Limited Upside

Tim Cato, Zito Madu, and Whitney Medworth join for a free-flowing conversation on Lacroix -- and the NBA Playoffs, too. Topics include: -Victor Oladipo is really good. Goddamn. -What the heck happened to Chris Paul? -Can the Timberwolves please give Karl-Anthony Towns the ball. -Are the Spurs the worst team in the playoffs? -Is Kawhi Leonard ducking the team to go to Wing Stop? -Ben analyzes Sixers-Heat Game 2 in depth so nobody else has to, then unleashes his Brett Brown impression. -What is Paul George thinking now? -Did the Jazz stage a coup to let Donovan Mitchell back into the game? Plus, plenty more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SB Nation contributor (and Athletic, Fansided, etc) Seerat Sohi joins the show to talk about her big Dwyane Wade profile, the Raptors, injuries ruining the playoffs, and Wednesday's Timberwolves-Nuggets playoff play-in game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back after a bit of a hiatus! On today's show, friend of the pod Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) of VICE Sports joins us to go through an exercise you see in the G-League: what if the top seeds could pick their first-round playoff opponent? Top seed in each conference gets first choice, second-place team goes next, and so forth. Mike, Ben, and Pina each make their choices if they ran the Raptors, Celtics, and Cavaliers in the East, and then the Rockets, Warriors, and Blazers in the West. Do we believe the Bucks have another playoff gear? Is Indiana just a nice regular-season story? Then, our picks get especially weird in the West, where two of us don't believe in Minnesota and one of us makes a bold pick on Portland's behalf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SB Nation friends Whitney Medworth, Hector Diaz, and Zito Madu join to recap All-Star Weekend, why the Celebrity Game has a deeper meaning, whether the new All-Star Game format was the cause of a more competitive game, and why the dunk contest gets so much scrutiny. Plus, Mike rants about the three-point shootout and Hector regals us with tales of STAPLES Center hot dogs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike's back! On this week's pod, he joins Ben to chat about Cleveland's deadline-day demolition, the John Wall Wizards drama, Donovan Mitchell vs. Ben Simmons, the epic tankathon to come, and more. Plus, Ben gets pissed about Simmons missing the All-Star Game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben is joined in studio by SB Nation's own Seth Rosenthal as well as friends of the pod, and LA residents, Mo Dakhil and Anthony Irwin, to breakdown the big Blake trade, and what it means for the great LA Hoops narrative.   Topics touched on: - The Blake era in LA; was he the greatest Clipper ever? - The Pistons have a one way ticket to the middle of the NBA - Is LA now back to being a 100% a Lakers town? Was it ever not a full on Lakers town? - What's next for the Clippers, more moves, DJ, Lou Will... - Listener questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Sixers have been one of the NBA's most intriguing soap opera's over the past 4+ seasons, and things are more dramatic than ever now. We welcome back to the show former Liberty Baller's writer and current Philly Voice Sixers beat writer, Kyle Neubeck, as well as SB Nation's own Tim Cato for this Sixerscentric episode. Topics include: - What has it been like for Kyle to cover the very unique and very cloudy Markelle Fultz situation? - Brett Brown is finally coaching against real expectations, what does success look like to him this season? And how long is his coaching leash against those expectations. - Joel is special, but what stands out following him on a day to day basis? He doesn't practice, so what does he do with his "down time"? - Assume they make the playoffs, who is the ideal first round matchup? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

VICE Sports' Michael Pina joins the show to laugh about the Clippers-Rockets brewhaha, lament the state of the Cavs and the fruitlessness of going against the Warriors, debate the Bulls' young core, and wonder why the Wizards can't be more like the Raptors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike, Ben, and Alex discuss the factors behind the Timberwolves' improvement, why we're often slow to acknowledge them, why Karl-Anthony Towns gets nitpicked, Andrew Wiggins' struggles, and more. Plus, a Heat-Raptors discussion that predates Tuesday night's fight, Steph Curry is STILL underrated, and what the Lakers should do about LaVar Ball, if anything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back! SB Nation Director of Vibes Zito Madu and friend of the pod Alex Rubenstein discuss Isaiah Thomas' debut, the psychology of the Kyrie Irving/LeBron James breakup, DeMar DeRozan vs. analytics, whether the Raptors can compete with the Cavs in the East, and an epic Ben rant on Marcus Smart's flopping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pacers are thriving and Paul George's Thunder are struggling. Who saw that coming? With George's return to Indiana on the horizon, we dialed up SB Nation NBA assistant editor Whitney Medworth and Indy Cornrows writer Caitlin Cooper. Topics include:A series of mea culpas for our doomsday preseason predictions.Why Victor Oladipo has emerged and why the city has bought into him so quickly.Other reasons the Pacers have overachieved.From afar, do George's struggles and the Thunder's in general surprise them? What do they think is wrong with the George fit there?What kind of reception will George get for his return? Why are Pacers fans still upset with how his departure happened? When will those feelings fade? Will those feelings fade?Is there a worry that the Pacers' success is unsustainable? Will they suffer the same pitfalls as other accidentally good teams like the 2014 Suns and 2016 Blazers.Our favorite Pacers moments of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is your unpopular NBA opinion? This week, SBNation.com NBA writers Tim Cato and Kristian Winfield join the show as we each argue a HOT TAKE we (kinda) believe. Including: -Mike on why the Rockets and Warriors are equals -Kristian on why the Spurs are gonna be the toughest team in the West by the end -Ben on why the Celtics won't even make the conference finals. -Tim on why the Timberwolves will miss the playoffs Plus, we read off and rate your unpopular opinions, some of which we believe, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben and Mike run through their early picks for the 12 All-Star slots in each conference, including a bold pick from Mike for the second West guard spot and a spirited discussion about whether Ben Simmons deserves consideration for a starter spot. Yes, starter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Clippers and Spurs video coordinator Mo Dakhil, Basketball Dictionary editor and onetime D-League assistant coach Dylan Murphy, and former Nets assistant coach Steve Jones join Mike for a super in-depth discussion about some key league-wide Xs and Os trends they've noticed from the first month of the season. We chat about the rise of defensive switching and whether teams need to practice it more, how to attack dynamic defensive teams like the Celtics that can switch at every