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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 10/7/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll get started with a question about Giannis and the Knicks.
JD
11:01
Could the Knicks make a competitive offer for Giannis by sending Towns + other stuff to a 3rd team that could send draft picks to Milwaukee? Or will he have to accept a trade somewhere else if he decides he wants to leave the Bucks?
ARTHUR HILL
11:11
Any team that would considering helping the Knicks land Giannis is going to want a huge collection of assets in return, and the franchises with the most draft picks to offer don't seem motivated to get involved. The Thunder wouldn't want to help a potential NBA Finals opponent, and they couldn't take on Towns' salary without gutting their roster. The Rockets are in the same position, and the Nets wouldn't want to help their cross-town rival acquire another star. The Jazz might have some interest, but Towns wouldn't be happy playing in Utah. I don't see a realistic third team to make the deal work, so Giannis will have to expand his list of trade options if he decides he wants out of Milwaukee.
Joel
11:11
Who is the frontrunner for the final Suns roster spot, Jared Butler or Jordan Goodwin? Can either of these two possibly crack the rotation down the line?
ARTHUR HILL
11:23
Goodwin is nearly 27, while Butler is 25 and neither player has been able to stick with a team so far in their careers. They could be useful in a reserve role, but I wouldn't expect either of them to be part of the team's future. Neither of their contracts becomes fully guaranteed until January, so Phoenix could part with them without taking a financial hit. The Suns liked Goodwin enough to claim him off waivers, while Butler signed in free agency. They only have 15 players with standard contracts, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they both start the season on the roster.
Ja Morant
11:23
Am I just going to be a 50-60 game player for the rest of my career?
ARTHUR HILL
11:30
Morant's ankle injury is a discouraging way to start the season for a player who's never been able to stay healthy throughout his career. A variety of injuries limited him to 50 games last season, and he had shoulder surgery after just nine games in 2023/24. Morant's relentless drives to the basket can be thrilling to watch, but they constantly put him in harm's way and raise the risk of injury. He wouldn't be the same player if he's not always in attack mode, but he may have to dial it back. It doesn't help the Grizzlies if he has to miss at least a quarter of every season.
Cale
11:30
Will the Warriors' age catch up to them by the spring or do they have an actual shot to compete for a title?
ARTHUR HILL
11:42
The Warriors have a nice collection of talent now that they were able to finalize their offseason moves, but they also have unprecedented age concerns. With Al Horford projected as the starting center, they will become the first team in NBA history with four starters who are at least 35. The bench includes Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield, who will both turn 33 this season, so age is an issue throughout the roster. Golden State might have enough depth to survive the regular season and claim a top-six spot, but injuries and fatigue could sink them in the playoffs just like last year when Stephen Curry got hurt against Minnesota. More and more, the NBA is becoming a young man's game, and that's not a good trend for the Warriors.
Cooper Flagg
11:42
Will anyone seriously challenge me for rookie of the year?
ARTHUR HILL
11:50
Flagg didn't have any realistic challengers to be the top pick in the draft, and that's probably going to extend through the Rookie of the Year race. He's clearly the top talent in this year's class, and he'll benefit by playing for a team that's expected to contend for a playoff spot. Flagg displayed his numerous skills in Monday's preseason debut, putting up a good stat line in just 14 minutes of action. No. 2 pick Dylan Harper missed camp due to thumb surgery, so he'll start out at a disadvantage. It's hard to see any other rookie posting the individual statistics required to become a serious ROY candidate, so Flagg could easily be a unanimous choice.
Guest
11:50
Will Bronny James still be a Laker once LeBron isn't? If not, will Bronny be able to catch on with another team?
ARTHUR HILL
12:01
Coach JJ Redick was complimentary of Bronny over the weekend, saying he has improved significantly during the past year. If he can make similar strides in another G League season, he might become a serviceable NBA player, but obviously his job security with the Lakers is heavily tied to his father. If LeBron retires or leaves in free agency after this season, there's little reason for L.A. to keep Bronny. Even with his potential and pedigree, he's an undersized shooting guard who posted miserable shooting numbers in 27 NBA games. Bronny's four-year contract only has guaranteed money for two seasons, so the Lakers could part ways with him next summer at no cost if they don't think LeBron is coming back.
Thanks for the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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