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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/6/24
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ARTHUR HILL
12:02
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on the Rookie of the Year race.
KJ
12:02
I know it's super early but who is your preseason rookie of the Year? I was going to say Reed but. I think Castle is going to edge him out because I feel Chris Paul will get traded in February to a contender and that means Castle will have just enough starts to have better numbers
ARTHUR HILL
12:06
As good as Sheppard looked this summer, he'll face a lot of competition for playing time in Houston. He may not get the minutes to put up the stats he needs to win the award. Castle is probably a good bet for the reasons you stated, but I don't see a clear favorite right now. Risacher, Sarr and even Zach Edey all appear to have set roles heading into the season. Don't be surprised if the ROY is someone further down the draft board this year.
Basketball fan
12:06
If you are the Lakers what moves would you make this off season? What trades would you make if you are the Lakers in this off season? Who was the worst nba team in the 23 - 24 season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:08
There may not be a significant move left for the Lakers to make this offseason. I expected Rob Pelinka to be more aggressive about trading draft picks and upgrading the roster this summer, but it didn't happen. More opportunities will arise by the trade deadline, but probably not before the season begins.
BAllen
12:09
Do the Warriors sign Kuminga or Moody to extensions…or will they end up trading them?
ARTHUR HILL
12:11
The Warriors seem to have big plans for Kuminga, so I expect him to sign an extension, either this summer or in 2025. They reportedly weren't willing to include him in their Markkanen trade offer and they view him as a starter this season. Moody's role on the team is less secure. I'd say it's probably more likely that he gets traded rather than extended by Golden State.
Dill
12:11
I feel like the hornets making the playin should be a reasonable expectation. What do you think?
ARTHUR HILL
12:14
There are only about eight proven teams in the East, and a lot of clubs have their eyes on the 2025 draft, so the competition for the final two play-in spots shouldn't be intense. You can make a good case for Charlotte if LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams are both healthy and they get much production from lottery pick Tidjane Salaun. I like the Hornets' new coach and front office, and I think they're a team on the rise.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
12:15
Lots of mainstream sports press about the Olympic torch being passed from LeBron, KD, and Steph to Ant. Do you buy into it, and if so is AntMan the de facto face of the NBA once the aforementioned pull back and eventually retire from the game?
ARTHUR HILL
12:17
"Face of the NBA" is a hard thing to predict. Edwards is taking a major step toward earning that title by starring in the Olympics, but the Wolves are going to have to be championship contenders every year to keep him in the spotlight. Victor Wembanyama will also be in that category, especially once the Spurs are good again.
Trog
12:17
What is Boban's future? Seems like his playing career is over, but he is beloved by many organizations and fan bases.
ARTHUR HILL
12:19
Boban is probably the NBA's best teammate, and he's beloved everywhere he goes. He can also clog the middle on defense and score near the basket whenever he gets a chance to play. Houston likely won't have a spot on the roster to bring him back, but I expect someone to sign him before the start of camp.
Bring Back The Sonics
12:20
when we comin back
ARTHUR HILL
12:23
Adam Silver has promised repeatedly that expansion will be the next major topic on the NBA's agenda once the new media rights was settled. Seattle and Las Vegas will almost definitely be the two cities, so the league just needs to decide how quickly it wants to add teams. I expect the Sonics to be back by the end of the decade, and hopefully sooner.
Guest
12:23
Keep reading Houston didn’t extend Green and Sengun because they plan to swing big on a trade. Ignoring the constant name of Booker. What realistic younger “superstar” do you see them making a trade for with their mass of assets? I just can’t see anyone who might be available that would fit the value they can offer and under the age of 30.
ARTHUR HILL
12:27
There's not a good name right now who fits that description except for Booker, and he won't be available unless the Suns opt for a major rebuild in the next few years. But the NBA always has a fresh crop of unhappy stars who are looking for a change. The Rockets don't need to have a specific target in mind now, but they have the assets to strike when someone they like demands a trade.
J Grant
12:27
Seriously why would I be happy in Portland right now
ARTHUR HILL
12:32
When Grant signed his contract last summer, I don't think he or the team had an expectation that he would be there the full five years. He wanted to maximize his earnings, and the Blazers were able to pay him. Grant is among the most likely players to be traded before the start of the season. If Portland gets an offer it likes, it's easy to see him somewhere else.
KJ
12:32
Which coach is entering the season with the biggest Hot seat? I would guess Billy Donovan. I think if he's not sniffing .500 by early January he's a goner
ARTHUR HILL
12:36
Bulls management seems committed to Donovan, and I think there's an understanding that the team has entered a rebuilding phase after losing DeMar DeRozan. They're expecting Donovan to guide them through that process, rather than looking for a change. Chauncey Billups would be my pick for the coach on the hottest seat.
