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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/31/2024
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Luke Adams
2:00
Thanks for all the early questions, guys! Keep 'em coming. Let's dive in...
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
2:01
Is Denver cooked? 2 of the starting 5 are ballers but Porter Jr. is streaky and there's no bench to speak or and no way to get one. The Nuggets a play in team this season despite having Jokic?
Luke Adams
2:02
"Cooked" is overstating it. As long as they have Jokic and Murray (healthy), they'll be a solid playoff team and are capable of beating anyone in a seven-game series. But the depth is absolutely an issue and if I were making a list of the top 3-4 contenders in the West right now, I'm not sure they'd be on it.
2:03
Having said that, the gap between the top contenders in the West and the 5th- or 6th-best teams isn't as big as it has been in other years, so I wouldn't rule them out yet. With the right in-season trade and some good injury luck in the spring, who knows.
Stromile Swift
2:03
Which front offices do you think are in a “prove it” mode here in 24-25 and could look very different next summer? I think Milwaukee’s situation is very tenuous if things don’t improve
Luke Adams
2:06
"Prove it" mode as in a bad year could see them fired, or a bad year could result in a roster overhaul? The Bucks are definitely in the latter group. Maybe the former too.

I'm curious about how many more years Joe Cronin will get in Portland. That situation feels sorta like the Detroit one where Troy Weaver got to lead the rebuild for a few years until a lack of progress resulted in a change.

The Bulls (Arturas Karnisovas) and Pelicans (David Griffin) are among the others I'd watch.
Pat Riley
2:06
Am I concerned or annoyed that our former "heat culture" icon, Udonis Haslem and VP of bball development, decided to publicly call into question whether Tyler Herro should be starting?
Luke Adams
2:09
This story has been in the news this week because Herro publicly addressed it and admitted he talked to Haslem about it, but I think from the Heat's perspective it's old news. Riley said in an interview during the offseason that - as a team employee - Haslem probably shouldn't be sharing that sort of opinion during an ESPN show, but I don't think it rose above "slight annoyance" for him.
TrustTheProcess
2:09
If Joel Embiid and Paul George miss more than 60 games combined, do you believe the SIxers can still make the play-in tournament?
Luke Adams
2:11
Yes. The competition for the 10th seed this season isn't very strong. As long as that number's not well beyond 60, they should still be OK.
Keith
2:11
Can you see a trade of DeAndre Ayton from Portland to New Orleans for Brandon Ingram?
Luke Adams
2:13
Ayton is more athletic than Valanciunas, but has some of the same weaknesses (not much of an outside shooter or rim protector). I don't think the Pelicans are looking for that kind of center. I could only see a trade centered around those two guys happening if the Pelicans were getting a lot more value in the form of additional players/picks.
EonADS
2:13
Bilal Coulibaly looks like he's improved across the board, after a decent rookie season. He reminds me of a young Khris Middleton. Thoughts?
Luke Adams
2:16
Have watched very little of the Wizards so far this fall, so I haven't seen much of Coulibaly yet, but Middleton is exactly the type of player he should be aspiring to become -- an excellent three-and-D forward with the ability to play-make and create his own shot.

I think Middleton is getting a bad rap lately because of the injuries but he was the second-best offensive option and maybe the third-best player overall for a championship team. That'd be a good outcome for Coulibaly.
Steve Francis
2:17
I know the Rockets are pushing for the playoffs this year, but I’m disappointed in the playing time for Reed Sheppard.  Only 3 minutes in Mondays win against SA.  Do you see him being shipped off to G league once they start up in the next couple weeks?  Seems as though the Rockets could use his shooting, but he just isn’t being put out there.  No reps.
Luke Adams
2:20
It's not uncommon for a rookie - even one drafted as highly as Sheppard - to play a very limited role during the early part of the season and then see his role increase as the season progresses. I expect we'll see that pattern play out with Sheppard, but in the meantime, as long as the Rockets (who have a very deep roster) are healthy, it might make sense for him to get some G League reps once the season starts. Success at that level often carries over to the NBA for rookies (e.g. Gradey Dick last season).
CuriousFan
2:21
So how bout dem Cavs?
Go Cavs!!!!!
2:21
What’s your early opinion of the Cavs this season? Everybody seems to be gelling under Kenny Atkinson, I know it’s early, but they look great!
Luke Adams
2:23
It's easy to say this now that they're the only undefeated team left in the East, but it felt like the Cavs were a little underrated coming into the season -- they finished 4th in the East last year despite three of their top four players missing extended time due to injuries, and they'll benefit from continuity in the first half of this season while teams like the Knicks and Sixers adjust to major offseason changes. Would not be at all surprised if Cleveland ends up as the No. 2 seed in the East behind Boston.
Kim
2:23
Good afternoon I'm curious many teams both east and in the west, are getting off to bad starts.  Some are purposely tanking but who would you say is on the hot coach seat to be fired?  I say Doc Rivers and Chauncey Billups (even though the team is tanking).  Thanks
Luke Adams
2:28
Would be pretty surprised if this isn't Billups' last year in Portland. That has never seemed like a good match, since he signed up for coaching a veteran team led by Dame and hasn't appeared all that comfortable going through a rebuild. Could definitely see a mid-season change happening there.

It's probably a bit too early for Rivers to be on the hot seat (he hasn't even been there for a full year yet, and he's too well-respected to be let go so quickly), but something's gotta give in Milwaukee if they under-perform again. Maybe they'll shake up the roster before making a coaching change.

I'm curious to see how attached the Pelicans are to Willie Green if they underperform this season. They're overdue to take a step forward, and if they don't, I could see some sort of change happening there, whether it's in the front office or on the sidelines.
Shazbot
2:28
When will Paul Reed be trade eligible for the Pistons? I know there is some type of wait period since he was claimed on waivers, but not sure if that began the day he was claimed or the clock started once the season began.
Luke Adams
2:31
Just double-checked to confirm that this rule hasn't changed in the new CBA -- a player who is claimed off waivers is ineligible to be traded:
  1. for 30 days if he's claimed during the season; or
  2. until the 30th day of the season if he's claimed during the offseason.
So Reed will be trade-eligible around Nov. 21.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
2:31
They're not getting a ton of early love but OKC looks ELITE. Great defense and offense will continue to gel. They were my pick out of the West before the season started and their play early has only made that belief stronger. Thunder 🏆 2024-25?
Luke Adams
2:33
The Thunder were the popular preseason pick to claim the No. 1 seed in the West, and nothing we've seen so for suggests they shouldn't still be the strong favorites.

The only thing preventing them from being the clear frontrunners to represent the West in the NBA Finals is the fact that this group hasn't gotten past the second round of the playoffs yet. Young, rising teams like this OKC squad are often treated with skepticism until they show they're capable of making a deep postseason run. I'm looking forward to seeing if they can do it this spring.
João Lima
2:34
What will be the price for the rent of Dennis Schroder for one post season nearing the deadline?
Luke Adams
2:35
Can't see a team giving up a first-round pick for Schröder unless it's heavily protected or if the Nets take some unwanted multiyear money back. A matching expiring contract and at least 2-3 second-round picks feels more likely to me, but plenty of time before the trade deadline for valuations to change (and certainly, if he keeps playing like he has so far, the price is going up).
jDubster
2:35
You didn’t mention Utah as a front office on the hot seat.  With Hendricks going down, Utah’s current young core looks disappointing for a team 3 years into a rebuild.  What’s in the cards for Ainge?
Luke Adams
2:37
I don't disagree with that perception of Utah's core, but Ainge has such a solid track record with rebuilds that I doubt he's on the hot seat yet -- especially since the Jazz still want to be bad this year to keep their protected first-round pick. If they come out of the 2025 draft without a potential franchise player, things could start getting dicier for that front office in a year or two.
Chicago Timberspurs
2:38
Is LaVine on track for building enough value to get traded later this season? What are some realistic options for the Bulls to trade him for a PF?
jDubster
2:38
Do you expect Bulls to try to deal Lavine and Vucevic, and start to tank?  Or do you them keeping those guys and fighting for a play-in?
Luke Adams
2:40
A couple related Bulls questions here. I'll say I'm very skeptical that LaVine will be able to build enough trade value in the next three months to get the Bulls anything decent at the trade deadline. Even at his best, his contract is a bit of an overpay in the NBA's current post-apron world. If the Bulls are able to turn his contract into 2-3 smaller ones without giving up any draft picks, it'd be a win.
2:42
As for the Bulls' 2024/25 goals, I think the top priority should probably be to keep their lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick. I could see their season playing out like Utah's last couple years have, where they're competitive in the first half, sell at the deadline, then tank down the stretch and finish in the lottery.
But the Bulls never do quite what I expect them to, so we'll see.
GN
2:43
Do you like DLo, JHS and two protected 1sts for Kessler and Sexton if you are Utah?
Luke Adams
2:45
I don't really think the Jazz need to be stockpiling more first-round picks, especially at the expense of young talent. But I also don't think Sexton is that great an asset, so it would come down to how much they value Kessler and how heavy the protections on those picks are. Lottery protected? No thanks. Something like top-six protected? I'm much more interested.
Guest
2:45
Can G-League players on an exhibit 10 be traded from their G-League team? Would they lose the bonus if they get traded and not with the team for those 60 days? Or is it just any team they have to be in the G-League that long regardless of number of teams they’re on in that 60?
Luke Adams
2:48
The CBA isn't really 100% clear on this. Page 21 of the CBA breaks down the E10 bonus criteria and makes it clear that a player loses the bonus if he signs with another team besides his NBA parent club before the 60 days are up, but doesn't specify what happens if the G League club moves on from him.

Based on my interpretation of the rule, I think the player would still be entitled to the bonus if he's traded to a new G League team, but it's a good question. I'll try to remember to get confirmation and provide a more definitive answer next week.
Just got done
2:49
Should the sixers be forced to play Joel Embiid when the team has more invested in the player than the league.
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