Five NBA Trade Ideas, a Sleeper NFL Playoff Team, Eagles-Packers, and Week 10 Picks With Joe House

What It Covers

Bill Simmons and Joe House explore five NBA trade scenarios involving Ja Morant and Trae Young, analyze the new CBA's impact on trade flexibility, and make NFL Week 10 picks including playoff sleeper candidates and Ringer 107 selections.

Key Questions Answered

• •NBA Trade Restrictions: The new CBA creates significant trade barriers with first and second apron rules preventing teams from adding even one dollar in salary, limiting roster flexibility compared to NFL and MLB where teams can more easily acquire needed players mid-season through creative cap management or straightforward trades.
• •Ja Morant Trade Value: Memphis should consider trading Morant to Miami for Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier's expiring contract, as Morant's trade value has declined due to off-court issues and durability concerns. Miami's institutional culture with veterans like Alonzo Mourning could provide the structure needed for rehabilitation while giving Miami a higher ceiling than Herro.
• •Celtics Strategic Pivot: Boston should trade Derrick White to Houston for Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, and Phoenix's 2027 first-round pick to maximize assets while making the team worse for draft positioning in a legendary draft class, though Houston would likely reject this asking price given Eason's breakout performance and that pick's value.
• •AFC Playoff Math: Only two spots remain for Pittsburgh (5-3), Baltimore (3-5), Chargers (6-3), Jacksonville (5-3), and Houston (3-5) after New England, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Denver, and Kansas City lock up five spots. Nine wins likely required, making Houston's path nearly impossible at seven wins needed in nine games with CJ Stroud's concussion.
• •Bulls Trade Asset: Chicago should trade Kobe White's $12 million expiring contract to Minnesota for Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham while Josh Giddey's triple-double production establishes him as the franchise point guard. White represents rare trade flexibility under new CBA rules with Chicago's large trade exception enabling creative deal structures in a restricted market.