Podcast Summary: "Big Changes Needed For Hawks & Trae Young? + AD Trade Possibilities & Clippers Improvement"

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective | December 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon examine critical storylines from around the NBA, primarily focusing on the Atlanta Hawks' troubles with Trae Young back in the lineup, Anthony Davis trade possibilities, the Clippers’ signs of life, and notable league trends involving financial constraints and player markets. They sprinkle in notable statistical deep-dives, anecdotes, and sharp analysis on how new CBA rules are changing everything from trade possibilities to team-building strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Atlanta Hawks’ Spiral with Trae Young’s Return

• Hawks’ Recent Struggles:

  • Since Trae Young’s return from injury, the Hawks are on a six-game losing streak and have dropped into the play-in zone of the East.
  • With Young on the court: 2–8 record, defensive rating of 126.2 (very poor), and being outscored by nearly 7 points per 100 possessions ([03:05]–[03:54]).
  • While Young was out: Hawks went 13–9, ranked 12th in defense, and Jalen Johnson elevated his play (averaging 23–11–9 on 51% shooting).

• Defensive Woes:

  • "Their record is awful with Trae Young in the lineup and good without him..." — Tim MacMahon ([02:54])
  • The system falls apart defensively with Trae’s return, despite his offensive numbers being solid (21 PPG, 10 APG, ~40% 3PT).

• Front Office Signals:

  • The Hawks did not attempt to sign Trae Young to an extension, which insiders see as a sign they’re seeking an “exit ramp” ([05:55]).
  • A trade, however, is difficult due to Young's contract (player option: $49M in 2026-27) and new CBA constraints that depress his trade value.

• Roster Construction Issue:

  • Hawks have been building a long, athletic roster — with Young as a glaring outlier ("Trey doesn't fit in that vision at all.") ([06:38])
  • Fewer teams are interested in taking on high-salary, weaker-defense point guards.

Notable Quotes:

• “You can’t have a guy making 30% of the cap who has that sort of effect…” — Brian Windhorst ([13:17])
• “We're in a situation now where if you're the Hawks, it doesn't seem like Trae fits long term...” — Tim Bontemps ([07:46])

2. The Changing NBA Trade Market: AD, Trae, and the New CBA

• Diminished Market for Stars:

  • Not just Trae — similar for Anthony Davis (AD), Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and even names like James Harden.
  • New CBA rules and cap constraints make it harder to move huge salaries.
  • Teams can't just offset by paying down salaries (as in MLB) ([13:25]).

• Anthony Davis's Market:

  • AD’s trade value is hampered by age, contract, and extensive injury history (13 groin injuries, 195 data entries for injuries/illnesses per Jeff Stotts’ database ([26:32])).
  • Lakers’ potential return for AD likely to be uninspiring compared to what they gave up for Luka Doncic in the past.

Quotes:

• “If you think you're going to get the bonanza picks package and all that for Anthony Davis, you're setting yourself up to be disappointed...” — Tim MacMahon ([15:37])
• “It's the new reality... Even great players, even players you desperately want to have... It's very hard to move big salaries.” — Tim Bontemps ([16:15])

3. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers’ Resurgence, and Realistic Expectations

• Clippers’ Recent Improvement:

  • Four-game winning streak capped by Kawhi’s career-high 55 points ([69:42]).
  • Brook Lopez moving into the starting five has improved spacing and helped both Harden and Kawhi operate ([47:02]).
  • Clippers’ defense returning to form after a rough start.

• Still Realistic:

  • At 10–21 (post-win), acknowledge that a top-6 seed is likely out of reach, but they remain in the Play-In chase with over 50 games left ([49:54]).
  • “If they're a play-in team, do I think they're going to pull off an upset? No. But hey, they took the Nuggets to seven games last year.” — Tim MacMahon ([50:19])

• Front Office Approach:

  • No real incentive or ability to tank due to lack of draft picks.
  • Trade market for aging stars like Kawhi and Harden remains soft; team's best move is to push with what they have.

Notable Moment:

• Kawhi’s Historic Night:
  • 55 points: 17-26 FG, 5-10 3PT, 16-17 FT, 11 REB, 5 STL, 3 BLK ([69:30], [69:42]).

