RotoWire Fantasy Basketball Podcast

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha recap Sunday night's fantasy basketball takeaways before answering live mailbag questions.

0:00 Intro: Week 3, waiver adds and drops, a 15-game Monday
0:44 News: Chet Holmgren out until January; Day'Ron Sharpe and Lendeborg
1:17 Collin Murray-Boyles panic; Luka Doncic's historic start and MVP odds
3:08 Lendeborg's 37-point night; Rookie of the Year odds
5:03 Nets-Pacers, Celtics-Magic and Tristan da Silva
6:45 Kris Dunn's seven steals and Brandon Ingram's return
7:56 Q&A: Pelle Larsson and Jusuf Nurkic
10:37 Tari Eason or Kris Dunn; Clingan and Edey: drop?
14:07 Jared McCain or Mikel Brown; Aday Mara or Jalen Smith; Zubac on IR
17:44 Haliburton for Anthony Davis; Trey Murphy pickup; Edey buy low
21:02 Murray-Boyles dropped: Gobert pickup; Lillard and Claxton vs. Lendeborg and Missi
22:52 Dunn and Davion Mitchell for Desmond Bane; Tristan da Silva, Larsson and Jalen Green
26:08 Keep two: Braun, Gafford, Dunn or Allen; Alex Sarr for Buzelis
28:56 Drop Tari Eason, Myles Turner or Brandin Podziemski; Zach LaVine offer; Ace Bailey trade
31:05 Anthony Black vs. De'Anthony Melton; Anthony Edwards trade offers
35:09 Who to start tonight; Brunson and Buzelis; Giddey for Trey Murphy
38:53 Who to roster: Paul Reed, Fears, Mara; LaMelo or Anthony Davis; Luka for Peterson, Zubac and Trae Young
41:10 Acuff trades; Mikal Bridges for Miles Bridges; John Collins; Edgecombe or Peterson tonight
44:20 Giannis and Garland for Mitchell, Jaylen Brown and Paul George; big-man crisis; Black for Rollins
48:01 Murray-Boyles for Matkovic; Edey's ramp-up; Ty Jerome for Lendeborg
50:55 Siakam and LaVine for Trae Young; Barnes and George for Acuff and Harper
52:58 Julius Randle and Jalen Green targets; Jokic for Anthony Edwards; Acuff sell high
57:05 Ty Jerome for Anthony Edwards; Coby White or Davion Mitchell
59:58 Day'Ron Sharpe or Hartenstein; John Collins drop; Kel'el Ware vs. Wiggins; Giddey for Rollins
1:05:18 Last question and wrap-up

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Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha discuss the top fantasy basketball news of the day before answering live viewer questions and discussing whether they're panicking on some of the season's biggest disappointments thus far.

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Kirien Sprecher and Adam King discuss news and notes from around the NBA, including how to attack the waiver wire with injuries pilling up.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Tyrese Haliburton Fallout

05:00 Day’Ron Sharpe Concerns

07:30 Drop Candidates

11:30 Trey Murphy Trades

12:30 ROS Ranks

19:15 Streaming Candidates

22:00 More ROS Ranks

31:00 Kawhi Leonard Trades

32:30 More ROS Ranks

46:00 Yaxel Lendeborg Trades

51:00 More ROS Ranks

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Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner discuss news and notes from around the NBA, including how to attack the waiver wire with injuries pilling up.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Anthony Edwards

03:30 Kawhi Leonard

06:25 Jaren Jackson

09:00 Thunder Injuries

12:30 Magic Injuries

14:25 Ivica Zubac

16:15 Keegan Murray

18:00 Tari Eason

19:30 Dillon Brooks

20:30 Mikel Brown

21:45 Aaron Wiggins

23:00 Jaylen Wells

23:45 Keaton Wagler

26:00 Viewer Questions

37:45 What Was That?!?

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Alex Barutha and Nick Whalen hit the big injury news from the weekend, including updates on Jalen Williams, Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Duren and Ivica Zubac. Then, the guys turn things over to the live chat to answer listener mailbag questions on a wide variety of fantasy basketball topics.

