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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 12/30/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on the Clippers.
teddygreen
11:01
The Clippers are playing well with Brook Lopez. Should they consider trading Ivica Zubac for youth and draft picks to help flank their older team for both short and long term?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
Ivica Zubac was one of the Clippers' most reliable players before the injury, so it's hard to explain why they started winning once he got hurt. He was averaging 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting nearly 61% from the field, so L.A.'s disastrous start clearly wasn't his fault. Brook Lopez has been great since moving into the starting lineup, and his three-point shooting brings another dimension to the Clippers' offense.  Even so, at age 37, he's not a long-term solution. It may sound odd considering their place in the standings, but if I were running the Clippers I wouldn't be looking to make any major deals. Zubac will be back by mid-January, Derrick Jones Jr. just returned and the overall roster is playing much better. They're only three games out of a play-in spot, and Kawhi Leonard and James Harden give them a chance in virtually any playoff series. I think they'll eventually be fine.
Guest
11:10
What's wrong with the Hawks? Do they need to do something big? Acquire AD? Trade Trae? Coaching change?
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
I liked all the Hawks' offseason moves, but they haven't turned the team into a winner. Getting Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup will help, but the seven-game losing streak is a sign of a major underlying problem. I think they should explore Trae Young trade scenarios, although his value is reportedly low right now and it may be easier to find a better deal this summer. I would build around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and the Pelicans' pick they hold in the upcoming draft. Anthony Davis will be too expensive and too much of a gamble as he gets older. He would limit their roster flexibility once he gets his next contract. Quin Snyder is probably safe for now, but the Hawks should consider a coaching change in the offseason if things don't turn around. He built a great reputation in Utah, but that success hasn't carried over to Atlanta.
Embiid’s much shorter brother
11:19
30 games in, your thoughts on Most Improved Player? I like both Jalen Johnson and Deni Avdija, but I am probably missing some worthy candidates.
ARTHUR HILL
11:28
Of all the NBA's awards, this is probably the one where the qualifications are hardest to define. Many "most improved" players are just getting more playing time to show what they can do. Johnson and Avdija are strong candidates, but they were also both very good last season. Johnson's season was cut short by injuries, and Avdija was easy to ignore because he was in a small market on a non-playoff team. Avdija would probably win the award if the voting were held right now. One candidate to watch over the second half of the season is Utah's Keyonte George. The third-year guard has been putting up huge scoring numbers lately, and he has probably made the greatest leap of anyone this season.
Rob Pelinka
11:28
Who should I be targeting to improve the Lakers' defense? Any chance I have enough assets for Herb Jones?
ARTHUR HILL
11:36
The Lakers haven't recovered from losing Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. They don't have a tall, rangy defender who can shut down opponents on the perimeter, and that should be their number one priority on the trade market. Jones would be their dream candidate, but the Pelicans will be asking a lot in return and GM Rob Pelinka probably doesn't have enough draft capital to make a deal work. Keon Ellis is another option, but the Kings are starting to give him more playing time and likely will decide to hold on to one of their few young talents. L.A. may have to settle for someone like Ayo Dosunmu in Chicago. He's got an expiring $7.5MM contract and may not be in the Bulls' long-term plans considering their other backcourt options. He would be a short-term fix until the offseason.
Unclemike1526
11:36
With the latest trend in the NBA being Achilles tears does Coby White's continuing " Calf problems" Seem to be a precursor to that? Anyway the window to trading him is seemingly closed right? Nobody is going to pay top dollar for damaged goods. Maybe they should keep him and try to re sign him now and let him walk if somebody offers him a lot of money right? Now that the Bulls got back to .500 and the injuries will start again it will spiral down again correct Art? Thanks again and Happy New Year!
ARTHUR HILL
11:46
Not much information has been released about the right calf injury that forced White to leave Monday's game, but teams are rightfully being very careful about anything involving the calf area. We don't know yet how long White might be sidelined, but it's terrible timing if the Bulls were planning to trade him by the deadline. It's possible now that White's future may not get resolved until the offseason, and a sign-and-trade looks like the best move for both sides. I think the Bulls are naturally a .500 team and a play-in participant with their current roster, even without major injuries. They have a chance to create significant cap room this summer, and hopefully they'll be aggressive about finding a starting center and building up the front court in general.
Future trends
11:46
Where do you see the nba game headed in 5 years?  We’ve seen the average defensive pickup point extend significantly this year, with more teams guarding the ball full court in response to the Thunder and Pacers’ success.  I think we’ll see more starters playing 28-30 min per game and more 10-man rotations.  Greater emphasis on youth and depth.
ARTHUR HILL
11:54
A few teams are finding out the hard way that veteran rosters can be risky. The game is getting faster and more athletic, and older players tend to break down. The Clippers and Warriors are the prime examples, but it's a trend that's evident throughout the NBA. As long as the Thunder remain at the top of the league with their aggressive style, there will be teams trying to copy them. The Pacers did it successfully in last year's playoffs, but teams need the right personnel to make it succeed. I agree that we'll probably see deeper rotations and fewer minutes for stars during the regular season as the game evolves. With the league frowning on load management, it's the best strategy to limit the wear and tear on elite players and keep them healthy for the playoffs.
DJ Clutch
11:54
Do you feel the Rockets have show enough so far to be considered legitimate contenders? If not what type of approach would you be taking if you were their GM headed into the trade deadline?
ARTHUR HILL
12:05
Rafael Stone has done a master job of building the roster, and Kevin Durant was a tremendous addition who has already been a positive influence on his younger teammates. The Rockets have enough talent to make a long playoff run, but their recent slump was a result of not being able to put away games against weaker teams. When Fred VanVleet suffered his season-ending injury before the start of training camp, it signaled that Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard were going to have to develop quickly as point guards. They've both shown promise in that role, but they're still learning. Houston tends to trust Durant and Alperen Sengun to make plays in crunch time, so I wouldn't make a major deal to bring in a point guard at the trade deadline. It feels like the current roster is moving in the right direction and will be a playoff force if everyone stays healthy.
12:06
Thanks for the great questions. With the holidays over, the chat will move back to Thursday next week. Happy New Year to all our readers!
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