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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 3/15/2022
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Luke Adams
12:36
There are some guys who have interviewed for jobs in past years that I expect to get a shot sooner or later. Charles Lee, Darvin Ham, Chris Quinn, maybe Sam Cassell.
Eric from LA
12:36
I guess Embiid and Harden aren't quite Shaq/Kobe.  If they don't win the title this year -- how much will James be blamed.  And could we be staring right into another ugly Ben Simmons type future.
Luke Adams
12:38
I suppose things could get ugly again if this year's playoffs run ends as badly as last year's did. But I sorta suspect this spring is still the honeymoon period for the Harden era -- management would probably express confidence that the team could still win a title with a full offseason/camp and a little more depth (and they wouldn't be wrong).
Draft
12:38
The Cavs are just one game up on the Raptors for the sixth seed in the East. Let's say the Raptors pass them in the standings, the Cavs lose to the Nets in the first Play-In game, then lose to ATL/Char in the second. In that scenario, would they keep the lottery protected pick that they traded for LeVert? I think they'd finish 9th in that scenario? Even though by regular season record they'd be seventh?
Luke Adams
12:39
Yeah, they'd keep their pick. The non-playoff teams (post play-in) are the ones involved in the lottery. So a 10th seed could win two play-in games and end up with the No. 15 pick, whereas a 7th seed could lose a couple play-in games and be in the lottery.
John Hopkins
12:40
What is the ceiling for this iteration of the twolves? Do they bank on further improvement from Edwards? Can Russell return to an all star level?
Luke Adams
12:42
It seems safe to count on continued improvement from Edwards, yes. I'm less bullish on D-Lo -- I'd be surprised if he ever makes another All-Star team. This Wolves team could really benefit from a versatile power forward who plays defense like Jarred Vanderbilt but can do more on offense. If they can find that player and Edwards takes another leap, they'd look really interesting in a couple years.
Ayton
12:42
Which team do you think will offer Ayton a max this summer? Will Phoenix match? Hard to see them losing him for nothing even if they don't view him as a max caliber player.
Luke Adams
12:43
It will be interesting to see if another team makes a serious push for Ayton -- there will be so few with cap room. Maybe the Suns get lucky and end up in a situation like the Hawks with John Collins last year, where they're willing to give him a lucrative long-term deal, but don't get pushed up to the max by a rival suitor.
12:44
At this point, I'd view the Pistons as the biggest threat for a max offer sheet. And I think the Suns should match it. Even if they're not comfortable with the price, they could potentially flip Ayton for decent value in a year or so.
The Robert Sarver investigation is a wild card here too. I'm skeptical that he'll be forced out of his ownership role, but if he is, it seems relatively safe to assume any new owner would be more willing to spend big than Sarver has been over the years.
HoopLA
12:44
What are realistic odds George or Kawhi returns this year?
Luke Adams
12:45
I don't have any inside info, but based on what we've heard and what I know about these injuries, I'd put George at 75% and Kawhi at maybe 20%.
Tom Emanski
12:46
If Simmons doesn't play a game for the Nets this season, was the trade still worth it?  There's still a long term benefit, but it came at the cost of wasting a prime Durant season.
Luke Adams
12:47
If you're pretty sure Harden was going to pout if he stayed in Brooklyn and then leave at the end of the season... then yes, it's still worth it.
Suns
12:48
I can't think of a team in recent history that is clearly the best regular season team in the league and yet doesn't have any clear-cut favorites for any of the awards races. I guess Paul could have been in consideration for first-team All-NBA, but he's hurt now. I'd think Morant and others would be much more likely than Booker for that spot. No MVP candidate, maybe Bridges or Ayton will get a few votes for DPOY, but they seem kind of marginal and more likely for consideration for All-Defense. Monty Williams for Coach of the Year?
Luke Adams
12:49
Yeah, I think Monty is the only one with a good chance to win a year-end award at this point. And I think he's the frontrunner -- BetOnline.ag currently has him at -250, ahead of Bickerstaff (+375) and Jenkins (+550).
12:50
Wouldn't be surprised if some voters who picked Thibodeau over Williams last season feel especially drawn to Monty this year, almost as a make-up vote.
M.J.
12:50
Two trade proposals. The Lakers trade Anthony Davis and Kendrick Nunn to Atlanta in exchange for John Collins, Danilo Galinari, Jalen Johnson, a first round pick (either the Knicks via Charlotte or Atlanta’s, whichever is higher), Sharife Cooper, and a second round pick. Trade LeBron and Austin Reaves to the Knicks for Derrick Rose, Nerlens Noel or Alec Burks, Cam Reddish, Miles McBride, Evan Fournier, a 2022 first round pick, a 2022 second round pick, a future second round pick, and maybe the right to swap future first round picks (this may or may not be necessary for this trade). Your thoughts?
Luke Adams
12:51
I don't see the Lakers considering trading either AD or LeBron this summer. But if they did, they'd want more for both.
12:52
That's all the time I have for today. Thanks for all your questions and apologies if I didn't get to yours! Dana Gauruder will be back on Thursday at 11 am CT with our next live chat.
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