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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/27/24
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ARTHUR HILL
12:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on one of the biggest moves of the offseason.
Wilt the Stilt
12:01
I don't see where the Knicks "paid a high price" with all those 1st round picks (I think all their own).  With a young, talented team under contract aren't the majority of these picks going to fall between 20 and 30?  You are lucky if you find a rotation player out of all those drafts.  Agree?
ARTHUR HILL
12:05
There's a tendency to view trades involving several years of draft picks as a "high price" because of all the examples where it has gone wrong, but I don't think that's going to happen for the Knicks in this deal. New York has a roster filled with players in the prime of their careers, and they should be in title contention for the rest of the decade. As you stated, all those picks that Brooklyn received will probably fall late in the first round.
Hoosierdaddy
12:05
Do you think bulls will mix better with derozen gone? I know they are still trying to trade others, but with the moves they made, do you think they are a play in team? Worse then last year? About the same?
ARTHUR HILL
12:10
I don't see how the Bulls improved by parting with DeRozan, who was their top scorer and their number one option when they needed a basket at crunch time. However, it was probably a move that needed to be made because there was no future in keeping the veteran core together. Their best scenario would be to find takers for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic and start building toward the future. Even so, the competition for play-in spots in the East won't be intense with so many teams focused on the draft. With a strong year from Josh Giddey, it's not hard to see the Bulls securing a top 10 spot.
Arcman
12:10
What are the chances of the CBA being redone now that the NBA is getting more TV money?  Seems like the player association would want to raise the cap space so more money goes into players pockets.
ARTHUR HILL
12:14
When it was negotiating the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the players union was aware that a new media rights deal was coming and that it was likely to be massive. Everything is linked to percentages, so cap space will continue to rise as league revenues rise. Mangement and the players will both do fine under the current system.
WSU Shocker
12:14
What percentage chance do you give to a team signing Landry Shamet and if he lands anywhere, where would you guess that is?
ARTHUR HILL
12:19
Shamet is only 27 and has been a good outside shooter throughout his career, so he should land at least a training camp invite from somebody. The Knicks reportedly expressed interest after he was waived by Washington, but nothing ever came of it. It's hard to say who it will be, but most teams still have roster spots available with camp about a month away, so he'll probably get another chance.
Guest
12:20
What aging vets do you expect to get another shot with a team? There was a report about Lopez and galo, anyone else you see getting a chance?
ARTHUR HILL
12:25
There should be a wave of signings next month heading into training camp, but I don't know if Gallinari or Lopez will be included. Gallinari hasn't been the same since he tore his ACL two years ago, and Lopez is probably a third center at best. They may have to wait for opportunities later in the season.
Free agents
12:26
Which of these four free agents will be on NBA rosters when the regular season begins: Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., Lonnie Walker, Cedi Osman.
ARTHUR HILL
12:29
They've all been productive players recently, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're all in training camps. I expected Fultz in particular to be signed by now considering what he did in Orlando. But all four of them can still help an NBA team.
J Man
12:29
Would Pelicans entertain a trade for Vucevic? I really think they need a starting caliber center. If not, how about a feel-good reunion with Ball before the deadline? Either of them plus filler to take back Ingram on an expiring deal. He may be young enough to stick around or they can let him sign elsewhere next year.
ARTHUR HILL
12:34
It depends on the price, but Vucevic would be a great addition for a team that badly needs a starting center. He provides low-post scoring and rebounding, and he's got two affordable years left on his contract. Ingram could be a nice replacement for DeRozan if the Bulls don't want to blow things up entirely and they don't mind paying him next summer.
Guest
12:34
I thought many sportswriters got it wrong when they called Jalen Brunson's got it wrong when he signed his new contract. They called it a salary cut. It was not. He took less money than he could have if he waited.To me it was a young kid showing that he cared more about the team than gambling on contract a year ahead. The negative reaction was unbelievable. You don't see that kind of commitment to a team anymore, especially from a young guy. I thought it was refreshing.
ARTHUR HILL
12:38
There seems to be a team-first attitude in New York that you don't always find in the NBA. Brunson embodies that more than anyone, which is why he was a great choice as captain. His new deal sets a tone for the rest of the roster, and I expect Mikal Bridges to do something similar when his negotiations begin.
Tom Glavine
12:38
Gut feeling after this summer, did Atlanta take the wrong guy number one? I know it’s “too early” to analyze, just gut feeling and if not Zach, who would you have taken?
ARTHUR HILL
12:43
It was a difficult year to have the number one pick because there was no obvious choice for Atlanta either in terms of talent or roster fit. Alex Sarr would have been redundant with the other big men on the Hawks' roster, and he may never develop an offensive game. Reed Sheppard would have been an awkward fit alongside Trae Young. You can go throughout the lottery, and there's really no one you can say they should have taken instead. They scouted Risacher heavily and believe in his talent, but it may require a few years of patience before he looks worthy of a No. 1 pick.
Hoosierdaddy
12:43
Do you think Dallas will have a chance to make some noise in the west? Top 6 team? 2nd round of the play offs?
ARTHUR HILL
12:49
I don't think the Mavericks will be satisfied with anything less than another trip to the NBA Finals. The addition of Klay Thompson was a win-now move giving them a veteran shooter with extensive playoff experience. Dereck Lively II will be even better in his second season, and the Mavs should benefit from their playoff success. The only obstacle is that the top of the West is even better than it was last season. The Thunder, Wolves and Nuggets are capable of knocking off Dallas, and a few other teams may be entering that level.
J Man
12:49
Who do you think is the likeliest trade partner for LaVine (acknowledging that it still may not be likely)? I've heard some proposals with LAC and DEN.
ARTHUR HILL
12:56
Any Zach LaVine trade market appears to have gone completely cold this summer, and most of the stories we've run lately have been about a lack of interest from rival teams. Even without the injury concerns, his contract is scary -- all the way up to a $49MM player option in 2026/27. I don't think he'd be a good fit for the chemistry in Denver. The Nuggets need a stronger defensive presence after losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. As for the Clippers, he'd probably benefit from playing alongside James Harden, but it would be tough from a PR standpoint to take on that salary after letting Paul George leave because they wouldn't give him an extra year.
CuriousFan
12:56
Garland seems like the odd man out on the Cavs. With Ingram not a fit between price, lack of defense and the Pels' lack of interest in Garland, what's the best offer they could get? Is Jerami Grant a good fit? What would have to come with him to make it worth the trade? (potentially a 3-teamer, since the Blazers have infinite guards right now)
ARTHUR HILL
1:01
I wouldn't look for a trade before letting Kenny Atkinson see if he can make the Garland-Mitchell backcourt combination work. There's too much talent there to give him up for Jerami Grant, who wouldn't be a good fit alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The Spurs are known to be interested in Garland, so if the Cavs ever decide to move him, they could probably get several young players from San Antonio's roster.
1:02
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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