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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/2/26
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about a potential Sixers-Knicks first-round matchup.
Tarunafish
11:01
If Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George are healthy, do the Sixers have a solid chance of beating the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
A lot can change over the next week and a half, but right now those teams would meet in the first round. A fully healthy Sixers roster would be a challenge for any playoff opponent. Paul George scored 39 points last night, his best game since coming to Philadelphia, and he seems to have benefitted from the rest he got during his 25-game suspension. Tyrese Maxey has been playing at an All-NBA level when healthy, and Joel Embiid has been dominant when he's been able to get on the court. Embiid will always be the biggest X factor because of his injury history, especially in the playoffs, and it's hard to picture him staying healthy long enough for the team to make a significant run. But if he can make it through the first round, the Sixers are definitely a threat to beat the Knicks or at least provide a repeat of the great playoff series the teams had two years ago.
JD
11:10
Is there any consensus on the number one pick in the draft after seeing the top prospects play in March Madness?
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
AJ Dybantsa only got one game because his BYU team lost to Texas, but he looked like a future star with 35 points. Darryn Peterson was also impressive, but still seemed bothered by the physical issues that have affected him all season. Cameron Boozer put up really good numbers in four games for Duke, so they all have positives coming out of the tournament. Any of the three could be the No. 1 pick depending on who wins the lottery. They'll have another chance to impress teams during combine interviews and pre-draft workouts, but I don't think the NCAA Tournament changed the perception of any of them.
Unclemike1526
11:18
Hypothetical situation. If the Bulls were somehow able, And I don't know how likely it may be because I don't understand how the lottery works, Suppose the Bulls drafted Keaton Wagler? I know what they need but his range and upside would be too hard for me to pass up. Then maybe they flip Giddey to get what they need on the front line, Because he's signed now what kind of return could they expect? Pairing Giddey and Wagler might be interesting but somehow I don't think it would work. Thoughts? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:28
The 14 teams that don't reach the playoffs will participate in the lottery. A drawing is held for the top four spots, and the rest are determined in inverse order of their records. If the Bulls are lucky on lottery night, they'll almost certainly take someone from the top four group of Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson. If not, their pick will likely be ninth or lower, which probably puts Wagler out of their reach. He was projected to go sixth in an ESPN mock draft before the tournament began, and his stock may have risen since then. Drafting a young point guard and trading Giddey would still be an option, and another prospect could fall to the Bulls' range in a guard-heavy draft. Unless Chicago has huge success in free agency, it's time for a full rebuild, so it's especially important to find a star with this year's pick.
Guest
11:28
How important is it that the Jazz keep Walker Kessler? Do they need him as badly after trading for JJJ or could he be more valuable in a sign and trade?
ARTHUR HILL
11:37
The Lakers and other teams have expressed interest in trading for Kessler as a long-term solution at center, so the Jazz could get a nice return for the restricted free agent. Utah is already committed to big-money deals with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. over the next three years, and Keyonte George will be extension eligible this summer, so there's an argument to be made for finding a cheaper option in the middle. However, the Jazz seem committed to re-signing Kessler to provide rebounding and rim protection on what could be an imposing front line. They might listen to sign-and-trade offers, but I think an agreement on Kessler's new contract could be reached before he hits the open market.
Chris D
11:37
So far this year, Will Riley for the Wizards has been a revelation, repeatedly beating excellent one on one NBA defenders and scoring at the basket. Have you seen enough of him to get a sense whether his ultimate NBA position might be as a point guard?
ARTHUR HILL
11:45
I don't know if Riley has the physical makeup to slot in at point guard full-time, but from what I've seen he does have good playmaking instincts and a willingness to drive to the rim. He's probably exceeded expectations in his first NBA season and definitely seems like a keeper among Washington's collection of young talent. If the Wizards sign Trae Young to an extension, which seems to be the most likely scenario for the summer, then he'll get the bulk of minutes at point guard. Riley could settle in as a point forward who could keep the offense functioning while Young is out of the game and a secondary playmaker when they're on the court together.
Scott S.
11:45
The Bulls already got mixed reviews for their deadline moves. With Ivey gone now, is it safe to say the front office blew it?
ARTHUR HILL
11:55
As the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft, Ivey was a wild card in Chicago's deadline maneuvering. He showed a lot of promise before breaking his leg last season and potentially could have been brought back on a low-cost contract. However, the decision to release him over comments that weren't directly related to basketball indicates that he was probably never in their long-term plans. The Bulls aren't going anywhere with their current roster, so it doesn't make sense to throw money at Anfernee Simons or Collin Sexton, and Rob Dillingham is a long-range gamble at best. The most intriguing acquisition was Leonard Miller, whose been playing well since the trade. Otherwise, the deadline can be viewed as another front office failure, as the Bulls didn't get enough value in return for the assets they gave up.
Just Curious
11:55
Coming down to the last few games of the season, what is the most excting race? Is it the Pacers, trying to hold off the Kings for the #3 spot and the extra 4% chance of keeping their pick and completing the most egregious tank since the '84 Rockets? (Heh heh, good thing they didn't drop to third!) Or Milwaukee's battle to secure the #9 pick and vindicate the FO decision denying Giannis the opportunity to play any more games in a Bucks uniform?
ARTHUR HILL
12:05
The Pacers are the most intriguing team in the tanking race because they're almost guaranteed to return to contention next season when Tyrese Haliburton is healthy again. Right now, they're in the group with Brooklyn and Washington that would share the best lottery odds, but they've won two straight games and are only one loss ahead of Sacramento and two in front of Utah. Giving them a top-four pick could create the East's next super team. Milwaukee was interesting because Giannis was saying he still wanted to play, but his hyperextended knee and bone bruise don't seem to be healing fast enough to make that realistic. That turned out to be a blessing for the Bucks, who can still improve their lottery odds by catching Chicago and who needed to keep Giannis on the sidelines to avoid another injury that could lessen his trade value for the summer.
Thanks for the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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