The Drop Step

Small guards thriving, depth is king, two big or not two big... Every year the playoffs throw up a ton of questions and answers so on today's show Parker Flemming and I took his team, the Memphis Grizzlies, and spoke about some takeawys they could make and apply to next season. We got into winning the possesion game, optimising Jarren Jackson Jr, the two best value wings in the NBA and a whole lot more! Check out the episode! Parker is the best! He's got an encyclopedic knowledge of the Grizzlies and thinks about the game in a really fun way. Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Drop Parker a follow on Twitter here: https://x.com/PAKA_FLOCKA Make sure to check out Parker's Substack here: https://subtsakalidis.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nic Thomas of The Lead and The Box Score pod joined the podcast for one of our favourite nights of the year... The NBA Draft lottery! Listen in as we speculate about some exciting outcomes that could come to pass pre Lottery or feel free to jump ahead to 30 minutes in where we officially react to the lottery as it's taking place. In the final stages of the podcast we did a lottery Mock Draft to round out the show. Like, Rate and Follow the Feed! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Follow Nic on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/_nicthomas Check out Nic's full Mock Draft and Substack Here: https://nicthomas.substack.com/p/2024-nba-mock-draft-20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will everyone be 7ft tall? Will everyone be hitting stepback 3's? Are solo Rim Protectors a thing of the past? Mike Gribanov, Draft analyst and youth Basketball expert joins the podcast to talk about the future of the NBA and some of the untapped advantages that teams may well look to exploit as we enter the back half of the 2020's. We talk about why it's important not to pidgeon hole prospects into specific roles, some of the stand out players from the 2025 class and some favourites from 2024 too. Favourite young cores in the NBA, the transition to even more transition in Basketball, it all comes up with Mike! Had an absolute blast recording with Mike, be sure to check him out in the links below! Like, Rate and Follow the Feed! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Follow Mike on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/mikegrib8 Check Out Mike's Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/Mikegrib8/posts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angst and anguish are apt words for describing the emotions and feeling of Minnesota sports fans for the best part of a century. Since George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers sailed away to sunnier Western coast shores the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" has failed ot make a major splash on the USA sporting scene; all too often leaving their fans drowning in misery. But... Say it quietly. All that might be about to change. Minnesotan Basketball analysts Emmett Laurent and Andrew Dukowitz join the pod to recap the Wolves feasting on the Suns in their first round series. We speak about stand out performers like Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Nikeil Alexander Walker and dare to dream about making the finals. I had great fun with these two, particularly in discussing the defensive coverages Chris Finch and co employed to stop Phoenix; ball knowers of the highest order, make sure to go and check them out! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Follow Andrew on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/adukeMN Follow Emmett on Twitter Here: https://twitter.com/emmettruns Check out Zone Coverage Here: https://zonecoverage.com/2024/timberwolves/why-hasnt-rudy-gobert-been-a-postseason-liability-in-minnesota/ Check out The Grenade Gallery Here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sCx2U6Ya9m09PdUrt7Bky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How healthy is Joel Embiid? What does a matchup against the Knicks look like for the 76ers? Dream off-season acquisitions... The 76ers are into the post season and we had Bryan Toporek on the pod to talk all about it! Listen in to hear about potential matchups, vanquishing Miami, Embiid speculation and roster analysis. Bryan's one of the best in the business when it comes to covering Philadelphia, make sure to check out his work down below! Check out Bryan on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/btoporek Check out Bryan on Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/ Listen to the NBA Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QgMZcPKUV6IiQ10Y9gAaw Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to redefine the NBA stock market. For too long us NBA fans have "held onto stock" of draft busts; players presented as superstars who failed to live up to the premise they'd shown early in their hoops career and I say enough is enough. It's time to clear out your NBA stock portfolio, it's time to sell your timeshare on Frank Ntilikina island, dump your Killian Hayes equity, relinquish your Zaire Williams capital and start investing the right way. Chuck of Chucking Darts podcast fame joined me to start this revolution as we each picked the 5 guys we think will see their stock rise the most over the next calendar year of NBA hoops. Listen in as we discuss an exciting Utah rookie pair, two Hawks set to soar, a