position, what's wrong with the Thunder in crunch time, how to tell when a team is spacing the floor properly, teams that are outperforming their talent because of strong early-season coaching, the NBA's next Xs and Os innovation, and tips for how to watch a game like a coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all have players we like more than others. Instead of pretending to be unbiased, Mike, Ben, and Alex decided to admit their favorites and asked listeners for theirs in the following categories: no-brainer superstar, former All-Star transitioning to their twilight, possible first-time All-Star, role player, and random bench/rotation guy. Consider this the Limited Upside All-Star team! Plus: Ben and Mike talk about how they'd react if they saw LeBron James on the subway, and Alex explains why he'd take Mike Conley over every point guard in the league not named Stephen Curry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike and Ben are joined by SB Nation college hoops/preps/draft guru and longtime guest Ricky O'Donnell. We briefly discuss Milwaukee's trade for Eric Bledsoe, then spend a solid hour chatting about this awesome rookie class. We hit every key player, including Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz (sorry Sixers fans), Jayson Tatum, Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and almost every other first-year player doing cool stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

LeBron James' Cavaliers are 3-5, with a string of double-digit losses and the worst defense in the NBA. Should we worry? We bring back Chris Manning of Fear the Sword and MMA Fighting/Cavs junkie Eric Jackman to figure out what's wrong with Cleveland, how much fans are worried, and which issues will actually carry over once they begin to try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SB Nation's Tim Cato and friend of the pod Alex Rubenstein join Ben and Mike to assess whether a bunch of early-season NBA trends will actually carry over, including:The Cavaliers' awful start. The Magic suddenly being an offensive juggernaut.Kristaps Porzingis taking over.Ben Simmons playing at an All-Star level.Giannis leading the NBA in scoring.Boogie and the Brow thriving in New Orleans.Whether a team can actually score efficiently without shooting a lot of 3s.And much more. Featuring terrible analogies, botched European geography, bizarre gambles, and much more. So, the usual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Epstein and Mike Prada run through the first week of the NBA with SB Nation friend of the show Alex Rubenstein. Topics include: the plucky Grizzlies, the teams we're already changing our minds about, the Spurs plugging along without Kawhi, Max/Play/Trade with three early-season player performances, some Giannis talk (but not enough), some Sixers talk (too much), the sad Suns, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 30 episodes diving into each NBA team, Mike and Ben fly solo to make their own predictions, including Mike's bold Warriors call, which West team gets the 2 seed, who makes the playoffs from 5-8, which team will tank most blatantly, how many games does Joel Embiid need to play for the 76ers to make the playoffs, the Celtics vs. Cavs, Wizards talk, MVP, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you talk about a team that seems a near-certainty to win it all? We went all over the place on this Warriors preview with good friend Bram Kincheloe of Golden State of Mind. Among the topics:Are Warriors fans more confident or even more confident after the flurry of activity this summer?Who actually poses the greatest danger to the Warriors, whatever level it is?How do Warriors fans process expectation-setting when they are such overwhelming favorites? Is there an odd sense of anxiety that something might go wrong?Is there any concern that the Warriors don't have a motivating theme like they have the last couple years, i.e. "they got lucky" or "they blew a 3-1 lead?"The terrifying part: their roster is even better top to bottom this year, though Nick Young's conditioning has not been encouraging.The Warriors' place as the face of a league that has become more outspoken on social issues.The interesting dynamics of the Bay Area and the impending move to San Francisco.A more technical discussion: does this team have any weaknesses? How do you possibly gameplan to stop them? Are the Warriors at all worried about other teams loading up on stars, or are those teams going about this challenge the wrong way? What (or who) would actually be the Warriors' Kyrptonite if it existed?A bunch of cruel hypotheticals, plus a robust banana boat discussion.Mike makes a really bold prediction at the end.This is the 30th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We brought together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbases heading into the season. Scroll back on our feed to check out the other 29 teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Spurs looked like they'd make a big splash this summer. Instead, they've brought the band back together, including a surprise contract extension for LaMarcus Aldridge. Are Spurs fans worried, or has the team bought itself enough goodwill. We brought on J.R. Wilco and Bruno Passos of SB Nation Spurs site Pounding the Rock to discuss the following:INSTANT REACTION to LaMarcus Aldridge's new 3-year, $72.3 million extension. And we do mean instant, because we began recording minutes after the news broke.Why didn't the Spurs make the big move that many expected? Why re-sign Pau Gasol and Aldridge with their cap space? Are they playing a different game that we can't see? Kawhi Leonard's gonna be OK health-wise, right? This quad issue isn't a long-term thing, is it? Assuming not, what can he possibly do for an encore?Rudy Gay seems like an interesting fit. How will that work? And will the Spurs play more of a modern style after playing very traditionally last year? Why are Spurs fans going gaga over DeJounte Murray?Over/under six long Gregg Popovich screeds against Donald Trump? (That doesn't count the one from today, which dropped after we recorded). Which game will he unleash his grumpiest sideline interview?The all-important banana boat question.Are the Spurs still the toughest matchup for the Warriors? Did this summer get them closer or further away to the Warriors? Why do they seem to have more success than most against them? How do Spurs fans feel about the Warriors?More worried about the Rockets or Thunder as a challenger?Assuming Kawhi is healthy, he's definitely winning MVP, isn't he?Plus, more dumb things to bet on. Recreationally, of course. This is the 29th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Rockets LAST UP: Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year's Rockets were fun. Then, they got Chris Paul and demolished their supporting cast to build a new one around Paul and Harden. Never say Daryl Morey sits on his laurels. We brought on Ethan Rothstein and Jeremy Brener of SB Nation's Rockets site The Dream Shake to discuss the following:How stunned were they when the Chris Paul trade happened? Why is this different than previous Rockets alpha dog experiments that didn't go quite as well?Can they name every non-guaranteed player Daryl Morey acquired to facilitate the CP3 sign-and-trade? It's hard!So how's this CP3-Harden thing going to work anyway? Early returns are promising, and Rockets fans don't seem too worried. Let them explain why Mike's skepticism is unfounded.Why Clint Capela's improvement is actually the key to the season.What's the rest of the rotation going to look like? Who plays on the wing? Does that roster flexibility help the Rockets, or hurt them in finding their five best players to end the game?Is there any concern that some of the older players fall off or regress to the mean? Which is more damaging if it happens: CP3 losing a step, Trevor Ariza and/or P.J. Tucker completely falling off the map, or Ryan Anderson/Eric Gordon not being as healthy?How does this team match up with the Warriors, anyway? Quite well, in fact!Some ... interesting answers to our traditional banana boat question.Predictions, including some fascinating super-specific ones.