Hardwood Knocks is chatting up a STORM in advance of the 2021-22 NBA season. Consider this your lifeline page for all podcasts that will prep you for another go-round in the Association. From offseason grades and breakout candidates for every team to individual deep dives into all 30 squads, we’ve got you covered.

Please note our season lookahead podcast series is ongoing, so each team’s episode will be added as they roll out. And make sure you’re following and subscribing to Hardwood Knocks wherever available!!! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

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Offseason Report Cards

Eastern Conference

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Grading Criteria (2:46)
🔘 Atlanta Hawks (5:26)
🔘 Boston Celtics (13:17)
🔘 Brooklyn Nets (25:14)
🔘 Charlotte Hornets (31:58)
🔘 Chicago Bulls (42:57)
🔘 Cleveland Cavaliers (55:13)
🔘 Detroit Pistons (1:02:42)
🔘 Indiana Pacers (1:10:45)
🔘 Miami Heat (1:16:41)
🔘 Milwaukee Bucks (1:25:12)
🔘 New York Knicks (1:32:10)
🔘 Orlando Magic (1:46:13)
🔘 Philadelphia 76ers (1:51:16)
🔘 Toronto Raptors (1:57:23)
🔘 Washington Wizards (2:06:53)

Western Conference

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Dallas Mavericks (4:04)
🔘 Denver Nuggets (15:07)
🔘 Golden State Warriors (22:52)
🔘 Houston Rockets (42:10)
🔘 Los Angeles Clippers (51:29)
🔘 Los Angeles Lakers (59:13)
🔘 Memphis Grizzlies (1:14:02)
🔘 Minnesota Timberwolves (1:23:05)
🔘 New Orleans Pelicans (1:30:33)
🔘 Oklahoma City Thunder (1:46:21)
🔘 Phoenix Suns (1:56:52)
🔘 Portland Trail Blazers (2:07:41)
🔘 Sacramento Kings (2:15:05)
🔘 San Antonio Spurs (2:23:07)
🔘 Utah Jazz (2:32:53)

2021-22 Breakout Candidates for Every NBA Team

Eastern Conference

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Hawks (17:44)
🔘 Celtics (21:27)
🔘 Nets (26:07)
🔘 Hornets (30:27)
🔘 Bulls (34:40)
🔘 Cavaliers (39:56)
🔘 Pistons (46:20)
🔘 Pacers (50:42)
🔘 Heat (55:21)
🔘 Bucks (59:59)
🔘 Knicks (64:16)
🔘 Magic (69:46)
🔘 Sixers (73:58)
🔘 Raptors (79:47)
🔘 Wizards (84:29)

Western Conference

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Mavericks (3:45)
🔘 Nuggets (10:39)
🔘 Warriors (19:35)
🔘 Rockets (26:33)
🔘 Clippers (31:31)
🔘 Lakers (35:59)
🔘 Grizzlies (40:25)
🔘 Timberwolves (44:59)
🔘 Pelicans (53:08)
🔘 Thunder (1:00:44)
🔘 Suns (1:07:03)
🔘 Blazers (1:12:11)
🔘 Kings (1:16:42)
🔘 Spurs (1:23:10)
🔘 Jazz (1:26:37)

2021-22 NBA Season Lookaheads for Every Team

Atlanta Hawks with Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Intro/Puppies! (00:00)
🔘 Impressions of the Hawks offseason (6:29)
🔘 Trae Young’s next step (14:04)
🔘 Atlanta’s offense when Trae sits (17:41)
🔘 The backup center rotation (22:22)
🔘 John Collins’ growth (24:02)
🔘 Expectations for De’Andre Hunter (29:24)
🔘 Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish (33:26)
🔘 Nate McMillan’s impact (36:41)
🔘 Rookie-year expectations for Sharife Cooper and Jalen Johnson (40:07)
🔘 Are the Hawks built for a consolidation/blockbuster trade? (42:47)
🔘 Player most likely to be traded (51:49)
🔘 Best closing lineup (54:34)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (55:22)
🔘 Win-total prediction (57:20)

Boston Celtics with Alex Kungu of Hoops Island

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 0:54 - Intro
🔘 3:30 - Takeaways from Celtics offseason
🔘 6:37 - Can Jayson Tatum take another playmaking leap?
🔘 10:22 - Does Jaylen Brown have more table-setting in him?
🔘 16:41 - The fits of Dennis Schroder & Josh Richardson
🔘 19:36 - Marcus Smart’s expanded role
🔘 21:49 - Robert Williams III’s expanded role
🔘 23:56 - Will RWIII play a ton with Al Horford?
🔘 26:38 - Expectations for Payton Pritchard & Aaron Nesmith
🔘 28:50 - End of rotation decisions: Juan Hernangomez, Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Jabari Parker
🔘 31:47 - Boston’s defensive ceiling
🔘 35:08 - Trade candidates
🔘 38:21 - Best crunch-time lineup
🔘 40:32 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 43:32 - Win-total predictions
🔘 45:21 - Alex trolls the Knicks! (But also advocates for Kemba’s defense!)

