Windy's Hoop Collective Is Dropping Heat: Re-Drafts, LeBron Bombshells & the Trades That Got Away

If you're not locked into The Hoop Collective, what are you even doing? Brian Windhorst is holding court with the sharpest minds in the game, dropping episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the NBA season (Tuesday and Friday in the offseason). This is where the league's biggest stories get picked apart before the rest of the world even knows they're stories.

From the chaos of free agency to the quiet trades that could've reshaped history, Windy and his guests are serving up pure hardwood content. Here's what you need to catch up on:

Aug. 7: Re-Drafting the 2023 NBA Draft

Windy tags in Tim MacMahon and Vince Goodwill to run back the 2023 draft with the benefit of hindsight — and the results are spicy. Wemby stays No. 1 (duh), but Amen Thompson jumps to No. 2, Brandon Miller lands at No. 3, and Scoot Henderson? He slips all the way to No. 9. The crew breaks down who got it right and who's staring at a major miss.

Windy also drops a story from Wemby's draft lottery night that you won't hear anywhere else.

Aug. 4: 10 Biggest Questions for the 2027 Offseason

MacMahon and Bobby Marks join Windy to map out the summer of 2027 — and it's already looking unhinged. The Nuggets and Warriors are at the center of the storm, with Nikola Jokic's next contract threatening to break the league's salary structure. MacMahon throws down a very real take:

“Nikola Jokic, a no-brainer Hall of Famer if he never played another second. A champion, multi-time MVP. He's earned the right to sign the largest contract in NBA history without question. But he's doing the exact opposite of what Jalen Brunson did — and the opposite of what Victor Wembanyama did. He's not prioritizing flexibility. And I'm not saying that to criticize. Just stating a plain fact.”

Marks gets real about the Knicks' financial squeeze with KAT, Brunson and the whole crew needing paydays. And Windy floats Jaden McDaniels as a potential Team USA answer to Wembanyama in 2028. Yes, really.

July 31: The Most Interesting NBA Trades That Never Happened

This episode is a time machine to the multiverse of madness — Chris Paul to the Lakers blocked by the league, Carmelo to the Nets collapsing, Kobe to the Pistons failing, and the Warriors almost shipping out Klay Thompson. Bobby Marks even thought he had the No. 2 pick once. It's a hoops historian's dream.

July 28: A UNIQUE Situation for 76ers + LeBron Fallout

LeBron to Philly is real, and Windy is not here for the “third option” talk. He flips the script:

“How do we know he's going to be the third or fourth option? What if he's the first option? Say that happens?”

MacMahon isn't buying the Warriors' future with a $62.6 million Steph Curry leading a play-in squad. He calls the idea of Golden State being “a big move away” from contention “not based in reality.” Yikes.

And Goodwill drops a chilling Bucks comparison for the Nuggets, warning that Denver might be paying luxury tax for a first-round exit while OKC and San Antonio zoom past them.

July 24: Emergency Pod! LeBron to Philly

The crew hit the red button when LeBron signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers. They break down how he fits alongside the stars, whether a title is actually possible, and what this seismic move means for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Spoiler: it's a lot.

July 24: Biggest NBA Offseason Winners and Losers

Winner? The Hornets, according to Tim MacMahon, who swiped a 2033 first-round pick for Miles Bridges and moved LaMelo Ball at the perfect time. Loser? The Pistons, per Windy, who didn't seriously upgrade after grabbing the East's No. 1 seed. And the Blazers? New owner Tom Dundon is burning bridges like it's his job.

This is the podcast that keeps the league honest. Stream The Hoop Collective now on ESPN, Spotify, YouTube, Apple, or wherever you get your audio fix. Trust me, you don't want to miss the next episode.