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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 3/2/2026
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Luke Adams
3:01
Thanks for all the early questions, guys! Let's dive in.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
3:01
I love the Slo-Mo addition for the Wolves. Versatile defender, can handle the 🏀, good for a couple 3:s a year 😂. Am I crazy to think he's the missing piece that gets the Wolves to the Finals this year? Don't have the stats in front of me but a closing 5 of ANT, DD(or Ayo), Jaden, Rudy, and Slo-Mo is elite defensively. Maybe not OKC but pretty damn close. Team is way more versatile than last year. Thoughts?
Luke Adams
3:04
I'm wary of overstating the impact of anyone added from the buyout market, since real difference-makers are almost never available there, and it usually takes some time for players to adjust to new teams. But the Wolves and Anderson are already familiar with each other, and they don't need all that much from him, so I like the move too. I'm not sure I'm "missing piece that gets them to the Finals" high on the move, but I definitely like the Wolves more than I did before the trade deadline and view them a step above the Rockets/Lakers tier of playoff teams in the West.
Trog
3:04
Let's talk roster cleanups before Wednesday two way deadline: Boston converts both Harper and Shulga? Memphis converts O-Max? Sacramento with Plowden? Houston with Davison?
Luke Adams
3:06
Regarding Boston specifically: I think the Celtics will probably wait until mid-March to re-add new 13th and 14th men. They've only used 26 of Harper's 50 potential games of two-way eligibility, so it wouldn't shock me if their mid-March moves are promoting Shulga (he needs to be involved for $$ purposes) and signing a veteran free agent, then promoting Harper on the last day of the season. That would be a better way to maximize their roster spots while staying out of the tax.
3:08
As for candidates to be promoted in the next couple days, O-Max is a good one. Plowden too, though he has lots of eligibility left still and it's not like the Kings need him for the postseason. Houston barely uses Davison, so I wouldn't be surprised if they go in another direction with their open roster spot.

I'm curious about guys like Cisse in Dallas and Love in Portland, who have earned promotions but don't have a clear path to roster spots, since their teams have full 15-man rosters. If there were moves to be made there involving vets, I would've thought they'd get done by March 1 to ensure those vets were playoff-eligible for new teams.
Tarunafish
3:09
From what I read, the Jazz have about $140 million in salaries for 2026-27. Does this mean they will have access to the non-taxpayer MLE? How likely are they to use it?
Luke Adams
3:12
Looks like the Jazz are at about $140MM for 11 players, which includes non-guaranteed guys like Filipowski, Mykhailiuk, and Vince Williams. The first two seem like safe bets to be back on those team-friendly contracts. Not sure about Williams, who will be recovering from that torn ACL for a good chunk of 2026/27.

Anyway, if we assume a $166MM cap, which is the latest projection, it's possible there's still a path to the Jazz operating below it. But after factoring in the cap hold for Utah's first-round pick (which could be pretty sizable if they end up in the top three or four), operating over the cap makes more sense. In that case, yes, they'd have the full non-taxpayer MLE, but not the bi-annual exception, which they used this year.

I think it's a safe bet they'll use some or all of that MLE. But there are a lot of different ways for that to happen. I know they want to be better next year but I'm not sure I see them going out and spending the whole thing on a single free agent.
Jp
3:12
With Kyree Irving not playing at all this season. Should the Mavs decide to trade him for draft picks and young players. What about Washington and Gafford?
Luke Adams
3:15
I think the return for Trae Young and the rumors about what the Grizzlies were offered for Ja Morant probably tell us that the idea of getting "draft picks and young players" for Kyrie Irving isn't realistic. He'll be a 34-year-old coming off an ACL tear earning $40MMish. His trade value will be limited until he gets back on the court and proves he can play like his old self, which won't happen until at least next season.

Doesn't mean Dallas can't or won't trade him, but they'd be selling low. I believe they like the idea of seeing him play with Flagg next year before deciding on his future at the 2027 deadline.

