Hardwood Knocks, Episode 544 — MAILBAG: Blazers Fire Sale?, MVP Ladder, LaMelo, Rookie, Jazz Trade Targets, Jokic, Steph
MAIL TIME. Our latest dive into listener questions covers the MVP race, a potential Portland Trail Blazers fire sale, trade targets for the Utah Jazz, LaMelo Ball’s All-Star case, Stephen Curry vs. Nikola Jokic, a James Harden-Russell Westbrook what-if scenario, rookies who need more minutes, team-building philosophies, harmful high-volume players, RJ Barrett’s role with the New York Knicks and much more! TIMESTAMPS ⬇️
🔘 0:30 - Intro
🔘 2:31 - Will Blazers hold a fire sale?
🔘 11:02 - Who’s been the best second-round pick?
🔘 16:16 - Is Nikola Jokic getting enough MVP love?
🔘 19:24 - Jokic vs. Steph / MVP ladder
🔘 24:37 - Will LaMelo Ball be an All-Star?
🔘 28:05 - Can any star currently in the league win six or more titles?
🔘 30:49 - Which rookies most deserve more minutes?
🔘 33:40 - Should RJ Barrett have a bigger offensive role?
🔘 37:36 - Joel Embiid’s free throws
🔘 38:52 - Do the Jazz need to make a bigger trade?
🔘 45:37 - Would you rather have a role player with one elite skill or replacement-level impact all-around?
🔘 47:07 - Worst three-point “defenses”
🔘 50:00 - Who is the NBA’s most damaging high-volume player?
🔘 52:07 - If the Thunder trade Westbrook instead of Harden, would they have won a title?
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