Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/30/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a Clippers question.
Esteban
11:01
The Clippers have several players that would be ideal trade candidates for other teams. DJJ and Dunn would be great for OKC to help allieviate the losses of Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, and the fit of Darius Garland would also be great fit for the Pistons. Darius Garland could be the modern Mo Williams equivalent to Cade Cunningham's Lebron James. Any chance the Clippers go into rebuild mode and trade their veterans to replenish their depleted draft war chest?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
If this season turns out as expected, the Clippers should be among the most active teams ahead of the trade deadline. Derrick Jones Jr. ($10.5MM) and Kris Dunn ($5.7MM) are reliable veterans with affordable expiring contracts. They would be valuable additions for the Thunder, who are still loaded with draft assets, and it will be interesting to see if OKC tries to make a move for them early in the season, rather than waiting until February when there will be more competition. Brook Lopez, Max Strus and maybe even Brandon Ingram could also be moved by the deadline. However, I think the Clippers view Garland as part of the foundation for trying to get back to the playoffs next season. He's only 27 and never got the chance to be fully in charge of the offense in Cleveland. I expect the Clippers to hold onto him unless they get an offer that's too good to turn down.
Cale
11:11
Are the Grizzlies for real? Is it mostly just getting Jerome back and drafting Boozer that's been the difference for them so far?
ARTHUR HILL
11:21
Boozer is an ideal fit, and the Grizzlies were very fortunate that he was still on the board with the third pick. Jerome is providing the backcourt scoring they need, and it seems like a lot of fans forgot how good he is because he missed so much of last season. Getting Zach Edey back has helped as well. We also shouldn't overlook the decisions to trade away JJJ and Ja Morant, who were the last members of the successful Memphis teams from earlier in the decade. There were reports of opposition in the locker room to Tuomas Iisalo's unique coaching style, and it seems like everybody is on the same page now. It's still a young roster that may not hold up for an 82-game season, but it feels like the Grizzlies have shown enough to at least be considered a play-in contender.
OKC
11:21
Any players you think the Thunder should be targeting with their trade exceptions after the J-Dub/Cason injiuries?
ARTHUR HILL
11:32
An obvious target is Herb Jones, who was removed from New Orleans' starting lineup by new coach Jamahl Mosley and is only playing about 20 minutes per night. He's an elite defender who fits into OKC's style of play, he's only making $14.9MM this season and he's under contract for two more years. The Pelicans have been putting a high price on their trade assets, but it feels like it's time to become more reasonable and start planning for the future. If Jones isn't available, the Clippers have several tradeable assets, as we discussed earlier. The Thunder have swap rights with the Clippers for next year's draft, so they're in position to swing for the fences if a star becomes available. That decision will likely depend on whether the current version of the team can stay near the top of the West.
Jim Rockford
11:32
It’s becoming obvious early that the Sixers are going to have rebounding issues. The depth behind Embiid is very shallow and it looks like they don’t have any real assets to trade. Is there likely to be anything on the buyout market? Any other options you think they might have?
ARTHUR HILL
11:44
I think adding an experienced backup center by the deadline was always in the Sixers' plan, even before Ariel Hukporti's season-ending injury. They understand that they can't go into the playoffs counting on Joel Embiid to stay healthy for four rounds, and they won't want to rely on small-ball fives. As you mention, they don't have a lot of assets to offer, which limits their options. I like Brook Lopez, who's still productive for the Clippers, but isn't in their long-term plans at age 38. He should be available for a second-round pick or two and may even be on the buyout market if he's not traded. He's a stretch five who can help spread the floor, and he brings plenty of playoff experience. He seems like an ideal fit in Philadelphia.
Yaxel Lendeborg
11:44
Will my success make teams more willing to draft older prospects?
ARTHUR HILL
11:54
Lendeborg has been the most productive player so far in a highly touted draft class, and he may keep the Warriors in play-in contention until their roster gets healthier. The maturity he gained through three years in college has been on display, as he's not afraid to take on a critical role in the offense or stand up to star players on other teams. His age was the main thing that worked against him in the draft, as teams still prefer getting teenagers who project to have longer NBA careers. That mindset may have to change with NIL money giving players more incentive to stay in college. If Yaxel can keep this up, he may be the strongest argument for taking an NBA-ready player nearing his mid-20s, rather than an unproven freshman.
Jonathan Kuminga
11:54
I've been a great fit so far in Minnesota. Will the TWolves be able to re-sign me next summer?
ARTHUR HILL
12:03
Kuminga finally has the starting role he's wanted since he got drafted, but he didn't get a big contract to go with it. Because of the Timberwolves' financial limitations, they could only offer $6MM this season, with a $6.4MM player option for next summer that he's almost certain to turn down. Minnesota already has five large contracts, so it will be hard to keep Kuminga without soaring well into second-apron territory. Rudy Gobert and Dante DiVincenzo are both extension eligible, which should also add to the payroll. The Wolves looked like one of the NBA's best teams before Anthony Edwards got hurt, and Kuminga's addition has contributed to that. I expect rival teams to target him next offseason with offers that Minnesota can't afford to compete with.
Guest
12:03
Any picks for the 8 teams that advance in the NBA Cup?
ARTHUR HILL
12:09
The Pistons-Raptors matchup should decide the winner of the East A group, while the Celtics look to have an easy path in East C. East B is loaded, but I'll take the Knicks to advance, leaning on their title experience, with Toronto or Detroit taking the wild card. The Rockets look like the class of West A, while injuries have messed up what would have been a tremendous Thunder-Timberwolves showdown in West B. I'll take OKC in that one, with the Spurs winning West C and the Lakers likely claiming the wild card.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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