Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 6/22/2026
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Luke Adams
3:01
Welcome to this week's live chat! I got it up a little late today, so we don't have a ton of early questions in the queue -- keep 'em coming. I'll be here for the next hour.
Josh
3:02
What draft night trades should we expect?
Luke Adams
3:04
I'm not going to try to predict specific trades, but I will say that the number of trades involving first-round picks almost always falls well short of what the rumors leading up to the draft suggest.

Maybe this year will be an exception, but we usually don't count on more than 5-6 first-round trades, mostly in the second half of the round. Whereas there are often double-digit deals in the second round.
Bryson Graham
3:04
Shouldn't I have used the dozen 2nd round picks the Bulls acquired this past season to get Aaron Wiggins? Buy low, young player that has shown he can put up points on decent efficiency when he plays in a larger role on a really good contract the next few years. At worst a tradeable contract and at best a possible low tier star on a really cheap, cost controlled deal for a few years.
Luke Adams
3:07
Wiggins is a fine role player, but he's 27 and I don't think he's about to take another leap or anything. He's a good fit on pretty much any team, and he would've been a good fit in Chicago, but he's not really elite in any aspect of the game. I wouldn't view this as a huge missed opportunity for the Bulls until we see how they end up using their cap room.
John
3:07
If the Knicks decide to trade #24 what could they get for it?
Luke Adams
3:10
A bunch of second-round picks, for sure. Possibly a future first-rounder, though it'd likely have to be pretty heavily protected. Trading it for a player would be tricky due to their cap situation -- they're not moving any of their higher-paid players right after winning the title, and if they were to send out a player like Dadiet, it'd be hard to find an available player earning below $3MM worth trading a first-rounder for.
Jim N
3:10
Common knowledge seems to be there is a great draft year.  But does this mean that it is top-heavy (meaning exceptional talent in first 10 picks or so) or very deep (great talent throughout first round)? Or to put it differently, does it seem like there is a major drop-off in talent between (1-5 and 15-20)?
Luke Adams
3:12
My perception of this draft class is that even though there's not a Wembanyama or Flagg at the very top, there are four excellent prospects, all of whom could be the No. 1 pick in a year without an A-1 guy (they'd all go No. 1 in 2024, for instance). Then there's lots of quality throughout the rest of the lottery and into the early/mid-20s. After that, the pickings get slim. But if you have a top-20 or top-25 pick in this year's draft, you should get a player you like, and that's especially true in the top four or top 10.
Dylan
3:13
To piggyback on Bryson, should Wiggins have been worth more? Seems like a lot of teams would have given up that package
Luke Adams
3:14
I have to think Presti did his due diligence here, especially given that he could've waited another week or two to make the deal -- if he accepted it now, there weren't teams willing to beat it.

The fact that the Thunder were able to do it without taking back any salary is an important factor. Teams won't be eager to give them a helping hand as they navigate their cap crunch, so I actually think getting multiple picks back for a guy they didn't use in the playoffs is a pretty solid outcome for them.
Champs
3:15
What are Mitch and Landry projected contracts?
Luke Adams
3:16
When I previewed the Knicks' offseason earlier today, I had Robinson in the range of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (which will start around $15MM) and Shamet in the $8-10MM per year range. I could see either player taking a little less to stay with the Knicks or getting a little more on the open market.
Mark
3:16
If the Pelicans are intent on trading Trey Murphy for a top 10 pick (plus more) in this draft, who else other than the Hawks really makes sense?
Luke Adams
3:18
The Bucks would've made sense if they intended to keep Giannis, but it seems like that ship has sailed. Dallas would make some sense -- the Mavs have good wing depth already but Murphy would still be an upgrade.

