GAME NIGHT: Why The Nets And Blazers CAN EXPLODE In The NBA's Next 5 Years

August 30, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Nets and Trail Blazers are not the NBA’s most hopeless teams. That is the counterintuitive argument at the heart of this episode of Locked On NBA Game Night, which wraps up a multi-part “futures draft” by ranking the league’s eight worst positions over the next five years. Hosts Gavin Shaw and Cookie Healy draft teams in reverse order—worst futures go last—and by the time they reach the dregs, they find themselves defending the very franchises most fans have written off. The throughline is simple but revealing: in a league where cap space, draft equity, and coaching matter as much as star power, a blank canvas can beat a messy masterpiece.

Why the Nets Are a Bet on Flexibility

Shaw opens the final round by selecting the Brooklyn Nets, and his reasoning is a masterclass in valuing optionality over current talent. “They have an empty canvas where you can paint whatever,” he says. “They’re not locked into anything. They have a lot of space. They have picks.” The Nets used four first-round picks in the 2025 draft, and while the individual selections are debatable—Ben Saraf’s NBA future is uncertain, Drake Powell struggled in summer league—the aggregate strategy is sound. Yeager Joman, in particular, impressed: his biggest pre-draft question was shooting, and he shot well as a rookie. Size plus shooting plus passing at his age is a reliable formula.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:05) **Drafting the Dregs: Final Round Begins** - The hosts recap the first two rounds of their NBA Futures Draft, listing the 22 teams already selected, and prepare to draft the bottom eight teams (the "dregs").
2 (05:42) **Pick 1: Brooklyn Nets - A Blank Canvas** - Cookie selects the Brooklyn Nets as the first team in the dregs round, arguing they have the most flexibility and an empty slate to build upon.
3 (11:47) **Pick 2: Portland Trail Blazers - A Talented Mess** - Gavin picks the Portland Trail Blazers, comparing them to the Atlanta Hawks of the West, with a mix of promising young players and a cluttered roster.
4 (14:12) **Pick 3: Phoenix Suns - Betting on Devin Booker** - Cookie picks the Phoenix Suns, citing Devin Booker as a top-20 player who can attract free agents, despite a terrible cap situation.
5 (19:14) **Pick 4: LA Clippers - A Bet on Draft Picks and Health** - Gavin picks the LA Clippers, betting on their future draft equity (Raptors 2031-2033 picks) and the health of Darius Garland.
6 (24:59) **Pick 5: New Orleans Pelicans - Tradeable Assets** - Cookie picks the New Orleans Pelicans, arguing they have the best trade chips (Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones) to rebuild quickly.
7 (27:44) **Pick 6: Milwaukee Bucks - Relying on Giannis and Draft Picks** - Gavin picks the Milwaukee Bucks, despite them owing future picks to Portland, because of Giannis Antetokounmpo and young role players.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Gavin Shaw

Show Notes

On today’s Locked On NBA we discuss the NBA Futures Draft, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Walker Kessler, Deni Avdija, Tomani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Julius Randle, Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson, Devin Booker, Darius Garland, Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Sabonis, and Zach LaVine.

Gavin Schall and Ku Khahil open by recapping their regrets and surprises from the NBA Futures Draft, including reflections on picking the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers. The hosts analyze why the Brooklyn Nets’ flexibility and draft assets give them hope for the future, then dive into the Portland Trail Blazers’ intriguing mix of young talent and veteran players like Deni Avdija, Tamani Camara, Donovan Clingan, and an overlooked Ja Morant. The conversation shifts to the Phoenix Suns and their long-term outlook with Devin Booker at the helm despite salary cap challenges. They debate the Milwaukee Bucks’ future, including the potential around young prospects like Kel'el Ware and the loss of key draft picks. The episode also examines the murky outlooks for the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson, Golden State Warriors, and the bleak long-term picture for the Sacramento Kings with Sabonis and Zach LaVine. Throughout, the hosts provide thoughtful team-building analysis, breakdown future NBA star potential, and discuss the ripple effects of front office decisions on franchise trajectories.

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