Grizzlie who might have just signed the best value contract in the NBA and a potential superstar who looks like he's been messing with the sliders on 2K. This was a really fun episode to record, Chuck is genuinely one of the best people in the NBA space and if the NBA stock market was real I think he'd make a killing! Check the episode out and let us know who's stock is set to rise the highest over the next year in the NBA! Check out the Chucking Darts podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7LC9VGKrFdKeeOhYZ1bl6H Check out the Chucking Darts Substack here: https://substack.com/@chuckingdarts Drop Chuck a follow on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ChuckingDarts Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you prioritise when you have the greatest prospect perhaps in the history of the NBA blossoming before your very own eyes? The San Antonio Spurs have to answer this question. With Victor Wembanyama in house; they have an opportunity very rafrely afforded to other franchises. Contend now? Trade a glut of the 12 first round picks they have stashed for the next 7 years to build an overnight contender around their French phenom? Or take it slow, evaluate the young core of players you have in house, mine the draft for gold and hope to build a dynasty that can match the great success of the Tim Duncan era? Lifelong Spurs fan and host of The Vic and Roll, Noah Magaro-George joins the show to help guide us through these questions! We talk about the likes of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Blake Wesley. We discuss potential All-Stars who could come onto the market that San Antonio could pair with Vic sooner rather than later and ultimately have a great conversation about what might be the NBA's next dynasty! This was a ton of fun to record. Check out Noah, follow the feed, share with a friend and rate the podcast! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Follow The Vic and Roll on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Vic_And_Roll Follow Noah on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/N_Magaro Check out Noah's Rob Dillingham piece: vicandroll.substack.com Check out my patience with the Spurs piece: www.fansfirstsports.com/nba/patience-the-case-for-taking-it-slow-with-victor-wembanyama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The quadruple threat himself, Mr Esfandiar Baraheni, joins the podcast to talk about one thing... Future All-Stars! We go through guys still on their rookie deals and discuss how certain we are that they'll make an All-Star team one day. We go into detail on the likes of Brandon Miller, Amen Thompson, Jalen (Top 20 Player) Williams, Franz Wagner and a load more exciting young players. We coin a new phrase, disgree on Jaden McDaniels and overall just have a great time talking about some of the leagues best young players. Check it out! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Follow Es on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/JustEsBaraheni Check out his Pod with Chuck Taylor here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oyN2fQNE3O1QkOKlnCzpj?si=1be4e28d282e4690 Es' Forbes article on MIP teams: https://www.forbes.com/sites/esfandiarbaraheni/2024/03/09/the-nbas-all-most-improved-teams-for-the-2023-2024-season/?sh=2f84c1e4189a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Long time draft analyst Richard Stayman aka Mavsdraft joins the podcast to talk Prospect Hall of Fame! Rich has been scouting the draft since 2017 so I asked him questions like "Who are the three best bigs you've scouted?", "Who was your biggest miss?", "Who's the best player you've ever scouted that you knew wouldn't make it in the NBA?" and a whole lot more. Through the episode we talk about draft philosophy, avoiding comparisons (as fun as they are) and why perfect scouting doesn't mean perfect results! Rich was a blast to have on, check him out in the links below! The Drop Step Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Rich's Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/MavsDraft The Mavsdraft website: https://mavsdraft.com/ Rate the podcast if you enjoyed the listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

XJ and Geoff of The Hot Hand Theory join the podcast to talk dark horse title contenders in a two hour extravaganza! Are the Knicks the best placed team in the Eastern Conference to beat Boston? Can the Cavs overcome having... too many stars? And be a contender for the championship and is Luka Doncic closer to being the best player in the NBA than outside the top 5? All that and tonnes more in an episode that was a blast to record. This was part 2 of this episode so if you missed part 1 be sure to check out the feed to hear even more! Check out The Hot Hand Theory here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vezYZwD8FYL8SyUchQ6RP?si=a5f6cd8af6004986 Check out Geoff on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/FrankBarrett119 Check out XJ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/xavierjdesigns Check out The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Check out The Hot Hand Theory on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HotHandTheory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

