Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby

Summary of Wemby Gets Revenge, Morey’s Out, and a Trade-Fueled Mega-Mailbag With Kirk Goldsberry and David Jacoby

by The Ringer

2h 4m•May 13, 2026
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Overview of The Bill Simmons Podcast

Bill Simmons opens with a wide-ranging NBA episode centered on the Spurs’ Game 5 win over the Timberwolves, Victor Wembanyama’s bounce-back performance, and the rapid rise of San Antonio’s young core. He and Kirk Goldsberry then dive into the firing of Daryl Morey in Philadelphia, debating whether the Sixers are better or worse off after his tenure. The back half is a lively, trade-heavy mailbag with David Jacoby and Goldsberry covering lottery format changes, bad contracts, draft strategy, and a slate of hypothetical superstar trades.

Spurs vs. Timberwolves: Wemby, Harper, and the Future

Why the Spurs are suddenly terrifying

  • Simmons and Goldsberry are struck by how fast San Antonio’s rebuild has accelerated.
  • The trio of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper is framed as potentially the best young core in the NBA.
  • Harper in particular is treated as a revelation:
    • He’s already controlling playoff possessions at age 20.
    • His rim pressure, patience, and finishing through contact drew comparisons to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
    • Simmons argues Harper may project as a future All-NBA-level “second banana” or even more.

Wembanyama’s response game

  • After getting tossed in Game 4, Wemby came back aggressive and dominant in Game 5.
  • He finished with a huge two-way line and set the tone early, reinforcing the idea that San Antonio’s ceiling is much higher than expected.
  • The hosts also discuss how opponents are testing him physically, and how the whistle differs for big men like Wemby compared with attacking guards.

Minnesota’s concerns

  • The Wolves are seen as good but increasingly vulnerable:
    • Their offense is inconsistent.
    • Mike Conley’s age is becoming a real factor.
    • Julius Randle’s inconsistency remains a problem.
    • Anthony Edwards hasn’t been as forceful as usual.
  • Simmons argues Minnesota may already be staring at the limits of its roster under the new CBA.
  • Goldsberry is more optimistic about the Wolves’ core, but agrees the roster is constrained and the West is getting tougher.

Big-picture league implications

  • Both hosts believe a future Spurs-Thunder series could become one of the best playoff series in years.
  • They view Oklahoma City and San Antonio as the emerging long-term powers in the West.

Daryl Morey Out in Philadelphia

Why the Sixers moved on

  • Simmons says the firing wasn’t shocking after an embarrassing playoff exit.
  • Goldsberry points to the two massive contracts Morey committed to:
    • Joel Embiid
    • Paul George
  • In the new second-apron era, those deals handcuff roster flexibility.

Morey’s legacy in Philly

  • The hosts are mixed on whether the Sixers are better or worse off than when he arrived.
  • Positives:
    • He helped them escape the Ben Simmons mess.
    • He landed key assets in the James Harden trade.
    • Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe give them a starting point.
  • Critiques:
    • His most aggressive “analytics-first” moves didn’t always match the emotional reality of Philadelphia.
    • The Jared McCain trade became a lightning rod.
    • Simmons says Morey might have been better off selling high on Embiid before the extension.

Philly’s fanbase and market identity

  • They discuss how many Knicks fans were visible at Sixers home games.
  • Goldsberry suggests the Sixers have long been more of an Eagles/Flyers city than a true basketball-first town.
  • Simmons wonders if “The Process” era may have cost the franchise generational fan loyalty.

Mailbag Highlights

NBA Draft Lottery reform

  • Multiple listeners complain that the lottery telecast is too rushed and emotionally flat.
  • Proposed fixes:
    • Use actual fans instead of executives/former players.
    • Use celebrities/superfans as reps.
    • Better yet, make GMs do it and give each reveal more time.
  • The group agrees the broadcast should slow down and explain the stakes after every reveal.

Pacers, pick protection, and the Zubac trade

  • The Pacers’ risky trade involving draft-pick protections gets criticized.
  • The hosts argue small-market teams should be extremely protective of first-round picks.
  • They like the player, but not the timing or the risk/reward structure.

Jalen Duren and restricted free agency

  • Duren’s inconsistent playoff play raises concerns.
  • The consensus: he’ll likely get paid anyway because the Pistons need him and he’s only 22.
  • Simmons compares his situation to other recent big-man contract dilemmas.

Warriors draft misses

  • They revisit the Warriors’ 2020–21 draft stretch and the “two timelines” era.
  • Major missed opportunities:
    • James Wiseman over better fits
    • Jonathan Kuminga/Moses Moody over higher-impact rookies
  • One name that stands out in hindsight: Aaron Gordon, who would have fit beautifully with Curry-era contention.

Embiid legacy and Hall of Fame discussion

  • The group agrees that an MVP should automatically mean Hall of Fame inclusion.
  • They place Embiid and Westbrook in the Hall, while Derrick Rose is treated as more of a peak/cultural icon case than a lock.
  • Rose is praised for his short-lived apex and enormous cultural impact in Chicago.

Kevin Durant and legacy drift

  • They discuss how Durant’s late-career storyline has clouded how incredible his prime was.
  • Simmons and Goldsberry stress that Durant’s OKC years were historically elite:
    • MVP
    • Multiple first-team All-NBA selections
    • Deep playoff runs
  • The takeaway: Durant’s peak is getting underrated because the last decade has been messier.

SGA’s popularity problem

  • Simmons asks whether anyone actually has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as their favorite player.
  • The panel agrees he may be one of the least “fan-favorite” superstars relative to his dominance.
  • But they also say that may help OKC, since he feels like he belongs to the Thunder and not to the broader NBA conversation.

Trade Ideas and Hypotheticals

“Boring but logical”

  • Warriors get Anthony Davis
  • Wizards get Jimmy Butler’s expiring deal + a protected first
  • The idea: Golden State seeks a traditional big; Washington gets future flexibility.

“Conventional”

  • A possible Giannis blockbuster involving the Celtics, Blazers, and Bucks.
  • The logic is that Boston’s lottery outcome makes a mega-deal more plausible.

“Major and somewhat surprising”

  • A strong Orlando/Denver swap:
    • Magic get Jamal Murray + Cam Johnson
    • Nuggets get Franz Wagner + Jalen Suggs
  • The hosts think the fit makes sense for both teams.

“Holy shit” trade

  • Jacoby’s biggest shocker: Cooper Flagg to Dallas in a monster, chaos-inducing deal.
  • Other wild possibilities included:
    • Anthony Edwards to Atlanta
    • Luka Doncic-type shock trades as the benchmark for true “holy shit” moves
  • Simmons says only a few players would truly generate that kind of reaction:
    • Ant
    • Tatum
    • Luka
    • maybe Jokic/Wemby-level names, though those are unlikely

Notable Takeaways

  • San Antonio is ahead of schedule: Harper and Castle may make the Spurs’ rebuild much faster than expected.
  • Minnesota’s window feels fragile under the new CBA, even if the core is still good.
  • Morey’s firing was about contracts and constraints, not just one bad playoff series.
  • The NBA draft lottery needs a format overhaul to match the stakes.
  • Durant’s peak should not be forgotten despite the baggage of his later career.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is dominant enough to be polarizing, which might actually be part of his superpower.