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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 11/16/2023
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Luke Adams
10:01
Thanks for the early questions today, guys. Let's jump in...
BullsonParade
10:01
Do you think the Bulls should focus on acquiring players on expiring contracts and draft capital in a Zach LaVine deal? Or should they focus on getting an All-Star level player as the centerpiece of a deal?
Luke Adams
10:04
I don't think it makes much sense to stay in win-now mode. They're in a good position now to get what they can for LaVine, DeRozan, and maybe a couple other guys (Caruso?), get lottery picks this season and next, then maybe try to take a step forward in 2025 when Lonzo's contract comes off the books. I'd focus on draft assets and expiring contracts if I were them.
10:05
Or, if not expiring contracts, players who could potentially be flipped for more value, like the Blazers have done with Lillard and Holiday.
EonADS
10:05
Which of the surprise playoff spot contenders (Dallas, Indy, and Houston [others like Philly and Brooklyn surprise me less]) do you think is most likely to sustain their hot start?
Luke Adams
10:07
I'd consider Dallas less surprising than Brooklyn, given the top-end talent on each roster, but I suppose we didn't expect the Mavs to come out of the gate this strong after the way last season ended. With a top-five player like Luka though, the Mavs certainly could keep this going -- they had a pretty strong first half last year too before the wheels fell off.
10:09
I like the Pacers too and think they're a pretty strong bet to make the play-in. I'm still not fully sold on the Rockets and would consider them the least likely of those three teams to make the playoffs. They're clearly much improved but they've benefited from a ton of home games early in the season.
Degenerate Gambler
10:10
Kindly clarify if the Utah Jazz were required to include Walker Kessler on the injury report prior to games 2 thru 8 after he sustained a left elbow strain during opening night on October 25th, which is when they stated the injury occurred in a press release on November 8th?
Luke Adams
10:11
If they knew immediately what the injury was, then yes, but their announcement made it sound like they only conducted an MRI a couple weeks later when Kessler complained about discomfort, at which point they diagnosed the injury. The NBA may take a look at it, but I'd be surprised if the Jazz were penalized.
Silver
10:11
If Memphis is 5-20-ish when Ja comes back (completely possible), what hope do they have of salvaging the season?
Luke Adams
10:13
Well, they won at a .652 clip over the previous two seasons -- if they could match that rate again after Ja comes back, they'd still finish with a winning record. It may be unrealistic to expect that sort of success without Adams, but I doubt they'd throw in the towel until much later in the year. They'll need at least a few weeks to see what the team looks like with Morant before making any major decisions.
10:15
Worth noting too that even if they're not back in the play-in hunt by the trade deadline, that doesn't necessarily mean they need to go into tank/sell mode. They could make what looks like a win-now move in order to get a head-start on the offseason (ie. trading for someone who can be a long-term core piece).
Pacers Fan
10:15
It’s very early I know but Tyrese Haliburton for MVP!?
Luke Adams
10:17
Definitely a long shot, but I love the enthusiasm. He's certainly making an All-Star and All-NBA case so far, and it's not out of the question that he could get some MVP votes if he keeps playing like this and the Pacers majorly exceed expectations (like SGA last season).
Basketball fan
10:17
What nba coaches are still on the hot seat?
Luke Adams
10:19
Billy Donovan and Wes Unseld Jr. are the first two that come to mind. J.B. Bickerstaff could be under some pressure if the Cavs keep struggling, but I think they'll be OK. Steve Clifford could be worth keeping an eye on if the Hornets lose another 50+ games, though injuries have been a big problem so far in Charlotte.
GrizzledMan
10:20
How dare you tease us with possible Grizz trades. Zero chance this FO make a splash before 2024, if at all
Luke Adams
10:22
The trade deadline is in 2024! But yeah, I get your point. This front office hasn't been the most proactive about trading for players to complement the core, and maybe this season won't be the right time to do it.
EonADS
10:22
None of the predicted LaVine destinations seem especially favorable to him or the receiving team (or the Bulls, really). Teams like the Pels and Kings who could use his scoring punch really can't trade for him without tearing apart their rotation, and most of the teams with tradeable pieces would either be better off staying put or pursuing different options.
What do you think is the most likely outcome?
Luke Adams
10:24
Yeah, LaVine isn't a player like Jrue Holiday, where his skill set makes him a fit with just about any contender. For LaVine, you need a team that needs his scoring punch, doesn't have too many ball-dominant players who he'd be stealing touches from, and has the defensive talent to withstand his subpar contributions on that end of the court. The Grizzlies make some sense to me (sorry GrizzledMan). Maybe the Magic. But it's hard to come up with a ton of good fits, especially among contenders.
Morey
10:25
Do I need to worry about Batum at this point?
Luke Adams
10:26
I haven't been following social media chatter about his absence(s) from the Sixers too closely, but I know there was some speculation after the trade that he might decide to retire, and it sounds like his family stayed behind in Los Angeles. I don't think it's a major cause for concern for the Sixers yet though -- a midseason retirement would be a surprise, and even in a worst-case scenario, you could use his expiring contract for salary-matching in a trade.
Guardians of the Galaxy
10:27
The Ayton trade for Nurkic and pieces sure seems like a bust. They will continue to get destroyed by teams with a dominant center. How do they solve this before the playoffs?
Luke Adams
10:29
Let's wait to see the full big three in action before making any sweeping judgments about the Suns. It's challenging to incorporate major new pieces like Beal (and, to a lesser extent, Nurkic) even when everyone's healthy. Having a constantly changing lineup due to injuries makes it even more complicated. I still think this can work.
Noot Noot
10:29
Is this the year the Raptors finally concede and trade a veteran?
Luke Adams
10:31
It seems like it's gotta be. They got a minimal return for Lowry by waiting untilt he summer to sign-and-trade him, then got nothing for VanVleet. Repeating that cycle with Siakam and/or Anunoby would be a disaster. I think by the trade deadline they need to have a good idea of which one they want to sign long-term and look into moving the other one.
BlueJayCrazy
10:31
What could the raps get for Siakum? Is he highly regarded around the league?
Luke Adams
10:35
He's expensive, isn't under contract beyond this season, has an unorthodox offensive game, and isn't as stout defensively as you'd like, which all works against his value. But I still think he'd warrant a pretty strong return due to his two-way play (even if he's not a shutdown defender, he's better and more versatile on that end than DeRozan or LaVine) and his ability to play multiple positions. The Raptors should get at least as much for him as the Sixers got for Harden -- probably more, given that more teams should be involved.
Free Chuma
10:35
Does Chuma Okeke have trade value?
Luke Adams
10:36
As an expiring salary-matching piece, yeah. Probably none beyond that though.
Kim
10:36
Good morning Russell Westbrook is one of my favorite players. I hate that things didn’t work out for him at the Lakers but thought he had revitalized his career with the Clippers. Now with James Harden he looks diminished again. What are the Clippers doing and how many more games will it take to make lineup or players changes?? Thanks.
Luke Adams
10:39
As bad as Westbrook's time with the Lakers went, it at least helped him come to terms with adjusting to a lesser role, not trying to do too much, and being willing to sacrifice for the sake of winning. I'm not sure Harden has gotten to that point yet, which is complicating the Clippers' lineup and rotation decisions (he'd make more sense coming off the bench).
Doc7
10:39
Suns have looked good when Booker plays. Nurkic and the "pieces" have had more of an impact than Ayton typically produced.
Luke Adams
10:39
Yeah, they had the one dud vs. the Spurs with Booker out there, but if you add Beal to the group that showed up last night, that's a pretty dangerous team.
Dunleavy Jr.’s assistant
10:40
Quick fix to solve Warriors woes: send Klay, Kuminga, and Jackson-Davis to Raptors for Siakam, Achiuwa, and old friend Porter Jr. In a separate trade - to address the loss of three-point shooting - move Looney to perhaps the Hawks for Patty Mills. Let Moody, Wiggins and the newly-acquired Siakam run WILD along with Steph and Draymond in the starting lineup. Achiuwa gets to play more with Dubs and benefits with open looks off the Paul-Saric pick n roll action. Fill out the second unit with good defense from GP2 and solid shooting from Mills. Joseph and Podziemski (Gem) fill in during injuries/suspensions.
Better outlook for Warriors than what they’re currently putting out there? What do you think?
Luke Adams
10:42
Regardless of the possible on-court merits (which are debatable, though the idea of Siakam playing with Steph and Draymond is fun), it's a non-starter for the Warriors because there's no way they're trading Klay. Unless Draymond actually kills someone on the court, I just can't see Golden State ever trading him, Klay, or Steph unless they ask for it.
Gabe
10:42
Do you think that Ja Morant and Memphis 2024 first rounder  for Mikal Bridges would be a trade that could turn Memphis around? COming from a huge Memphis Fan
Luke Adams
10:44
I said this last week, but I just can't see Morant being traded anytime soon. If his head's on right, he's the type of player you build around rather than trade, so Memphis wouldn't make him available. Conversely, if the Grizzlies are worried enough about the off-court stuff that they make him available, that'd be a major red flag for any potential suitor, who would probably only make low-ball offers.
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