The Full 48

Michael Lee of The Athletic returns to break down this crazy Summer and off-season! He weighs in on the Washington Wizards front office re-org, the City of Los Angeles winning big in free agency (nabbing 4 of the top 8 players in the league between the Lakers and the Clippers), Mike Conley joining the Utah Jazz, and the Brooklyn Nets landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Howard and Michael also share their top 5 Christmas Day match-ups (which may or may not include the Golden State Warriors), their play-off predictions for both the Eastern and Western Conferences (and why Dallas and Atlanta are definitely out), and why Russell Westbrook will never be hated in OKC. Plus, Michael Lee reveals the entire story behind the Jay-Z diss track inspired by the DeShawn Stevenson and LeBron James feud covered by Michael during his beat writing days in DC. via Knit

President of the New Orleans Pelicans, David Griffin, offers an explanation for Zion Williamson's limited showing at Summer league, why the Pelicans are Jrue Holiday's team, what JJ Redick brings to a younger roster, and why it makes a lot of sense to flip flop the draft and free agency. He also provides some insight to the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, why he thinks the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers are "scary good," and how he feels the Brooklyn Nets will get the best version of Kyrie Irving. via Knit

NBA VP of Referee Development and Training, Monty McCutchen, discusses the upcoming Coach's challenge rule, implementing the proposed use of the replay center, experimenting with the Transition Foul rule in the G-League, micro-chips in basketballs, L2M reports, improving the player-referee relationship, and female referees in the NBA. via Knit

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations, Gersson Rosas, says Karl-Anthony Towns is the reason they almost landed a big free agent (aka D'Angelo Russell), is excited about incoming rookie, Jarrett Culver, is advocating for swapping the draft and free agency dates, and shares the important core values he learned during his 16 years with Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets. Gersson also recounts the heartbreak of Chris Paul's injury during last year's Conference Finals, and the joy of signing James Harden. Plus, "Minnesota Nice" is a real thing! via Knit

You asked for it; you got it! Howard Beck, Zach Lowe, Rachel Nichols and an alcoholic beverage (or three) are in a Las Vegas tiki bar, and drunk with power (or other stuff). This is part 1 (if you're listening to this first) of a two-part megapod with The Lowe Post, and anything goes as you're about to discover (or already have if you listened to The Lowe Post first). This part of the convo includes everything from the most insane thing they've seen in this free agency period (aka Anthony Davis trade) to generational shifts in fandom to the end of the Super Team era to what exactly the Brooklyn Nets will be with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to worst and best NBA team names, and NBA Award and ownership reform! Plus Zach & Rachel become "Commish For A Day," and decree the changes they'd make to the league (adios to the cha-cha slide and air horn). via Knit

Former GM of the Atlanta Hawks and current NBA TV analyst, Wes Wilcox, returns to breakdown the crazy whirlwind of NBA free agency! He and Howard discuss most impressive and best deals, biggest disappointments, best value contract, most eyebrow-raising contract, and which teams are already Finals contenders. They analyze the Lakers situation, possible Kawhi Leonard scenarios, the Knicks, and DeMarcus Cousins' current homeless plight. via Knit

*This interview was recorded early Sunday (6/30) afternoon before the news broke about Andre Iguadala's trade to the Memphis Grizzlies. Three-time NBA Champion, one-time NBA Finals MVP, and author of "The Sixth Man," Andre Iguodala, lays to rest the idea that the Golden State Warriors dynasty days are over, speaks to the surprising nature of free agency, why LeBron James is the best example of finding peace in the league, and how the race issue in the NBA continues to evolve over the years. Andre also shares his take on social media and fandom, and its effect on all players including Kevin Durant, his own relationship with Rob Pelinka, and the big change he'd make to the league if he were Commish For A Day! via Knit