0:00 Intro

1:29 Jalen Williams' Leg Injury and OKC's Outlook

1:59 Thunder Fallout: AJ Mitchell, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace

5:56 Magic Injuries: Banchero, Suggs, Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva

9:07 Big Men Down: Jalen Duren and Ivica Zubac (Paul Reed, Huff, Toppin)

12:08 Yahoo Add Trends: Chris Dunn, Jaylen Wells and More

14:50 Ty Jerome's Hot Start

15:42 Precious Achiuwa and Trevon Brazile

17:44 Q&A Kickoff: Edey, Kel'el Ware, CMB vs. Hartenstein

21:11 Naji Marshall, Chris Dunn and Grayson Allen

23:10 Anthony Black vs. Kuminga and Peyton Watson's Upside

25:42 Concerns: Day'Ron Sharpe and Josh Giddey

28:29 Payton Pritchard's Role and Davion Mitchell's Hot Start

30:34 Cedric Coward vs. da Silva vs. Wells, and Obi Toppin FAAB

32:00 Ace Bailey vs. Isaiah Stewart, Plus Pickups After the J-Dub Injury

34:26 Who to Drop for Cooper Flagg, and Trey Murphy and Okongwu Worries

37:17 Drop Candidates: Sexton, Mitchell Robinson, da Silva and More

39:18 Khaman Maluach: Hold? Norman Powell Trade and Kel'el Ware's Role

41:39 Kyrie on Back-to-Backs, Ausar Thompson Update, Keyonte George

44:50 Sell-High Test: Ty Jerome and Zach LaVine

47:53 Streaming Centers and Nurkic's Return

51:38 AJ Mitchell's Projection and Sabonis + Garland for Scottie Barnes + Zion

55:41 Deep-League Q&A: Graves, Toppin, Peterson and Demin

58:28 Rui Hachimura Drop? Final Waiver Rankings and Rapid-Fire Questions

1:02:06 Wrap-Up and Promo Code

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Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha recap Thursday night's two-game slate before diving in on mailbag questions and talking early waiver wire options.

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Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner discuss news and notes from around the NBA, including their first impressions of every NBA team.

00:00 Intro

01:00 Jazz/Grizzlies Recap

05:20 Team Breakdown

07:20 Wavier Suggestions

20:00 Trade Question

23:00 More Wavier Suggestions

28:00 Player Ranks

30:00 Team Breakdowns

36:30 Trade Question

38:15 Team Breakdown

48:00 Ryan Rollins Concern

50:00 Brayden Burries

51:00 Ranking Polarizing Guards

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Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner discuss news and notes from around the NBA, including their biggest overreactions to Opening Night.

00:00 Intro

00:50 BOS/DET

05:40 PHI/NY

09:30 OKC/SAS

15:00 Wagler vs. Acuff

17:00 Magic’s offense

18:45 Kessler and Clingan

21:00 New-look Wolves vs. New-look Heat

22:15 Kyrie vs. VanVleet

24:45 Caleb Wilson

27:20 Viewer Questions

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On the eve of NBA Opening Night, Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha hit the top news of the day, answer live viewer questions, talk auction strategy and sprinkle in their last-minute draft tips before the season tips off!

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Watch a Yahoo 9-cat fantasy basketball mock draft with RotoWire analyst Alex Barutha. Picking 4th, I land SGA, Curry, Harden, Embiid, and LeBron while value hunting. See round-by-round strategy, punt-build tips, and sleeper picks.

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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:55 Round 1
05:55 Round 2
10:36 Round 3
15:22 Round 4
19:04 Round 5
23:27 Round 6
28:12 Round 7
32:12 Round 8
36:30 Round 9
41:46 Round 10
44:55 Round 11
49:40 Round 12
53:45 Round 13 and team wrap-up

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Kirien Sprecher and Adam King discuss news and notes from around the NBA before answering viewer questions, including what players you can't leave your drafts without.

