The Giannis Never-Trade and a Mega-Mailbag With Zach Lowe, Plus Wyndham Clark’s Second U.S. Open Title With Joe House

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · June 22, 2026 · 1 h 56 min

Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe discuss the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga and a listener mailbag, then Joe House recaps Wyndham Clark's U.S. Open win.

Summary

Bill Simmons, streaming live on Netflix, opened with Zach Lowe on the prolonged Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga. Simmons said he still expected Boston to land Giannis, likely with Jalen Brown as the principal and Kyle Kuzma as a "Giannis tax," though he preferred other Brown deals. Lowe said the Bucks wanted a deal done before the NBA draft, doubted the Clippers would give up the No. 5 pick, and cautioned against dismissing the champion Knicks' chances of repeating. The two also gave quick draft projections, with Simmons high on Brandon Burris at No. 8.

The bulk of the episode was a mailbag. The pair simulated a tournament of the last eight NBA champions, both picking the 2023 Denver Nuggets as the winner; debated fake trades including Cooper Flagg for Dylan Harper and hypothetical Nikola Jokić deals; and discussed the Knicks' title, which Lowe argued was a top-tier achievement and which Simmons came to agree with. Other topics included the Brooklyn Nets' diminished place in New York, the Oklahoma City Harden–Durant–Westbrook breakup versus Dallas letting Jalen Brunson walk, Brunson as one of the best free-agent signings, Darryn Peterson's draft stock, soccer-style positional jersey numbers, and the Indiana Pacers' calamitous year.

Joe House then recapped Wyndham Clark's wire-to-wire win at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, his second U.S. Open title, noting that crowds were cool toward Clark due to past misbehavior including damaging a locker at Oakmont. House graded the tournament a solid B, praised Sam Burns's Sunday charge, discussed the U.S. men's national team's World Cup run, and said he still expected the Wizards to take AJ Dybantsa first overall.

Chapters

  1. 1:18

    Intro and Giannis trade standoff

    Simmons and Lowe discuss why the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade has not happened and the likely Boston and Miami offers.

  2. 8:57

    Alternatives for Jalen Brown and draft projections

    The hosts weigh non-Giannis trades for Jalen Brown, the Clippers' No. 5 pick, and projected draft order.

  3. 19:24

    Knicks repeat chances and Celtics identity

    Discussion of the Knicks as a multi-year threat and Boston's stylistic crossroads, plus OKC's drafting reputation.

  4. 24:51

    Tournament of the last eight champions

    A listener-proposed bracket of recent NBA champions ends with both hosts picking the 2023 Nuggets.

  5. 34:23

    Fake trade mailbag

    The hosts evaluate listener trade proposals including Flagg for Harper, Reaves for Duren, and hypothetical Jokić deals.

  6. 49:25

    Knicks title legacy and the Nets' crisis

    They rank the Knicks' championship, discuss exorcised sports demons, and the Brooklyn Nets' existential problem.

  7. 59:09

    What-ifs, free agents and more mailbag

    Topics include the Harden trade versus losing Brunson, best free-agent signings, Peterson, jersey numbers, and owners.

  8. 1:29:31

    Pacers' year from hell

    Listeners argue the Pacers had a nightmare year, and the hosts discuss Haliburton's injury as a major what-if.

  9. 1:35:42

    Wyndham Clark wins the U.S. Open

    Joe House recaps Clark's one-stroke, wire-to-wire win and why crowds rooted against him.

  10. 1:48:35

    World Cup and draft night outlook

    House and Simmons discuss World Cup betting, the USMNT, and whom the Wizards and Jazz will draft.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

  • Bill SimmonsPartly true

    Simmons predicted the Giannis trade would happen the next day and said he would still bet on Boston as the destination.

    “I think it's going to happen tomorrow. Sadly, not, not good for our podcast”

    Listen from 2:54 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe said the Bucks clearly want to trade Giannis before the draft and he still leaned toward that happening.

    “They clearly want to do it before the draft. Their owner, Jimmy Haslam, came out and said we'd like to do it before the draft if he's not going to extend”

    Listen from 3:42 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argued that Kyle Kuzma would be the 'Giannis tax' forced on whichever team acquires Giannis.

    “I think Kuzma, uh, is the Giannis tax for this trade for whoever gets him”

    Listen from 4:34 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons said he would rather the Celtics trade Jalen Brown elsewhere than for Giannis, calling a Giannis deal partly a Hail Mary.

    “I would still prefer that over the Giannis team. It's not a Hail Mary, but it's a little bit of a Hail Mary”

    Listen from 9:46 · Boston Celtics

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe said his gut, not reporting, told him the Clippers would not give up the No. 5 pick for Jalen Brown.

