The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hoops Tonight: “NBA Fake Trade Proposals for Warriors, Pistons, Lakers + Raptors-Cavs Reaction & Magic Breakdown”

Date: November 15, 2025
Host: Jason (The Volume, Hoops Tonight)
Episode Theme:
A deep dive into Eastern Conference teams, insightful reactions to the Raptors-Cavs game, rigorous breakdowns of the Magic, and engaging mailbag questions involving the Pistons, Warriors, Lakers, fake trade proposals, and key NBA trends.

Episode Overview

This episode of Hoops Tonight focuses on recent trends and standout performances among Eastern Conference NBA teams, with special attention given to the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons. Host Jason also addresses intriguing fan mailbag questions that lead to deep discussions of hypothetical trades, roster construction, and team fit for franchises like the Warriors and Lakers. The episode is full of analysis, advanced stats, and practical scouting observations, blending technical basketball talk with energetic and opinionated insight.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Raptors vs. Cavs Breakdown and the Rise of Toronto

[03:24–13:27]

• Toronto’s Hot Streak: Raptors have won 6 of their last 7, climbing to 6th in the East.
• Game Recap: After an early Cavs lead, Toronto take control with a 33-12 run; Cleveland never fully recovers.
• Defensive Prowess:
  • Toronto’s defense is “all about switching—almost everything, one through four” (04:34).
  • Stat: Teams are shooting just 30.6% on contested catch-and-shoot jumpers against Toronto (08:04), 8th-best in NBA.
  • Heavy emphasis on transition and forcing tough, contested shots.
• Offensive Improvements:
  • Toronto scored 38 transition points—fourth time reaching that this season.
  • Their drive-and-kick half-court style has generated a balanced, high-assist attack (69% assist rate, 5th in NBA).
  • Unexpected shooting: “For a team we thought would be bottom-10 shooting, they’ve been top-10” (10:14).
  • 1.08 points per jump shot (7th NBA), 43% on unguarded catch-and-shoots; balanced scoring with 6 players averaging double digits—but no one over 20 PPG.
• Shooting Sustainability: Jason questions if Raptors can maintain high shooting but trusts playmaking and defensive growth:

  “Whether or not they can keep this up comes down to shooting; I trust the drive and kick.” (11:38)

• Team Identity:

  "They’re just a scrappy and fun team to watch... They defend and run the floor super well, play a fun brand of selfless drive-and-kick basketball." (12:41)

2. Detroit Pistons: Young Guards, Trade Philosophy & Roster Building

[13:40–22:53]

a. Danis Jenkins’ Emergence as Backup Point Guard

• Jason lauds Jenkins’ recent flashes as a shot-creating lead ballhandler and off-ball scorer.
  • Strong in pick-and-roll: “He ran 20 ball screens… generated 25 points. That’s 1.25 points per possession, which is great.” (15:19)
  • Shows “real wiggle, good change of pace, pretty sharp handle” and high-level reads (16:23).
• Jenkins’ potential as both a main and secondary ballhandler could be valuable:

  “Never a bad thing to have a young player pop like Danis early in the season.” (17:19)

b. Pistons Trade Targets: Michael Porter Jr. vs. Lauri Markkanen

• Listener suggests targeting MPJ over Markkanen for wing scoring; Jason agrees and articulates why:
  • Markkanen is a “textbook weak-side scoring forward,” not a playmaking initiator (18:41).
  • MPJ could give Detroit “80% of what Markkanen does for less trade cost,” and is a strong rebounder and defender when engaged (19:30).
  • Porter Jr. fits the Pistons’ needs—a transition shooter, secondary rim protector, and affordable target.
  • “This makes a lot of sense to me… the Michael Porter Jr. type of target makes a ton of sense. He’s achievable, not going to cost a ton, and you don’t have to do as much to match salaries.” (20:04)
  • “You get more time for Cade and your other young guards to develop before making a bigger move.” (20:52)

3. Orlando Magic: Offense, Roles, and Trends

[26:53–32:53]

• The Magic have “found a bit of rhythm,” winning 5 of 7 with a dramatic surge in offensive rating (119 in that stretch).
• Key Players:
  • Franz Wagner’s improved shooting (“not lighting it on fire, but enough to cash in wide-open looks” (28:52)).
  • Anthony Black growing in confidence (“a couple nice finishes in the second half against New York… floater is looking really nice, five for seven to start.” (29:18))
• Transition game is critical:
  • “They torched the Knicks in transition—so many big, downhill athletes… they hit seams before the defense is set.” (29:56)
  • Jason strongly emphasizes need for more “intentionality” in half-court offense, especially via Paolo+Bane two-man game.
  • Praises use of Franz Wagner against “New York’s smalls—ruthless posting.”
• On Desmond Bane:
  • “I liked how often they put Desmond Bane in the weak-side corner… that’s where he paid it off with a couple of huge threes.” (31:23)
• Magic’s Formula for Winning: Defense, transition, intentional attack in half-court, more from Paolo upon return.

