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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 3/1/2022
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Luke Adams
10:59
Hey all, get your questions in now and we'll get underway in about an hour!
12:00
Wow, I thought things would be slowing down a little now that we're a few weeks removed from the trade deadline, but there are a ton of questions in the queue already. Let's dive in!
Dubs fan
12:00
So if the Warriors claim a Bought-Out big man today, he would be Eligible for the Playoffs, correct ?
Luke Adams
12:01
Yes, there aren't ANY players yet who are ineligible for the playoffs. Starting tomorrow, anyone who is waived will be ineligible.
free Robin Lopez
12:01
Hard to believe Robin is still on the Orlando Magic.  Does he not want to spend the rest of the season on a Playoff team?
Luke Adams
12:03
The Magic haven't seemed eager to complete buyouts in the last couple years. I was sure Otto Porter would get one last year, and Gary Harris and Lopez looked like obvious candidates this year. I imagine if Lopez really pushed for it, Orlando would make it happen, but maybe he's happy playing in such close proximity to Disney World...
Raptors fan
12:04
As currently constructed, are the Raptors going to make noise in the playoffs? Could they actually make it past a Miami or Milwaukee?
Luke Adams
12:04
Their lack of reliable depth means they don't have much margin for error -- they'd need to be fully healthy and playing the right opponent. I don't expect them to get out of the first round, but they'll make things hard on whatever team they play.
Competition
12:05
We have no idea on who is going to win the East, the West or the Championship! Isn't this great?
Luke Adams
12:06
Yeah, I know some fans like dynasties and the drama generated when underdogs try to knock that team off its perch, but I favor a season like this one, where it feels like at least 8-10 teams have a chance to make the Finals.
Guest
12:07
DJ plus minus 12 mpg in philly?
Luke Adams
12:07
Assuming he ends up in Philly, I'll say plus in the regular season and minus in the playoffs
Pump those brakes!
12:08
Has Beal's trade value dipped significantly this year?
Luke Adams
12:09
I don't think so. He obviously hasn't been great, but some of that can be chalked up to health, and he's still young enough that he shouldn't be on the decline. Teams know what he can do.
12:10
I'd compare him to Harden, who was having a down year and battling injuries in Brooklyn -- you would have thought his value would've dipped, but it still took a three-time All-Star, two rotation players, and two first-round picks to pry him away.
Bronx Cheer
12:11
Are the contracts of Randle and Fournier negative assets?
Luke Adams
12:12
I'd say they're closer to neutral than to negative -- you shouldn't have to attach draft picks to move them, but you also wouldn't get a major haul in return for either player.
Jason
12:12
Where do you think the Lakers will finish the season: play-in, playoff seed, or out of the playoffs entirely?
Trog
12:12
Your pick on where the Lakers will finish in the Western Conference standings and how far they make it in the postseason (if playoff eligible)?
Luke Adams
12:14
A few questions along these lines about one of the NBA's most fascinating train wrecks. As hesitant as I am to underestimate the upside of a team that has LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook firing on all cylinders, I also can't ignore what we've seen from the Lakers for the last 4.5 months. This doesn't look like a team to me that's going to flip a switch and turn it on next month.
My prediction is that they'll end up in the play-in and either miss the playoffs or sneak into the No. 8 seed and be quickly eliminated (sorta like last year's playoff showing).
Gold, Jerry, gold!
12:14
Is Jokic eligible for an extension this summer?
Luke Adams
12:16
Yep, his MVP award qualified him for a super-max last year, but he couldn't actually sign it until this year. I expect the Nuggets will be eager to get that done in the offseason. It would add five years to his current contract. The exact value would depend on where the 2023/24 cap ends up, but it'll be extremely lucrative ($250MM+).
Mike
12:17
Will any other prominent names be bought out by the end of the day, ie Gary Harris, Lopez, bledsoe, or are there no waves
Luke Adams
12:18
Wouldn't surprise me if we get a couple last-minute cuts today, but I'm skeptical any of them will be difference-makers. Guys like Semi Ojeleye or Ben McLemore are more likely to shake free than, say, John Wall or Gary Harris.
Lefty
12:19
Are there any rumors concerning Dennis Smith Jr.? Do the Sixers have any interest?
Luke Adams
12:20
There was a report a couple weeks ago about him being out for at least 3-4 weeks due to an elbow injury. No guarantee he'll be ready to go before the regular season ends, but if he is, I could see him becoming a 15th man for some playoff team.
Adam Nelson
12:20
Do you believe there is a scenario where the Grizzlies push all their chips to the table and decide to move off their picks, Brooks, Adams, (maybe Bane) to land a star?
Luke Adams
12:22
It's hard to picture, based on how carefully and patiently they've built their roster so far. I get the sense they love the chemistry the current group has and would only risk jeopardizing that for a perfect opportunity.
12:23
So, maybe if Bradley Beal asks out of Washington and is willing to join the Grizzlies long-term, they give up a bunch of assets to land him. But they won't go all-in if there are any questions about fit.
Walter
12:23
If kawhi. Pg13 and powell come back for the playoffs, any chance the clips can be a dark horse and make a playoff run?
Luke Adams
12:24
I'm skeptical all three will be back, but theoretically, sure. Even with George and Powell, the Clippers would be a tough out, though I doubt they're upsetting a top-two seed.
Brian
12:25
If Zion is clear about not staying in NO long-term, should the Pelicans just cut bait and trade him in the offseason for win-now pieces (like Jeremi Grant)? His ceiling should still hold appeal to other teams despite the injury risk
Luke Adams
12:27
The extension talks they have with Zion this offseason should go a long way toward deciding what the next move is. If he's unwilling to accept anything less than a fully guaranteed max, that would make me extremely nervous and I might be open to exploring a trade. But unless he specifically asks out, I'd still want to do all I could to make it work -- his upside is more tantalizing than anything you'd get if you sold low on him this summer.
Common Anomaly
12:28
Would you issue a qualifying offer to Lonnie Walker?
Luke Adams
12:29
Definitely. The QO is pretty low risk -- worst-case scenario, he accepts it and you have him for $6.3MM for one year. That's a very fair price for a 23-year-old who's producing like he is, even in a down year.
Mid-season tournament..
12:30
Why? How? Would these games count in regular season standings?
Luke Adams
12:32
I don't think there's a concrete proposal yet for us to evaluate, but I'm actually willing to give the NBA the benefit of the doubt on this one. Based on the replies we get whenever we've written about, I get the sense that a lot of fans are adamantly against the idea, but sacrificing some Nov/Dec regular season games for a tournament sounds OK to me, especially if the league can figure out how to properly incentivize it for both players and fans.
Guest
12:32
Would it make sense for any of the teams in front of the sixers waiver order
to claim deandre?
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