Charlotte Hornets with Konata Edwards of the Locked On Hornets Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Intro (0:57)
🔘 Grant Riller catharsis (2:39)
🔘 Why Charlotte didn’t spend big on a center (7:06)
🔘 Rookie-year expectations for Kai Jones (12:45)
🔘 P.J. Washington’s progress at the 5 (16:56)
🔘 Kelly Oubre Jr.’s fit (20:33)
🔘 Miles Bridges’ ascendance/next contract (23:43)
🔘 Terry Rozier’s extension/long-term value to Charlotte (33:26)
🔘 Early impressions of James Bouknight (40:15)
🔘 Where LaMelo Ball needs to improve (47:24)
🔘 Charlotte’s place in the East (52:17)
🔘 Will the Hornets consider trading for a center? (1:02:21)
🔘 Best closing lineup (1:09:57)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (1:11:32)
🔘 Win-total predictions/Eastern Conference standings (1:13:10)
🔘 Jalen McDaniels (1:21:31)

Dallas Mavericks with Dalton Trigg from the Step Back Mavs Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 0:54 - Intro
🔘 4:23 - Did the Mavs have an underrated free agency?
🔘 7:17 - The Luka-plus-shooting model
🔘 9:05 - Impact Sterling Brown and Reggie Bullock
🔘 11:12 - Dallas’ lack of secondary shot creation
🔘 14:15 - What does a better version of Luka look like?
🔘 19:17 - Kristaps-at-the-4(???)
🔘 25:52 - Trey Burke vs. Frank Ntilikina vs. Josh Green
🔘 32:44 - Other changes to expect under Jason Kidd
🔘 35:46 - Trade candidates/Trade targets
🔘 40:54 - Best crunch-time lineup
🔘 43:29 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 45:29 - Win-total prediction
🔘 47:33 - Final thoughts on Jason Kidd

Golden State Warriors with Sam Esfandiari of the Light Years Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Intro (00:00)
🔘 The Ben Simmons talk (2:53)
🔘 Jordan Poole/The offense when Steph sits (9:49)
🔘 Expectations for Klay Thompson (12:22)
🔘 Expectations for James Wiseman (16:00)
🔘 Jonathan Kuminga and Mose Moody (22:09)
🔘 Importance of Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Andre Iguodala (24:47)
🔘 Will Golden State lean more on Draymond-at-the-5? (28:18)
🔘 Can Stephen Curry remain ageless? (34:23)
🔘 Best closing lineup (37:35)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (40:08)
🔘 Win-total prediction (42:31)
🔘 Should we expect the Dubs to make a major trade? (44:05)

Houston Rockets with Salman Ali of the Red Nation Hoops Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Overall impressions of the Rockets offseason (3:57)
🔘 How will the John Wall situation end? (5:12)
🔘 Other trade candidates on the Rockets (16:01)
🔘 Can the Rockets get involved in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes? (22:41)
🔘 Christian Wood’s value to Houston (24:59)
🔘 Can Kevin Porter Jr. be a full-time floor general? (30:34)
🔘 Jalen Green’s role (34:18)
🔘 How will the Rockets use Alperen Sengun? (38:00)
🔘 Rookie-year expectations for Josh Christopher, Usman Garuba (44:06)
🔘 Jae’Sean Tate’s ceiling (47:14)
🔘 Is Kenyon Martin Jr. a long-term keeper? (52:18)
🔘 Where will the Rockets defense and offense rank? (54:26)
🔘 Best crunch-time lineup (1:00:04)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (1:01:51)
🔘 Win-total prediction (1:04:59)
🔘 Final thoughts (1:11:54)

Indiana Pacers with Caitlin Cooper of Indy Cornrows

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 A quick thank you <3 (00:54)
🔘 Intro (6:50)
🔘 Rick Carlisle’s impact on Indiana’s play style (7:44)
🔘 Replacing Doug McDermott (12:13)
🔘 Torrey Craig’s fit (16:18)
🔘 T.J. Warren’s injury/importance (19:05)
🔘 Who’s the fifth starter? (22:00)
🔘 The offensive pecking order/Domantas Sabonis (25:24)
🔘 Caris LeVert’s next step (30:26)
🔘 The secondary rotation (33:11)
🔘 Myles Turner looks healthy?!? (36:17)
🔘 Trade candidates (37:41)
🔘 Biggest functional concern (42:02)
🔘 Best closing lineup (44:29)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (45:48)
🔘 Win-total prediction/Indy’s place in the East (47:54)

LA Clippers with Sabreena Merchant of SB Nation

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 0:30 - Intro
🔘 3:36 - Kawhi’s health and future
🔘 6:52 - Eric Bledsoe’s fit
🔘 11:45 - The secondary ball-handling rotation
🔘 13:31 - Is Paul George an MVP sleeper?
🔘 18:31 - Importance of Reggie Jackson & Nic Batum
🔘 22:24 - Terance Mann’s development
🔘 24:41 - Serge Ibaka’s health
🔘 25:17 - Harry Giles vs. Isaiah Hartenstein
🔘 26:27 - Will the Clippers play without a big more often?
🔘 29:12 - Justise Winslow’s role
🔘 31:25 - Keon Johnson, Brandon Boston Jr., Jason Preston
🔘 33:56 - Is Luke Kennard fated for a bigger role?
🔘 37:12 - Biggest weakness of the roster
🔘 41:09 - Trade candidates
🔘 42:43 - Best crunch-time lineup
🔘 44:23 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 45:49 - Win-total prediction
🔘 49:37 - Marcus Morris thoughts

