You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 9/20/2022
powered byJotCast
Luke Adams
12:01
Thanks for all the early questions, guys. Let's dive in!
Leroy19
12:01
What's the latest with Gui Santos? Are the Warriors waiting on Iguodala before deciding on him?
Luke Adams
12:03
I'd be surprised if Santos signs an NBA contract this year whether or not Iguodala returns. He seems like a logical draft-and-stash guy for a Warriors team that's already bringing in two other rookies (Baldwin and Rollins).
Justin
12:03
Does Herro get his rookie scale extension finally with Mitchell being traded to CLE and KD staying put? I've seen Crowder and Turner mentioned as trade targets, but I'd be shocked to see Herro traded for those guys.
Luke Adams
12:04
Yeah, if the Heat make a play for someone like that, it'll be a "Duncan Robinson plus draft picks" sort of offer. It made sense to include Herro in a package for someone like KD or Mitchell, but I can't see it happening for a non-star.
12:06
As for the possibility of a preseason extension, it'll depend what Herro is looking for. I could see them getting something done in the neighborhood of RJ Barrett's deal (four years, $107MM guaranteed), but if his asking price is higher than that, it may just make sense for the Heat to wait another year and preserve some flexibility.
KC24
12:06
Where do the Hornets go form here? Bridges likely wont play this season (much less ever again), the roster is plagued by the Rozier and Heyward contracts, they will finish bottom tier in the east, Charlotte isn't really a FA destination, the drafting has been subpar  since Jordan took over, is there any hope for the future? or will we be forever stuck in mediocrity purgatory
Luke Adams
12:09
The Bridges situation is just terrible for everyone involved. The off-court aspect of that incident is obviously most important, but from an on-court perspective, it could really set the Hornets back -- Bridges had been one of the team's biggest success stories up until this summer.
12:10
I do think there are still some good building blocks in Charlotte, starting with LaMelo Ball, but I don't see how this team can be a legit contender anytime in the next 2-3 years.
Guest
12:11
You can make a superstar out of almost any NBA player if you run the offense through them.  All it takes is making them the focal point and then wanting the ball all the time like LeBron and Harden.  Your thoughts?
Luke Adams
12:13
Strongly disagree! If you tried to have an average player play that ball-dominant Harden/LeBron role, they wouldn't draw the same sort of defensive attention, wouldn't score as efficiently, and wouldn't open up the floor for teammates to nearly the same extent. It's probably true that you could turn a lot of players into 20 PPG guys if you were committed enough to making them the focal point, but there's a wide gap between that sort of high-volume scorer and a superstar.
Lenny
12:13
Any idea who starts for Clips this year. Wall or Jackson?  Morris Covington Powell.  Kennard or Mann?
Luke Adams
12:16
I think we could see a handful of different Clippers lineups this season depending on matchups, health, etc. Kawhi and PG13 are obviously locks, and I expect we'll see Zubac in there a lot of the time. Jackson and either Covington or Kennard might be my picks to fill out the starting five, but they could go in a ton of different directions.
12:17
I will say that I expect the Clippers' second unit to be one of the NBA's best this year. A five-man group of Wall/Mann, Powell, Batum, Covington/Kennard, and Morris would be TOUGH for opponents' reserves to handle.
Suneel
12:18
Any word on the Raptors still looking at big men or another ball handler ?
Luke Adams
12:20
I wouldn't expect anything major from the Raptors before the season starts. They've already got 13 guys on guaranteed contracts and four more competing for the last two spots. Maybe they do something during the season if they find themselves in desperate need of another big man or ball-handler, but they showed last year that they're pretty happy running out forward- and wing-heavy lineups.
Stan
12:20
T or F. Best team built for the regular season doesn’t necessarily mean best built team to win in the playoffs.
Luke Adams
12:21
Definitely true. Depth pays off in a big way during the season, but once the playoffs start, having those 9th, 10th, or 11th men that give you positive minutes isn't as much of a difference-maker, since your top guys are seeing more playing time.
Appreciate it Luke
12:22
Are you surprised former Celtic Matt Ryan is unsigned? He had a great summer league and shot lights out in the G League last year.
Luke Adams
12:23
Yeah, I would've thought he'd be part of the Celtics' competition for back-end roster spots, but it seems like the team is focusing mostly on veterans for those spots. I believe Layman, Jackson, Vonleh, Valentine, and Caboclo all have 5+ years of NBA experience.