01:50 Dylan Harper

04:45 Mock Draft Results

10:50 9-Cat Team Breakdown

14:15 Points League Ranks

17:15 ESPN Points League Team Breakdown

20:00 Cooper Flagg Build

22:30 Embiid or CMB

25:00 Aday Mara or Maxime Raynaud

27:00 Trade Advice

28:25 Josh Hart or CJ McCollum

30:00 ESPN Points League Team Breakdown

31:45 Keyonte George or Derrick White

33:00 Isaiah Jackson or Daniel Gafford & Josh Hart or VJ Edgecombe

35:15 Yahoo Salary Cap Team Breakdown

37:15 Paolo Banchero or Evan Mobley

39:00 16T 9-Cat Team Breakdown

41:15 12T 11-Cat Team Breakdown

46:00 Adem Bona

47:00 Trade Advice

50:00 Lauri Markkanen/Donovan Clingan

51:45 12th Pick Draft Advice

53:25 Norman Powell/Cedric Coward/Keegan Murray

55:00 Kingy Special

56:30 Nikola Jokic Build

57:40 Josh Giddey or Tyrese Haliburton

58:30 Brandon Miller or Trey Murphy

59:30 9-Cat Team Breakdown

1:02:00 Draft Start Advice

1:05:00 Trade Advice

1:07:00 Zion Williamson/LeBron James/Desmond Bane

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Alex and Nick draft a 9-cat mock LIVE with Yahoo default settings.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro: 9-cat mock draft on Fantrax with Yahoo settings
1:44 Round 1 recap: a chalky board (Kevin Durant at No. 10)
2:31 Is Tyrese Maxey still a first-round pick?
3:08 Alex's picks on the 1-2 turn: Jalen Johnson and Scottie Barnes
4:20 Round 2 recap and Nick's pick: Trae Young
5:15 Round 3: Nick takes Devin Booker
5:34 Chet Holmgren: is he worth the pick?
7:08 Nick's build so far (Jokic, Trae Young, Booker) and the Suns' outlook
8:49 Round 3 recap: Davis, Harden, Holmgren, Kessler, Adebayo, Brandon Miller, Kyrie
9:27 Round 4: Nick takes Deni Avdija
10:09 Round 5: Nick takes Darius Garland
11:42 Alex chooses between Stephon Castle and Ryan Rollins
12:03 Round 5 recap
12:33 Zach Edey goes in the fifth round
13:05 Kel'el Ware's early price and the Bucks' lineups
13:38 Round 6: Nick takes Julius Randle and Stephon Castle
14:35 Round 6 recap and the thinning center pool
16:12 Round 7: De'Aaron Fox and the center run (Myles Turner, Derik Queen, Day'Ron Sharpe)
17:53 Lesson for Yahoo leagues: don't botch the center position
18:41 Round 7 and 8 recap (Dylan Harper, Keegan Murray)
19:50 Rounds 8-9: Nick takes Nic Claxton and John Collins
20:29 Needing a center: reach, or punt the second spot?
21:21 Rounds 9-10: Alex takes Josh Hart and Darius Acuff
22:37 Round 9 and 10 recap
23:45 Rounds 10-11: Nick takes AJ Dybantsa and Jusuf Nurkic
26:01 Ben Simmons as a last-pick flyer
27:05 Aday Mara: is he startable?
29:04 Rounds 11 to 13 recap
29:55 Alex's last pick: Mikel Brown Jr.
30:43 Nick's last pick: Quentin Grimes over Rui Hachimura
31:54 Roster review: strengths and weaknesses
32:50 Nick's team: steals and blocks concerns
34:35 Wrap-up and promo code HOOPS

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Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner discuss news and notes from around the NBA before listing their top bust candidates for the 2026-27 fantasy basketball season, including Deni Avdija.

00:00 Intro

01:30 Deni Avdija

04:45 Paolo Banchero

06:55 Jaren Jackson

09:45 LeBron James

11:40 Kel’el Ware

15:50 Damian Lillard

19:45 Viewer Questions

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🎧 RotoWire Fantasy Basketball Podcast — Apple Podcasts & Spotify

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Nick Whalen is joined by VSiN's Kelley Bydlon to run through their favorite futures bets for the 2026-27 NBA season. From win totals, to awards, the guys talk Knicks, Bulls, Warriors, Cavaliers, Brandon Miller, Matas Buzelis, Yaxel Lendeborg, Cam Boozer and much more.

0:00 Intro

2:04 Win totals and the new draft lottery

2:54 Kelly's play #1: Houston Rockets over 47.5 wins

5:03 East vs. West: is the East deeper?

