The Bill Simmons Podcast

Episode: NBA Trade Deadline Reactions & Super Bowl Picks With Zach Lowe & Joe House

Date: February 5, 2026
Guests: Zach Lowe, Joe House

Overview

In this jam-packed, deadline-day episode, Bill Simmons is joined by NBA analyst Zach Lowe to break down the chaos, surprises, and confusion of the 2026 NBA trade deadline—including the not-quite-yet Giannis Antetokounmpo saga, the Zubac-to-Indiana trade bombshell, and the teams that make you mutter: “What the hell are you doing?” Joe House later hops on to discuss (and commiserate over) his Wizards landing Anthony Davis and to lay down a slew of Super Bowl bets and predictions, including whether the Patriots are being overlooked once again.

Tone: Lively, skeptical, irreverent—with Simmons’ signature blend of NBA-nerd analysis and pop culture asides.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. The Giannis Trade Drama: All Quiet Until Summer?

[01:18–05:46]

• Bill opens by poking fun at the possibility of a Giannis trade (“I can't believe Giannis got traded—oh no, it was Cole Anthony”), setting the tone for a swirl of speculation.
• Zach Lowe: “It was always 50-50 at best...I took 80-20 and I unilaterally went to 50-50 because the toothpaste is just so far out of the tube.” [01:24]
  • Despite strong rumors, Milwaukee maintains flexibility—to the frustration and skepticism of the league.
• Simmons and Lowe dissect Giannis’ motives, referencing Kevin Garnett’s Minnesota exit as a cautionary tale.
  • Bill: “I just don't get it…He should have talked to a bunch of older, retired stars that were in fairly similar situations…Guess what KG would have said: I would have done that as soon as I knew I had no future with that team.” [06:03]
  • Zach questions Giannis’ urgency and how his roots in Milwaukee play a role.

Memorable Quote:

“I think 20 years from now, he's really going to regret it because he's going to get traded anyway.” — Bill, [05:46]

Takeaway:
Milwaukee is playing a dangerous waiting game. Giannis hasn’t publicly (or forcefully) demanded out, and both he and the team seem mired in indecision. Both host and guest agree—this situation is ripe to haunt at least one party.

2. “I Have No Idea What You're Doing” Rankings

[02:06-beyond; revisited throughout]

• Bill introduces a trademark segment, naming the league’s most puzzling franchises—starting with Giannis himself.
• Zach supports the thesis: “I think it’s right to put Giannis above the Bucks” (in confusion rankings) for not making the obvious move.

Teams Discussed:

• Bucks: See above.
• Bulls: “At one point they had seven or eight guards. They've gone sideways.” —Bill [22:10]
  • Bulls are criticized for asset-hoarding, accruing a glut of second-round picks but trading useful young guards with no clear vision.

Other Head-Scratchers:

• Kings: “I don't know what the Kings are doing.” — Bill, [32:06]
• Magic: Bill and Zach puzzle over Orlando’s passivity, despite their assets and the Paolo/Franz future being less sparkly than hoped.
• Hawks: “The moves together just look like one of the Zodiac letters.” — Bill, [23:36]

3. Trade Deadline Blockbusters and Bombshells

Zubac to Indiana Pacers

[14:38–32:01+]

• Real-time trade bomb:
  • “The Los Angeles Clippers are trading center Evitza Zubots to the Indiana Pacers.” — Zach, [14:38]
  • Pacers get their center for next season; Bill is shocked Clippers would move on from Zubac’s contract.
• Trade Details (when they arrive):
  • Pacers receive Zubac and Kobe Brown; Clippers get Bennedict Matherin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 first-rounder (with creative protections: “1-4 and 10-30”), and a 2029 unprotected first.
• Analysis:
  • Pacers are “loading up” for a new push with Haliburton and Siakam.
  • Clippers “are clearly just sellers; they’re done for the year.”

Other Key Trades

• Clippers: In fire sale mode, speculate on whether Kawhi could still be moved.
• Bulls: Ship Dosunmu to Minnesota, gather cheap assets in a move that bewilders the hosts.
• Charlotte Hornets: Quiet winners—might back-door their way into the play-in amid Eastern chaos.
• Wizards: “I love it” trade for Anthony Davis—a classic low-risk flyer for a directionless team.

4. Winners, Losers & Playoff Picture, Post-Deadline

(Continuous, esp. 45:00 onward)

• Winners:
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: Acquire Dosunmu, address PG need; Zach: “This was my number one target for Minnesota. My favorite potential guard off the bench…an absolute A plus, perfect fit.” [46:09]
  • Pacers: Now a “sneaky contender” in the East with their new big man.
• Losers/Head-Scratchers:
  • Bulls & Magic: Asset hoarding without a clear plan.
  • Heat: Largely inactive, playing the long waiting game for Giannis (“here's 40 cents on the dollar for your best guy” — Bill).

The Second-Round Pick Fetish

[33:42+]

• Both are skeptical on the league’s new obsession with stacking 2nd-rounders:
  • Bill: “It seems like some teams fall for it every year…You got a 1 in 10 chance of hitting.” [33:24]
  • Zach: “People fetishize them a little bit…” [33:55]

“The League Is Getting Bigger” Trend

[26:53+]

• Bill analyzes why contender teams are stockpiling bigs—anticipating super-sized playoff matchups.

