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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/23/2025
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Luke Adams
2:01
Thanks for the early questions today, guys! Just two weeks away from the trade deadline, so lots to get to. We'll start diving in momentarily...
Chris
2:01
Why did Utah help out a cash strapped rival club like Phoenix? This is professional sports right? Teams shouldn't be helping others out of their miserable decision making in any professional sports.
Luke Adams
2:03
By nature, making a trade with another team involves "helping" them or giving them something they're looking for. The best trades are wins for both teams, and Utah clearly feels that its trade with the Suns is in its own best interest.

I also suspect the Jazz believe that by the time they're ready to contend, Phoenix won't be.
Heber Costa
2:03
Hey, guys. What teams can be prevented from acquiring Cam Johnson because of his Unlikely Incentives counting towards the apron? Is this a real problem or is just a matter of sending more money out?
Luke Adams
2:05
Johnson's "apron salary" is $4.5MM higher than his "cap salary," and the Nets are only below the tax by about $700K. That means Brooklyn won't be inclined to take back more salary than it sends out in most Johnson trades, making those incentives an issue for some teams who are right up against hard caps (or who would be, if they traded for Johnson). He'd be a tricky get for teams like the Lakers, Warriors, etc. Most of them could figure it out if they wanted him bad enough -- just might require a third team.
Guest
2:06
In hindsight, do you think Spurs would have entertained some sort of package for the 4th pick in the 2024 NBA draft w/ Pels for Herbert Jones?  Seems like w/ lack of shooting, Herb would be a better match for Spurs (Jones shoots better), while Castle would have given Pels more option at the guard position in view of salary cap issues.
Luke Adams
2:07
I don't think the Pels would've gone for it. Jones is on a great contract and was coming off an All-Defensive First Team season in which he hit 41.8% of his threes, while the 2024 draft was considered full of question marks. Throw in the fact that the Pelicans were eager to contend and I just don't think adding a rookie like Castle would've appealed that much to them.
Unclemike
2:07
With Jimmy Butler being his usual self and Zach LaVine being a perfect teammate why is the focus mainly on trading for Butler who is pouting because he wants a Max extension? I would think the more attractive trade piece would be LaVine because he's only signed for 2 more years? What do you think?
Luke Adams
2:09
Butler has a more extensive history of being an impact player in the postseason, and his contract situation is more appealing (unless a guy is a perennial MVP candidate, teams generally don't like being locked into $50MM-per-year contracts for too many years). But LaVine's play and attitude so far this season have definitely improved his trade value. He's definitely a more attractive asset than Beal right now, for instance.
Suncoaster
2:09
Lots of talk about Bucks and others looking at Beal but why would anyone want Beal over someone like Lavine unless Beal comes with multiple picks?
Luke Adams
2:10
On that subject.... Yeah, no one's taking Beal without at least one first-rounder and probably more than that, given that none of the Suns' tradable picks is a good bet to land higher than No. 20 or so. Conversely, I think there will be teams interesting in taking on LaVine just for matching salaries, without getting assets along with him.
Jerry Krause
2:11
Are the Bulls really going not fire sale the team again this year? We've been stuck in subpar mediocrity forever.
GN
2:11
Is this trade deadline different for the Bulls and if so, will they make trades a la Patrick Williams to start the reset?
Luke Adams
2:12
I wouldn't be so quick to assume it'll be a quiet deadline in Chicago -- still two weeks to go, and in most years, the majority of in-season deals are completed in the final couple days leading up to the deadline.

I'm not sure the Bulls will be in a good spot to trade Williams this year (he's a negative asset right now), but this might be the best chance they have to trade LaVine and Vucevic. Both guys have been awesome this year.
NorCal Idiot
2:13
What does it take for the Warriors to get Vucevic? Is Myles Turner really a possible target?
Luke Adams
2:15
I thought at the start of the season that there was no chance the Bulls would get a first-round pick for Vucevic. I'm less certain of that now -- I could see it happening if it's relatively heavily protected (ie. no chance of becoming a lottery pick). A lottery-protected first-rounder plus a couple expiring contracts like Schröder and Looney would be a good return for Chicago. Golden State would probably argue that Schröder and Looney are solid players on their own and wouldn't warrant more than a couple second-rounders attached to them.

As for Turner, I haven't heard any trade chatter about him. I'd be pretty surprised if the Pacers, who clearly look like one of the five best teams in the East, seriously consider moving him.
Delete me
2:15
Has Jimmy Butler played enough games to show he is healthy enough to contribute at a 50 million dollar level again?
Luke Adams
2:17
Health isn't really an immediate concern for him right now -- I don't think his half-hearted efforts in recent Heat games have been related to health.

Of course, given his injury history, the risk of a new issue popping up is a factor any team pursuing him will take into consideration, but it seems to me like he's healthy now.
Cowbell Kingdom
2:17
What would it take for the Kings to get Markkanen from the Jazz?
Luke Adams
2:18
Patience, for one -- Markkanen can't be traded this season due to the contract extension he signed in August that made him ineligible to be dealt for six months. He intentionally signed it on Aug. 7 so that he won't become trade-eligible until a day after the deadline.