(Apologies for the janky-ish audio on this one). This is the 28th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Celtics NEXT UP: Spurs, Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Celtics had the East's best record last year, then promptly turned over more than two thirds of their roster. What's left is a new superteam built around Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford, but also one with youth waiting in the wings and a whole lot of uncertainty for how this is going to work. To help us make sense of the madness, we brought on SBNation.com senior writer Paul Flannery and Celtics Blog contributor/CLNS Radio founder Nick Gelso to talk through the following.The emotions of losing Isaiah Thomas after what he did last year, combined with the cold hard reality that the trade for Kyrie Irving needed to be made and IT was never going to match that success even if healthy. How is Kyrie warming up to Celtics fans?How will Kyrie fit in to Brad Stevens' offense? Early returns seem promising.Let's not forget about Gordon Hayward. The Celtics chose signing him over pursuing Paul George and Jimmy Butler. Can he make them justify that decision?Who plays alongside those two and Al Horford? Who plays in the backcourt? Do they have too many options, or not enough?What should fans expect from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum this year? Why did the Celtics trade the No. 1 pick to get Tatum, anyway? What kind of dude is Brown, anyway?We circle back to Brown's comments about it being weird that the team traded IT while talking up tradition. What did we make of those?RIP Nets Picks.What kind of person is Kyrie, anyway? Is there more to him than we've seen before, or is there actually not as much? It's kind of weird how we've learned so much about him over these past three months. How much of it is authentic?Paul and Nick pick very different banana boats.We know they should be good this year, but what defines success for the Celtics? Does it even matter if they repeat last year and don't progress?Later on, Ben paid off a bet to a friend.This is the 27th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Clippers NEXT UP: Rockets, Spurs, Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a new era for the Clippers ... kinda. Chris Paul is gone, but the Clippers didn't exactly blow the team up in his absence. Instead, we've got this funky roster surrounding Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and coach Doc Rivers. To make sense of it, we invited former Clippers video coordinator Mo Dakhil and Clips Nation editor Lucas Hann to discuss the following:Was it time for the CP3 era to end? How will his tenure in L.A. be viewed in the future?Did the Clippers make the right decision to pivot into a quick rebuild instead of bottoming out? What market factors made it impossible to conduct a full rebuild? Given the strategy, did they execute their offseason effectively?It's been a long time since Blake Griffin had his own team. It's also been a long time since he's been fully healthy. What will that mean this season? How will his role change? Plus, how do you get him to have the confidence to use his athleticism without fearing injury? (Mo had a great idea).Is Doc Rivers long for this situation? Should our antennas be up after he lost (or voluntarily gave back) personnel power? Does the organization bringing in Jerry West and other respected personnel people from other places mean that Doc's tumbling in Steve Ballmer's pecking order?How is Coach Doc gonna use this weird roster? Who starts in the backcourt? How does Danilo Gallinari fit it?Is this noise about getting more ball movement a sustainable strategy or sour grapes from losing Paul? CAN WE GET MORE MILOS TEODOSIC?Your favorite banana boat question, which has A LOT of options.Predictions, along with an extended discussion about the Clippers' place in the Los Angeles sports scene in a post-CP3 era.This is the 26th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Cavaliers NEXT UP: Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

(Sorry, had to). Wow, that was an eventful offseason in Cleveland. It feels like last decade that David Griffin was let go and Kyrie Irving was still in town. To help us, Fear the Sword's Chris Manning and MMA Hour super producer (and massive Cavs fan) Eric Jackman jumped on to dissect the following:So uh, how do Cavs fans feel about Kyrie Irving now? Should we have seen his trade demand coming?Pretty sweet return for a dude that wanted out, though, right? How will Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder fit in? What about that Brooklyn pick?Dwyane Wade! Derrick Rose! Kevin Love at center! What the heck will this rotation look like? Sorry, Cavs fans, we gotta have the Future Of LeBron discussion. How did we get to the point where all the tea leaves point to him leaving next summer? Is it even worth worrying about Bron's future at this point?Are the Cavaliers actually better than they were at the end of last year? Has Cleveland's competition sufficiently caught up?How many (and which) Warriors have to get injured for the Cavs to be favored in a Finals matchup?Would Cavs fans rather see LeBron lead the Cavs to another title this year and bounce, or fall short and stay for the long haul?We predict the fake scandal that'll cause LeBron to go on his annual social media subtweet barrage at midseason. This got very creative.Banana boat stuff, which was an excuse for Eric to tell the unique story of how he became a Cavs fan and Mike to watch Christian Eyenga videos. (Seriously!) BOLD PREDICTION TIME. Wins? Will LeBron stay or go? And much more.This is the 25th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Raptors NEXT UP: Clippers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Toronto Raptors faced a crossroads this summer and decided to bring the band back together, for the most part. Now, they seem stuck in pretty good land. Is that OK? Our two panelists disagree, and it makes for a fun conversation. Daniel Reynolds, the editor in chief of Raptors HQ, and Seerat Sohi, a terrific freelance writer based in Toronto, join the show to discuss the following:Was this year the time to blow it up, or did Masai Ujiri's handling of the Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka contract situations make bringing the team back together palatable?Are they really stuck in place? Is