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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/29/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about the Warriors.
TheBigLip
11:01
I get to watch my Pistons in person against the Warriors Friday grinning Will Steph ever be in championship contention again? Could they have done anything WORSE than how they handled the Kuminga situation? And is Butler’s contract, Kuminga and all their picks enough to get Giannis?
ARTHUR HILL
11:11
The Jimmy Butler trade gave the Warriors hope of competing for more titles before Stephen Curry retires, but that's not likely to happen now that Butler is lost for the rest of this season and well into next year. Golden State should remain a play-in or playoff team as long as Steph is performing at a high level, but the roster is getting old and it's hard to see them making a long playoff run against the best teams in the West. They absolutely should have tried to move Kuminga earlier when it became clear he was a bad fit with the rest of the team. The trade offers are already worse than what the Warriors could have gotten last summer, and his value will only go down if they can't move him by the deadline. The Warriors keep getting mentioned in the Giannis sweepstakes, but I don't think they have enough assets to get a deal done. Their first-round picks in the 2030s may be really valuable once Curry, Green and Kerr are all gone, but I think the Bucks want more immediate value to part with Giannis.
Scott S.
11:11
Why do we keep hearing about teams like New York and Miami and Minnesota in the Giannis sweepstakes? Aren't there teams wiht more draft picks who are way better positioned to make a strong offer?
ARTHUR HILL
11:24
We've heard that Milwaukee wants young talent and valuable draft assets in return for Giannis, which means there are several teams capable of making better offers than the Knicks, Heat and Wolves. The Rockets, Spurs and Thunder all have draft capital stored up, along with good young players on their rosters, but they're reportedly reluctant to shorten their timelines as title contenders by getting involved in the Giannis bidding. There's also the matter of whether Giannis should be considered damaged goods at this point in his career. He's only played in 30 games this season due to various injuries, and he's not expected to return before the All-Star break. There's a chance that his body is breaking down from everything he's been asked to do in Milwaukee over the last decade. The Bucks aren't likely to get an ideal offer before the deadline, so they'll have to decide what they're willing to settle for if they want to resolve the situation by next week.
TarunR
11:24
DO you think the Heat are likely to acquire Jonathan Kuminga if they can't get Giannis?
ARTHUR HILL
11:33
There's a chance that someone will land Kuminga at a bargain price, but the Warriors prefer not to take on guaranteed money beyond this season. Except for Terry Rozier, who the Warriors aren't going to want, the Heat's best expiring contracts belong to Norman Powell, who has been excellent and has probably played his way into Miami's long-term plans, and Simone Fontecchio, who only makes $8.3MM. If the Warriors were serious about getting Andrew Wiggins back, then Kuminga would likely be included in the deal, but a report this morning said they aren't really pursuing Wiggins. Getting Giannis is surely the No. 1 priority for Pat Riley, so I expect the Heat to have a pretty quiet deadline if the Bucks aren't ready to part with him until the offseason.
teddygreen
11:33
The Clippers need a backup point guard. Any idea of whose they should inquire about?
ARTHUR HILL
11:42
The Clippers are another team that's going to be reluctant to take on long-term money, so I don't expect a big move before the deadline. Another point guard would be helpful to fill the role they were planning for Chris Paul. Tyus Jones has been disappointing in Orlando, but he's got a one-year, $7MM contract and would be a good low-cost option. Another possibility is Collin Sexton, who's on a $19MM expiring contract and could be available if the Hornets are still sellers.
Doc Rivers
11:42
Are my days in Milwaukee numbered? Even if the Bucks don't want to make a change after trading Giannis, I don't want to stick around for a rebuild, right?
ARTHUR HILL
11:50
Doc Rivers isn't the coach you want to oversee a rebuilding project at this stage of his career. A Giannis trade means a complete rebuild, from the coaching staff through the entire roster. Milwaukee should be looking for a younger coach, and I expect Rivers to "part ways" with the organization this offseason, assuming Giannis is no longer there. Rivers has been one of the NBA's most successful coaches, but his tenure with the Bucks is bordering on disaster, with two straight first-round playoff exits and now this season's collapse. The organization probably deserves more criticism for pulling the plug on Adrian Griffin two years ago after a 30-13 start.
Unclemike1526
11:50
The Bulls should be all over a guy like Missi right? Anybody who expects the Bulls FO to trade their way into a better situation is in dreamland in my opinion. Nothing they've done the last 3 years shows me they have that ability correct? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:57
Yves Missi is exactly the type of young big man the Bulls should be targeting, and he's probably better than anyone they could expect to get in the draft. He stepped right into a starting role in New Orleans last season and handled the job well, displaying an ability to score near the basket, rebound and protect the rim. Missi's role has been reduced with a new front office and coaching staff in place, so a change of scenery is probably the best move for him. The Bulls have plenty of expiring contracts to offer, and this is an easy way to solve their obvious need at center.
TheBigLip
11:57
Ausar Thompson - DPOY? Or just AllDefense team?
ARTHUR HILL
12:00
Both Thompson twins have turned out to be elite defenders, and Ausar is an underrated reason for the Pistons' quick rise up the standings over the past two years. DPOY honors tend to go to shot blockers, so I'd expect someone like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren or Rudy Gobert to get the award this year, but Ausar is a very strong contender for first-team All-Defense.
Guest
12:01
Will the Bucks trade Myles Turner if they move Giannis? That long term contract doesn't really make sense if they rebuild and I doubt he'd wanna stick around
ARTHUR HILL
12:08
Signing Turner last summer was a last-ditch effort to keep the Bucks competitive and give Giannis a reason to stay. It didn't work out that way, but Turner is still a good offensive big man who can stretch the floor, and he should get interest from plenty of contending teams when Milwaukee starts tearing down its roster. I wonder if the Pacers might have an interest in a reunion once their "gap year" is over. He makes more than Indiana wanted to pay him, but who would be a better fit at center next season when Tyrese Haliburton is healthy again?
theBigLip
12:08
Knicks are stuck, right? No big moves before the deadline? I assume KAT is untradeable - no one wants that contract for what he provides. Or is this too harsh of an assessment?
ARTHUR HILL
12:15
Towns is expensive at $57MM next season with a $61MM player option for 2027/28. But teams will always be willing to pay for talent, and KAT was an All-NBA selection last year. I think many teams view his downturn as a result of adjusting to Mike Brown's new offense rather than diminished skills, and there would be several interested teams if the Knicks decide to move him. A trade isn't likely to happen before the deadline, but it's something to watch for this summer if Towns continues to struggle through the playoffs.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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