The Athletic NBA Daily – “New Year Mailbag | Morning Shootaround”
January 7, 2026
Hosts: Dave DeForest & Esfandiar Baraheni (“S” / “Esperahenny”)
Episode Overview
In this New Year Mailbag / Morning Shootaround episode, Dave and S take live and Discord questions from NBA fans, diving into trade rumors, contender tweaks, the Rockets' playoff chances, the vibe around the surging Pistons, and the emotional rollercoaster of sports fandom. They focus on midseason storylines—including the looming trade deadline, how the January-February stretch predicts postseason success, and which teams are on the cusp of making critical moves.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The State of the NBA: January Slump & Trade Talk
[02:53–03:30]
- Hosts reflect on the unique nature of January: Important for team trajectory but dominated by trade rumors and injuries.
- “It’s sort of weird because it’s also the time of the calendar that matters the most...but it’s also the time where most of the conversation ends up being either trade related or injury related or why is this team...slumping related?" — Esperahenny, 02:53
- The first big trade is expected soon, with Trae Young the major name mentioned.
2. Trae Young Trade Rumors: Wizards vs. Nets (and a brief Minnesota mention)
[03:30–10:48]
- Trae Young and his representation have been linked to the Wizards, Nets, and possible outside candidates like Minnesota.
- Hosts debate the merits of D.C. vs. Brooklyn as destinations for Young.
- Dave argues Washington is a better fit, given their desire to compete and young core.
- S points to Wizards' talent: Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Keyshawn George, and upcoming draft picks.
- “If you’re trying to win a championship tomorrow, you’re probably not trading for Trae Young. But if you’re trying to develop some young guys...Trey might not be a bad idea for your team.” — Esperahenny, 05:22
- Discussion on Trae’s “distressed asset” status: Wizards can take a low-risk gamble, while for the Nets, the cost and pressure are much higher.
- Larger point: "Perfect players don't get traded. Right. They just don't." — Dave DeForest, 09:58
- Trae Young’s strengths (shot creation) vs. limitations (defensive liability, needs to play on-ball).
3. Listener Mailbag: Contender Tweaks & Fake Trades
[11:19–19:20]
- Discord question: What minor moves should contenders make ahead of the trade deadline?
- S groups contenders: Pistons, Celtics, Knicks (East); Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets (West).
- Dismisses Lakers and Warriors from top-tier status.
- Bold suggestion: Michael Porter Jr. would be a great buy-low get for Detroit.
- “I think that’s like the—whoa. So it’s by low to a certain degree...and now you have a legitimate scoring option, a legitimate shooter.” — Esperahenny, 12:47
- Dave is intrigued: "The shooting is real...you'll have more space for Cade to operate." — Dave DeForest, 13:40
- Warriors fake trade: “Rip the Band-Aid off and trade Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga for Anthony Davis and just try it.” — Esperahenny, 14:35
- Discusses “smaller” deadline moves: Keon Ellis as a value bench defender for a playoff team.
- Speculative Three-Team Blockbuster Idea (Clippers-Celtics-Mavericks):
- Zubac to Boston, Anthony Davis to Clippers, expirings and picks to Mavs.
- "It's funny how the math works out...could duck the tax. Everybody could save some money." — Dave DeForest, 15:37
- Details the possible financial/roster machinations involved.
4. Rockets Questions: Playoff Ceiling Without a True Point Guard
[21:56–26:47]
- Rockets fans ask:
- Why haven't the Rockets gained ground in the standings amid Nuggets injuries?
- What is Houston’s playoff outlook without a “true” point guard?
- S: Houston has made up some ground, but the West is tough. Recent injuries (including Shingun) have slowed them.
- Hosts see Houston as a dangerous playoff matchup for certain teams (Lakers, Thunder) but uncertain vs. the Nuggets.
- “In clutch moments, I trust the Nuggets’ offense more than anything in the world.” — Dave DeForest, 24:57
- “What is the Rockets’ bread and butter? ...Your bread and butter can’t be, ‘We get the rebound and hope KD or Shingun create something’.” — Dave DeForest, 25:11
- Believe Rockets can trouble the Thunder in a series due to size and defense.
