Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/27/2026
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Luke Adams
3:01
Welcome to this week's live chat, all! Your early questions are much appreciated. Let's get started.
Kim
3:01
Good afternoon. I heard on sports tv this morning  that the 76s should just move on from Joel Embiid. While I agree with them saying that Edgecomb and Maxey are the future of the team, how can they offload Embiid? He has so many years left on his contract. With the cap and apron situations who would take on that salary even with enticing first round picks? I say they’re stuck. You?  Thanks!
Luke Adams
3:05
Yeah, even if you believe that trading Embiid is the right move for the franchise (a reasonable stance), I think you need to say what you'd expect a deal to look like. They're not getting anything of value for him at this point, and even just moving off his contract will take significant assets.

One problem with that kind of trade is that there are so few truly bad contracts left in the NBA. Embiid will be making $59.5MM next season, so to trade him you'll probably need to take nearly that much back. It's hard to take on that much salary without getting at least one or two decent players, which would only increase what the Sixers would have to attach to Embiid to move off him.

I think the 76ers just have to be patient. Whatever Embiid can give them on the court is more valuable for now than what it would cost to trade him.
Greg
3:05
Are the Giannis to Portland rumors at all based in reality? Does Grant-Camara-Scoot plus 28-30 picks and an extra frp get the deal done?
Nate Rambis
3:05
Another Giannis question......What would you guess the Blazers would have to send for him?
Luke Adams
3:08
There are two reasons why the Giannis/Blazers rumors are popping up: Their new owner may want to try to make a big splash to show he's serious about investing in the roster even while he's making cuts elsewhere, and the Blazers control the Bucks' drafts from 2028-30.

I still don't really see a match. I can't imagine Giannis committing to sign an extension with Portland, and there's no reason for the Blazers to give up most of their best assets for a veteran star in his 30s who may end up being a one-year rental. They're not that desperate!
Chris from Brooklyn
3:09
is Ayo Dosunmo recent play making him too expensive for the T wolves in free agency? Do you see the Brooklyn nets going after Ayo and/ or Quentin Grimes in free agency? Thanks
BeyondtheSnark
3:09
Given Ayo Dosunmo’s emergence for the Wolves, do you see him getting a contract that pays around $18 million a year?
Luke Adams
3:14
Dosunmu's free agency will be very interesting. I'm curious to see how the DiVincenzo injury will affect it. If DiVincenzo is out for all of next season, it becomes even more important for the Wolves that they retain Ayo, but they'd probably want to clear DiVincenzo's salary from the books to help accommodate Dosunmu's new deal. Which won't be easy, since they don't have a ton of expendable sweeteners to attach to that contract.

I'd already felt like Dosunmu's floor was probably something like what NAW got last summer (four years, $61MM). I think he could do a whole lot better than that now -- $20MM per year or more absolutely seems in play. I won't be surprised at all if there are some retooling teams willing to go higher than what the Wolves offer, so it will be interesting to see what his priorities are (role, contending, money, etc.)
April in the D
3:14
How much trouble are the Pistons in? A loss tonight probably cooks them, right?
Luke Adams
3:15
Probably, though Orlando has been inconsistent all season. If the Magic win tonight and then the Pistons win Game 5 at home, I'm not sure exactly how confident I'd be in the Magic to take care of business in Game 6.
AnthonyEdwardsHypeMachine
3:16
Simple yes or no question: do the Wolves get it done in one of the next 3 and close out the series?
Luke Adams
3:17
If ever there was a spot for a 3-1 comeback, this looks like it. Wolves are missing their top scorer + Nuggets are at home for two of the three potential games.

Still, winning three games in a row against anyone is tough, the Nuggets aren't whole themselves, and it seems like the Wolves have figured some things out defensively. I believe in Minnesota to close this out.
Hoosierdaddy7484
3:18
If you had to put a % number on the nuggets coming back, what would it be?  With the twolves losing 2 plays, one being ant,  I think it's got to be at least 60% chance they do it.
Luke Adams
3:18
Obviously, based on my last answer, I'd put it below 50%. But not all that far below. Maybe 40-45%.
Guest
3:19
If it's one team that needs to win the draft lottery for the number 1 pick or get a top 3 pick it's the bulls. They need a potential star. Plus who do you think will be the perfect head coach for this team.
Luke Adams
3:21
Think there might be some fans in Sacramento, Brooklyn, and D.C. that disagree about which teams most needs the No. 1 pick, but definitely fair to put the Bulls in that group that needs it most.

