You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/27/2025
powered byJotCast
Luke Adams
2:00
Thanks for all your questions so far, guys. Keep 'em coming and I'll get to as many as I can over the next hour.
KJ
2:01
Do you see anyone in the buyout market that will actually make an impact on aplayoff team this year
Luke Adams
2:03
The buyout market has been really weak this year. Of the players who have been bought out/waived so far, the only one I can really envision playing postseason minutes is Ben Simmons.

We still have a couple more days for guys to shake loose, so maybe we'll get an interesting/unexpected last-minute buyout request from a Bruce Brown or Malcolm Brogdon type to shake things up a little.
CP3
2:03
Is it possible that I ask for a buyout now that wimby is going to be out for the rest of the season
Luke Adams
2:05
This would be an interesting last-minute addition to the buyout market. It makes a lot more sense than it did a month ago now that De'Aaron Fox is a Spur and the team has fallen out of the play-in race. I haven't seen any indications that it will happen (and maybe CP3 won't feel inclined to bail on the Spurs during what has been a challenging season), but it wouldn't shock me if it did.
Hinkies to blame
2:05
Of the Big 3 in Philly, which is the most realistic to be on the move this off season or is this just a 51 year sixers fans unrealistic pipe dream?
Luke Adams
2:07
I wouldn't count on any of them being moved. Maxey is clearly a keeper and it probably doesn't make sense to sell low on Embiid or George.

If I had to pick which one of the three is most likely to be moved, it'd be George. But I just can't imagine them getting much of value for him after how this season has gone.
Mark / L
2:07
What's the likelihood that if Nico would've offered luka less than max this summer ( like 60-62/ yr instead of nearly 70 ) ... that doncic and his agent would've been offended at that, on principle - and created a 'tumultuous' summer, as harrison alluded to ?
Luke Adams
2:10
If Nico and the Mavs really didn't believe in Luka, they probably wouldn't have wanted to lock themselves into that super-max (which comes with a one-year trade restriction), so I could definitely see them offering below that if Luka had still been a Maverick. And I could definitely imagine the situation quickly going south in that scenario, since 29 other teams probably would've been willing to do the full super-max.

So I guess my answer is that the odds were good. But, as I saw another writer (can't remember who) point out recently, the Mavs avoided a possible tumultuous summer by creating a tumultuous present instead, so it's hard to give Nico credit for that one.
Rockets GM
2:10
So unfortunately I'm getting to the point where I got to start paying my young talent so if you were me who on the roster will probably not be part of the main core going forward
Luke Adams
2:13
Jabari Smith and Tari Eason are both up for rookie scale extension this offseason and I'll be very curious to see how those talks go. Given Eason's injury history and Smith's relatively modest offensive contributions, I think there could be a window for the Rockets to lock up both players to somewhat team-friendly terms.

In terms of which of their young players are keepers and which aren't... I think Sengun and Thompson are at the top of the list, with Smith, and Eason in the next tier, Whitmore further down, and Sheppard a TBD. I'm also still not entirely sure about Green -- how he looks in this year's playoffs could provide some clarity on his place in the long-term plans.
Kevin D
2:14
So which team will I be playing for in the 2025-2026 season?  My guess would be Houston because they could offer green and a pick or something along those lines
Luke Adams
2:18
It really doesn't seem like the Rockets have all that much interest in using any of their assets to acquire an aging star who will only make a short-term impact, so I'm not sure about Houston as a Durant landing spot. But I also don't have a great alternative suggestions, since a lot of the teams rumored to have interest aren't all that well positioned to actually make a deal (Minnesota, Dallas, etc.).

