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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/21/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We're staring with a question on the Cavaliers.
Cavs
11:02
How many all stars will the Cavs have this season? Feels like Mitchell, Garland and Mobley all deserve it
ARTHUR HILL
11:11
Donovan Mitchell ranks second in the latest fan balloting among Eastern Conference backcourt players, and he's an easy choice whether he gets voted in or not. Evan Mobley ranks sixth in the front court, and he's an obvious choice as well. If we assume six guards will be selected, the path is a little tougher for Garland. LaMelo Ball and Mitchell will probably be voted as the starters. Damian Lillard and Jalen Brunson are next with a comfortable margin over everyone else, so they'll likely make it. That leaves Garland competing with Trae Young, Cade Cunningham and maybe Tyler Herro for the last two spots. Garland has played well enough to make it, and Cleveland's record will help his case, but he could wind up as a controversial omission.
11:14
Jarrett Allen also has a shot in the front court. He's 10th in the most recent voting, but the players in front of him include Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Joel Embiid, who have all missed significant time with injuries during the first half of the season. Allen also trails Jimmy Butler, who may not get selected due to his volatile situation in Miami. Considering the competition, Allen's All-Star chances might be roughly equal to Garland's.
Vucevic
11:14
Is there any reason for Chicago to trade Vucevic before the trade deadline? Who are the likely suitors?
ARTHUR HILL
11:21
The Bulls have been trying to rebuild for more than a year now, but haven't gotten offers to their liking for Vucevic or Zach LaVine. Considering their performances this season and the current state of the Eastern Conference, I don't see any urgency to get a deal done before the offseason. Vucevic is under contract for one more season at $21.5MM, which is very reasonable for his level of production. He has thrived in Billy Donovan's up-tempo offense and is having one of the best shooting seasons of his career. It's too late for the Bulls to either tank for a high draft pick or to assemble a contender, so they're better off keeping Vucevic unless they get an offer that's too good to pass up. I would put the Warriors at the front of the line among interested teams, with the Lakers and a few others also checking in.
Zion
11:21
What happens to Zion's trade value if he gets another injury this season?  It seems like if Pels want to move him, they need to do it now.
ARTHUR HILL
11:26
Unless it's a serious, long-term injury, I don't think it would significantly affect Zion's trade value. After six NBA seasons, his reputation is well established as a breath-taking talent who can't stay on the court for one reason or another. He's always going to be a major trade risk, but teams will be interested because of what he's capable of if he ever solves his health issues. I'm not sure that the Pelicans want to move him at all, but I don't expect it to happen before the deadline.
Chris
11:26
How long do you think it'll be before we see another player get a no trade clause after how the Beal NTC has gone?
ARTHUR HILL
11:29
It was an odd decision for the Wizards to give Beal the no-trade clause in the first place. It has definitely affected any interest the Heat might have in acquiring him, adding another roadblock to a potential Jimmy Butler trade. I don't think we'll see many more of them in the future.
Ausar
11:30
Ausar Thompson seems like odd man out in Detroit, with minutes way down from his rookie year.  Ivey is the future at the SG, and Bickerstaff is now favoring rookie Ron Holland over Ausar at SF.  Ausar doesn't shoot the ball well to play SF for a team that needs outside shooting, whisv is why Beasley and Hardaway play ahead of him:
ARTHUR HILL
11:36
Thompson was injured early in the season and the Pistons made a coaching change, so he's just now getting to show J.B. Bickerstaff what he's capable of. With Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren as the core of the team, Detroit definitely needs to surround them with outside shooters, which is the weakest part of Thompson's game. However, if you watch his brother in Houston, you get a glimpse of the super-athletic, game-changing defender that Ausar might be able to develop into. He's only in his second season, so the Pistons will be patient with him. He'll have a rotation role, no matter how good Holland turns out to be.
Not impressed
11:36
Any chance the Bulls find a sucker for Patrick Williams?
ARTHUR HILL
11:40
It would be so much easier if they hadn't given him a five-year, $90MM extension last summer. It was a short-sighted move from a front office that has never stopped believing that Williams will turn into a capable power forward, even though he's not built for the position. A trade is probably the best thing that could happen for his career if he gets to a better organization that would use at small forward, but it's going to be tough to find anyone willing to make a four-plus year investment considering his lack of production.
LeJohn Brames
11:41
What is a good comp for Cooper Flagg?
ARTHUR HILL
11:44
I've seen him compared to Sean Marion, Andrei Kirilenko and even Scottie Pippen. He has rare defensive instincts for a player at his age, and he showed he can score in bunches with 42 points last week against Notre Dame. A forward with size who can excel on both ends of the court is extremely valuable in the NBA. There's almost no question that he's going to be the No. 1 pick in June.
Not impressed
11:45
Do you think the League as a whole needs to re think it's trade money matching system. It's a real pain to make any trade anymore. Thoughts?
ARTHUR HILL
11:49
The NBA installed the new restrictions in the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement to prevent the rich, big-market teams from dominating the rest of the league, but there are a lot of people suggesting that they've gone too far. Trade season isn't as fun as it used to be when so many potential deals can't be made because of the first and second aprons. The NBA is probably stuck with this system for a while, but it takes away much of the excitement of the trade deadline, which sparks interest in the league in the middle of a long season.
Clint Capela
11:50
Are my days in Atlanta numbered now that I'm coming off the bench behind Okongwu? What could the Hawks get for me a tthe trade deadline?
ARTHUR HILL
11:56
Teams that need a center probably view Capela as a consolation prize if they aren't able to deal for better options. He's a good lob threat who can rebound and block shots, but he's got a limited scoring range and doesn't shoot threes at all. He's 30 with an expiring contract, so any team that acquires Capela would likely see him as a short-term investment. The Hawks shouldn't expect a lot in return if they decide to trade him.
Guest
11:56
Will teams like OKC, Memphis, Houston and Cleveland dominate the buyout market since teams over the aprons won't be able to sign any players who earned more than the MLE? Or will there not be many of those players on the buyout market anyway?
ARTHUR HILL
12:02
If apron restrictions depress the trade market as much as expected, there could be a lot of talent available once buyout season begins. With a strong class at the top of the draft, many tanking teams won't mind parting with their veterans if it helps them lose a few more games. That creates a tremendous advantage for the teams you mentioned that have been able to build contenders without crossing over the apron. We could be looking at a very competitive buyout market once the trade deadline passes.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next Tuesday.
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