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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/19/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about Joel Embiid and the Sixers.
Tarunafish
11:01
Given the latest news about Joel Embiid's knee soreness, do you believe the team is still one of the top 6 teams in the Eastern Conference?
ARTHUR HILL
11:08
Any news about Embiid's health is concerning, given his long history of injuries, especially around playoff time. He missed the last two games before the All-Star break due to soreness in his right knee, and he's sitting out tonight because of pain in his right shin. He'll be reevaluated before this weekend's road games. On the bright side, Embiid was able to participate in some of Wednesday's practice, and Nick Nurse said he looked "pretty good." Hopefully this is just a case of the team being extra cautious with Embiid's health and trying to manage his workload. I don't think they can go through a long stretch without Embiid (and Paul George, who won't be back until late March) and still finish in the top six, so it's going to be a delicate balance the rest of the way to try to win enough games to stay out of play-in territory without overtaxing their star center.
Cale
11:09
Is the NBA's tanking issue reaching a tipping point? Do changes need to be made? If so, what's the best solution?
ARTHUR HILL
11:16
Tanking has become a huge issue for the league again because so many teams are doing it this year and it has started earlier than usual, with two teams being fined for holding out star players before the All-Star break. There's a powerful incentive for bad teams to keep losing when there's a strong draft class like the one this year, so the NBA hasn't been able to stop the practice regardless of the penalties. The best suggestion I saw this week was from Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports in Canada, who proposes getting rid of the draft floor and drawing for every spot. Teams currently can't fall more than four places in the lottery, which means the worst team is guaranteed to pick in the top five. They might be more reluctant to throw away entire seasons if they still face the possibility that their picks might fall to the bottom of the lottery.
Too Many Aprons
11:17
Is there anyway for the Knicks to add another player or two, that could actually get a few minutes the rest of the year, or does the apron rules make that impossible?  TY.
ARTHUR HILL
11:25
The Knicks have been up against the second apron since training camp, which has affected their personnel decisions all season. They gained some flexibility with their moves at the deadline, leaving them about $1.15MM below the apron -- just enough for a prorated veteran's minimum contract, which they used to add Jeremy Sochan. The good news for Knicks fans is that Sochan figures to get minutes right away, and he'll add some depth to the front court. Sochan got off to a promising start with the Spurs, and he's a strong defender and versatile playmaker. However, his shooting has always been an issue, especially from long distance, so that will need to improve for him to have any real value as a rotation player.
Kristaps Porzingis
11:25
Am I a rental or do I have a future with the Warriors past this season?
ARTHUR HILL
11:35
Porzingis' injury history and the troubling illness that has affected him over the past year make it difficult to predict his future. He seems like a good addition for a Warriors team that likes big men who can stretch the floor, and he and Al Horford worked together well in Boston. However, Porzingis was only able to play 17 games in Atlanta and he's still dealing with Achilles tendinitis. Porzingis will help the Warriors when he plays, but most likely he'll be in and out of the lineup over the next two months, affecting the continuity of a team that's expected to struggle without Jimmy Butler. He'll have to accept a huge pay cut to remain with Golden State, which has plenty of other roster decisions to make this summer.
Ja Morant
11:35
Have I played my last game for the Grizzlies? Doesn't sound like I'll be back on the court any time soon...
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