XJ and Geoff of The Hot Hand Theory join the podcast to talk dark horse title contenders in a two hour extravaganza! We ask why the Bucks are so high in the eyes of the sports books, whether the Thunder have what it takes to escape the "young team" tag once and for all and whether Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson can truly blend on the offensive end in playoff situations. This was just part 1 of one of my favourite episodes I've recorded so far. Be sure to check the feed for part 2! Check out The Hot Hand Theory here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vezYZwD8FYL8SyUchQ6RP?si=a5f6cd8af6004986 Check out Geoff on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/FrankBarrett119 Check out XJ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/xavierjdesigns Check out The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Check out The Hot Hand Theory on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/HotHandTheory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As play resumes post All-Star break it's fair to say that the Boston Celtics are many peoples championship favourites this year. They're sporting a +10.3 net rating, have Jayson Tatum as their best player, they're nearly winning 80% of their games. Boston has dominated the regular season thus far but how do they stack up to former championship winners? We can analyse matchups, strengths, weaknesses and paths to the final closer to the playoffs but for now, let's compare Boston to previous championship winners. Is Jayson Tatum truly a "Best Player on a Title team"? Do the Celts run deep enough after their trade deadline acquisitions? Could an overreliance on 3's be their undoing? Adam Taylor joined us to see how the Celts stack up and we had a great time comparing this team to old winners! Check out the episode! Check out Adam on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/AdamTaylorNBA Check out Celtics Blog here: https://www.celticsblog.com/ Check out The Drop Step Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Staff Writer at No Ceilings Nick Agar-Johnson joins to talk on a number of topics, his beloved Sacramento Kings, the 2024 NBA draft and the future of the NBA. Who's the most future proof prospect of the 2024 NBA class? Are their any potential Greg Munroe's, Jalil Okafor's? If we could add any archetype to the Sacramento Kings to make them contenders who would we add? Nick was a fantastic guest and I had him on at just the right time as No Ceilings have released V4 of their Big Board. Go and check it out, check out Nick's work and stay tuned for more content on The Drop Step! Like, Rate and Follow the Feed! Check out Nick here: https://twitter.com/NBAJohnson Check out No Ceilings here: https://twitter.com/NoCeilingsNBA Check out The Drop Step here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a landmark episode! Bryce Simon and Dyland Huntzinger return to the show for our first double guest feature! (Zach Lowe is quaking in his boots...) We talk Kentucky basketball and one of the most exciting rosters to pass through Jon Calipari's hands since that famous 14/15 team. Just how many players could we see drafted from Kentucky this year? What exactly is Reed Sheppard's ceiling? (Is he just going to average 55% from 3 for his career?) Does Rob Dillingham have what it takes to be a lottery pick? Can we fall in love too easily with theoretical bigs like Zvonimir Ivisic and Aaron Bradshaw? What exactly happens to those 17 years of scouting before the college season once guys like Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner hit slumps? It's was a fascinating episode from a draft perspective with two of my favourite people from the NBA community. Be sure to check them out down below! Follow Bryce's Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MotorCityHoops Follow Dylan's Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ThunderChats Follow the Topic: Thunder podcast here: https://twitter.com/OKCTopicThunder The Drop Step Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saskatoon and Raptors Republic reporter Samson Folk joins the podcast as the Raptors dive into a new era of basketball. Barnes, Barrett and Quickley make up the triumvirate that looks set to start the new era but will they be looking for sides to go with their young core or a main course to add to the menu. Samson and I discuss Scottie, IQ, potential trade targets around the league, draft strategy and a whole lot more. Which teams should the Raptors take influence from around the league? Are Beautiful Game Spurs rotations going to become more common? WIll everyone be abled to hit a stepback 3 by the end of the 2020's? I had a blast talking to Samson, if you enjoy the episode make sure to follow the feed, rate the podcast and share with a friend. Raptors Republic have already been the source of three of my guests; Louis, Tre and Samson do incredible work over there so be sure to check them out in teh links below; Raptors fan or not! