No Dunks – The Drop | NBA Trade Deadline Winners & Losers

iHeartPodcasts | February 6, 2026
Hosts: Jay Skeets, Tas (Tass) Mellow, Trey Kirby, JD

Episode Overview

In this “Drop” episode, the No Dunks crew delivers a deep dive into the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline, dissecting the biggest moves, labeling trade deadline winners and losers, and exploring the ripple effects across the league. With their trademark blend of humor, insight, and lively debate, Skeets, Tass, Trey, and JD break down how recent blockbuster deals reshaped the NBA landscape, share memorable moments from their five-hour trade deadline live stream, and candidly discuss looming playoff and lottery implications.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening and Trade Deadline Energy

• The crew reflects on their marathon five-hour live stream reacting to deadline trades in real-time, underscoring the intensity and excitement:

  "[We] went five hours plus, reacting to either trades that had just happened the night before or trades that were happening during the day. We had a lot to talk about... and near the end, I paid off January's pick' em loss by getting into the pig costume and getting a little loopy." — Jay Skeets (04:04)

• Notably, five recent All-Stars were traded, prompting Skeets to quiz Trey and Tass on the full list of moved former All-Stars. The full rundown included Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden, Darius Garland, Nikola Vucevic, Mike Conley Jr., Kristaps Porzingis, Chris Paul, Chris Middleton, and D'Angelo Russell.

  "He was an All Star... D'Angelo Russell, come on." — Jay Skeets (07:22)

2. Big Moves: Notable Winners at the Trade Deadline

Indiana Pacers & LA Clippers

• Trade Breakdown:

  • Pacers upgraded at center, acquiring Ivica Zubac from the Clippers on a cap-friendly deal.
  • Clippers flipped pieces (including 36-year-old Harden and Zubac) for young assets like Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and multiple firsts.

• Key Insight:
  The outcome of the trade may hinge on draft lottery luck due to complex pick protections:

  "Indiana has a 52% chance, basically... at keeping the pick. And the Clippers have a 48% chance at snatching it here in 2026." — Jay Skeets (11:41)

• Lottery Drama & Transparency:

  "We need to televise the balls. I want to see all the balls, I want to see all the graphs... to see what combinations can work for each and every team." — Tass Mellow (11:01)

• The trade could catalyze a retool for both teams, pending Tyrese Haliburton’s health.

  "They're banking on [Haliburton] coming back healthy. In this day and age, it seems like guys are coming back from Achilles injuries way healthier… It's unproven for sure." — Trey Kirby (15:04)

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Acquisition: Ayo Dosunmu

• Impact:

  "They got one of the better guards who was on the market… He gives them basically what Nikhil Alexander-Walker did... You’re getting some three-point shooting and great on-ball defense." — Trey Kirby (18:36)

• Ayo is expected to close games and improve the Wolves’ rotation, crucial for a playoff push.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Acquisition: James Harden

• Rationale: Harden is seen as a “hope injection” for a second-round run, especially after Garland underperformed and Mobley disappointed last postseason:

  "If you look at the postseason last year and the guy that they traded for James Harden, could you rely on him in the round two? … That’s a great thing for the Cavaliers. They have hope." — Tass Mellow (26:08)

• Additional Moves: Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis provide depth and versatility.

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Moves: Added Jared McCain (young scorer) by swapping out Usman Jang; Their lottery pick odds also improved due to others’ trades.
• Analysis:

  "Nobody made a big swing. Denver ducked the tax; the Lakers added Luke Kennard... All the other things that didn’t happen in the Western Conference, that's good for the Thunder." — Trey Kirby (37:17)

Milwaukee Bucks

• Stance: Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed, Silver Lining is keeping the pick in a strong draft:

  "They got Giannis right now... and they retain that pick most likely, depending on the lottery balls." — Tass Mellow (39:29)

• The team’s plans rest on Giannis’ health and their positioning in the lottery. If healthy, he could drag them to the play-in and alter lottery odds.

Honorable Mentions

• Charlotte Hornets: Savvy moves without touching core pieces and adding future flexibility (50:01)
• NY Knicks: Low-cost addition of Jose Alvarado for playoff guard depth (50:56)
• Nikola Vucevic: Traded to the contending Celtics, finally playing for a winner after a long career on mediocre teams (53:21)

3. Trade Deadline Losers

Golden State Warriors

• Disappointment: Hopes for a blockbuster star (Giannis, JJJ) fizzled; end up with injury-risk Kristaps Porzingis in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga.

  "It's like going shopping for a 2020 Range Rover... You come home with a stupid 2012 Highlander Hybrid that breaks down at 130,000 miles... Very disappointing deadline for Golden State." — Trey Kirby (55:12)

Sacramento Kings

• Issue: Stuck with large payroll, couldn't move high-priced veterans, bleak future outlook.

