Overview of Postgame Show: The Latest On The NBA Trade Deadline (feat. Amin Elhassan & JuJu Gotti)
This episode is a rapid-fire post-deadline reaction and rumor-deconstruction session hosted by Dan Le Batard and Stugotz with guests Amin Elhassan and JuJu Gotti. The group breaks down the biggest deadline moves (and near-misses), why some trades happened the way they did, how team finances and roster construction shape trade decisions, and offers predictions and wild hypotheticals about where Giannis, Ja Morant, James Harden and others could land.
Key topics discussed
- Immediate deadline news: Jaren Jackson Jr. being traded to Utah (for multiple picks) and James Harden to Cleveland.
- James Harden’s contract mechanics and motivations: not extension-eligible, must play out the year then opt in/out.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors and likely destinations (Minnesota, Miami, Golden State among those floated).
- Minnesota’s roster moves (saving money, moving under the first apron) to create flexibility for a potential Giannis pursuit.
- Ja Morant’s market: complexity, high asking price, and teams’ hesitation because of the risk/reclamation nature of the move.
- Boston’s acquisition of center Nick Vucevic and what that means for their title outlook.
- How teams use picks, protections, and bad contracts as currency to complete multi-team trades.
- Several teams to watch: Cleveland, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Memphis, Golden State, Houston, Charlotte, New York.
Main takeaways
- James Harden → Cleveland: Harden cannot sign an extension immediately (must finish the season then opt in or opt out). His move is viewed as a championship-driven choice rather than a cash grab. Cleveland gains playmaking durability and flexibility; they also gain optionality (they can keep, waive, or trade him after the season).
- Minnesota intentionally cleared space and moved below the first apron to increase financial and roster flexibility. They’re positioning for an outside shot at Giannis but would still need to give up significant assets (likely picks/young players) to match Milwaukee’s asking price.
- Giannis trade feasibility: Milwaukee’s price is steep—teams must be prepared to part with multiple first-round picks and/or young, high-upside players. Most insiders think a true blockbuster is likelier in the offseason (June) than the deadline day because the pieces and protections take time to assemble.
- Ja Morant trade market is messy: teams interested often clash with teams targeting other high-profile players; Memphis is reportedly open to various structures (taking picks vs. taking back bad contracts), but acquiring Morant carries clear on-court fit and reputational risk.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah was a deadline shocker that reshaped available trade capital and market dynamics for big men and picks.
- Draft picks, protections, and teams’ willingness to accept bad contracts are the main levers that enable multi-team blockbuster deals.
Notable quotes & moments
- Amin on Harden: “James isn’t doing this for the money… he wants to win a championship.”
- The hosts riffed on the “1% doctrine” (originally Dick Cheney’s phrase) as a mindset teams are using: “If there’s a 1% chance, treat it like 100%.”
- JuJu Gotti (humorous): “If Ja ends up in Minnesota, I’m a Timberwolves fan — fight me.”
- Jeremy’s fantasy five-team, multi-player trade (Giannis to Miami, big pick haul to Milwaukee) — he said he’d “eat his shoe” if it happens, underscoring how speculative big-blockbuster scenarios remain.
Predictions, hot rumors & hypothetical scenarios
- Short-term predictions from the panel:
- Amin: Philly might make a move to get under the luxury tax threshold.
- JuJu: Rockets will make a splash (linked to point guard targets like Ja Morant or Dejounte Murray).
- Several panelists think trades for Giannis/Ja are possible but note they may be completed later (June) rather than at the deadline.
- Wild hypothetical: a five-team trade that lands Giannis in Miami (panelist Jeremy sketched a convoluted scenario involving multiple picks and player swaps). The group treated it as entertaining but unlikely.
What to watch next (actionable items)
- Harden’s end-of-season decision: will he opt in or opt out? That determines Cleveland’s long-term plan.
- Milwaukee’s firm asking price for Giannis: which teams can assemble the picks + young players Milwaukee requires?
- Minnesota moves: whether they flip roster pieces (Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, etc.) for draft capital or remain patient.
- Ja Morant updates: whether Memphis lowers the asking price or enhances offers (draft capital vs. expiring contracts).
- Celtics’ integration of Nick Vucevic: watch their defensive fit and postseason implications.
- Teams likely to be active post-deadline: Rockets, Knicks, Heat, Wolves, and Bucks (trade chatter continues beyond the deadline).
Quick list of moves and names referenced
- Confirmed/major mentions: Jaren (Jaren) Jackson Jr. → Utah (for picks), James Harden → Cleveland.
- Names repeatedly discussed as central to trade chatter: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Nick Vucevic, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green.
- Other players/team mentions tied to rumors: Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, DeMarcus Sabonis, Rui Hachimura, and multiple young pieces and first-round picks as trade currency.
Participants & extras
- Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
- Guests: Amin Elhassan, JuJu Gotti (plus Jeremy contributed multi-team hypothetical)
- Sponsor mentions: Venmo (ad read) and DraftKings Predictions (ad read at the end).
Summary conclusion: The deadline produced several headline-grabbing moves and left plenty of open-ended questions. Financial positioning (cap space, aprons, and protections), roster fit, and the premium on draft capital remain the central constraints shaping whether true superteam-level blockbusters occur now or later. The panel expects continued activity and plenty of follow-up trades/clarifications after the deadline window closes.