No Dunks — “Grading The Trae Young Trade, Multiple Buzzer-Beaters & Avdija And Ones”

Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: JD Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby (TK), JD

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the seismic Trae Young trade—analyzing its impact, grading the deal from both the Hawks’ and Wizards’ perspectives, and placing it in context with the shifting NBA landscape. The crew then dives into a jam-packed NBA night: buzzer-beaters, wild finishes, standout individual performances, and classic “No Dunks” wedgie highlights. The show stays true to the hosts’ banter-heavy, informed style—blending sharp analysis, irreverent humor, and plenty of basketball nerdery.

Main Theme: Grading the Trae Young Trade

Trade Details

Atlanta Hawks send:

• Trae Young (to Wizards)

Washington Wizards send:

• CJ McCollum
• Corey Kispert

No draft picks exchanged.

Grading & Analysis of the Trade

Wizards' Perspective

• Tas Melas: “It’s an A- for them... I’m excited to see Trae Young be the lead guy for a team... It’s going to put some butts in the seat in Washington where they don’t have a lot of seats sold.” (04:21)
• Wizards buy low on a 27-year-old, hoping he’s entering his prime and can galvanize both the locker room and the fanbase.
• Young Wizards will benefit from Trae’s playmaking, especially screeners like Alex Sarr, who "will definitely help Trey Young. The Wizards young guys are going to be getting the easiest shots of their career." (06:26)
• There’s a strong focus on future flexibility: Trae’s contract is expiring soon, so it’s a “trial run,” giving Washington a chance to evaluate him physically and as a leader before considering a big extension.
• Cautious about over-committing (given past massive contracts to guards like Arenas, Wall, Beal).

Hawks' Perspective

• Tas Melas: “C+ for the Hawks... you’d think they’d be able to get more for Trae Young entering his prime. Simple as that, really. I know people are saying it’s a money dump—and that is entirely true. It’s a vibes dump.” (04:21)
• Clear sense of underwhelmed response—Hawks are moving on from the Trae era, mostly to reset culture, finances, and direction.
• The return is underwhelming: CJ McCollum (expiring) and Kispert (serviceable but not special); “Could you not have gotten more a couple months from now in the off-season? It just feels like they’re not getting much at all.” (04:49)
• Decision seemed rushed, happening during an actual Hawks game, which the crew found odd.

Trade’s NBA Context

• The value of “non-superstar max” guards has plummeted: “Not long ago Jrue Holiday traded for multiple picks, multiple swaps. Donovan Mitchell traded for multiple picks, multiple swaps. And Lowry Markkanen, who turned into an All-Star... And then you’re here with Trae Young... you don’t get a single pick. It’s wild.” – JD Skeets (18:16)
• Rising concern about overcommitting cap space: buying low is fun, but what if the Wizards do give Young another huge deal?

Notable Quotes

• JD Skeets: “This trade is like the Facebook Marketplace of trades... Trae Young is basically like a lightly used set of golf clubs... You got into it back in Covid and you... put it up on Facebook Marketplace. You’re thinking, okay, this did cost us a lot of money. Like, hopefully you get $500 for this, you’re getting nothing... You don’t want to look at this thing anymore... 50 bucks, come and get it!” (14:15)
• TK: “This is a vibes dump.” (04:48)
• Tas Melas: “It’s not that long ago those trades happened. The game has changed. Changed pretty quick.” (19:25)

Key Segments and Timestamps

• Trade grades and rationale: 04:21—09:36
• Wizards' cap flexibility, logic for trading CJ, tanking/not tanking talk: 07:36—09:36
• Concerns over future contract/overpay: 09:36—14:04
• Facebook Marketplace analogy: 14:08—15:56
• Live reactions to odd timing of trade/news moments: 15:56—17:20

Big Picture Reflections

• End of the Trae Young era in Atlanta is “the first time I’ve had to tell my kids their favorite player got traded” – TK (17:02). “End of an era for sure.”
• Deep-dive into how little the Hawks got: “Even the Bulls got a pick back for Zach LaVine last year,” and now, with Trae, “you don’t get a single pick.” (19:29)
• Wild stat: with Trae traded, only Jaren Jackson Jr. and Miles Bridges (from the 2018 first round) remain with their original teams (20:23).

Around the NBA: Buzzer-Beaters, Wild Finishes, Standouts

Buzzer-Beaters & Crazy Finishes

Magic vs. Nets – Double Banked Threes Finish (38:15)

• Draft Pick #2 (TK): Nets come back from an 18-point deficit, wild last seconds—both teams hit clutch banked-in threes.
• Jaeger Joman (Nets) ties the game with a banked three (1:30 left in OT), then Paolo Banchero (Magic) wins it with a banked three at the buzzer.
• TK: “Double bank, clutch three pointers. That was hilarious. I’ve never seen something like that before.” (39:59)
• Both shots were accidental banks and nearly straight on—a first for the hosts.

Blazers vs. Rockets – Denny Avdija’s Career Night (41:57)

• JD Skeets: Denny Avdija drops 41 as Blazers survive wild ending. Houston’s would-be game-winning tip-in waived off after review.
• Deep dive into Avdija’s league-leading 42 successful and-ones this season (45:09).
• TK: “He’s got the James Harden arm rip... throws his arms out into everybody.” (45:04)
• Blazers’ young center Donovan Clingan praised for “screen assists” and “bone-crunching picks.”

Celtics vs. Nuggets – Statement Win Minus Jokic (31:31)

• Draft Pick #1 (Tas): Denver wins in Boston despite being shorthanded (no Jokic on a 7th game of a road trip).
• Peyton Watson goes off for 30; Jamal Murray racks up 17 assists.
• JD Skeets: “I think Jamal Murray has absolutely locked up an all-star selection for the first time in his career at this point.” (36:07)
• Tas highlights Denver’s “deep” team vibe, and how Jokic must be “super pumped” watching from the bench.

