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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 5/4/2023
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Luke Adams
10:03
Sorry for the delay, guys. Just making my way through the early questions now. We'll get underway in a sec.
Some dude
10:04
How do you expect lottery teams to handle if they receive the 4th overall pick? I feel like aside from Wembanyama, Scoot and Brandon Miller, there are not much distance between the next guys
Luke Adams
10:06
Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if the order beyond the top three looks quite different on June 22 than it does in some of the mocks out there today. The impression guys make during the pre-draft process (interviews, medicals, etc.) will have an impact, and it will also depend which teams get which picks.
I'm curious to see where Amen and Ausar Thompson end up getting drafted -- this will be the first time we've seen teams have to evaluate top prospects from the Overtime Elite program.
10:07
They're currently the No. 4 and 5 prospects on ESPN's board. If they're actually drafted in those spots, it's a huge win for OTE.
EonADS
10:07
The Pistons have a surplus of bigs. Who tries to trade for one, and what do the Pistons ask in return? Do they even make a trade?
Luke Adams
10:09
When you draft an 18-year-old center and roll the dice on a couple recent lottery picks who didn't pan out with their original teams, you're essentially announcing that you're willing to be patient with the development of those guys to allow them to reach their ceilings. With that in mind, I wouldn't be shocked if the Pistons enter the season with Duren, Bagley, and Wiseman all on the roster.
10:10
Duren isn't going anywhere. Bagley missed half the 2022/23 season, so they haven't really had a chance to take an extended look at him. And Wiseman only played about 20-25 games after the trade.
10:11
If they move one, I suspect it'll be Bagley, given that the other two were acquired more recently. But Bagley's contract, with two guaranteed years left, isn't especially team-friendly.
Trade Rumors Fan
10:11
Really enjoy both the NBA and MLB chats. Will there ever be a NFL chat?
Luke Adams
10:12
I'm not really involved in the conversations about Pro Football Rumors, but I would guess that's the plan eventually.
Guest
10:12
Are the media being a little hard on Poole regarding his poor deep 3 at the close of GM1? I’m the first to point out Poole is a very negative player, who clearly thinks he’s better than he is and warriors fans are over the top on his actual value. but he was the most efficient from 3 in the game and was effectively wide open. As Haliburton said, “I’d take that same shot”.
Luke Adams
10:15
The standard line of thinking in that spot is that you get the ball to the veteran guys with the proven track records who have succeeded in those situations before -- unless the clock is winding down and those guys aren't open. With so much time still on the clock, I understand Poole being criticized for not at least trying to get Steph or Klay a look, but I don't necessarily disagree with you. If he'd made it, many of the same media members would be praising him for his confidence.
EonADS
10:16
Much as we all love deservedly hating on Dillon Brooks, where does he end up signing? I don't actually believe he'll end up in China. Suns, Heat, Hornets, and Wizards all look like viable landing spots for various degrees of quality. Most teams in the west probably don't want him.
Luke Adams
10:18
Yeah, the idea that he'll be out of the NBA in the fall seems pretty silly. Maybe he won't get the sort of payday that it looked like he would at the start of this season, but it wouldn't shock me at all if he matches or exceeds last year's $11MM salary. There are lesser 3-and-D players who are making more than that.
10:20
Honestly, he'd fit most teams from an on-court perspective. It'll likely come down to which team is confident enough in its ability to reduce the extracurricular stuff or desperate enough to live with it. There are some teams in the West who fit the latter criteria, given how badly they want to bounce back from disappointing seasons (Portland, Dallas, etc.)
Bryan
10:20
Saw Connelly's comments about development and winning. Loved it. Question is can the Wolves with KAT making $40M+ a year? To me he's a one dimensional player with a penchant for whining about every foul call. Love to have him on the team but not at that cost.  For me, they need to trade him to truly compete in the West. Thoughts?
Luke Adams
10:23
Yeah, to me, the biggest question isn't necessarily whether KAT and Gobert can coexist on the court. Well, that IS an important one, but even if the answer is yes, you have to ask whether the Wolves can realistically build a contender with those two guys taking up so much of the cap. By the time Edwards' next contract goes into effect in 2024/25, the two bigs will make a combined $90MM+, I believe. Just those three guys will put the Wolves over the cap, without much of a pathway to further improvements. I'm skeptical that'll work and would not be shocked at all if Towns isn't a Timberwolf a year or two from now.
Some dude
10:24
Embiid for Most Dominant Player, while Jokic for Most Valuable Player?
