Hardwood Knocks: An NBA Podcast

Dan is joined by Nick Crain (@CrainNBA), Jacob Kniffen (@JacobKniffen) and Tayler Peterson (@Tayler_P15) from The Uncontested podcast to break down the 2026-27 Oklahoma City Thunder. SUBSCRIBE TO THE UNCONTESTED ON YOUTUBE, and SUPPORT THEM ON PATREON: https://t.co/RoXfK1lcdL. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
4:21 - Themes from last season
8:17 - Oklahoma City’s collateral damage
14:56 - Who picks up Lu Dort’s defensive workload?
16:43 -  Jalen Williams’ “return”
21:28 - Trickle-down effect of Dort’s absence
24:41 - Cason Wallace’s role and future
34:06 - Can Chet Holmgren be more aggressive?
42:12 - Ajay Mitchell’s continue development
47:56 - Jared McCain’s fit
52:46 - The Thunder’s approach to player development
55:16 - Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Sorber, Aday Mara
1:00:02 - Importance of Kenrich Williams
1:08:04 - Biggest needs
1:09:21 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats
1:10:23 - OKC’s shooting
1:10:41 - Top-10 rotation
1:13:01 - Go-to crunch-time lineup
1:13:23 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
1:16:41 - PREDICTIONS

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Dan is joined by Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) from Bleacher Report, Liberty Ballers and Forbes to break down the 2026-27 Philadelphia 76ers! Follow Bryan’s written Sixers work at Liberty Ballers. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
1:33 - Impressions of the Sixers offseason
4:41 - tHeRe’S oNlY oNe BaLl
12:22 - Joel Embiid’s role
16:47 - VJ Edgecombe’s development
20:52 - The Jaylen Brown discourse
30:39 - Philly’s backup big rotation
37:43 - The defensive ceiling
44:59 - Early impressions of Labaron Philon Jr.
48:50 - Biggest needs
51:56 - Sixers depth + Top-10 rotation
57:22 - Go-to crunch-time lineup
59:19 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
1:01:30 - Joel Embiid’s availability
1:04:46 - PREDICTIONS

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Kyle Theige (@KyleTheige) from The Dane Moore NBA Podcast to break down the 2026-27 Minnesota Timberwolves. SUBSCRIBE TO THE DANE MOORE NBA PODCAST on YouTube. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
2:32 - The Wolves’ offseason
8:04 - LaMelo Ball’s arrival and fit
18:24 - How much faster will the Wolves play?
19:11 - Anthony Edwards-LaMelo Ball dynamic
28:52 - The Jonathan Kuminga gamble
42:16 - Can Jaden McDaniels play the 4?
48:06 - Minnesota’s reliance on Rudy Gobert
53:41 - Is Joan Beringer ready?
57:54 - Terrence Shannon Jr. or Jaylen Clark?
1:03:12 - Donte DiVincenzo’s future
1:09:23 - Ayo Dosunmu’s role
1:13:20 - Biggest needs
1:15:22 - Anthony Edwards’ offseason
1:16:56 - Top-10 rotation
1:18:19 - Go-to closing lineup
1:19:13 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
1:21:49 - Micah Nori’s exit
1:23:11 - PREDICTIONS

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) from Pod Maverick and Mavs Moneyball to break down the 2026-27 Dallas Mavericks. SUBSCRIBE TO POD MAVERICK ON YOUTUBE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
0:39 - The Masai Ujiri + Dusty May hires
3:48 - Stylistic changes under Dusty May
8:18 - Cooper Flagg’s continued development
15:57 - Kyrie Irving’s return + ball-handling pecking order
19:07 - Will Sergio de Larrea play?
21:13 - Dereck Lively II’s outlook
23:16 - Morez Johnson Jr. breakdown
26:26 - Santi Aldama, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall
29:02 - Zaccharie Risacher or Marcus Sasser?
32:16 - Max Christie’s future
34:10 - Will Dusty May emphasize offensive rebounding
35:25 - Dallas’ half-court offense vs its spacing
37:41 - Biggest needs
38:06 - The Mavs in the new lottery era
41:13 - Top-10 rotation
42:49 - Go-to closing lineup
43:36 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
45:33 - PREDICTIONS

