Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/1/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a couple of Jalen Duren questions.
Chris D
11:01
Presumably if a reporter is operating ethically then someone in the know told them. Presumably Detroit would have zero interest in leaking Washington's interest and it would seem that Washington wouldn't leak that either. So would the likeliest leaker be Durens agent?
ARTHUR HILL
11:07
It feels like Duren's camp is trying to drum up outside interest in an effort to force a sign-and-trade. While the Wizards and the other teams that have been mentioned as possible suitors may have some interest in trading for Duren, it's difficult for teams to completely upend their rosters now that training camps have started. As we outlined yesterday, there are other factors complicating a potential sign-and-trade, including base-year compensation, which means Duren's salary will only count half as much for the Pistons as it would for the team acquiring him, making salary matching challenging. The team has said all summer that it's not interested in a sign-and-trade, so the rumors are almost certainly coming from Duren's representatives.
Guest
11:07
Which would be worse for the Pistons? Duren accepting his QO with the intent to leave next summer or taking the five-year deal and then trying to force a trade to a new team?
ARTHUR HILL
11:14
If Duren takes Detroit's latest offer, which is clearly the best financial move for him, at least he'll have a set value that the Pistons can begin shopping around the league in preparation for January 15, when he'll become trade eligible. He may be somewhat overpaid with an average annual value of $40MM per year, but there are teams that will happily gamble on a 23-year-old All-Star center. If Duren opts for the $9.6MM QO, then salary matching will make it almost impossible for Detroit to get similar value in a trade. He'll wind up being unhappy all season and putting his own interests ahead of the team as he counts down to free agency. Opting for the QO is a short-sighted move that would put both Duren and the team in a worse position.
JD
11:14
Am I reading too much into LeBron's "living in the moment" comment or do you think he might leave Philly in free agency next year?
ARTHUR HILL
11:20
That was LeBron's response when he was asked about his future at media day, and it's probably the safest answer he could have given. With a veteran's minimum contract and a player option, he's going to want to keep his options open for next summer. That could mean re-signing with Philadelphia, or it could mean a repeat of this year's free agency with most of the same teams involved. It could also mean retirement if his body can't keep holding up once he turns 42. LeBron has always been savvy about controlling his future, so his plans would have been the same no matter what he said at media day.
Netsfan
11:20
Do you see the Nets signing Michael Porter Jr. to an extension? Or will they trade him?
ARTHUR HILL
11:27
The Nets got a great first season out of Porter, who probably should have been an All-Star. He was the No. 1 option in the offense for the first time in his career and proved that he was capable of handling that role. However, given his physical issues and the fact that he's already discussed retiring early in multiple interviews, he's not someone I'd want to invest in long-term. Even though Porter is only 28, there's a constant worry about him breaking down, and it's possible that he'll never have another season better than 2025/26. I would hold off on the extension until next summer and try again to trade him if he gets off to another strong start and stays healthy until February. Let somebody else take that risk.
Tyrese Haliburton
11:27
Will I make the Pacers a contender again?
ARTHUR HILL
11:34
Haliburton proclaimed himself to be 100% healthy at media day, which is the best news the Pacers and their fans could have gotten. The last time we saw him on the court, he was in the midst of an exhilarating run that could have ended in a championship. He's one of the league's best point guards, and Indiana's collapse last year was almost completely a result of his absence. I consider Ivica Zubac to be an upgrade from Myles Turner, and the rest of the roster has mostly stayed intact. The East will be more competitive than it was two years ago, but the Pacers with Haliburton should definitely be a contender.
Unclemike1526
11:34
What( If anything) Can the Bulls do to get rid of Patrick Williams? I mean letting him rot on the bench for 3 years at 18 mil per is an option, But not a very good one right? Is there a contract out there where the Bulls get something they can use like a B/U C or something? Thank you Sir.
ARTHUR HILL
11:44
The Patrick Williams extension continues to haunt the Bulls, who owe him $18MM over each of the next three seasons, assuming he picks up his player option. He hadn't shown anything to be worth that type of money when the contract was given, and it looks even worse now. He's got a new coach and new front office that aren't invested in him at all, and he's likely to linger on the bench after seeing a career low in minutes last season. The problem is that other teams view him as a negative asset as well, and nobody will be pursuing Williams unless Chicago takes a bad contract in return. The best hope is to try to rebuild Williams' value at least a little to see if somebody will become interested, but that's not likely to happen for another year or two when his contract is closer to expiring.
Esteban
11:44
The Clippers are likely going to pump up the trade value of their veterans than move them for picks and youth at the trade deadline. Do you have any destinations that you would like to see the Clippers veterans get moved to?
ARTHUR HILL
11:54
Brook Lopez shouldn't be starting for what's likely to be a bad team at this stage of his career, and hopefully the Clippers will get him to a contender by February. With a $9.2MM expiring contract, he'd be an affordable pickup for the Sixers to ease the strain on Joel Embiid if their young backups aren't ready. Derrick Jones Jr. also has an expiring deal at $10.5MM and should be in heavy demand at the deadline, maybe for a team like Denver that could use a strong perimeter defender. The big name to watch is Brandon Ingram, assuming he can recover from his latest injury. If the Pistons can't get Michael Porter Jr., who they chased at last season's deadline, maybe Ingram could become an option as a scoring forward. His contract is almost a perfect match for what the Pistons are offering Jalen Duren.
Shocker
11:54
Do you foresee a noticeable increase in Craig Porter Jr.’s playing time this year with 37 year old Harden being the starting point guard ahead of him?
ARTHUR HILL
12:02
Harden has been remarkably durable throughout his career, but the Cavaliers just made a large investment in him and don't want to see him wear down as he gets older. There's an opportunity for a backup point guard to get major minutes, and Porter has played well through his first three NBA seasons when he's been given a chance. He's a good three-point shooter who protects the ball, and coach Kenny Atkinson gave him a career high in minutes last season. Porter will be a free agent next summer, so he's playing for a new contract. I think he's a good bet to take advantage of this opportunity.
Cale
12:02
With Ingram out, could the Clippers be the worst team in the West or are they still a tier above teams like Sacramento and Memphis?
ARTHUR HILL
12:08
The roster turnover from a year ago and the effects of the league sanctions from the Aspiration scandal have brought a feeling of gloom back to the Clippers franchise. Ingram's partially torn Achilles is a major blow for a team that couldn't afford any more bad news. I assume L.A. will be careful with his rehab to preserve his trade value, which means he may miss quite a few games early in the season. It's hard to get excited about the rest of the roster without its projected top scorer. Apart from Darius Garland, it's filled with role players and unproven talent, and it's hard to see how coach Tyronn Lue makes the team competitive. If Ingram doesn't come back soon, L.A. could be battling with the Kings for the worst record in the West.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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