Overview of NBA Trade Deadline Reactions and Super Bowl Picks With Zach Lowe and Joe House
This episode of The Ringer’s podcast (Bill Simmons / Zach Lowe segment + Joe House) covers immediate reactions to the NBA trade deadline — with special focus on the Giannis/Milwaukee saga, the biggest deadline moves (including Ivica Zubac to Indiana), who the hosts see as winners and losers, and roster implications around the league — then closes with Joe House joining to break down and make Super Bowl props and betting picks (Patriots vs. Seahawks).
Key topics covered
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: the deadline drama, why he wasn’t moved, and what it means for Milwaukee and Giannis’ legacy.
- Major deadline trades and how they shift the playoff landscape (Zubac → Pacers was the biggest confirmed move on the show).
- Team-by-team reactions: Celtics, Clippers, Bucks, Warriors, Wolves, Bulls, Hornets, Wizards, Knicks, Timberwolves, Pelicans and more.
- Winners and losers of the deadline (short and medium-term outlook).
- Injury and availability subplots (Giannis, Anthony Davis, Drake Maye’s shoulder, Jokic’s teammates).
- Super Bowl preview and betting props: Zach and Joe walk through logic and make picks for Ringer’s fan contest and their personal cards.
Major takeaways — NBA trade deadline
- Giannis stayed in Milwaukee. Lowe and Bill view this as a mixed outcome: it’s a win for the Bucks organizationally (more time to get better assets this summer) but Lowe argues Giannis missed an opportunity to force a move and may regret not pushing harder.
- Teams were surprisingly cautious about offering everything for Giannis. Concerns included age, injury history (big men in their 30s), and fit in star-driven lineups.
- The Zubac-to-Pacers trade was the biggest confirmed move discussed live: Indiana acquired Zubac as a starting center, while the Clippers received Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and draft compensation (protections were debated; reporting cited protections and future unprotected compensation).
- The Clippers looked like sellers in the short term; the Pacers look positioned to be more competitive next season with added size.
- Several teams used the deadline to clear/reshape cap space and tax positions (Cleveland, Phoenix, Denver, Toronto, Orlando, etc.) — a recurring theme: some clubs prioritized summer flexibility over immediate upgrades.
- Not all rumored “battering-ram” offers showed up (i.e., teams that could have theoretically offered massive packages for Giannis were reported as hesitant or unable to force the move).
Notable team-by-team reactions (high-level summary of podcast commentary)
- Milwaukee Bucks: Lowe thinks franchise won in asset terms, but Giannis may have lost personal leverage and another postseason chance. Bucks likely to trade in summer when the market is deeper.
- Boston Celtics: Made moves (Simons for Vucevic) to add size/floor flexibility; will adjust rotations (Pritchard/White staggering).
- Indiana Pacers: Big winner on paper with Zubac addition — gives them a true center and changes matchups next year.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Sellers — moved Zubac, added short-term assets and Matisse/Bennedict Mathurin to recalibrate. Kawhi’s availability remains a wildcard.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Aggressively trying to add complementary pieces (they made notable guard/bench additions on deadline); still a top West contender in Lowe’s view.
- New York Knicks: Acquired Jose Alvarado — seen as a smart playoff rotation add (defensive and energy guard).
- Washington Wizards: Anthony Davis trade reaction — Joe House (Wizards fan) praised the move as low-cost, high-reward for fan engagement and future flexibility.
- Golden State Warriors: Traded Porziņģis situation/Kominga moves; Lowe called some moves “fun” and “weird” but intended to end sagas and reconfigure roster fit.
- Chicago Bulls: Lowe critical — many moves left roster unclear and it looks like a multi-year rebuild/tank posture.
- Charlotte Hornets / Orlando Magic: Viewed as potential deadline winners in terms of future upside or positioning; Hornets surging into play-in contention.
Winners and losers (hosts’ perspective)
Winners:
- Bucks (organizationally — draft + summer leverage)
- Pacers (add a starting center in Zubac)
- Wizards (for taking a swing and creating interest with AD)
- Timberwolves (incremental upgrade to title odds)
- Hornets (improved playoff chances)
Losers / Confusing outcomes:
- Giannis personally (missed chance to force the issue, per Lowe)
- Clippers fans (short-term playoff position jeopardized)
- Bulls (moves left identity and direction in question)
- Some teams that had been rumored to be “in” but didn’t pull the trigger (frustration league-wide)
Trades and transactions discussed (what the hosts mentioned)
- Ivica Zubac → Indiana Pacers (reported: Pacers acquired Zubac; Clippers received Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, picks; protections discussed).
