Hardwood Knocks: An NBA Podcast

Dan is joined by Bryan Toporek ( @btoporek ) from Liberty Ballers, Forbes, FanSided AND Bleacher Report for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Philadelphia 76ers. FOLLOW HIS WORK AT LIBERTY BALLERS HERE . TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 3:17 - End of the Quentin Grimes saga / The offseason 11:59 - What is the Sixers’ direction? 15:50 - Expectations for Joel Embiid 19:06 - The Sixers’ play style moving forward...

Dan and Grant drop their biggest questions, takeaways and observations entering NBA training camp on the heels of EVERY team having their 2025 Media Day. TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:226 - Al Horford to the Warriors 5:56 - The Jonathan Kuminga situation  8:57 - The Quentin Grimes  14:02 - Are the Sixers going to be healthy? 19:47 - Will Jayson Tatum play this year? 23:45 - Is Giannis Antetokounmpo...

At LONG LAST, Dan and Grant drop their 2025 offseason grades for every NBA team in the Western Conference. Check out the Eastern Conference grades here . TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO / Criteria 3:17 - Dallas Mavericks 10:39 - Houston Rockets 16:37 - Fred VanVleet injury 30:05 - Memphis Grizzlies 39:52 - New Orleans Pelicans 47:43 - San Antonio Spurs  56:35 - Denver Nuggets 1:05:57 - Minnesota Timberw...

Dan is joined by Jason Patt (@bullsjay) from the Cash Considerations podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Chicago Bulls. SUBSCRIBE TO CASH CONSIDERATIONS HERE . TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:17 - What is the Bulls’ direction? 6:03 - Billy Donovan extension / Offensive style  11:03 - Can Josh Giddey be a star? 24:07 - The Isaac Okoro trade and fit 28:53 - Future of Coby White 35:19 - Tre Jones /...

Dan is joined by Greg Wissinger ( @gwiss ) from The Kings Herald for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Sacramento Kings. CHECK OUT THE KINGS HERALD HERE . TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 -INTRO 1:07 - The Kings’ direction 2:21 - The Doug Christie hire 6:45 - Dennis Schroder’s fit 10:47 - Future of Malik Monk 14:58 - The Russell Westbrook rumors 15:38 - Jonathan Kuminga rumors 17:16 - Future of Keon Ellis 22:18 - The...

Dan is joined by Caitlin Cooper ( @C2_Cooper / @caitlinmaycooper ) from ' Basketball, She Wrote " for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Indiana Pacers. SUBSCRIBE TO BASKETBALL, SHE WROTE ON PATREON . TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:27 - The transformation of the Pacers 10:10 - Covering the NBA Finals 12:51 - The Tyrese Halliburton recovery 16:36 - The loss of Myles Turner 20:38 - Playing five-out vs four-o...

Dan is joined by Mike Vigil ( @protectedpick ) and Sam Cooper ( @scooperhoops ) of ' The Timeline ' pod for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Phoenix Suns! SUBSCRIBE TO THE 'THE TIMELINE' PATREON HERE .  TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:34 - RIP to the Kevin Durant era 8:19 - The second Kevin Durant trade 13:39 - The Bradley Beal Exit 18:28 - The hiring of Brian Gregory 21:18 - Impact of Jordan Ott hire 24:...

At LONG LAST, Dan and Grant drop their 2025 offseason grades for every NBA team in the Eastern Conference. TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:50 - Grading criteria  5:01 - Atlanta Hawks 13:53 - Charlotte Hornets 19:38 - Miami Heat  26:00 - Orlando Magic 39:11 - Washington Wizards  47:15 - Boston Celtics 56:22 - Brooklyn Nets 1:09:15 - New York Knicks 1:22:05 - Philadelphia 76ers 1:26:39 - Toronto Raptors...

Dan is joined by Shamit Dua ( @fearthebrown ) from the 'In The N.O. ' Substack and podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans. SUBSCRIBE TO IN THE N.O ON YOUTUBE AND SUBSTACK . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 0:57 - The Pelicans’ direction  8:05 - Expectations for Derik Queen 16:50 - Expectations for Jeremiah Fears 23:43 - Continued development of Trey Murphy  28:08 - Future of Zion W...

Dan is joined by Tara Bowen-Biggs ( @tccbiggs ) and Rose Harding ( @roselharding ) from the  We Have A Takee podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Portland Trail Blazers. SUBSCRIBE TO WE HAVE A TAKE HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 3:10 - Takeaways from last season 4:45 - The return of Damian Lillard 9:46 - Offseason impressions / Jrue Holiday fit 15:47 - Yang Hansen’s fit and role 25:30 - Dono...

Dan is joined by Kirk Henderson ( @KirkSeriousFace ) from Pod Maverick and Mavs Moneyball for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Dallas Mavericks. SUBSCRIBE TO POD MAVERICK HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 0:56 - The Mavs’ direction 7:02 - Cooper Flagg development 12:56 - Kyrie Irving timeline 15:10 - Offseason impressions  17:58 - The big-man rotation  19:51 - Future of Dereck Lively II 23:36 - Dallas’...

Dan is joined by Lauren Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) from the AJC for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Atlanta Hawks. CHECK OUT LAUREN' WORK HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:14 - Biggest takeaway from last season 3:16 - Continued development of Jalen Johnson 5:54 - The offseason and front office 14:05 - Future of Trae Young  21:26 - Kristaps Porzingis-Onyeka Okongwu fit 26:43 - Secondary ball-handlin...

