The Bill Simmons Podcast

Episode: Five NBA Trade Ideas, a Sleeper NFL Playoff Team, Eagles-Packers, and Week 10 Picks With Joe House

Date: November 7, 2025
Host: Bill Simmons with Joe House

Episode Overview

Bill Simmons and his regular co-host Joe House dig deep into the NBA trade landscape in the age of the new CBA, present five creative NBA trades, debate the current state of team-building and player movement, and shift gears to NFL playoff predictions and in-depth Week 10 picks for Ringer 107. The episode features candid, sometimes hilarious, debates about league rules, star value, specific players, and some sharp wagering takes.

1. The New NBA Trade Reality: Finding Trade Ideas in a Complicated Landscape

[00:00–10:54]

• Theme: It's never been harder to make impactful NBA trades due to the new CBA, salary apron rules, tight payrolls, and general parity.
• Bill notes that the recent rush to create parity "has everyone stuck." He wants more flexibility and feels these rules stifle creativity, saying,

  "The trade machine Picasso has definitely bought his easel... once the Ja Morant news happened. But ... the wheels started turning. I don't really know what the point of this Celtic season is." (03:10)

• House objects that "parity above all else" (04:38) is the league’s goal, likening it to the NFL, but acknowledges the new rules can be discouraging for tradewatchers.
• The hosts lament key players on capped-out teams: “CJ McCollum and Chris Middleton ... just the ideal life ... making like 33 million ... pats some dudes on the back ... they can’t really trade him ... he’s going to get bought out in February." (08:11)

2. The Five NBA Trade Ideas

Trade 1: Ja Morant to Miami

[10:56–16:30]

• Deal: Ja Morant & KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) to Miami; Tyler Herro & Terry Rozier (expiring) to Memphis.
• Logic: Miami bets on Morant’s upside and their culture to steer him right. Memphis gets out of the Ja dilemma for a solid haul.
• Debate: Both hosts note Morant’s value is low due to off-court issues, but Miami is uniquely equipped:

  "There’s a way for you to make another $500 million ... let’s figure it out together as a team. You are now part of Heat culture." – House (14:15)

• Simmons muses, as a Heat hater, “Goddamn, they’re going to fix Ja Morant.” (16:30)

Trade 2: Morant, Trae Young, and Three-Team Chaos

[16:31–19:53]

• Deal: Memphis gets Trae Young; Toronto gets Ja Morant; Atlanta gets Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Murray-Boyles, and a protected pick.
• Debate: House and Simmons weigh if Toronto would really want Morant, agree his stardom would be a draw but question chemistry.
• Simmons: “If I’m Toronto, I don’t do it though... I want to see what I have with this team a little bit longer.” (19:22)

Trade 3: Derrick White to Houston

[20:30–24:32]

• Deal: Celtics send Derrick White and Thoman's expiring to Houston for Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, and Phoenix’s 2027 first.
• Debate: Simmons sees this as Boston’s route to retooling and tanking for the draft, but admits it’s painful to give up White.
• House objects: “That’s a stiff price ... That 2027 Suns pick and Tari Eason is very valuable ... No way.” (23:09)
• Simulation highlights Houston’s desperation to keep core assets: “Houston’s close to winning the title this year. Tari Eason’s an important part of that.” (23:28)

Trade 4: Philadelphia, Washington, and PG13 Moves

[24:41–30:47]

• Deal: Philly gets Chris Middleton & CJ McCollum; Washington gets two and a half years of Paul George, Eric Gordon, Jared McCain.
• Debate: House accepts for his Wizards ("I would do that...Nobody coming down the pike as good as Jared McCain." 25:14), Bill thinks Philly won’t take it unless desperate to move George’s contract.

Trade 5: Kobe White to Minnesota (and More Bulls Thoughts)

[36:09–40:23]

• Deal: Chicago sends Kobe White (expiring) to Minnesota for Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham.
• Debate: Simmons calls the Bulls "really fun to watch," and notes their unique trade flexibility. There’s much speculation if White will stay put or be cashed in for future value.
• On the Bulls: "You’ve got something really special happening here." (38:14)

3. Other NBA Takes & Reactions

The NBA’s Trade Problem

• "I like a version of the NBA where trades are possible ... quite a bit of the way that I’ve enjoyed the NBA over the years is getting through the first month ... Now let’s really start seeing what kind of moves can be made.” (08:52)
• The league’s new CBA is criticized as trade-hostile: “If you can't make the trade, then that’s not a good version of the NBA.” – House (09:36)

Unexpected Team Success: The Bulls as a Test Case

• Both commentators marvel at Chicago’s overperformance, especially Josh Giddey’s breakout and Bouzelis’ scoring.