Luke Adams
10:25
You could make that case. Though I think Jokic's playoff success (especially relative to Embiid's and Giannis') has made some fans forget where things stood at the end of the regular season, when Jokic and the Nuggets had struggled a little in the season's final weeks. Embiid is a worthy MVP winner.
EonADS
10:26
Wizards have to pursue a quality PG this season; who do they target?
Luke Adams
10:28
This is not personally the move I'd make, but if they bring back KP and Kuzma and remain committed to trying to win with this group, would it be crazy to see them try to bring back Westbrook with the mid-level?
10:29
My view is that a retool - if not a full-fledged rebuild - is probably the best long-term approach in D.C., but if they don't go in that direction, it's hard for them to put together a decent trade package for a PG that earns $20MM or more. Patrick Beverley and Dennis Schröder are other potential free agency options. I could see them talking themselves into Beverley based on what he did for the Bulls down the stretch.
Connor🏀
10:30
Who wins the chip & why?🏀
Luke Adams
10:31
Is still feels pretty wide open, doesn't it? Entering the playoffs, I figured whoever came out of the East would be my title pick, since the Bucks, Celtics, and Sixers seemed a tier above the best of the West contenders. But Milwaukee's out, Embiid isn't 100%, and Boston has lost some games I didn't expect them to.
10:32
I think I'd still take the Celtics, but the Nuggets have been really impressive, and the Lakers/Warriors winner absolutely shouldn't be ruled out, given the history of the stars on those teams.
Some dude
10:33
How will the Knicks-Heat serie go from now? Jimmy Butler dominance or Thibs and co. pull out another miracle?
Luke Adams
10:36
If I had to bet on just one of the four second round series to go to a 7th game, I think I'd probably take Heat/Knicks. Health will be a huge factor (even if Butler, Randle, and Brunson are all playing, are they 100%?). If Butler isn't his usual self, I'd take the Knicks. If he's OK, it feels like a virtual toss-up to me.
10:37
Since that felt like a bit of a cop-out answer, I'll pick the Knicks in 7, but I don't feel confident about it at all.
EonADS
10:38
Who do the Grizzlies target to replace Brooks? Or do they stick with Aldama, Roddy, Clarke and others?
Luke Adams
10:40
Over and over again in recent years, the Grizzlies have opted for youth or veterans. Maybe their thinking shifts after an early playoff exit, but it's not easy to add a high-quality three-and-D player without cap room. I expect them to return to the trade market and see if they have any more luck landing a player like OG Anunoby by dangling some future first-round picks.
They went after Mikal Bridges in February too, but I think that ship has sailed now -- the Nets aren't trading him.
Guest
10:41
why is Jalen Green so undervalued. Offensively In a team where he was clearly not going to be very efficient and had much lower usage than the likes of other star player. he still out scored every player of the last 3 drafts not named Edwards. (Lamelo injury making him exempt) yet he’s an afterthought to most writers. Athletic most recently. Have you ever seen a kid scoring 22+ in his 2nd season have as much hate or be ignored to the level?
Luke Adams
10:46
There are a few reasons.
  1. His shooting efficiency is pretty poor, as you mentioned. That's to be expected to some extent, but he's still below what future stars on terrible teams were at in recent years (ie. Trae Young in Atlanta, Devin Booker in Phoenix).
  2. The Rockets have been really bad. The Pistons and Spurs were essentially ignored this year too.
  3. 22 points per game isn't quite what it used to be. Ten years ago, Green would've been the 8th-best scorer in the league if he'd averaged 22.1 PPG. This season, he was barely top 25.
Mark in Toronto
10:46
Raptors chances of re-signing Poeltl, Trent (if he opts out) and Van Vleet?
Luke Adams
10:48
They're in position to re-sign all three if they want to, but I suspect they'll be more aggressive on Poeltl and VanVleet than they are on Trent. I'd say the odds of them re-signing Poeltl and VanVleet are above 80% (I'd also put Poeltl a little higher than FVV). Trent, maybe closer to 50/50.
EonADS
10:48
How far can the Magic go next year? They had their ups and downs, but I don't think they'll regress.
Luke Adams
10:50
I'm more confident in their frontcourt than in their guards. They'd be very interesting if they added a reliable veteran point guard (a VanVleet type, say). If they don't, their improvement might come down to how much better Suggs and Fultz can be.
Also worth noting they have the sixth-best lottery odds. If they were to move up to No. 2 or No. 3, adding a player like Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller would make that core really interesting.
EonADS
10:50
Do you think Russel Westbrook would be willing to sign with a team that wants to use him as a sixth man? He wasn't bad in that role, and teams could use his toughness, playmaking, and leadership.
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