5. Pistons Respect Check – Are They Really “the Best” in the East?
[26:47–29:38]
- YouTube question asks if the Pistons deserve more respect than Celtics/Knicks.
- Hosts note that “haven’t done it before” bias colors perceptions—even teams like last year’s Thunder faced this.
- S: “The Pistons have it very, very good...Duren is now an all-star caliber player, Cade [Cunningham] is now an MVP-caliber player.”
- Shoutout to S for predicting a Pistons leap last season.
6. Advice for Stressed-Out Sports Fans
[29:39–33:07]
- “King of Fools” from Discord seeks advice for riding the highs and lows of being a fan.
- Dave: “Part of enjoying sports is embracing that instability…your team hates you.” — 30:38
- S on Toronto fans: “Sports fandom in general is about heartbreak. And when you embrace that…there will be an ease to which you accept every shot made and miss.”
7. January Matters: Predictive Power for Playoff Success
[33:33–34:27]
- S: “This part of the season is actually important. The data suggests that January and February determine who’s going to the NBA championship…”
- Celtics, Pistons tracking well; Thunder, Knicks, and Nuggets are slumping or banged up—may affect playoff picture.
8. Listener Accountability: Old Takes / Player “Blindspots”
[34:27–38:03]
- Dave is called out for being slow to see Cade Cunningham’s rise. He owns up, blaming injuries and early struggles but recognizes Cade’s transformation.
- “Let’s not act like the guy didn’t get better because he definitely did. But I see it now.” — Dave DeForest, 35:30
- S and Dave discuss other young players who might “come good”: Scotty Barnes (Dave is skeptical, especially about the offense), Keonte George (surprising improvement).
9. All-NBA Outlook for Scotty Barnes
[37:44–38:27]
- A fan asks if Barnes will ever make All-NBA.
- S: The 65-game rule lowers the bar for some, but if it goes away, he likely falls short.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trae Young’s Value:
“Perfect players don't get traded. Right. They just don't.” — Dave DeForest, 09:58 -
On January Setting the Tone:
“The teams that end up being the most successful in the postseason are usually the teams that end up being good in January and February.” — Esperahenny, 33:33 -
On Sports Fandom’s Emotional Toll:
“Part of enjoying sports is embracing that instability. Right. I love them and hate them and…it’s sort of like I go into a book…suspend reality… I think that’s fun.” — Dave DeForest, 30:38 -
On the Pistons’ Future:
“Duren is now an all-star caliber player, Cade is now an MVP caliber player…flexibility and cap space and picks…that’s the level of flexibility that the Pistons have when it comes to their future.” — Esperahenny, 29:19 -
On Admitting Misses:
“Let’s not act like the guy didn’t get better because he definitely did. But I see it now.” — Dave DeForest, 35:30 (about Cade Cunningham)
Useful Timestamps
- [02:53] – January “Lulls,” trade talk, season context
- [03:30–10:48] – Trae Young rumors dissected
- [11:19–14:20] – Trade deadline: contenders, fake trades, Michael Porter Jr. idea
- [15:32–18:45] – Three-team mega trade proposal (Zubac, AD, Simons, Bogdanovic, etc.)
- [21:56–26:47] – Houston Rockets: injuries, playoff assessment, matchup talk
- [26:47–29:38] – Pistons praise, East playoff hierarchy
- [29:39–33:07] – Managing sports fan stress
- [33:33–34:27] – January/February’s impact on playoff prospects
- [34:27–38:27] – Old takes, Cade Cunningham’s leap, Scotty Barnes’ ceiling
Final Thoughts
The hosts close by underscoring the importance of the current NBA grind, the unpredictability of the trade deadline, and the emotional experience of being an NBA fan. Mailbag episodes like this showcase the breadth of fan engagement, from complex trade hypotheticals to the psychology of following a team.
For new or casual listeners, this episode is an excellent snapshot of the NBA’s midseason state and provides smart, conversational analysis with plenty of wit and honesty.