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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/8/2022
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Luke Adams
12:00
Welcome, everyone! Hoping no big deals go down in the next hour so I can complete this chat in peace.
Chris
12:01
Why would a team with no chance at a championship (Pelicans) give up so many picks for a guy who's been hurt and on the wrong side of 30. Those picks should be used around there young core. If anything they needed some help on the defensive side if the ball. Upper management should be canned!
Luke Adams
12:03
I do think David Griffin feels some urgency to make the playoffs to save his job. But the draft-pick cost of the McCollum trade isn't too bad. Only one first-rounder, and it likely won't end up being too high (it'd be No. 9 if the season ended today, but you have to figure the new-look Pelicans will be better going forward than they have been so far).
12:04
Weirdly, I wonder if it might actually be a best-case scenario for the Pelicans to narrowly miss the playoffs this season before reloading in the offseason. If they make the playoffs, they send this year's pick to the Hornets, then still owe Portland a future pick. Might be better to send, say, the No. 13 pick to the Blazers and be done with that commitment, as well as the commitment to Charlotte (the Pels would send Charlotte two second-rounders if the Hornets don't get this year's first-rounder).
Murph Daddy
12:04
I know Boucher is a free agent, but he gives the raptors so much in so many different ways. Any chance raps can land a guard or impactful centre without moving any main roster pieces?
Luke Adams
12:06
Earlier in the season, I thought Boucher was a prime trade candidate, but I've changed my mind on that -- he's one of the few guys on that roster that Nick Nurse seems to trust to play regular minutes.
I expect Boucher, OG, Siakam, VanVleet, Barnes, and Trent to stay put, with the Raptors seeing what Dragic's expiring contract + draft picks and/or a prospect can get them. They don't need a home-run move -- just someone who can play a rotation role and take some pressure off the overworked starting lineup.
Jaro
12:07
Would a Randle for Russell framework make any sense? Haven't heard anything about it, but Twolves need PF and Knicks need PG.
Luke Adams
12:07
Don't see the Wolves being interested in that. If they were to move Russell for a PF, they'd want someone they could trust on both ends of the court. A Randle/Towns frontcourt isn't good enough defensively.
Dave
12:07
Thoughts on Portland and who did you think gets cut?
Luke Adams
12:08
Zeller seems like the obvious release candidate if they don't line up another trade to clear room on the roster. He's on a minimum deal and may not be back this season anyway after his knee surgery.
Bulljive
12:08
Anything new on the Thunder? They have alot of space to absorb and gain more 1st rounders!
Luke Adams
12:10
Portland's moves take one potential salary-dumper off the table for OKC, but I think they'll still have plenty of options. I'm curious to see if teams like the Knicks or Wizards feel enough urgency to get off multiyear contracts that they'd be willing to give up assets to do it.
Ethan
12:11
It seems there are a number of teams interested in Jacob Poeltl.  What do you think the cost is for a team like Charlotte to acquire him?  Do the Spurs have any incentive to trade him while he's on such a good contract?
Luke Adams
12:12
Poeltl's under contract for next season too, so there's certainly no rush for the Spurs to make a move, even if they're not necessarily committed to him beyond that. I suspect they'd only trade him for a really strong package -- two first-round picks, or a first-rounder and a solid young player, like PJ Washington.
Guest
12:12
Do you hope a lot on Wednesday and on Thursday a lot more with lot coming in after the buzzer and full details not announced yet?
Luke Adams
12:13
I mean, I'd prefer the rest of this week's trades to be reported in a timely fashion, with all the details coming out right away. Makes things easier on those of us trying to write about them! (But if we get more mayhem, I'll cope.)
Styles
12:13
When the Bol Bol trade got voided did the pistons get there second round pick back?
Luke Adams
12:13
Yes, it's like that trade agreement never happened.
Morey
12:14
Would you include Thybulle in a deal for Harden right now if you were me? Say Simmons, Thybulle, Milton and a first rounder if that could do it?
Luke Adams
12:15
I don't value Thybulle as highly as some people (like the Sixers) do, since I'm skeptical he'll ever contribute enough on offense to keep defenses honest. So, yeah, if he's the missing piece for a Harden deal, sign me up.
Guest
12:16
Nets say no to that
Luke Adams
12:16
I think you're probably right. I'd be shocked if a Simmons/Harden trade happens this week. Nets may be more inclined to say yes in the offseason.
Kings big man glut
12:16
Can we get anything for Tristan Thompson, Marvin Bagley, Damian Jones, Alex Len, Chimezie Metu, Neemias Queta, et al?
Luke Adams
12:17
Jones and Metu should have positive value. I wouldn't expect much for any of the other guys.
Pritchard
12:17
How could I realistically move Rubio like people are saying without attaching assets? Aren't Pacers in asset-gathering mode at this point?
Luke Adams
12:19
The only way to do it would be taking on multiyear money. Like, the Wizards would probably throw in a draft pick to swap Bertans for Rubio. I think it'll be tricky for the Pacers to find something that works for both sides though. In the scenario I just mentioned, for instance, could they convince the Wizards to include a first-rounder? Would they even want to take on someone like Bertans?
Ernie
12:19
Powell, Covington and McCollum are gone. Who is next, Nurkic?
Luke Adams
12:21
As I mentioned in my story on the McCollum trade today, it looks to me like the Blazers are comfortable keeping Lillard/Nurkic/Simons/Little. I'm actually more curious about Josh Hart. He's the type of player who would appeal to a LOT of contending teams (he'd be perfect on the Jazz, Lakers, etc.) If the Blazers want to stockpile draft picks, I bet they could get a first for him.
Randall Flaggs
12:21
Wizards - what's right for them: a massive trade for the impatient Beal, or a trade of Beal?
Either way, I can't see them as playoff contenders. The team needs a major haul - as the team seems to have a lot of depth, maybe replacing the coach (again?) is the solution.
Luke Adams
12:22
I have a bad feeling about the Wizards. I could see them giving up a ton for someone like Sabonis this week in order to convince Beal to sign a five-year max contract that will almost definitely turn into an albatross by the time it's over. I'd be tempted to seriously consider trading Beal if I were running the Wizards, but it doesn't seem like that's an option for them unless he asks for it.
Kings
12:23
Any sense of who the Kings are targeting? The rumors have been surprisingly quiet out of Sacramento after they were supposedly out on Simmons.
Luke Adams
12:23
Jerami Grant, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner are the names that keep coming up. Of those three, Turner is maybe the most realistic, but I don't know that he moves the needle much for that roster.
Evan
12:24
Chances Simmons gets moved at the deadline?
Luke Adams
12:24
25%? It's starting to feel like a long shot at this point, but who knows what'll happen in the next couple days.
Jarry
12:25
Sixers holding Simmons until offseason looks better and better with Portland blowing it up, Washington losing and Harden unhappy in Brooklyn. Sixers might actually have some options.
Luke Adams
12:25
This is why I think the Sixers will wait on Simmons if they can't get someone like Harden or Beal this week. It's been a pretty consistent truth in the NBA over the last few years that if there are no disgruntled stars available right now, just wait a few months and that will change.
Brand
12:26
Sixers don't need to dump Harris' contract because he's still a useful (albeit overpaid) player. Do you see any team taking him on while giving up positive value?
Luke Adams
12:26
His contributions on the court are positive, but a combination of that contract and no one being eager to bail out Daryl Morey will make it very difficult to get anything worthwhile for him. If he's moved, I think it'll look more like a salary dump.
We the North
12:27
Do you believe the Raptors should prioritize a center or more depth on the wing with their Dragić+draft picks package?
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