Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/15/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about NBA big men.
Just Curious
11:01
Does it seem to you too that there is a shortage of playable centers in the NBA? Lakers have Looney as their backup, Warriors have Bassey, Heat are considering Nick Richards. Knicks are trying out Eubanks, Wiseman and Bradley for a spot. Sixers seem willing to go without. Just a lot of guys with NBA contracts that aren't very good.
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
It's always been difficult to find really skilled centers, which is why the elite players at that position are so valuable. It's been a problem for the Lakers for years, other than having Anthony Davis play out of position, so they were willing to give up a package of prime draft picks for Walker Kessler and hand him a huge contract. They need him to be worth the gamble because they're very thin at that position if he gets hurt again. It's not easy to have three quality centers on a roster, particularly when teams have apron concerns, so a lot of big men are able to put together long careers and even the average guys like the ones you mentioned are in demand.
JD
11:10
Should the KNicks be worried about KAT opting out and leaving next summer?
ARTHUR HILL
11:20
Towns didn't hide his disappointment when the Knicks announced that they're pausing all extension talks. It feels like he really wanted to get a new deal in place before the season starts and to be rewarded for his contributions to winning an NBA title. He holds a $61MM option for next summer and would be one of the top players on the market if he decides to test free agency. There are several teams that could open enough cap space to make compelling offers. However, he grew up in the New York area and has talked about how important it is to be playing there. Unless contract talks with the Knicks become really contentious, I think he'll have an extension in place before free agency begins.
Ben Simmons
11:20
How big a role will I play for the Kings? Can they count on me for a full season?
ARTHUR HILL
11:27
Reports that Ben Simmons is in the best shape of his career and is ready to become an All-Star again have been almost an annual occurrence. However, this one feels different as the Kings have been raving about his performance in training camp and he's reportedly being ticketed for a starting job. It would be a great story if he can revive his career at age 30, but I think we should be skeptical. He hasn't been the same player since he missed the entire 2021/22 season due to a holdout and a back injury. Physical issues always cropped up during his time with the Nets and Clippers, and that seems likely to happen again. There may be some games where he looks really good, but I don't think his body can hold up for a long season.
Legend of John Drew
11:27
I really like our roster in Atlanta, but feel like we need more rim protection to get to next level. What is your outlook for the Hawks this year
ARTHUR HILL
11:35
I understand the concerns about rim protection, but every other part of the Hawks' defense is elite. Adding Lu Dort and Kingston Flemings to a roster that was already strong defensively makes them a nightmare to play. The NBA's best teams tend to have an identity where they're really good at one thing, and Atlanta will be able to lean on its defensive prowess every game. I think the Hawks are better than they were last season, but the East is much better overall, so the path to the playoffs will be tougher. They'll probably be in contention for a top-six spot if they stay relatively healthy, but the play-in tournament may be more realistic considering the competition.
Lakers
11:35
Do you expect the Lakers to make a trade in the next few days or will they just end up having to cut Knecht?
ARTHUR HILL
11:42
The Lakers spent much of the summer trying to find takers for Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt or Jaden Hardy so they could do a sign-and-trade deal for Jonathan Kuminga. Nobody wanted to take on their contracts then, and it will likely be even harder to find a trade partner now. The Lakers don't have much draft capital left to sweeten a deal, so finding a trade before Saturday feels really unlikely. Knecht has the cheapest contract at $4.2MM and he doesn't seem to have a future in L.A. regardless, so he'll probably be waived.
theBigLip
11:42
Cade, Ausar and Duren’s ceiling? Can that trio get to the Finals? Win it?
ARTHUR HILL
11:53
The long standoff with Duren kind of put a dark cloud over the summer, but the Pistons still ended up with their three most valuable players signed to long-term deals. Assuming Duren really is content to stay in Detroit, they now have the security to experiment with the rest of the roster and see who provides the best fit around them. They weren't able to find another scorer/ballhandler to team with Cade. Maybe the combination of Daniss Jenkins and Ebuka Okorie can handle that role, but more likely they'll have to be active at the trade deadline. Cunningham, Thompson and Duren proved last season that they can be the nucleus of a contender, and they should improve as they spend more time together. It's reasonable to expect an NBA Finals appearance and maybe even a title before they're done, assuming the rest of the roster is upgraded.
Guest
11:53
Are there are any teams that would want do-overs of their 2026 lottery picks yet? Yaxel looks really good but would Mara be a better fit for Golden State based on their need for a C? And should both of them have been drafted over Morez?
ARTHUR HILL
12:04
The three Michigan players provided an interesting sub-plot to the draft, especially with their college coach taking over in Dallas. It's way too early to judge, but so far it feels like Lendeborg and Mara have both been more impressive than Johnson. Dusty May said he wasn't heavily involved in the Mavericks' draft process and he was a little bit surprised when Johnson's name was called. He's kind of an awkward fit with the current roster, and Brayden Burries would probably have been a better choice considering the Mavs' need for backcourt help. The Warriors are very happy with Yaxel, but they put too much faith in Kristaps Porzingis' availability and wound up with a huge role at center that Mara could have filled. I expect a lot of second guessing regarding the middle part of the lottery before the season is done.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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