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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/4/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:02
Welcome to this week's chat. There's plenty to talk about with the trade deadline just two days away, so let's get started.
Unclemike1526
11:02
Arthur, Everybody is panning the Bulls part in the LaVine trade. I think the grade was an A for getting themselves out of that contract. By Thursday if they're lucky they can move Vuj and Lonzo also and add an expiring deal and some draft picks. Then hopefully they can move Heurter and Collins expiring deals at least this summer. I don't think they can move them by Thursday do you? Granted they put themselves in this position, But it looks like they might get themselves out of it. What do you guys think? Thanks man.
ARTHUR HILL
11:08
The Bulls weren't going anywhere with their current roster, so it was time for a change of direction. Zach LaVine has done amazing job turning himself into a high-level scorer again, Nikola Vucevic is having one of the best seasons of his career, and Lonzo Ball has exceeded expectations after missing more than two full years with knee issues. Even with all those positive developments, Chicago was barely holding onto 10th place. In theory, they might have gotten more for LaVine if they had waited until summer, but that's not guaranteed. I expect Vucevic and Ball to both get moved by Thursday, and just about anyone on the roster is available for a decent offer.
11:11
If they can make those moves without taking back long-term contracts, the Bulls will be in a great position to focus on free agency. There may not be any franchise players available this summer, but there are several looming in the Class of 2026. Once the rest of the veterans are gone, Chicago can concentrate on the draft and re-signing Josh Giddey. It's a better path to contention than the one they were on.
barron_hudson
11:11
Do you think Detroit will be major players looking to add draft capital or add assets during the trade deadline?
ARTHUR HILL
11:15
I think the Pistons have communicated their willingness around the league to help facilitate deals, and they'll likely get involved in one or more as teams get into the tricky business of salary matching. Detroit will also be on the lookout for opportunities to improve right away. They're virtually tied for sixth place and a guaranteed playoff spot right now, so they may decide to use their cap space for immediate advantage.
Guest
11:15
Any chance the Rockets make a move before the deadline?  They really need shooting.
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
The Rockets' front office has been downplaying the possibility of a significant deal all season. They seem committed to their seven first-round picks from the last four years and aren't interested in breaking up that core until at least this summer. Still, they have to be on the lookout for an inexpensive veteran shooter to fix the team's most obvious flaw. They have numerous tradable contracts in Aaron Holiday, Jae'Sean Tate and Jeff Green, and another shooter or two could make a huge difference in a playoff series.
JD
11:19
As great as the Luka trade looks for the Lakers, it leaves their roster pretty unbalanced. Are they going to trade for a center this week? Do they need another wing to replace Christie? He was developing into a pretty nice 3 and D guy
ARTHUR HILL
11:24
I expect the Lakers to try very hard to find a starting center prior to Thursday's deadline. They were already in the market for another center before trading Anthony Davis, and their current group is one of the worst big-man rotations in the league. However, I don't think they'll be desperate enough to part with their first-round pick in 2031. They're saving that to eventually retool around Luka Doncic. There are plenty of big men who should be available in exchange for second-rounders or expendable pieces from the current roster.
Guest
11:25
Does swapping out Fox for LaVine make the Kings any worse, based on how LaVine has played this year? Do they need a new playmaker? Do you figure they'll use those added draft picks to make more win-now trades or are they done ofr the week?
ARTHUR HILL
11:32
Fox was the leader of the Kings' offense and had a good rapport with Domantas Sabonis that won't be easy to replace. LaVine adds another explosive scorer to a team that's filled with them, but I don't like the current roster as much without a proven playmaker. Last year's Suns showed the dangers of that strategy. Sacramento was able to get some nice draft assets in the deal, and I expect the front office to work the phones this week to find a new point guard. If that doesn't happen by Thursday, it will become a priority for the summer.
Kd
11:32
are there any other significant players than Dennis Schroder who can’t be traded until the last day of this trading window?
ARTHUR HILL
11:38
There are a handful of players who can't be traded for the rest of the season, but Schroder is the only significant one who falls into that last-day category. Jarrett Allen became trade eligible on Sunday, but the Cavaliers aren't sending him anywhere. Schroder seems very likely to be included in a deal once he passes that threshold. He hasn't shot well since joining Golden State, and the Warriors look like they'll be one of the most aggressive teams at the deadline. I expect to see him in a new uniform by the end of the week.
Luka Doncic
11:38
Did the Mavs finally figure out how to get me to care about my conditioning? After all the post-trade leaks, I've gotta be pretty motivated to get in shape in LA, right?
ARTHUR HILL
11:45
If this doesn't motivate him to care about getting into shape, then nothing will. As more information comes out about Doncic's conditioning issues, it's easier to understand why Dallas was hesitant to give him a super-max contract even though he's undeniably one of the best talents in the league. That's not a defense of the trade that was made on Saturday. Nico Harrison gave him up for a fraction of what he's worth and could have done much better by letting the rest of the league know that Doncic was available. Harrison was focused on getting Anthony Davis because of their Nike connections, and he didn't bother to explore the extravagant packages that other teams would have offered.
11:50
Even so, there's an underrated level of risk the Lakers are taking on by building their future around Doncic. He's easily one of the top players in the world right now despite the conditioning issues that the Mavericks have complained about for years. But it's much easier to play basketball without taking care of your body when you're in your early 20s. Doncic is 25 now and he's been limited to 22 games because of a string of injuries that date back to training camp. Are those going to keep happening as he ages? If they do, the Lakers could be entering a Joel Embiid or Zion Williamson situation where much of their salary cap is tied up in a player who can't stay on the court. Any GM in the league would have jumped at the chance to get Doncic, especially at that price, but it's not a guaranteed path to success unless he dedicates himself to staying in shape.
Go Cavs !!!!!!!!
11:51
Do you see the Cavs making any moves before the deadline?
ARTHUR HILL
11:55
Stability has been an important part of the Cavaliers' success, so I don't think they'll do anything to disrupt the rotation. Maybe a minor addition or two if a veteran becomes available who could be useful in a playoff series, but nothing more. Cleveland is slightly over the tax line, which could be something to watch. The roster figures to be very expensive for years to come, so unloading a salary now to dodge the tax could help avoid the repeater penalty in the future.
Max Power
11:55
Which team from the two recent blockbuster bonzanas benefited the most?
ARTHUR HILL
11:59
It has to be the Lakers because Luka Doncic gives them a 25-year-old superstar as the anchor of the roster and creates a path toward title contention after LeBron James retires. Beyond the concerns about Doncic's long-term health that I mentioned above, he's easily one of the top two or three players in the league that you would want to build your future around. The league-wide disbelief that Dallas would part with him is an indication of how highly he's regarded.
12:02
I think the Spurs are second. It took less than two years for them to find a point guard who can help maximize Victor Wembanyama's considerable talents. Fox wanted to be in San Antonio for that purpose, and the Spurs were able to land him at a reasonable price. Fox and Wemby will be one of the league most exciting combinations to watch for the next decade or so.
12:03
Thanks for all the great questions this week. Enjoy the trade deadline.
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