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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/19/2023
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Luke Adams
9:30
Thanks for the early questions, guys. Let's dive in!
Taylor
9:31
Are the Timberwolves doing the right thing by essentially just running it back and giving KAT and Gobert a chance to mesh?
Luke Adams
9:32
Yes. They gave up too much for Gobert to only give him 30 games with KAT or whatever it was last season. Both players are under contract for multiple years, so if it's still not working this season and they decide they want to pivot, they still have plenty of time to do so.
Troel
9:32
As more teams are making final cuts are you planning to post a roster crunch synopsis for where teams stand and who's potentially on the chopping block?
Luke Adams
9:34
Usually we wait until Sat. evening or Sun. morning, after teams have cut all the non-guaranteed players they don't plan to keep. At that point, there are usually still a few unresolved roster situations (often involving players with guaranteed money who will be waived, or players who will be converted to or from two-ways), so it's easier to zero in on those specific ones.
EonADS
9:34
What under-the-radar guys do you expect to show up this season? Nikola Jovic, Isaiah Mobley, and Charles Bassey are my top 3 picks.
Luke Adams
9:36
Maybe these guys aren't far enough under the radar, but I like Oshae Brissett (Celtics), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Wolves), and Isaiah Livers (Pistons) to really cement themselves as reliable rotation players.
Basketball fan
9:36
Since terry stotts is leaving the bucks what will his future be in the nba? Will terry stotts be an assistant coach on a different team? What NBA coaches are on the hot seat this year?
Luke Adams
9:38
Re: Stotts, I think we need more information about why he's stepping down. If it's about spending more time with family, getting away from the daily rigors of the job, a health-related concern, or something like that, we probably won't see him catch on with another team until next season at the earliest.
9:39
As for coaches on the hot seat, I think Jason Kidd, Billy Donovan, and Chauncey Billups are worth watching. Wes Unseld Jr. too. Maybe Steve Clifford and Chris Finch.
9:40
I don't expect any of those guys to be fired two weeks into the season or anything, but I could see them being replaced by next spring if those terms underperform (or, in the cases of Billups/Unseld, the young players don't develop sufficiently).
Knicks trade
9:40
Team feels soft from a size/power/defensive side. I anticipate a disappointing start. Towns for Randle and picks adds some rum protection and better spacing. And gives Minnie a ball handler at the 4 - feels like a win win. What do you think?
Luke Adams
9:41
That's such a franchise-altering trade for both teams that it feels more like something that could be explored in the 2024 offseason, unless both teams are just having disastrous seasons. I'd be surprised if the Wolves pull the plug on Towns as early as February's deadline.
Basketball fan
9:41
Will the Lakers make a trade this year? What big trades will the Lakers make this year?
Luke Adams
9:43
I wouldn't necessarily expect this year's deadline to be as active as last year's for the Lakers, but D'Angelo Russell is worth watching. He waived his right to veto a trade when he signed his new deal, his salary ($17.3MM) is ideal for matching purposes, and if Gabe Vincent emerges as the more reliable point guard, D-Lo could become the team's most expendable player.
Young guys
9:43
Which 1st & 2nd -year players do you think will be the biggest swing factors on their teams in this current season? Eg Denver is counting on at least one young guy to pop in order to even have a viable rotation
Luke Adams
9:47
If we're throwing out the top picks (e.g. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams for OKC, Keegan Murray for Sac, etc.) and focusing on less obvious guys, I like...

  • Mark Williams (Hornets)
  • Jake LaRavia (Grizzlies)
  • Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)
  • Jaylin Williams (Thunder)
  • Max Christie (Lakers)
  • The Nuggets guys (Braun, Strawther, Watson)
  • Jaime Jaquez (Heat)
  • Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Mavs)
  • Jordan Walsh (Celtics).
Celtics vs Lakers
9:47
I think if lbj and Ad are healthy (big if) we get another classic finals. Celtics starting 5 is pretty impressive. Who are your favorites for the title matchup?
Luke Adams
9:50
I think I'd take the Nuggets or Suns over the Lakers. I'd be more comfortable betting on Boston to make the finals, though the Bucks will give them all they can handle. At this point, I'm maybe leaning toward Phoenix and Milwaukee, but ask me again next week and I may have changed my mind.
Orlando
9:50
O/U 37.5 wins
Luke Adams
9:51
Nearly 61% of our voters chose the over for the Magic last week: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/10/2023-24-nba-over-unders-southeast-...
