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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/26/2023
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Luke Adams
10:01
Hey guys, thanks for the early questions! I only have about a half-hour today, so let's fire through as many of them as we can during that time.
Detroit
10:01
Could the pistons make a cavs size leap this year? They an extremely talented young core. Last year they lost a lot of games without Cade, but to me were competitive in a lot of games. If and when that leap comes are they better off trading for a star or searching in free agency? Detroit isn’t really a free agency destination just like Cleveland.
Luke Adams
10:03
Cavs-sized is a bit too ambitious. They're not winning 50 games! But a Magic-sized (22 wins to 34) or OKC-sized (24 wins to 40) leap is a more realistic best-case scenario for Detroit. How they perform in the first half will dictate whether or not they get there, I think -- a lot easier to tank down the stretch if you're not solidly in the play-in mix at this point.
Basketball fan
10:04
Who do you think the first nba coach to get fired?
Luke Adams
10:04
It was, uh... not a great start to the season for Billy Donovan. Don't recall ever seeing a players-only meeting after game one!
No comment
10:04
Considering the huge price Minnesota payed acquiring goebert and making the massive assumption embid is ever available,lol,your price tag?
Luke Adams
10:05
On one hand, everyone now agrees that the Gobert price was an overpay and isn't a realistic point of comparison for other similar deals. On the other hand, Embiid is far more valuable than Gobert, so he should warrant that significant a price. Something like the Gobert/Durant packages would be about right for Embiid -- multiple promising young players, several unprotected first-round picks and swaps.
Total recall
10:06
Westbrook dropped 13 helpers last night in a clippers win , tell me why the clippers need hardens surly attitude and me first game ?
Luke Adams
10:07
The one thing Harden does a lot better than Westbrook is shoot the three-ball, which is something the Clippers could really use to make life easier on George and Kawhi. Having said that, Westbrook has made 36.0% of them since becoming a Clipper. It's a small sample size and isn't likely to keep up, but if he's hitting threes at that rate, you're right, they probably don't need Harden!
ATL
10:08
Is Jalen Johnson actually just better than Deandre Hunter?
Luke Adams
10:10
There's a case to be made. After one game, Jalen Johnson is looking like he's ready to mount a pretty compelling Most Improved Player campaign. I do think the contracts make Johnson look more valuable relative to Hunter than he would if they were both making the same amount of money.
Silver
10:10
I had been wondering all along if fouling would be a problem right away for Wemby. Obviously, one game is a small sample size, but do you think it will take him some time to adjust to the speed of regular season NBA play?
Luke Adams
10:11
Yeah, I don't think he's going to play like an All-Star every night. He doesn't have a ton of talent around him, and teams will be eager to test his physicality early on. Even with some bumps in the road though, I expect he'll show flashes of greatness in every game, like he did in the fourth quarter last night.
EonADS
10:12
One game in and it's clear that Damian Jones cannot be the Cavs backup 5. He looked so lifeless. Like, the dessicated corpse of DeAndre Jordan plays better. The Nets (who are a mid offense when Cam Thomas isn't shooting the lights out) took advantage of him repeatedly and he fouled three times and turned the ball over twice in just eleven minutes. How long does Bickerstaff drag his feet before giving Isaiah Mobley his spot?
The Cavs desperately need someone who can do literally anything with Evan Mobley and Allen off the floor.
Luke Adams
10:14
I've liked Jones' game in the past and think he's capable of more than he showed last night, so I expect he'll get a few more chances. If things don't improve, it'll be interesting to see whether Bickerstaff turns to Tristan Thompson or Isaiah Mobley next.
For what it's worth, when Allen is back, it should be easier for the Cavs to stagger him and Mobley so that one of them is in the court for most of the game.
Josh
10:15
do you realistically think the only way the sixers can get a 2nd or 3rd tier star in this harden situation is if a team like the bulls have a historically bad start to the season?
Bulls
10:15
Woof to our opener. Players only meeting one game in. Should we say f--- it and get Harden? Demar for Harden?
Luke Adams
10:16
It's an intriguing idea. I'm not convinced either LaVine or DeRozan would be an ideal fit for the Sixers, and if things go south for the Bulls, I'm also not really sure why they'd want Harden, who wouldn't be happy on a losing team and is a 2024 free agent. But maybe there's a three-team deal to be made.
Goldfinger
10:16
I don't see lebron's son bronny as nba level talent, your opinion?
Luke Adams
10:18
I don't watch much college basketball and I watch even less high school ball, so I'm probably not qualified to rule on Bronny's NBA potential. I'll defer to people who are, and most draft experts like his upside as a defender, at the very least. The biggest question now is his health -- if he's able to get back out on the court and pick up where he left off, I expect we'll see him in the NBA.
Derek
10:18
Is Oklahoma City finally turning the corner or do the Bulls just stink?
Luke Adams
10:18
I'm pretty high on the Thunder this year. 45+ wins and a playoff berth is a realistic goal.
EonADS
10:19
RE the hypothetical Embiid trade; you're forgetting that Daryl Morey (if he's there at the time), would never accept equal or lesser value to the Gobert trade. He's the biggest impediment to any hypothetical deal should Embiid ask out.
Luke Adams
10:21
That's fair. I guess when I imagine a scenario where Embiid is actually available, I'm not envisioning his stock quite as high as it is right now (whether due to injury, an ugly situation in Philly, or whatever). But you're probably right that Embiid would still be seeking a package worthy of a reigning MVP.
Chill
10:21
Any immediate hot takes or overreactions after opening night(s)? Teams or players that impressed or flopped significantly more or less than your expectation for them?
Luke Adams
10:23
I didn't see much of either game, but the blowout wins by the Pacers and Magic caught my eye. The competition (Washington, Houston) wasn't exactly top-notch, but Indiana and Orlando are two of those teams in the play-in mix in the East who are candidates to be surprise playoff teams. One game doesn't mean much, but wins like that are certainly better than the alternative. The Raptors, who had a nice win over Minnesota, fall into this category too.
Keith
10:23
Since the Clippers are interested in Harden and Brogdon, would they be able to trade Mann, a 1st round pick, and a 1st round pick swap, and matching salary for Harden, then a 1st round pick swap and a 2nd round pick and other matching salary for Brogdon? Since getting 2 new players, the Clippers may be willing to finally give up Mann.
Luke Adams
10:24
I don't think being able to get Brogdon for a modest price would make the Clippers any more willing to meet the Sixers' asking price for Harden -- it would make more sense to just pivot away from Harden to Brogdon and keep their most valuable assets.
Connor💪🏼
10:24
Hornets expectations this year?
Luke Adams
10:26
The vibes around Charlotte (Kai Jones' weird exit, Miles Bridges' new legal troubles, Brandon Miller being named in that civil suit) seem so bad from the outside, but the roster is pretty similar to the group that was a 43-win play-in team a couple years ago. It's really hard to get a read on them. They're in that aforementioned group of teams with Indiana, Orlando, Toronto, etc. where I wouldn't be surprised if they have a winning record and are competing in the play-in for a playoff spot, but I also wouldn't be totally surprised if they finish 12th or 13th in the conference.
Not Even a Nets Fan
10:26
But why is Cam Johnson not starting? He's a certified Bucket.
Luke Adams
10:28
Cam Johnson is starting! But I assume you mean Cam Thomas, who fits the "certified bucket" description more. He's not a great defender, and he profiles better as an instant-offense guy off the bench. Given how little his passes, you don't necessarily want him playing alongside the rest of your starters, most of whom are capable scorers in their own right.
Guest
10:28
I feel like the Lakers have a lot of duplication at Forward and I still don't think DLo can take us all the way.  At mid year we'll know what we have so I see them giving up some depth with a 1st or two for a lead guard from a bad team.  Ja?  Kyrie?
Luke Adams
10:30
It's certainly possible. As I've mentioned in past chats, D-Lo surrendered his right to veto a trade this season, which he normally would've had based on the terms of his deal. The Lakers wouldn't have asked him to do that unless they viewed a trade as a possibility. Ja isn't a realistic target (if he's available, it's because his off-court issues have gotten even worse). Kyrie, maybe. But I sorta think the Lakers would just benefit from a steady veteran who can give you solid defense and not get played off the court on that end. Making the change from D-Lo to Conley last year helped the Wolves in that respect.
10:31
Thanks for the questions today, guys! We'll be back next Tuesday with a full-hour chat hosted by Dana Gauruder. Enjoy the first week of the regular season!
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