I can't stop thinking about the OKC scenario, not only for the potential narrative (KD returning to the Thunder to lead them to their first title in OKC) but because they're one team that has the matching salary on hand and enough assets to make a deal happen and still be well positioned to remain competitive post-Durant.
Guest
2:18
With G-League players getting bought out to go overseas, does the original G-League team hold their rights if bought out? Last season, I saw Devon Dotson of the Go-Go get bought out, but his rights were traded last fall to the Raptors 905 for Mouhamadou Gueye so wasn’t fully sure. If the player is waived, I’m assuming the team doesn’t hold their rights anymore? Like what’s the difference between a buy out vs being waived?
Luke Adams
2:20
I don't know the exact rule off hand, but my guess is it has something to do with G League players signing contracts directly with the league. If a team waives a player, it's the team making the decision to part with him, but maybe in buyout scenarios the overseas team is negotiating more with the league and the team isn't as directly involved, which is why they'd get to hang onto the player's rights.
Joe
2:21
How badly do I try to lure Giannis to the W's?  And what would that take?  Butler as a Buck?
Luke Adams
2:24
If Giannis were to become available this offseason, I'd imagine Butler would be the necessary trade chip for any Warriors offer. Aggregating smaller salaries (including Draymond) would be possible, but it'd hard-cap them and it would probably be impractical for them to stay below the second apron with Curry, Butler, and Giannis on their books for $168MM.

I will say I think there will be other teams better positioned than the Warriors to make a run at Giannis if he were to be placed on the trade block this summer.
Guest
2:24
Did the Knicks make a mistake by trading SIms at the deadline? They could probably use him now with Hukporti out and Robinson still a question mark
Luke Adams
2:26
If the Knicks were going to have to rely on someone like Sims or Hukporti to play meaningful minutes in the playoffs, they probably weren't getting past the second round anyway, so I don't think it's that big a deal. But that Sims/Wright swap was a bit of an odd one, given that the Knicks haven't really used Wright at all. It seems like the primary motivator was the $2MM in cash they got from the Bucks.
KJ
2:26
With wemby out and a good chance the Spurs missed the playoffs and Atlanta misses the playoffs potentially though unlikely the Spurs could get let's say one and three in the draft.  If the basketball gods are kind and you get pics of one and three who are you choosing or are you trading down for immediate help since you already got wimby and fox
Luke Adams
2:27
That would go beyond the basketball gods being "kind" and basically confirm that they're Spurs fans. But OK, based on that premise... I'd probably use the top pick on Flagg (who would be a great fit alongside Wemby and Fox) and see what I could get on the trade market for No. 3.
Julius R
2:28
It's pretty obvious Minnesota is not going to be my cup of tea. So what would be the best strategic move should I say one more year and then go into free agency in 26 with more teens with cap room or should I just take a mid level for one year or should I hope that Brooklyn will give me a short-term  lucrative two year deal
Luke Adams
2:30
We'll see how the final few weeks of the season and the playoffs go for you, but picking up your $31MM player option for next season looks like it's probably the safe bet. I wouldn't be surprised if the Wolves end up trading you if you go that route, in which case maybe you'll end up on a team that wants to extend you. If not, you can take your chances in 2026 free agency.
TraeYoung Fan Club
2:31
Will the Hawks sign me to a max extension this off-season?Or, will they trade me?
KJ
2:31
Who is the next star that will get traded and or ask to be traded?  Not counting Kevin Durant.  I would guess Trey Young.  I have no idea what Atlanta is trying to do right now
Luke Adams
2:35
A couple related questions here about a subplot that I think has flown under the radar a bit. The Hawks don't control their own first-round picks in 2025, 2026, or 2027, so tanking isn't a practical route, but based on their current roster and assets, it's hard to see them being more than a middle-of-the-pack playoff team for the next couple years.

I wonder if the question is less "What will the Hawks do with Young?" and more "What will Young decide he wants?" I could imagine a scenario in which he seeks a trade to a team closer to contention. If he decides he wants to stay in Atlanta, the Hawks will have to decide whether to offer him another max extension. Given his liabilities on defense, it wouldn't shock me if they're reluctant to do so.
Arturas
2:35
i HAVE to trade Coby and Ayo after this season, their contracts aren’t expensive enough to extend and i cannot lose my only assets for nothing correct? Matas needs to be the only concern
Luke Adams
2:38
For what it's worth, when a player is earning below the league average like both White and Ayo are, they can be extended for up to 140% of the league average. That was the deal Caruso got from OKC earlier this season -- four years, $81MM. It'll be a little higher than that next year. Something in that range should be enough to lock up Ayo. If White wants more, which seems likely, maybe he's the logical trade candidate.
Guest
2:38
Will the Rockets make it out the 1st round of playoffs
Luke Adams
2:40
I think earning a guaranteed (top-six) playoff spot and having a competitive first-round series would be a great outcome for Houston this season. It's not out of the question that they win a series, but looking at the current top 8-9 in the West, there aren't many teams I'd confidently pick them to beat in a seven-game series.

