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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 3/9/2023
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EonADS
10:15
How high can the Lakers realistically climb? Yeah, LeBron is still out, but as long as things don't get worse, they still look solid. Luka's injured, Durant's injured, the Warriors haven't been playing well, the Clippers look stable but they've fooled us before.
Luke Adams
10:18
I'd almost be more surprised at this point if they finish lower than 9th than I would if they move into the top six. The teams right behind them in the standings have not been all that impressive lately, and as you say, there are reasons not to trust the teams directly ahead of them either. Plus, no Western Conference team has an easier schedule the rest of the way than the Lakers, per Tankathon.
10:19
Given how all over the place the West has been this year, I'm probably way too bullish and the Lakers will slip back to 12th in a few days. But I have more hope for them than I have at any other time this season.
Clarkson
10:19
Prediction for my next contract?
Luke Adams
10:21
My first thought was something like $65-70MM over four years, but you're turning 31 this summer, so maybe that's slightly high. You should be able to get three or four years of a salary a bit above what you're making now though.
Trog
10:21
The Mavericks are a mess and have no 1st round pick next year. They are freeing up a little money with Dwight Powells contract expiring, but can't afford to be big players in free agency unless Kyrie leaves. So ... what are their options for turning things around ... coaching change? Scheme change? Blow the thing up?
Luke Adams
10:24
Let's give it at least a few more weeks to see how the Kyrie/Luka pairing is working (assuming they have a few more healthy weeks together). There will be growing pains there that could be sorted out with a full offseason of work (like with Harden and Embiid in Philly). But I really don't love their supporting pieces with Dinwiddie and Finney-Smith gone. Whether it's by acquiring second-round picks or in free agency, they need to find a way to add some useful rotation players on the cheap. This offseason is probably too early to start talking about a coaching change or blowing things up unless things really go south in the next few weeks.
Bulljive
10:24
How close do you see OKC from competing for a title? Do you think theyre a major trade away?
Luke Adams
10:26
I mean... if the trade is for someone like Kevin Durant, then maybe. But realistically, no, I think we're still at least a couple years away from them making major noise. A lot of their core players (Giddey, Jalen Williams, etc.) are still really young and need more time to get closer to their ceilings.
10:27
I guess the counter-argument here is that the 2011 Thunder got to the Western Finals when Durant was in his fourth year, Westbrook in his third year, and Harden in his second. But those guys are future Hall-of-Famers and that team was an outlier.
Raptors
10:28
Let’s say you control the Raptors. You decide you only want to re-sign two of FVV, Poeltl and Trent, and want to trade one of Siakam or Anunoby. Which players do you keep, and what are you targeting in a return package?
Luke Adams
10:30
I'd let Trent go and probably trade Anunoby. I wouldn't feel great about it, since they can both shoot and the team is really lacking that, but I think Anunoby would be easier to trade than Siakam (since OG's three-and-D game makes him easier to slot into just about any roster) and the Raptors don't really have anyone else who does what VanVleet and Poeltl do. In a trade for Anunoby, I'd probably want to target a young player with big potential (ie. a Shaedon Sharpe or a Dyson Daniels) and draft picks that I could flip for a shooter or two.
Marcus
10:30
Do you like the Kings chances of finishing second in the Western Conference?
Luke Adams
10:31
It seems insane to say, but with everything going on in Memphis and the Durant injury in Phoenix... yeah, I sort of do! I don't think the Grizzlies or Suns are going to fall off a cliff or anything, but I'd probably take the Kings in that race right now.
Nuggets
10:32
i haven’t seen many people talk about it, so I’m curious, what did you think about the Nuggets’ deadline moves? I didn’t understand them at all, personally. Getting rid of Bones if they felt they needed to was fine. But adding Bryant as Jokic’s backup when he is statistically one of the few centers in the league who is worse at protecting the rim than Jokic, and then adding Reggie Jackson whose play style and poor defense are similar to Bones…why? I’d rather have just seen Brown at PG, Braun at SG and Nnaji at C than those two considering the team needs D, not O.
Luke Adams
10:34
All the leaks about Hyland in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline hurt them -- it was hard to get anything of real value for him because everyone knew they were determined to move him. Having said that, from following the Nuggets this year, it seems like they've put a LOT of weight into how well the locker room gets along and the fact that everyone has really embraced a team-first attitude. By all accounts, Jackson and Bryant are fully on board with that attitude, while Bones might not have been, so even if the on-court impact of their additions might be minimal, it seems like the vibes are better than ever.
10:35
I don't think it hurts to give themselves more options for the playoffs either. Maybe Jackson and Bryant aren't the right fit for certain matchups, in which case guys like Brown and Nnaji could see more time.
All I want for Xmas ....
10:35
Is for the Warriors to Sign someone Taller than 6-foot-5.  Is that too much to ask for ?  Looney is injured now, so please don't sign another Small when we clearly need a Tall.
