Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/22/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a Pistons question.
theBigLip
11:01
It’s easy to overreact after 1 game, but can we say the Pistons may have been overlooked by most pundits that were expecting some big drop off? And maybe Jalen Duren is worth that contract he just signed?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
In Tuesday's win over the Celtics, there were no signs that Duren missed part of training camp or the preseason and no indications that he's unhappy with how his contract situation turned out. He put up typical numbers with 22 points, nine rebounds and a block in 28 minutes and clearly outplayed Boston's centers. If he can show that the playoffs were an aberration, then $40MM per year is a fair price for an All-Star big man. As we discussed last week, the Pistons are in a good place with their three best players all signed to reasonable long-term deals. The main question is whether there's enough shooting and playmaking around them to be a real contender. Duncan Robinson and Javonte Green combined to go 10-of-17 from beyond the arc in the opener, which is encouraging, but Detroit still may need to make one more move by the trade deadline.
James
11:10
Any hope for the Warriors or is it already a lost season? What's their plan for center if Porzingis isn't coming back?
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
The concerns in the middle were evident in Wednesday's opener, as Walker Kessler made all 12 of his shots in a Lakers blowout. With Draymond Green playing center and Al Horford serving as the primary backup, the Warriors don't have enough size to match up with quality big men. There's nothing in Porzingis' prognosis that sounds promising, so it's a situation that has to be addressed immediately. There are reports that they've talked to the Bucks, with Myles Turner being the presumed target, and that's probably the best hope -- to take on an unwanted contract from a team trying to cut salary. The Warriors are hoping to remake their roster with cap space next summer, so taking on a veteran with multiple years left will get in the way of that plan. But it feels like an emergency already, so Golden State is going to have a solution quickly to keep this season from slipping away.
Cale
11:19
Do you expect rookie extensions to go down again next year? Out of the 2024 first rounders, Stephon Castle looks like the only safe bet to get one
ARTHUR HILL
11:24
The Class of 2024 was projected to be weak heading into the draft, and it hasn't produced many stars so far. Top pick Zaccharie Risacher has already been traded as a throw-in, No. 2 choice Alex Sarr has been limited by injuries and No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard plays a limited role off the Rockets' bench. Castle is definitely the best bet for an extension, with Matas Buzelis probably second in line. Donovan Clingan, Zach Edey or possibly Jared McCain could join them if they're willing to accept low-cost offers, but next summer figures to be slow on the extension front.
Unclemike1526
11:24
People in Chicago are already crying( The lame ones) but I choose to be optimistic and focus on the athleticism I saw last night. Like I said loved the running, Hated the finishing. Saw a lot of missed lay ups and hesitancy shooting 3's that became contested instead of just shooting. Didn't think they'd win but not look that bad. Defense needs work obviously is that what everybody else saw? I saw a young team that was over zealous and basically out of control? Thoughts? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:34
There may be a lot of nights like that for the Bulls this season, but fans should view it as the early stages of the franchise moving in a positive direction. They have a new coaching staff with a lot of roster turnover, and they were facing a really good team. Wilson and Buzelis both had rough shooting nights, but they'll both be better as the season progresses. Josh Giddey's performance was a little alarming because they're relying on him to make the offense work, but we shouldn't read too much into one game. This may not be a successful season in terms of wins and losses, but the priority will be developing the two young forwards and determining who fits best around them. If the new front office stays patient with the rebuild and doesn't make any panic moves, I think everything will work out.
Guest
11:34
Based on how OKC looked on opening night, do you think they would've beaten the Spurs and the Knicks in last year's playoffs if they were healthy?
ARTHUR HILL
11:41
It's hard to overstate the importance of Jalen Williams, who was really only healthy for one game during the conference finals. He's Oklahoma City's second-best player, and taking him off the court left the Thunder without another reliable scoring threat outside of SGA. I don't want to take anything away from what the Spurs and Knicks accomplished. They're both excellent teams who won big games under the NBA's brightest spotlight. There's no way to say for sure if OKC would have repeated without the injuries, but it feels like they still have the league's best roster.
Esteban
11:41
The Clippers are loaded with expiring contracts and lack draft picks. Wouldn't they be a logical trade partner for the warriors kristaps porzingis?
ARTHUR HILL
11:51
It feels like any team that takes on Porzingis' contract would be doing the Warriors a massive favor, so the draft compensation would have to be significant. There's a real chance that he won't be able to play this season, and whoever acquires him would be on the hook for his $20MM salary, plus a $3MM guarantee on his player option for next year. I would ask for a first-round pick in return, which is probably more than the Warriors are willing to part with. The Clippers have expiring contracts, but they don't really have a starting-level center to send back, which is what the Warriors need to salvage their season. I could see L.A. getting involved as a third team to facilitate a Porzingis trade, but probably not in a two-team deal.
Ty Jerome
11:51
Am I the clear favorite for Most Improved Player after one game?
ARTHUR HILL
11:58
A lot of players had great nights to start the season, but the biggest surprise was Jerome, who posted a 45-7-6 line in a blowout of Utah. That might feel like it came out of nowhere, but he was actually very good last year in an injury-shortened season with Memphis, averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 assists in 15 games. He finished third in the Sixth Man race with Cleveland the prior season, so he's an underappreciated asset. Jerome should have plenty of opportunities to put up big numbers with the Grizzlies, so if he stays healthy, he's definitely a strong MIP candidate.
Warriorsfan
11:58
The Warriors were terrible last night. Do you see a scenario where the Dubs don’t make the play-in tourney?
ARTHUR HILL
12:04
The Warriors feel like they're on the brink of a disastrous season, and it's hard to see how things get better. Re-signing Kristaps Porzingis to solve their center issues was a reckless move, especially with Al Horford as the main backup. The roster is already shorthanded while waiting for Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to return, and the problem could easily get worse with so many older players around. If Stephen Curry has to miss extended time again, the Warriors may decide to punt on this season and focus on a complete roster overhaul for 2027/28. To answer your question, they're not a safe bet at all to be a play-in team.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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