The NBA Podcast

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) make their picks for the 2019-20 All-NBA teams. Who should be the first-team All-NBA center? Is there room for Damian Lillard on the first team? Do Pascal Siakam, Khris Middleton and Jimmy Butler deserve All-NBA nods? Should voters overlook team success when considering Bradley Beal, Trae Young and/or Devin B...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) give their final picks for every major 2019-20 NBA award. Is Giannis Antetokounmpo the clear-cut MVP, or does LeBron James have a case? Is Giannis the Defensive Player of the Year as well? Can anyone challenge Ja Morant for Rookie of the Year? Who should win the wide-open Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the latest COVID-19 news from the NBA bubble, Rajon Rondo's broken thumb and some lineup changes for the Philadelphia 76ers. If Russell Westbrook can't join the Houston Rockets in Orlando, what does that mean for their chances of advancing in the playoffs? Will Rajon Rondo's broken thumb affect the Lo...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the depleted Brooklyn Nets, Joel Embiid's concerns about the NBA restart and players complaining about the accommodations at Walt Disney World. How much will Jamal Crawford and Michael Beasley help the Nets? Was Kendrick Perkins right to mock Embiid's concerns about the bubble? Are players risking PR...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss which teams might be dark-horse title contenders when the 2019-20 season resumes in Orlando. Are the Denver Nuggets a legitimate threat to emerge from the West? Could the Houston Rockets' small-ball experiment work? Do the Toronto Raptors have a genuine chance to defend their title? Are the Boston Cel...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the latest news pertaining to the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season and the possibility of a second "bubble" environment in Chicago. Should the NBA be entertaining a second bubble for the eight teams that weren't invited to Orlando? Does the risk outweigh the reward? What's a better alternative? Wi...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss winners and losers of the seeding-game schedule and notable players who won't join their teams for the rest of the 2019-20 season. Are the New Orleans Pelicans a lock to force a play-in tournament? Can the Boston Celtics jump the Toronto Raptors for the No. 2 seed in the East? Are we headed for a Miam...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) re-draft the lottery of the 2013 NBA draft. Which player would we take over Giannis Antetokounmpo in any draft class since 2000? Who goes at No. 3, Victor Oladipo or CJ McCollum? Which undrafted free agents sneak into the re-draft lottery? How far do Otto Porter Jr., Cody Zeller and Nerlens Noel fall? Check o...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) re-draft the 2014 NBA draft class. Who goes No. 1 overall, Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid? Where do the likes of Zach LaVine, Aaron Gordon and Marcus Smart wind up? How far does Andrew Wiggins fall? Which real-life second-round picks jump into the re-draft lottery? Does Jabari Parker get selected at all? Check o...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss some of the latest Bradley Beal trade rumors and go over possible free-agent targets for teams ahead of the 2019-20 season resuming. Should the Brooklyn Nets go all-in on a third star and trade for Beal? What could the Los Angeles Lakers offer for him? Which other teams should be interested? And who's...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss Nikola Jokic's weight loss, LaMarcus Aldridge's injury, concerns about the NBA's bubble and the latest New York Knicks coaching rumors. Will Jokic's weight loss hurt him more than it helps him? Is the San Antonio Spurs' 22-year playoff streak finally coming to an end? How should fans feel about player...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top storylines for when the 2019-20 NBA season resumes in late July. How will the extended layoff affect teams? Will any teams attempt to manipulate their seeding for easier early-round playoff matchups? Are the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers still resounding favorite...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Anthony Sain (@SainAsylum) of AllGrizzlies.com to discuss the NBA's imminent return (!) and the ongoing nationwide protests over George Floyd's death and racial inequality. How will the NBA's new playoff format affect the bottom of the Western Conference bracket? Should the play-in tournament be...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top centers on the 2020 NBA free-agent market. Should Andre Drummond decline his $28.75 million player option? Will Montrezl Harrell re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers? Should the Charlotte Hornets go after Christian Wood? Can the Toronto Raptors retain Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol? Could Derrick...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) of Yahoo Sports discuss the latest news about the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season and possible playoff scenarios. How many teams should we expect to see come back? What playoff formats are actively being discussed? How will the NBA keep players safe? Check out...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top power forwards in the 2020 NBA free-agent class. What is Anthony Davis' best contractual option in free agency? Is Brandon Ingram a no-brainer max player? Which teams should go after Danilo Gallinari and Davis Bertans? Should the Denver Nuggets try to retain Jerami Grant and/or Paul Millsap? C...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top small forwards in the 2020 NBA free-agent class. Should DeMar DeRozan decline his $27.7 million player option? How much should the Sacramento Kings be willing to spend on Bogdan Bogdanovic? Which contenders should go after Joe Harris? Who should take a flier on Derrick Jones Jr.? Should the Lo...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top shooting guards in the 2020 free-agent class. Should Evan Fournier decline his $17.2 million player option? If so, where should he sign this offseason? What about Tim Hardaway Jr.? Which teams should be interested in Malik Beasley? Will Kentavious Caldwell-Pope opt in? Which contenders could u...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Bleacher Report NBA national featured columnist Grant Hughes (@gt_hughes) to discuss B/R's GM Week project. As the Sacramento Kings GM, what did Grant hope to accomplish? How did he shake up the Kings' roster? How did he think he did? What did Bryan do as the Denver Nuggets' GM? What is Michael...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top point guards in the 2020 NBA free-agent class. Which teams should be interested in Fred VanVleet? Will Goran Dragic receive more than the mid-level exception? Should teams prioritize veteran backups such as Jeff Teague or D.J. Augustin? Will point guard prospects rise in the draft because the...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the latest updates on when (or if) the 2019-20 NBA season will resume in the wake of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's call with players Friday. Why is a single-site solution more feasible than having every team play at home? Does the Disney idea make more sense from a medical perspective than Vegas or v...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) re-draft the lottery of the 2015 NBA draft. Is Karl-Anthony Towns still the No. 1 overall pick? Who goes at No. 2, Kristaps Porzingis or Devin Booker? Do real-life top-five picks Jahlil Okafor (No. 3) and Mario Hezonja (No. 5) go in the re-draft lottery? How many real-life second-round picks become lottery pi...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by T.J. McBride (@TJMcBrideNBA) of Mile High Sports to discuss whether there's a "right" way to rebuild in today's NBA. What lessons should rebuilding teams take away from the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers? What are some of the typical pitfalls in a rebuild? Why haven't the New York Knicks,...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top offseason questions for every team in the Northwest Division. Should the Utah Jazz try to trade Mike Conley this offseason? Did the Denver Nuggets miss their window for a consolidation trade? Should the Oklahoma City Thunder try to sell high on Chris Paul? How much should the Minnesota Timberw...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top offseason questions for every team in the Southwest Division. How much should the Memphis Grizzlies spent to retain De'Anthony Melton? What should the Dallas Mavericks' top priority be this offseason? Is Brandon Ingram a no-brainer max for the New Orleans Pelicans? Should the Houston Rockets b...