Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/20/2026
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Luke Adams
3:01
Welcome to this week's live chat! I may have to take a brief break if the NBA announces its draft tiebreaker results in the next hour, but for now, I'm ready to field all your questions.
Peter
3:02
A lot of silly talk of evening draft odds to prevent tanking. Does that just desensitize the 9 and 10 teams from trying to make the playoffs?
Luke Adams
3:04
That would definitely be a concern I'd have. At least in the current system, there's no reason for a team to want to, say, intentionally lose a first-round playoff series. Some of the "fixes" the NBA has discussed could give teams a reason to do that.

It still feels to me like a fundamental problem with trying to fix the tanking issue is that the most effective potential fixes are the most complicated to explain to fans, and therefore unlikely to be adopted.
Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo
3:04
If the cheapo Blazers owner wants to reportedly keep their next HC <1.5MM, wouldn't it make sense to just keep Splitter? As a first/second year HC there's no way he would get that big of a pay bump from his current assistant HC contract, right?
AnthonyEdwardsHypeMachine
3:04
How does a cheapskate like Dundon make it past the board of governors? Bad publicity all around for the NBA and you'd've thought they did their due diligence on this guy. Can't be a new thing all of a sudden. Thx.
Luke Adams
3:09
A few questions about Dundon and the Blazers already.

Let's tackle the second one first -- I do think Dundon is facing a bit of culture shock after having success as a team owner in the NHL, where rosters aren't as expensive and maybe a "blue collar" mentality is considered more of an asset.

I'm admittedly not all that familiar with the way Dundon ran that team, but when he agreed to buy the Blazers, there seemed to be favorable reviews about the job he has done with the Hurricanes. Maybe these are just growing pains while he adjusts to the new norms in the NBA, but it's certainly a worrisome first impression for Blazers fans.
3:11
As for Splitter, you're right that he wouldn't cost what a Doc Rivers-type would. But even Doug Christie got $2MM last season when he was promoted to the full-time Kings job, and that was considered well below the norm. Splitter, in my opinion, did a better job with these Blazers than Christie did with the Kings and has more assistant coaching experience. I'm not sure he'd view a $1.5MM offer as a slap in the face, necessarily, but I'm also not sure whether he'd accept it.
Kim
3:11
Good afternoon. I’m not liking what I see overall with Johnathan Kuminga since getting traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He’s not a good passer, which the starters are, he is clunky, impulsive and doesn’t seem like the Warriors really developed him. Should the Hawks accept or decline that $25 million team option this off season? I say decline the option. Maybe work with him on a much lower salary (because he’s coming off the bench after all) maybe 2 years with team option on 2nd year to see if they can develop him to Hawks system? Thanks.
Luke Adams
3:13
Declining the option is probably the right call. For what it's worth, the three- and four-year offers he got from Phoenix and Sacramento last season were worth less than $25MM annually, and I certainly wouldn't say he's shown this season that he deserves a raise.

If the Hawks genuinely believe he can be part of their long-term core, I could see a three or four-year deal with two guaranteed years. If they're not so sure, maybe another short-term commitment makes more sense.
Black Ace57
3:13
Any concern that Wemby had to have such an impressive game in order to get that win? It’s hard to expect 35 a night with 10-12 stops every time no matter how good the player if that’s what it takes.
Luke Adams
3:15
Eh, the Spurs were up by double-digits by most of the second half and still would've won if Wemby scored 25 instead of 35. I also don't think it's unrealistic to expect more of those kind of games from Wemby, who's one of the best players in the league.

In the second and third round, they'll need more from the other guys, but I think they'll get it.
Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo
3:15
Are the Rockets cooked if Durant misses G2 and is maybe 60% for the rest of the series?
Luke Adams
3:18
Not necessarily, but the longer it takes Durant to get back to 100%, the more likely the Lakers are to win these early games and ensure that the Rockets would have to go to a Game 6 or 7 to win the series -- which, in turn, would give Luka and Reaves more time to make it back. It's sort of a bummer we aren't getting to see these two teams at full strength. Would have been a lot of fun.
raz1374
3:18
Assuming the Pacers keep their pick and bring in a top 4 player, who goes? They are not a tax team.
Luke Adams
3:19
Don't think they could justify keeping both Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker in that scenario, especially if they end up drafting Dybantsa, Boozer, or Wilson.
Arcman
3:20
Can you explain to many here that LeBron is not going to sign a minimum contract just to play another year he wants a respectable contract.
Luke Adams
3:22
I mean, I really have no idea what LeBron would and wouldn't do. Maybe he WOULD be willing to sign for the minimum in the right scenario.

But nothing we've seen to this point his career suggests that's likely. He hasn't always sought out every last dollar, but accepting a $50MM salary instead of $52MM obviously isn't the same as settling for the minimum. A team that wants him should probably be prepared to do better than that.
Dill
3:22
what moves do the hornets make to build off this year? I’ve seen humors trading for Bam. Hornets own a mavericks pick and a heat pick as well as all of their own picks. What about Giannis?
Luke Adams
3:26
I suspect Jeff Peterson will take a similar approach with the Hornets that Trajan Langdon has with the Pistons, which means he'll be absolutely willing to make modest upgrades to complement his young core. But I'm a little skeptical he's going to open up the war chest for a player like Giannis who would entirely change the way the Hornets play.

