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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 5/29/2025
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Luke Adams
1:00
Thanks as always for the early questions, guys. Keep them coming and I'll get to as many as I can in the next 50ish minutes.
Bob
1:00
How big is the bind that the Grizzlies are in regarding JJJ, now that he didn’t make all-nba?  It sounds like they will need to clear some cap space in order to renegotiate his deal. Do you think they’ll be able to do that, or is there real concern that they could lose him in a year and that they could try to deal him?
Luke Adams
1:03
I don't think their position is that bad. I haven't really sat down and dug into the numbers, but based on my back-of-the-napkin math, they could create nearly $7MM in cap room, which would allow them to bump his salary to $30MM+ for 2025/26 and then offer him a four-year extension worth about $190MM. That's $197MMish in new money in total for four new years.

It's possible he could do better than that if he waits for free agency, but I don't think that's a sure thing (he has flaws, including a lack of rebounding). That's a pretty strong offer. And if the Grizzlies are willing to go higher, they can probably carve out a little more cap room to increase it even further.
KJ
1:03
I know it was mentioned Dallas and looking for a point guard until Kyrie gets back, I'm curious to know why CP3 has been mentioned as an option yet? Yes he's 40 but he still has enough Savy to play the game and it will be a lot more effective once Kyrie comes back and he will come off the bench playing against the second unit of most teams
Luke Adams
1:04
He actually has been mentioned! https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/05/jrue-holiday-lonzo-ball-chris-paul...

And I think he's a very logical fit for the reasons you mentioned. He showed by picking San Antonio last summer that he values the ability to play a significant role at this stage in his career, and Dallas could absolutely offer that.
SGA
1:05
So match up wise who do I hope wins the East
Luke Adams
1:07
I think your team will be pretty heavily favored against either the Pacers or the Knicks. I feel like at this point the best scenario for you would be for the Pacers to give away Games 5 and 6, then narrowly pull out Game 7. Feels like they'd come into the Finals with far less confidence and momentum in that scenario than if they comfortably win Game 5 tonight.
Julius R
1:07
Since the only team with cap room is Brooklyn, should I opt in and go into FA next year, opt out and go to Brooklyn (only team with cap room)or do I sign a 2 year extension
Luke Adams
1:08
That Brooklyn scenario assumes that the Nets would be willing to pay you a salary similar to the one you'd be making on your option ($30MM+). I really don't think that's a given for a team still very much in rebuilding mode, so opting in looks like your best move to me. At that point you could try to negotiate an extension or take your chances in 2026 free agency if you don't like the offer on the table.
Bucks fan
1:09
So if you were the bucks GM and you have that meeting with giannis what can you say or what can you present that will make him want to say
Luke Adams
1:11
It's a good question. There was a report the other day that the Bucks were pointing to the ability to continue competing in a weak Eastern Conference as a selling point, and I saw some people making fun of it. But that's one of the better reasons I can think of to stay!

I think their pitch probably appeals to Giannis' loyalty and points out how beloved one-team guys like Dirk and Kobe are in their respective cities. And you make the case that you've built a title team around him once and can do it again, especially if you essentially view 2025/26 as a gap year.

Convincing him to basically throw away next season, when he's still in his prime, will be the most difficult part of that sales job.
B Stevens
1:12
Seeing how this might be a gap year with Tatum potentially missing all next season so do I keep the band together, trade a rotational piece like White, or do I call Houston and see what I can get for Jaylen Brown..
Luke Adams
1:14
Never hurts to listen on guys like Brown and White, but trading one of them wouldn't be my first choice. Holiday looks to me like the clearer trade chip for a few reasons:
  1. His contract runs for three more years, so moving off of his deal creates more long-term savings than trading, say, Porzingis and his expiring contract.
  2. He was less valuable on the court over the past couple years than White.
  3. Even though his contract isn't particularly team-friendly, there are a lot of teams that could talk themselves into taking him because they need backcourt defense and/or a steady hand at the point guard spot.
Bob
1:15
of the big 5 RFAs- Giddey, Kuminga, Grimes, Aldama & Cam Thomas, which is most likely to be in a different uniform next season?
Luke Adams
1:17
I'd rank Giddey as the most likely to stay put, followed by Aldama and maybe Thomas (no team's gonna outbid the Nets for him, but they have to actually want to keep him).

That leaves Kuminga and Grimes as the most likely to change teams. In Kuminga's case, I expect the Warriors to seriously explore what he could bring back in a sign-and-trade. As for Grimes, I think the Sixers would really like to re-sign him, but their cap situation is more tenuous than most of those other teams, so an aggressive offer sheet (maybe from Brooklyn?) could really give them trouble, especially if they want to re-sign Yabusele.
GrizzMan
1:17
Are the Grizz realistically  in play for Cam Johnson?
Luke Adams
1:17
Don't see why not. They have plenty of future draft picks to offer, and Clarke + Konchar would work well for salary-matching.
kJ
1:18
Since the Wolves need an upgrade at the one, would Donte and Conley for Sexton make any sense?
Luke Adams
1:20
I don't really love it for Minnesota. Sexton is more of a score-first, ball-dominant guard, whereas I think the Wolves would be better off with someone more like Conley, who can organize the offense and knock down open shots but doesn't need the ball that much and can allow Edwards and Randle (if he's back) to have it a lot.