Sort of hard to evaluate assistant coaches, but guys like Micah Nori and Chris Quinn have been candidates to become first-time head coaches for years. I'd like to see what one of them could do with the job.
Durant
3:22
Where does he force a trade to next year?
Luke Adams
3:23
I can't really see him pushing for it and I'm skeptical the team would want to acquire someone as old as KD, but in terms of a good short-term, on-court fit, I'd love to see Durant on the current Pistons roster.
Bulls Fan
3:24
Will the Bulls go with an experienced head coach or someone who is up and coming?
Luke Adams
3:26
Should've mentioned this a couple questions ago, but I like the idea of them going after a first-timer and trying to find their own Jordi Fernandez or Charles Lee, since it seems like they're shifting into rebuilding mode. When they're ready to compete more seriously in a couple years, they can evaluate whether the guy they hire this year is a keeper or if they want someone more experienced at that point.
Austin
3:26
Are there any updates on the Mavericks GM search? I've seen some Tim Connelly rumors, but it feels far-fetched for Connelly to leave such a good situation in Minnesota to move on to Dallas.
Luke Adams
3:29
Haven't really heard a whole lot of chatter on that front lately. I wonder if they're exhausting their options in terms of chasing those big-name targets and will eventually get more serious about the candidates a tier or two below those most experienced/accomplished guys.

Of course, I don't think those bigger names are necessarily all out of reach. Take Connelly, for instance -- if the Wolves end up losing to Denver, would he rather return to a situation where Minnesota is fully capped-out, hasn't been good enough to make the Finals, and needs to re-sign guys, or would the idea of building around Cooper Flagg for the next several years (with less immediate pressure on him) be more appealing?
AnthonyEdwardsHypeMachine
3:30
How serious is the Rondo as a HC smoke? Loved him as a player and his IQ was off the charts. Would like to see him get a shot personally.
Luke Adams
3:33
We haven't even seen Rondo in a full-fledged assistant role at all yet (his job with the Bucks was part-time), which makes me a little skeptical the Pelicans would be willing to hand him the head coaching reins. But I suppose it's worked out well so far for the Lakers with JJ Redick. And Chauncey Billups was only an assistant for a single season before the Blazers hired him (though that didn't work out quite as well).

I haven't gotten the sense yet that Rondo is at the top of their list, but it'd be fun to see him back on the sidelines.
PhillyProud
3:34
If both the Sixers and Rockets  lose in the first round, who is more likely to be fired? Nick Nurse or Ime Udoka?
Luke Adams
3:35
I'd say Udoka. The Celtics entered the playoffs as the favorites to come out of the East, whereas the Lakers have been missing two of their top three players.

Would imagine both would be on the hot seat though, and it could come down to what the rest of the series looks like. A blowout loss in Game 5 would be far more damning than forcing a Game 7 and losing a close one.
Guest
3:36
who do you think is the first big trade of the offseason the past 2 years it’s been Mikal and Desmond bane who are some players that could get moved
Luke Adams
3:38
Could hinge on which teams are upset early in the playoffs, but if we're looking for someone who fits the Bridges/Bane mold (high-level role player on a rebuilding team), I'd keep an eye on the Pelicans. I'm curious to see if they'll be any more open to moving someone like Trey Murphy or Herb Jones this summer, especially if they get a Bane-like offer for Murphy.
Unclemike1526
3:39
So it pretty much seems the search for a POBO is over for the Bulls as now Paxson is involved and is vouching for Lloyd. Thought this was a sham search anyway. Will he hire a GM? What do you think the odds are that Ayo could be brought back to the Bulls? I think it might depend on the coach because Donovan didn't know how to use him anyway. I say 50-50. What do you think Luke? Thanks
Luke Adams
3:44
It's not uncommon for a team to hire more than one of the candidates they interview for this sort of role -- Eversley interviewed for the top job back in 2020 before the Bulls hired Karnisovas in that role and offered Eversley the No. 2 position. So it wouldn't surprise me if the Bulls end up hiring, say, Lloyd and Bryson Graham (or another exec linked to the team during the process for whom GM would be a promotion).

For what it's worth, I wouldn't necessarily call Lloyd a lock yet, but I agree he looks like the clear favorite.

As for Ayo, it'll depend in large part on how exactly the Bulls want to use their cap room and build their roster in the short term. Dosunmu would help make them more competitive right away, but will that be the priority? Or will the new head of basketball ops sell the Reinsdorfs on a more gradual rebuild that sees them focused on asset collection for a year or two?
3:45
Apologies, guys, something came up and I have to cut today's chat a little short. I'll be back next Monday at the same time for the full hour. Have a great week and enjoy the rest of the first round!
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