  "They had everybody available...but nah, no one made a deal for all these players." — Tass Mellow (58:15)

Miami Heat

• Inactivity: Only team in the East to stand pat (besides non-competitive teams in the West), continuing their streak of inertia despite a struggling roster.

  "They just don't swing the bat... You got to swing at some point." — Jay Skeets (60:08)

Houston Rockets

• Criticism: Made no deadline moves despite injuries and a middle-of-the-pack season; Udoka publicly calls out Alperen Sengun’s defense and effort (74:03).

4. Other Notable Moments and Quotes

NBA Tankathon Watch

• Trey and Tass highlight the ugly tanking race, with a third of the league clearly racing for draft position:

  "A third of the league is going to give up for two months of the season. Sacramento, Indiana, Brooklyn, Washington, Utah, Dallas, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Chicago do not want to win." — Trey Kirby (16:07)

Trade-Related Lottery Drama

"Forget the Super Bowl... This is the coin toss we should be caring about." — Jay Skeets (11:41)

Pressure Meter: Cavaliers

• The addition of Harden cranks up their playoff expectations–and pressure:

  "I do think doing this trade, the Cavs are the team that’s under the most pressure going into the playoffs… all of this with the Donovan Mitchell, should I stay or should I go?" — Trey Kirby (32:45)

Favorite Winner/Lottery Lines

• "We need to televise the balls. I want to see all the balls." — Tass Mellow (11:01)
• "Let’s say, you know... [Danny] LaRue and [Nate] Duncan and they will break it down, baby." — Tass Mellow (30:51)

5. Worst of the Week Nominees (65:43)

• Lakers’ Jackson Hayes: Suspended for body-checking Wizards mascot G-Wiz.
• Reggie Miller's Caitlin Clark Comp: Compared her to Peyton Pritchard, much to her visible confusion.
• Pat Connaughton’s Hair: Unfortunate dye job after losing a fantasy football bet.
• Rudy Gobert’s Locker Room Mishap: Camera nearly exposed Gobert during live interview, but footage scrubbed.
• Alperen Sengun’s Terrible Week: Snubbed from All-Star, ejected for disrespectful language to ref, and publicly called out by coach.

6. Rapid Fire and Fun

• The guys tackle quirky scenarios, from “old songs by old artists” to “things you slept on growing up” (e.g., Skeets never watched ‘GI Joe’).
• End-of-show bits feature WWE-style promos and playful debates about Taco Bell Crunchwrap contents and ski-jump controversy.

Notable Quotes

• “This is an awesome trade... the moving parts of it is so cool. I saw Caitlin Cooper, the great Indiana Pacers writer, talking about how exciting the draft lottery is going to be. Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard responds with popcorn emojis. This guy's like, yeah, let's go!” — Trey Kirby (12:25)
• “You want to complete transparent league? That needs to be on air. Why not? Why not?” — Tass Mellow (11:01)
• “Ayo [Dosunmu] will get downhill and if he's got an open shot, he's going to take it... I also like the mix with Nas Reid and Bones Hyland. Three guys with long hair coming off the bench will look very, very cool.” — Trey Kirby on Minnesota's trade (18:36)
• “The Cavs are the team that's under the most pressure going into the playoffs...” — Trey Kirby (32:45)
• “All the attention [Harden] draws and how great he is in the pick and roll action. You roll, he's going to find you. He's an elite passer.” — Jay Skeets (29:03)
• “They [the Heat] just don't swing the bat... You got to swing at some point, I think.” — Jay Skeets (60:08)

Important Timestamps

• Marathon live stream/funny moments: 03:34–04:56
• All-Star trade rundown & quiz: 04:57–07:28
• Pacers/Clippers trade & lottery drama: 08:00–14:20
• Tank race concerns: 16:07–18:32
• Timberwolves get Ayo Dosunmu: 18:36–21:18
• Cavs add James Harden: 26:08–34:39
• Thunder strategic moves & lottery impact: 37:17–39:33
• Bucks & Giannis uncertainty: 39:29–45:06
• Secondary winners (Hornets, Knicks, Celtics, Vucevic): 50:01–53:42
• Warriors' failed star chase: 55:12–57:49
• Kings stuck/bleak future: 58:15–60:08
• Heat inactivity critique: 60:08–63:10
• Worst of the Week (funny/weird moments): 65:43–75:06
• Rapid fire (random fun and trivia): 91:20–103:43

Summary

This jam-packed No Dunks “Drop” episode is a trade deadline lover’s dream—full of breakdowns, what-ifs, and signature banter. Insightful analysis on blockbuster trades (and the key players involved), a frustrated roasting of deadline losers, debates about tanking and lottery luck, and the impending drama around Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future all anchor the basketball side.

That’s rounded out by classic No Dunks fun: jokes about mascots, mascots getting body-checked, disappointing dye jobs, and the much-discussed “pig costume.” The team's natural, irreverent chemistry and deep hoops knowledge make this an essential recap for anyone wanting to understand the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline fallout—without having to wade through five hours of trades, pizza, and pig costumes.