Esfandiar Baraheni (@Forbes, @RaptorsRepublic, @ProHoopsWriters, @CEBLeague) returns to discuss permanent lessons we've learned thus far in this year's playoffs.

Plus, a discussion on how the rosters of the Wolves, Thunder, and Knicks inform us on what "role players" will be most desirable in the NBA moving forward, including some 2024 draft talk.

Enjoy!

For Chucking Darts' special 200th episode, Swish Theory editor-in-chief Matt Powers states his case on Zach Edey as the best player in the 2024 draft. In-depth scouting, philosophy, and projection talk on Edey, Uconn's Donovan Clingan, and one of the draft's most underrated players, San Francisco's Jonathan Mogbo.

3:30 Zach Edey's as Draft Outlier
13:10 Building NBA Offense Around Edey
18:45 Edey's Offense vs NBA Bigs
24:35 Edey's NBA Defense
34:30 Edey vs 5-out Offenses
45:00 Edey's NBA Comps
49:45 Final Edey Pitches
1:01:35 Donovan Clingan
1:33:20 Jonathon Mogbo

Enjoy!

The country's finest ACC analyst, 247 contributor, and NC State Wolfpack alum Brian Geisinger returns to provide in depth scouting reports on NC State-Purdue and UConn-Alabama. Can State pull the upset? (I think they can.) How the aesthetic difference between DJ Burns and Zach Edey may give them a puncher's chance.

Plus, some draft thoughts regarding Zach Edey, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, and Alex Karaban.

0:00 Intro + NC State-Purdue
54:10 Uconn-Alabama
1:06:05 Stephon Castle Scouting
1:16:50 Alex Karaban Scouting
1:22:45 Tristen Newton Scouting + Wrap 

Enjoy!

Acclaimed and accomplished ACC expert Brian Geisinger returns to analyze, in more depth than you will find anywhere, the 4 Sweet 16 matchups featuring ACC teams - Duke-Houston, UNC-Alabama, Clemson-Arizona, and NC State Marquette. Plus, draft talk on the darts therein. Enjoy!

6:00 Duke-Houston
47:00 UNC-Alabama
1:09:00 NC State-Marquette
1:30:00 Clemson-Arizona

Merry Marchness!
I do a quick sprint through my bracket after giving an update on the three NBA-relevant Colorado Buffs at the start of the ep (Cody Williams, KJ SImpson, Tristan Da Silva).

Enjoy!

Esfandiar Baraheni returns to discuss his article in Forbes calling for the NBA to debut five man teams for the Most Improved Player award. Then, he runs down his MIP winner, honorable mentions, and three five man units for 2024.

We dive into the philosophy and importance of improvement, how the draft can predict it, which improvements matter the most, and what they say about where the league is going.
Enjoy!

0:00 Intro + MIP Race and Maxey

14:40 First Team with Coby, Jalen Johnson, Sengun, Kuminga, JDub

40:00 Second Team with Herb Jones, Derrick White, Suggs, Deni, Sexton

53:40 Third Team with RJ Barrett, Vince Williams Jr., Nesmith, Strus, Watson

Maxwell Baumbach, host of the Draft Sickos podcast and prolific writer for No Ceilings (Prospect Overview, No Stone Unturned) stops by to discuss SEC player of the year and likely lottery pick Dalton Knecht.

Dalton is a clear NBA wing, but how will his game scale to winning?
Which sorts of NBA wings and contexts are instructive to his skillset?
What is trickier about finding a role on a contender, and how big would his role be?
What other wings in the class might be better bets to eventually help great teams?

Maxwell covers it all, and sells me on why Dalton is sniffing the top 10 on his board.

0:00 Intro + Knecht scouting report
22:20 Knecht's NBA role
26:00 Knecht + "tools wings" on D
41:10 Knecht's NBA shot diet
47:15 Knecht vs Great shooters
52:00 Bad (and Good) Team Fits
1:02:00 Knecht on Contenders
1:12:00 Other 2024 wings + Wrap

Enjoy!

Trill returns for a marathon on NBA contenders in the wake of the trade deadline. Who improved their chances, who did right and wrong by standing pat, and what teams can overcome their perceived "fatal flaw" come playoff time.

4:20 Mavericks as a true contender
11:15 Clippers Playoff Qs
18:00 West Favorite?
28:20 Warriors Trade Silence
36:00 Lakers Offensive Potential
50:00 Pelicans Trade Silence
58:00 Thunder Playoff Qs
1:09:30 The Bucks under...Doc
1:14:30 Celts by Default
1:17:00 Cavaliers' Rise
1:29:00 The Lurking Heat
1:32:00 Sixers with Buddy Hield
1:41:00 Maxey as Playoff Superstar
1:52:30 Sixers 2024 Draft + Wrap

Enjoy!

A quick solo recap of four most consequential trades of a Trade Deadline that contained plenty of insight.

Knicks
Sixers/Celtics
Thunder
Mavs

Enjoy!

Swish Theory contributor Charlie Cummings (Klaytheist11) discusses the explosion of Jonathan Kuminga in the Warriors' offense, how his herky jerky development path led here, and the team's new imperative now that he has arrived.

Then, we contrast Kuminga with Aaron Nesmith, a wing who has solidified his role and returned lottery value in a much different way, and how much more development he may have ahead of him in Indiana.

Intro 0:00
Jon Kuminga's Scoring Explosion 2:40
How Kuminga Changes the Warriors 9:30
Kuminga's Future and Ceiling 30:15
Aaron Nesmith's Rise in Indiana 57:00
Nesmith's Defense 1:05:20
Another Nesmith Leap? 1:11:10
Other Late Breaking Wings 1:23:30

Enjoy!