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Hoops Rumors Live Chat 4/28/2022
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Early entrants
11:01
After reading the website's Early Entry list, I have to Ask why so many College players leave school when nobody has ever heard of them and they have ZERO chance of being Drafted ?   Don't they need to Listen to the NBA Scouts and not the sweet nuthins' being whispered into their Ears by player Agents?  These kids need to stay in school.
Dana Gauruder
11:06
The NCAA allowing an extra year of eligibility during the COVID era may have had something to do with the long list. But you are correct, there are a lot of college players who make ill-advised decisions. However, as long as they still have eligibility and don't sign with an agent, they can return to school after "testing the waters." The ones who have already signed with agents and then don't get drafted may get a summer league invite, otherwise they have to explore overseas options. Circling back to your original point, though, only 60 players get drafted so there is a large group that simply gets bad advice or overrates their own abilities.
the League is getting Smaller?
11:06
Say who?  All the Playoff teams still have either a Dominant traditional Center or Elite frontcourt Scorer.  Big Men still make a difference.
Dana Gauruder
11:11
Smaller lineups are still very much a part of the group -- Warriors being a prime example. There are some very good big men but they're different from the centers of even 10 years ago. Players with skills like DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe have been diminished due to their inability to shoot from deep and guard multiple positions. Many of these "dominant big men," outside of uber-talents like Embiid and Jokic, are really forwards as big as traditional centers. And middle men have become much more athletic and versatile than the old-school, post-up centers.
Atl rob
11:11
What do u see the hawks doing this offseason?
Dana Gauruder
11:18
Depends on how the front office views the last 2 seasons. Did they overachieve by making conference finals last year? Did they underachieve this year or were injuries the main cause for their demise? I think the Hawks will try to shake things up but they have salary constraints. Gallinari's contract is reportedly only partially guaranteed -- they have to decide whether to shed that contract or hold onto his expiring contract as a potential bargaining chip in a trade. The other major decision is whether they feel Collins is part of the long-term solution. They rarely reluctantly gave him an extension and now seem to be regretting it. But, naturally, that now makes him harder to trade after an injury-marred season. For the most part, I think the Hawks' rotation will have many of the same players unless they can deal Collins for another big man.
Jamoche1
11:18
Injuries killed the Cavs playoff chances this year. What do you see them doing in the off season? Will they keep their draft pick or trade it?
Dana Gauruder
11:23
That's an interesting dilemma for them, now that they're in the fringes of the lottery. Assuming they don't get lucky and move up in the lottery, I think they'd certainly be interested in moving that pick if they can get another proven rotation piece. If they don't retain Sexton, it would make sense they'd be looking for another starter-level wing. They'll also need a quality backup for Garland -- I know the scuttlebutt is that they'll bring back Rubio, but who knows how much he'll be able to play next season after the knee injury. Overall, though, the Cavs have some really nice pieces -- Garland, Mobley, Allen -- to be a playoff team for years to come.
Number man
11:25
What type of contract do you see Gary Payton 2 get in the off season now that his great defense is being seen by everyone?
Dana Gauruder
11:29
Payton made $1.9MM this year and obviously that number will go up. I think he'll be seeking a multi-year deal with at least 2 guaranteed seasons. There was a recent report that his next contract could be worth about $20MM over three seasons. Perhaps the price tag will go up even more if he continues to excel in the postseason. The Warriors have been willing to pay huge luxury tax fees but they may be willing to go to those depths to retain Payton. Poole can become a restricted FA after next season and they certainly want to retain him. Plus, they invested a lottery pick in Moody and I don't think they're giving up on him that quick. So, educated guess is that Payton will sign elsewhere this summer.
Guest
11:30
Do you think it is possible for the Bucks to win without the help of Kris Middleton?
Dana Gauruder
11:33
It's going to be awfully difficult just to get out of the next round. You could make a strong argument that the Celtics are playing better than any other team right now. They've got two All-Star talents on the wings and they play outstanding defense. The return of Williams to secure the interior makes their defense even more formidable. As great as Giannis is, I don't know if he and Holiday can carry that group and win four games vs. the Celtics.
Guest
11:33
What other teams need to consolidate some assets into a bigger piece besides the usually mentioned Grizzlies, Hawks, and Thunder?
Dana Gauruder
11:39
Some of the teams that come to mind are the Rockets, Pelicans, Magic, Spurs. The Pelicans have some extra first and second rounders to bring in another piece, though a healthy Zion would be a better option. The Rockets, Magic and Spurs can facilitate their rebuilds by trading some of their extra first-rounders to move up in the draft or add veteran rotation players.
Connor🏀
11:40
When will hornets do anything
Dana Gauruder
11:46
They have a tough decision on Miles Bridges, depending on the type of offer he may get in restricted free agency. I think they'd move Hayward if they could find someone willing to take on the last 2 years of his contract. Their aim this offseason has to be to find better defenders, particularly on the back end. They're not going to make that next step -- being a true contender instead of a fringe playoff team -- unless they improve dramatically in that area. It will require changes on the roster and a different mindset. To that end, it will be interesting to see how they hire as the next head coach -- an assistant who's ready for the next step, like the Celtics did with Udoka, or a vet head coach like Vogel.
The Sausage King
11:46
Where do the Bulls go from here?
Dana Gauruder
11:51
The betting is that they'll re-sign LaVine, though his knee issues are a concern. They also have to figure out what to do with Vucevic, who had a down year and is entering his walk year. Big thing is just to have better injury luck. We never really got to see this group together -- Williams missed most of the season and Ball was out of the second half of the season. They'll probably look to add depth at the power positions but otherwise, I don't think the Bulls' roster will look a whole lot different than it does right now.
Derrick
11:51
If mike brown and mark jackson are finalists for the Lakers job, which candidate do you think is the best fit for this team moving forward and will the new coach trade westbrook or keep him?
Dana Gauruder
11:55
It's not the job of the next head coach to trade Westbrook. The front office would love to move him but finding a trade partner will be the tricky part. I wouldn't really have a strong preference for Brown or Jackson -- perhaps Brown because he's remained in the league as an assistant with quality teams, while Jackson has been in broadcasting now for nearly a decade. But the only that will help the Lakers is roster upgrades, plus the hope LeBron and AD can stay healthy for a majority of next season.
Frank
11:55
Most likely FA acquired by Detroit. Will Grant be a Piston after draft day? Ceiling for Hayes after the promising finish?
Dana Gauruder
12:00
The Grant decision will become clearer once the lottery shakes out. If they can get Holmgren, Smith, Banchero or even K. Murray, Grant becomes more expendable. I think they're thinking Bey as a long-term piece and they'd want to give any of those rookies extensive PT as his partner at the forward spot. As for Hayes, he did show improvement in the second half of the season. Not much of an offensive threat, but solid passer and defender. Will the front office and the player be content if he remains a second-unit guard rather than Cunningham's partner on the first unit? That's truly what it comes down to because I see the Pistons looking for a veteran upgrade in the backcourt to pair with Cunningham.
That's all the time we have for today. Please join Luke Adams for our next chat on Tuesday.
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