The Athletic NBA Daily – "NBA Trade Awards | Slam N Jam"

Date: February 7, 2026
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & Fred Katz

Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily's "Saturday Slam n’ Jam," hosted by Andrew Schlecht and Fred Katz, dives deep into the aftermath of the NBA trade deadline, offering their signature take on the biggest trades, under-the-radar moves, and the ripple effects on teams' futures. Instead of trivia and Clippers Week (postponed to next week), the pair hands out their annual "NBA Trade Awards," dissecting the motivations behind maneuvers and highlighting which transactions might prove most consequential—or questionable—as the season progresses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thunder's Sneaky Draft Rights Trade: Cap Sheet Chess

• [02:15–09:05]
  The show starts with Schlecht asking Katz to explain the Thunder's mysterious acquisition of the draft rights to Balsa Koprivica—someone who likely won’t ever play in the NBA.
  • Key Insight: The Thunder are anticipating “second apron” limitations in the new CBA, where teams above a certain tax threshold can't use cash or aggregate contracts in trades. Having recent international draft rights in their asset pool gives them a legal trade "touch point" when other means are unavailable.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Sometimes the best way to tell what's going on with a team is by studying their cap sheet. Not sometimes. Most of the time.” — Fred Katz, [07:34]
  • Signals Thunder are preparing for becoming an expensive, second apron team—and intend to retain core pieces despite cap constraints.

2. Major Trade Awards

a. Pau Gasol Award: Trade That Makes a Team a Contender

• [09:05–14:18]
  • Fred Katz's Pick: Avica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers
    • Indiana, fresh off a Finals appearance, plugs their big man hole early, landing a high-level defensive anchor. Katz is conflicted: Zubac fits, but the price (multiple picks) is steep.
    • “He’s a very good defensive center with an unstoppable hook shot... Stylistically, I think he’s probably a superior player to Myles Turner.” — Fred Katz, [11:20]
  • Andrew Schlecht's Pick: Nikola Vučević to the Boston Celtics
    • Bolsters Celtics’ big man depth for a wide-open East.
    • “It gives them a nice big to have right now. So I really like that deal for the Celtics.” — Andrew Schlecht, [13:50]

b. PJ Washington Award: Sneaky Trade That Could Pay Off

• [14:07–19:44]
  • Fred Katz: Ayo Dosunmu to the Timberwolves
    • Praises Minnesota for adding a two-way bench guard without overpaying, addressing their need for extra ball-handling without sacrificing too much.
    • “He’s been a sneaky sixth man of the year candidate... He’s gonna fit into the identity of that team incredibly well.” — Fred Katz, [15:38]
  • Andrew Schlecht: Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors
    • Low price for a potential game-changing big, if healthy.

c. Favorite Tiny/Sicko Trade ("Bolsa Bolstering" Award)

• [20:12–23:24, 51:41–56:08]
  • Fred Katz: Vít Krejčí to Portland
    • Classic deep-cut move praised by NBA “sickos.” He's cheap, under contract multiple years, and genuinely useful.
    • “He is on an unbelievably cheap contract... this will help Portland next year and the year after that.” — Fred Katz, [54:09]

3. Gordon Hayward Award: Praised Player Who May Be Washed

• [23:31–27:23]
  • Fred Katz: Nikola Vučević, Boston Celtics
    • Questions how a long-time key player in mediocre environments translates to a title chase.
    • “I just worry when a dude has played in so many basketball games that don’t matter... it's a good way to develop bad habits.” — Fred Katz, [24:10]
  • Andrew Schlecht: Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards
    • Doubts Davis can be a franchise foundation due to injury concerns, and worries about looming extension decisions.
    • “If he's hurt the same amount...it just means he's going to slow down whatever you're trying to do.” — Andrew Schlecht, [28:53]

4. Honorable Mention: Cap Management Nerdery

• [34:16–37:33]
  • Both hosts marvel at the lengths teams went to get under the luxury tax, with Phoenix and Philadelphia (due to a fortunate Paul George suspension) as prime examples.
  • “Paul George testing positive for a banned substance cost the Wizards money.” — Fred Katz, [37:03]

