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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 12/19/2024
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Luke Adams
2:01
Hey guys, sorry, running slightly late. We'll get underway in just a minute.
2:03
OK, all set. Appreciate all the early questions. Keep 'em coming!
I was never given a name
2:03
Most likely player to be traded?
Luke Adams
2:04
Lots of players who could conceivably fit this bill, but I'll go with Dorian Finney-Smith. The Schröder deal showed Brooklyn isn't going to hold out until the deadline trying to get maximum value for all their vets. I'd be shocked if Finney-Smith is still a Net on February 7.
Arod
2:04
Was this season a part of the process from escaping KATs contract? I'd imagine we expected to get to postseason and retool to contend again in 2025-26?
Luke Adams
2:07
I don't necessarily think the Wolves viewed Randle and DiVincenzo as an overall on-court downgrade on Towns (Randle obviously isn't the player KAT is, but DiVincenzo seemed capable of making up the difference if he played like he did last season). But I'm also skeptical that Randle is someone the Wolves consider a long-term piece, so yeah, there's an element of retooling going on here and that will be an ongoing process entering next season.

I will say that some of their other offseason losses (such as Kyle Anderson) have hurt more than advertised.
One tired Joker
2:07
I've seen rumors that the Nuggets are interested in Lavine.  Why would they trade a younger, healthier, cheaper MPJ for him?  I don't see how that makes the Nuggets better.
Luke Adams
2:10
Porter may be younger and cheaper (healthier is up for debate -- neither player has the cleanest history), but I'd argue LaVine is simply... better. The appeal of LaVine for Denver is that he wouldn't necessarily be a drop-off from MPJ as a shooter, but he would provide more in the way of play-making/shot creation to drive the offense. You can make a case he's a better defender too.

The Nuggets don't have the contracts or the assets to easily find upgrades on the trade market, so they'll have to get somewhat creative or take a risk if they hope to get something done. LaVine would definitely be a risk, but I can see the logic.
Guest
2:11
Why do you think NBA teams don’t trade for more two-way contracts? Even if it’s worth moving a second round pick, if guys like Scottie Pippen Jr. just need an opportunity and won’t with their parent team, if they go somewhere else, they could breakout, feels like a low risk, high reward move, any thoughts?
Luke Adams
2:13
I've wondered this in the past. It's just so simple to trade them -- no cap considerations and creating the roster spot is easy. I suppose it's easy for teams to get attached to players they've specifically targeted and spent time developing, even if there's not a clear short-term path for that player to see regular minutes.

I'll be curious to see if two-way players are on the move any more frequently in the new CBA, with standard trades becoming more challenging than ever. Who knows, maybe Beekman's inclusion in the GSW/Brooklyn trade this week will be the start of a trend.
Suns fan
2:13
Do you think it's possible for the suns to land Butler before the deadline? Or do you see them making another move?
Luke Adams
2:17
I just can't see how it would work with the Suns and Butler. By all accounts, the Heat have no interest in taking on Beal's contract (if they were willing to commit that sort of money over multiple years to a vet with an injury history, they would've just extended Butler!). And Phoenix obviously isn't trading Booker or Durant.

The only way it could work would be if you get a third team to take on Beal. But that team probably wouldn't be a contender, and he's got a no-trade clause, so he'd have no reason to sign off.

Stranger things have happened, but someone (the Heat, Beal, etc.) would have to make a major concession to make it happen and I don't know why they would.
David
2:17
What a more realistic scenario for the LA teams? Kawhi comes back and leads the Clips to a high conference seed, or the Lakers trade for a valuable role player and get out of the play-in?
Luke Adams
2:19
Neither scenario is impossible, though I'm not particularly bullish on either. Given Kawhi's injury history and how well the Lakers have played in the second halves of recent seasons, I'll reluctantly take the Lakers. They'll probably need to be willing to give up a first-round pick to acquire a player who could really make a difference though.
Baba Oriley
2:19
Do you see the Knicks trading Mitch Robinson later this year for bench depth?
Luke Adams
2:20
I'd lean toward keeping him if I were the Knicks. His value on the trade market won't be all that high coming off a lengthy injury absence. There's a scenario where getting Robinson back and maybe adding a healthy Landry Shamet could provide the Knicks without enough bench depth to get by.
Big Papi
2:21
Who is the biggest threat the C's repeat?
Luke Adams
2:23
The Knicks are still finding their footing, but if they hit their stride by the playoffs, I'm very curious to see how they'd match up with the Celtics in the playoffs. Having Bridges and Anunoby to guard the Celtics wings is really interesting. The Cavaliers also hold some intrigue if they're healthy.

But if I had to pick one team, I'd prrrrobably lean toward the Thunder. We still haven't seen them with both Holmgren and Hartenstein healthy, and they have more than enough assets to continue making upgrades at the trade deadline.
Guest
2:23
is it possible for the Lakers to acquire both Dejounte Murray and Myles Turner if they utilize all assets necessary other than LBJ and AD?
Luke Adams
2:27
Hmm. I don't think the Lakers will make all their positive assets (Reaves, Hachimura, two unprotected first-round picks, three unprotected first-round pick swaps, and five second-round picks) available this season, but if they did, you could potentially find a way to split them up into two packages for players of that caliber.