Dubs fan
10:36
Kevon Looney has a Back injury yet Kerr wants to Sign another Guard to our vacant 15th Roster spot ??  Its madness.17 available Roster spots but he can't invest 1 of them on a 7-Foot tall player to guard the AD, Jokic, Aytons of the world?
Luke Adams
10:37
A lot of Warriors fans have been beating this drum for years now. It just doesn't seem like a philosophy the front office agrees with. As long as Looney and Draymond are healthy (and it seems like Looney's back issue is minor), the Warriors are confident rolling with those guys in the postseason rather than relying on someone who's still a free agent in March. It might not work as well as it did last year, but I feel like they've earned the benefit of the doubt.
LeVert
10:38
Will I still be on the Cavs next season? What will my next contract look like?
Luke Adams
10:42
Good questions. I've had a hard time getting a read on LeVert's value -- his scoring numbers are well below his usual rates, but the Cavs also aren't asking him to be one of their go-to scorers with Garland and Mitchell taking on those responsibilities. I think LeVert will have a hard time matching this year's salary (nearly $19MM) and might have to settle for something closer to $13-15MM per year. That could be from the Cavs, but I know they badly want someone who better fits the three-and-D prototype. If they can't find that player this summer, bringing back LeVert makes sense to keep filling that hole at small forward and because he could be a trade chip down the road.
Draymond
10:42
Am I still a Warrior next season?
Luke Adams
10:45
It's hard to imagine you anywhere else. Given everything that's happened there, maybe I should be more open to the idea of you leaving, but I'm still in "I'll believe it when I see it" mode.
Guest
10:45
Do you think Lakers leadership has "seen the light" on depth over stars?  It gives the team more flexibility and balance plus they can plug in another star into LeBron's spot once he leaves the team.  Two stars is enough right?
Luke Adams
10:46
We might find out this summer, given that they still have a path to nearly $30MM in cap room. Re-signing their free agents and opting for depth definitely makes more sense to me than pursuing a third star.
Guest
10:46
Would you consider J Kidd on the hot seat already?
Luke Adams
10:48
The pressure's definitely increasing. I'd be pretty surprised if he isn't back next season, but I could see him being a midseason fire in 2023/24 if things aren't going well.
Connor🏀
10:48
Who’s a surprise team who can make a deep playoff run?🏀
Luke Adams
10:50
The Western Conference is a tricky one because it's hard to define what constitutes a "surprise team" there. Like, I'd consider it quite surprising if Denver and Sacramento meet in the Western Finals, but they're the top two seeds! On the other hand, a matchup like Warriors vs. Clippers wouldn't feel that shocking, but neither is a top-four seed right now. So, take your pick in the West -- it feels wide open.
10:51
The East is tougher. As much as I've enjoyed watching the Cavs and Knicks this year, it's hard for me to envision a team besides Boston, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia in the Eastern Finals.
Kim
10:51
The Hawks are average. Why do I think Trae Young will request a trade this off season? While he is a good player, I think the Hawks may have gone as far as they can go with him as the “star” player. Not enough sharing the ball too much dribbling and other players standing around. Last night was pretty good against  Washington Wizards. Why can’t they always play like that and what are your thoughts on what I think???
Luke Adams
10:53
Trae Young is a supremely talented offensive player, but man, it's hard to contend for a title when your star player is an undersized guard who plays poor defense and is shooting 43% from the field. I don't know if he'll request a trade, but I don't think he can be the best player on a championship-caliber team, and if the Hawks come to a point where they have to decide between Trae and Dejounte Murray, I think I'd go with Murray.
TrustTheProcess
10:53
What should the Bulls do in the off-season to upgrade the point guard position if Lonzo Ball isn't ready for the start of next season?
Luke Adams
10:56
It's going to be a challenge. They'll likely be over the cap, so they'll have the mid-level available to go FA shopping, but you're not going to get an above-average starter at that price. The point guards signed using the mid-level last year included Ricky Rubio, John Wall, Gary Payton II, Delon Wright -- good players, but backups rather than starters. Assuming they don't luck out in the lottery and land Scoot Henderson, that probably means the trade market is their best bet. Maybe the Hornets would take Lonzo Ball's contract and a draft pick or two for Terry Rozier?
Trog
10:57
Who do you think the next Darvin Ham is? (Well respected NBA assistant/college coach who is overdue for a head coaching job.)
Luke Adams
10:58
Another Bucks assistant, Charles Lee, comes to mind right away -- he's been considered for a lot of vacancies in recent years. Jordi Fernandez, the associate head coach in Sacramento, is also one to watch.
Most Improved Player
10:59
Whos your pick?
Luke Adams
11:00
I'd take Lauri Markkanen if the season ended today, but there are a few guys with really strong cases. I wouldn't be surprised if the voters like Shai best.
11:01
Thanks for all your questions today, guys! We'll see you next Tuesday for our next live chat.
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