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Hoops Rumors Live Chat 5/5/2022
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Warriors fan
11:01
Do you think the Gary Payton injury will cost the Warriors the series
Dana Gauruder
11:04
I do not. Payton has been a solid rotation player in the postseason, mainly due to his defensive prowess. But he's not named Curry, Thompson, Poole or Green. Those are the guys the Warriors can't afford to lose. But if you consider yourself a championship-level team, the loss of a role player shouldn't be the difference in a best-of-seven series.
Daniel
11:04
I know that the Mavericks are really struggling against the Suns in these playoffs but I wanted to asked that what would the Mavericks be this offseason?
Dana Gauruder
11:08
I am assuming you're asking about potential roster changes. Well, they have a big decision to make regarding Brunson. They seemed inclined to retain him but he's going to demand major money and there are several teams interested in him. Porzingis was supposed to be the No. 2 scorer and complement Doncic when they made that big trade with the Knicks a few years back. Right now, they really don't have a steady offensive threat in the frontcourt. As Kidd said, Doncic often winds up shouldering too much of the offensive load. So, I think they'll be in the market for a high scoring wing or power forward to take some of that burden.
Morey
11:10
What kind of moves can I make for bench improvements? I am guessing moving a contract like Harris for bench pieces is in play.
Dana Gauruder
11:15
The issue with Harris is that he's making giant money the next 2 seasons -- 37.6 mill and 39.2 mill. Not too GMs are going to take that type of contract without a sweetener or two (first round picks) attached. So, I don't really see trading Harris as the way to make improvements. Assuming Harden opts in for $47-mill plus, they've really got cap headaches with little elbow room. The way Harden has played in the postseason, showing major decline from his MVP years, I have to believe he's not going to leave that money on the table. It's just a shame Embiid got injured through no fault of his own at the worst time.
Mikel Fratello
11:16
Am I the only one who sees the Heat as the clear topdog of the competition?
Dana Gauruder
11:19
No. A lot of people think the Heat can make it to the Finals and even win it all. They've been moving along without Lowry, who was acquired to put them over the top, having any impact in the postseason. Butler's knee soreness is a concern -- he missed a game already in playoffs -- but as long as they have Butler, Herro, Bam playing at a high level, they are tough to beat. Plus, they have Oladipo contributing to the point where they're not even playing Robinson. Tough team, excellent coaching. Nobody wants to play them.
Dubs defense
11:19
Now that Dillon Brooks has taken Gary Payton out with his Hatchet job, how do you see the Warriors game planning for Game 3?  Is it time to give some Minutes to Moses Moody?  He lacks the Foot speed to guard Ja but has the length and long arms to kind of make up for it.  Wiggins can't guard Morant the whole game and we've seen Poole constantly embarrassed once he gets switched onto him.  Moody has a similar physique to Wiggins and since Zaire Williams played well as a Rookie in Game 2, why can't Moody?
Dana Gauruder
11:25
I've seen quite a few questions regarding Brooks. Usually additional punishment by the league is handed out right away and I haven't seen anything regarding Brooks being suspended. As for how the Warriors will handle Morant, it will be interesting to see who absorbs Payton's minutes. As previously stated, I don't think losing Payton would be a good excuse for losing a series, unlike the Sixers not having their best player. Moody has barely seen any action in the postseason and that would be a lot of pressure put on the rookie. On the flip side, he'd have fresh legs and Kerr has to consider all options.
Fear the Deer
11:25
Can my Bucks recover from that game 2 beat down?
Dana Gauruder
11:30
There are all kinds of twists and turns in best-of-7 series. You can look great one night and awful in the next game after adjustments are made. Milwaukee stole home court in Game 1, so it actually took care of business in Boston. The biggest issue, of course, is not having their second-best player to help Giannis. The loss of Middleton against a team with 2 outstanding wings was really a tough break for the Bucks. I think it will be very difficult to win four games vs. the Celtics without him.
