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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/13/2026
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Luke Adams
3:01
Thanks for all the early questions you guys have sent in. Keep 'em coming and let's chat for the next hour or so!
Cowbell Kingdom
3:01
Can you see the Kings being able to unload Lavine and Derozen for anything substantial this Summer?
Luke Adams
3:03
In a vacuum, no, but it's not impossible if the Kings are willing to take back some unwanted multiyear money.

Like, obviously the Bulls aren't going to be reacquiring either of those guys, but the Patrick Williams contract in Chicago is a good example of the sort of deal the Kings would have to take back to maximize the value of the rest of the return.

For what it's worth, I do think DeRozan's value should be closer to neutral, since he's earning practically half of what LaVine is. LaVine will definitely be a negative asset.
Black Ace57
3:03
Do you think there would be more consequences/changes if the Warriors didn’t get out of the play in games or the Clippers?
Luke Adams
3:04
The Clippers. They've already started making changes there and I expect that to continue this summer. The Warriors, conversely, are more likely to stick with their current core for another year in the hopes of getting better health luck (+ Butler and Moody back) next season.
Kim
3:04
Good afternoon. Why would the Hawks purposefully keep their starters out for their 82nd game when they could have potentially won against Miami and got a higher 5th seeding? I feel like Cleveland would have been a better match than New York.  Your feelings on that? Thanks!!!!
Luke Adams
3:09
Was a little surprised by that, but it seemed like there were a few teams that were more concerned with making it to Game 1 of the first round fully healthy than with getting the most favorable possible seed.

Maybe that was simply Atlanta's thinking. I'll have to dig into the numbers a little more to see if the Hawks might have reason to believe they match up better with the Knicks than the Cavs.

For what it's worth, the Hawks played a little better against Boston this year than against Detroit, but I doubt they had their potential second-round matchup in mind when considering their game-82 strategy.
Keith
3:09
How many new head coach openings do you see including the Bucks?
Luke Adams
3:12
I expect the Pelicans and Blazers to consider outside options, though it's possible they'll stick with their current guys.

Would be a bit surprised if the Magic don't make a change. I could see the Wizards making a move. Wouldn't shock me if Donovan walks away from the Bulls' job.

That gets us up to six, counting the Bucks. Entirely possible not all of those team makes changes, but there are other situations worth watching (Philly? Maybe Memphis?) and we usually get at least one or two surprises each spring too. I'll say we end up at seven changes in total.
raz1374
3:12
Pacers fan....thoughts on what they do with their roster in the offseason? With so many bench and two-way guys getting significant playing time this season, it seems like they may have a logjam of talent from players 9-15. Their coaching staff has done a tremendous job developing some of these guys and players like Kobe Brown (a throw-in in the Zubac trade) and Slawson seem like they could carve out a spot in someone's rotation.
Luke Adams
3:16
They'll be able to give Slawson a two-way qualifying offer and it's pretty rare for rival teams to do offer sheets for two-way guys, so it wouldn't shock me if they were able to bring him back on another two-way contract.

I'm also a little skeptical about how seriously teams will take the second-half strides that some of the Pacers' unheralded guys made, since those games down the stretch had no real weight to them.

Anyway, it'll depend whether or not the Pacers keep their first-round pick, but if they do, I think they'll be in a good position to trade a little depth. With the exception of Kobe Brown, they have team control on everyone for next season.
Chris Finch
3:17
If I don't get to at least the WCF again, do I have to worry about my job?
Luke Adams
3:19
I didn't mention the Wolves when discussing coaching situations to watch, but I think that's a fair question. Minnesota has a tough matchup with Denver on tap, so a first-round exit is a real possibility, and this ownership group hasn't made its own head coaching hire yet. I definitely don't think it's a lock that Finch returns next season (though if he does get the Wolves back to the WCF by beating Denver and San Antonio, he probably deserves an extension!)
brandon daniel powell
3:19
do you think the bucks can rebound back in  next season as a playoff team by if they add a better coach, retain giannis, sihn him his extension for him to stay with his only nba team,get a decent top 10 draft pick in this drafts lottery and better role players, maybe more younger in their 20s while maybe getting one or 2 productive still vets that are overhill 30 somethings?
Luke Adams
3:20
A modest bounce-back season is a possibility, but I have a really hard time envisioning this team getting back to title contention anytime soon. There's just too much work to do and not enough quality trade assets to do it.
Edwill
3:20
The thunder will have multiple first round picks this years draft. They might have 3 if the jazz pick falls pass 8. Just wanna know since they have a stack roster how they going to find playing time for there draft class next season
Luke Adams
3:22
There's basically no chance they're getting the Utah pick, but entirely possible they'll end up with two between 12-18. In that scenario, I doubt they'd use both. They'd either package them to move up or trade one for a future asset. Just not enough room on the roster to add multiple rookies, especially with Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber both still practically de facto rookies.
Lucky
3:22
Does Boston's win over Orlando yesterday tell us more about Boston's depth and Finals chances or about the Magic's lack of seriousness
Luke Adams
3:24
Both, but probably more about Orlando. The Magic have a shot to win a play-in game because the Sixers are missing Embiid, but if they lose in Philly, it wouldn't shock me if the Magic also lose the next play-in game too. And even if they sneak into the No. 7 or 8 seed, it's really hard to imagine them winning more than a game or two against Detroit or Boston.
Unclemike1526
3:25
The Bulls actually have a great situation to walk into for a change. they have Cap space and should get more. I say they should move Okoro, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith and could open up another 25 million or so. We all saw what happened when you hold on to people too long in the last years. Maybe even Williams but that would be hard. What are the odds that they could move up from 9 if the lottery goes as figured by using some of that without giving up 15? i think wagler is the guy to chase. What do you think of Wagler? I think he's worth chasing.Thanks again.
Luke Adams
3:28
No need to open up a ton of cap room unless they have a specific use for it. Those expiring or pseudo-expiring contracts could come in handy at the 2027 trade deadline or could allow the Bulls to roll over a significant chunk of cap room to next summer.