Landry Shamet of the Los Angeles Clippers wasn't initially happy about being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers last season, admits that the Golden State Warriors did a good job defending him in the round 1 of the play-offs, got some tremendous advice from JJ Redick, and some funny courtside hazing from Floyd Mayweather. Landry also shares his sales pitch to Kawhi Leonard and/or Kevin Durant on why they should consider signing with the Clippers, and recounts a great story involving Chick-Fila, the Toronto Raptors, and forgotten passports. via Knit

Yahoo Sports Senior Writer, Vincent Goodwill, returns to talk NBA Awards Show, the Houston Rockets, and free agency! He has thoughts on Giannis as MVP and the James Harden loyalists response to that win, how the NBA can better serve the big awards, and today's fandom. He also weighs in on the drama in Houston surrounding Chris Paul and James Harden, how Daryl Morey and the front office are handling it, and how a banged-up Golden State roster may influence the Rockets' next moves. Plus, they cover free agency and Kawhi Leonard, the importance of chemistry, and Michael Jordan's MVP history. via Knit

B/R Draft GURU, Jonathan Wasserman, joins to breakdown the madness of the 2019 NBA Draft - The good: David Griffin and the New Orleans Pelicans trade away #4 pick to get Jaxson Hayes at #8 to accelerate rebuild after losing franchise player Anthony Davis, thus making themselves exciting team to watch. The Memphis Grizzlies are also big winners getting a star point guard of the future in Ja Morant, and best defensive prospect, Brandon Clarke. The bad: Washington Wizards picking Rui Hachimura at #9, and potentially squandering Bradley Beal's prime years. The ugly: Cam Johnson becoming oldest first-rounder going #11 to the Phoenix Suns (which even shocks Cam's former teammate, Coby White). Beck & Wass also analyze Atlanta's surprise move up to grab DeAndre Hunter at #4 and Cam Reddish at #10, possibly to make the Hawks more attractive to free agents, Minnesota Timberwolves grabbing Jarrett Culver and potentially dumping Andrew Wiggins, Oklahoma City's "hit or miss" draft pick,

Sports Illustrated Senior Writer and NBC Sports Boston analyst, Chris Mannix, joins to break down the Anthony Davis trade, and what it means for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans moving forward. He also has thoughts on Kyrie Irving possibly going to the Brooklyn Nets, and why that would really be no different than his situation in Boston, what Boston might do if Kyrie leaves, and how all of this may impact Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, and Kevin Durant. Chris also makes predictions about next year's Western Conference play-off picture, and the 2020 NBA Finals (will it be the Milwaukee Bucks vs the Lakers or the Bucks vs the Houson Rockets). via Knit

The Athletic's Sam Amick returns to talk about game 5 of the NBA Finals, the devastating achilles injury to Kevin Durant, the strange circumstances surrounding the press conference and KD's surgery announcement, pressure he may have felt from fans, teammates, the Warriors and/or the media to come back too soon, and the impact the injury may have on KD's free agency decision as well as Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis' respective futures. via Knit

Dennis Scott from NBA TV joins Howard moments after the Toronto Raptors stunning victory over the Golden State Warriors to go up 3-1 in the Finals! Dennis explains why the first 5 minutes set the tone for the second half, how Kawhi Leonard's cool, quiet leadership affected the Raptors, why Steph Curry's still the greatest shooter ever, and when he knew that Kevin Durant was a necessity for the Warriors and not just a luxury. Dennis also speaks to DeMarcus Cousin's role and future, Kevin Durant's free agency, why the Los Angeles Clippers are not a good fit for Kawhi Leonard, how LeBron James changed free agency, and what free agency really means to NBA players today. He also recalls Shaq leaving the Magic for the Lakers, and the birth of Kobe's "mamba mentality." via Knit

The Athletic's Marcus Thompson, who also authored the book, "KD: Kevin Durant's Relentless Pursuit to Be the Greatest," returns to talk NBA Finals, the Warriors health issues, and what the Toronto Raptors need to do to win the Championship. He also reveals what he discovered about Kevin Durant while researching his new book, why KD's hypersensitivity is cool with Marcus, and how he thinks KD's free agency will play out in the off-season. via Knit