Milwaukee Bucks with Ti Windisch of the Gyro Step Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 0:00 - Intro
🔘 2:14 - Championship feelz
🔘 7:08 - Khris Middleton, I love you
🔘 11:00 - Importance of George Hill and Grayson Allen
🔘 15:18 - Donte DiVincenzo’s return(?)
🔘 24:17 - Can Giannis get even better?
🔘 27:52 - Is P.J. Tucker’s departure being overblown?
🔘 30:51 - Will Giannis play more 5?
🔘 33:26 - Bobby Portis’ encore
🔘 40:06 - Milwaukee’s Biggest weakness
🔘 44:35 - Trade candidates
🔘 49:06 - Best closing lineup
🔘 51:37 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 53:55 - Win-total prediction
🔘 57:26 - The Khris-Giannis connection
🔘 1:03:48 - Mike Budenholzer

New York Knicks with Andrew Claudio of Knicks Film School

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 Overall impression of Knicks offseason (22:25)
🔘 Kemba Walker’s fit (30:26)
🔘 The sustainability of Julius Randle (34:34)
🔘 RJ Barrett’s offensive role (44:26)
🔘 How good will the revamped Knicks be on defense? (51:45)
🔘 Immanuel Quickley’s sophomore role (59:14)
🔘 Will Obi Toppin get regular minutes? (1:03:15)
🔘 Expectations for Quentin Grimes, Deuce McBride and draft what-ifs (1:12:43)
🔘 Player most likely to be traded/How are the Knicks set up for a blockbuster move (1:21:44)
🔘 Best closing lineup (1:25:20)
🔘 Quirky lineups we want to see (1:27:08)
🔘 Win-total prediction (1:29:10)
🔘 The Damian Lillard talk (1:35:12)

Oklahoma City Thunder with Olivia Panchal of Daily Thunder

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 0:00 - Intro
🔘 3:40 - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
🔘 8:23 - Impressions of Thunder’s offseason
🔘 11:13 - Endgame for OKC’s draft-pick armory
🔘 15:15 - Josh Giddey’s game and fit
🔘 18:01 - How much will Tre Mann play?
🔘 19:18 - Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s role
🔘 21:55 - Expectations for Aleksej Pokusevski in Year 2
🔘 24:05 - Expectations for Darius Bazley
🔘 26:01 - Theo Maledon’s upside
🔘 27:15 - The center rotation
🔘 28:13 - KENRICH WILLIAMS FOREVER
🔘 29:52 - Lu Dort’s future
🔘 33:37 - Predicting OKC’s second-leading scorer
🔘 34:30 - OKC’s best chance at a second star
🔘 37:48 - Best closing lineup
🔘 38:34 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 43:57 - Win-total prediction
🔘 46:33 - Will SGA make the All-Star team?⬇️

Toronto Raptors with Yasmin Duale of the Dishes & Dimes Podcast

TIMESTAMPS⬇️
🔘 00:54 - Intro
🔘 2:33 - Goran Dragic’s fit
🔘 4:48 - OG Anunoby’s offensive evolution
🔘 7:13 - Pascal Siakam’s return/Is he underrated now?
🔘 10:14 - Where must Fred VanVleet improve?
🔘 17:40 - Rookie-year expectations for Scottie Barnes
🔘 22:36 - The center rotation
🔘 24:55 - CHRIS BOUCHER FOREVER
🔘 27:06 - Precious Achiuwa
🔘 28:37 - Sophomore expectations for Malachi Flynn
🔘 30:24 - Yuta Watanabe’s value
🔘 32:07 - Fringe-roster players
🔘 33:36 - Figuring out Toronto’s direction
🔘 36:20 - Biggest functional void on the roster
🔘 38:14 - Trade candidates
🔘 39:55 - Best crunch-time lineup
🔘 41:24 - Quirky lineups we want to see
🔘 42:44 - Win-total prediction/Toronto’s place in the East
🔘 48:25 - Gary Trent Jr. feelz

COMING SOON

🔘 Brooklyn Nets
🔘 Chicago Bulls
🔘 Cleveland Cavaliers
🔘 Denver Nuggets
🔘 Detroit Pistons
🔘 Los Angeles Clippers
🔘 Los Angeles Lakers
🔘 Memphis Grizzlies
🔘 Miami Heat
🔘 Minnesota Timberwolves
🔘 New Orleans Pelicans
🔘 Orlando Magic
🔘 Philadelphia 76ers
🔘 Phoenix Suns
🔘 Portland Trail Blazers
🔘 Sacramento Kings
🔘 San Antonio Spurs
🔘 Utah Jazz
🔘 Washington Wizards