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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 1/9/2025
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EonADS
2:43
Is Butler actually worth the risk? I realize he's a great talent and finds another gear in the playoffs, but he's toxic, self-centered, and getting older on a huge deal that he wants an upgrade to. He's also never actually won in the Finals, and certainly not for lack of trying.
Luke Adams
2:47
It depends on the price and the situation. In our last Front Office article, before it came out that the Grizzlies had been advised not to trade for Butler, I argued that Memphis made perfect sense because they're so deep in terms of both rotation players and draft assets. Giving up 1-2 first-rounders that should be in the 20s and guys like Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard, and John Konchar wouldn't be a huge price to pay for them (especially since moving off Smart, Clarke, and Konchar would put them in position to either pay Butler or have a ton of 2025 cap flexibility if he goes elsewhere).

If the price gets much higher than that, I can certainly see the case against it, especially for teams that aren't as deep or as flexible as Memphis.
Cam Thomas
2:47
What uniform will I be sporting after the trade deadline?
Luke Adams
2:48
Would be pretty surprised if you're not still with the Nets -- I actually expect you to still be in Brooklyn by the fall. Since you were drafted so late in the first round, your cap hold this summer will be pretty modest, meaning the Nets will be able to use their cap room and then go over the cap to re-sign you.
JayL
2:49
Who can the Knicks realistic expect to land to help their depth?
Luke Adams
2:51
I like the idea of targeting a Cody Martin/Nick Richards package using Mitch Robinson and some of their remaining draft capital.

If they decide it makes more sense to hang onto Robinson because his value on the trade market is so low, there's always the buyout market. The options there may not be inspiring though, since the Knicks would be prohibited from signing anyone with a pre-waiver salary above $12.82MM. PJ Tucker's not moving the needle for them.
Justin
2:52
The execs have all trade scenarios down, did they us AI to have all that arranged or did actual staff take the time to see what combinations are out there per team?
Luke Adams
2:53
I'm not privy to the conversations being had in NBA front offices, so I don't know for sure. But I'll just say that I certainly trust myself more than AI to figure out deals that satisfy all of the NBA's byzantine CBA rules. Would guess most GMs feel the same!
GN
2:53
Which PGs and SGs will the Bulls keep?  Seems like they have to stay with Lavine and Giddey past the deadline but what about Ayo and Coby?
Luke Adams
2:55
Wouldn't expect the Bulls to be eager to move Ayo or Coby at this point. Having them both still under contract entering the summer would give the team more leverage in the Giddey negotiations. If they know early in the offseason that they'll be re-signing Giddey, maybe they consider trading Ayo or Coby then. Will also depend on what they get back for LaVine if they're able to move him.
Haggy
2:55
Are my red hot Pistons going to upgrade the roster before the deadline?
Luke Adams
2:59
A month or two ago (honestly, even two weeks ago), I was counting on the Pistons to be a prime facilitator at the trade deadline, using that $14MM in cap room to take on an unwanted contract or two and accumulate more draft assets. Now, I hope they can use that room to actually add someone who will help this season.

There are scenarios in which they could do both. This is just one example, I'm not sure it makes perfect sense for both teams, but if the Pistons were to acquire Gary Payton II from the Warriors, it would move Golden State out of tax territory, which would be huge for them, given the repeater-penalty implications. They might even attach a second-rounder with Payton, who could be a useful piece for Detroit (again, not sure he's the best example, but he's a player on a reasonable expiring contract on a team that has reason to move off some salary)
ampet1112
3:00
I'm not sure the Sixers can keep Guerschon Yabusele with how well he's playing this season and the limited salary exceptions they have next year. If they decided to trade him at the deadline, what do you think he's worth?
Luke Adams
3:00
Any team that acquires him would face similar limitations in terms of re-signing him, so the price would be relatively modest -- maybe a couple second-rounders?
R.B.
3:01
I don't really get the Suns interest in trading Beal for Butler. Is Butler really going to be the difference maker that Beal Wasn't. And why would you pay an aging star with attitude $100 million over two years?
Luke Adams
3:02
Well, they're already committed to paying Beal more than that over the next couple years. I guess the thinking is that Butler, given his defensive prowess, would be a better fit alongside Booker and Durant than Beal has been. It does feel a bit desperate though.
Homer
3:02
How about Beal waving his no trade clause to go back to WASH? He has a great relationship with ownership, loved by the fans in DC, and could potentially rebuild his trade value as the #1 option on the WIz
Luke Adams
3:04
Would be a good story, but hard to see why the Wizards would do it unless they were incentivized to do so and could get rid of Poole in the same deal. Finding a taker for Poole might be just as hard as finding one for Beal.
Haggy
3:04
My favorite Pistons scenario,,,They could use their cap room + Hardaway/Fontecchio/Sasser/Moore to get Lavine, Craig & Carter (using their MLE) from the Bulls
Crow
3:04
Who says no.. Pistons send Sasser/Moore/2028 & 29 2nds to Utah for Collin Sexton & Patty Mills.
Luke Adams
3:06
Gonna assume these proposals both fit within the cap -- and yeah, these are the types of deals I think the Pistons should at least be exploring. Given that Ivey should be healthy by the fall, I'm not in love with the idea of them acquiring a ball-dominant star like LaVine or Beal who will be under contract for multiple years beyond this one, but they're better positioned than most teams to roll the dice on someone like that.
Thanks for all the questions today, guys. Have a great week and we'll do this again next Thursday!
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