Washington and Gafford are more realistic offseason trade chips, since they're younger and have role-player salaries.
Edwill
3:16
Do you think the Pistons should went after mpj at the trade deadline. It's clear they don't have a second scorer that can take the scoring load off cade.
Luke Adams
3:17
I do wish the Pistons had been a little more aggressive at the deadline, but based on what the Nets were apparently seeking for MPJ (two first-round picks), I get why they would've been unwilling to meet that price. A Coby White type would've been more interesting to me, since he would've fit into their TPE and the price to get him would've been much lower.
Just Curious
3:18
What is the reasoning behind the wave of young players signing team friendly deals, instead of testing restricted agency. It seems to me guys like Jenkins, Barlow and most recently Santos would have got a lot of interest this  summer. Virtually every team can make an offer sheet up to their mid level. Don't you think there would have been a market for those guys or am I missing something?
Luke Adams
3:23
Restricted free agency isn't necessarily kind to those first- or second-year guys with limited track records. Even when they make it there, they're not necessarily going to get bigger contracts than the ones we've seen them sign in-season. Collin Gillespie and Cam Spencer were a couple examples last summer of promising young players who went to restricted free agency and ended up just signing minimum deals (Gillespie for one year, Spencer for four).

For a lot of the guys accepting these team-friendly deals, it's their first real, guaranteed NBA contract, so it makes sense that they'd feel more comfortable locking in a sure thing now rather than trying their luck in a system in which teams seem increasingly reluctant to risk tying up their cap room or exceptions for multiple days by making offer sheets.
Derek
3:23
What in the world are the Bulls doing? Trying to tank like everyone else on order hopefully get a better draft position?
Luke Adams
3:25
It feels like the front office had tanking on the mind based on the way it left the roster unbalanced after its deadline moves. I just think if that was the play, they should've started much earlier in the season -- with 25 wins already, it's going to be hard to out-tank the bottom 6-8 teams in the NBA.

Also sort of unclear which of the guys they acquired in those deadline deals they actually view as potential long-term building blocks. Do they plan on re-signing Ivey this summer? Will Dillingham be part of their plans going forward? I assume yes but the early returns haven't been promising and they didn't give up much for either player, so it would be easy enough to pivot away from them.
GrizzMan
3:26
How do you feel about a Ja for Herro based trade this offseason?
Luke Adams
3:28
Don't hate it for the Grizzlies, who could let Herro loose as a scorer and maybe bump up his trade value for next season if he stays healthy. Less convinced the Heat would be interested, since I'm not sure the diminished version of Ja we've seen in recent years since the shoulder issues is any more valuable than Herro.
Kim
3:28
Good afternoon. I’m excited about my Atlanta Hawks, how they have basically turned over the entire roster, gave the leadership to Jalen Johnson. Johnathan Kominga is so far so good. So what do you think is the summer off season plan? I say they plan to draft the best available and seek a decent center through trade deadline. Agree?  Thanks!
Luke Adams
3:31
That approach makes sense to me. I like Okongwu, but he needs more help up front. A guy who can protect the rim and rebound well would be the obvious fit. A Mitchell Robinson type if they go the free agency route. Maybe someone like Claxton or Gafford if they make a trade.

Outside of the frontcourt, I think their other moves will hinge on where they land in the lottery and which player they draft with that Bucks/Pelicans pick.
BBall br
3:31
What happens this summer with Knicks' Mo Diawara? His stats don't jump off the page but he's a rookie and he has great swagger and confidence to his game and looks comfortable doing it all. He's a RFA after Knicks signed him to a 1 year deal. Knicks will want to lock him obviously but how do you think that goes and will another team steal him away?
Luke Adams
3:34
I mentioned a few questions ago that teams are generally reluctant to put offer sheets on the table for guys like that, since it just ties up cap space or an exception for multiple days and the original team will usually match.

But the Knicks are somewhat vulnerable to an offer sheet since they're a good team with a big payroll -- rival teams might be more willing to roll the dice in the hopes that New York won't want to deal with the tax/apron ramifications of a bigger deal for Diawara (and in the hopes of slightly weakening the Knicks' depth in the process).

If the Knicks do want to bring him back on a relatively team-friendly deal, it might require them to guarantee multiple seasons, like what the Grizzlies did with Spencer last summer.
KJ
3:35
Besides the fact he loses Bird rights, which with all due respect, is going to be a non factor since he's going to get no where near what he's making, why did Middleton decide to stay with the Mavs?
Luke Adams
3:37
I wouldn't assume that will be a non-factor. If Middleton had taken a buyout, then signed a minimum-salary contract with another team, he would've been limited to 120% of his minimum salary if his new team wanted to re-sign him, with any other team needing to use cap room or an exception to sign him.