    “I just think this pick from Indiana... is such a gift from the basketball and the lottery gods and such a rare opportunity for a franchise”

    Listen from 10:55 · Los Angeles Clippers

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons called Brandon Burris the best player available at No. 8 and a guaranteed good pro, comparable to Stephon Castle.

    “I feel the same way about him that I did about Castle two years ago. I think he's a guaranteed really good pro”

    Listen from 13:15 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe warned against dismissing the Knicks' chances of repeating as champions.

    “Dismiss the Knicks' repeat chance at your peril. This is a really, really good team”

    Listen from 20:28 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons ranked the 2023 Nuggets as the best of the last eight NBA champions.

    “Yeah, I think the 23 Nuggets were the best of the eight. So we agree”

    Listen from 34:23 · Denver Nuggets

  • Linked moment · 51:48Skip to 51:48 using a listen link in the info box.

    Zach Lowe

    Lowe argued the Knicks' 2026 title deserved the highest tier of impressiveness, citing their record, point differential, and ending a 53-year drought.

    “And first title in 53 years for the biggest market and one of the most historic franchises in the sport. I think it's a level three”

    Listen from 51:48 · New York Knicks

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe said the Knicks' title materially changed what the Brooklyn Nets mean to the NBA.

    “is like a, a meaningful material change to like what the Brooklyn Nets mean to the NBA. I really do”

    Listen from 56:56 · Brooklyn Nets

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons said that if the league relocated a team instead of expanding, New Orleans would make more sense to move than Memphis.

    “I would move New Orleans if I had to pick a team to move. That would be the one”

    Listen from 58:24 · NBA expansion

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe maintained the Harden–Durant–Westbrook Thunder remain the bigger 'what if we kept the team together' than the Dončić–Brunson Mavericks.

    “I think this is to pick Dallas is a little bit of a prisoner of the moment take”

    Listen from 1:03:20

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe said he would take Darryn Peterson with one of the first two picks because teams saw no long-term medical concerns.

    “I would take him with one of the first two picks just because I've heard all of the teams have seen every bit of medical data”

    Listen from 1:17:54 · 2026 NBA draft

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe suggested the Pacers could be the Eastern Conference favorite next season.

    “But they're loaded for bear next year. Like, why not? Why not them as your East favorite?”

    Listen from 1:32:19 · Indiana Pacers

  • Joe House

    House explained that Clark became unpopular after smashing a locker at Oakmont during the 2025 U.S. Open and not apologizing quickly enough.

    “he's been living with that since and it really made him unpopular”

    Listen from 1:40:43 · 2026 U.S. Open (golf)

  • Joe House

    House said Clark's eagle on the 16th hole Saturday was the shot of the tournament and effectively won it.

    “He made Eagle the only guy, the entire golf tournament to make Eagle on 16”

    Listen from 1:43:37 · 2026 U.S. Open (golf)

  • Joe House

    House graded the tournament a solid B, noting the anticipated wind never materialized and the course was watered.

    “But, you know, I give it the whole thing overall, I guess, a solid B”

    Listen from 1:45:30 · 2026 U.S. Open (golf)

  • Joe House

    House said the U.S. team had become must-see TV after dominating Paraguay and named McKinney as its key player.

    “This is because of how dominant U.S. was against Paraguay and the eye-opening reaction by the soccer community”

    Listen from 1:49:38 · United States men's national soccer team

  • Joe House

    House said he still believed the Wizards would take AJ Dybantsa and that Utah should take Cameron Boozer at No. 2.

    “I think he raises their floor. And for that team, what they've assembled, you want somebody that's not a question mark in any way”

    Listen from 1:51:23 · 2026 NBA draft

People

In the conversation

  • Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
  • Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
  • Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk

Discussed

Topics

More from The Bill Simmons Podcast

From the publisher

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Zach Lowe to discuss the newest developments with the Giannis trade rumors before jumping into a mega-mailbag to answer questions from the listeners. Then, Joe House joins the pod to react to Wyndham Clark winning the U.S. Open and to discuss the World Cup. (0:00) Intro (1:15) Giannis trade rumors (24:46) Mega-mailbag (01:35:44) U.S. Open reactions Host: Bill Simmons Guests: Zach Lowe and Joe House Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers Brought to you by PayPal. Learn more at paypal.com As the Official Beer Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 26, Michelob ULTRA away $1million in FIFA World Cup tickets and prizes. https://www.michelobultra.com/superioraccess/FIFAWORLDCUP26 MICHELOB ULTRA® FIFA® WORLD CUP 26TM SUPERIOR ACCESS. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins on 12/1/25 and ends on 7/31/26. Multiple entry periods. Visit https://www.michelobultra.com/superioraccess/FIFAWORLDCUP26 for free entry, entry deadlines, and Official Rules. Message and data rates may apply. Void where prohibited. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Golf·Soccer