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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/12/2026
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Luke Adams
2:00
Welcome to this week's chat! Lots of questions in the queue already, but keep them coming and I'll get to as many as I can during the next hour.
Guardians of the Galaxy
2:00
Do you see the Suns trading Grayson Allen to free up cap space to add 2-way players on an NBA contract while adding a legitimate PF to the lineup?
Luke Adams
2:02
The Suns have the mid-level exception available and an open roster spot, so they could promote a two-way player like Bouyea today if they wanted to. Probably makes sense to try to duck the tax in a year when they're not a title contender and they're hovering so close to it (I believe they're over the line by less than $300K right now), but an Allen deal would likely be just one of many possibilities they'd consider.
Wannes
2:03
Do you believe Ja Morant is worth a first round pick? And which destination of these three do you like more? Miami, Dallas or Milwaukee?
Luke Adams
2:05
The Grizzlies might be able to get a first-round pick (or even two) for Morant, but it will depend in large part on the quality of the contracts they're taking back.

They'll probably be acquiring upwards of $35-40MM in salary. If that's two quality players on short-term deals, I doubt they're getting a first-rounder on top of that. On the other hand, if they're taking back a contract like Immanuel Quickley's, they'd have more leverage to seek a first-rounder or two.

Miami is probably my favorite of those three destinations. I don't really think he makes Milwaukee better (point guard play hasn't been the problem there) and if Kyrie can get back to 100%, Dallas should be set at PG for now.
Sam
2:05
Yves Missi looked really promising last year. This year his minutes are way way down. Obviously that’s largely because of Derik Queen. Would other teams be interested in Missi, and what would he bring?
Luke Adams
2:08
I briefly touched on this in my latest Front Office article when I explored the pieces the Pelicans could sell off. I haven't gotten the sense that they're looking to move him, but it seems notable that he wasn't included in last week's report about the list of players New Orleans is telling teams they won't move (Zion, Murphy, Jones, Queen, Fears).

There was a recent report stating that the Pacers had checked in on Missi. I have to think the Pelicans would be seeking at least a first-round pick -- he's still just 21 years old and was pretty good as a rookie.
Trog
2:08
Why don't teams pillage other teams' unprotected G league players for two way, ten day or standard contracts? For example, take a player like Jules Bernard. 25 PPG, 44.6% FG for Minnesota,'s G League. Maybe he develops into the next Austin Reaves. Maybe he doesn't. But if you've got an open roster spot and the cap space, it seems like an easy way to acquire talent without having to give anything up. Kind of like what MLB teams do when they make waiver claims to fill up the back side of their 40 man roster.
Luke Adams
2:10
Harder to take fliers on guys when you have a 15-man roster without a separate injured list to shuffle guys on and off of. But this does happen to a certain extent after the trade deadline. Teams will want to maintain flexibility until then, but after the deadline, they'll have a clearer sense of how many roster spots they have available and should be in a better position to audition some G Leaguers on 10-day deals or two-way contracts (we usually get a flurry of two-way moves before the March 4 deadline for those signings).
Wolves missing PG
2:10
Are the Wolves actively looking for another PG? If so, who are they targeting? I don't think we need to grab a big name like Ja or Melo. They would cost us too much and disrupt our chemistry. I think we need someone that is solid and won't cough the ball up in pressure situations, especially during the 4th quarter where we've given away so many games. What are you hearing?
Luke Adams
2:14
Yeah, acquiring anyone on a high salary would require the sort of package Minnesota likely isn't willing to give up (would almost certainly have to start with Randle or Reid). Makes a lot more sense for them to target a guy in the mid-level range (or below), since they could use Conley's expiring deal as the main outgoing piece for salary-matching.