5. Jakob Poeltl Award: The ‘Future Regret’ Risk

• [37:53–43:16]
  • Both Hosts: Indiana’s Zubac deal
    • They agree trading a potential top-6 pick for Zubac could haunt the Pacers, especially if lottery luck doesn’t bounce their way.
    • “If this winds up like five or six, there are good players waiting at five or six. That's too much.” — Andrew Schlecht, [39:30]
    • “It's a lot. You nailed it on the pick analysis.” — Fred Katz, [41:09]

6. Mike Conley Award: High-Impact, “Right Vets” Deals

• [44:35–47:49]
  • Andrew Schlecht: Kobe White to the Charlotte Hornets
    • Positive vibes, “bucket getter” off the bench, and a homecoming for the North Carolina fan base.
  • Fred Katz: Initially picks Porzingis but, persuaded by Schlecht, pivots to Kobe White as well.

7. Simone Fontecchio Award: Sickos’ Favorite, Actually Minor

• [51:41–56:08]
  • Both: Vít Krejčí to Portland
    • Quintessential deep-cut beloved by hardcore fans, but barely moves the leaguewide needle.

8. Kyle Kuzma Award: The Most Confusing Trade

• [56:08–66:24]
  • Andrew Schlecht: James Harden for Darius Garland (Cleveland/Clippers)
    • Baffled by Cleveland’s logic, especially given playoff history and playing styles.
    • “I am endlessly confused by Cleveland.” — Andrew Schlecht, [57:25]
  • Fred Katz: De’Andre Hunter to the Kings
    • Puzzled by Sacramento dumping Schroeder for more money and a player who’ll exacerbate their long-term cap issues despite being a bottom-tier team.
    • “What's so crazy is to get this bad while also getting more expensive.” — Fred Katz, [65:24]

9. Bogdanović & Burks Award: Most Overrated Trade

• [67:22–71:31]
  • Fred Katz: Jonathan Kuminga finally gets dealt
    • Years of trade hype ends in a blah deal. Neither side gets clarity or upside.
  • Andrew Schlecht: Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah (with Jazz’s muddled direction)
    • Questions if the move pulls them out of the tank or just strands them in NBA purgatory.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fred Katz (on Thunder’s cap foreshadowing):
  “The Thunder are signaling the possibility that too expensive does not mean going into the second apron and too inflexible does not mean going into the second apron.” — [06:20]

• Andrew Schlecht (on Zubac-Pacers risk):
  “That is too high of a price to pay, especially when you have another unprotected pick coming their way as well.” — [39:30]

• Fred Katz (on cap acrobatics):
  “Paul George testing positive for a banned substance cost the Wizards money.” — [37:03]

• Fred Katz (on the Kings' baffling moves):
  “What's so crazy is to get this bad while also getting more expensive.” — [65:24]

• Andrew Schlecht (on Garland-for-Harden):
  “I am endlessly confused by Cleveland.” — [57:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thunder’s draft rights trade breakdown: [02:15–09:05]
• Pau Gasol Award picks: [09:05–14:18]
• PJ Washington Award picks: [14:07–19:44]
• Favorite small/sicko trades: [20:12–23:24], [51:41–56:08]
• Gordon Hayward Award winners: [23:31–27:23]
• Cap/tax nerd stuff: [34:16–37:33]
• Jakob Poeltl Award (“questionable cost”): [37:53–43:16]
• Mike Conley Award (“right vet”): [44:35–47:49]
• Simone Fontecchio Award (“sickos only”): [51:41–56:08]
• Kyle Kuzma Award (most confusing): [56:08–66:24]
• Bogdanović and Burks Award (most overrated): [67:22–71:31]

Final Thoughts

Throughout the show, Andrew and Fred blend deep CBA insight, real on-court analysis, and lively banter to provide a comprehensive post-deadline breakdown. They don’t just label winners and losers but unpack the thinking behind even the most obscure trades, highlight the precarious balance between present need and future flexibility, and keep the conversation lively (and at times, self-deprecatingly “sicko”).

If you want to know why the Pacers’ season hinges on lotto balls, why the Thunder might be two years ahead on team-building, how Sacramento managed to spend more to get worse, or why NBA sickos are obsessed with Vít Krejčí, this is your go-to episode. And don’t miss next week’s “Clippers Week”—it promises fresh drama after a wild deadline.