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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/15/2022
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Luke Adams
12:16
Apologies for the late start today, guys, but I'll be getting to as many questions as I can over the next 45 minutes
Jalen Smith
12:17
Do you think Jalen Smith's next contact will exceed the third-year option of $4.67MM  that the Suns declined and price himself out of Indiana? Hard to gauge his value. He'a looked pretty good in the few games he's gotten minutes.
Luke Adams
12:19
It's pretty rare for that to happen and I think Smith would have to play at pretty high level consistently the rest of the way to get more than that amount this offseason. There are a lot of pretty solid role players with better track records who didn't get more than about $4-5MM per year in free agency last summer.
Harden
12:19
Since I technically didn't pick up my player option after saying I would, should that make fans nervous? Will I suddenly bail after the season?
Luke Adams
12:21
Technically, it was Shams that said you would -- you never made any guarantees yourself! (Though you did say in today's press conference that you still plan to pick up that option). Honestly, if I were a Sixers fan, I might be more worried about what the back half of a five-year, $270MM deal will look like.
Todd
12:21
Where will Dragic land?
Luke Adams
12:22
I was sort of assuming in the weeks leading up to the deadline that Dallas would be his eventual destination so I have to reassess his situation now. I do think the Bucks could be a good bet. They can offer a good combination of regular minutes + title contention.
Jonesy
12:23
Do you think Ben Simmons will actually play on March 10th? Or will he find a way to sit out?
Luke Adams
12:24
I'd be a little surprised if he plays in that game, but I suppose he'll have to play in Philadelphia eventually and it'd be better to do it in March than in front of an amped-up playoff crowd in May. I certainly won't envy him whenever it happens.
JDJS
12:24
Do the Suns make a move on the buyout market?
Luke Adams
12:26
It's possible, but I get the sense that they made their roster tweaks at the deadline, bringing in Holiday and Craig. They may be set with the current group.
Doughnut in the Middle
12:26
Why don't the Warriors use one of their 2-Way Contracts on a GLeague big man?  Wouldn't a player like Freddie Gillespie help out more than keeping 2 more Guards stashed down in Santa Cruz ( Chiozza and Weatherspoon ).  I don't understand the logic of holding onto those two when the Big League squad is losing games and getting Pummeled in the paint.  Wiseman and Draymond are not returing any time soon so why not look into this route?  We won't have to Cut a player off of the 15-Man roster with this route.
Luke Adams
12:28
I've generally been against the idea of the Warriors signing another NBA big man to the standard roster, since I think they'll be fine as long as Green is healthy (and if he's not, picking up a veteran C off the street won't help much). But sure, a two-way flier on a G League big man would make sense if there were someone they could trust to play NBA minutes. Maybe they don't think that guy is out there, but it's worth a shot. Like you say, it's not like the current two-way players are indispensable.
MVP
12:28
It's gotta be Embiid right? People keep talking about Jokic like he's underrated, but Embiid deserves this this year.
Luke Adams
12:31
I haven't taken a close look at all the candidates' numbers for at least 2-3 weeks, but it feels to me like there are still a handful of guys who could legitimately win it, including the two you mentioned. I suspect the narrative of the next couple months will have a lot to do with it -- Embiid would probably run away with it if he stays healthy and leads the Sixers to the top seed in the East, whereas if he and Harden struggle to develop chemistry at first and the Sixers finish 4th or 5th, the door will be open for someone else.
McNair
12:32
What's next for the Kings? Maybe they make the play in tournament, but what's after that? What do they do in the offseason?
Luke Adams
12:33
I don't see Richaun Holmes being there long-term with Sabonis in the mix, but he's still on a pretty team-friendly contract. Maybe they can move him for more shooting/defense? They'll need both to complement Fox and Sabonis.
Sean
12:33
Do you think any NBA draft and stash candidates from 2020 and 2021 drafts or foreign players like Gabriel Deck will fill any of the remaining slots that teams need to fill out there rosters with?
Luke Adams
12:35
It didn't exactly work out well for Deck or Luca Vildoza last year. I suspect both sides (NBA teams and European players looking to make the leap to the NBA) will be wary about doing it again. Offseason deals give those guys a better chance at acclimating to a new team.
If there are late-season signings from Europe/Asia, I expect them to be players who already have some NBA experience, like maybe Marc Gasol.
Guest
12:35
Are you surprised Harris or Ross didn't get moved? If Harris could have netted a 2nd rounder, isn't that more valuable than his locker room presence?