Dan and Grant are joined by Mort Jensen ( @msjnba ) of  The NBA Podcast to break down the latest news and rumors around the NBA, including the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard cap circumvention scandal, Cam Thomas signing his qualifying offer, Josh Giddey getting $100M from the Bulls and more. TIMESTAMPS⤵️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:02 - The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard/salary-cap scandal 53:09 - Cam Thomas signs his qu...

Dan is joined by Tayler Peterson ( @Tayler_P15 ) and JD Silva ( @jdsilva_ ) from The Uncontested Podcast ( @The_Uncontested ) for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder. SUBSCRIBE TO THE UNCONTESTED ON PATREON . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:51 - The Thunder’s title run  6:21 - Biggest takeaways from last season 9:36 - Why the Thunder are built to last 12:22 - The Chet Holmgren and Jalen...

Dan is joined by Laz Jackson ( @lazchance ) from Detroit Bad Boys for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Detroit Pistons. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:06 - Last season’s most important development  4:53 - Impact of JB Bickerstaff 6:36 - The Offseason 16:40 - Continued development of Jaden Ivey 24:06 - Future of Jalen Duren 29:33 - Ausar Thompson’s next steps 36:01 - Continued development of Ron Holland 4...

Dan is joined by Clippers reporter Justin Russo ( @flybyknite ) for a deep dive into—you guessed it!—the 2025-26 Los Angeles Clippers. Please note we recorded BEFORE the Kawhi Leonard salary-cap circumvention allegations. SUBSCRIBE TO JUSTIN'S 'RUSSO WRITES' SUBSTACK HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:18 - Takeaways from last season 3:43 - Planning for the future  10:27 - Did the offseason hurt th...

Dan is joined by CBS Sports podcast producer extraordinaire Konata Edwards ( @NataTheScribe ) for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Charlotte Hornets. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 2:45 - Impact of Charles Lee 4:15 - The offseason 9:05 - Big man rotation  11:57 - Future of LaMelo Ball 18:13 - Continued development of Brandon Miller 20:40 - Early impressions of Kon Knueppel 23:01 - Early impressions of Liam...

Dan is joined by Matt Modderno (@MattModderno) of the Bleav In Wizards podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Washington Wizards. SUBSCRIBE TO BLEAV IN WIZARDS HERE. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:32 - State of the rebuild 3:43 - Fast-track coming? 7:24 - What do we make of Brian Keefe? 9:43 - Continued development of Alex Sarr? 16:52  - Ceiling of Bilal Coulibaly 21:08 - Early impressions of Tre J...

Dan is joined by Morten Stig Jensen ( @msjnba ) of  The NBA Podcast to discuss teams that could pleasantly or unpleasantly surprise us next season. Here are the rules: We each get to pick two pleasant surprises, and we have to pick one unpleasant surprise. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 3:46 - Chicago Bulls 8:02 - Toronto Raptors 14:37 - San Antonio Spurs 24:48 - Charlotte Hornets 31:53 - Golden State...

Dan and Grant are joined joined by Keith Parish ( @fastbreakbreak ) of the Grits and Grinds podcast as well as the Fastbreak Breakfast podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Memphis Grizzlies. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:01 - The Offseason 5:05 - Desmond Bane trade 8:19 - Jaren Jackson Jr. 12:45 - Impact of Tuomas Iisalo 19:05 - Future of Ja Morant  23:32 - Continued development of Zach Edey 26:...

Dan is joined by Noah Magaro-George ( @N_Magaro ) of The Vic-and-Roll for a deep dive into the 2025-26 San Antonio Spurs. SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIC-AND-ROLL HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:35 - Mitch Johnson’s fit as head coach  3:55 - De’Aaron Fox’s extension  7:55 - San Antonio’s overall direction 9:52 - The fit between Fox and Wembanyama 12:55 - The three-guard dynamic 17:25 - Continued developme...

Dan is joined by iHeart podcast producer extraordinaire Jabari Ali Davis (@jabariadavis) for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Los Angeles Lakers. SUBSCRIBE TO THE G.O.T.E. (GREATEST OF THEIR ERA) PODCAST HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:19 - The Lakers offseason 6:46 - Future of LeBron James 11:15 - Evaluating JJ Redick 15:01 - Early impressions of the Luka Doncic fit  21:05 - The fit of Luka, LeBro...

Dan is joined by Philip Rossman-Reich ( @philiprr_OMD ) from 'Locked On Magic" and Orlando Magic Daily for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Orlando Magic. SUBSCRIBE TO THE LOCKED ON MAGIC HERE . SUPPORT PHILIP'S WORK ON PATREON . CHAPTERS BELOW. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 1:14 - They went for it! 6:56 - Fit of Desmond Bane 14:36 - The transition offense 17:52 - The Tyus Jones fit 20:10 - Jamahl Mosley...

Dan is joined by Kyle Theige ( @KyleTheige ) from  The Dane Moore NBA Podcast for a deep dive into the 2025-26 Minnesota Timberwolves. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DANE MOORE NBA PODCAST HERE . TIMESTAMPS⬇️  0:00 - INTRO 3:10 - Last season’s ending 6:25 - The offseason 9:20 - Naz Reid’s contract and defense 16:20 - The Karl-Anthony Towns trade one year later  23:25 - Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle  27:36...

Dan is joined by Morten Stig Jensen ( @msjnba ) of  The NBA Podcast to predict what happens with the Big Four restricted free agents who remain unsigned: Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes and Cameron Thomas. TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:00 - INTRO 7:34 - Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls  18:26 - Quentin Grimes and the Philadelphia 76ers  28:39 - Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets 40:55 - Jonathan Kum...