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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/18/2024
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Luke Adams
9:00
Thanks for the early questions, guys. Let's dive in!
Jeremys7484
9:00
This site has articles up saying Lewis went to the pacers and raptors. Where did he actually land?
Luke Adams
9:01
The Pelicans traded him to the Pacers, who traded him to the Raptors. It's mentioned in the story about the Pelicans/Pacers trade that he'll be flipped to Toronto in the Siakam deal.
Silver
9:01
So many varying opinions on the Siakam trade - how would you grade it for the Pacers and Raptors? IMO, if Siakam re-signs with Indiana, I give it a win-win.
Luke Adams
9:04
I like it a little more for the Pacers than I do for the Raptors, especially since those 2024 draft picks will be in the back half of the first round in what we've repeatedly been told is a pretty weak draft class.

But I'm curious to see what the Raptors might be able to do with Bruce Brown. It's not exactly like when the Blazers got Holiday back in the Lillard trade and then flipped Holiday for another strong return, but I do think the Raptors could get a decent asset or two for Brown if they move him by Feb. 8.
KingsFan
9:04
If the kings don’t make a trade this off-season including 1st round picks, how many picks would they be able to include in a mega-deal this off-season?
Luke Adams
9:05
Looks like a pretty safe bet that the top-12 protected pick to Atlanta will convey this year. If that's the case, as of July 1, they'd be able to include up to four future first-rounders in a trade (plus up to three additional first-round swaps).
CuriousFan
9:06
Jerami Grant is probably the best forward on the trade market, but the Blazers seem hesitant to trade him. Any chance someone could change their minds? What kind of package would it take, and is it feasible to give up that much?
Luke Adams
9:08
Their record and their recent play (up until last night at least) may not suggest it, but I think the Trail Blazers would like to be competitive this season and aren't interested in fully bottoming out to improve their lottery odds.

Grant is the kind of player who can help them stay competitive, and honestly, unless his production falls way off, his trade value shouldn't really decline at all in the next year or two -- he's under contract through at least 2026/27, so there will be plenty more opportunities for Portland to move him beyond this trade deadline.
9:09
In terms of what it might take to get them to change their minds, I can't imagine they'd accept less than what the Raptors got for Siakam. Pascal is a better all-around player, but he's on an expiring deal, whereas Grant is under team control for four years, so you don't have to worry about losing him for nothing this summer.
Guest
9:09
Who can the TWolves get as a backup PG & at what cost?
Luke Adams
9:13
I feel like they could get someone decent with a package along the lines of Milton + Troy Brown + a couple second-round picks. That'd be a salary match for a player like T.J. McConnell or Monte Morris.

