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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 3/19/2024
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ARTHUR HILL
12:03
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll get started with a question about the Heat.
HEATBABY!!!
12:03
Are the Heat in trouble?
ARTHUR HILL
12:06
It's been hard to judge Miami this season because of a constant string of injuries dating back to training camp. Health will obviously be the main question, regardless of where they finish in the standings. The postseason Heat showed last year that they're different than the regular season version, so they'll always be dangerous as long as their core players are available.
DC
12:06
Is D Ham gonna be fired at of this season if LAL regardless.  Dont see them making it past play in.   How about Pelinka too.  Questionable drafts and roster moves, not counting injuries. Although read where he's tight w Jeannie Buss.  Thoughts and thanks.
ARTHUR HILL
12:09
I think there's an understanding that the Lakers weren't able to make a significant move at the deadline because Rob Pelinka only had one draft pick he was able to trade. L.A.'s big move should come this summer when Pelinka goes star hunting again. He and coach Darvin Ham are probably safe no matter what happens in this year's playoffs, but Ham could face a quick hook if the team isn't noticeably better at the start of next season.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
12:10
Is ANT the next face of the NBA? Kid's got it all, doesn't he? Great personality, better smile, and the athleticism to fill up a bedroom wall with posters. And that dunk on Collins last night, Oh My God, haven't ever seen someone get concussed after they got bammed on.
ARTHUR HILL
12:13
Edwards certainly has the talent to become the NBA's marquee player, and his blend of showmanship and competitiveness are ideal to fill that role. He has been somewhat anonymous in national circles due to playing in a small market, but the Wolves can change that with some playoff success this year. Edwards also has a chance to build his reputation in a huge way at this summer's Olympics.
Trog
12:14
Mavs defense has really picked up recently with the addition of Gafford in the middle. He and Lively look dominant in the paint and Mavs now look like a team that can beat you from the outside/inside. What do you see as the floor and ceiling for the outcome of the Mavs season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:17
The interior defense is significantly better than it was last season or even two years ago when the Mavs were in the Western Conference Finals. That makes it a lot easier to have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the court at the same time. Luka makes Dallas dangerous in any series, but there's talent throughout the West, so the early rounds of the playoffs may be determined by matchups.
Stiffin' Griffin?
12:17
How much of the Bucks success can be attributed to improvements made by Doc, vs just cleaning up Griffin's "mess"? I.e. is Doc a good coach or is he just better than a bad one?
ARTHUR HILL
12:20
It may be extreme to call Adrian Griffin a bad coach, but this was his first head coaching opportunity, which wasn't a good fit for a veteran roster expecting to compete for a title right away. The players clearly have confidence in Doc Rivers due to his long tenure in the league. The mental aspect of bringing in a trusted leader can be just as valuable as any strategic changes he made.
Stan
12:20
What do you think the odds are that the Knicks will be mostly healthy (all active) come playoff time?
ARTHUR HILL
12:27
OG Anunoby being sent back to New York for another MRI on his elbow is definitely a concern. The Knicks have been almost unbeatable with him in the lineup, but if he's still having inflammation in the elbow, the team will have to be really careful about how much they use him over the next month. The medical updates on Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson have been vague, with coach Tom Thibodeau saying last week that Randle is taking "controlled" contact, while Robinson is making "really good, steady progress." There's no timeline for either player to return, and the playoffs are about four weeks away. I'd say the odds are against all three players being ready for the first-round series.
Jacque Vaughn
12:28
When Kevin Ollie was named interim head coach, he pointed out that the Nets don’t recover enough loose balls or draw enough charges, referring to the team’s poor numbers in those categories as “losing basketball.” Since he was appointed, the Nets’ loose balls recovered has dropped from 5.1 to 4.8 per game and the team has drawn exactly 1 charge in his 14 games in charge. What are your thoughts on Ollie’s 5-9 record?
ARTHUR HILL
12:33
Brooklyn's front office was obviously hoping for improvement when it decided to replace Jacque Vaughn, but the team has gone the other way. Fourteen games may be a small sample size, but Ollie hasn't changed the culture into anything resembling winning basketball. His background shows that he can be an effective coach, but he hasn't brought any sort of spark to the Nets. Ollie had a chance to make a strong statement that he deserves the job on a permanent basis, but he hasn't helped himself since taking over.
Dennis Schröder
12:33
D’Angelo Russell’s $18.7 million player option deadline is on 06/29/24.  Based on his performance this season, what would you recommend Russell do? Do you believe he could obtain multi-year offers that are in the ballpark of $18.7 million or in excess?
ARTHUR HILL
12:38
Shooting is a very valuable skill in the NBA, and Russell picked a great time to have his best shooting year from long distance. He's connecting at 42.4% from beyond the arc and tied the franchise record last night for most threes in a season. I think he could easily get a multi-year offer in excess of $20MM per season, which is a problem for the Lakers because they probably prefer that he pick up the option so they can include his salary in a trade for a star.
Stan
12:38
Looking at the teams that will be on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Who do you feel is one non star player away to making the playoffs next year?
ARTHUR HILL
12:42
The Rockets are on the rise in the West, and they may not even need to add to the roster to be at least a play-in team next year. The addition of coach Ime Udoka and the signings of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks have helped to unlock the wealth of young talent that Houston amassed from the last three drafts. An under-the-radar trade for Steven Adams, the return of Tari Eason and another lottery pick courtesy of Brooklyn could make the Rockets a legitimate playoff contender.
Walker Kessler
12:43
Why am I not starting more? I’m part of the future core aren’t I?
ARTHUR HILL
12:48
Statistically, Kessler is more or less the same player as last season, when he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting and looked like a foundational piece for Utah's defense. He's still blocking shots and rebounding at the same rate while shooting at a high percentage around the basket. Maybe this is going to be his long-term role -- a big man who creates havoc on defense, but only plays about half the game because of his limited offensive skills.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
12:49
With the top 3 seeds in the West looking like OKC/MIN/DEN and only the order to determine do you favor MIN because of their schedule? OKC and DEN have 8 road games left and MIN finishes with 10 at home and only 4 road games. The Wolves have shown they can win, and are arguably better, without KAT as Naz and Nickeil have picked up their scoring. What's your top three in the West at the end of the regular season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:55
With three teams sitting within a half-game of each other, it's hard to predict how the race will finish, but Minnesota's favorable schedule is definitely an advantage. The Wolves and Thunder may be more motivated to chase the top seed, as opposed to the Nuggets, who have the experience of winning playoff games under any circumstances. The bigger question regarding Minnesota is whether the late-season performance without KAT makes him more expendable this summer. His contract is about to become very expensive, and the Wolves may see a path to remaining a contender without him and the second apron restrictions he will bring.
A.P.
12:56
Why are the Grizzlies doing?  With a possible Top 5 pick up for grabs, why are they playing Desmond Bane at this point in the season???  He is not considered a star so they wouldn't be facing any possible fines by NBA by sitting him down.
ARTHUR HILL
12:58
The Grizzlies see value in having Bane and Brandon Clarke get some late-season work, even if it affects the team's draft pick. It's refreshing to see a team pass on the chance to tank when given an obvious opportunity.
Moo
12:58
Since the Sixers signed Kai Jones, do they get the powers of both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant all rolled into one? Do they win a chip every game Kai plays during that 10 days, even when they lose the actual game?
ARTHUR HILL
12:59
Jones may never live down those comments he made in Charlotte, but it's good to see him back in the NBA after getting some counseling. I hope it works out for him.
1:00
Thanks, everyone, for participating in this week's chat. I'll talk to you again next Tuesday.
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