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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/8/24
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ARTHUR HILL
12:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about the new-look Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Cities
12:01
Can KAT be the best Center in the East this season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:04
Only if Joel Embiid misses significant time again, but Towns should put up stats to keep him in the conversation. Adding probably the best outside shooting big man in the league brings another dimension to the Knicks' offense, and it should open up more driving lanes for Jalen Brunson. It will be interesting to watch the Knicks early in the season to see if they become comfortable defensively with KAT at center or if they'll need Mitchell Robinson as a shot-blocking anchor.
Guest
12:04
Seeing how the Rockets looked last night in the 1st half, do they have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs this year with such a heavy Western conference?
ARTHUR HILL
12:08
There are at least a dozen teams in the West that will be very disappointed if they don't land at least a play-in spot, and Houston is in that mix. They showed a lot of depth and athleticism in the first half against the Jazz Monday night, and that was without using Dillon Brooks or Tari Eason. They seem fully bought in to coach Ime Udoka's fast pace and aggressive defense, and they definitely have a bright future, whether they reach the postseason this year or not.
Jeff
12:08
Thoughts on a Warriors trade with Portland for Ayton?  Would Wiggins,  Moody, salary filler such as Payton get it done?
ARTHUR HILL
12:11
I think it's going to be hard to unload Wiggins' contract and get a valuable asset in return. The latest Robert Williams injury makes it tough for Portland to part with Ayton right now when Donovan Clingan is their only other option at center. The Warriors might find Ayton more available near the trade deadline, but I don't think a deal like that will happen now.
I Need a Doctor
12:11
Which duo misses more games: LeBron + AD or Luka + Kyrie?
ARTHUR HILL
12:14
LeBron's age and Davis' injury history make them the safer pick, but the Lakers have a stronger need for both of them every game. The Mavericks have enough talent around Luka and Kyrie to let them take an occasional night off with a minor injury. I'll take the Dallas duo by a small amount.
Are you Jimmy Ray
12:14
Can Jimmy Butler just go from missing a bunch of games to an MVP season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:16
MVP might be out of the question, but the Heat need Butler to be much more productive during the regular season if they hope to land one of the top six playoff spots and avoid the play-in tournament. He's talked about playing more this season, and it would benefit him heading into free agency. I think we'll see him on the court more often, but he won't be in the MVP race.
Seriously, no actual Jazz in Utah
12:17
Shouldn't the Jazz be better (further along?) by now? They've been rebuilding a while and don't have much of anything to show for it (Lauri) - especially compared to how they looked when it began.
ARTHUR HILL
12:19
Utah hasn't enjoyed great lottery luck in the last two drafts, which is one of the components to a successful rebuild. It's only been two years since they parted with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, so give them some time. A top-five pick in 2025 or 2026 could speed up the process significantly.
FinnaHateMe
12:20
Which teams make the most sense for the Knicks Mitchell Robinson if they trade him?
ARTHUR HILL
12:23
The Pelicans come to mind immediately. He could be the defensive anchor of a very good team if New Orleans doesn't have to give up a lot in return. The Warriors might be interested, maybe Memphis if Zach Edey doesn't work out. Any team that's not happy with its current center should at least call the Knicks about Robinson.
Kevin in Houston
12:23
Who are your 6th man of the year candidates?  I think the Houston Rockets might have 3!  Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Tari Eason.  Those 3 might have to fight for minutes, but I think if any of those 3 get 25-30 minutes a game they have a great chance to be in the conversation as 6th man of the year.
ARTHUR HILL
12:28
I could see Amen Thompson moving into the starting lineup before the season is over, so he might not be eligible. We haven't seen Eason play in a while, but he looked very good last season before the injury. Whitmore is a dynamic scorer, and Reed Sheppard can also provide offense as part of a very good second unit. Naz Reid is probably the favorite to repeat as Sixth Man of the Year, and Malik Monk should be in the running as well. It's hard to see any one of Houston's players putting up good enough stats to challenge them.
Kevin in Houston
12:29
Who are your sleepers in the East? I keep seeing the Charlotte Hornets as a popular pick to make the play in - more by process of elimination than expecting good things.  I think if the Hornets are healthy they could win 35-40 games as there are many awful teams in the East who won't really try to win.
ARTHUR HILL
12:31
I like the Hornets' chances, too. With changes in ownership, the front office and the coaching staff, the entire franchise seems to be moving in the right direction. They'll need a healthier season from LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams, but there's a good group of young talent in place, along with a chance to move up the standings with so many teams focused on the draft.
Kevin in Houston
12:31
I admittedly hate the Dallas Mavericks!  I think they will have a better record than last year, but is there a chance the Rockets could rise up and pass the Mavs in the standings?
ARTHUR HILL
12:36
I don't think there was anything fluky about the Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals. They were legitimately one of the league's best teams after adding Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have figured out how to be successful together, and the Mavs improved their outside shooting by acquiring Klay Thompson. I expect Dallas to be one of the top three seeds in the West, and Houston isn't ready to reach that level.
Capital Tankers
12:37
Does it make sense to trade Jonas Valenciunas at the deadline when he’s barely played in DC? Sarr does not look ready to play significant minutes yet
ARTHUR HILL
12:42
It seemed like one of the oddest signings of the offseason, but the Wizards need someone to play center until they're confident that Sarr is ready. Whether they decide to trade him by February will likely depend on how much progress Sarr can make by then. My guess is that Valanciunas does get moved because there are going to be several teams interested in acquiring a big man by then, and Washington won't want to hurt its draft chances by winning too many games.
Edwill
12:42
Which playoff teams from last season you think might take a step back this season and might miss the playoffs
ARTHUR HILL
12:46
Things seem pretty stagnant in the East, where the eight playoff teams are all likely to be back. Out West, the Clippers will have a tough time getting back to the postseason after losing Paul George, and the Lakers won't have an easy path to the playoffs even if they get healthy seasons from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Kim
12:46
Good afternoon. Jimmy Butler. Does he finish out the year with the Heat or get traded? I say they are trading him. Thanks!
ARTHUR HILL
12:49
I don't think Pat Riley will trade Butler unless he gets another star in return or opens up a lot of cap space to chase a star in free agency next summer. Butler has already stated that he's committed to testing free agency rather than signing an extension, so that should limit his market value. The Heat will definitely make Butler available to see what they can get for him, but my guess is that he stays in Miami all season.
Arcman
12:50
How many games does Bronny play in the G league this year? Lakers should have him play 3/4 of his games in G league since he doesn't have a good shot outside 5 feet from the basket.
ARTHUR HILL
12:51
I think at least 3/4. He's got a lot to work on and he's not ready for steady NBA minutes if the Lakers are serious about contending.
Davey
12:51
Aside from Boston, does GSW have the longest bench in the league? They are definitely head and shoulders above everyone in the West. That's a 12-15 deep roster they have. Lacks a second star but so did 21-22. Is GSW a true sleeper team this year?
ARTHUR HILL
12:54
The Warriors tried to get another star this summer, but they did a great job of building up the bench when that didn't work. They have a good mix of veterans and young talent, and could easily exceed their current expectations.
Justin
12:54
Raptors come out saying it’s a rebuild year and with Jak I have a hard time seeing them being in the bottom 5 of the league. This leads me to believe Jak is next to go. Is it too far fetched to think that they will get a first rounder back?
ARTHUR HILL
12:55
Probably not right away, but I think teams will be willing to part with first-round picks by the deadline to get a starting-level center. Poeltl is a good bet to be moved by February.
Bounce
12:56
Will the 76ers be able to withstand the 20-30 missed games to compete for a championship? Is it time for a potential trade, and what should a return look like?
ARTHUR HILL
12:58
You didn't specify if that's 20-30 missed games for Joel Embiid or Paul George, but I think the Sixers will be fine as long as they don't have extended absences at the same time. The most important thing is having them both healthy for the playoffs. If they are, Philadelphia will be a dangerous opponent regardless of seeding.
Kevin in Houston
12:58
Let's not end the chat early....  Did the Knicks go all in too early?  I think they did.  I don't see them seriously challenging the Celtics for the next couple of years and then they will be in Tax Apron hell and have to gut their depth just when the Celtics become vulnerable as well.
ARTHUR HILL
1:02
Knicks' ownership is probably more willing to endure gigantic tax payments than the Celtics are. I can understand the argument for keeping last year's team together, but they've been wanting Towns for years and now they don't have to worry about extending Julius Randle. New York and Boston both have rosters capable of dominating the East for years, but it may be a test of wills to see which team will accept the financial pain that comes along with that.
1:03
Thanks for another week of great questions. We'll talk again next Tuesday.
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