I also have some concerns about Minnesota's ability to continue adding depth, given their cap situation and the fact that Reid and Alexander-Walker could be free agents, so trading two rotation players for one isn't ideal.
Wannes
1:21
Do you expect one monster-trade aggregating multiple smaller trades in the offseason?
What is the maximum multi-team trade realistically feasible? Could we see an 8 team trade with Durant,  Giannis, Porzingis and Holiday all finding a new home?
Luke Adams
1:23
We got a six-team trade last year, largely because it worked best that way for Golden State and Dallas, while the four other teams involved didn't really have any problem structuring it that way. It's hard to imagine exceeding that number, since the more teams are involved, the trickier it is to make sure structuring it that way is in everyone's best interests.

So, I definitely do think we'll see at least a couple cases of multiple trade agreements being rolled into a single transaction, maybe involving up to 4-6 teams. But I wouldn't count on an 8-team mega-deal that includes a bunch of big names. Hard to make those work.
GUEST
1:24
Odds Anthony Davis is traded this off season once the Mavs draft Flagg?
Luke Adams
1:24
Slim to none, unless the Mavs hire a new GM.
Easton G
1:24
Is Derrick White to the warriors really a possibility. If it is, what would the warriors be giving up.
Luke Adams
1:27
If we assume they want to get it done without moving Curry, Butler, or Green? It's technically possible, but I don't think it's very realistic, and it would mean filling out most of the rest of their roster with minimum or near-minimum deals.
Zac
1:27
Anfrenee Simon's name has come up in trade rumors recently. What kind of value do you think he has and does it make sense for Portland to move him this summer?
Luke Adams
1:30
I view his trade value as solidly positive, which is more than I can say about some other Blazers veterans (Grant, Ayton, etc.) but I think it would be difficult more than a single first-round pick for him.

If we assume the Blazers would be seeking quality players rather than draft assets and they're willing to take on some multiyear money, maybe it makes sense. But I also don't think they'd mind bringing him back, since the development of Henderson and Sharpe has been inconsistent -- having Simons there with them has helped stabilize the backcourt and I'd be nervous about giving him up until those guys have taken another step forward.
Keith
1:30
Would Cleveland consider trading Allen and Garland to Boston for Porzingis and Holiday and draft capital?
Luke Adams
1:31
Would need to take a closer look at the money, but Cleveland and Boston are two of the only teams projected to be operating over the second apron, which means neither one can aggregate contracts or take back more salary than they send out. So I think any major deal between them would be very difficult, unless you get a third team involved.
Golden State Worrier
1:31
How about Coby White instead of D White for Dubs?  Moody and a pick?
Luke Adams
1:32
I think White definitely makes more sense from a salary perspective. Not sure that specific offer gets it done, but if the pick is unprotected or lightly protected, maybe.
les boulez
1:33
There's been lots of chatter of teams shopping lottery picks for immediate help, but there don't seem to be a lot of players with the talent or contracts worthy of a 1st rounder. Who could be dealt besides the players rumored to be shopped at last year's deadline (Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Mark Williams, etc.)?
Luke Adams
1:35
It's become pretty rare for a team to trade out of the first round in a deal for a veteran rotation player. Those types of trades involving a lottery pick are even rarer.

I do think there's a case to be made for a team like the Spurs (Nos. 2/14) or Rockets (No. 10) to include their lottery picks in a trade for a star like Giannis, or even Durant for Houston. But that still feels like a long shot for now.
Wannes
1:36
People always talk about the Brooklyn Nets cap space, but there also some big trade Exceptions over 20 million (e.g. Atlanta). Do you see them being worth a lot to facilitate deals with this new CBA? Even with the hard cap consequence?
Luke Adams
1:37
I feel like trade exceptions have become less valuable than ever in the new CBA for a couple reasons. For one, the non-taxpayer mid-level exception essentially serves the same purpose and is getting pretty sizable ($14MM+ in 2025/26). Also, even a team has a TPE far exceeding the MLE like Atlanta's $25MM exception, that team generally won't have enough room below the tax line to use the entire thing.
GrizzMan
1:38
Who would be a good backup center option for Mem?
Luke Adams
1:40
I mentioned in a previous chat that a Steven Adams reunion makes a lot of sense to me, though I don't know if either side would want it.

Thomas Bryant, Jaxson Hayes, Luke Kornet, Kevon Looney, and Mason Plumlee are a few free agents who could probably be signed for either the minimum or something not much more than that.
Jason
1:40
After resolving Harden's next contract, what other moves do you see the Clippers making?
Luke Adams
1:44
It's a good question. When I look at their roster, I don't see any glaring holes (assuming Kawhi and Harden are healthy). And I think their postseason results bear that out -- yes, they were bounced in round one, but they went to Game 7 with a Denver team that took OKC to Game 7, and I think the Thunder are clearly the NBA's best team right now.

It looks like they'll have a little cap flexibility to make trades and maybe use the mid-level exception, and I believe they'll have a couple first-rounders available to trade, so maybe there will be an opportunity to upgrade on one of their mid-sized contracts (Bogdanovic, Jones, etc.)
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