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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 2/4/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. There's a lot to discuss with the trade deadline looming tomorrow, so we'll start with a question on Giannis.
Brewer Fan
11:01
Is this Giannis trade saga one of the weirdest ever? Every time he speaks he says he wants to stay, I know he leaves it open ended but he is profuse in talking about how much he wants to be in Milwaukee. I've also seen reports he doesn't want to go to a super team and be criticized like Durant was in Golden State. So wants to stay, but knows he wont win, so might be okay with being traded, but not if it gets him criticized. I am so confused by this situation I can't even ask a coherent question about it.
ARTHUR HILL
11:11
Giannis is highly motivated by the desire to win another title. The comparison with Durant shows that he's thought a lot about his legacy and how he'll be remembered when his career is over. At the same time, he has real affection for Milwaukee, as evidenced by the quote we shared on the site this morning, and he doesn't want to be viewed as a villain by Bucks fans. He couldn't bear the thought of being booed if he returns to Milwaukee with another team. It's a situation that's bound to lead to contradictions, as Giannis would prefer to retire as a Buck but understands that he can't win another title with them. He's reached the point where he admits, "You gotta look," and the end seems inevitable, either tomorrow or by draft day.
Al Stein
11:11
I read that Cleveland may look to trade Jarrett Allen, to reduce their payroll. Do you think there is any truth to this? If so, could it happen tomorrow or would it be an off-season move?
ARTHUR HILL
11:15
The Cavaliers are trying to unload salary, but I don't expect another major deal until they see how James Harden fits with the rest of the team. I think they'll try to make a move at the margins, hoping to find a taker for Lonzo Ball's $10MM contract or Max Strus, who's making $15.9MM this year and $16.7MM next season. However, the Cavs are running low on second-round picks, so it won't be easy to incentivize rival teams to take either one. I believe Allen is safe in Cleveland for now, and his future will depend on how the playoffs turn out.
Chip
11:15
If you have time in your hour capped chat what do you see the Hawks do ?
ARTHUR HILL
11:22
When the Hawks agreed to the Trae Young deal, I thought it was the first step toward a major acquisition, probably Anthony Davis. However, Davis' latest injury cooled the market for him, and it's not clear that Atlanta has another deal in place. This could wind up being a throwaway season for the Hawks as they look ahead to when Kristaps Porzingis and CJ McCollum will both be off the books and they'll know how valuable the Pelicans' first-rounder turns out to be. I don't think there's a move available that's going to save this season, but the future should be much brighter. Also, there's no set time limit on these chats. I'm happy to keep going as long as the questions are coming in.
teddygreen
11:22
Could you see the Clippers selling high and trading Kawhi and Zubac next?
ARTHUR HILL
11:28
I don't think the Clippers are in the mood to tear things down and rebuild. They've been one of the league's best teams for the past month or so and have a pretty solid hold on a play-in spot. The James Harden deal only happened because they weren't willing to give him the extension he wanted, and they may be better off with Darius Garland if he can overcome his foot issues by the playoffs. Kawhi is playing at an All-Star level, and the Zubac rumors have quieted down since the Clippers started winning again. I think their focus is on remaining competitive for now and reshaping the future in 2027 when they'll have cap room to chase free agents.
cmac1973
11:28
Does the Vucevic-Anferno trade make it seem more or less likely that Jayson Tatum is coming back this season?
ARTHUR HILL
11:35
We probably shouldn't read too much into the trade. Anfernee Simons seemed destined to be dealt from the time he arrived in Boston last summer. The Celtics are still looking to cut costs, and he wasn't part of the future with a $27.7MM expiring contract. He turned out to be a valuable bench scorer on a team that has greatly exceeded expectations, but he was still expendable. I've been optimistic about Tatum returning, and I think we'll see him back on the court around mid-March, but the Celtics are being guarded with information about his recovery and the decision likely hasn't been made yet.
Tarunafish
11:35
Do you see the Timberwolves or Raptors having a better chance of acquiring Giannis? Also, does his recent injury history raise concerns about signing Giannis to a 4-year $275 million extension?
ARTHUR HILL
11:43
Toronto probably doesn't have the assets to be a strong contender for Giannis, but the Wolves should definitely be taken seriously. If they're willing to part with Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Naz Reid, as one report this week suggested, that's a lot of value for Milwaukee and it could prevent the need for a long rebuild. Minnesota is being aggressive in its pursuit of Giannis, and he's reportedly intrigued by the idea of teaming up with Anthony Edwards. And yes, I would be very concerned about Giannis' injuries, which are becoming more frequent as he ages. He's still an elite player when he's healthy, but whoever winds up getting him is going to have to be careful to make sure he's ready for the playoffs.
Left Coaster
11:43
It seems there are a lot of teams want to make a trade just to get under an apron or tax line, but not many teams with cap room to take it off their hands. What teams might find themselves in a "short squeeze," where they need to move a salary but have to pay a relatively high price to do it?
ARTHUR HILL
11:49
Cap space is turning out to be a valuable commodity at this year's deadline. A lot of rumored trades could use a facilitator or two to get them across the finish line. As I mentioned earlier, it's going to be hard for the Cavaliers to shed any more salary because they're running low on second-round picks to trade. The Kings could be in the same position. They have a surprisingly large salary considering their record, and there's not much interest in their high-priced veterans.
