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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/16/2026
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Luke Adams
3:02
Welcome to this Monday's live chat. Will likely be a shorter session this week, but plenty of questions to get to already. Let's jump in!
Michael
3:02
What do you think about using SRS (a basketball reference adv stat) as a potential solution to tanking.  Setting the draft order by SRS vs worst record seems to pass the eye test on who the worst teams actually are over the past few years...
Luke Adams
3:04
This seems unnecessarily complicated/abstract, as do a lot of the potential solutions I've seen proposed. Maybe the right solution will need to be complicated, but I think a mix of not allowing teams to get back-to-back top-four picks and restricting mid-lottery protections on traded picks would be an improvement.
Keith
3:04
How risky is it for Tatum to return this season, instead of giving his achilles several more months to heal, and come back 100% next year.
Luke Adams
3:07
I'd need to take a closer look back at this to be sure, but off the top of my head, I can't think of instances of guys coming back from Achilles injuries and quickly suffering another major injury. It certainly doesn't seem to happen as frequently as it would with a calf or a hamstring injury.

It's possible Tatum will be rusty and won't look quite like his old self this spring if he comes back from a season-long absence in March, but he wouldn't get the green light unless they felt 100% confident in his health. I wouldn't be too worried about the injury risk in that scenario.
Dstars
3:07
Do you think the Mavs got enough in return for A.D?
Luke Adams
3:11
It's possible they could've gotten more if they'd waited until the offseason, and it certainly doesn't look like a great return when you consider what they gave up to get him in the first place.

But that original trade was a sunk cost, and I don't think it was the "wrong" move to not try to wait for the perfect time to move him in order to maximize his value. Who knows, maybe that time never comes and his value keeps declining from here.

When the Wizards traded Bradley Beal, there was sort of a "That's it?" feeling, but in retrospect, their return looks pretty good and they certainly wouldn't have gotten more if they'd waited for a more perfect time. Davis was and is a better player than Beal, but we don't really know when his next extended stretch of good health will happen.
GrizzMan
3:11
After they move Ja this summer, will the Grizz be buyers? Or will they sit tight?
Luke Adams
3:13
Will depend to some extent on whether they have good luck in this year's draft lottery (landing a Peterson or Dybantsa type prospect would definitely accelerate the rebuild). But I would guess at this point that the plan is to get a high draft pick this year and in 2027 before they really pivot to trying to contend again.
3:14
Of course, as the Jazz and Wizards showed earlier this month, that doesn't mean the Grizzlies couldn't get a head-start on buying at the 2027 trade deadline. But I'd be a little surprised if they push the gas pedal again this summer and try to get back to the playoffs again right away.
Mozman
3:15
Ayo resigns w Wolves?
Luke Adams
3:18
The price they paid (four future second-rounders + a recent lottery pick) certainly suggests that's the plan, and moving off Dillingham's contract should help create a little more cap flexibility to bring him back without going deep into tax/apron territory.

Will still depends how the next few months go, but as long as he fits well, I imagine there will be mutual interest in a new deal. I'll be curious to see what the price is. They let Nickeil Alexander-Walker get away last summer for essentially 4/$61MM, but they'll probably need to be prepared to pay a similar price to keep Ayo.
Tyrese Martin
3:18
Will I ever play in the NBA again?
Luke Adams
3:19
I think so. You still have some two-way eligibility left and you're a better player than some of the guys currently holding two-way spots.
Mikey
3:19
If the Clippers move on from Kawhi Leonard this summer, how good of a fit would Leonard be on the Warriors?  Jimmy Butler and picks would be an easy transaction...
Luke Adams
3:22
I get the sense that Giannis is higher on the Warriors' wish list and they'd probably only use those draft assets on someone else if Antetokounmpo went elsewhere or committed long-term (again) to Milwaukee. I definitely don't hate Kawhi's theoretical fit in the Bay though. As effective as Jimmy has been with the Warriors, Kawhi's shooting probably makes him an even better match with Draymond.
Edwill
3:22
Do you think Kansas darryn Peterson might be a risk to take at number 1. How concern should NBA teams be that might get a top pick  feel about him not playing against the tough teams in college bball that have alot of NBA level talent. Or it doesn't really matter.
Luke Adams
3:25
Put it this way, if I had the second or third overall pick and you wanted to pass on Peterson due to those concerns, I'd happily take him!

I think there's a legitimate case to be made for Dybantsa over Peterson at No. 1, but I'm pretty confident in Peterson's ability to succeed in the NBA and wouldn't dock him for the reasons you mentioned.
PG
3:25
Who would be the ideal long term point guard for the wolves. Any targets for the off-season?
Luke Adams
3:28
When you have a ball-dominant two guard like Edwards, I don't really think you need a star at the point. Just a guy who can make an open shot, play defense, and manage the offense when you need him to.