12:24
Of course, we don't know what sort of contract Ryan is seeking. If he's pushing for a two-way deal rather than a non-guaranteed camp invite, maybe that's why he's not on a roster yet.
Guest
12:24
Who would you say is in the best position in rebuild, OKC, Houston, Magic or Pistons? All have an abundance of young players with high up side, and a mass of picks but who do you see as the better long term with the players and assets they have?
Luke Adams
12:28
Cade Cunningham is my favorite single prospect on any of those teams right now, which helps push me toward the Pistons. OKC has a very strong case if Holmgren comes back strong in 2023/24. I do like what Houston and Orlando have done, though I think we'll have a better sense in a few months of how the Magic and Rockets are looking long-term once we see how Banchero and Smith perform at the NBA level.
Scott
12:28
Finish this sentence: The Sacramento Kings will…
Luke Adams
12:30
"... not regret drafting Keegan Murray over Jaden Ivey at No. 4." I'm still a little skeptical of how far a Sabonis/Fox duo can lead the Kings, but I'm really high on what Murray can bring to the team.
LENNYP
12:30
odds Westbrook on roster at season's end? what free agent in 23 is worth preserving cap space for, vs trading for talent with contracts beyound 2223 who could improve team? how can team not go all-in while they have LeBron, and wholly speculative value of 2027 and 2029 picks. Either Hield/Turner or 2-3 Utah role players would be improvements. thanks.
Luke Adams
12:33
I really didn't think Westbrook would still be on the Lakers' roster at this point. I'd be even more surprised if he's still a Laker by the spring. It's typically easier to move a huge contract like his in the offseason rather than during the season, but there will be in-season options for the Lakers this year, since two potential trade partners (Spurs, Pacers) have a ton of cap room left, while a third (Jazz) has some big contracts they'd be willing to move.
12:34
I wonder if the Lakers are putting off the decision on whether to trade those 2027 and 2029 picks until they see what this year's roster actually looks like on the court. If they get off to a good start but Westbrook still isn't thriving, maybe they talk themselves into Hield and Turner pushing them over the top.
As for next season's cap room, Kyrie is the one obvious star target, but the ability to sign a couple solid $15MM-ish guys without having to trade away draft picks for them shouldn't be overlooked either.
MUP
12:35
How long does the Nets experiment last this season?
Luke Adams
12:37
If Durant, Kyrie, and Simmons stay healthy and the team is winning, there's no reason to think it can't be a relatively smooth year in Brooklyn. But those are admittedly big ifs. If there are more injuries or the team doesn't get off to a good start, it wouldn't shock me to see KD and Kyrie request trades again before the deadline.
Some Guy
12:37
Is the Cavs defense going to decline a ton? They can't pull their typical 2-3 Zone anywhere near as efficiently without a third 7-footer.
Luke Adams
12:39
It's safe to expect a decline. But Mobley and Allen are still an elite interior duo, so I wouldn't count on a massive drop-off. It may not be top-five again, but it should still be well above average, and the offensive improvements will be worth the trade-off.
Stan
12:40
Any chance the Knicks have a move for a big wing in them?
Luke Adams
12:42
Never say never, but I haven't gotten the sense that the Knicks are actively looking to use their draft assets to make marginal upgrades -- it seems like their preference is to hoard those future picks so they have them to offer when the next star becomes available.
Ed
12:43
Do you think LeBron will really sign with the team that drafts Bronny? Would contract amount or winning situation even play a part>
Luke Adams
12:46
It'll be interesting to see what kind of prospect Bronny is by the time he enters the draft. If he's not a true NBA-caliber player, would a team really "waste" a draft pick on him in the hopes that they'll be able to land LeBron? Because it's hard for me to picture LeBron signing with, say, the Hornets because they have Bronny on a two-way contract.
12:47
This is a roundabout way of saying that I'm skeptical it'll be as black and white as it has been portrayed so far.
Dennis Smith Jr.
12:47
Where am I signing if anywhere?
Luke Adams
12:49
I hope you get a shot to play somewhere if you're healthy after last season's elbow injury. You were having a decent year in Portland. There are some teams around the league that could use another point guard. The Hornets, Warriors, and Raptors come to mind.
Load More Messages
Connecting…