5-star basketball recruit RJ Hampton has made a groundbreaking move in pursuit of an NBA career. He's bypassing college basketball to join the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League. RJ speaks to the groundbreaking decision that will relocate his entire family halfway across the world, and what he hopes it may do for age limits and the NBA. He also talks about his heroes (Steph, LeBron, Kobe and Michael Jordan), how he hopes to develop his game and improve as a player, and what the Breakers could offer that college couldn't. Plus, RJ reveals his college pick had the Breakers not been an option, and makes an obvious prediction about this year's NBA Finals. via Knit

Zach Lowe of ESPN and "The Lowe Post" podcast fame joins to talk NBA Finals, and especially how things might look when the Golden State Warriors arrive in Toronto for the first two games of the series on the Raptor's home court. He shares thoughts on the best defensive use of Kawhi Leonard, how Kevin Durant's possible absence will affect the Warriors' game, Steph Curry's offensive power, and how DeMarcus Cousins will factor into the strategy. Zach also weighs in on the "Toronto Drakes," ToronTo vs Toronno, Rob Pelinka's Kobe Bryant & Heath Ledger story, the new free agency deadline, and what's sure to be a very challenging off-season for the Milwaukee Bucks! And then there's the whole Giannis MVP debate, and whether Steph Curry deserves to be named Finals MVP should the Warriors win the Championship. via Knit

Former Milwaukee Buck, Jason "The Jet" Terry, who retired last year after a 19-year NBA career, shares some insight into Giannis and Bucks, the current Bucks-Raptors play-off series, and who'll make the tougher opponent for the Golden State Warriors. Jason speaks to why Toronto may be more equipped than Milwaukee to handle the NBA Finals environment, how Giannis needs to improve his game to help his team, who should have made the various All NBA Teams (hello Patrick Beverley and Klay Thompson), and why Kevin Durant should consider the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers as potential future options. And then there's the ownership of "The Jet" nickname, and the one change that Jason would make if he were "Commish For A Day," and what that change has to do with the NCAA Tournament. via Knit

LA Times beat writer Tania Ganguli has been covering the Lakers for the last 3 years, and was at the Lakers' press conference yesterday to introduce new head coach Frank Vogel. She joins to share her thoughts on what she saw and heard yesterday from Rob Pelinka (about Magic Johnson), Frank Vogel, and LeBron James. Tania also speaks to the Lakers' chaotic and drama-filled front office, Jeanie Buss' noticeable absence yesterday, "Laker Exceptionalism," their free agency and lottery plans and whether Anthony Davis is still an option, and the perceived lack of confidence in the Lakers that is beginning to spread in the league. via Knit

B/R's NBA Draft Guru Jonathan Wasserman returns to break down the lottery draw and what it means for tanking, the top 10 picks, and potential trade packages from the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers for Zion Williamson. Jonathan shares draft scenarios for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and Phoenix Suns, explains why there's really no difference between the 4th and 11th picks in this weak draft class, why Ja Morant is actually perfect for Memphis, and how come the team with the most to lose and prove is the Los Angeles Lakers. Plus, Howard's view from inside the actual lottery draw room! via Knit

Former Atlanta Hawks GM, Wes Wilcox, returns to talk the future of eliminated playoff teams including which are (or should be) in crisis mode, which should be concerned, and which have nothing to worry about. He offers analysis and possible trade/free agent scenarios for the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers. How will Kevin Durant's plans affect Kyrie Irving and Boston? What should Houston do with Chris Paul? How does competitive rebuilding factor into Boston's off-season? And what does Philadelphia need to do with Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler. Plus, Wes weighs in on the new head coach in Cleveland, John Beilein, and why that out of the blue move actually makes complete sense. via Knit