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Keith Parish (@fastbreakbreak) of the Fastbreak Breakfast and Grits and Grinds podcasts to break down the 2026-27 Memphis Grizzlies. SUBSCRIBE TO FASTBREAK BREAKFAST HERE AND TO GRITS AND GRINDS HERE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
1:01 - Memphis’ direction
6:17 - Impressions of Tuomas Iisalo
7:37 - Cam Boozer breakdown
10:48 - Zach Edey’s workload + center rotation
13:55 - Cedric Coward’s continued development
18:22 - Ty Jerome’s impact
19:57 - Who will Memphis start?
22:22 - The most important “Other Guys”
29:58 - BUY OR SELL?!
37:12 - Biggest needs
38:13 - Could the Grizzlies consolidate quicker than we think?
39:45 - Are Cam Spencer and Cedric Coward underrated?
40:54 - Top-10 rotation
41:43 - Go-to closing unit
42:45 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
45:12 - PREDICTIONS

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Dan's Bluesky: @danfavale
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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan and Grant are grading the 2026 NBA offseason for EVERY team! NEXT UP: The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
1:27 - Grading criteria
4:23 - Denver Nuggets
24:27 - Minnesota Timberwolves
39:39 - Portland Trail Blazers FAKEOUT
39:49 - Oklahoma City Thunder
50:12 - Portland Trail Blazers (for real)
58:36 - Utah Jazz

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan and Grant are grading the 2026 NBA offseason for EVERY team! NEXT UP: The Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings! TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
1:39 - Grading Criteria
4:09 - Golden State Warriors
16:07 - Los Angeles Clippers
29:19 - Los Angeles Lakers
46:59 - Phoenix Suns
1:00:23 - Sacramento Kings

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) of In The NO to break down the 2026-27 New Orleans Pelicans. Follow all of In The NO’s written and podcast work HERE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
0:56 - Pelicans’ direction
2:52 - Jamahl Mosley hire
4:40 - Can the Pelicans improve defensively?
6:35 - The Zion Williamson-Derik Queen dynamic
8:59 - Derik Queen’s continued development
13:58 - Jeremiah Fears’ continued development
17:20 - Bennedict Mathurin’s fit
21:39 - Dejounte Murray’s performance
23:03 - The no-center lineup
24:30 - Importance of Trey Murphy III
29:11 - Herb Jones’ impact
32:41 - The center rotation
34:37 - Biggest needs
35:16 - Can the Pelicans be better than expected? + Saddiq Bey
37:01 - Top-10 rotation
37:59 - Go-to closing unit
38:16 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
39:15 - Is the front office under pressure?
43:07 - PREDICTIONS

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Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) of the AJC to break down the 2026-27 Atlanta Hawks. Follow all of Lauren’s work at the AJC RIGHT HERE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
2:08 - The offseason approach
6:02 - Why did the Hawks trade Zaccharie Risacher?
8:28 - Lu Dort’s fit
12:10 - Kingston Flemings breakdown
18:17 - What is Jalen Johnson’s ceiling?
23:16 - Onyeka Okongwu’s rise + Atlanta’s future at center
26:26 - Asa Newell’s development + secondary big rotation
31:21 - What’s the future hold 
34:19 - Ranking CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels
39:57 - Biggest needs
42:13 - The battle at backup power forward
44:28 - Top-10 rotation
45:19 - Go-to crunch-time unit
46:48 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
48:45 - Importance of Aaron Wiggins
49:34 - PREDICTIONS

SUPPORT US ON PATREON 🫶

SUPPORT THE SHOW BY PURCHASING HARDWOOD KNOCKS MERCH

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️
TikTok: @hardwoodknocks
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Dan's Bluesky: @danfavale
Dan's Twitter: @danfavale
Dan's IG: @danfavale
Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

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Dan is joined by Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) and Forrest Walker (@dunots) from the Red Nation Hoops hoops podcast to break down the 2026-27 Houston Rockets. Subscribe to Red Nation Hoops HERE. Follow Forrest on Twitch HERE. TIMESTAMPS⤵️

0:00 - INTRO
2:57 - Rockets’ offseason approach
12:58 - Amen Thompson’s extension and development
17:43 - The Amen Thompson-Alperen Sengun fit
26:25 - Marcus Smart’s fit
31:49 - Reed Sheppard’s development
36:20 - Jabari Smith at the 5?!?
44:49 - The Kevin Durant experience
50:21 - Will the Rockets play more in transition?
51:40 - Biggest needs
52:39 - Is Houston’s defense underrated?
57:11 - Top-10 rotation
58:21 - Go-to closing lineup
59:26 - Weirdo lineups we want to see
1:00:34 - PREDICTIONS

SUPPORT US ON PATREON 🫶

SUPPORT THE SHOW BY PURCHASING HARDWOOD KNOCKS MERCH

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL⬇️
TikTok: @hardwoodknocks
Twitter @HardwoodKnocks
Instagram: @hardwood_knocks
Dan's Bluesky: @danfavale
Dan's Twitter: @danfavale
Dan's IG: @danfavale
Grant's Bluesky: @granthughes

BUSINESS INQUIRES⬇️
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