Read and React

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber prepare for the new NBA season by bouncing around to the most interesting, exciting, and confusing teams in the league. Can anyone crack the Milwaukee/Boston tier in the East? Do the Hawks have a path toward short-term relevance? How will Chris Paul fit with the Warriors? Can the Kings replicate last season's success? They also discuss their predictions and expectations for the year, including whether anyone will knock off the Nuggets in the West, picks for MVP and other awards, the rise of a new generation of stars, and much more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss a busy week in NBA media, including Calvin Booth's inflammatory comments to the Ringer, profiles on Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski, Terance Mann's reported trade (un)availability, and much more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the Celtics' huge trade for Jrue Holiday, including where it leaves other Holiday suitors, Portland's handling of the Damian Lillard situation, and how much better Boston will really be next season. Then they react to Devin Vassell's 5-year, $146 million extension with the Spurs.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down every angle of the blockbuster trade of Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, including how Lillard will elevate Milwaukee's offense, where Jrue Holiday could be traded next, what the Suns might see in Jusuf Nurkic, and much more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the top 30(ish) players in the NBA, including some rising young stars in the league, LeBron's gentle decline, and whether anyone else is on Nikola Jokic's level right now. Plus: What these rankings can tell us about the state of the modern NBA.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss James' Harden's recent comments to a gathering of children about his relationship with Daryl Morey and how that connects with Damian Lillard's situation in Portland. Then they react to Jaylen Brown's historic new contract.

On the 250th episode of Read and React, Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss Damian Lillard's reported trade request and what fallout could come from it, the best signings of the NBA offseason, the Rockets' perplexing free agency moves, and more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss how Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jordan Poole might fit into their new teams before breaking down the picks they liked the most and least from Thursday's NBA Draft.

Brad Rowland joins Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber to discuss Victor Wembanyama's historic upside, the candidates for the second overall pick, potential sleepers in the late first round, and much more on the 2023 NBA Draft.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the Denver Nuggets winning their first championship, the magic of Denver's team construction, the challenges the Nuggets could face keeping this team together, and much more. Then, they bounce around this week's slate of NBA news items.