The issue is that even if you could theoretically put together "fair" trade offers for Murray and Turner using those assets, I expect New Orleans and Indiana to be pretty reluctant to move them. The Pelicans invested in Murray expecting him to be their long-term point guard and a bad first half probably won't change that. And the Pacers want to re-sign Turner beyond this season.
Daniel
2:27
Should the Mavericks try to bring back DFS in a trade or do they go after Larry Nance from the Hawks instead?  Or do they just stay pat and play their roster out?
Luke Adams
2:32
I don't love Nance as a fit for them. Feel like he's at his best as a small-ball five, which is why the Hawks haven't found much playing time for him this season behind Capela and Okongwu -- the Mavs may have a similar issue with Lively and Gafford.

Finney-Smith is intriguing though. You could get there with Kleber, 1-2 smaller contracts, and some draft compensation. The Mavs' tradable draft picks are pretty limited though, so they'll be careful about how they use their remaining assets.
EonADS
2:32
Could the Cavs manage to acquire Cam Johnson? Max Strus, Georges Niang, Jaylon Tyson, and the 2031 1st (Top 5 protected), for Johnson and DayRon Sharpe? Money works, and they'd get a quality roleplayer, a recent 1st rounder, and a future 1st. Plus Niang has some value, even if he's not great.
Luke Adams
2:39
I agree Niang has a little value on the court, but I think that guaranteed $8.2MM salary for next season will hurt his trade value. For that matter, the Nets may be reluctant to take on Strus' multiyear contract too.

It's an interesting idea. Definitely not outlandish, though I think the Nets would probably push to get more value for Johnson -- a return centered around a more promising young player would probably make more sense than a far-off draft pick.
Joe Mediocrity
2:39
Is it me or is the current NBA missing depth of talent? More teams than not are only so so at best. Not an exciting product. What do you think?
Luke Adams
2:43
Not sure I agree. The talent is a little more spread around than it has been in the past, but that's mostly by design (the CBA has made it harder than ever to build super-teams). And while it means there are fewer dominant teams, it feels to me like there are more above-average ones than usual, especially in the West. Of course, "less great teams, more good teams" isn't for everyone, so your mileage may vary.
Bulls Fan
2:43
Lavine for MPJ, does this make sense for either team?
Derek
2:43
MPJ for Lavine, smart trade or does it not help either team especially financially
Luke Adams
2:46
Lots of questions about the LaVine/MPJ rumor today. I discussed it a bit earlier from Denver's perspective, but I do see the logic from Chicago's side too.

Porter is less expensive and younger than LaVine. He's probably less likely to help them win games this season, which increases the odds of them keeping their top-10 protected pick. And taking on a contract like that is one of the only ways they'll be able to move LaVine and actually get something of value in return, rather than having to give up draft assets themselves (if the Bulls agree to take on Porter and Nnaji in a LaVine trade, they should be able to ask for at least one first-round pick swap).
Patty Riles
2:46
Odds that Jimmy actually gets moved? 50/50?
Luke Adams
2:50
I'd put the odds at a little less than that. Maybe between 30-40%. It'll be a challenge to find a deal that works for all parties (Miami, Butler, and at least one trade partner), and if Butler makes it through this season healthy, I don't think the Heat would necessarily be opposed to giving him another lucrative short-term deal.

That said, it's tough to forecast when there's so much smoke this early in the season. Sometimes a team will just totally shut down the rumors after a few weeks by deciding that they're keeping the player, so that it's not a distraction for months. But the longer Butler remains on the trade block, the more plausible a deadline deal becomes.
Kevin in Houston
2:51
What is the next big name to move teams?
Luke Adams
2:54
I consider a LaVine or Ingram trade to be more likely than a Butler one this season because I think Chicago and New Orleans will be more willing to accept a modest return than Miami would be. So I'll say one of those two guys -- let's go with LaVine, since we had a legitimate rumor about him this week, whereas we haven't heard much lately about teams that might make a play for Ingram.

Still lots of time before the deadline for a surprising new star-caliber trade candidate to emerge though (I don't expect Zion or either of the Lakers stars to be traded this year, but I also wouldn't feel overly comfortable betting my life savings on all of them finishing the season with their current teams).
Hoosierdaddy
2:54
Do you honestly think the bulls will be able to move on from Zach or vooch?
Luke Adams
2:57
As long as their expectations are realistic, yes. I'm skeptical they'll get a first-rounder for Vucevic unless they take back some really bad salary -- but they could absolutely get second-rounders.
2:59
Thanks for all your questions today, guys. We'll be taking a week off from our chats next week for the holidays, but we'll be back the following Tues/Thurs, with Arthur's Front Office subscriber chat on the 31st and my chat on Jan. 2.

Enjoy the holidays!
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