Someone like Adebayo is more interesting, since he's more of a complementary star than a ball-dominant one, but it's pretty hard for me to imagine the Heat doing that unless Bam explicitly asks to be moved.
Edwill
3:26
Should the Pistons be cautious about the kind of contract to give Duran. After he struggle in game 1 vs Orlando I would be hesitant to overpay him a max contract. I know everyone is overacting over there surprised game 1 loss and he struggle but Duran gotta prove he is worth that big money by playing well in these playoffs.
Luke Adams
3:29
We'll see how the rest of this playoff run goes, but at this point I'm OK with giving him the rookie max (25% of the cap). I'd be more nervous about the possibility of having to go beyond that if he makes All-NBA (in which case he could get up to 30% of the cap).

The fact that Cade was granted award eligibility is actually pretty fascinating for Detroit. With him and Luka obviously locks for All-NBA spots, it could make someone like Duren more of a borderline pick. Imagine if Duren ends up 16th in All-NBA voting and would've made it if not for Cunningham being ruled eligible? Would be a great outcome financially for the Pistons, and I'm sure Duren would be happy for his teammate, but still...
Moonlighter
3:30
How can the Nuggets manage to keep both Cam Johnson and Peyton Watson next year?
Luke Adams
3:31
Write a big luxury tax check to the NBA.

(This is a flippant answer, but there are technically no rules stopping them from paying everyone and just living with the accompanying tax penalties and apron limitations. It's just a matter of ownership being willing to stomach it.)
Shane
3:32
With Chicago having the 9th and 15th pick do you see them trading those picks to move up or do you see them keeping them?
Luke Adams
3:34
Hard to say until we know who will be running the front office and how that person operates. But I think it'll be hard to move up more than a couple spots using just those two picks. In my opinion, they'd be better off keeping both picks and taking two shots at securing a long-term core player.
Chris From Brooklyn
3:34
With the nets having Michael Porter Jr and Nic Claxton as possible trade chips. Have you heard if they are trying for a second 1st round pick in the 26 draft? or are they content with their current picks ( Potential top 4 pick and two 2nd round picks)
Luke Adams
3:36
Haven't heard anything yet, but those kinds of trade rumors don't usually start up until after the lottery, when teams know where they'll be picking and have a better sense of what the draft pool will look like.

For what it's worth, I'd be surprised if the Nets are looking to bring in a bunch of rookies again this season after incorporating five first-rounders last season. They don't control their own first-round pick in 2027, so they have no real incentive to go through another 60-loss developmental year.
Jordan fan
3:36
With all the cap space Bulls have, is it me that the free agents this year seem to be underwhelming?  Does it make sense to keep the cap space and go for a big spend in 2027?
Luke Adams
3:38
Free agency is, frankly, perennially underwhelming these days, with extensions easier to sign than ever and so many teams locking up their stars well before their contracts expire. This year's RFA class (Duren, Watson, Kessler, Eason, M. Williams, etc.) actually looks a bit stronger than usual, so if there's someone the Bulls like in that group, they shouldn't hesitate to shoot their shot.

In general though, rebuilding teams with cap room are more inclined to accommodate salary-dump trades to accumulate more assets than they are to spend big in free agency. Wouldn't surprise me at all if that's the route the Bulls take.
Golden State Worrier
3:38
Hi Luke, about a month ago, you felt it was more likely than not that Steve Kerr returns.  Has your opinion changed at all?
Luke Adams
3:40
Not really. I know Kerr expressed doubt about his future the other day, but that's the sort of comment I'd expect him to make on the heels of a discouraging season-ending loss. Once he gets a week or two to recover and to envision best-case scenarios for next season, I could see him being more enthusiastic about returning for another year or two.

Of course, his decision could still go either way -- but if I had to bet at this point, I think I'd still rather bet on him returning than retiring.
Jason
3:41
What player may the Mavs target in free agency to pair with Coop?
Luke Adams
3:43
I expect they'll view a returning, healthy Kyrie Irving as their big offseason "addition" and will want to see what he and Flagg (and, ideally, Dereck Lively) look like together before doing anything too drastic. As good as Flagg already is, he's under team control for at least four more seasons and likely many more beyond that. No need to rush into any major moves and risk locking themselves into a bad contract.

Besides, having a real, high-level point guard next to Flagg is what I'd want to see most if I were the Mavs, and Kyrie absolutely fits that bill if he's back to 100%.
GrizzMan
3:44
If the Grizz get their projected #7 pick, what would it take for them to trademark into the Top 4 and get someone like Caleb Wilson?
Luke Adams
3:46
At least an unprotected future first-rounder with a good chance at becoming a lottery pick. And that might not even be enough, given the perceived gap between a top-four pick and No. 7 in this draft.
Mark
3:46
Who's gonna hire mr nico H .... or will he go back to shoes
Luke Adams
3:48
I bet there would be teams willing to hire him in a lesser basketball operations role where he's providing input and isn't the one making the decisions. But would he be willing to accept a job that's a few rungs down the front office ladder? And would he even want to, after the way things went in Dallas? I'd be somewhat surprised if he ends up back in the league anytime soon.
Dstars
3:48
who would be 3 coaches in the playoffs that need to win to keep their job security?
Luke Adams
3:52
I've long assumed that Jamahl Mosley is on his way out, but if he can upset the Pistons, he deserves to keep his job. Kenny Atkinson and Mike Brown probably wouldn't survive first-round upsets.

I'd also keep an eye on Chris Finch and maybe Ime Udoka. Both are well-liked by their respective teams, but I have to think first-round exits would put them on the hot seat, especially with the Lakers missing two of their top three guys.
Keith
3:52
Which team is most likely to make a big trade, if they get upset in the playoffs?
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