4. Warriors Trade & System Analysis

[32:53–37:41]

a. Hypothetical Anthony Davis Trade

• On an AD-to-Warriors trade: Fun in theory (“Don’t have to overthink… an athletic, switchable rim protector in Golden State’s system” (33:55)), but two fatal flaws:
  • Injury risk:

    “AD's the textbook example of a guy who exacerbates his own injury issues by showing up to camp overweight.” (34:35)

  • Roster construction:

    “You plug one hole, create another. Jimmy Butler is your secondary shot creator; trade him for AD, you lose that.” (35:13)

  • Admits the idea is fun for fans but “as soon as I dug into it, didn’t like the move for the Warriors.” (36:10)

b. Warriors’ Overhelp Defensive Philosophy

• Overhelping is by design—“Steve Kerr’s system is about flying around, swarming, then recovering out to shooters.” (36:41)
• Main points:
  • Warriors among NBA’s best in closeouts and rotations; intentional chaos creates transition opportunities for Steph Curry.
  • It’s “not because of lack of size or mobility, it’s deliberate… one of the NBA’s best closeout teams.” (37:09)

5. Lakers Mailbag – Fake Trades, Role Player Targets

[37:41–41:43]

a. Role Player Wish from OKC

• Who would Jason “pick from the Thunder to put on the Lakers”?

  “Lou Dort. Absolutely, no question. Perfect combo of defense, catch-and-shoot threes, drive closeouts, plays super hard.” (38:04)

b. Devin Vassell to Lakers – A Fit?

• Jason is not a Vassell guy:
  • “Not a particularly great scorer in volume or efficiency. Not as good or scrappy a defender as other Spurs guards.” (38:54)
  • Lakers need a “scrappy” small forward, not another scoring two.

    “Wouldn’t be targeting Devin Vassell.” (39:23)

• Offers bigger-picture note: Vassell may be “salary filler attached with assets” if traded.

6. Nuggets’ Bench, Jonas Valanciunas & Jokic’s Minutes

[41:43–43:07]

• Nuggets’ depth is improved, with Jonas Valanciunas anchoring the bench group.
• Bench net rating still negative but less so than years past—more good bench games, allowing Jokic to rest and “express more efficiency, even for him.” (42:18)
• Jason is loving the basketball scene in Colorado but wishes for more snow for skiing.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “For a team we thought would be bottom-10 shooting, they've been top-10...I trust the drive and kick.”
  — Jason on the Raptors (11:38)
• “Never a bad thing to have a young player pop like Danis early in the season.”
  — Jason on Danis Jenkins (17:19)
• “Michael Porter Jr. can do 80% of what Markkanen does for less trade cost.”
  — Jason (19:30)
• “Lou Dort. Absolutely, no question...perfect combination of defense, catch-and-shoot threes, drive closeouts, plays super hard every game.”
  — Jason on dream Thunder role player for Lakers (38:04)
• “Anthony Davis’ injury risk and the hole you create trading Draymond or Jimmy makes it not worth it. Fun in theory, not in practice.”
  — Jason on Warriors-AD scenarios (34:10–36:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:24 – Start of basketball talk; Raptors-Cavs Reaction
• 13:40 – Pistons Mailbag: Danis Jenkins, Michael Porter Jr. trade idea
• 26:53 – Magic vs. Knicks/Team Breakdown
• 32:53 – Warriors Mailbag: AD trade, defensive philosophy
• 37:41 – Lakers: Thunder role player, Devin Vassell trade concept
• 41:43 – Nuggets: Bench depth and Jokic minutes

Final Thoughts

This episode combines advanced statistical analysis, sharp team and player evaluations, and bold—yet realistic—trade and roster hypotheticals. Jason’s tone is analytical, direct, and honest, often blending stat-backed arguments with practical scouting and entertaining hypotheticals. The show is ideal for NBA fans who want context behind the headlines and a creative, genuinely knowledgeable breakdown of the league’s evolving storylines.