Maybe once we get to the offseason Markkanen becomes a trade candidate again, but he's having a down year and is under contract for four more seasons beyond this one, so I'd be surprised if the Jazz are all that interested in selling low.
Nuglife
2:19
The nuggets aren't trading MPJ, they aren't going over the 2nd apron, and they only have a 2031 1st to work with that they probably won't use this deadline. Is it possible to move either Zeke or Saric + 1 of picket, cancar, hunter without taking salary back to get Bruce Brown on a buyout?
Luke Adams
2:21
Nnaji has serious negative value right now -- I'm sure they'd love to dump that contract, but if I recall correctly, they don't have any second-rounders left to move, and just cash isn't gonna do it, so they'd probably have to be prepared to give up a first-round pick swap or two to get off that deal. Not sure that's worth it just to be able to sign someone like Brown (who isn't even a lock to be available on the buyout market!).

If you're looking at packaging Saric and one of those other guys, maybe it's a little more realistic. But without second-round picks, it's tricky.
LeBron and AD
2:22
How can they be expecting Rob to make a huge trade? The Lakers don't have much to trade other than Reeves and that would be a huge mistake.
Luke Adams
2:23
I do think the Lakers' 2029 and 2031 first-round picks would have pretty significant value if they were willing to make them unprotected, but that would be a little reckless on Pelinka's part and I don't see anyone out there who makes sense as a target and would be a legitimate difference-maker for the Lakers.
Edwill
2:23
Do you see the magic making a trade deadline deal. They been really struggling lately.
Luke Adams
2:24
It's good news for them that Wagner's return seems imminent. They should have a couple weeks to get a look at their team with Banchero and Wagner both back to see how it looks.

They're in a pretty good spot, cap-wise, to make a deal at the deadline if they want to, but that front office hasn't been all that aggressive in recent years so I'd be a little surprised if they do anything big.
Wizards Fan
2:24
Is there really a chance Jordan Poole can be traded? What Wiz will be leaving the team by the trade deadline?
Luke Adams
2:27
I can't really see Poole being on the move unless maybe the Wizards somehow get involved in a bigger multi-team deal that sees them take back Beal or something. Even then, it's hard to envision.

Valanciunas and Brogdon are still the most likely trade candidates in DC. Maybe Bagley, Holmes, and Davis too, since they're on expiring or de facto expiring contracts, but none of them have any real trade value. Kuzma's the big question mark. He's under contract for two more years beyond this one so it might be in the Wizards' best interests to wait until he's not having a terrible season to move him -- they'll have plenty more chances.
Zac
2:27
It seems like there was alot of off season chatter about Jermi Grant that has quieted down. Do you think he will be moved at the deadline?
Luke Adams
2:29
His contract is almost in that exact same range as Poole's, and it's just become very hard to move those $30MM-per-year non-stars for real value. That may change in the coming years as the cap continues to rise, but it's difficult for now. Not out of the question he moves (I would've liked him as a Lakers target before they used D-Lo's expiring contract in another deal), but I think the offers will be less than what the Blazers are hoping for.
Guest
2:30
Which deadline team do you expect to most closely emulate the previous year's trade deadline Mavs?
Luke Adams
2:31
That's a good question. Memphis is the first team that comes to mind for me. They have a lot of tradable contracts and control all their own picks. They also have a ton of depth, so they're in position to make a consolidation trade without worrying about leaving themselves too short-handed.
TankingWarriors
2:31
Would could Kuminga reasonably return at the deadline? Could he get McCain and few of the 6ers 1sts or does that sound too rich?
Luke Adams
2:32
Too rich. Not sure the Sixers even trade McCain for Kuminga straight up right now, given where they are in their rookie contracts. Philadelphia will be paying McCain $15MM for the next three seasons after this one. Kuminga might cost $100MM+ during that same time frame, which will limit his value to some extent (or at least limit his suitors to teams in better position to pay him).
Unclemike
2:33
Lets face it the League's trade policy is completely broken. How do they fix it? Thanks
Luke Adams
2:35
If you're referring to the current CBA rules that make it more challenging for certain teams to make trades, I disagree. I think it SHOULD be challenging for a team like the Suns, who are operating nearly $50MM above the luxury tax line, to make trades.

Also, the current rules make it easier than ever for non-apron teams to make deals, and I think more teams will be able to take advantage of that in future seasons. 2024/25 is an unusual year because the cap only increased by about 3.4% -- that increase should be 10% for the next few years, which will give teams more room to operate and result in fewer apron teams.
BLinn
2:35
Since we're around halfway through the season, would you care to revisit your first-week-of-the-season picks for the individual hardware? Thanks.
Luke Adams
2:38
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC is running away with a tough conference and the on/off-court splits for SGA are insane -- they're outscoring teams by nearly 19 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor and getting outscored when he's not)
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Rookie of the Year: Jaylen Wells
Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson

Need to do more research on MIP and Sixth Man to see who the best candidates are (and who's eligible for Sixth Man), but off the top of my head I like Norm Powell for Most Improved and De'Andre Hunter for Sixth Man.
Justin
2:38
Hornets going to unload Martin, micic, okogie?
Luke Adams
2:39
Would be surprised if they're all on the roster after the deadline, but Micic doesn't have much value and I think it'll hard to get much for Okogie either, unless they take back multiyear money. To me, Martin is the most valuable of the three and the most likely to warrant a couple second-round picks.
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