JotCast | Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/17/2026

Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/17/2026

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Luke Adams

3:01

We'll get underway in just a minute.

Anthony Gill

3:02

Now that Westbrook hung em up, who are the Wizards gonna give their last roster spot to? Please say it ain’t me

Luke Adams

3:03

They've been linked to DeRozan a couple times, including last night by Marc Stein. It sounds like they want to find someone who can contribute for that last spot.

The catch-22 there is that a guy like Westbrook or DeRozan who is used to playing a significant role may not have much interest in being the 15th man for a team with a pretty crowded depth chart. Westbrook apparently didn't, anyway.

Pelicansfan

3:04

Since the Pelicans aren’t signing Zion Williamson to an extension, do you see Joe Dumars trading him this season? Or is Zion’s trade value too low to get anything of value?

Luke Adams

3:06

He doesn't have a ton of value right now. It's possible that could change during the season. It would require him to stay healthy and for Jamahl Mosley to figure out the best way to maximize his talents.

Zion only has one more year on his contract after this one, so sooner or later, the Pelicans will have to make a real decision on him. Maybe it won't happen until the 2027 offseason, or even later, but I could definitely see him becoming an in-season trade candidate.

Guest

3:06

Any reason why the G League changed the returning rights for players with 3 seasons or more of NBA or G League experience to 1 year of returning rights?

Luke Adams

3:07

That was a change pushed by the players as part of their new CBA, not something the league unilaterally implemented. It should give players more freedom of movement.

Sam

3:08

If you had to pick just one for each, who do you think will be the 3rd best teams in the East and West, and why?

Luke Adams

3:09

I'll take Houston in the West. The Timberwolves may need some time to get LaMelo acclimated and the power forward hole is concerning. I'm still not sure who will actually be on the Nuggets' roster by opening night. And the Lakers will have a lot of newcomers to integrate too. The Rockets were only two games off the No. 3 seed last season and I think they'll be better this year with VanVleet and Adams back and Smart in the mix.

3:12

I find the East much tougher to forecast, especially because I think it's far from a foregone conclusion that the Knicks and Sixers will be 1-2. Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, and Toronto all look to me like legitimate contenders for a top-two spot.

I'm leaning toward Boston at No. 3 for now. As long as Tatum is healthy and they can get 40-60 games from George, I think they still have a really good roster. But I'm curious about what the Pistons, Cavs, and Raptors final rosters will look like. Might change my answer by opening night.

MLB535

3:13

The Raptors have pretty much been on hold since the development of the Kawhi fiasco. How can the league deem this fair, as I can see how supplementary moves can only be made once this deal.is finalized. Alternatively, if for some reason the trade doesn't happen, I cant see BI or Dick giving Toronto 100%, knowing that they were set to leave town.

Luke Adams

3:14

I'd be pretty shocked at this point if the trade doesn't get done, especially given today's ESPN report.

I don't think the delay has held up the Raptors' offseason business all that much. They'll basically just have one roster spot to fill if and when the trade gets done. I'm skeptical there were a bunch of opportunities they would've been involved in and missed out on.

Bucks (fairweather) Fan

3:15

Over/under 2030 before I need to pay attention to the Bucks again?

Luke Adams

3:16

I think they have an interesting collection of players, even if it probably won't translate to a playoff or play-in appearance right away. They'll be fun to watch before 2030, but if you want to watch a title contender, I might take the over. The lack of draft picks for the next few years will hurt.

Darin617

3:17

When the current CBA expires any chance they could either do away with the super max contracts or could they possibly have the super max part of the contract not count against the cap. It could be a way to keep teams together and not have to break them up after a team has multiple players with super max deals.

Luke Adams

3:18

I don't think super-max deals in general are going anywhere, but I bet the idea about the extra 5% not counting against the cap will be seriously explored. It's one of those things that could benefit both players and teams to some extent.

Dstars

3:19

Do you think Morez Johnson and Sergio will see meaningful rotation minutes in their rookie year? And their potential long term fit with Cooper?

Luke Adams

3:20

Johnson should have a leg up based on his existing relationship with Dusty May, but he and de Larrea will still have to show they're worthy of those regular minutes. There's no shortage of viable candidates for rotation roles on that roster, so they're not just gonna run out the rookies for 25 minutes per night regardless of how well they're playing.

3:21

As for long-term fit with Flagg, I think that should be fine. I still think I would've preferred Burries to Johnson at No. 9, but he can play with Flagg.

jamoche1

3:22

I've read various NBA writers state that the Cavs would be better off waiting into the season, even the trade deadline, to change their roster rather than rushing into something now. What do you think?

Luke Adams

3:25

I don't disagree with that. Strus could have more trade value by the deadline if he plays well and stays healthy in the first half.

I've been kind of confused by their apparent strong interest in Kuminga, who doesn't seem to me like a great fit with that roster. Watson makes a little more sense since he's a better outside shooter, but you'd be paying a premium to pry him away from Denver and would have to pay him pretty big money. I dunno. I'd almost rather see what Strus, Tyson, and Hezonja could give me during the first 40-50 games before doing anything drastic.