there anything that can jolt them out of the East's middle tier? And if they are actually stuck, is that so bad?How the Raptors' fate and popularity in the city is tied to the Maple Leafs.We all agree that this recent Raptors run has helped rebrand the franchise. Is there more than needs to be done to cement their new reputation, or has this core done enough already?Where do Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan stack up in the NBA's pecking order? Why is it so hard to discuss them rationally?Would you rather see Jonas Valanciunas finally break out, or Norman Powell take a major step forward? Who else should we be paying attention to off the bench?Serge Ibaka -- will he play a lot of center this year? Has his decline been overstated?How will they replace some of the key bench players they lost?Some more info on how the franchise's relationship with Drake soured. (Don't expect to see much of him this year at the Air Canada Center).A passionate defense of the "Raptors" nickname.Which three Raptors players would you want on your all-time banana boat, i.e. the three players you most want to vacation with?Predictions, etc. Will this team tread water or dip?This is the 24th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Jazz NEXT UP: Cavaliers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The sudden loss of Gordon Hayward has turned the Jazz into one of the NBA's mystery teams. How will they replace their franchise player? Can they still succeed with a deep, defensive-oriented roster surrounding Rudy Gobert? Will they actually stay healthy this year? We brought on Mychal Lowman and James Hansen from SLC Dunk and the SLC Punks podcast to discuss the following:Why did Hayward's departure sting so much for fans? How have views changed over the last three months? And what does it say about Hayward and the Jazz players still on the roster that the sniping still hasn't stopped?At least the Jazz still have Gobert. What makes him such a great, underrated player?So ... how is this team going to score points?Are the Jazz committed to playing Gobert and Derrick Favors together again? What can we actually expect out of Favors this year?Utah was the slowest-paced team in the league last year, with an offense that relied on lots of passing and movement. They just traded for a point guard in Ricky Rubio that loves to push the ball, can't shoot, and is a wizard as long as he actually has the ball in his hands. Does that mean the team's style will change?We play our favorite game: the NBA version of Do/Marry/Kill called Max/Play/Trade. The candidates: Donovan Mitchell, Rodney Hood, Dante ExumThe Jazz famously made 20 straight playoff appearances in the Karl Malone/John Stockton era without winning a title. How many of those 20 would Jazz fans trade in to have won just one championship. We got two wildly different answers.Which three Jazz players would each panelist put on their all-time banana boat, i.e. the three they most want to vacation with.Predictions and much more.This is the 23rd of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Wizards NEXT UP: Raptors or Clippers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the Wizards! Last year was pretty cool! Can they build on it, or is this another flash in the pan? We brought on Sports Illustrated's Andrew Sharp and Bullets Forever's Michael Sykes to join Wizards fan Mike Prada and co-host Ben Epstein to preview The Season After the Season. Featuring some big picture talk about expectations and the team's place in the league (including the terrible Prada analogy that led to this title), contention windows, the value of continuity, John Wall + Bradley Beal's place in the league, Markieff Morris the barometer, Kelly Oubre the X-Factor, To Boogie Or Not To Boogie, and a way better hypothetical from a listener than anything we've come up with on our own. This is the 22nd of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Thunder (two parter!) NEXT UP: Jazz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Thunder traded for Carmelo Anthony. Big news! And just after we recorded our Oklahoma City preview podcast! So as an addendum, we brought back Eddie Maisonet of The Sports Fan Journal to talk through our thoughts on OKC's heist. Also, we briefly discuss the other big NBA story of the day: the response to Donald Trump "disinviting" Stephen Curry and the Warriors from the White House. That's at the 35-minute mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Presti pulled a rabbit out of his hat to bring Paul George to Oklahoma City, but with both he and Russell Westbrook under contract for only one more season, this union could be a short one. How will the Thunder handle it? Repeat guest Eddie Maisonet of The Sports Fan Journal and newcomer Joshua Broom of SB Nation's Thunder blog Welcome To Loud City join the show. Topics include:The Russell Westbrook show was something last year. Can Russ step back a bit to help the rest of the team thrive with Paul George now here? Does he even need to?Getting George was a no-brainer, and now OKC has a year to sell him on staying. What has to happen for the Westbrook-George pairing to be more than a one-year reunion? Do Thunder fans view this as a real long-term option or a one-year thing? (This was explained with a Major League analogy. Yup).Will Russ and George be invested in this franchise? If so, the roster looks awesome. If not ...How George and Russ can help each other on the court, assuming they are able to mesh personality-wise.Which three players work best with George and Russ? What should the starting lineup be? What should the closing lineup be? Can Billy Donovan properly manage the rotation, or is he in over his head? Let's take a second and marvel some more about what Russ did last year, because we should never take that granted.Is it fair to say that Steven Adams' growth stagnated last year? How do the Thunder get him to take the next step?The three Thunder players you want on your all-time banana boat ... i.e. the three you want on your vacation. This was an excuse for Eddie to shout out Enes Kanter for his eventful summer.So ... is Russ gonna sign that designated player extension, or no?Predictions, which are very hard for this team. Do they have enough to get to the conference Finals? Will that keep George in OKC? This is the 21st of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Grizzlies NEXT UP: Jazz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grit 'N Grind is truly dead in Memphis with the departures of Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. What's the new identity that replaces it? And who are all these dudes around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, anyway? Joe Mullinax, site manager for SB Nation's Grizzlies site Grizzly Bear Blues, joins us for a wonderful discussion about a franchise at a crossroads. Among the topics:This is now David Fizdale's team. No more of the old guard to stop him and add tension to the transition. Will it work? Will there be blowback if the team struggles?Why so much of the Grizzlies' success depends on Chandler Parsons ... and why that makes everyone nervous.Mike Conley and Marc Gasol deserve more love, so let's give it to them. Especially Conley. Did y'all realize how good he was last year? Can they duplicate