Coby White has been mentioned a few teams as a possibility. There are actually a bunch of Bulls that would make sense for the Wolves (Dosunmu and Tre Jones too). All of those guys are earning between $7-13MM, I believe, which would fit much better on their books.
Dyson Daniels
2:14
Am I the Hawks starting PG for the foreseeable future (next 3 years) or will the team look to upgrade from me and scootch me over to a specialist role?
Luke Adams
2:16
It doesn't need to happen right away, but I like the idea of the Hawks adding a veteran PG who's a solid shooter and doesn't constantly need the ball in his hands to be effective. Like a VanVleet/Conley type. I think it would benefit that young roster to have a veteran organizer like that, but they don't need someone who will take a ton of touches away from Johnson, Daniels, NAW, etc.
Cavs Fan
2:16
What would it cost the Cavs to get Zubac from the Clippers?  Allen and what else?  They need a big guy that plays to his size.
Luke Adams
2:17
I just don't see the Clippers moving Zubac this season unless someone significantly overpays for him. Not sure the Cavs have enough draft assets to make it happen.
Anthony Edwards Hype Machine
2:17
Any way for the Dubs to pry Sabonis from the Kings with Kuminga as the centerpiece? Vivek gotta sign off and that may be tough, but if they can land him that's the difference maker IMHO.
Luke Adams
2:20
Hard for me to envision. In terms of value, they could probably get there (Kuminga, Moody, and Hield would be enough salary, and they have draft picks to spare), but this iteration of the Warriors has never spent huge money on a center like that. I think they'd rather spend that trade capital on a wing.
GrizzMan
2:20
Could you see Mem pivoting and moving JJJ, then sitting on Ja until the offseason?
Luke Adams
2:21
Not impossible, I guess, but if JJJ is on the move, I imagine it'll be part of a full reboot -- in other words, it would happen alongside a Ja trade, not instead of one.
guest
2:21
How bleak would it be in Dallas if they had not lucked into Cooper Flagg? In hypotheticals...would you rather build your team around Coop or Luka?
Luke Adams
2:24
I'd probably take Flagg if I were starting a franchise right now. Doncic is the better player today, but he's nearly eight years older and is about to get way more expensive. Plus, even though Flagg may never become the offensive player that Doncic is, he should be way better defensively.
All-Star LeBron
2:24
A few years ago, Dirk got an honorary all-star appearance even though his numbers weren't at that level. Think the NBA could/would/should do something similar with LeBron for however much longer he decides to play?    I'm not a fan of his in the slightest, but if anyone deserves the recognition, it should be him.
Luke Adams
2:25
Definitely could see it happening if it was known to be LeBron's last season. Would be kind of awkward to give him that recognition this season and then have him keeping playing next year.
Tarunafish
2:25
if the Bulls trade Ayo Dosunmo or Coby White, can they get anything of value in return?
Luke Adams
2:26
Yes, but the return for players on expiring contracts tends to be somewhat disappointing. They'd be doing well to get a single first-round pick for either one.
arc
2:26
Will Kuminga be traded on the 15th since there is rumors that a trade is already in place for him?
Luke Adams
2:28
The Warriors are certainly incentivized to make a deal sooner rather than later, since it would help them to add someone that Steve Kerr would actually play. Their potential trade partners are probably less motivated to help out the Warriors by moving immediately on Jan. 15 instead of waiting a few more weeks to see if better opportunities emerge.

That doesn't mean a trade won't happen later this week -- just that if it does, it probably means the Warriors are willing to settle on a price for Kuminga that's well below the one they were seeking in the summer.
Kim
2:28
Good afternoon. Which of the 2 players are the Atlanta Hawks most likely to keep? McCollum or Kispert? I say McCollum because they can work out a lower salary after his current one expires and they need a good guard. Thanks!
Luke Adams
2:31
McCollum sorta fits the bill of the kind of veteran guard I described earlier as a match for the Hawks, so I could certainly see an extension happening there. If I had to bet on which one sticks around longer, I'd still probably lean toward Kispert simply because he already has a contract for next season (and two more years beyond that!).
bucksbeliever
2:31
Why can't GM Horst get away with needing a superstar? Cant we target a good role player(i.e. payton watson, yubusele. etc.) we badly need help on the wing and toughness at most positions.
Luke Adams
2:34
Yeah, I have to admit, some of the targets being linked to the Bucks have been baffling to me. Like, Zach LaVine's name keeps coming up. Getting him would mean giving up both Kuzma and Portis, plus one more minimum-salary player. Does that make Milwaukee any better? I'm skeptical.

I'd probably want to aim higher than a Yabusele-type guy, but I think you're right that they'd benefit more from high-caliber role players than another high-priced, ball-dominant "star."
Wannes
2:35
Could you see a Paul George salary dump happening?
Salary dumping Paul George seems the only way Philly can avoid the luxury tax, which could come in handy in light of the repeater tax. Could you see a salary dump happening? If Wizards send out Middleton, Whitmore and Branham it would work. But how much picks would it take with his 110 million after this season?
Luke Adams
2:38
It's a pretty interesting concept. Even after taking on Trae Young, the Wizards have the cap flexibility to take on a couple years of George without hamstringing their ability to pay any of their up-and-comers. And the Sixers don't have a simple path to duck the tax with any of their lower-priced players.

I bet the Wizards would seriously consider it if they could get the Clippers' unprotected 2028 pick. That's probably too high a price to pay for Philadelphia.
Pop
2:39
Is there anyone out there that makes sense for the Spurs to unload Vassell’s contract (plus draft picks) for?
Luke Adams
2:41
Vassell is probably the best shooter on a team that could use more three-point threats. I also don't get the sense that the Spurs are looking to shake things up too significantly before seeing what this group is capable of during the playoffs (like Houston last season). So I'd be surprised to see a Vassell deal during the season.
Jalen Johnson
2:41
If the season ended today, would Jalen Johnson make an All-NBA team? Is he eligible for most improved?  He's putting up amazing numbers.
Luke Adams
2:42
As long as Johnson gets to 65 games, he'll be eligible for Most Improved (and every other award).

I haven't taken a deep dive into potential All-NBA candidates yet to see how he'd stack up, but I will say that it will help his case if the Hawks are better in the second half than they were in the first -- you have to have a really good year to earn an All-NBA spot on a team with a losing record.
Bosco
2:43
What do Nuggets do with Watson this year and in the future? He's playing great a starter with guys out but there's his RFA situation looming.
Luke Adams
2:45
That ownership group doesn't seem like one that wants to keep paying big tax bills indefinitely, which is problematic for Watson's future in Denver. Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Braun, and Johnson are earning a combined $186MM next season. I have a really hard time envisioning them re-signing Watson to a market-value deal (his price tag feels like it's consistently rising) unless they don't bring back one of those five guys.

Sign-and-trade could be a possibility for the offseason, though the Nuggets might have to create a trade exception and get a draft pick or two rather than acquiring someone right away for him.
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