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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 5/6/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on the Trail Blazers.
Chris D
11:01
I dont think the optimism about the season for the Trailblazers holds up under scrutiny. 10 of their last 13 wins came against tanking teams (or the lakers who rested their entire lineup prior to the playoffs). The other 3 wins came against Den, Memphis, and Atl.
ARTHUR HILL
11:09
All that is true, and Portland would likely have wound up with fewer than 36 wins if its late-season schedule had been more challenging. However, there are other reasons to be optimistic. The organization has shown an ability to identify underappreciated talent, and the trades for Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara were great examples. They both look like good young foundational pieces. Donovan Clingan should eventually take over as the starting center, and Scoot Henderson looked much better in his second season. In addition, Chauncey Billups did the best job of his coaching career, and he has his players believing they can be successful. The Blazers may not be ready to contend in the West, but they should be in the play-in mix again next season.
Matt
11:09
I've assumed all year that we're gonna get a Boston/Cleveland showdown in the Eastern finals. What are the odds it turns into Indiana/NYK instead?
ARTHUR HILL
11:15
The East's top two seeds were both surprised in their second-round openers, jeopardizing an Eastern finals that has seemed inevitable for months. The Cavaliers should probably be more concerned than the Celtics, if only for health reasons. Darius Garland's toe injury sounds painful, and even if he returns tonight, he may not be 100 percent for the entire series. Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter are both questionable for Game 2, and the Cavs will be in huge trouble if they have to head to Indiana with a 2-0 deficit. I still expect the Celtics to win their series, but if Cleveland's health doesn't improve soon, we could get a rematch of last year's conference finals.
Unclemike1526
11:15
I've been glancing at the mock drafts and most of them have Derrick Queen being gone before the Bulls pick. I think he would be the best pick the Bulls could make. Any chance he'll still be there when the Bulls pick if they stay at 12? If they take another wing that can't shoot I'll scream. Thanks.
ARTHUR HILL
11:22
The Bulls need size in the draft, especially if they're going to trade Nikola Vucevic this summer. Queen and Duke center Khaman Maluach are their best choices, but they'll probably both be off the board well before Chicago's pick at No. 12. Unfortunately for the Bulls, the best options in that range are mostly guards and wing players, and their roster is already filled with those. Maybe South Carolina's Collin-Murray Boyles falls to 12th, but otherwise they'll have to gamble on one of the foreign big men. A trade up or a trade down is certainly a possibility.
JJ
11:22
The Celtics are going to have cut salary to avoid the second apron? Who is the more likely cap casualty? Jrue or Tingus Pingus? And what would their trade markets be?
ARTHUR HILL
11:31
I don't think Holiday's contract will be that easy to move. He's a valuable component for a contending team, but he's already 34 and he's owed big money for three more years. With teams becoming more careful about exceeding the aprons, it may be difficult to find someone willing to pay him $37.2MM in 2027/28. It will probably be Porzingis who's dealt if the Celtics decide to break up their starters, as he's only a year away from free agency. But that group may get another year together if Boston can repeat or at least get back to the Finals. Maybe the new owner will move Sam Hauser instead and try to trim salary around the edges.
Lakers
11:31
Would it have made any difference in the Lakers' series if they'd promoted Trey Jemison or Christian Koloko before the end of the season? No idea why they kept Len on the roster if they had no intention of playing him
ARTHUR HILL
11:38
Both of the Lakers' two-way big men were impressive during the season, and there rumors all the way to the end that one of them would get a standard contract and become playoff eligible. Alex Len only appeared in 10 games after signing in February and played just four garbage-time minutes in the playoffs. By the end of the Minnesota series, J.J. Redick clearly didn't trust Jaxson Hayes, Len or any of his other big men, so it seems like a major error not to have one of the young guys available. Rob Pelinka may be Executive of the Year for the Luka Doncic trade, but he didn't give the Lakers the best possible roster for the postseason.
Rafael Stone
11:38
What's my plan this summer? Trade for KD? Trade for Giannis? Save my assets for someone else?
ARTHUR HILL
11:48
After winning 52 games and finishing second in the West, there's temptation for the Rockets to abandon their youth movement and try to become a legitimate title contender next season. Durant is among the most prolific scorers in NBA history, and he hasn't shown many signs of decline at age 36. Giannis is still playing at an MVP level and may be available considering the sad state of the Bucks. While the Rockets should have interest in both players, they need to be careful about overpaying. I wouldn't part with Amen Thompson or Alperen Sengun in any deal. Houston owns three Phoenix first-rounders, including this year's, along with future first-round picks from the Nets and Mavericks. The Suns and Milwaukee are both low on draft assets, so the Rockets should pursue a deal that's heavy on draft capital. Otherwise they can afford to keep the young core together and wait until someone else becomes available.
Unclemike1526
11:48
OK now is the time to trade Coby White and maximize his return. What exactly can the Bulls expect to get back? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:58
White is coming off the best season of his six-year career, so his trade value has never been higher. And it doesn't make sense to extend both him and Josh Giddey. That would leave the Bulls stuck with the same unbalanced roster they had this season. There should be plenty of teams interested in a 25-year-old guard who is already a proven scorer. The Bulls need size and they need young players who fit well around Giddey and Matas Buzelis. I don't have a specific trade partner, but those should be the priorities in any White deal.
LeBron James
11:58
Given how friendly I am with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, is there any chance I decide to finish my career with the Mavs? Imagine what it would do for more legacy to help them win a title after the Luka trade.
ARTHUR HILL
12:04
LeBron has a history of being calculating in his public comments, so it was eye-opening when he mentioned Anthony Davis after the Lakers were eliminated last week. Considering that Kyrie Irving attended that game, it's easy for the rumor mill to start spinning. I think LeBron likes playing in L.A. and wants to finish his career there, especially when they have his son on the roster. However, he also likes sending out warnings to management, and he always seems to have a player option to hold over their heads if things don't improve. It may be fun to speculate about, but I don't think he's leaving the Lakers.
Thanks for the great questions this week. We'll talk again next Tuesday.
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