that effort? Is there any chance Gasol gets traded if things go south?Who else will start alongside those two? Who will finish games? Can they get something out of players like Ben McLemore, Tyreke Evans, etc.?If you had to bet your house on a player being Memphis' third-leading scorer this year, who would you put your money on? Mike capes for Wayne Selden, which means he's probably losing his house.We run through our favorite Grit 'N Grind moments and the enduring legacy of that core of players.The all-important banana boat question.Predictions, etc. For once, we're more optimistic than Joe is.This is the 20th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Hawks NEXT UP: Thunder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After fiddling around for two years trying to recapture the magic of their 60-win team, the Hawks finally committed to rebuilding this summer. How did we get here and what happens now? We were joined by Brad Rowland, the editor of SB Nation Hawks site Peachtree Hoops and the Locked On Hawks podcast, and Harry Lyles Jr., an SB Nation NFL staff writer based in Atlanta, to talk about the following:We walk through the string of transactions that occurred after that 60-win season, from the loss to DeMarre Carroll, to Al Horford leaving, to Dwight Howard, to Kyle Korver departing, to the decision to pull Paul Millsap off the trade market, and more.Why were the Hawks so reluctant to break their team up even when it was in decline? What sort of market factors played into that?Who's in charge now? How did instability in the front office contribute to the Hawks' confusing series of moves that got them here?Winning fans in the city has always been a challenge. What happens now that the team is going to stink?Plenty of talk about this year's team, including some mad Taurean Prince love from all three of us.Dennis Schroder ... yeah, he's a complex figure. What happens to his career now?We answer questions about Kent Bazemore's future, Coach Bud, and what exactly was the issue with Dwight Howard in the locker room?The customary banana boat question.Why should Hawks fans pay attention to this team? Why should national fans pay attention?Predictions, etc.This is the 19th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Bucks NEXT UP: Grizzlies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise injected new joy and energy into the Bucks and their fanbase. Last year was fun, and on the surface, everything is good. But Giannis' rise also means the stakes have been raised for the next four years of his contract. Is this front office, supplementary core, and coaching staff up for the challenge? SB Nation soccer editor and Bucks fan Kevin McCauley joins us, along with Brew Hoop managing editor Mitchell Maurer. In our chat:We merge Mitchell's caution with Kevin's exuberance to describe the mood of the fanbase.Plenty of Giannis talk because he is such a joy.How important was it to get Khris Middleton back last year?Jabari Parker was supposed to be the second cornerstone with Giannis. Instead, he's coming off a second torn ACL and is up for an extension without much on his track record. How does he fit in now, and do the Bucks have enough time to wait it out and see if they can ever get Giannis, Jabari, and Middleton healthy at the same time?Our usual devil's bargain: the NBA version of Do/Marry/Kill called "Max/Play/Trade." We do this with Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker, and Jabari.Why is Jason Kidd such a divisive coach among fans?The Bucks' front office situation is ... whoa boy. What happened this summer, and why should Bucks fans be concerned?A brief Giannis signature shoe interlude.Kevin's very detailed breakdown for his all-time Bucks banana boat.Predictions, best/worst-case scenarios, and why 50 wins is actually a reasonable expectation.This is the 18th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Blazers NEXT UP: Hawks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers fans didn't have a ton to do this summer, giving them more time to think about the overall state of their franchise. Last year was mostly rough, but a great finish salvaged some hope. What now? Brian Freeman and Peter Sampson from Blazers Edge join us to discuss the following:Why fans are apprehensive about this year and the future despite having two core guards and plenty of stability.What happened last year before Jusuf Nurkic came aboard? Why were the same mix of players so much less effective?Lillard and McCollum. Dame and C.J. They're the stars of the team, and they like each other, and they're great people. They also have similar games and may not be fully maximized next to each other. Is this a pairing that's built for the long haul? Is there a ceiling for the duo? How do fans feel about having them as the two best players?Lillard is the leader, but where does C.J. rank in that pecking order?Why was Jusuf Nurkic so effective last year? Can it last?What's the level of trust in Terry Stotts and Neil Olshey right now? How badly did the franchise botch the summer of 2016?You've been gifted the magical powers to give one of Al-Farouq Amine, Maurice Harkless, and Evan Turner a consistent, proficient three-point shot on high volume. Who are you bestowing the gift on and why?We spend some time reminiscing about Brandon Roy because he deserves it.Some tough choices were made for the all-time banana boat -- but there was one easy one.Why did the Blazers pick Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan when they already were overloaded with bigs?Predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more.PREVIOUSLY: Pacers NEXT UP: Bucks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Pacers no longer have Paul George, and other than Myles Turner, they don't really have much exciting young talent, either. You can see how this setup isn't exactly inspiring their fans. Our Indiana dynamic duo of SBNation.com assistant NBA editor Whitney Medworth and Indy Cornrows lead writer Caitlin Cooper joins to run through a depressing season preview. Topics include:One last look back at the Paul George trade.Darren Collison? Victor Oladipo? Cory Joseph? Lance? What is with these offseason moves to stay mediocre?Is Myles Turner ready to be the face of the franchise? Have the Pacers put him in a position to actually succeed?What is a good season for Turner? What can Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis do to make fans feel better about the return package for George?Why not just pull the plug and commit fully to a rebuild? Why is Indiana a "never rebuild" market? Does Indiana's past success building through the middle give the front office a false sense of their own abilities?Is Nate McMillan the right coach to shepherd this reconstruction?Happier thoughts! Which of the following Pacers teams is the best: 13-14, 03-04, 97-98, or 94-95?Which player from recent Pacers history not named Miller, O'Neal, or George would be best to add to this Pacers team?The all-important banana boat question.Sad predictions.Plus, some important chili and peanut butter talk. Very important. This is the 16th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Bulls NEXT UP: Blazers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh, Bulls. What a rough summer. What a rough roster. What a rough