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Check out Samson on Twitter/X here: https://twitter.com/samfolkk Check out Raptors Republic here: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/ Take a listen to The Rapcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tV23EdlafXwkSTMoDcIbj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last 40 years 13 franchises have won a championship in the NBA. We've seen iconic duo's, Kobe and Shaq, Jordan and Pippen, Steph and Klay; but for every championship duo that goes down in history there are countless 1-2 punches that never quite made it. We spoke about them at the time but as their chance for glory faded they faded out of our conversations. Until today! Nick Andre joins the podcast to talk about some of his favourite underrated duo's of the last 40 years, reminding us that there's a lot more to the NBA than the team that lifts the Larry O'Brien at the end of each season. We talk Barkley, Garnett, Rose, Allen, Sprewell and so many more reviving some iconic teams, imaging these stars in the context of todays NBA. I had a blast with Nick talking about the past, about what if's, about how the league has evolved and shifted. I hope you enjoy listening! Rate the podcast, share with a friend and follow the feed for more great content! Check out Nick on Twitter/X here: https://twitter.com/NickAndreATR Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Check out Nick's series on his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/NickAndre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bleacher Report writer and life long Philly fan Bryan Toporek joins the show to preview the 76ers trade deadline by talking about the 5 teams that'll give them the toughest time in the post season. We talk about all the big names who might be available on the market, Pascal Siakam, Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine to name a few. But to ascertain exactly who Philadelphia should be targeting at the trade deadline we talk through the playoffs. I go from 5-1 ranking the 76ers toughest potential opponents in the East, identifying current deficiencies with the 76ers roster in those matchups to tell us whether it makes sense to break the bank this year or stand pat, waiting for Free Agency to make a big move. This episode was a blast to record, if you enjoyed listening drop a follow, rating and share it with your friends! Check out Bryan on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/btoporek Check out Bryan on Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/ Listen to the NBA Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QgMZcPKUV6IiQ10Y9gAaw Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join this weeks episode of The Drop Step as Keith Smith of Spotrac and I take you through the 2nd apron, the teams facing it and what they might do going forward. We talk Celtics, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Warriors, Suns and Clippers, analysing exactly how each team has built to this point and how their futures might be impacted by the tight restrictions brought in by the new CBA. Will the Celtics retain both Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown long term? Can Minnesota keep this core intact as Karl Anthony-Towns starts his super-max extension, will Steve Balmer ever stop spending and has Sam Presti got a step up on the league for years to come? All that and more in an action packed episode! Follow The Drop Step on Twitter here:  https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Check out Spotrac and Keith's work here: https://www.spotrac.com/news/?author=Keith%20Smith Drop Keith a follow on Twitter/X here: https://twitter.com/KeithSmithNBA Check out the Front Office Show here: https://twitter.com/FrontOfficeShow If you enjoyed the episode drop a Like, Rating and follow the feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pistons losing streak is over but a top pick in the 2024 draft still seems all but guaranteed. Enter Bryce Simon! The co-host of Game Theory and Pistons Pulse joined us to talk his top 8 prospects in the 2024 class through a Detroit Pistons lense. We talk about the Pistons struggles this year, plans going forward, an ideal Cade situation, Jalen Duren's potential and how two big lineups are kind of working in Detroit this season. With those struggles for all to see we ultimately decide which bright young star could arrive in Motor City and help the franchise get back on track. Could it be Alex Sarr, Nikola Topic, Ja'Kobe Walter, Matas Buzelis or another young hooper that arrives in Detroit to save the day. Give the podcast a listen to find out! Bryce is the best and this was a blast to record. Check him out down below: Bryce's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MotorCityHoops The Drop Step Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scottie Barnes has broken out this year but simultaneously it seems the Raptors team construction has broken at the same time. Despite posting All-NBA level stats Barnes is currently leading this team to an 11-18 record due to having the wrong supporting cast. Picture Will Ferrell on Broadway; the talent is there but the situation isn't quite right. So, Tre of Raptors Republic fame joins The Drop Step and we get Scottie the supporting cast he needs. We each pick two role players, two sub-all stars and all-star level guys to compliment Barnes, imagining some cool lineups, mocking trades, but also exploring what Barnes needs around him, how this team could transform in the next few seasons and just how roster contruction works when we get to the NBA. It's an enthralling episode and I'd love to hear how you'd be building around Scottie in Massai Ujiri's shoes! Check out Tre on Raptors Republic here: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/tag/pull-up-tre/ Drop Tre a follow on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/Pullup_Tre Follow the Drop Step on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TheDropStepNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices