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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 12/5/2024
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Luke Adams
2:00
Hey all! Thanks for the early questions today. Keep 'em coming and we'll get started in just a second here...
Zion
2:01
Do I have any trade value at this point?
Luke Adams
2:03
There was a report the other day that one executive said he wouldn't give up more than one first-round pick for you. Which means your value has certainly fallen in the last few years, but it definitely still exists.

The structure of Zion's contract makes him a more appealing asset than he would be if all of his remaining salaries were fully guaranteed. He's so talented that it's hard to imagine him ever being waived, but it's nice that his contract gives you the option of doing that and getting off most/all of his future money if things really go south.
Brian
2:04
Denver could use more depth. Would flipping Porter for pieces like DeAndre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic make sense for both teams? Or does Denver need a true backup for Jokic?
Luke Adams
2:06
It would make more sense for the Nuggets than the Hawks. If they could do it, I think Denver would love to turn MPJ into multiple role players with less expensive, more team-friendly contracts. But it's hard to imagine which team would be willing to accommodate that sort of deal without getting some other good assets along with Porter. Porter's a great shooter, but his defensive limitations, injury history, and max contract still probably make him a negative trade asset, or a neutral one at best.
Heat Mgmt
2:06
Does Herro have a shot at being an all start finally?
Luke Adams
2:09
My first thought was probably not, but there should be a clearer path to an Eastern Conference All-Star spot than there would be in the West, even with the Celtics, Cavs, Bucks, and Knicks all potentially getting multiple guys there. I'd need to take a deeper dive to be sure, but beyond those four teams and Franz Wagner, Herro - at first glance - has as good a case as just about anyone.
Orioles
2:09
Hi!I have a 2 part question.Do you see the Wizards trading Kuzma,and some of their other veterans for draft capital at the trade deadline?That way they could possibly have enough to get 2 top 10 picks in the 2025 draft
Luke Adams
2:12
They should certainly be willing to listen on Kuzma, Valanciunas, Brogdon, and probably a few other players. And maybe they could get a first-rounder for Kuzma. But we're probably talking a lottery-protected first-rounder here, or a 2025 pick that's on track to land in the 20s. No one's giving up a lottery pick in a strong 2025 draft for any of those guys.

At the rate things are going though, they look like a very good bet to have a top-five pick of their own, which should put them in position to potentially land a franchise-type player.
Rockets
2:12
What do you think the rockets ceiling is this year? They look really improved but I can’t see them in the final 4
Luke Adams
2:15
They remind me a little of last year's Magic and might even be ahead of where Orlando was. Great defensive team, but I'm not sure they have the type of half-court offensive weapons needed to win in the playoffs.

I think it's realistic to hope the Rockets will make the playoffs and have a competitive first-round series. I'd be a little surprised if they get to the second round with the current roster unless one or two of the young guys takes a big step forward during the season.
EonADS
2:15
What's with the Hawks? They have clear issues, but it seems like they go ape every time they're backed into a tough matchup. Are they real, or is this just early-season variance and the East being subpar aside from the top of the conference?
Luke Adams
2:18
They're "real" in the sense that they have some really talented players and the construction of the roster makes a little more sense now than it did during the Murray years. But consistency is an issue, which is to be expected when they're relying on young players like Daniels and Risacher for prominent roles. I wouldn't bet on the Hawks making a big second-half run this season, but I'm more optimistic about their direction than I have been in recent years.
udaman
2:18
After a solid start, the Pistons have been playing lousy. Do you see them trying to make any upgrades or are they looking likely be sellers?
Luke Adams
2:21
The play-in tournament in general has resulted in more teams becoming buyers in recent years than in the past. And certainly in the East this year, it'll be hard for all but the very worse teams to fall out of the play-in hunt, which makes buying more appealing.

If the Pistons were still being run by Troy Weaver, I'd bet the house on them being deadline buyers, since it seemed like there was a sense of urgency to make the postseason under the old front office. Since it's Trajan Langdon's first year and he's not under any pressure to do anything besides build a foundation and positive culture, I'm not so sure. I could see him both selectively selling (e.g. cashing in on vets with expiring contracts) and selectively buying (e.g. targeting a young player seeking a change of scenery who is under contract for another year or two).
Guest
2:22
Do you see a team pulling Chuma Okeke from the G League?  He is playing well and if healthy, can help a team.
Luke Adams
2:23
Typically in about a month, more guys like Okeke would start getting shots on 10-day contracts, but I'm curious to see how many 10-days will actually be signed before this year's trade deadline, since so many teams have cap/tax concerns and so few have expendable roster spots. Okeke is someone who would make sense for a non-playoff team after the trade deadline though.
Dan'l
2:24
How can OKC deal with the soon-to-be expensive roster?
Luke Adams
2:26
Their contracts are staggered pretty well, which should allow them to keep the core of SGA, Williams, and Chet without any issues. It'll be a matter of whether they're able to retain key role players around those guys.