I wouldn't pencil in that No. 15 pick for the Bulls until we see what happens in the play-in this week. The Blazers should be able to win one of two play-in games, but neither of their matchups is an easy one.

I like Wagler too, but I doubt he makes it to No. 9 and I'm not sure if the Bulls are in position to give up the sort of quality asset it would take to move up to get him. Not at this stage of a rebuild.
BLinn
3:29
Re: the play in, does the uncertainty of who their opponent is (which makes scouting harder) hurt a 1/2 team more than playing a lower-ranked team (and getting to scout them via the play-in games) help?
Luke Adams
3:30
I'm not sure there's much of a scouting advantage to be gained or lost at this point of the season. Teams have played each other 3-4 times. They're pretty familiar with one another. And the No. 1 and 2 seeds in each conference are really strong this year -- they'll be heavy favorites no matter who they face.
Just Curious
3:30
What playoff team are you inordinately excited about? I think the Cavs could be a surprise. They have some good players who underachieved a bit this year, plus Harden who has been "unlucky" in the playoffs in the past. Do you have a dark horse?
Luke Adams
3:33
The Cavs are a good one. Their first-round matchup is pretty favorable, and while I think the Pistons are definitely the better team, we haven't seen Detroit make a deep playoff run yet.

By the same token, the Nuggets are intriguing if they're fully healthy. Their path will be really tough but I think they should beat the Wolves and the Spurs are another team without a ton of playoff experience.

As noted above, I don't see any of the top two seeds losing in the first round, but I'd love to see the Hornets get in and face the Pistons. Charlotte, insanely, has the NBA's best net rating since January 1. They could give Detroit a real scare.
SufferingBullsFan
3:34
If Billy D leaves the Bulls, where do you think the Bulls coaching job stacks up in terms of desirability with other jobs (assume the Bulls do not win the lottery)? Also, assuming neither win the lottery, do you think while Giannis' future with the Bucks is unset, that the Bulls coaching job is more attractive than the Bucks'?
Luke Adams
3:36
That's a good question. I think both teams are probably headed toward a rebuild.

The Bulls control their own first-round picks but don't have a ton of young talent on the roster yet.

The Bucks are lacking draft picks, but if they get a nice package for Giannis, they could absolutely have a more favorable long-term outlook than Chicago. And ownership in Milwaukee has been more willing to spend in recent years than the Reinsdorfs.

I think I'd probably prefer the Bucks' situation, but only if resolution is coming sooner rather than later on Giannis (and assuming the Bulls don't win the draft lottery next month).
arcman
3:37
Brandin podziemski is on his last year of his contract next year. What type of an extension will he get? Maybe a 3year $50 deal?
Luke Adams
3:39
I think Podziemski might do a little better than that. Nikola Jovic got $62.4MM for four years last fall after showing less in his first three seasons than Podz has. Something more in the range of at least $20MM per year feels closer for Podz.
Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo
3:40
Can you give us your series predictions for each 1st Rd matchup?
Luke Adams
3:43
I'd like to wait to see the exact matchups for 1/8 and 2/7, but for the four series that are already set...

  • Knicks over Hawks in 7
  • Cavs over Raptors in 5
  • Nuggets over Timberwolves in 7
  • Rockets over Lakers in 6

Feels a bit chalk, picking the favorites. Maybe by Saturday I'll be able to talk myself into picking at least one upset. I do like the Hawks and think the Lakers won't just roll over with Luka and Reaves out.
Ludwig’s Air Ball
3:43
My gut feels a Cinderella run by the Hawks is coming. Am I insane to say that they can take the Knicks in 6 games?
Luke Adams
3:43
I think this is unlikely but certainly not impossible. The Knicks haven't exactly been a paragon of consistency this season.
Dan'l
3:43
How do you see the Thunder '26-'27 roster coming together? Who will have to go?
Luke Adams
3:47
I'm curious to see how long they stick with Topic and Sorber. Both guys have real upside, but having them on rookie scale contracts instead of back-end roster players on minimum-salary deals bumps up the team salary, so if the Thunder aren't confident that those guys will become regular contributors before the end of their rookie contracts, maybe they'll feel compelled to do something there. They'd probably have decent trade value.

I've always thought that eventually one of Aaron Wiggins or Isaiah Joe might have to go, but maybe not yet. Isaiah Hartenstein's team option is the most interesting decision. To avoid a massive tax bill, they've probably got to decline that option and try to re-sign him to a multiyear deal that starts quite a bit lower.

I wouldn't expect Kenrich Williams to be back unless it's on a minimum deal.
Randy
3:47
Will the Utah jazz be aggressive this off season
Luke Adams
3:50
I don't really expect them to be going all-in on another star to try to build a title contender. It's hard to be too aggressive until they get a better sense of what their current roster looks like together.

But they showed by giving up some first-rounders for JJJ at the deadline that they're ready to move past their rebuilding phase now. I certainly think they'll be looking for guys who can help them right away rather than accommodating salary dumps and stockpiling more draft picks.
LBJ
3:50
In the miracles of all miracles I win a chip this year, am I done?
Luke Adams
3:52
It'd make for a storybook ending, but if you manage to lead the Lakers to a title with Luka and Reaves both coming off injuries, it sounds like you probably shouldn't be ready to call it a career quite yet.
KJ.
3:52
Because the top 4 drafts are so highly rated, what would a trade look like if someone wanted to trade up or down?
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