Overview of The Bill Simmons Podcast: The NBA Mega-Redraftables (2012 & 2013 Combined) and the Portland Trail Blazers Situation
This episode splits into two major segments: a deep NBA “mega redraftables” of the notoriously weak 2012 and 2013 drafts, and a serious mailbag discussion with Justin Verrier about the Portland Trail Blazers’ uncertain future under owner Tom Dundon, aka “El Cheapo.” The draft segment highlights how much talent still came out of those classes despite the overall bust rate, while the Portland conversation focuses on arena politics, relocation fears, and what a modern team owner owes a city.
NBA Mega-Redraftables: 2012 + 2013 Combined
Bill Simmons, Joe House, and J. Kyle Mann combine the 2012 and 2013 NBA drafts into one board because both classes were so thin that even together they only produce a handful of elite players.
Main theme
- These were two of the weakest draft classes of the 21st century.
- The group argues that the league was in a transition period:
- old positional archetypes were still being overvalued,
- analytics had not fully reshaped scouting,
- and teams repeatedly drafted the wrong body types and skill sets.
- The result: tons of busts, many “okay” role players, and only a few true franchise-altering stars.
Players they centered the discussion on
- Giannis Antetokounmpo — unanimous No. 1 overall in the combined pool.
- Anthony Davis — No. 2, despite some regret that his career could have been even bigger.
- Damian Lillard — elite scorer and one of the era’s defining guards.
- Draymond Green — one of the smartest, most important defenders and connectors in NBA history.
- Rudy Gobert — defensive anchor and elite rim protector.
- Bradley Beal — huge scorer, but viewed as a “wrong franchise” / wasted-arc player.
- Chris Middleton — ideal title-level wing scorer and the perfect fit next to Giannis.
- Victor Oladipo — high peak, derailed by injuries.
- CJ McCollum — steady, durable scorer and a great complementary guard.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — proven championship role player.
- Robert Covington, Jay Crowder, Otto Porter, Seth Curry, Terrence Ross, Mason Plumlee, Andre Drummond, Dennis Schröder, Evan Fournier, Kelly Olynyk, Dion Waiters — the best of the rest, mostly as role players, specialists, or high-variance contributors.
Why the 2012 and 2013 drafts were so weird
Draft failures and strange decision-making
- Teams repeatedly took:
- power forwards when they already had one,
- big men with no shooting,
- guards who couldn’t hold up in the league,
- or players who were clearly too raw for the NBA.
- The hosts repeatedly joked that the classes were full of iconic busts and weird picks.
- The 2013 lottery stood out in particular:
- Anthony Bennett went No. 1,
- Nerlens Noel slid,
- and many teams passed on obvious value plays.
The league was changing underneath them
- The discussion repeatedly points to the Curry era and pace-and-space revolution as the real backdrop.
- As the league shifted toward shooting, switchability, and skill, teams stopped valuing the old “energy big” or low-shooting frontcourt mold.
- Some players who looked appealing in 2012–13 would simply not be drafted the same way today.
Notable historical notes
- Giannis was the biggest hit in hindsight, but at the time he was a raw, lightly known prospect from Greece.
- Draymond was an obvious college player who fell because teams overthought him.
- Gobert became a huge defensive outlier.
- The episode also revisits the “what if” of Cleveland taking Oladipo instead of Anthony Bennett, and how that might have altered the Cavaliers’ path to acquiring Kevin Love and later LeBron’s second stint.
The draft boards and team fits
Bill Simmons’ team
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Anthony Davis
- Bradley Beal
- Chris Middleton
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Dennis Schröder
- Evan Fournier
- Kelly Olynyk
- Dion Waiters
Take: Bill built a balanced, high-end team with size, star power, and shooting, and he clearly considered it the strongest overall roster.
Joe House’s team
- Anthony Davis
- Rudy Gobert
- Victor Oladipo
- Andre Drummond
- Jay Crowder
- Otto Porter
- Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Seth Curry
Take: House leaned into length, defense, and scoring versatility, with some injury risk and fit questions.
J. Kyle Mann’s team
- Damian Lillard
- Draymond Green
- CJ McCollum
- Harrison Barnes
- Steven Adams
- Robert Covington
- Terrence Ross
- Mason Plumlee
Take: Kyle’s roster emphasized spacing, toughness, and functional basketball fit. The group generally agreed it was the most coherent “real team” construction.
Portland Trail Blazers mailbag: the El Cheapo problem
The second half of the episode turns into a long-form discussion about the Trail Blazers, their arena, and whether the franchise is being set up for a move or for a squeeze.
Core concern
- The new owner, Tom Dundon (“El Cheapo”), is seen as cost-conscious, transparent about wanting leverage, and willing to pressure the city.
- The fear is that he’s using:
- the need for a “first class experience,”
- the arena’s age,
- and Portland’s economic instability as bargaining chips to extract a better deal or create a path to relocation.
Why Portland matters
- Portland is portrayed as a true basketball city.
- The Blazers are deeply tied to the city’s identity.
- The city has:
- longstanding fan support,
- a title history,
- and a strong cultural connection to the team.
- Simmons argues that losing the Blazers would be devastating in a way that differs from cities where NBA support has never fully taken hold.
Verrier’s view from Portland
- Portland fans are nervous and angry.
- The tone locally is one of fear that the owner is trying to:
- cut costs,
- force concessions,
- and possibly move the team if the city doesn’t cooperate.
- Verrier says the arena is not perfect, but the bigger issue is whether the owner is acting in good faith.
Arena and lease details discussed
- The arena is older and may need upgrades, but the hosts question whether that justifies relocation pressure.
- The lease structure and expiration timeline are treated as crucial legal leverage points.
- They discuss how relocation would have to line up with the lease, and how penalties or legal complications could constrain the owner.
League politics and relocation fears
- They compare Portland’s situation to past relocation scenarios like Seattle/Sonics and Hartford/Whalers.
- Kansas City comes up as a possible relocation candidate if the team ever left.
- Seattle is discussed as a difficult relocation target because of historical baggage and existing rivalry.
- Adam Silver’s silence is framed as part of a broader commissioner problem:
- he wants to protect small markets in theory,
- but the league’s economics are becoming more ownership- and profit-driven.
Biggest takeaways
- The 2012–13 draft classes were ugly, but not empty. They still produced Giannis, AD, Dame, Draymond, Gobert, Beal, and several strong role players.
- The league’s evolution is the real story. These drafts happened right before the NBA’s skill, shooting, and pace revolution fully reshaped how teams evaluate prospects.
- Portland feels existential. The Blazers are central to the city’s identity, and the episode treats relocation talk as a serious threat, not just negotiating theater.
- Modern ownership is changing the league. The Portland discussion becomes a broader critique of ultra-wealthy, financially aggressive owners who may care more about asset optimization than community ties.
Final roster results
- Bill Simmons: Giannis, Davis, Beal, Middleton, KCP, Schröder, Fournier, Olynyk, Waiters
- Joe House: Davis, Gobert, Oladipo, Drummond, Crowder, Porter, Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry
- J. Kyle Mann: Lillard, Draymond, McCollum, Barnes, Adams, Covington, Ross, Plumlee
The episode ends with Simmons claiming his team is the best, House’s as the weakest, and Kyle’s as the most balanced.