I'm a bit torn -- that number seems about right to me. I think I'd probably take the under if I had to bet one side, but it wouldn't shock me at all if they get back to .500 this year.
Troel
9:52
Clippers have said Mann is untouchable, do they pivot from Harden and make a different move or go into the season as-is?  They have 40.5M in expiring contracts (Morris, Batum, RoCo) and 5.5M more for non-rotation players they could move (Coffey, Boston).  They have 2 tradable FRPs correct (28 and 30). Do they revisit a Brogdon trade?  Buddy Hield and THJ are know to be available.  Gary Trent Jr, Siakam, OG, Caruso, LaVine, and DeRozan all get mentioned heavily as possibly being available or trade targets, any of those guys a potential?  I don't think they have enough pieces for say Siakam, but maybe the others.  Grant will be on the block come the deadline too.
Luke Adams
9:54
I don't think the Clippers should be in any rush to do anything. By the trade deadline, they should have a better sense of what exactly they need and how healthy they are (if Kawhi and PG13 are still 100% by that point, it's a good time to go all-in). Of course, if they want Harden, they may need to make a move sooner, but I don't think they need him. Brogdon would be a good fit and would cost substantially less.
Michael drake
9:54
Out if the east mr Adam's who do you see is pretenders or contenders
Luke Adams
9:57
Not exactly going against the grain here, but I'm not especially bullish on the Sixers this season. Unless they get a committed Harden or a solid replacement, they're an Embiid injury away from being a lottery team. I'd take the Celtics and Bucks over the field if I were betting on who will win the conference. Those are the only two teams I'm confident could win three consecutive series in the East (the Heat, based on their track record, would be the third, but there was some luck involved in last season's run).
Arcman
9:57
Is this Kuminga's break out year? He is dominating while on the court in preseason and Kerr is trusting him more.
Luke Adams
9:59
If it's going to happen for him in Golden State, this is the year. With a couple rookies and no 15th man, the roster isn't super-deep, so it lines up for him to get regular minutes if he plays well and stays healthy. Kerr's leash can sometimes be short with players he doesn't entirely trust, so he'll have to avoid mental mistakes, but I'd be buying his stock.
EonADS
10:00
Can Paul Reed make the adjustment to be more than an undersized 5? He's shown some shooting prowess in the G-League, but is that something he can translate to the NBA?
Luke Adams
10:02
I don't see why not. It's a bit of a small sample at the G League (fewer than 100 total attempts across two regular seasons), but he doesn't need to make 43.6% like he did in Delaware. If he can even hover around the 35% mark, he'd warrant enough defensive attention to give guys like Maxey and Embiid more room to operate.
Brewers fan
10:03
Who is available as a experienced coach to replace Terry Stotts on the bucks coaching staff
Luke Adams
10:05
Hmm, Mike Budenholzer's still unemployed, right? (Kidding, kidding). Generally speaking, the established coaches who are interested in coaching this season already have jobs. It's why the Celtics didn't add any veteran assistants to their staff last season after Mazzulla got promoted to replace Udoka just before camp. Maybe the Bucks will be able to convince someone not to take the year off, but they're just as likely to end up promoting internally.
GrizzGuy
10:06
How many games played in Memphis for Steven Adams this year? O/U 50
Luke Adams
10:07
Feels icky to bet against someone's healthy, especially when they're as likeable as Adams, so I'll take the over. The Grizzlies could be in a little trouble if neither he nor Morant ends up playing 50 games. He's underrated as one of their key pieces.
Michael drake
10:08
Mr Adam's your top 5 teams in the east as well as top 5 in the west
Luke Adams
10:09
I feel pretty good about the Bucks, Celtics, and Cavs at the top of the East. Some combination of the Sixers, Heat, and Knicks to fill out the top five is probably the safe bet, but I think we'll get a dark horse in there -- maybe Atlanta or Toronto.
10:11
The West feels like a dart throw, with upwards of 10-11 teams having a legitimate shot at a top-five seed. I'll take Denver, Phoenix, the Lakers, the Warriors, and the Wolves.
Styles
10:11
Will Kai Jones play again?
Luke Adams
10:13
If he shows some maturity and is willing to accept a bench role, I think so. He's only 22. But it could go either way, depending on how he handles his Charlotte exit.
Connor💪🏼
10:13
Will the hornets make the play in?
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