Grading the Extensions; Season Predictions

Grading the Extensions; Season Predictions

Author: John Hollinger and Nate Duncan October 23, 2025 Duration: 54:14
Hollinger & Duncan sift the rookie-scale extension rush—what looks smart vs. risky—and then dive into 2025’s biggest questions: true title equity, matchup landmines, awards races, hot-seat candidates, and which front offices set themselves up best. 0:30 — The extension wave under a rising cap: what looks smart vs. risky 1:00 — Keegan Murray pricing: two-way wing scarcity vs. limited upside 5:54 — Christian Braun and Denver’s apron math: role value vs. replaceability 12:00 — Dyson Daniels: age/size/defense bet and why a flat $25M structure matters 13:45 — Shaedon Sharpe: lock in upside now or gamble on RFA? 16:19 — Toumani Camara: converting a team option now vs. preserving flexibility later 23:18 — Aaron Nesmith: playoff proof-of-concept and Indy’s shorter 2/40 approach 24:39 — Why some wings/guards didn’t extend: the “wait-and-see” tier (Mathurin, Ivey, Eason) 27:26 — Jalen Duren: cap-hold strategy, center comps, and Detroit’s options 28:34 — Next summer’s center market: Kessler/Williams and the post-incentive era 29:12 — Framing the 2025 race: contenders, matchups, ceilings (no picks) 29:28 — East storylines: regular-season juggernauts vs. playoff-built teams; health variables 33:28 — West storylines: OKC’s rise, the Warriors’ matchup swing, and who actually has a ceiling 35:03 — The true title-equity bucket—and who’s one in-season move away 39:18 — MVP shape: the eligibility gauntlet, top tier, and the U.S. vs. international tilt 43:44 — Hot-seat watch: contexts around Doug Christie, Willie Green, Darko Rajaković, others 46:17 — Sixth Man: role volatility, eligibility traps, and what voters really reward 47:17 — Most Improved: high-ceiling leaps vs. low-baseline pop candidates 51:17 — Defensive Player of the Year: the unicorn case vs. voter fragmentation 51:42 — Executive of the Year narratives: asset plays, cap gymnastics, timing 53:29 — Why 2024–25 on-court styles will be especially diverse and fun

For anyone who wants to move past the surface-level takes and truly understand the mechanics of professional basketball, Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show offers a weekly deep dive. Hosted by John Hollinger, an analytics pioneer and former NBA front office executive, and Nate Duncan, a seasoned host known for his detailed game analysis, this podcast operates with a unique blend of insider knowledge and objective scrutiny. Each episode feels like a conversation between two of the sharpest minds in basketball, dissecting not just what happened on the court, but why it happened and what it means for the future. You’ll hear detailed breakdowns of team strategies, nuanced player evaluations that go beyond basic stats, and clear explanations of complex financial rules like the salary cap and luxury tax that dictate roster construction. The discussion is grounded in film study and advanced data, providing a comprehensive picture of league trends, trade implications, and playoff races. It’s a show for the dedicated fan who craves substance, whether the topic is a rookie’s footwork, a contender’s defensive scheme, or the ramifications of a new collective bargaining agreement. Listening to this podcast is like gaining access to a front office meeting, where the league’s narratives are unpacked with intelligence, humor, and a relentless pursuit of what actually wins games.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show - NBA Basketball Podcast
Podcast Episodes
2025 Deadline Retrospective; Knocking the Tread off the Tankers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:07
John and Nate level a TOW Missile at the league’s tankers with some novel solutions and evaluation of whether the league’s proposed ideas will work, while discussing if the Jazz’s punishment was fair. Then a look back at…
Flashback: Solving Tanking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
Originally published in 2025 John Hollinger, who may or may not know anything about tanking, and Nate Duncan bandy about the best ideas they and listeners have for curbing the epidemic of tanking that has beset the leagu…
2026 Trade Deadline Extravaganza! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:13
John Hollinger joins Nate Duncan to break down the winners and losers of the deadline.
The Trade Candidates of the 2026 Deadline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
John reacts to the league’s newest anti-taking and injury reporting proposals. Then, we turn to assessing the market for key players at the deadline. We hit on Jonathan Kuminga, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williams…
Organization Rankings, Return of the Jedi Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:37
In part 3 of their organization rankings, John and Nate make their picks for the bottom 10 teams in the league. Which will take the coveted #29 spot and avoid the bottom?! Plus, we discuss our biggest risers and fallers…
Organization Rankings Part 2 (2025-26) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:57
A former executive and someone who will never be one are definitely the most qualified people to evaluate NBA organizations! But if we don’t do it, who will? In part 2 of a 3-part series, we examine each team’s organizat…
Organization Rankings, Part 1 2025-26 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:08
A former executive and someone who will never be one are definitely the most qualified people to evaluate NBA organizations! But if we don’t do it, who will? We examine each team’s organizational resume and determine whi…
6 in 24; Time to Panic?!?!?!? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:51
Nate and John continue their look at the Eastern Conference with discussion of Indiana, Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte, Washington, and Orlando. Then, we look at five teams at the bottom of the West and assign them a panic…
It's Mulligan Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:19
After looking at the latest controversy in Memphis, John and Nate look at which of their season predictions they'd like mulligans on, whether it's awards, season wins, or anything else.
More Gamblor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:05
John Hollinger gives his take as a former front officer on the betting allegations that have roiled the NBA.