Raptors vs. Hornets – Quickley’s Walk-Off (61:21)

• JD Skeets: “Emmanuel Quickley with the three right as the horn goes in. Charlotte Raptors get past the Hornets.” (61:21)
• RJ Barrett led the Toronto comeback: “He just took over. He’s like, no, we’re not losing to the Hornets again.” (63:09)
• Humorous observations on ugly shooting stretches—“19 consecutive missed threes by the Raptors”—and Eric Collins’ broadcasting energy.

Warriors vs. Bucks – Measuring Depth on Both Sides (54:10)

• Warriors edge Bucks at home. Steph scores 31, D’Anthony Melton and Al Horford shine off the bench.
• Draymond Green’s composure and recent form discussed; comical anecdote about Draymond’s fear of his mom: “She told me the other day we need to have a heart to heart. I’ve been avoiding her ever since. I am afraid of my mom. I’m still afraid of my mom.” – Draymond, quoted by Tas (58:24)
• Both teams’ rotation depth and aging roster strategies examined.

Knicks vs. Clippers – KAT Breaks Slump (59:52)

• TK: “If you’re not going to involve me, I’m getting involved myself. 20 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 offensive rebounds [for Karl-Anthony Towns].” (59:52)
• Deuce McBride’s insertion into the starting lineup “paid off,” contributing space and pacing that unlocked KAT.

Wedgies & Broadcasting Fun (28:26)

• Celebrates NBA’s 30th and 31st wedgies of the year, with special attention to broadcasters’ reactions and in-jokes.
• JD Skeets: “The Bulls broadcast came through with some wedgie love... Adam Amin having some light-hearted fun or a little jab at us because he had said the one time furring A wedgie? No Dunks Incorporated. And we corrected him. We're actually an LLC. That was literally an inside joke for like, us. Which is very funny.” (29:31)

SGA’s Wild Night for OKC (Game high 46 points)

• Not part of the main draft, but the hosts make sure to highlight Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 46-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist, 0-turnover effort in the Thunder’s OT win over the Jazz (68:13).

Notable Quotes & Banter

• JD Skeets (re: Trae Young's market drop): “This trade is like Facebook Marketplace.” (14:08)
• TK: “This is a vibes dump.” (04:48)
• JD Skeets: “It’s crazy... Jrue Holiday, multiple picks... Then you’re here with Trae Young and you don’t get a single pick.” (18:16)
• Tas Melas (wry): “The game has changed. Changed pretty quick.” (19:25)
• Draymond Green via Tas: “I am afraid of my mom. I’m still afraid of my mom is what he said. Very funny to hear Draymond Green say that.” (58:24)
• Wedgie Recap: “Land of the Lilliputians.” “Fruit of the Loom, call us up.” Frequent banter around in-game catchphrases (28:26–30:00).

Other Memorable Moments

• Family Impact: TK shares, “This is the first time I’ve had to tell my kids that their favorite player got traded.” (17:02)
• NBA Draft Longevity Stat: Only two first-rounders from 2018 remain with their original team after the Trae trade (20:23).
• Playful Raptors-Hornets Analysis: Extended laughter over broadcast banter, “I watched every single one of those 19 consecutive missed three point shots by the Toronto Raptors.” (64:30)
• Podcast Inside Joke: The “Facebook Marketplace” analogy, and ongoing jokes about being an LLC instead of incorporated.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Trae Young trade grades & analysis: 04:21–21:34
• NBA trade market context: 18:16–19:29
• Wedgie broadcast segment: 28:26–31:11
• Best games “draft” begins: 31:31 (continues through ~66:44)
• Buzzers/beaters/memorable game recaps: Sprinkled from 31:31–69:46 (see individual games above for first mentions)
• SGA / Whoa Boy segment: 68:13–70:08

Summary Table: Key Points At-a-Glance

| Time | Segment | Key Discussion / Quote | |-----------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:21 | Hawks & Wizards grade trade | “A- for Wizards, C+ Hawks. Vibes dump.” – Tas | | 09:36 | Future for Trae/Wizards | “TBD on what they give Trae Young...wait to grade it.” – JD | | 14:08 | FB Marketplace analogy | “Trey Young is like a lightly used set of golf clubs.” – Skeets | | 18:16 | No picks for Trae | “Not that long ago...Mitchell...picks...Here, nothing. Wild.” | | 28:26 | Wedgie recap | “That was literally an inside joke for, like, us. Very funny.” | | 31:31 | Nuggets slap Celtics draft | “The locker room vibes just incredible.” – Tas | | 39:59 | Magic/Nets double banks | “Double bank, clutch three pointers. Never seen that before!” – TK| | 45:09 | Avdija "and-ones" spotlight | “He actually leads the league in successful and-ones.” – JD | | 61:21 | Raptors walk-off | “Quickley’s three right as the horn goes in...stupid game.” – JD | | 68:13 | SGA’s monster game | “SGA...46 points... did not commit a turnover...pretty impressive”|

Conclusion and Wrap

This episode captures the essence of current NBA volatility—stars on the move, shifting team-building philosophies, wild on-court finishes, and the value of both stats and vibes. Hosts dissect the Trae Young deal with nuance and humor, then shift seamlessly into game recaps, pop culture, and podcast in-jokes—offering listeners insight, knowledge, and laughs, whether they watched every game or missed the whole night.

For Further Listening:
Listeners are encouraged to check out the emergency episode dedicated solely to the Trae Young trade for more in-depth reaction (incident referenced: 03:07, and link in show notes).