Maintaining his Bird rights means he can basically re-sign with Dallas for any amount. Obviously he's not going to get another $30MM salary or anything, but the Mavs could easily offer, say, $5-10MM, or sign-and-trade him to a team willing to pay him that amount.
brandon powell
3:37
way early to predict or say but do you think a pistons vs thunder finals this year will happen?
Luke Adams
3:39
I'd bet against it. I'm taking the field over the Pistons in the East. I like the Thunder's chances in the West more, but the Spurs, Nuggets, and Wolves will be tough outs and OKC will probably have to get past two of them.
Guest
3:39
Nuggets ( depending on AG's health )  I'm wondering with the improve play of Spencer Jones & Julian Strawthers -- what that could possibly lead to for the Nuggs this summer ?  in relation to Cameron Johnson & Peyton Watson - ( I don't think they're getting rid of Braun)  Johnson is good as gone and  Peyton Watson in a big signing trade candidate ?
Luke Adams
3:42
Gonna be some tough decisions for the Nuggets this summer, especially if ownership would prefer to avoid the tax (or at least avoid going too deep into tax territory). Cam Johnson definitely looks like the obvious trade candidate there. Despite his struggles, he'd probably be easier to move than Braun because he'll be on an expiring contract, whereas Braun has a long-term deal.

I get the sense that the Nuggets really want to bring back Watson if they can. Jones will be an interesting case -- that's another RFA that could potentially be squeezed away from his current team because they'll be cap-strapped and will have bigger priorities in free agency.
Dstars
3:42
It seems like the Mavs will be picking most likely between 6-8 in the 1st round, who do you think would be their preferred target?
Luke Adams
3:44
They should be focusing on best available player rather than drafting for need. If they're in that 6-8 range, that could mean someone like Mikel Brown, Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, or Darius Acuff. Any of those guys would be a pretty good outcome for the Mavs.
Fernando
3:44
Where do you see Tyus Jones heading after being waived by the Mavericks?
Luke Adams
3:46
Houston would make some sense. Maybe Denver, though it sounds like they'd prefer a forward. I'm a bit skeptical that Jones will play a major role for any playoff team unless an injury opens up minutes somewhere.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
3:46
Low key are the Warriors trying to get one of those Spots type lottery lucky bounces? Would make sense with Steph prolly only having 2-3 years left and making that trade for the human infirm Kristaps Porzingis. We witnessing the Golden State Tankers?
Luke Adams
3:49
I don't think they're tanking. I think they just recognize there's no chance they'll fall out of a play-in spot (they have a 7.5-game cushion on No. 11 Memphis with 22 games to go) and know that their best chance of getting through the play-in and making the playoffs is with a fully healthy Steph Curry. So no need to rush him back and risk his availability for the postseason.

Obviously, their upside is pretty limited with Butler out, so if they did end up losing in the play-in, I don't think they'd be devastated. But I doubt they're thinking much about lottery odds. When it comes to play-in teams jumping into the top four, last year's Mavs are the exception, not the rule.
GrizzMan
3:49
do the Grizzlies invest at center in the draft? Or do they keep chasing that wing they can never secure?
Luke Adams
3:51
They're another "best available" team. If that turns out to be a center, fine, but I definitely don't think they should be going out of their way to address that position in the lottery just two years after using a top-10 pick on one. Edey's injuries have been a bummer, but he's been really good when he's played.
KJ
3:52
Quick question.  If your are the Bulls Gm, this summer, which guards are you keeping?
Luke Adams
3:55
Josh Giddey and Tre Jones are solid first and second options at point guard and are on multiyear contracts, so it makes sense to keep them. I think you probably have to re-sign Jaden Ivey as long as the price is reasonable (which it should be). I don't mind the idea of a shorter-term deal for him to see if he can get his old form back.

Simons probably walks. I don't hate the idea of re-signing Sexton, who earned a lot of kudos for his leadership on a young, rebuilding team in Charlotte. And I suppose you're probably bringing back Dillingham too, since he's under contract and his trade value will be nonexistent unless he starts playing a lot better in the next few weeks.
A.P.
3:55
Who do you think will make a hard run at Peyton Watson if the Nuggets decide not to keep  him?  He seems like the type of player several contenders would like to have considering he wouldn't be making All Star level money.  He's probably high mid range of $140-160M range.
Luke Adams
3:58
A deal above $25MM per year would make me nervous, but you're probably right that you'd have to go well above that to give Denver real pause about matching.

The Lakers would be the first team I'd watch -- they'll have cap room and Watson is exactly the sort of versatile two-way player they badly need on the wing alongside Doncic and Reaves. Brooklyn could be another interesting match. Been a while since Sean Marks did an offer sheet, but they'll have cap room and apparently plan to pivot to being competitive next season.
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