You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/8/26
powered byJotCast
ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on the Trae Young trade.
Guest
11:01
Do you see the Trae Young trade as the right move for the Wizards? Will he hurt or help their rebuild?
ARTHUR HILL
11:09
Once he's healthy, Young will become the focus of the offense in Washington just like he was for years in Atlanta. That should mean big scoring and assist numbers, but it's not likely to put the Wizards on a path to playoff contention. It should help Alex Sarr to team up with one of the league's best passers, but the collection of recently drafted guards -- Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George -- are going to have to take a backseat to Young. I understand the desire to add a veteran leader to such a young roster, but I'm not convinced that Young is the right player to target. It's a good trade for him, and he'll probably get the extension he wants in Washington, but I don't think it moves the Wizards in the right direction.
theBigLip
11:09
Pistons are contenders. They have a good sized trade exception. They got a roster spot. Will they pull the trigger and get another scorer or PF?
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
All those things are true, and Tobias Harris' $26.6MM expiring contract is extremely useful for salary matching. Nearly halfway through the season, there's no question that Detroit is a serious threat to win the East, so this is the perfect time to make a big move. Lauri Markkanen would be ideal, but the Jazz are reluctant to move him and would demand a huge price in return. Michael Porter Jr. is a more realistic option and could probably be had for what the Pistons are willing to pay. He's in the midst of a breakthrough scoring season, but he may not be part of the long-term foundation in Brooklyn. He would solve a lot of problems for the Pistons as an efficient scorer, effective rebounder and reliable three-point shooter. But whether it's him or someone else, I expect Detroit to make a major addition by the deadline.
Embiid’s much shorter brother
11:18
One thing that has really surprised me this year is how many players on two-way contracts are contributing high value minutes to their respective teams. The Sixers starting power forward is a two-way player (Dominick Barlow), and guys like Daniss Jenkins in Detroit and Spencer Jones in Denver are all getting a lot of court time. Even the defending champions are using Branden Carlson for regular minutes. I can’t ever recall there being so many key contributors with a two-way contract before, which I’m guessing means there will be a lot of player movement on rosters as teams look to sign these guys to standard contracts.
ARTHUR HILL
11:25
Two important things to remember about two-way players is that they're only eligible for a limited number of games -- 50 for those who started the season with their current teams -- and they can't participate in the playoffs unless they're signed to standard deals. That's going to be important for all the players you mentioned, and maybe a few others as well. Two-way contracts have turned out to be a great way to develop young players who weren't picked in the first round. It gives them a chance to learn their team's offensive and defensive systems in the G League and to help their NBA teams without counting against the salary cap. Success stories like Barlow, Jenkins and Jones will facilitate the process in the future. I expect all three of them to have standard contracts by the end of the season.
Tarunafish
11:26
If the Kings traded DeMar DeRozan before the deadline, could they get an unprotected first round pick in return? Or is he not that valuable?
ARTHUR HILL
11:32
DeRozan still ranks among the league's best clutch scorers, and he's been one of the few bright spots in a dismal Sacramento season. He could definitely help a contender, and it doesn't make sense for him to remain with the Kings at this point in his career. He's 36 and under contract for another season, but he'll certainly be worth his $25.7MM salary, so that doesn't affect his value. I think an unprotected future pick might be asking too much, but the Kings could probably get a first-rounder this year if they're willing to accept a pick in the latter half of the draft.
Anthony Davis
11:32
Now that Trae Young is no longer on their roster, are the Hawks going to trade for me?
ARTHUR HILL
11:39
That seems like the plan, and unloading Trae Young's salary was probably the first step in a major push toward getting Davis to Atlanta. The trade for Kristaps Porzingis hasn't worked out, and he was never really a long-term solution for the Hawks anyway. Having a relatively healthy Davis to team with Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker creates the core of a legitimate contender. John Hollinger suggests Porzingis, Luke Kennard and Zaccharie Risacher as a potential trade package, and the Hawks will likely have to add some draft assets to convince the Mavericks to make the deal. I believe they'll aggressively target Davis and he'll be in Atlanta by the trade deadline.
Unclemike1526
11:39
The Bull were actually getting better playing their version of a big line up( Vuj, Smith, Collins) Then everyone got hurt again. Do you think Donovan was even paying attention? And who is a big the Bulls could move somebody for? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:49
Donovan seemed to be leaning into the larger lineups before the injuries. Jalen Smith started three straight games before suffering a concussion, and he was giving the team good minutes in that role. Now that the Anthony Davis rumors have died down, I'm not convinced that the Bulls will try to find a long-term center solution before the deadline. They may finish out the season with Vucevic, Smith and Collins in that role and save any major moves for the summer when they could have a ton of cap space. Ivica Zubac would be an ideal addition, but the Clippers seem inclined to hold onto him now that they're back in the play-in race, and the Bulls probably don't have enough assets to make him a realistic option.
Joe Mazzulla
11:49
Does any head coach have a better Coach of the Year case than me?
ARTHUR HILL
11:57
J.B. Bickerstaff is the current favorite for the award, but Mazzulla has a very strong case considering the projections for the Celtics heading into the season. Instead of taking a "gap year," Boston is third in the East at 23-13 and could be a serious title contender if Jayson Tatum returns. Mazzulla has done an excellent job with a depleted roster after losing four rotation players from last year's team. Jaylen Brown is an MVP candidate, and Mazzulla has been getting major contributions from players who were viewed as fringe talents such as Neemias Queta, Josh Minott and Luka Garza. Mazzulla's competitive spirit has spread throughout the team, and he's a very worthy COY candidate.
Mike
11:57
What would it take for the Pistons to land Michael Porter Jr.  And should they do it?  I think Ivey and Harris should be enough.  I like Ivey but if they aren't going to re-sign him, they have depth there and you have to give to get.
ARTHUR HILL
12:05
Ivey was an important player for the Pistons before breaking his leg last season, but he seems out of place now fighting for minutes on a contender. He still has a strong pedigree as the fifth pick in the 2022 draft, and he's the kind of young talent the Nets should be investing in. Brooklyn will probably get many good offers for Porter, who's viewed as one of the best available players at the deadline, so Detroit may have to throw in a draft asset or two as a sweetener. I would be willing to do because the Pistons have established themselves as one of the East's top teams and Porter could be the missing piece they need to make a long playoff run.
Thanks for the great questions this week. We'll talk again next Thursday.
Connecting…