No one in the top four's giving up their pick for Murphy, and the Nets and Kings have no reason to (they're too far away to give up a top pick). I don't really like it for the Clippers either.
Champs
3:18
Can dadiet bring back an actual asset or is he just worth a heavily protected second/future considerations?
Luke Adams
3:19
Dadiet's value on his own is neutral at best. Probably negative. I only mentioned him because the Knicks don't have other higher-paid players who they'd actually move (unless they're willing to part with McBride, who makes only slightly more than Dadiet).
MDJ
3:19
Its Giannis day baby!!!
Matt
3:19
Where is Giannis headed?
Luke Adams
3:21
Would love to see the Giannis situation resolved tonight, ahead of draft day. Reading the tea leaves, I'd probably bet on Boston if I had to make a prediction right now.

I get the sense that the Bucks prefer one extremely high-end asset over a bunch of solid ones ("quality over quantity," in other words). If the Heat are going to beat the Celtics' offer, they're going to have to include a LOT of quantity (basically all the picks, swaps, and young players they could offer).
Mark
3:21
Which is more likely:
The Wizards end up with the worst record in the league again OR win 50 games?
MaxDeal
3:22
Do you believe the Trae Young signing means the Wizards will be one of the top 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference this upcoming season?
Luke Adams
3:25
I'm reluctant to get too bullish on a team whose two stars combined to play 35 games last season, but part of that was by design (the Wizards had no reason to push Trae or AD to play much after trading for them). I think they could be quite good if everything clicks -- there's no reason they should be near the bottom of the standings again, and I fully expect them to be at least in the play-in mix.

Still, I'm not entirely convinced that Brian Keefe is the right coach now that they're shifting out of rebuilding mode and trying to win.
Jazz
3:25
Ace + #2 for #1, who says no - if anyone, is it Washington or Utah
Luke Adams
3:25
Utah
Pistons
3:25
If the Pistons were to acquire Herro, since he’s on his last year of his contract, would they have his Bird Rights and be able to exceed the cap by extending him after the season?
Luke Adams
3:26
Yes, his Bird rights would be traded with him.
KJ
3:26
Do you think it was overpay for T Young?
HOF
3:26
How much will the Wizards regret the TY contract,similar to Lavine,Wall and  Beal?
Celtics Fan Here
3:26
How can the Wizards be so stupid? People who know Ted Leonsis must be calling him to lat him know this is a massive over pay right?
Luke Adams
3:29
Three years and $120MM were the numbers being reported for Trae Young for months, and I didn't mind that for the Wizards, especially if they negotiated a descending structure. But $212MM over four... I have to admit that shocked me.

I was under the impression that the Wizards jumped at the chance to acquire Young when he was a distressed asset but didn't necessarily view him as a long-term cornerstone and wouldn't extend him for more than two or three guaranteed years. Doing this deal (with a player option!) is a risk for sure. I don't love it.
Michael Scott
3:29
After Giannis gets traded, who is the most likely “star” to get traded next? Morant? Jaylen Brown if he gets re-routed?
Luke Adams
3:31
Both of those are good candidates. I'd put Sabonis in that group too, if you consider him a star. I'm less convinced that Kawhi will be going anywhere.
KJ
3:31
I know we have the 2 finalists in "Greekfest" but is there a team with a last minute offer that can trump both?  If so what team would it be and what would the offer look like.
Luke Adams
3:33
You never know. Maybe the Cavs come in with Mobley or the Magic offer Banchero at the 11th hour. But this late in the process, the fact that we're not hearing about anyone else besides Miami and Boston suggests to me that one of those teams is probably gonna be the destination.
PistolPete
3:33
Can Claxton get the Nets another 1st rounder tmrw?
Luke Adams
3:34
I feel like the Hornets should be willing to give up the No. 18 pick for Claxton, especially if they can get one of the Nets' second-rounders back in the deal. Not saying it'll happen, but I don't think it's unrealistic.
Dylan
3:34
could we see a Jokic? An Ant? A Paolo?
Luke Adams
3:35
After what happened with Luka, I'm loath to entirely rule anything out, but I really can't imagine Jokic or Edwards going anywhere at this point. And if the Magic aren't willing to put Banchero on the table for Giannis, I'm not sure who they would trade him for.
Andy
3:36
Kings seem intent on getting younger and stripping the team down to the foundation. Is there a chance Toronto or  Charlotte will end up parting with a 1st rounder in a deal that involves Sabonis?
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