JimnyCracks

3:25

The over/under wins total on the Jazz this year is compelling to me. Set at 35.5 it still feels a little early for a jump. How do you fancy their chances?

Luke Adams

3:27

I feel like Utah's poor records in recent years are somewhat misleading, since they've been trying SO hard to lose. Making midseason trades to make the roster worse, sitting guys with dubious injuries, limiting stars' minutes, etc.

That's not to say they're capable of just flipping a switch and finishing above .500 this year, but I don't think 36 wins is unrealistic at all. Especially since the West feels a little weaker to me than it has been in the past few years.

Keith

3:27

What do you think of the Buss family selling their stake in the Lakers? How much will this change the Lakers fortunes?

Luke Adams

3:29

I don't think it bodes well for Rob Pelinka. Jeanie Buss has been his primary champion for the last few years. The new group will have no real attachment to him.

Other than that, I'm not sure there will be any obvious ripple effects in the short term.

Kim

3:30

Good afternoon. It looks like the Dallas Mavericks have to trim their players down to 15 by the start of season. I read this morning that management has talked to Klay Thompson about next steps or options. Question. Have you ever heard that players agents arrange or identify a potential trade partner when the team can’t find one? I feel like his salary is too much for a team to take a flyer on or else it would have happened already. I like him as a player but think Klay Thompson is nearing the end of his career and next salary will be lots lower. Do you agree and if not what team would be a good fit for him to possibly to energize his career? Thanks!!!

Luke Adams

3:35

It's definitely not uncommon for a player's agent and team to work together to find a favorable trade for both parties. It's less common for an agent to find a trade that isn't available to the team -- there are only 29 potential trade partners out there. If a team hasn't had any luck finding a match, an agent can only do so much to grease the wheels.

For what it's worth, it seems like Klay is number one with a bullet on the Heat's wish list. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald questioned earlier today whether they'd put so many eggs in that basket if they weren't confident they could eventually get him, which is a fair question. Maybe they believe the Mavs will eventually relent on a buyout.

Ayden

3:35

Trades??

Luke Adams

3:35

I'd love some!

Danny Manning

3:35

Now that seems Kawhi's case comes to an end (as I was waiting with this result) do you see Payton Watson sign and trade to Clippers and the opposite of Mathurin to another team?

Luke Adams

3:38

I'm not sure I'd say Kawhi's case has come to an end. Sounds like there's still plenty to sort out there.

Having said that, the Clippers and Raptors don't necessarily need to wait until the case is completely wrapped up in order to move forward on their trade, as long as Toronto has a pretty good sense of what the ramifications for Leonard himself will be.

I do think we could get some movement on Watson once the Clippers and Raptors are ready to complete their deal. Folding him into that trade is the most logical way for L.A. to acquire him and give him the sort of contract he's looking for, so if they do the Kawhi trade without incorporating him, it might help clarify his (and the Nuggets') options.

Paul

3:38

With the new ownership of the Lakers, how hot is the seat for both Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick?

Luke Adams

3:41

Pelinka's is definitely hot. I feel a lot better about Redick's chances of keeping his job. Think he's established himself as a promising up-and-coming coach who still has room to get better, and he was extended pretty recently.

David

3:41

What's the bigger LA story today? Buss family selling their Lakers shares or Ballmer getting away with it?

Luke Adams

3:44

The Ballmer story still feels very much TBD to me. Based on the NBA's response to the ESPN report, it sounds like a lot of the sources for that article were from the Clippers or the NBPA, so it was in their best interests to downplay the league's findings. I got the impression the league still wants to penalize the Clippers even without concrete proof of circumvention.

philiplavictoire@gmail.com

3:44

Now that the Kawhi situation is resolved. Is Demar going to join the Raptors?

Luke Adams

3:47

I'll repeat the "not resolved yet!" caveat here. But even when we do get resolution, I'm not sure about a Raptors/DeRozan reunion.

With Barnes, Poeltl, Barrett, and CMB in line for major roles, the Raptors need more outside shooting, not a mid-range scorer. They'd likely only be able to offer the vet minimum, which DeRozan doesn't want to play for. I'm also not sure how big a role they could offer him. And all that's before we even consider how the Drake feud complicates things!

Unclemike1526

3:48

So now that this sham investigation has finally concluded apparently does that signal that the remaining pieces around the NBA can now find homes? I mean if they found nothing what took so long? Name some options that the Bulls can look at for a 3rd C because it seems to me they need one. They're not seriously going to count on only Jalen Smith and Collins right? Trade or FA doesn't matter. Thanks Luke.

Luke Adams

3:50

Claxton, Smith, and Collins feels to me like enough to get by at center, as long as they stay healthy. Maybe they could fill their third two-way slot with a young big man for a little extra insurance. But I don't view it as a major hole that needs to be filled.

Keith

3:50

Can George be flipped by Boston to another team to get a better long term partner for Tatum?

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