4. NFL Playoff Picture & Week 10 Preview

AFC & NFC Playoff Scenarios

[42:17–57:56]

• Both hosts break down which under-.500 teams might crash the playoffs, with House favoring Arizona ("The team that I think is the best ... is Arizona." 43:34) but Bill betting on Houston based on the schedule.
• AFC Lock-ins: New England, Buffalo, Indy, Denver, KC. Two spots left for Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Chargers, Jacksonville, Houston.
• Simmons: "I have Baltimore and Pittsburgh." (49:13)
• NFC Chalk picks: Rams, Detroit, San Francisco, and potential for Chicago or Carolina to sneak in.
• Simmons: “Sometimes ... there's a horseshoe-up-the-ass team in each conference every year. This year it’s Pittsburgh and Chicago.” (53:17)

Fun Stats & Betting Angles

[48:16–54:43]

• Simmons points out betting angles around minus odds, and the weirdness in how Fanduel values teams.
• Both hosts discuss “turnover luck” and its role in outcomes.

5. Ringer 107: Week 10 NFL Picks

[78:07–84:42]

The Five Picks

(All lines from FanDuel, as of recording)

• Bucs -2.5 vs. Patriots (House's pick)

  "This is ... a real heavyweight that needs to win games to finish out the season. So I like Tampa at home." (79:32)

• Ravens (down to -2.5) at Minnesota + Bills moneyline @ Miami (Parlay)
  • Both hosts are confident in a must-win for Baltimore and a Miami letdown.
• Eagles +2.5 at Green Bay

  "The pass rush for the Eagles... we have the return of Nolan Smith... This is the vulnerability of Green Bay." – House (81:24)

• Niners +4.5 vs. Rams

  "It's too many points ... I just think these games are going to be close with all these NFC West games." (82:43)

• Texans +1.5 vs. Jaguars
  • Simmons: “Trevor Lawrence favored in Houston against one of the three best defenses in the league. What are we doing?” (83:50)

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the new NBA economy:

  "I like a version of the NBA where trades are possible ... that’s how you build up a nucleus that’s competitive." – House (08:52/05:46)

• On Ja Morant’s fit in Miami:

  "You are now part of Heat culture ... There's a pathway to this, but you gotta get right." – House (14:32)

• On the Bulls:

  "You've got something really special happening here." – Simmons (38:14)

• On anti-Chargers sentiment:

  "The Joel thing finished them ... They can’t block ... I think Herbert’s just going to get better." – Simmons (48:05)

• On NFL “horseshoe” luck:

  “Sometimes ... it's like there's a horseshoe-up-the-ass team in each conference every year." – Simmons (53:17)

• House on fantasy sports:

  "Just maintaining the integrity of the league. Not just walking away from my hot trash auto draft." (90:26)

7. Additional Segments & Banter

• Fantasy Football Guillotine League Antics:
  Simmons brags about beating Ringer business chief Jeff Chow to top free agents, describing in detail his auction bidding strategies. (86:00–88:43)
• House's parting thoughts:
  Whimsical, wishing viewers well with “great golf in Europe” and ribbing Simmons for his favorite NBA trade ideas, ultimately picking Morant-to-Miami as the most fun. (92:25–93:08)

8. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00] – NBA Trade constraints, parity, and CBA impact
• [10:56] – NBA Trade Machine: Five fake trades, major team/player breakdowns
• [36:09] – Bulls analysis, Kobe White trade potential
• [42:17] – NFL playoff sleeper team debate (AFC/NFC breakdown)
• [78:07] – Ringer 107: NFL Week 10 best bets and picks
• [86:00] – Fantasy Guillotine League discussion
• [90:50-end] – NFL and golf, closing banter

9. Podcast Tone and Style

• Conversational, freewheeling, and packed with asides and jokes.
• Simmons plays the straight-ahead, slightly exasperated fan, while House provides measured counterarguments and a dose of nostalgia.
• Frequent, sarcastic jabs at league trends, bad teams, and their own (mis)fortunes as bettors and fantasy players.
• Heavy on “inside” basketball and NFL strategy, with plenty of reference for die-hard fans.

10. For New Listeners

This episode best serves listeners interested in:

• Understanding the massive real-world impact of the NBA’s new CBA on trades and team-building
• Solar-level hot takes and creative trade ideas for NBA stars like Ja Morant and Trae Young
• A masterclass in NFL playoff scenario unraveling and high-level sports wagering
• Banter between two veteran sports obsessives who blend deep analysis with humor and fan anxiety

No ad reads, promos, or outros covered—just pure basketball, football, and gambling content.