Having said that, I think the Pistons would be more open to that sort of deal than the Pacers would, given where the two teams are in the standings, plus the fact that Morris still hasn't played at all this season -- he'd need to show he's healthy before the trade deadline.
Detroit Pistons
9:13
Mocks seem to like Sarr for us. With Stewart, Wiseman, and Duren already. What does the big man rotation look like if we get Sarr?
Luke Adams
9:15
If the Pistons are in position to draft Sarr in June, I don't think Wiseman is coming back in July (if he's even still on the roster to finish the season). Sarr, Duren, and Stewart would be an intriguing top three in the frontcourt, especially if you're bringing Sarr along slowly. I haven't seen enough of him yet to say with any confidence whether he and Duren could play alongside each other long-term.
Zounds
9:15
Now that Indy got Siakim for chump change, do you see them making any other moves before the deadline? Seems like they could make some noise this year and a defensive minded wing could help.
Andy
9:15
Does it feel like there's another Pacers trade on the horizon, or are they content to re-sign James Johnson when he clears waivers to get back to the minimum non 2-way contracts number?
Luke Adams
9:16
I don't see the Pacers giving up another first-round pick this season. They were probably willing to pay that price for Siakam because they knew 2/3rds of their obligation would go away after this June in what's said to be a weak draft. After that, they'll just owe one pick. Maybe eventually they'll consider moving the 2028 or 2030 first-rounder, but they're not ready to go all-in yet.
9:18
The return for Siakam also suggests they have no real interest in moving young players like Mathurin, Walker, or Nembhard, since Toronto definitely would've asked for them. So what does that leave? Maybe Hield, McConnell, Toppin, Jalen Smith, some second-rounders, etc.. I could see them making another move or two that balances their roster in a way they want, but I expect any move along those lines would be relatively minor compared to the Siakam splash.
CuriousFan
9:19
Is the Raptors return on the Siakam deal dependent on what they can get for Brown, or should we consider it as a similar deal regardless? Because currently, I'm not as high on it as I was yesterday.
Luke Adams
9:20
I don't know for sure that they'll flip Brown before the deadline, but I will say that his inclusion shouldn't be underrated. He's sorta being treated as just a salary-matching piece, but he was essentially the sixth man on a championship team last season and was one of the summer's most sought-after free agents. He's a good player who could help the Raptors on the court or bring back a decent return in a trade.
Jose Spanish
9:21
Jonathan Isaac is still on the Orlando Magic. Why? $9.8 million was not guaranteed. I cannot think of a reasonable basketball decision and/or financial reason. If he is not on the team, the team saves $9.8 million, has an open roster spot for flexibility before the trade deadline, and/or could sign a player who is waived at the trade deadline like Goga Bitadze last season. My question again is: Why? Do you believe the Orlando Magic will pick up the $11 million team option on Joe Ingles for next season? Do you believe the Orlando Magic should pick up the $11 million team option on Joe Ingles for next season?
Luke Adams
9:23
The Magic still view Isaac as an excellent defender who has a role on the team, and waiving him this month wouldn't have created a ton of roster or financial flexibility -- I think the real decision on him will be in the summer, since his entire $17.4MM salary for 2024/25 is currently non-guaranteed.
9:25
As for Ingles, we'll see how the rest of the season goes, but the Magic will have some options there if they decide they want to bring him back. If they turn down his team option, they'd hold his Non-Bird rights and could re-sign him to another 1+1 deal in the same salary range.
Bucks Defense
9:25
Right now Indiana is the only team with a winning record who has a higher OPP PPG than us. We also just got blown out by Cleveland last night with Giannis not playing. What is the answer to our defensive woes.
Luke Adams
9:28
Having Crowder back should help a little (it admittedly didn't last night, but his +/- was way better than that of the starters). I expect they'll want to see how a healthy version of the roster looks in the next few weeks and will consider making a defense-focused move at the deadline. Connaughton would be a trade candidate in that scenario.
Toronto Raptors Big Man Rotation
9:28
What do we look like now?
Luke Adams
9:31
I don't think it'll be that different post-Siakam trade, since he wasn't really playing much center and Koloko hadn't been available all year. I'd expect Jontay Porter, Thad Young, and Chris Boucher to keep seeing time at center. The guys who'd been playing more at the 2 or 3 (Barnes, Barrett, etc.) may be the de facto 4 more often without Siakam around.

Of course, Poeltl should be back at some point too, at which point I'd expect Jontay to be his primary backup as long as he stays healthy/effective.
HeatBaby!!!
9:31
In your opinion, who are we getting at the deadline?  Rozier, DeRozan, or someone else?
Luke Adams
9:33
The Rozier rumor is interesting. I'm not convinced he's the kind of guy the Heat would have a ton of interest in, unless they're confident his contract could be flipped down the road in a deal for more of an impact player.

In general, I think the Heat will be reluctant to give up assets of value for a player who's owed money beyond this season unless they view him as a real difference-maker. Is Rozier that guy? I'm not sure.
9:34
As for DeRozan, I doubt the Heat would be willing to give up what it would take to get him, now that the Bulls no longer look like a fire-sale candidate.
Delusional Celtics
9:34
Celtics want to improve at the trade deadline... how? They have nobody left to trade with any substantial value.
Luke Adams
9:35
Yeah, unless they're eyeing someone who can fit into their $6MM+ trade exception, I don't really see a path for them to upgrade their rotation.
9:37
There are plenty of players who would fit into that TPE, but a lot of them are on rookie contracts, and teams aren't looking to move those players unless they haven't met expectations so far (e.g. someone like Davion Mitchell). And would the Celtics really want to count on that type of player in the postseason?
9:38
A Saddiq Bey-type player would be a good fit, but I'm not sure how motivated the Hawks will be to move him.
Regrets
9:38
How much do the Cavaliers regret sending out Markkanen just to get Donovan Mitchell for a few seasons? They have to be wishing that he had blossomed like this on their roster.
Luke Adams
9:39
I was just thinking a couple days ago that, for all the flak the Wolves took for what they gave up to get Gobert, the package the Jazz got for Mitchell looks even stronger, with Kessler sort of leveling out this year. Utah did great in both deals.
D'Angelo
9:40
Will D'Angelo Russell be playing for the Bulls in March?
Luke Adams
9:42
I don't see the Lakers trading for LaVine. But that doesn't necessarily mean that D-Lo to Chicago is off the table. If the Hawks throw in he towel on this season, what about a three-team trade where the Lakers get Murray, the Bulls get D-Lo, and the Hawks take on Lonzo Ball's contract and get assets from both teams? (I think the Hawks could probably do better if they're trading Dejounte, but you never know).
HeatBaby!!!
9:42
Who is on a new team come deadline?  Jerami Grant, Donovan Mitchell, Pj Tucker or Buddy Hield?
Luke Adams
9:43
Tucker is most likely, then Hield, then Grant, then Mitchell.
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