Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily
Episode Title: Do the Nets Have Any Hope?
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Dave DuFour
Guest: Mike Smeltz (formerly of The Glue Guys)
Overview
In this episode, Dave DuFour welcomes former "Glue Guys" host Mike Smeltz to break down the state of the Brooklyn Nets ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. The discussion focuses on Brooklyn's recent moves, expected trajectory, roster construction, and the overall bleakness of the coming year as the franchise leans into a rebuild. Smeltz delivers a blend of dry humor and hard truths, offering an honest appraisal of what being a Nets fan feels like right now.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Mood in Brooklyn: Why Being a Nets Fan Is "Too Depressing"
- Smeltz shares that he and his podcast co-host ended “The Glue Guys” because "it was too depressing."
- Quote: “We just couldn’t do it anymore. It was too depressing. So we just ended it.” (02:36, Mike Smeltz)
- The general feeling around the team is one of gloom after a 26-56 season, with another tank seemingly underway.
The MPJ Trade: Hype, Controversy, and Outlook
- Acquiring Michael Porter Jr. (MPJ): Dubbed the Nets’ biggest change, Smeltz defends the trade despite MPJ’s notorious media antics and contract.
- Quote: “MPJ is the Nets' best player and we'll get an insane amount of shots up this year. He is the most impactful change.” (04:10, Mike Smeltz)
- Smeltz discusses how, despite criticism, MPJ has a higher ceiling than Cam Johnson, and the team managed to net a draft pick in the process.
- MPJ’s off-court persona: Mike touches on Porter’s odd media appearances, noting, "He has gone on the most epic media tour... the most insane thing." (04:02)
Tanking, the Draft, and Lottery Math
- The hosts agree the Nets are set to tank again, though last year’s results (ending up with only the 8th pick) demonstrate how risky this strategy is under the modern lottery odds.
- Quote: “I'm trying to decide if they organizationally will realize tanking isn't as fruitful as we believe or if they're like, well, the odds can't screw us again, so let's, let's tank. I mean, they're tanking.” (06:58, Mike Smeltz)
Roster Construction and Cap Space Strategy
- Questioning Brooklyn’s plan to maintain cap flexibility for 2026: Dave wonders, “Free agency isn’t really a thing anymore. So, why have all this cap space?” (07:33, Dave Dufour)
- Smeltz believes the front office wants to leverage cap and draft assets to land a "super duper fun young player," likely through the draft rather than free agency, given modern league trends.
Rookie Talk: Jaegor Demaine and the Five First Round Picks
- Smeltz is optimistic about Jaegor Demaine, Brooklyn’s rook, admiring his love for hoops and his pre-draft shooting performances.
- Quote: “I will always fall in love with a 6’8”, 6’9” ball handler, who is a smart person. And so that’s what I think Jaegor is.” (10:25, Mike Smeltz)
- He notes the team’s five rookies but expects few to stand out immediately due to crowded development situations.
Cam Thomas: The “Black Hole” Returns
- Cam Thomas accepted the qualifying offer, thus can’t be traded this year. Smeltz anticipates Thomas will play for stats and a new contract, not for team cohesion.
- Quote: “He is going to be the most selfish player in the league this year. Let’s not say the history of basketball, but he’s going to be pretty selfish.” (13:02, Mike Smeltz)
- The hosts joke about the inevitable disaster of a Cam Thomas/MPJ-led offense with little sharing.
Potential Trade Chips: Terrence Mann and Nic Claxton
- Terrence Mann acquired in a trade could be “rehabbed” and flipped for picks—potentially yielding “28 second round picks” according to Smeltz’s quip. (21:00)
- On Nic Claxton, Smeltz explains his utility but notes his $25 million contract makes him tough to trade this season. “He was an awesome fifth starter...defensively, could guard guards...but he just makes $25 million.” (21:53, Mike Smeltz)
Tank Race: Are the Nets the East’s Worst Team?
- Compared to the Wizards and Hornets, both agree Brooklyn is the clear favorite for the East’s bottom, with a “clear road, wide open, ready to just drive through to tank.” (24:34, Mike Smeltz)
The Rebuild’s Limits: When Does Patience Run Out?
- Dave asks about the long-term plan if the lottery luck doesn’t turn. Smeltz suggests another failed tank might trigger the end of Sean Marks' tenure as GM and a shift in team-building philosophy, possibly toward merely staying competitive like the Pacers.
Reasons for (Limited) Enjoyment: Shotmakers, Ball Handlers, and Awaiting the Next Fun Era
- Smeltz reminisces about prior enjoyable eras—specifically when low-expectation Nets teams with “bubbling up” young players provided glimmers of hope. He sees some entertainment potential in this squad, especially for fans who appreciate flashy bucket-getting.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On MPJ’s Public Persona:
“He has gone on the most epic media tour...That is the most insane thing. It’s like...The Denver Nuggets PR, congratulations. You’ve kept this guy under wraps and now he’s been unleashed as a media entity in the wildest way.”
— Mike Smeltz, 04:00 -
On Cam Thomas:
“He is going to be the most selfish player in the league this year.”
— Mike Smeltz, 13:02 -
On Rebuild Fatigue:
“I know this is such a sad pot. It’s going to feel pretty sad this year.”
— Mike Smeltz, 27:45 -
On the Tanking Landscape:
“It’s so rare in the greater New York City area to have a clear road. They have a clear road, wide open, ready to just drive through to tank.”
— Mike Smeltz, 24:34
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:13 – Mike reflects on Nets fandom and ending "The Glue Guys"
- 03:20 – Discussion on acquiring Michael Porter Jr.
- 06:53 – Lottery odds, tanking strategy, and cap space plan
- 09:21 – Rookie Jaegor Demaine and draft picks
- 11:52 – Cam Thomas’ season outlook, selfish play style
- 19:41 – Trade value: Terrence Mann, Nic Claxton analysis
- 23:49 – Tanking rivals in the East (Wizards, Hornets)
- 25:34 – Outlook for the rebuild and franchise patience
Tone and Takeaways
- This episode’s tone is self-aware, sardonic, and laced with gallows humor, much of it delivered by Mike Smeltz—"It’s going to feel pretty sad this year. Yeah.”
- Brooklyn is fully in tank mode, with hopes pinned to the lottery and development of a raw, young roster.
- Entertainment for Nets fans will come in flashes: MPJ’s volume shooting, Cam Thomas’ shot selection, and the slow rise of intriguing rookies.
- The general consensus is that while the outlook for 2025-26 is bleak, the draft and the team’s future flexibility hold some promise—if they can get lucky and smart about their picks.
In short:
The Nets are in for a long, challenging season. The front office’s plan is to tank hard, hope for lottery luck, and leverage assets in future trades or drafts. Cam Thomas and MPJ will provide shoot-first, ask-questions-later basketball. For now, hope is in short supply—but maybe, as Smeltz suggests, there’s something perversely entertaining about embracing rock bottom.