5. Sneaky Moves & Under-the-Radar Takes

• Knicks Get Alvarado: Perfect, feisty playoff addition.
  • “They traded Yabusele for Terry Alvarado. Perfect playoff guy.” — Bill [43:31]
• Dosunmu to Minnesota: “Sneaky, awesome playoff guy…exactly what they needed.” — Bill [47:28]
• Charlotte Hornets: Trending up, benefit from East tanking.
• Cleveland Cavaliers: Quietly improved title odds with Harden trade; “Nobody around them in the east made a meaningful…move.” — Zach [78:28]

6. The Giannis Market—Team-by-Team Scuttlebutt

[10:20–13:58; revisited later]

• The boys dissect why supposed suitors (San Antonio, OKC, Miami, Golden State, Philly) didn’t push harder (“no one used the battering ram!”).
• Simmons suggests teams were wary—adding a megastar isn’t as simple as penciling them into the lineup—age, injuries, and fit all factor.

7. Super Bowl 60: Early Bets and Picks w/ Joe House

[87:44–end]

• Simmons and House pivot to football, running through a staggering number of player props, parlays, and logic for why the Patriots (+4.5) are being undersold by everyone.
  • Bill: “It feels like this is Seattle across the board…How did things change? They beat a depleted Niners team twice and barely beat the Rams.”
• House hypes the Walker receiving yards props; Bill loves the “first half tie, Pats win” at 27-1.
• Both call out Pats “disrespected underdog” vibes—this year’s team echoes 2001.
• Prop recommendations: Ramondre rushing yards, JSN receptions, Matt Collins receiving, Walker receiving, Lawrence sack, AJ Barner TD, and more.
• Final score prediction: Bill: "24-20, Patriots."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Giannis/Bucks stalemate:
  • “You're being loyal to...who? One of the owners already sold. Jimmy Haslam wasn't there when they won the title...So, if I’m a Milwaukee fan, this worked out great.” — Bill, [06:03]
• On Bulls' asset accumulation:
  • “The moves together just look like...one of the Zodiac letters. What is this? What are all these symbols? I don't understand.” — Bill, [23:36]
• On the trade deadline mood:
  • “Nobody was using the battering ram and trying to go through the door.” — Bill [08:48]
• On Charlotte sneaking into play-in:
  • “Hornets are going to pass Chicago and get into the play in...they're playing better than Atlanta, they're playing better than Orlando, they're playing better than Miami...” — Zach [51:47]
• On Minnesota’s additions:
  • “He’s a he-check, takeover-a-quarter guy. I guarantee, there's no way [Bulls fans] are psyched about losing him...he fits with Ant.” — Bill [47:38]
• On second-round picks:
  • “I think people fetishize them a little bit, but if you get enough you can weaponize them for a ‘get over the goal line’ trade.” — Zach [33:55]
• Deadline close-out:
  • “We're on Camp Thomas watch. Sadly, taking a hibernation break for Giannis watch.” — Bill, [83:54]
• On Giannis dithering:
  • “I don't think he. I think he wanted to get traded. I just don't think he wanted to ask to get traded.” — Bill, [84:47]
  • “He keeps saying things like, you know, I love Milwaukee. If you told me Milwaukee’s going to contend...the conversation’s over. I want to be here forever. But I don’t know if that’s the case...I don't know what he wants and he doesn't know what he wants. And that's why he's a buck, baby.” — Zach, [85:05]

Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:00–01:18: Light intro, fake Giannis news
• 01:18–08:28: Giannis saga and Bucks analysis
• 14:38–31:38: Zubac-to-Pacers trade — breaking news & analysis
• 22:06–34:35: “What Are You Doing” team rankings (esp. Bulls, Magic, Kings)
• 43:31–51:00: Dosunmu/Alvarado, Minnesota moves, Charlotte’s trajectory
• 54:00–61:00: Roster moves, league-wide trends, frustrations
• 62:00–85:50: Deadline aftermath, Giannis, Pelicans, other trade scuttlebutt
• 87:44–end: Joe House joins — Wizards trade, Super Bowl 60 preview & betting bonanza

Final Thoughts

NBA:
This deadline was less about fireworks and more about setting the chessboard for summer—especially the looming Giannis move. Minnesota and Indiana made the clearest forward strides; the Bulls, Kings, and Magic continue to confound, and the old guard (Miami, Warriors) are lying in wait. The league’s size-arms race is on, second-round picks are flying, and Giannis is stuck between wanting change and not wanting to make waves.

NFL:
Bill Simmons and Joe House bring bring their eternally-pessimistic Pats fan energy—but can’t help but feel history repeating as New England enters as underdogs. Expect a scrappy game, a downpour of prop bets, and the football gods televising yet another New England upset.

For more detail and analysis, listen to the full episode on Spotify or Netflix, and catch Zach Lowe’s trade deadline wrap-up dropping later tonight.