fanbase. Ricky O'Donnell and Jason Patt from SB Nation, Blog a Bull, and FanRag Sports return for a bleak look at Chicago's fortunes this year. Topics include:The Bulls' biggest problem? They can't evaluate talent.So why'd they trade Jimmy Butler again? What is his legacy in Chicago? Is there any hope for the return package they got? Who's actually gonna play on this team? What will the rotation be?Have we mentioned that the fanbase doesn't have much confidence in the front office? Is there any way they will be fired?Slightly more positive thoughts: how about Lauri Markkanen in Eurobasket!Slightly less positive thoughts: so how good is Zach LaVine anyway?What's going on with Nikola Mirotic's contract situation?Who's this team's best player? Who's jersey should fans buy?Since we all know the Bulls are gunning for next year's draft, who should they pick anyway? Draft expert Ricky runs through the prospects.The all-important banana boat question.Very depressing predictions.This is the 15th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Heat NEXT UP: Pacers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Miami Heat had two seasons in one last year. In Part I, they were terrible and went 11-30. In Part II, they ripped the league apart and went 30-11. The sum of that led to a narrow playoff miss, which leads to a simple question: which Heat team from last year is the real Heat team, especially after a summer where they paid up to bring the band back together. Kelly Cohen, a political reporter in D.C. who moonlights as a Heat fan, and Surya Fernandez from SB Nation's Heat site Hot Hot Hoops join us for this episode. Among the topics discussed:What happened last year to cause that second-half surge? Can Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and several others actually do that again?Are Heat fans feeling good about whiffing on a top free agent and pivoting to bring the gang back together? Kelly and Surya have mixed feelings on that.How good is Hassan Whiteside, really? Where is he in the center hierarchy?We torment our two guests with a difficult version of Max/Play/Trade with Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, and Rodney McGruder.Where does Erik Spoelstra rank in the coaching hierarchy?Simple question, complex answer: how do Heat fans feel about LeBron James?Which player's jersey should you buy from this year's team?We get to the customary banana boat question, throwing both off guard.Predictions (even if Kelly hates them), best-case scenarios, and more. This is the 14th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Nuggets NEXT UP: Bulls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Nuggets have one of the league's most fun stars, an up-and-coming roster, and now a marquee free agent that chose them. It's a fun time to jump aboard the bandwagon. (You listening, Denver? Get involved!). We're joined by Adam Mares of Denver Stiffs and the Locked on Nuggets podcast to preview one of the NBA's League Pass darlings. Among the topics discussed:Why doesn't Denver get excited about the Nuggets?Adam gets to gloat about Nikola Jokic because he was an early adopter.The Kevin Love trade that never happened, plus the addition of Paul Millsap.Rotation questions! Who starts at point guard? Do they have enough wing players? What's the deal with Mason Plumlee? Is this the year Kenneth Faried finally gets traded?Offensively, the Nuggets were awesome. Defensively ... not su much. Will that change this year.We spend more time gushing about Jokic because you can never do that too much.What's the best Nuggets team ever? Why Adam believes a different result in the 2009 West Finals does nothing to change Carmelo Anthony's final days in Denver.What does the franchise need to do to get fans more excited about this team? We go down a long road talking about the past, the present, and the future, with a look at Denver the city sprinkled in.Adam gets caught off guard by our customary banana boat question, which leads us down a long tangent.Predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more.This is the 13th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Pistons NEXT UP: Heat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year was supposed to be a big step forward for the Pistons. Instead, it was a major step back, and all the optimism from an encouraging 2015-16 season is gone. That's at least based on the response we got from our three Piston fan guests: SBNation.com deputy editor John Ketchum, SBNation.com social producer Kofie Yeboah, and Detroit Bad Boys editor Lazarus Jackson. Among the topics discussed:Same players. Same coach. Same mix. What the heck happened last year?Reggie Jackson had an awful year last year. Was it all because of his knee injury? Can he look more like 2015-16 Reggie Jackson this year?Were fans surprised that the Pistons ditched Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to then trade for Avery Bradley? This was the most upbeat part of the podcast, surprisingly enough.Stanley Johnson has to step up this year. How confident are fans that'll happen? (Not very confident)Andre Drummond ... sigh. That's all. To make this discussion worse, we play Max/Play/Trade with Reggie, Dre, and Stanley.An extended conversation about the pros and cons of the Pistons moving into a downtown arena.Bad Boys Pistons or 04 Pistons? Plus, how well would the 04 Pistons fare in the modern era?Some odd banana boat combinations.Bringing this back full circle: this is Year 4 of the Stan Van Gundy era. What are the chances this ends well?Plus, predictions, best/worst-case scenarios, and more sadness. C'mon, y'all. This is the 12th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Hornets NEXT UP: Nuggets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hornets followed up their fun 2015-16 season with an utterly frustrating 2016-17. How do they get back on track? We brought on SBNation.com's James Dator and At the Hive's Nicklaus Denning to talk about the following:What the heck happened last year? The Hornets seemed to be cruising toward another playoff berth, and then the bottom fell out. Why?Can Kemba Walker please get a little more love?Help us figure out Nicolas Batum, because we can't.Dwight Howard on the team, huh? Is this something Hornets fans are excited about? Will Steve Clifford get the most out of him?Is this the year Michael Kidd-Gilchrist becomes more than an interesting role player, or is this just who he is?Who else on the team can be expected to make a leap this year? Is Malik Monk ready? Jeremy Lamb? Someone else? Plus, some talk about the importance of the "Hornets" name, some Bobcats nostalgia you probably didn't ask for, your favorite banana boat question, and much more. This is the 11th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Pelicans NEXT UP: Pistons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Friend of the pod Michael Pina of VICE Sports joins the show for an emergency Kyrie Irving trade discussion. We will return to your regularly scheduled team preview series shortly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a HUGE, HUGE year for the New Orleans Pelicans. DeMarcus Cousins is an impending free agent, the clock is ticking on Anthony Davis' long-term future with the franchise, and they need to win this year. Are they up