Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 2 - Top 10 American NBA Players to Build Around, James Palmer
Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Jason McIntyre (in for Colin Cowherd), Rachel Nichols
Notable Guest: James Palmer (NFL Insider, Bleacher Report)

Episode Overview

This episode features Jason McIntyre and Rachel Nichols discussing a hotly debated sports topic: the "Top 10 American NBA Players to Build Around in 2026." They analyze shifting NBA talent, star trajectories, and team-building strategies, with a focus on Cade Cunningham’s emergence and his bold claim as the best American player.
NFL Insider James Palmer joins for a deep dive on NFL quarterback drama, coaching changes, offseason rumors, and team outlooks, with special attention paid to Lamar Jackson’s situation, Philadelphia's coaching carousel, and the free agent/trade market.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA: Top 10 American Players to Build Around [03:00–09:15, 44:07–45:15]

• Catalyst for Discussion:
  Cade Cunningham invoked conversation by telling GQ Magazine he believes he’s the “best American player, full stop,” then dropped 42 points at Madison Square Garden.
• Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s Rave Review:

  “He’s a superstar and there’s no doubt about it... it’s hard for me to think of five guys... that do more on both ends than he does.” [02:37 - J.B. Bickerstaff]

Jason McIntyre’s Top 10 List (w/reasoning) [03:22–09:20]:

1. Cooper Flagg (Age 19)
   • “Put him in the discussion with LeBron for the greatest teenager in NBA history.” [08:34]
   • “Plays hard at both ends, already a plus defender, doing things no other 19-year-old has.”
2. Anthony Edwards
   • “Back-to-back conference finals. Scoring machine, plays both ends. Needs to clean up interviews, too many curse words.” [08:07]
3. Steph Curry (Age 37)
   • “Still a GAWD…you can build around him for a year or two.” [07:31]
   • "Leads NBA in threes, games with 45+, and FT%."
4. Kawhi Leonard (Age 34)
   • “Recency bias…but he’s that good this season. 28-6-4, 7-time All-Defensive selection." [06:48]
5. Cade Cunningham
   • “24 years old, taken league by storm… Pistons have best record, he’s averaging 26-10-6.” [06:09]
6. Jaylen Brown
   • “Finals MVP, took over team, sleeper MVP candidate if SGA can’t get healthy.” [05:30]
7. Donovan Mitchell
   • "Maybe the most underrated American player in the league... great ambassador.” [05:02]
8. Jalen Brunson
   • “Most clutch player last year, literally won the award, 11th in scoring.” [04:41]
9. Devin Booker
   • “Leader in scoring/assists, only All-Star on Suns, ahead of schedule.” [04:20]
10. Tyrese Maxey
    • “Fifth in league in scoring, All-Star, the new guy you build around in Philly.” [04:00]

• Notes: Jason left out stars like Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton due to current injuries, but admits they'd be on the list otherwise.

Rachel Nichols’ Feedback [44:07–44:55]

• Laughed about leaving Tatum off for being hurt:

  “That is the biggest cop out I have ever heard in my life.” [44:16]

• Skeptical on Kawhi Leonard’s health:

  “When he’s on and healthy, he’s still one of the best, and when he’s not, he’s just not there.” [44:55]

2. NFL Talk with James Palmer – Lamar, Eagles, Trades, and QBs

A. Ravens, Lamar Jackson Drama [10:09–13:25]

• Key Tension: New rookie OC and head coach, will Lamar Jackson show up to OTAs?
• Declan Doyle (OC) hinting Lamar needs to take part:

  “Kind of not really a jab, but a little comment... If we want to get over the hump, we need our quarterback there.” [10:09]

• Palmer's Insight:
  • There is a meaningful relationship between Lamar and new coach Jesse Minter.
  • Historically, Lamar misses voluntary OTAs (missed 8 of 9 last year).
  • Pressure is mounting due to a stacked AFC.
  • Lamar's contract/negotiations are unique; “cap number needs to change.” [12:01]

B. Philadelphia Eagles Offseason & AJ Brown Speculation [13:25–16:35]

• Palmer’s View:
  • The Philly building is "a North Star" for talent, but “so unbelievably intense all the time.” [14:00]
  • Coaching job seen as a “revolving door”—many OCs have left or been fired quickly.
  • On Jalen Hurts: “One of the best in football… But you have to play a certain style with him.”
  • Watch Devonta Smith: Many in NFL view him as a “surefire No. 1, whether AJ Brown is there or not.” [15:48]
• AJ Brown Trade Rumors: Palmer suspects underlying gamesmanship—nothing official but “I’d be interested to see what Devonta Smith will be like in 2026.”

C. Maxx Crosby & Tyreek Hill Trade Potential [16:36–20:29]

• Crosby:
  • “Does he want to be there?” Relationships need mending; recent injury complicates things.
  • Raiders in early “realistic rebuild meetings”—“do you take the picks for Crosby?” [18:21]
• Tyreek Hill:
  • “There are people in the league that think he may not play in 2026.” [19:22]
  • Receivers class in draft impacts market, teams may want workouts to see recovery.

D. QB Trade/Free Agent Carousel [21:05–24:28]

• Market Unimpressive: Weak available QB group—“You don’t even have my boy Joe Flacco on there. I’d be surprised if he didn’t have a job.” [21:47]
• Malik Willis: May be overpaid due to lack of options at the position, contract will be key.
• Mac Jones: “Value is outstanding… under $5 million… is John Lynch hanging up on a 2nd round pick offer?” [23:20]

E. Jets Quarterback Approach [24:28–25:15]

• "I think [Jets are] standing down and waiting for '27... they want picks in '27 for a reason."

3. NBA Burner Account & Locker Room Dynamics [27:45–32:10]

• Kevin Durant Alleged Burner:
  • Rachel: “There was a Hitler comparison at one point. Durant was asked if it was his burner—he would not confirm/deny, called it ‘Twitter nonsense.’” [28:49]
  • Jason: “If it isn’t him, why not just deny it?” [29:10]
  • Rachel: “Does this become like Charles Barkley? Where wild things are just brushed off as ‘that’s just Charles’…” [31:00]
  • Jason: “I don’t love normalizing that kind of behavior—whether it’s a star or a regular person.” [31:40]

4. NBA Tanking Debate & League Structure [32:10–38:05]

• Phoenix Suns Owner Matt Ishbia says:

  “Tanking is losing behavior done by losers. This is much worse than any prop bet scandal.” [32:53]

• Rachel’s Structural Analysis:
  • “Tanking is not the problem. It’s a symptom. The actual problem is bad teams don’t have enough other avenues to get better.” [33:31]
  • Proposals: Freeze draft order at deadline, abolish lottery, limit repeat high picks, possibly force chronic losers to sell.

  “If [a team] doesn’t hit a certain winning percentage over [say] 10 years, you have to sell and give someone else a shot.” [36:19]

  • Jason: “Wizards drafted second, got Alex Sarr. He ain't Wemby.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Coop Flag:

  “Put him in the discussion with LeBron for the greatest teenager in NBA history… Take the over on 1.5 MVPs for his career.”
  — Jason McIntyre [08:33]

• On Devonta Smith, potential Eagles WR1:

  “Look for him to be used in a variety of fashions. They think they can expand his role. A surefire No. 1, whether AJ Brown is there or not.”
  — James Palmer [15:50]

• On KD’s Alleged Burner:

  “Does this become almost like Charles Barkley, where he says so many wild things that... when he says all women in San Antonio are fat, nobody makes a big deal?”
  — Rachel Nichols [31:00]

• On Tanking:

  “Tanking is not the problem. If you try to solve tanking and ignore that it’s actually a symptom, you’re going to create more problems... The problem is bad teams don’t have enough other avenues to get better.”—Rachel Nichols [33:31]

Key Timestamps

• [03:22] Jason McIntyre’s Top 10 NBA Americans List
• [08:33] Cooper Flagg Discussion
• [09:21] James Palmer Joins
• [10:09] Ravens/Lamar Jackson Drama
• [13:25] Eagles Offseason, OC Search, & AJ Brown Scenarios
• [16:36] Maxx Crosby and Tyreek Hill Trade Potential
• [21:05] NFL QB Carousel Analysis
• [24:28] Jets QB Situation Outlook
• [27:45] Kevin Durant Burner Account & Locker Room Impact
• [32:10] NBA Tanking - Owner and League Solutions
• [36:19] Rachel’s Radical Ownership Fix for Chronic Losing
• [44:07] Rachel Critiques the NBA List (esp. Tatum exclusion)
• [45:07] Kawhi Leonard Health Concerns

Tone & Style

• Lively, fast-paced sports analysis
• Pays homage to player personalities, league drama, and backstage politics
• Mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and analytical depth
• Expert insight with candid banter between hosts and guest

This summary covers the core sports debates, highlights the best moments, tracks major news and rumors, and strings together the episode’s NBA and NFL narratives so even non-listeners will feel right at home.