Luke Adams
12:38
I was a little surprised, yeah. With Ross, you could at least argue that he'll have more value in the offseason or at next year's deadline, especially if he starts shooting a little better. With Harris, his salary might have just made it too tricky to find a good deal. I would've thought a team like the Cavs or Raptors would've been willing to send out its big expiring contract (Rubio, Dragic) with a second-round pick for Harris, but I suppose Cleveland and Toronto preferred the deals they got.
Sean Elliot
12:38
What are your thoughts on the reports that the Pelicans may not have performed physicals on C.J. McCollum and Larry Nance Jr.?  Was their medical staff too busy keeping Zion in tip-top condition?
Luke Adams
12:41
It was a little odd, but it seems like maybe the Blazers pushed for those terms in order to flip the players they got in that deal in other trades before the deadline. I actually wonder if the Pelicans got a better deal for their willingness to waive the physicals -- sort of like waiving an inspection when you're trying to buy a house.
For what it's worth, it seems like McCollum's healthy, and I'm sure the Pelicans knew what they were getting into with Nance, who hadn't played for a month.
Jojo
12:41
What teams do you like now that the deadline has passed? Any teams' stock rise or fall for you?
Luke Adams
12:43
I'm intrigued by what the Celtics look like with White in their backcourt. Obviously, the Sixers' stock is up, since Simmons wasn't playing -- they essentially just replaced Curry and Drummond with Harden and Millsap, which is a pretty clear immediate upgrade. The Pelicans are also really interesting if they get Zion back. Who knows if that'll actually happen anytime soon, but the play-in field in the West looks kinda weak. A 9 or 10 seed could realistically grab a playoff spot.
Sankara
12:44
How will Miles Bridges free agency play out? Will Detroit or someone else offer him the max? Would Charlotte match a max offer for him?
Luke Adams
12:46
In years like this one, when so few teams project to have cap room, it'll come down to whether one of those under-the-cap teams makes Bridges its top target. If so, a max deal isn't out of the question. If not, the Hornets should bring him back at a more reasonable price (maybe something like four years, $90-100MM). It'll be interesting to monitor -- if I recall correctly, it's been a few years since any RFAs signed offer sheets worth anything close to the max. With Bridges and Ayton out there this summer, maybe we see that this year.
Doc
12:47
What do Sixers do for backup center? Is Millsap the answer or will they get another guy? They have an open roster spot to sign someone.
Luke Adams
12:48
I imagine they'll see how much Millsap has left in the tank before making any other moves. Even if he looks OK, they'll probably want someone with a little more size. Robin Lopez would be an ideal target, but there hasn't really been any buzz yet about the Magic buying out guys like him and Gary Harris. They might stay put.
Buss
12:49
If Lakers make the play in, do you see them making a run in the playoffs assuming everyone is healthy? LeBron, AD and Russ are still tough to play against and they really turn it on come playoff time.
Luke Adams
12:50
Never say never, but I think I've learned my lesson after spending most of last season thinking that teams like the Lakers, Heat, and Celtics would turn it on when it counted, then watching them get quickly eliminated in the postseason. I wouldn't count on the Lakers getting out of the first round, especially if they have to face a really good team like Phoenix or Golden State.
Connor⚾️
12:50
Hornets expectations??
Luke Adams
12:51
Think it's gonna be very tough for them to sneak into the playoffs this year. I like their roster, but there are eight teams in the East that just look better than them.
Lue
12:51
Are the Clippers more or less hamstrung when it comes to offseason moves? They have a hell of a roster if George and Leonard are healthy, so they don't necessarily need to make changes.
Luke Adams
12:53
They're hamstrung from a cap perspective, but they'll have some flexibility on the trade market. I have a hard time picturing Powell, Morris, Kennard, and Covington all still being on the roster next season, so maybe they can get something worthwhile back in a deal involving one of them (Covington will be a free agent, but a sign-and-trade is a possibility if they don't bring him back).
Walleye Wade
12:53
Who's out there for MN to pick up at C/PF to help with rim protection/rebounds???   They say they wont do anything til March for tax hit reasns???
Luke Adams
12:54
We'll see who else shakes loose on the buyout market in the next couple weeks, but here are the free agents who are currently available: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2019/08/2021-nba-free-agents.html
12:55
I can't say there are many exciting options there. Most of the ones who would fit best (Cody Zeller, Aron Baynes, etc.) are injured. I wouldn't mind seeing the Wolves give Norvel Pelle a shot on a 10-day deal.
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