for the challenge? Oleh Kosel and Travis Tate from SB Nation's Pelicans site The Bird Writes join us to talk through that apprehension. Topics!How well did the Davis/Cousins pairing actually work last year, and how can it work even better?What are the chances this roster is constructed better around them than last year's?How's the Jrue Holiday/Rajon Rondo pairing gonna work? Do the Pelicans have enough shooting around Davis and Cousins?How much confidence do Pelicans fans have in the franchise's infrastructure -- i.e. ownership, management, the medical staff, etc? (Answer: not much). Does it bug Pelicans fans that so many are mentally trading Anthony Davis to other teams already? If you had to reassign the original scary Pierre the Pelican to a job with the organization, what would it be?Our favorite banana boat question, which lightened the mood a bit.Then, a return to apprehension thanks to an extended conversation about the Saints, the Pelicans' unique place in the New Orleans sports hierarchy, and how it affects their roster decisions. This is the 10th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Wolves NEXT UP: Hornets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Minnesota Timberwolves have expectations. Big expectations! That's what a summer of grabbing Jimmy Butler for very little and many more win-now moves will do to a team with two of the last four No. 1 picks. How will they deal with said expectations? We asked Eric Goldman and John Meyer of SB Nation Wolves site Canis Hoopus. Our topics:What's it like dealing with actual expectations of being a solid playoff team instead of hoping for good luck?Jimmy Butler is an awesome player. Are there any worries about how his personality will mesh with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins? (Answer: not really -- or, it's exactly what they need).We spend a lot of time talking about Wiggins because he's one of the most intriguing players in the league this season.What's the next step for Karl-Anthony Towns? Outside of Butler, did Thibodeau have a good offseason? Have fans come around on the Jeff Teague/Ricky Rubio swap?We play Timberwolves word association, because Ben really wanted to. If you could undo one terrible David Kahn move, what would it be? Plus, Mike unleashes his devastating Kahn/Steph Curry hypothetical.We figure out which three Timberwolves belong on everyone's banana boat, which quickly goes wayyyy off the rails.Predictions and more, which were far more sober than the hosts expected.This is the ninth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Mavs NEXT UP: Hornets or Pelicans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mavericks have quietly embraced an on-the-fly youth movement and are in a position where expectations are relatively low. That's a new world for Mavs fans, and they're embracing it. SBNation.com's Tim Cato and Mavs Moneyball's Kirk Henderson join Mike to discuss the following topics:The Mavs have an actual future now! Maybe not like a future title winner, but a fun youngish core nonetheless.Are we getting too far ahead of ourselves with Dennis Smith Jr., or should we shut up and just enjoy him? (The latter).What's going on with Nerlens Noel? Why hasn't he re-signed yet? Are fans worried?How good is Harrison Barnes, exactly?Has management done enough to regain the trust of the fanbase after Plan Powder kinda fell flat year after year?Oh yeah, let's talk about Dirk. Suppose you put Dirk at his absolute best (whenever that is) on this Mavs team. How high would they be in the West?What will Dirk's next job title be once he retires?If Mavs fans had a chance to do it all over, would they have preferred keeping the 2011 championship team together or breaking it up like they did?Which three Mavs would you want on your banana boat? (Dirk and Steve Nash should be shoo-ins, but who else joins them?)Plus, predictions, best/worst case, making fun of Tim being super young, and way more. This is the eighth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Kings NEXT UP: Timberwolves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It feels weird talking about the Kings without talking about DeMarcus Cousins Boogie "15", but it's a new era and it's time for everyone to move on. Tony Xypteras of Sactown Royalty and Kenny Caraway from the K.C.'s Corner podcast join Mike to preview the new era of the Kings. Among the topics discussed:The mood of the fanbase in a word and the fanbase's appetite for a fresh start.Why it meant a lot that De'Aaron Fox explicitly wanted to be drafted by the Kings.What's the level of confidence in the Kings' long-unstable front office?How much of an impact will the new old heads the Kings signed (Z-Bo, Vince, George Hill) make? Did the Kings go too far in signing vets, or are they exactly what the team needs?Can Kings fans take anything away from the performances by the young guys down the stretch last year?Max/Play/Trade: Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere, Willie Cauley-Stein.Is there too much pressure on Fox to be the face of a new era amid all the dysfunction that came before him?If Fox is the first jersey Kings fans should buy, who is No. 2? It might be a name you wouldn't expect.OK we talk about Boogie "15" one more time with a fun hypothetical: what if he and Chris Webber switched eras? How would both of their careers be impacted? How would Boogie "15" impact the harmony of the early-00s Kings and how would Webber deal with the dysfunction of recent teams?Kenny thought way too hard about the three Kings in franchise history that he'd add to his banana boatPlus, predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and all that other good stuff. This is the seventh of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Magic NEXT UP: Mavs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not all that fun being an Orlando Magic fan after the rough year they had last year. Is there hope for the future, or are we doomed for another lost season post-Dwight Howard? Zach Oliver and Cory Hutson from Orlando Pinstriped Post jump on to discuss the following topics:What's the mood of the fanbase in a word? Can they dig themselves out of this salary-cap hole they created?Oh hey, it's been five years since the Dwight Howard trade. Total coincidence that we recorded this podcast on the anniversary. (We swear)How much trust is there in the new front office of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond to take the organization out of cap hell?Should the Magic have taken Dennis Smith Jr. instead of Jonathan Isaac?Which second-half performance was more encouraging: Elfrid Payton's, or Aaron Gordon's?What happened down the stretch last season that the national media missed, whether good or bad?We play Max/Hold/Trade (our version of Do/Marry/Kill) with Payton, Gordon, and Isaac.What's the deal with Mario Hezonja anyway?Would you rather have seen Shaq or Dwight Howard win a title in Orlando? Which era of great Magic basketball was closer to a title?What's the ultimate Magic NBA Jam team -- other than Penny/Shaq, of course.Why won't the Magic retire anyone's number?Who is on your all-time Magic banana boat, i.e. the three people you most want to hang out with on vacation?You have to buy one player's jersey from this current team. Who is it and