- Knicks acquired Jose Alvarado (from Pelicans), reportedly for small pieces/seconds.
- Warriors/Hawks/Porziņģis and Kuminga / Buddy Hield swap context discussed as a trades-of-convenience to resolve logjams.
- High-profile player movements and trade rumors reviewed broadly (James Harden, Anthony Davis, Kawhi/Laker rumors, Cam Thomas waived) and discussed for fit and strategy rather than to break new transaction ground. Note: the episode is a live reaction — some late deadline specifics were still emerging; Lowe and Bill frequently caveat protections and future conveyances would change the evaluation.
Giannis: the core debate
- Lowe’s argument: Giannis should have forced the move earlier to maximize title window and personal leverage — staying passive left him in an unfavorable position.
- Counterpoints: personal/family ties to Milwaukee, desire to stay if team shows urgency, and Bucks’ willingness to wait for a better summer market both mitigated an in-season trade.
- Long-term: the Bucks improved their draft positioning and can trade in the offseason when more teams are cap-flexible; Giannis’ final decision point likely still arrives in summer.
Super Bowl segment — Joe House (main picks & props)
Context: Patriots vs. Seahawks preview — schemes, weather, key matchup concerns (Drake Maye shoulder, Patriots’ run defense vs. Kenneth Walker). Hosts debated the spread and many game props.
Top picks and props discussed (highlights):
- Zach Lowe / Bill Simmons picks (Ringer picks): Patriots +4.5 (Zach), other props like Kenneth Walker 25+ receiving yards and Matt Collins 25+ receiving yards were recommended.
- Joe House favorite plays:
- Patriots +10.5 parlayed with Over 39.5 points (he likes Patriots to at least cover and some offense to be produced)
- Player props: Kenneth Walker (25+ receiving yards), Matt Collins (25+ receiving yards), Trevor Lawrence sack prop, plus touchdown bets for RB/goal-line plays (AJ Barner, Tongan players were mentioned as longshot TD plays).
- Fun/longshot props highlighted: special-teams/defensive TDs, Marcus Jones MVP (long odds), Milton Williams big-play possibilities, and player top-speed/next-gen stats specials (e.g., Shaheed high-speed bursts).
House’s lean: he’s comfortable backing the Patriots in multiple lines and saw value in props that expect the Pats to be competitive and produce chunk plays; he expects the game to be closer than public sentiment (Seattle coronation) and pointed to matchup/tempo wrinkles.
Notable quotes & insights
- “I think 20 years from now, [Giannis] is really going to regret it because he'll get traded anyway.” — Zach Lowe (on Giannis not forcing a move).
- “The Bucks are winners because they get draft lift and can trade this summer with more bidders.” — Lowe on Milwaukee’s franchise outcome.
- “This is a classic Wizards trade: low cost, could create excitement or be flipped.” — Joe House (on the Anthony Davis move to Washington).
- On the Zubac trade: “If you’re getting him on that contract, you’ve got to get a blue-chip asset.” — Lowe (assessing Clippers approach).
What to watch next (action items for listeners)
- Giannis’ status over the next weeks: will he re-engage, sit, or be part of the summer market? Big ramifications for contenders.
- How the Zubac → Pacers deal alters Indiana’s 2026-27 ceiling and the Clippers’ short-term competitiveness.
- Health updates: Drake Maye’s shoulder, Anthony Davis availability, Jokic/Nuggets depth and Aaron Gordon’s hamstring.
- How the Celtics stagger guards post-Simons trade and whether Boston’s new look holds defensively or in late-game offense.
- Draft and summer market movement: many teams kicked decisions to the offseason — expect big summer activity.
Quick summary (one-paragraph)
The episode was a wide-ranging, real-time reaction to a deadline that produced a few significant moves (notably Ivica Zubac to Indiana) but not the blockbuster many expected (Giannis stayed in Milwaukee). Zach Lowe argued Giannis missed an opportunity to force the issue and that Milwaukee gained organizationally by kicking major decisions to the summer. The discussion covered winners, losers, and why teams often prioritized future cap flexibility over risky in-season gambles. Joe House joined to break down Super Bowl matchups and propose betting stances — both hosts saw value on Patriots lines and specific player props.
If you want the full breakdown of any single trade, roster fit, or the Super Bowl prop logic (Zach’s or Joe’s bet slips), this episode provides live color and strategic reasoning worth a listen — especially for bettors, front-office watchers, and teams tracking the Giannis timeline.