance to become an MVP candidate. The guys also talk about Matas Buzelis, Naz Reid and more. Image Credit: David Richard-Imagn ImagesCheck out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/ Email the show: LOCavsmailbag@gmail.comSuppor...

Blockbuster NBA offseason shakes the league: Giannis lands in Miami, Jaylen Brown joins the 76ers, and Kawhi Leonard exits the Clippers. Can the Miami Heat’s new frontcourt with Giannis and Bam Adebayo dominate playoff basketball over Joel Embiid and LeBron James’ 76ers? Which retooled teams are poised for a breakout, and who’s set for a slide after losing superstar power?Haize & Swipabreak down the winners and losers of the summer, spotlighting major moves by the Lakers, Hawks, Raptors, Jazz, and Spurs, and debating whether the Bucks or Clippers suffered the biggest setback. The hosts spotlight statis...

Ben Simmons is back in the NBA. The former All-Star is signing a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, where he’s expected to back up rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and potentially play all five positions. Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize debate whether Sacramento is the right landing spot and what Simmons can realistically provide after a year away.Then, which NBA star could still be traded before training camp? The guys identify candidates for one last offseason blockbuster before turning their attention to Portland.After trading for Ja Morant and bringing Damian Lillard ba...

Houston Rockets lock in Amen Thompson with a $208M extension, but is he truly their next superstar or just a high-level role player? The debate heats up as the Rockets’ future hangs in the balance—can Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Fred VanVleet power the team beyond playoff pretender status, or does their ceiling fall short of Western Conference contenders? Trade rumors, Marcus Smart’s arrival, and evolving roles raise big questions about Houston’s long-term trajectory.Meanwhile, the LA Clippers reel from the devastating fallout of losing five first-round draft picks in a league-altering punishme...

The NBA has hammered the Los Angeles Clippers after concluding its investigation into the team’s dealings with Kawhi Leonard. Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize react to the Clippers losing FIVE future first-round picks, a $30 million fine and Steve Ballmer’s one-year suspension. Is the punishment fair — or did Adam Silver go too far?Then, what happens to the Clippers now? With their draft capital devastated, is this effectively the NBA’s version of the death penalty? And how does the ruling impact Kawhi Leonard and his future with the Toronto Raptors?The guys also deb...

Los Angeles Clippers hit with a modern-day NBA “death sentence” as cap circumvention penalties strip away five first-round picks and sideline owner Steve Ballmer for a year. Is the Clippers curse back in full force—and what future is left after losing a decade’s worth of assets for just one Western Conference Finals run? Tony East and Nick Angstadt dissect every angle, from the severe punishment's impact on franchise direction, to Kawhi Leonard’s shockingly light $700,000 fine, and Uncle Dennis’s five-year ban. The hosts break down the ripple effects on Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram, and the Clippers...

Which NBA team would most like an offseason do-over? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize look back at the biggest trades, signings and draft decisions of the summer and each pick ONE move they’d erase and try again. Then, is Chet Holmgren the biggest X-factor in the Western Conference? After Oklahoma City’s loss to San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals exposed some issues for Chet, the guys debate whether it was simply one bad matchup or evidence that Holmgren needs to evolve. What does OKC need from him to get past the Spurs and retu...

Eastern Conference race wide open as Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors emerge as this season’s potential shock contenders. Could Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto alongside Scottie Barnes push the Raptors back into elite territory? The hosts break down why the Hawks, with new defensive stoppers like Lu Dort and scorers including CJ McCollum, might have all the ingredients for a surprise playoff run—even if top-tier star power seems in short supply. Over in the Western Conference, Denver Nuggets look to silence doubters despite criticism of their depth, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray anchor a line...

Do you still need a top-five NBA player to win a championship? Recent champions have challenged one of the league’s oldest team-building rules, and Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize debate whether having an elite superstar is still the best path to a title — or whether teams are better off building deeper, more balanced rosters around stars such as Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum. Then, should the Indiana Pacers regret trading for Ivica Zubac? The guys revisit the massive deadline deal now that Indiana lost its 2026 first-round pick and debate whether judging the trade by what that...

On today's Locked On NBA we discuss Jonathan Kuminga, Aaron Turner, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks, LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Ayo Dosunmu, Bones Hyland, Terrence Shannon Jr., Joan Beringer, Cody Williams, Chris Finch, NBA free agency, and NBA contract negotiations. Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit, Locked On Mavs) & Camille Davis (@CamilleMonae, Locked On Bucks)  break down Jonathan Kuminga's new two-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the media tour by his agent, Aaron Turner, defending the decision. The hosts unpack why Kuminga turned down a three-year, $75 million offer f...

Are the Philadelphia 76ers the biggest threat to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize debate reasonable expectations for a loaded Sixers team featuring LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Is an Eastern Conference Finals appearance the baseline — or are we overlooking major questions about how all these pieces fit? Then, could the key to unlocking Philadelphia be turning 41-year-old LeBron into a full-time point guard? The guys discuss whether LeBron could average double-digit assists while allowing Maxey and Brown to handle more of the scoring load....

On this edition of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) Debate who the five best players in the Western Conference are entering this season. The guys discuss the cases to be made for Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and more. Next, the duo talks about which five players they think will be regarded as the best players in the West at the end of this season. Image Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of t...