The slightly younger version of Conley was a perfect fit for that. Fred VanVleet would make sense if he shakes loose. Someone like Ryan Rollins would also be interesting to me if the Bucks become sellers in the summer.
arcman
3:29
Brandin Podziemski is a RFA for teh warriors next season what will it cost for teh warriors to resign him since his season been up and down? 3 years $54 million?
Luke Adams
3:33
It's a good question. I haven't really looked at this year's crop of rookie scale extension candidates yet to try to get a sense of their markets. I think it would probably take a stronger offer than 3/$54MM to extend Podziemski during the 2026 offseason, but the way restricted free agency played out for so many guys last year works in the Warriors' favor. Agents will want to avoid having their guys end up in situations like that.
Justin
3:33
Everyone saying LeBron to Cleveland but do you think LeBron would consider? I think he would go somewhere where he can land one last lucrative contract, say 2 years at 30 mil apiece.
Luke Adams
3:37
Yeah, even if LeBron wanted to wrap up his career in Cleveland, it's hard for me to imagine him signing a minimum-salary contract to do it. It depends what his priorities are though. It's not like he needs the money that badly at this point in his career, so maybe the opportunity to try to get a fifth ring would be more meaningful.

I'm pretty curious to see what happens with LeBron this summer. It doesn't really feel like he plans to call it a career, but the Lakers seem to be preparing to move on.
Sam
3:37
So where do you think Ja actually winds up?
Luke Adams
3:39
The three teams most frequently mentioned at the trade deadline were Sacramento, Minnesota, and Miami.

If Scott Perry sticks to his vow to build around defense and two-way players, the Kings don't really make sense. The Wolves don't need that sort of point guard next to Edwards, in my opinion. That would leave the Heat. They could use some star power and they could probably get him while preserving enough assets to chase someone else too. So I'll say Miami.
Mark
3:39
where does nico h. land, in what front office around the league ?
Luke Adams
3:41
I won't be surprised if he never works in an NBA front office again. The Mavs' role was his first NBA executive job after he spent decades at Nike. And announcing that you've hired Nico Harrison would be a PR nightmare for any team, even if it wasn't for a top front office job.
Merlin
3:42
Where do you go from here if you’re the GM of the Magic?
Luke Adams
3:45
That Banchero extension looks...worrisome. Something's gotta give with their highly paid players sooner or later. They're headed for second-apron territory with an underachieving roster and still need to extend Anthony Black.

I'd probably want to think about breaking up the Wagner/Banchero duo, but Paolo's trade value will be way down and I'm not sure I trust in him enough to trade Franz instead.

I dunno, it's a tough situation. I still think they can be a good team if and when they're healthy. But they need to prove that before the roster starts getting way more expensive or their days together are numbered.
teddygreen
3:45
What will the Clippers do with John Collins after this year? JC is a free agent; would he fit in a youth movement if the Clippers decide to move on from Leonard?
Luke Adams
3:46
They probably don't need him if they decide to rebuild, but if his market is limited and they can get him back at a decent price on, say, a two-year deal, it wouldn't be the worst way to go. He could probably play a primary offensive role on a roster without Harden and Kawhi and build up his trade value for the 2027 deadline.
Brewers Fan
3:47
I'm putting my money on Giannis retires as a Buck. Every single time he "threatened" the Bucks it felt like someone who wanted desperately to stay but was using his leverage. Still think that's the case. Think he'd rather lose in Milwaukee despite all his bluster the other way. Think I'm way off base?
Luke Adams
3:50
I believe him that he'd happily stay in Milwaukee as long as the Bucks are capable of contending for a title. I just don't know how management turns this roster into a legit contender, given its limited assets.

The other issue at play is that as long as Giannis doesn't explicitly request a trade, the Bucks don't need to just accept the highest offer for him -- they can hold out for something really special. And it definitely didn't sound like any of the offers at this month's deadline fit that bill.

I still think it's more likely than not that Giannis will change teams in the next year or two, but it's certainly not a lock.
Guy
3:50
The Knicks have about 370k in space before hitting the second apron. Do you see them adding a center as Mitch insurance before the season ends (perhaps cutting Clarkson)?
Luke Adams
3:53
Looks like they'd be able to fit a min-salary player in under the second apron as early as March 16, but I imagine that's a decision they'd put off until the last week or two of the season.

You don't want to make your "final" move too early, then have a couple guys get hurt in early April and find out you're actually short-handed at a different position than what you thought.

I've actually wondered if Clarkson might be a buyout candidate -- he might have a better shot at rotation minutes elsewhere. Haven't seen any real chatter about that possibility yet though.
Warriors fan
3:53
If Prozingas plays well and can be resigned at a good price and Draymond doesn't pick up his player option but signs a multi year deal at a lower AAV, how much cap space might they have?  A lineup of Curry, Provinces, Green and Butler coming back say this time next year could be a tough playoff out.  I think a upgrade is needed over Moody.  Not sure who.
Luke Adams
3:55
The cap projects to be at $166MM and the Warriors have about $140MM in guaranteed money for just Curry, Butler, Moody, Podziemski, and Richard. That doesn't include player options for Horford or Melton, or new deals for Draymond or KP. So unless they shed a bunch of salary, I wouldn't expect them to have cap room. But the non-taxpayer mid-level, which will be worth about $15MM, should be in play.
Dude
3:55
Who do you think is the odd man out of the Thunder assuming they move someone to make space for a 1st round pick?
Luke Adams
3:58
Wouldn't be shocked if this is Hartenstein's last season with the Thunder. His team option number is too high, so they'd have to negotiate a new deal to keep him around. Maybe they count on Jaylin Williams taking on a larger role and Thomas Sorber starting to contribute instead.

I think their recent first-rounders will likely be on a short leash going forward as well. I know health issues have prevented Topic and Sorber from playing, but Topic will be entering his third season and Sorber will be going into his second. You'll need contributions from them sooner rather than later.
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