Fallout From the LeBron Signing! Plus, Fake Curry Trades and Mets Corner!

July 28, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The NBA’s offseason earthquake was LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, a move that reshapes the Eastern Conference and leaves several franchises—most notably the Golden State Warriors—scrambling for a path forward. On the latest Zach Lowe Show, Lowe and co-host Mo Dakhil spent the episode sifting through the fallout: what the LeBron-Sixers fit actually looks like, why the Warriors are the biggest losers of the saga, and how a strange tier of Western Conference teams (Portland, Phoenix, Denver) might create unexpected volatility. Later, Sean Fennessey joined for a Mets Corner that turned into a bleak meditation on baseball’s most expensive disaster.

The LeBron-Sixers Fit: Defense Is the Real Question

The conversation around Philadelphia has naturally focused on offense: how will LeBron, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and newly acquired Jalen Brown share the ball? Lowe is surprisingly unbothered. Maxey is an excellent off-ball player, and playing off LeBron might actually be healthy for this stage of Embiid’s career. “I’m not really worried about the offensive end,” Lowe said. “They will figure it out.” Dakhil agreed, noting that Nick Nurse has a chance to get creative—running triangle concepts, multi-layered actions, and transition offense with a roster full of high-IQ players.

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What you'll learn

1 (02:38) **LeBron to Philly & The Fallout** - Zach and Mo Dekeil break down the aftermath of LeBron James signing with the 76ers, focusing on the defensive concerns and the collateral damage for the Warriors.
2 (13:08) **The Warriors Are the Biggest Losers** - The conversation pivots to the Golden State Warriors, who missed out on LeBron and are now a depressing 39.5 win over/under team heading into Steph Curry's twilight.
3 (29:23) **Fake Steph Curry Trade Scenarios** - For fun, Zach and Mo run through a thought exercise of six teams that could make sense as a trade destination for Steph Curry.
4 (37:20) **The Volatile West: Portland Trail Blazers** - The show shifts to the middle tier of the Western Conference, starting with a deep dive on the Portland Trail Blazers and their 43.5 win over/under.
5 (49:54) **The Volatile West: Phoenix Suns** - The analysis continues with the Phoenix Suns, a team with a 39.5 win over/under that Zach describes as "very average."
6 (57:14) **Denver Nuggets: Keep the Window Cracked** - The final Western Conference segment covers the Denver Nuggets, who are in a sticky cap situation with restricted free agent Peyton Watson.
7 (68:20) **Mets Corner: A Cataclysmic Season** - Zach and Sean Fennessey open the Mets segment, reflecting on the team's disastrous 2026 season and the upcoming trade deadline.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Zach Lowe Mo Dakhil Sean Fennessey

Show Notes

Zach is joined by Mo Dakhil to dive back into LeBron James signing with the 76ers and discuss what they expect from this team. Then, they throw out some fun Steph Curry trades before previewing what to expect from some Western Conference teams. Then, Sean Fennessey joins for Mets Corner to debate what the Mets should be planning ahead of the trade deadline.

(0:00) Welcome to The Zach Lowe Show!

(1:42) Mo Dakhil joins the show!

(8:32) This is the most fun LeBron outcome

(12:54) The Warriors are the biggest losers of the offseason

(27:27) Fun hypothetical Steph Curry trades

(35:34) Let’s take a look at the Trail Blazers

(48:08) What should Suns fans expect this season?

(55:23) Is the Nuggets' window closed?

(1:05:42) Mets Corner with Sean Fennessey!

(1:09:34) Who are the Mets' untouchables?

(1:20:37) Should the Mets be trying to trade for MLB-ready talent?

(1:29:20) Zach’s first pitch at Citi Field

Host: Zach Lowe

Guests: Mo Dakhil and Sean Fennessey

Producers: Oscar De La Luz, Billy Gil, and Mike Wargon

Social: Keith Fujimoto and Michael Szokoli

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