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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 12/23/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on Giannis and the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
11:01
Am I really "locked in" with the Bucks or am I just trying to quiet the trade rumors?
ARTHUR HILL
11:11
"Locked in" was the phrase Giannis used several times last week to describe his relationship with the team. It's pretty clear that he views the constant trade rumors as a distraction that he wishes would go away, but he understands that they won't. He won't be traded unless he demands to be, and I don't think that's going to happen until the offseason. However, the outlook for the Bucks isn't promising, either this season or in the foreseeable future. They're outside the play-in race at 11-18, and they've lost their last three games with a roster that's mostly healthy outside of Giannis. The gambles they've taken to keep their star player happy -- such as trading for Damian Lillard and then waiving and stretching Lillard's salary to sign Myles Turner -- are short-term moves that come with big risks. And their strategy of being buyers at the trade deadline will only make the situation worse. I expect Giannis to play out the season in Milwaukee and look to move on when summer arrives.
Five-team blockbuster
11:11
Warriors get Anthony Davis, Celtics get Draymond Green, Kings get Kuminga, Nets get Malik Monk and a pick, Mavericks get Anfernee Simons, Buddy Hield, Haywood Highsmith and several draft picks. Mavs lower payroll, improve lottery odds and add some shooting as they start a rebuild around Flagg.  Thoughts?
ARTHUR HILL
11:22
The Mavericks appear to be leaning toward keeping Davis to see how the team looks whenever Kyrie Irving is able to return. Cooper Flagg has been even better than expected, and the Mavs could make some noise with a fully healthy roster in the postseason if they can get there. However, that's not a guarantee after an 11-19 start, and they should still be considering a complete teardown if the losses continue to pile up because they don't own many of their first-round picks after this season. They'll need a huge return to part with Davis, so the deal you propose would have to include a lot of valuable draft assets. However, keeping Davis comes with risk as well due to his age, injury history and the huge contract extension he's going to want. Your trade is along the lines of what the Mavericks should be looking for if they're going to rebuild, and I think the other four teams would all be willing to sign up for it.
Charlotte Hornets
11:22
Do the Hornets have enough talent on their current roster to be a play-in team?
ARTHUR HILL
11:30
Michael Scotto said last week that the Hornets believe they have the talent to make a play-in push and they want to see how the team looks with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges all healthy. Whether that results in a postseason appearance or not, it's the right strategy to evaluate those four players to decide if they can be the core of the franchise moving forward. Knueppel looks like a sure thing and was a great pick at No. 4 when more heralded players were still on the board. Miller has been good apart from the frequent injuries, and Bridges is a solid veteran. Ball is still a wild card in his sixth NBA season. He gets hurt too much and is too undisciplined in his shot selection for my tastes, but he does have some star power if it can ever be harnessed. The Hornets have shown an ability to identify talent in the draft and should have a bright future, whether it includes Ball or not.
Tarunafish
11:31
Do you see the Pelicans trading Herb Jones to acquire another first-round pick in next year’s draft?
ARTHUR HILL
11:42
Jones' prowess as a perimeter defender makes him an ideal addition for a team hoping to make a long playoff run, so it's not surprising that he's in demand. The Lakers, who badly need help on defense, have been mentioned most frequently as a suitor, but they don't have a first-round pick to trade until early next decade. New Orleans will want more immediate help if it decides to part with Jones, so I can't see him going to L.A. unless another team gets involved. The Pelicans are said to be demanding a high price for Jones, and their five-winning streak may be convincing them to keep him unless they get an outrageous offer. Even if they can't rally to reach the postseason, Jones is a good talent to keep for the future. He's got an affordable contract for the next several years, and he'll been a strong foundation piece as the team's young talent continues to develop.
Cale
11:42
If the Thunder end up getting the top pick with the Clippers' first rounder, who would be the best pick to help them create a dynasty?
ARTHUR HILL
11:51
It's a nightmare scenario for the rest of the league, but the Clippers' disastrous season, which now includes an injury to Ivica Zubac, is increasing the chances that the league's best team may land the draft's top pick. Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and A.J. Dybantsa are all potential franchise players who would make an immediate impact in OKC. From a needs perspective, I like Boozer, a rugged 6'9" forward who provides interior scoring as well as rebounding. Drafting Boozer would allow the Thunder to decline the $28.5MM option they hold on Isaiah Hartenstein for next season and get some financial relief to help them stay under the second apron. Boozer would become another star in that system while playing on a rookie contract for the next four seasons -- and probably winning multiple rings.
JD
11:51
Based on what we've seen so far this season, which 10 teams should actually be playing on Christmas Day and what should the matchups be? Pistons seems like the most obvious omission
ARTHUR HILL
11:59
The Pistons were one of the NBA's best stories last season and they've got a legitimate star in Cade Cunningham, so they had a strong argument to be featured on Christmas Day. Maybe no one expected them to be the best team in the East when the schedule was being made, but they were clearly a contender. Otherwise, the league did a fine job. There are three matchups involving the top six teams in the West, and the Knicks are hosting the Cavaliers in what was expected to be a battle of the East's two elite clubs. The only dud is Dallas at Golden State, but it still should be fun to watch Cooper Flagg and Stephen Curry on the same court, plus you never know how Draymond Green might spice up the holiday.
12:00
Thanks for the great questions, and Merry Christmas to all our readers. The chat will on Tuesday again next week because of New Year's.
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