Ken
11:50
Do you see the Rockets making any moves, particularly for a point guard?
ARTHUR HILL
11:56
I expect any deals the Rockets make to be minor. Finding a veteran guard would be helpful, but they're willing to wait for the buyout market if no affordable options emerge by tomorrow's deadline. Aaron Holiday is OK in that role for now and there's still an outside possibility that Fred VanVleet might return late in the season. Houston is unlikely to part with anything of real value to add another guard. I've seen Tari Eason mentioned in quite a few trade rumors, but I don't think they're considering that at all.
TheBigLip
11:56
Was a bit shocked at how low Ivey’s value had dropped, but Pistons at least got a shooter in Huerter. Will they still try to pull off a MPJ trade and get another shooter?
ARTHUR HILL
12:02
Ivey would be at a much different place in his career if not for the broken leg last season. The Pistons turned into contenders while he was hurt, and there wasn't a chance for him to play his way back into the rotation. He's a good pick-up for the Bulls, and Huerter provides some value in return as a shooter. A few weeks ago, I thought the Pistons were a strong contender for MPJ, but it sounds like they're happy with their current roster.  Another small deal may be in the works, but I expect them to mostly stand pat tomorrow.
Unclemike1526
12:02
If the Pelicans want a first round pick for Missi why wouldn't they take the first round pick the Bulls have from Portland? That pick looks way more likely to convey before 2028 now than it did and should be in the middle of the pack right? I'm really sorry the trade wouldn't wor4k for Allen because that would have worked fine. Did that really fail because of 1 million dollars? NBA trade rules are ridiculous. Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
12:10
We still have more than 24 hours until the deadline, so Missi to the Bulls remains possible. The Pelicans may be listening to offers to see what they can get for Missi, and as you said, Portland's pick could be pretty valuable. Allen would have been more of a win-now option, but Missi might fit better with the long-term approach of building around Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. And yes, the trade rules for second apron teams are very restrictive, so Cleveland couldn't swap Allen for anyone with a higher salary. It's part of the league's strategy to keep teams from overspending.
TheGriz
12:10
With the Raptors and Kings rumors regarding Sabonis, I just find it very difficult for Toronto to find a way to get out of Jakob Poeltl's contract. Would like to hear your thoughts.
ARTHUR HILL
12:16
Poeltl's extension seemed risky when it was announced, and his back injury has turned it into a huge albatross. He's owed more than $100MM over the next four seasons, and he's only been available for 21 games this year. The good news is that it's not structural, but no one is going to trade for a player under those conditions. Without him in the deal, it becomes very difficult for the Raptors to land Sabonis, who would be a good fit with the rest of their roster.
BoomBaby4Life
12:16
Has the Pacers Starting Center search dried up?
ARTHUR HILL
12:21
They would still like to find a starting center, but there aren't many good options currently on the market. Their "gap year" while Tyrese Haliburton heals up means they're in a position to wait, so the search will probably intensify this summer. I mentioned Myles Turner as a possibility last week if the Bucks do a complete sell-off, and although Turner's current contract is much more than the Pacers wanted to pay him, a trade would make sense for both sides.
Brewer Fan
12:22
Is there any world where Giannis goes to the Bucks and says I want to stay but understand what needs to be done to try and win again, and is okay with the Bucks trading Turner and Portis and anyone else with any sort of value? Would the Bucks be able to turn it around in a year or two? Or would that just take Giannis out of his prime anyway and be a lost cause?
ARTHUR HILL
12:30
I'm not sure that Turner and Portis have enough trade value to spur the Bucks to a quick turnaround. Signing Turner over the summer was supposed to be a win-now move, but Milwaukee's ceiling is probably the play-in tournament even with everyone healthy. Tanking and getting really lucky in the lottery is the quickest path toward becoming a contender again, and maybe the Bucks decide to keep Giannis for the rest of the season with the hope they can sell him on that possibility. The problem with waiting another or two is that Giannis holds a player option for 2027/28, so the team really doesn't control him for much longer.
Tp
12:30
Do the nets do anything other than facilitate a deal as a 3rd team with their cap space?
ARTHUR HILL
12:35
Unless the offers for MPJ really improve over the next 24 hours, that will probably be Brooklyn's focus at the deadline. The Nets are still in the early stages of their rebuild, so they'll be looking for all the young talent and draft assets they can get. Plenty of teams will be seeking facilitators tomorrow, so that cap space could turn out to be really valuable.
Wolves Fan
12:36
As excited as I am at the possibility of obtaining Giannis, I am also leery of the players we have to package to make it work without the draft capital. We are already a team in need of an extra bench piece and/or starting PG (depth), so potentially giving up Randle, Reid, and McDaniels, especially with Giannis' injury history, has me a little concerned about said prospective deal. Thanks for the chat.
ARTHUR HILL
12:42
Minnesota may actually decrease its championship chances by trading for Giannis by the deadline if all three of those players have to be involved. If that's the trade, then the Timberwolves will have to line up another deal to replenish their depth and find a reliable point guard. It's better for the Wolves if the trade waits until summer. Then they can add Giannis without having to rebuild their roster on the fly, like the Lakers were forced to after acquiring Luka Doncic last February.
Thanks for all the great questions, and enjoy the trade deadline. We'll talk again next week.
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