4. Financial Constraints Transforming League Trades

• New CBA = Fewer “Blockbuster” Trades:
  • Players like Trae Young and Anthony Davis simply don’t command the same bidding wars.
  • "This is the new reality of where the league is at from a financial standpoint…” — Tim Bontemps ([16:15], [11:07])

5. Brooklyn Nets’ Surprising Defensive Surge

• Nets Defense a December Surprise:
  • 7–3 in last 10 games
  • #1 league-wide in defense for December (DefRtg: 103.5) ([29:38]).
  • Success driven by playing bigger, longer lineups — Noah Clowney, Nick Claxton, Michael Porter Jr.
  • Michael Porter Jr. thriving as the primary option in recent games ([32:22]).

6. Utah Jazz: Unexpected Wins Complicate “Tanking” Narrative

• Jazz and Nets Both Succeeding Under Young Coaches:
  • Keonte George making clutch plays and possibly most improved candidate ([36:21]).
  • Jazz and Nets both frustrating lottery projections due to good young coaches and overperformance.

7. Victor Wembanyama’s Leadership Lesson

• Noted as great with the San Antonio crowd (and responsible for the "banging the drum" tradition), but skips media after a big loss.
• “Being the face of the franchise is a full time job. And I would even say it’s more important...after a loss than it is after wins.” — Tim MacMahon ([40:16])

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo Drama: Dunk & Future in Milwaukee

• Stat-Padding Dunks Spark Scrutiny:

  • Giannis throws down a windmill with seconds left in a decided game; Bulls object, but Giannis claims it's about firing up the team ([57:07]–[60:06]).
  • “We're not the champs. Why should we play the clock out and have respect and fair play? We're fighting for our lives right now.” — Giannis, paraphrased by panel ([60:04])

• Will Giannis Ask Out?:

  • Vague but pointed response to questions about his future: “I'm here, I'm here, I'm here. Don't ask me that question...As long as I'm here, I'm going to give everything.” ([63:54])
  • Winds up with panel consensus: Unless he asks out, Bucks will remain “pedal to the floor” and try to improve roster ([64:30]).

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Trae Young and Hawks’ Dysfunction:

  “The issue is all at one end of the court...their defense has gone off a cliff…”
  — Tim Bontemps ([23:41])

• On CBA’s Shifting Financial Realities:

  “Trey is one of the first...all-star max players who is now running into this new reality of the financial constraints of this new CBA.”
  — Tim Bontemps ([11:07])

• On Anthony Davis’s Market Value:

  “Anthony Davis is due to make $120 million the next two years and is approaching 35 years old and gets hurt a lot. That is not a realistic expectation.”
  — Tim Bontemps ([13:25])

• On Giannis’s Non-Answer:

  “I'm here, I'm here, I'm here. Don't ask me that question. I'm here. It's disrespectful toward my teammate, myself and my teammates...”
  — Giannis Antetokounmpo, as recounted by Tim Bontemps ([63:54])

Key Segment Timestamps

• Hawks/Trae Young Defensive Split & Future — [02:54]–[14:12]
• CBA, AD, and Difficult Player Trades — [13:25]–[19:40]
• Clippers’ Improvement & Kawhi’s Night — [19:55]–[22:37], [47:02]–[54:01], [69:30]–[70:15]
• Nets' Defensive Surge — [29:38]–[34:41]
• Jazz Overperforming & Tanking Talk — [35:48]–[39:47]
• Victor Wembanyama as Franchise Leader — [37:52]–[41:49]
• Giannis Dunk Drama & Bucks Future — [56:50]–[69:14]

Episode Tone

The conversation is free-wheeling, analytical, sometimes playful (e.g., family and t-shirt cannon stories), but always insightful and direct about league realities. The tone is candid about how new league rules are reshaping the market, and realistic about challenges facing star players once seen as “trade-proof.”

Final Takeaways

• The Hawks’ experiment with Trae Young looks close to breaking; trade is possible but complicated.
• New NBA cap rules and CBA have flattened or depressed markets for max-salary, non-superstar players.
• Anthony Davis's trade value is nowhere near what his résumé might suggest.
• The Clippers are showing signs of a turnaround but have a limited ceiling.
• Old teams are out, youth and length are in — as seen with the Nets’ defense.
• Star players, even those with huge numbers or contracts, are not immune to tough market realities.
• The Bucks need more than just Giannis back; their future—and his—remains a league-wide story.

Summary authored in the voice and spirit of Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, preserving key speaker insights and the context for listeners who missed the full episode.