why?Plus, predictions, best/worst case, and more. There's a scenario where Orlando slips into the playoffs! We swear! (Apologies for the poor audio quality on my mic. I forgot to plug it in. I wish I had a better excuse). This is the sixth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Knicks NEXT UP: Probably the Kings, but maybe the Timberwolves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Knicks fans are ... well, there's been a lot of drama, and they're just trying to look on the bright side. Seth Rosenthal and Kristian Winfield from SBNation.com join us for this free-flowing Knicks preview. Topics include:The mood of the fanbase in a word, which is ... not negative, but not exactly positive either. It's been that weird of a year.Carmelo Anthony's played his last game in New York, right?Compared to previous sequences of Knicks drama, how optimistic are they that things will turn out better this time around?Is everything fine with Kristaps Porzingis now that Phil Jackson is gone? What do Knicks fans need to see from him in his third year? What is the ideal starting lineup for him?It's too early to say that Frank Ntilikina over Dennis Smith is a mistake, right? (Right).What should folks be looking for that may not be super obvious unless they watch the Knicks very closely?If you could add one player from Knicks history to add to this team, who would it be? Plus, a lot of other silly follow-up questions, mostly thanks to Mike.Who is on your all-time Knicks banana boat, i.e. the three players in Knicks history you'd want to vacation with? Seth: "Cheikh Sahm would like me. I feel like we'd get along."Best case, worst case, leading scorer, predictions and all that jazz. This is the fifth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: 76ers NEXT UP: Magic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 76ers have Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Markelle Fultz. The Process is bearing fruit. So you know where this is going. Mike mediated a very happy 76ers preview discussion with Ben, SBNation.com's Tyler Tynes, and Liberty Ballers editor Kyle Neubeck. Among the topics discussed:Is "The Process" over, or is it forever ongoing? How many new Process fans are jumping on board late? And obviously 76ers fans are excited about the season, so stop grumbling, Mike.How will Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid mesh?What should 76ers fans expect from Simmons this year? How much does his perimeter shooting actually matter? Would you rather have Joel Embiid stay healthy for five straight years, or not have to pay taxes during that same time period?What were some developments that the national media missed that'll matter for this year?Why the 76ers' decision to prevent Sevyn Streeter from singing the national anthem in a "We Matter" jersey was so troubling, even if they tried to rectify the situation. (If you don't know what this is about, read this)Does anything make 76ers fans nervous about the future? Ben talks about Jahlil Okafor, while Tyler notes the team's lack of transparency with injuries.Would you rather the organization re-hire Billy King as Bryan Colangelo's No. 2, or replace Brett Brown with Doug Collins? (Sorry, you have to choose)Which jersey should fans buy first: Fultz or Simmons?Say the 76ers are told that their fans are no longer allowed to use the phrase "The Process" or "Trust the Process." What should be the new 76ers fan slogan?Your all-time 76ers banana boat, featuring some interesting answers.Plus, predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more. This is the fourth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Suns NEXT UP: Knicks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Suns are finally taking it slow and steady, much to their fans delight. It's birthed a new hashtag rally cry: #TheTimeline. But what is #TheTimeline and will a trade for Kyrie Irving potentially disrupt it? It's our Suns preview with Dave King (@DaveKingNBA) and Evan Sidery (@esidery) from SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun. Among the topics discussed:Where did #TheTimeline come from? Who are the core pieces of #TheTimeline?Why most Suns fans are down on the idea of trading for Kyrie Irving right now. (If you're a Suns fan tired of beating this topic into the ground, skip ahead to the 23-minute mark).What kind of coach is Earl Watson and why are so many missing the mark with him?Let's say you have to choose between Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. Who do you take? Who are most Suns fans taking?What kind of season does Devin Booker need to put together to show he's taking the next step?Is Eric Bledsoe long for Phoenix? Why is he always on the block? Then, we have some fun with the following topics:Do/Marry/Kill: 1992-93 team, 2004-05 team, 2009-10 team?You can change one of the following four moments in recent Suns history: Joe Johnson's face injury in 2005, Robert Horry hip-checking Steve Nash in 2007, Tim Duncan hitting a game-winning 3 in 2008, or Metta World Peace's miracle tip-in in 2010. Which is it and why? And does Amar'e Stoudemire's knee surgery trump all of those?The Suns have asked you to pick this year's jersey sponsor. Who is it and why?Who is on your all-time Suns banana boat? (This led to Evan's odd fascination with reuniting Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas). Plus, predictions, best/worst case, and more. This is the third of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Lakers NEXT UP: 76ers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers will be a hot ticket because of Lonzo Ball. They have a fun young core, even though some wish D'Angelo Russell wasn't cast aside. They have dreams of LeBron James next summer. Beware. The monster is re-awakening. Mike missed this one, so in his place, Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) welcomed SBNation.com featured writer Zito Madu (@_Zeets) and the Silver Screen and Roll/Locked on Lakers dynamic duo of Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) and Anthony Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) to the show to dive into the revived Lakers. Among the topics discussed:What's the mood of a fanbase in a word? This year might be cool, but are Lakers fans looking ahead to next summer?The impact of Luke Walton on the team's young core.Brandon Ingram -- are we gonna start seeing star potential? Do we need to?Anthony vents about the D'Angelo Russell trade, because he's still mad.But other than that ... hey this was a good summer. KCP! Kyle Kuzma!Oh yeah, that Lonzo Ball guy. Probably should talk about him.Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle -- what happens to them now?A Lakers fan friend has enough money to buy the jersey of one player on the current team, and it can't be Lonzo or Ingram. Who is it and why?Who is on your Lakers all-time banana boat? (i.e., the players you'd love to hang out most with on a vacation).Would you accept an equity stake in Big Baller Brand in exchange for a) being LaVar Ball's publicist, and b) having to follow him around nearly all the time? Plus, predictions, your questions, and many more shenanigans. This is the second of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Nets NEXT UP: Suns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices