The Zach Lowe Show: Harden’s Last Chance for a Title? Plus, Who’s on Notice After the Trade Deadline.
Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Zach Lowe
Guest: Mo Dakhil
Episode Overview
On this post-trade deadline episode, Zach Lowe and NBA analyst Mo Dakhil break down the major NBA trades and shifts, zeroing in on which players, teams, and even league rules are "on notice" as the regular season hits its back stretch. They discuss the blockbuster Harden-Garland deal, the ripple effects around the league, Kawhi Leonard’s MVP-level run, the rising pressure on the Clippers, Cavs, Wolves, Rockets, and Bulls, and debate the NBA's ongoing tanking problem. The show is a rapid-fire mix of granular game analysis, league gossip, and meta conversation about incentives and direction for faltering franchises.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. "Who's On Notice?" Explained [03:05]
- Zach reintroduces his classic post-deadline column concept: rather than simple “winners and losers,” he and Mo choose teams, players, and even rule-makers “on notice” – meaning facing heightened pressure, scrutiny, or new roles after the trade deadline.
2. The Harden-Garland Blockbuster: Ramifications for Both Teams
Darius Garland on the Clippers [04:04]
- Mo’s #1 On Notice: Garland, newly acquired by the Clippers, after the Cavs traded him for Harden. A shocking move: young, talented Garland traded for an older but more playoff-tested Harden.
- Quote [04:04, Mo]: “Darius Garland, you’re on notice because everybody’s going to be seeing, how do you respond to this? ... Cavs just straight up gave up. ... You have to look at this as almost a motivating factor.”
Clippers’ Outlook & Rotation [05:27 - 12:05]
- Lowe highlights the Clippers’ surprising resilience post-trade. They’re beating expectations despite shipping out key pieces, and still have a real shot in the play-in.
- Kawhi & Garland fit: Potential for a dynamic pick-and-roll; Zach and Mo debate who slides out of the starting five for Garland’s return (most agree it’ll be Derrick Jones Jr.)
- Quote [09:22, Zach]: “The Kawhi-Garland pick and roll partnership could be really dynamic. Kawhi’s just hunting small guards, and Garland is a much more dangerous screener, flare out for threes, whatever, than anyone else on the team.”
Kawhi Leonard: MVP-Level Run [12:05]
- Mo: Since Thanksgiving, Kawhi’s arguably played the best ball in the NBA.
- Quote [12:05, Mo]: “Since Thanksgiving, he has been the best basketball player... When you’re watching him hoop, you’re just like, damn, man. Like, he’s back to being Kawhi.”
- Kawhi’s usage is through the roof post-trade; health durability for playoffs discussed.
The Clippers’ Logic [16:06]
- Zach summarizes the rationale: Harden, Zubac, and other moves make sense in the context of contracts, assets, and realistic title windows given their record and standing.
3. James Harden on the Cavaliers: Last Shot at Legacy?
Fit with Donovan Mitchell [17:57]
- Mo notes the “Harden Ball” approach will be tempered with Mitchell around; expects Allen and Mobley to feast on Harden’s playmaking once chemistry develops.
Lowe’s Observations After Game 1 [20:24]
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Early signs are encouraging: Cavs staggered Harden and Mitchell, maximizing each’s ability to carry offenses against backups.
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Quote [20:24, Zach]: “When you see Harden transplanted into a new environment, you are immediately appreciative of what a genius pocket passer he is.”
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Harden’s willingness to pass/catch and shoot has improved with age.
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Defensively, there are uncertainties, but Harden’s size helps.
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Tagline: “No disagreement on whether this trade was going to make the 2026 Cavaliers better.”
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Cavs now in strong position, lowering Zach’s “CavsCon” panic-o-meter.
4. “On Notice” Lightning Round: Teams and Trends Facing Scrutiny
A. Houston Rockets [25:27, Mo]
- Rockets are hot (9-4 in last 13) but stressed due to offensive stagnation.
- Offensive identity and clutch performance lack consistency; buyout market options may not move the needle.
- “Even being 9-4... is not doing anything for me offensively. That’s where I worry when we get to the playoffs.”
B. Tanking & League Incentives [34:58]
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Zach pivots to the league’s tanking epidemic, worsened by complex protected picks (e.g., Utah, Washington).
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Quote [40:24, Zach]: “It’s February 9th, it’s already happening... a third of the league with Utah and Washington sort of being the ones with the protected picks.”
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Mo rails against the damage to culture and product:
- “At a certain point, you have to actually play basketball. You have to try to build a winning culture.”
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Both advocate exploring reforms: possibly revising lottery odds based on wins post-March 1, culling excessive pick protections, or trying radical proposals like the “wheel.”
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The current system, despite play-in/tanking reforms, is still being gamed — and some coaches seem forced into joyless, fourth-quarter benchings.
C. Other Teams [Lightning Round, 55:32+]
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Miami Heat Front Office [55:32, Mo]:
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Critiques their “whale hunting” inertia; noted for years of inactivity after big rumors and being stuck on the play-in treadmill.
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Quote [55:32, Mo]: “How long are we going to allow Miami to sort of get away with this? ... They just assume everybody’s going to want Tyler Hero. I just don’t. ... I’m out. I’m tired.”
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Minnesota Timberwolves [59:49, Zach]:
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Still a sneaky contender, but inconsistency and high turnover rates in clutch spots are concerning.
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Quote [62:27, Zach]: “This team is either going to become the serious team they should be... or they’re just going to become a so-so team that gets to the offseason ... and just... didn’t trade for Giannis and lost in the first round of the playoffs.”
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Refs & Flops [63:25, Mo]:
- Mo: “Can we stop calling the foul where the offensive player just throws his body into the defender and then falls back?”
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Detroit Pistons/Ausar Thompson [66:55]:
- Interesting decisions ahead in terms of keeping non-shooters on the floor in crunch time—balancing defense and offensive spacing.
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Chicago Bulls [70:11]:
- Bulls front office lambasted for waiting too long to sell assets, being directionless, and failing to articulate (or follow) a vision.
- Quote [73:58, Mo]: “We complain a lot about rudderless teams... I just want to see what path you’re going.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Garland’s challenge (Mo, 04:04):
“If you’re Darius Garland, you have to look at this as almost like a motivating factor. ... You got to really kind of show out when you get on the floor for the Clippers, because that’s it to me. You’re on notice right off the bat.” -
On Harden’s Cavaliers debut (Zach, 20:24):
“You are immediately appreciative of what a genius pocket passer he is. ... He has a really great sense for when to throw the pocket pass super early and when to hold it.” -
On tanking and incentives (Zach, 47:12):
“I’m increasingly in favor of, let’s just try some crazy stuff. ... Maybe we stop the standings at March 1 and after that, you get lottery odds for every win you get. ... I think that might be worth a try.” -
On Heat front office inertia (Mo, 55:32):
“How long are we going to allow Miami to get away with this? ... They’re in the play-in range now, so it’s going to be four straight years at this point... I’m out. I’m tired.” -
On the Bulls’ lack of direction (Mo, 73:58):
“They have no idea what road. They don’t even know what. Where they’re going in any concept or which way they want to go. This is a failure from ownership. This is a failure from the front office.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:05: "Who's On Notice" explained; Garland as Mo’s #1 pick
- 08:23: Clippers starting lineup/rotation analysis post-trade
- 12:05: Kawhi Leonard’s two-month MVP case
- 20:24: Harden’s Cavs debut and fit discussion
- 25:27: Houston Rockets' offensive woes and rising pressure
- 34:58: The NBA’s tanking problem and potential reforms
- 55:32: Lightning round (“on notice”): Heat front office, Wolves, refs, Pistons, Bulls, etc.
- 70:11: Bulls' directionless rebuild and front office critique
Tone & Energy
The episode balances analytical rigor (statistical trends, play breakdowns) with candid, sometimes exasperated, commentary on league-wide issues and franchise direction. Zach and Mo mix basketball-nerd enthusiasm and frustration, maintaining a conversational, slightly irreverent Ringer-style banter.
Takeaways for Non-Listeners
- The Harden-Garland trade is the pivotal move shaping the second half of the season, with huge stakes for both players’ legacies.
- The Clippers, Cavaliers, Rockets, and Timberwolves are all under unique forms of pressure due to existential questions about their rosters and directions.
- The NBA’s tanking incentives are prompting some of the worst “non-basketball” basketball in recent memory, with even coaches and fans showing frustration.
- Legendary franchises like Miami and Chicago are struggling not just on the court, but to articulate coherent, credible plans for contention or rebuilding.
- The podcast closes with a whistle-stop tour of teams and issues facing the heat, crystallizing post-deadline intrigue across the NBA.