Guest
12:36
What is your view on Jalen Green. He obviously has the talent to be an NBA scoring leader and top player, but is clearly an extremely hot and cold player. His D has improved dramatically which is great. But he’s still a guy who can get 40 or 4 on any given night. Do you think he’s ever going to reach lead guy level? Or is he an RJ Barrett reasonable 3rd op.
ARTHUR HILL
12:40
Last season was almost like a rookie year for Green because of the coaching change. The expectations were far different under Ime Udoka, and that meant Green often sat out the fourth quarter early in the season. He showed signs of growth, though, and looked like the player the Rockets expected him to be by March. He doesn't have to be extended this summer, so Houston can take one more year to decide if he's really a franchise cornerstone. But if the front office wants to make a major trade, he's probably the most likely player to be included.
KJ
12:40
Now that Lauri has agreed to the extension what percentage chance do you give him that he'll actually finish that in Utah
ARTHUR HILL
12:42
I think it's higher than the recent trade rumors suggest. It's not easy for small-market franchises to find All-Star level players who want to be there, and all indications are that Markkanen is happy in Utah. If the Jazz are lucky in the lottery, he'll be a good veteran to have in place alongside the next young talent.
Chris Paul
12:42
Once I get traded in February what team would make the most sense for me as far as playing time and championship possibility? I think the thunder will be a pretty good match since they would be a contender and really who is their backup point guard right now
ARTHUR HILL
12:46
Plus Paul has a history with the Thunder, who helped him revive his career when he was dealing with injury problems. They're likely to be among the league's best teams when the deadline arrives, so a veteran point guard like Paul would be an excellent addition. There are lots of teams who could want him: the Sixers, Heat, Suns, Clippers if they're in the playoff race. The Spurs should have a lot of options at the deadline.
Heat
12:46
if Ware can become the starting center allowing bam to move to the 4 where he belongs the Heat could look like an entirely different team.  If Ware were to thrive could the Heat go to the finals or am I just delusional 🤣
ARTHUR HILL
12:48
That's a lot to ask from a rookie center. Ware looked good during Summer League, but he's not ready to take over as the starter yet. However, that could be a long-term plan, as we've seen in the Olympics how good Adebayo can be playing alongside Anthony Davis.
Wizards
12:48
When do you think Kuzma will be traded? Any predictions on who and possible return?
ARTHUR HILL
12:51
I thought it would happen by now, but the Wizards opted to keep Kuzma and trade Deni Avdija. There's a danger in having teams that are too young. You need some veterans around to help guide them into the league. Kuzma will probably start the season in Washington, but the front office will keep listening to offers through the trade deadline.
kJ
12:51
With Julius randle up for an extension and the whole Brunson taking a pay cut narrative and  very arguably the Knicks playing better without him is he going to be kind of forced to take a pay cut as well or does he become the villain and demand his payday
ARTHUR HILL
12:55
It depends how badly he wants to stay in New York. Is he willing to sacrifice some money to play for a title contender? Fred Katz pointed out recently that there won't be a lot of teams with cap space next summer, and at his age Randle would be an odd fit for most of them. My guess is he'll probably take something less than the max to keep the team together.
Trae Young
12:55
I’m too young to deal for a rebuild right? I feel like I’d still fit our new timeline.
ARTHUR HILL
12:57
The Hawks committed to Young by keeping him and trading Dejounte Murray. He has enough years left to still be part of the future, but he's not an easy player to build around. Atlanta's first attempt wasn't very successful. If the Hawks can't start winning, the trade rumors will come back.
David
12:57
What do you expect from the Knicks in this season?
ARTHUR HILL
1:00
I think they have the second-best roster in the East, and they would have been a tough opponent for the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals if not for the injuries. There will be an adjustment, though, after adding Mikal Bridges and losing Isaiah Hartenstein. Do they still have enough big men, and will they be forced to play with undersized lineups at times? If they can handle that, then they should be considered title contenders.
KJ
1:01
Even though they're both near guarantees if someone gave you a free $1 million dollar bet to bet on a US team not getting the gold who you betting the women or the men
ARTHUR HILL
1:03
I would pick the men because the level of competition is higher. I know the American roster was much different, but Germany and Canada both defeated the U.S. in the FIBA World Cup last year. The women's team has a much larger talent advantage over the rest of the world than the men's team does.
Thanks for another week of great questions. We'll do it again next Tuesday.
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