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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/16/2025
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Luke Adams
2:01
Thanks for the early questions, guys. Keep 'em coming. Let's dive in!
Mark
2:01
i am seeing reports that the bucks are out on jimmy butler but then there are other reports that they are still in. I don’t know what to believe, what do you think happens?
Luke Adams
2:03
The conflicting reports that I've seen have been about whether or not the Bucks were told Butler doesn't want to play in Milwaukee. It sounds like that hasn't happened, but I'm not sure it matters much -- I have a hard time seeing the Bucks putting together a package for Butler that would make sense for them and appeal to two trade partners (it'd have to be a three-team deal for salary reasons) unless the Heat are really high on Middleton and Portis.
Keith
2:04
Do you see the Kings trading Fox? If so, do you think the Spurs can make the strongest offer? Socham, K Johnson, and some 1st round draft picks? They have the Atlanta 1st round pick, which is extremely valuable.
Luke Adams
2:06
Those Hawks first-rounders don't look as valuable as they did a few months ago. I thought the Spurs would absolutely be looking at an Atlanta lottery pick in 2025, but that's no longer a sure thing, and if they keep trending in the right direction, the 2027 pick shouldn't be in the lottery either.

Having said that, the Spurs still have more than enough assets to make a strong offer for Fox. I don't see the Kings entertaining offers during the season, but the 2025 offseason might be an inflection point -- if Fox doesn't sign an extension at that point, the Kings probably have to consider moving him.
Hornets Fan
2:07
I feel the return on Richard's was inappropriate. Who else are the Hornets moving out closer to the trade deadline?
Luke Adams
2:09
Inappropriate? A few second-rounders and a de facto expiring contract seemed about right to me. Richards is a nice player, but he's a solid backup or a below-average starter and he's only under contract for one more season.

This is an aside, but I liked the inclusion of the 2025 Nuggets second-round pick in the deal. The Hornets control their own second-rounder as well as the Pelicans' pick, so they'll already have two high second-rounders -- they didn't need a third. But it's more useful to a Suns team that will be able to draft a player and sign him to a rookie-minimum deal to create tax savings, like they did with Ighodaro this year.
2:11
As for potential Hornets trade candidates, Cody Martin seems like an obvious one to me. Okogie could be too, though his cap hit is a little high for him to have much value. Not sure how the Hornets feel about Josh Green and Tre Mann, but they'd be interesting to some teams. Would be nice to get off Grant Williams' contract, but Charlotte's in no rush, so it probably makes sense to wait until he's healthy again and would hold more appeal.
Guest
2:11
Any possible Nurkic trades that you have caught wind of?
Luke Adams
2:12
Now that the Suns have traded away their second-rounders, they probably have to attach their 2031 first-rounder to get anything of value back for Nurkic. But they likely won't give up that pick until they definitively know they won't be able to get Jimmy Butler. So I wouldn't expect action on the Nurkic front quite yet.
Jimmy Suckits
2:12
Is Jimmy really going to be suiting up again for the Heat...I'd be floored if he does. That is a terrible idea, for the cohesiveness on the group. He clearly doesn't want to be there, and I know Mickey is opposed to paying him to stay away from the team.
Luke Adams
2:14
It would surprise me too, but the two sides don't have another obvious path forward. There aren't any appealing trades out there for the Heat, and the NBA's player participation policy discourages teams from shutting down healthy stars. As weird as it would be to see Butler playing again for the Heat after all that's gone down, I don't have a good sense for what the alternative will be.
Cap Curious
2:14
Can you explain the no aggregating salaries? Does it mean you can only trade one player?  Or For example could you trade a 40 mil and a 5 mil for two 22 mil players?  (Over second apron of course)
Luke Adams
2:17
"Aggregating" means combining a player's salary with another player's salary in order to meet trade rules. Besides not being able to aggregate salaries, a second-apron team can't take back more than it sends out.

That means your example wouldn't be legal, since the incoming $44MM would exceed the outgoing $40MM player, who couldn't be aggregated with the $5MM player to make it work.

However, if a second-apron team were to acquire two $20MM players in exchange for a $40MM player and a $5MM player, that would be legal, since the incoming salary wouldn't exceed the $40MM player's, making the $5MM player extraneous -- he wouldn't be needed for the purposes of aggregation.
BLinn
2:17
A lot of teams with star players (Suns, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Sixers, Bucks) are pretty bad right now and will be worse next year without respective, massive overhauls. I think each of them should probably dump most of their oldest and best players (including Durant, Steph, Bron/AD, Jimmy/Bam, Embiid/PG, and Giannis/Dame/Middleton) for younger players and picks. Few if any will do so, and will instead try to improve in the margins. Do you agree? Will anyone I listed change teams in the next few weeks?
Luke Adams
2:22
I do think there are paths forward for most of those teams with their current stars, but those paths will be more difficult for some teams to traverse than others (I don't love the Suns' situation, for instance, but don't necessarily hate where the Lakers are).

I wouldn't expect any of those players, with the exception of Butler, to hit the trade market in the coming weeks, though there's an argument to be made that a team daring enough to take that route could maximize its return by pivoting to selling before the others do.
Capitol Tankers
2:22
Can the wiz get a first for any of their vets?
Luke Adams
2:23
Definitely don't see it for Brogdon, Valanciunas, or Poole. Kuzma, maybe, but his value has dipped since last season -- it might not be the right time to trade him.
Cheap thrills
2:24
With contending teams putting such a priority on cap savings (mostly to avoid second apron) + facing new trade rule restrictions, which players will be valued more than people expect due to their cheap contracts? Eg Nick Richards this week, all the talks around Kessler, Herb Jones possibly having star-level value, etc
Luke Adams
2:28
Any decent player early in a rookie scale contract will have more value than ever, which is why I wouldn't expect the Kings to even entertain the idea of including someone like Devin Carter in a package for Cameron Johnson.

As for veterans, I'm scrolling through teams now and the names that catch my eye are the solid role players who are locked into three- or four-year deals below the mid-level exception. TJ McConnell, Caleb Martin, that sort of guy. The Knicks' McBride deal looks awesome now too, though I can't imagine them moving off of that one, given how expensive the rest of their roster is.
Dominic
2:28
Will the kings be aggressive before the deadline?
Luke Adams
2:29
I think so. They badly want to make the playoffs and convince Fox to sign long-term. Would be a little surprised if Huerter and Lyles are still on the roster beyond the deadline -- they'll be shopping those two guys with draft assets attached.
Jevs
2:29
@blinn- if any of those teams get into the playoffs, they have a shot and I think that’s what matters to them!
Luke Adams
2:31
This is also true, in response to the earlier comment about underachieving teams with aging stars. The playoffs can be something of a crap-shoot, with injuries and matchups playing huge roles. Pretty much every year recently we've gotten at least one team in the conference finals that came out of nowhere and benefited from some luck.
Edwill
2:31
which team in the west do you think can be the biggest threat to the thunder
Luke Adams
2:33
Rockets, Grizzlies and Nuggets would all be very interesting with one more move. Memphis and Houston are better positioned than Denver to make that move, but the Nuggets have the playoff/championship experience edge. A healthy Dallas team would be intriguing (the Mavs did beat OKC in last year's playoffs).

If the season ended today and I had to pick a team besides the Thunder in the West, I'd probably take Denver, though I wouldn't feel great about it.
HoopsHead
2:33
What are the chances the Timberwolves move Julius? Would either the wolve or the jazz swap Julius for John Collins? Would there need to be a sweetener in there?
Luke Adams
2:35
Don't think that sort of deal would appeal much to the Jazz, who would have no real use for Randle. I actually don't hate the idea of Collins on Minnesota's roster, but can't see the Wolves offering Randle + more assets for him.
2:36
Feels like the Wolves are more likely to do something with Randle in the offseason rather than making another major change to their roster already.
Cam
2:36
A difficult part of assessing the Rockets future plans is deciding who Jalen Green really is. Feel like he has tricked ppl into thinking he’s breaking out a few times. Hypothetically, if this run he’s on continues thru out the season, do you think he’s their guy or part of a deal for Fox or Booker in the offseason? If so, what kinda deal would be realistic for either player?
Luke Adams
2:40
If he continues playing at this level, Green's probably a keeper. But the playoffs will be a big test too -- playing on that sort of stage should give the Rockets a much better idea of what they need and which players they can trust.

If we assume Green plays pretty well the rest of the way, but doesn't deliver on his star potential, it probably takes him + a couple first-round picks to get the Kings' attention on Fox. I would've said a couple months ago that the asking price for Booker would be even higher, but he's been weirdly mediocre this season, so that's TBD.
Las Vegasan
2:40
Warriors are valued at a billion dollars -because- of Curry. Therefore, he will retire a 1-teamer. Please stop acting like they would ever trade him. Makes no sense on any level.
Luke Adams
2:43
I understand in theory the idea of trading him while he's still playing at an All-Star level to set up the franchise for life without him, rather than watching him slowly decline and eventually retire. But no NBA team is going to trade a franchise icon of his caliber unless he wants it. Same goes for LeBron with the Lakers.
Mark
2:43
Do you see the bucks trading Connaughton? They might have to move their 2031 first to do it though.
Luke Adams
2:44
Only really makes sense to trade Connaughton if they have a bigger move in mind, since getting off his contract would take them below the second apron.

I do think they could move Connaughton without including the first-rounder, but it would likely take multiple second-rounders and cash.
Keith
2:45
Who do you think Butler will be traded to? Will the Heat bend and accept Beal and the 2031 1st for Butler?
Luke Adams
2:46
In my opinion, it's more likely Butler will be on the Heat's roster on Feb. 7 than Beal. I can't see the Heat agreeing to acquire him. Even if he were willing to give up his no-trade clause for the rest of his contract (he's reportedly not open to that idea), the Heat would want more than just a single first-rounder to take on that contract.
Captain Cav-Man
2:47
If you were the Cleveland Cavaliers would you stand pat or would you try to upgrade and risk hurting the team chemistry? What would a realistic target be?
Luke Adams
2:49
I wouldn't do anything significant if I were running the Cavs. This team, as constructed, deserves a shot to show what they can do in the playoffs, given how well they've played so far this season. If it turns out they're not good enough, you can make tweaks in the offseason without altering the core.
Dayton
2:49
How aggressive will my Magic be? They need a shot creating guard, and basically ANYONE who can shoot. Do they take a huge swing at a Fox, a big swing at a Johnson/Simons type, or just do something minor?
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