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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/27/2021
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Luke Adams
12:01
Hey guys, thanks for joining us today and thanks to those who submitted questions early!
Comparison
12:02
The Hawks have been playing AMAZING, even without Trae Young. Do you think Nate McMillan is a contender for coach of the year, or no.
Luke Adams
12:03
It would be quite something to have a midseason replacement get serious Coach of the Year consideration. And maybe McMillan will pick up a few votes. But I can't see him beating out guys like Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams, who have cases that are arguably just as strong and who have been doing it all year.
Vlade
12:04
Is Kings drafting Bagley over Doncic the biggest draft mistake of last decade?
Luke Adams
12:05
I'd have to take a closer back at all those drafts to be sure, but I can't think of another one that would top it.
12:06
Some "mistakes" look bad in hindsight, like the Sixers trading up so they could select Fultz over Tatum, but made sense at the time -- Fultz was widely considered the No. 1 prospect in that draft. In the case of Bagley vs. Doncic, just about every draft expert ranked Luka higher, and the Kings just weren't interested because they already had Fox.
Walleye Wade
12:07
What in gods name are the timber wolves doing winning against Utah?     They really can’t even tank correctly?
Luke Adams
12:08
With the lottery odds not quite so favorable for the league's very worst teams anymore, I wouldn't sweat that. A win against the NBA's top team is probably a better result for a young team like the Wolves than sacrificing a game in the lottery standings.
12:09
If the Wolves' pick was top-5 or top-6 protected, it'd be a bigger deal since a last-place finish would ensure they'd keep the pick. But no matter where they finish this season, they'll need some luck to keep their top-3 protected pick.
Robert
12:10
As a clipper fan i want to avoid the lakers in the first round. On the other hand, they may be more vulnerable in the first round because lebron is gonna be more rusty  thoughts?
Luke Adams
12:13
You'll probably have to get by them sooner or later to get out of the West, so you might be right than sooner is better. I'd be surprised if that's how the seeding falls though. A Lakers/Clippers first-round series would definitely be the NBA's worst nightmare.
Warriors need a Big Man
12:13
It appears the Dubs are gonna run Looney into the ground and wait for his Hips to start ailing again, before they go out & sign a depth Frontcourt piece.  Watch Looney last until the last week of the Regular season, and then get Injured.  By then, signing someone will be too late.  Justin Patton, Thon Maker, and Sagaba Konate are available.  6 Fouls and a big body is needed to stop these Layup drills by our recent Opponents.
Luke Adams
12:15
I don't dispute that signing a frontcourt depth piece could help the Warriors, but I don't think Looney's status (or the center position in general) will be the difference between whether or not they make a deep playoff run.
They'll fill the 15th roster spot at some point before the season ends. I'd expect that spot to go to a big man.
JJ
12:16
The Knicks have built a solid team and are still under the cap. Any free agents coming or players demanding a trade to the Knicks?
Luke Adams
12:17
I'm not ready to guarantee they'll make a big splash this summer, but I get the impression that the last six months or so have gone a long way toward improving the league-wide perception of the Knicks among players and agents. At the very least, the top free agents who haven't seriously considered the Knicks in recent years will at least have them on their radar now.
Somewhat Happy Raptors Fan
12:18
Do you think the raptors can make a playoff push and make it to the playoffs?
Luke Adams
12:19
I think they have more talent than at least a couple of the teams ahead of them in the standings, but they may have dug themselves too deep a hole. Their remaining schedule is the second-hardest in the NBA.
12:20
Their upcoming five-game stretch (vs. BKN, @ Den, @ UTH, @LAL, @LAC) is especially brutal. If they can survive that without slipping too far in the standings, they have a decent shot.
Wiz Fan
12:21
This Wiz team, if they make the playoffs has a ___ % of winning the series against a #1 seed.
Luke Adams
12:22
10% maybe? Even if they stay hot, they don't match up with the Nets or Sixers in terms of talent.
MplsSixersFan
12:22
Would you agree that whoever has the #1 seed in the East is the presumptive favorite to win the conference? And wouldn't the Sixers, by virtue of their easier schedule, be that favorite?
Luke Adams
12:24
I'd say that ENTERING the playoffs, the No. 1 seed would have the best odds to make it out of the East. But by the time we get to the Eastern Conference Finals, with just two teams left, whichever team survives that 2 vs. 3 battle may have the edge.
A better way to say that would be: The No. 1 seed will have far better odds than the No. 2 or No. 3 teams to MAKE the ECF, but not necessarily to win the ECF.
Mr KLC
12:25
Do you think the Rockets try to keep Olynyk next year.   He seems to fit into their system well,  and we do need some productive veterans.
Luke Adams
12:26
I expect they'll try to bring him back. The Rockets don't project to have a ton of cap room, so re-signing a solid veteran to a short-term deal makes sense, even if they plan to eventually use him as a trade chip.
Philly Phil
12:26
How do Suns build on their success this year in the offseason? Will keeping Paul prevent them from adding to their core?
Luke Adams
12:29
I bet they'll want to re-sign CP3 to a deal that lowers his cap hit for next season but keeps him under contract for an extra year or two. That would give them access to the full mid-level exception, which is their best bet for adding another useful rotation player.
Trading Saric and a first-round pick would also be an intriguing path to an upgrade.
Cavs Fan
12:30
Should the Cavs shut down Kevin Love for the rest of the season due to his antics last night?  I think it would be smart to give the younger guys more PT so that the Cavs can evaluate them
Luke Adams
12:31
I'm not sure it'll be a direct response to last night's incident, but I definitely won't be surprised to see Love's minutes cut back over the next couple weeks. Now that Cleveland is essentially out of the running for a play-in spot, giving the younger guys the bulk of the minutes is the right play.
Trade
12:32
Wiseman and a first for Beal - who says no first?
Luke Adams
12:32
Wizards -- if they were willing to take that deal for Beal, it probably would've gotten done last month.
Rudy
12:33
What do you think of the team Troy Weaver has put together in Detroit?  It seems like a solid core of young players with a ton of upside.
Luke Adams
12:36
I was confused by a handful of the moves Weaver made during the 2020 offseason (aggressively pursuing Grant and Plumlee in free agency, waiving-and-stretching Dedmon, etc.). But most of them look a little better now than they did at the time. Getting it right in the draft was the key. If Hayes, Stewart, and Bey had had bad rookie seasons, the outlook in Detroit would be a lot more grim, but it looks like Weaver did really well in the draft.
SouthEast Guards
12:36
Who would you rather build your team around? Trae Young or LaMelo Ball?
Luke Adams
12:37
I think it might be for Ball for me. He really exceeded my expectations this season.
Chet Gallinari
12:37
When do you think LeBron is going to be back? I have him on my fantasy team, so should I play him next week. (I'm in the finals)
Luke Adams
12:39
Wouldn't be shocked if he's back this Friday or Sunday, but that's just reading tea leaves, since he and the Lakers aren't saying much right now.
Mock God
12:39
Who do you think is going 6th in the 2021 draft? I am thinking Scottie Barnes, but wondering what you think.
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