7:11 Kelly's alternate: Rockets under 5.5 for the playoff seed

7:26 Nick's play #1: Dallas Mavericks over 33.5 wins

10:35 Bonus: Cooper Flagg to make All-NBA (6 to 1)

10:56 Kelly's play #2: Chicago Bulls over 28.5 wins

15:30 Nick's play #2: New York Knicks under 52.5 wins

18:45 Kelly's play #3: Fading the Detroit Pistons

22:25 Nick's play #3: Cavaliers to win the Central Division (+160)

24:56 Kelly's play #4: Lakers to win the Pacific Division

26:49 Nick's play #4: Warriors to miss the playoffs (-115)

27:22 Bonus: Yaxel Lendeborg for Rookie of the Year (18 to 1)

29:15 Rookie of the Year race: Boozer, Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson

31:04 Memphis Grizzlies win total

31:38 Kelly's play #5: Most Improved Player and why second-year players rarely win

33:29 Brandon Miller as the Most Improved favorite

34:39 Donovan Clingan DPOY long shot and Matas Buzelis for Most Improved (40 to 1)

35:43 Nick's play #5: Brandon Miller for Most Improved (12 to 1)

37:52 Why is Dylan Harper the favorite while Cooper Flagg is 80 to 1?

38:45 More Most Improved long shots: Walker Kessler, the Thompson twins, Anthony Black

40:41 MVP and Coach of the Year (Will Hardy, Dusty May, Sean Sweeney, Erik Spoelstra)

43:44 Sixth Man of the Year: DeMar DeRozan, Ace Bailey, Collin Murray-Boyles

45:22 Wrap-up

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Alex is joined by Dan Besbris of Old Man Squad to discuss fantasy basketball strategy for 2026-27.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:30 Tip 1 - Get off to fast start
13:20 Tip 2 - Save risk for 4th round
20:05 Tip 3 - Don't draft rookies
26:50 Tip 4 - Boring wins
31:15 Five Quick Tips for 2026
31:25 Big men are properly valued
32:05 Punt play guards are going later than usual
34:40 Efficient guards are undervalued
35:55 The middle of the first round?
37:30 Tanking is dead?

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Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha recap the most-notable NBA preseason performances from the weekend, answer live questions and run through their favorite players to draft in each round this season.

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Alex is joined by Noah Rubin (NoahRubin22 on X) to discuss 3 rookies, 3 sleepers and 4 busts for the 2026-27 NBA Fantasy Basketball season.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:24 Rookies
01:40 Cam Boozer
07:25 Darryn Peterson
12:00 Darius Acuff
15:45 Sleepers
15:50 Moussa Diabate
19:40 Sandro Mamukelashvili
22:35 Collin Murray-Boyles
26:10 Busts
27:30 Stephon Castle
33:05 Derik Queen
40:05 Naz Reid
44:22 Matas Buzelis

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Alex is joined by none other than Josh Lloyd to discuss the most difficult players to rank/most polarizing players in fantasy basketball this season.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:25 Kevin Porter Jr.
05:00 Zach LaVine
10:15 Ty Jerome
15:55 Alex Sarr
21:22 Egor Demin
24:41 Isaiah Hartenstein
29:40 Mikal Bridges
32:32 9-Cat Rankings & Low Upside Players
34:50 New lottery rules, teams without picks?

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Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha recap all of the notable performances from Thursday's preseason slate before answering live questions and discussing their lists of deep sleepers for 2026-27.

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Alex Barutha and Adam King discuss news and notes from around the NBA before answering fantasy basketball questions from viewers.

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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:35 Jusuf Nurkic out 4 weeks
06:15 Quick Preseason Notes
12:33 Collin Murray Boyles as second center?
13:54 Shallowest position this year?
16:05 Maluach or Ighodaro?
17:12 Draft early or close to season?
19:57 Pair Giannis and LaMelo?
21:41 How much to reach for guys you like?
25:45 Anthony Davis
29:15 Ware or Edey?
31:05 Darius Acuff
33:36 Keaton Wagler
36:00 LaVine or Maluach?
37:31 KPJ too low in drafts?
39:08 Ranking Harden, AD, Bam, JJJ, Mobley, J-Dub
40:40 Guys go earlier than ADP in pro leagues
42:05 Queta or John Collins?
43:31 Flagg and Thompson pairing?
44:50 Will Ingram actually play?
45:50 Yves Missi?
47:35 1st and 2nd round pairings question
49:35 Sleepers
50:45 Maxey and Giddey/Trae for Cade and Brandon Miller
52:05 Christian Braun bounceback?
53:35 Pelle Larsson sleeper?
54:30 Scotty Pippen Jr. vs. Ty Jerome
57:12 Can you take Luka second overall?
1:00:19 Cedric Coward expectations
1:02:21 Rui, Yaxel or Ajay last round in points league

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