Relatedly, the Western Conference playoffs should be pretty fun. The Luka/LeBron Lakers, Butler/Curry Warriors, and AD/Kyrie Mavs are all sort of more interesting now than they were before the trade deadline. It'll be interesting to see what young teams like the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Rockets can do. And the Nuggets and Timberwolves have shown in the last couple years that they're capable of deep runs. Even the Clippers are an intriguing wild card if Kawhi is back to 100%.
HeatBaby!!
2:41
Do you think the Heat can start to gel better?  I mean, I know its early, but, its looking like Jimmy Buckets trade is looking pretty one sided right now.  Even though Wiggins is starting to find his footing and they looked good against ATL.
Luke Adams
2:44
I didn't mind their return in the Butler trade and thought they'd be a bit better than they've been over the past few weeks. Terry Rozier's poor play this season has really hurt them. As good as Tyler Herro has been, he's not really a natural facilitator or play-maker, so to have him being the only backcourt player really filling that role isn't ideal.
Insert Witty Name Here
2:44
About to do a job interview. Relatedly, if you were interviewing a head coach, what would be the most important questions you’d ask?
Luke Adams
2:46
I'd have to think about that more, but I think what I'd most want to discuss would be the candidate's specific plan for how to use my team's personnel on offense and defense. If he (or she) shows an in-depth knowledge of my players and has a really clear vision about how to use them, that would help win me over.

This answer, of course, will not help you at all at your job interview, but good luck anyway!
Tao~of~Hoop
2:47
Kevin Porter Jr. has shown some star upside in limited minutes with the Bucks.  Do you think he should start next to Dame?  He has the size- almost 6'6" at the combine and the requisite defensive tenacity.  Question if he can make enough open shots.  His 3fg% is ugly, although his open 3fg% in Houston was about 45%.  Thoughts?
Luke Adams
2:49
Not sure I love that fit. Porter has always struck me as more of a score-first guy, and with Dame, Giannis, and Kuzma on the first unit, the Bucks don't really need another one of those. If Porter is willing to just exert most of his energy on defense and defer to the stars on offense, maybe, but I think he makes more sense on the second unit, and I can understand why they're using a three-and-D guy like Prince who doesn't need the ball with the starters.
Arturas
2:50
i know he will be fine elsewhere but where can I dump Patrick this offseason? I can’t watch someone who has no interest in basketball anymore
Luke Adams
2:53
I wonder if the Bulls feel burned by the Lauri Markkanen experience, watching him turn into an All-Star after leaving Chicago, and are reluctant to risk making the same mistake with Williams. But frankly, Lauri's four years with the Bulls were much better than Williams' four-plus have been.

It'll be tough to move him for anything of value this offseason. At this point, your only hope is getting a similar unwanted contract that expires sooner (which is why the Nurkic/Williams that circulated ahead of the trade deadline made some sense).
KJ
2:53
So with the Luka trade and the possibility that Kyrie leave this summer, if he does leave is Nico right out the door with him or does he have some type of juice to stay in Dallas
Luke Adams
2:55
The Mavericks' owners wouldn't have let Nico pull the trigger on the Luka trade if they were prepared to fire him if it didn't pay off in the first four months. Would be shocked if he doesn't get at least the 2025/26 season to try to bring a title to Dallas.

I'd also be pretty surprised if Kyrie and the Mavericks don't work something out this offseason. There are no viable landing spots with cap room for Kyrie (he's not going back to Brooklyn, I know that much!) and he's actually in a very favorable situation in Dallas, with lots of talent around him. Plus, the Mavs can't afford to lose him, so they'll likely give him a very strong offer.
Load More Messages
Connecting…