Trog
11:30
What do you see Jalen Brunson's next contract being? As good as he was in round 1 vs the Jazz, he has struggled against the Suns.
Dana Gauruder
11:35
I don't think that's going to make a major difference. He's probably going to get an offer in the $20-25 mill range annually. The Pistons and Knicks, in particularly, seemed poised to pursue him. Remember, free agency has been watered down in recent years because star players are signing max deals with their current teams and then forcing trades if they're unhappy. Brunson will be one of the top unrestricted free agents this summer and he'll be looking for the big payoff.
Pistons
11:35
Let's say you're Troy Weaver and the Pistons get the No. 1 pick again. Who would you select? Are there any specific free agents you would target this summer with your available cap room?
Dana Gauruder
11:43
Educated guess -- I think if they got the top pick, they'd go with Jabari Smith. I just believe Smith would be an ideal pick-and-roll partner with Cunningham. I think Smith's offensive game will blossom with better guards to work with than he had at Auburn. Holmgren would be the other alternative. He's such a unique player -- his length and shot blocking alone would be intriguing. A 7-foot-plus big man who can make 3s is another major asset he brings. I just wonder how durable he'll be with that physique and whether he'll ever be strong enough to win physical battles. In terms of free agency, Brunson will definitely be an option. I know they've been linked to Mitchell Robinson but I just don't see how he'd make their rotation better other than his shot blocking. If he couldn't convince the Knicks to sign him to an extension, there's some real questions about his offensive game. If they strike out with Brunson, don't be surprised if they use some of that cap room to make a big trade for a proven point guard or
frontcourt player.
Mark
11:43
The Kings are expected to move Rashaun Holmes this offseason.  What would you anticipate they getting for him?
Dana Gauruder
11:46
Nothing of great significance -- perhaps another role player in a stand-alone trade. He'll be coming off a down year and has three more seasons left on his deal. More likely, they'd package him with another higher salary player, such as Hield, in a wider-ranging trade. Holmes' salary -- around 11 mill or 12 mill per -- isn't all that bad for a rotation player, which would make him somewhat easier to move.
diesel
11:47
How serious are teams on the prospect of hiring Mark Jackson after not coaching for almost a decade?
Dana Gauruder
11:50
He's one of the three finalists for the Kings job, so at least Sacramento believes he deserves serious consideration. He's been around the game as a TV analyst since then, so it's not as if he would be unaware of how the league has evolved since his last head coaching job. If he interviews well and has the drive to go through the grind of being a head coach, I think he'll continue to get interviews even if Sacramento passes on him.
Joel John
11:52
Possibility of kings looking for shooting in Malik Monk or Victor Oladipo in free agency.
Dana Gauruder
11:54
They'd be options with their mid-level exception. I don't know if either is worth the full mid-level, though Monk was one of the few bright spots for the Lakers this season. Supposedly, the Kings are focused on improving their defense. So it's fair to assume they'd be looking for a free agent or two who could impact them in that manner.
Derrick
11:55
Do you see the Lakers honestly hiring Darvin ham and who else do you think they'll at least interview besides ham and griffin?
Dana Gauruder
11:57
Their search will go beyond those 2 candidates. I don't think they've narrowed it down that quickly. Ham is definitely a serious candidate. Good guy, I covered him during his days with the Pistons. And he's paid his dues as an assistant. He deserves a shot at a head coaching job. Of course, I think they'll run it by LeBron/AD before making a hire.
Jamoche1
11:58
Kevin Love had a really nice bounce-back year for the Cavs, accepting a bench role and also providing leadership for a young team. Do you think the Cavs will bring him back for the last year of his contract, or try to dump him?
Dana Gauruder
12:00
I think they'll bring him back. The Cavs should be a playoff contender again next season but they're not ready to win a championship. Having a veteran like Love around a young team isn't a bad thing and they'll get his $28.9 mill off the books next summer, which will give them more flexibility after seeing how next season plays out.
That's all the time we have for today. Please join Luke Adams for our next chat on Tuesday, noon CT.
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