I do think they've been smart about how they've used and acquired draft picks. It's allowed them to continually add young players on rookie contracts to keep the cost of the roster in check. Cason Wallace won't be on his next contract until 2027, for instance, and is already a key role player. Nikola Topic will be on his rookie contract until 2028 and could enter the rotation next season. And OKC still has a ton of first-rounders besides their own in the coming years that could set them up to draft more rotation players. That'll make it easier to stomach if they have to lose Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins types (or even someone like Caruso or Dort) in the coming years for financial reasons.
David
2:27
Between this year's and last year's inconsistencies, is this proving how important Vanderbilt is to the Lakers lineup? He was a key factor in getting them to the WCF and changes their defensive makeup entirely.
Luke Adams
2:29
I'm not sure I can chalk up all of the Lakers' problems to Vanderbilt's absence, but they definitely need someone like him to slot in as their primary wing defender. Reddish isn't really that guy, and neither is anyone else they've tried in that spot.

The crazy thing is that Vanderbilt gives them hardly anything on offense -- imagine how much it would help if they had a legitimate three-and-D guy in that role!
Gordon
2:29
Do you think pp will win 6th man of the year?
Luke Adams
2:30
Still a lot of season to play, but if I were forced to place a bet today on a winner, I'd absolutely take him.
Glen Taylor
2:30
MN starting to gel, or just favorable schedule?
Luke Adams
2:33
I suppose they got the Clippers and Lakers at the right time, but it's not like those wins have been coming against Utah and Washington -- the L.A. teams both have winning records! I lean more toward "starting to gel," though the next couple games in Golden State will be a good test.
Boston fan
2:33
with kp returning does boston now become the team to beat again in the east
Big Papi
2:33
Can anyone beat the Celtics in 7 games?
Luke Adams
2:34
I think Boston was always the team to beat, and I wouldn't pick anyone against them in the playoffs as long as they're healthy. The Cavs got off to the better start, sure, but until we see them play like this in the postseason, Cleveland isn't the favorite in the East.
Philly Flummoxed
2:34
What's up with Embiid, and if they even make the playoffs, how can they win a series with players (he and George) who can't seem to play back-to-backs?
Luke Adams
2:36
Well, the good news is that there are no back-to-backs in the playoffs. The bad news is that if they don't get pretty hot pretty soon, their best possible first-round matchup will be against a team like the Celtics or Cavs. A healthy Sixers team could be a top-four team in the East, but I still wouldn't take them over Boston or Cleveland.
2:37
As for Embiid, everything coming out of Philadelphia suggests there's still optimism that his knee issue can be managed in the long term, but we haven't seen much to inspire confidence in the short term.
Kai Jones stan
2:37
Will Kai Jones ever be a regular starter for the Clippers? Or is that wishful thinking
Luke Adams
2:37
If he can become a reliable second-stringer, I think that'd be a win for him at this point in his career.
Jorge
2:38
Hawks have been trying to trade DeAndre Hunter for a while.  But now that he’s in 6 man role, he’s been consistently good.  Do they trade him now at peak value or is his contract suddenly worth it in his current role?
Luke Adams
2:40
I like the spot the Hawks are in with Hunter. He's playing as good as he ever has and he'll only have a couple years left on his contract after this season. It makes sense for Atlanta to listen to offers, but there's no urgency for them to make a move now if those offers aren't to their liking. If he keeps playing like he has been, he's absolutely worth $20-25MM per year.
Josh
2:40
Do the Pelicans need to fully rebuild?
Luke Adams
2:42
No. There are some good pieces in place there that can be part of the next contending team in New Orleans: Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy,  Jordan Hawkins. But they do seem to be nearing a tipping point with the Zion/Ingram duo. I'd be pretty shocked if more than one of those two is still a Pelican by the start of the 2025/26 season. In fact, I'd be more surprised if both are still on the roster than I would be if neither one is.
Guest
2:42
For activeness for two-way players, how does a two-way’s games count towards the 50? If a player is dressed out on the bench and doesn’t play, does that count towards their 50?
Luke Adams
2:43
Yes, it's a maximum of 50 games active -- not necessarily 50 games played. They have to be inactive for a game not to count toward that limit.
Brian
2:44
Would it make sense for the Hornets to trade for Brandan Ingram? He seems very available and could theoretically resign his ties to the state and their ability to pay him
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