Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective Big Changes Needed For Hawks & Trae Young? + AD Trade Possibilities & Clippers Improvement
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Dec 29, 2025 The hosts dive into the Hawks' struggles since Trae Young's return, discussing whether it's time for Atlanta to part ways with him. They analyze the challenges in trading Anthony Davis, especially for the Mavericks, and highlight the Clippers' resurgence, sparked by Kawhi's stellar performance. Meanwhile, Wemby's growth as a franchise player in San Antonio stirs excitement, while the Nets show impressive defensive improvements. Finally, the discussion touches on Giannis’ late dunk drama and implications for his future with the Bucks.
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Expect Players To Exercise Favorable Options
- Assume players with player options will act in financial self-interest and likely pick up options when market demand is weak.
- That makes it realistic to expect Trae to pick up his 2026-27 $49M option.
New Financial Reality Restricts Big Trades
- The NBA operates almost like a hard cap now, making in-season trades for large salaries extremely difficult.
- Windhorst says moving players earning $45–60M is very hard even for desirable stars.
AD's Extensive Injury History Lowers Market Value
- Anthony Davis's injury log is extensive: Jeff Stotts' database shows 195 illness/injury entries for AD.
- Windhorst highlights that durability concerns materially affect AD's trade and extension market.