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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 4/6/2021
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Luke Adams
12:00
Hey everyone, thanks for sticking with us through the trade deadline. Let's chat!
Marcus Howard
12:00
Are the Raptors tanking or just playing bad. They are fighting for the play-in tournament, but with the pieces they have I would have expected them to be a playoff lock. What do you think?
Luke Adams
12:01
I think they're almost too talented and well-coached to tank in the East this year. Even after going 1-13 in March, they're right in the mix for the No. 10 seed.
12:02
It's been a disappointing run during the last month or two, but I think that can be partly explained by the fact that many of the team's top players are still dealing with the aftereffects of COVID-19. I think they're a good bet to make the play-in tournament.
Daniel
12:02
If the thunder get 2 top five picks (I.e 1&5) who do you predict them to draft position wise
Luke Adams
12:04
Besides Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, I don't think they have any foundational pieces with whom they'd have to worry about position overlap. And even in SGA's case, I don't think they'll repeat the mistake the Kings made a few years ago, passing on Luka Doncic because they already had a point guard (De'Aaron Fox). So if Cade Cunningham is the top player on their board, I think he's the pick at No. 1 (at No. 5, maybe Jonathan Kuminga?)
12:05
Having said that, I wouldn't put it past Sam Presti to trade down from No. 1 like the Celtics did in the Tatum/Fultz draft, if there's a guy he really likes who could be there at No. 3 or No. 4.
ManOfCulture
12:05
With all the injuries the pelicans experiencing right now. Does Isaiah Thomas stand a chance to be back on the NBA for good? What do you guys think of his production for tonights game?
Luke Adams
12:08
I'd love to see Thomas do well with the Pelicans and earn a rest-of-season contract with New Orleans or another team. If he's healthy, he should still be good for instant offense off the bench. Still, I have trouble picturing him catching on with a playoff team that intends to use him as a regular postseason rotation player -- unless he returns with a newfound defensive intensity, he'll be a liability at that end, which is brutal in the playoffs when teams are more motivated to pick on the weak links.
Zach
12:08
Will the BUCKS sign Austin Rivers or someone else to fill the roster
Luke Adams
12:09
Rivers still looks like a decent option for them, though it seems the urgency to add another guard was lessened when Teague came aboard.
12:10
Teague hasn't exactly looked terrific in his first couple games with the Bucks, but I think they'll probably take a little more time to assess his fit before deciding whether they need another guard. If he proves reliable, maybe they'd turn to another wing or big man instead.
Bucky
12:11
Are the Mavericks having buyers remorse on Porzingis?Do you think they shop him more heavily in the offseason? At only 25 and unable to stay on the court for even half the games, Dallas might be wise to dangle him.
Luke Adams
12:13
It makes sense in theory. The only problem is that if his stock is falling in the Mavs' eyes, it's safe to assume that his leaguewide trade value is falling too. Knowing what his ceiling is, it probably makes more sense for Dallas to hang onto him and hope for better injury luck than to sell low.
Having said that, if there are teams out there that still value him highly despite his injury history and contract, it's safe to assume the Mavs would listen.
Randy Martin
12:14
Looking back at the Magic deals on Trade Deadline, do you think they got a good return for there 3 players?
Luke Adams
12:16
It may take some time before we can fully assess the returns of all three deals, but the early returns look pretty good. Hampton has a ton of potential and I won't be at all surprised if the Bulls' 2021 pick ends up in the lottery. Carter has played great for Orlando too, but health is the main question with him, so it's probably premature to get too excited about a few games.
12:17
I actually don't mind the return for Fournier either. It may look modest, but it would've been hard to get anything more for a role player with a big expiring contract like that. Even if the second-rounders don't turn into much, having that $17MM+ trade exception should come in handy at some point.
Mike
12:17
do you think Masai will stay in toronto?
Luke Adams
12:18
Yes, but I'm less sure of that than I would've been a year or two ago. I think it's probably something like 70/30 in favor of him staying.
Connor🏀
12:19
Think the hornets don’t have to do a play in game & make playoffs bc we are missing both ball & Hayward thanks man have a good day!
Luke Adams
12:21
The injuries to Ball, Hayward, and Monk are brutal. I was starting to look forward to the idea of seeing LaMelo in a playoff series, but their hold on a spot looks really tenuous at this point. They'd have to fall awfully far to miss the play-in tournament entirely, but it wouldn't shock me if they end up in the 9 vs. 10 game.
Mikedickinson
12:21
Suggs wasn’t great against better talent last night. Is Cunningham the better player based upon the competition level he played this season?
Luke Adams
12:24
I'm no scout, and I'm typically so focused on the NBA that I watch very little college basketball until March Madness. Based on what I've seen from both guys over the last few weeks and what I've read from draft experts, I'd feel a little more confident taking Cunningham, but if you're in position to draft either one, you're in great shape.
wizards guy
12:24
Scott Brooks has arguably been the worst NBA coach this year. Do you think the Wizards will fire him before the season is over, or look for a new coach this offseason?
Luke Adams
12:26
If they're going to do it during the season, it would have to be very soon, while they're still within striking distance of the 10th seed. Otherwise there's not much point in installing an interim guy for what's essentially the "garbage time" of the season. At this point I'd guess it's more likely to happen right after the season ends.
A cat
12:26
If COVID cases continue to rise, does the NBA move the playoffs into a bubble?
Luke Adams
12:28
Earlier in the year, I thought this would be the obvious move, but I'm not so sure about that anymore. The rate of vaccinations in the U.S. has been a lot faster than I anticipated, and it looks like everyone who wants one should have at least one shot by the time the playoffs start. That'll be a major factor the NBA takes into account, especially since playing in teams' home arenas requires a lot less logistical work than another bubble would.
Brent
12:29
Top 5 free agents of 2021?
Luke Adams
12:30
Thanks for reminding me that our 2021 FA Power Rankings are long overdue. My plan is to get those up in the next week or two, and they'll include at least a top 20 or 25. Until I do a deep dive on my rankings, I'll put Kawhi and John Collins at the top of my list and leave placeholders for the rest.
J
12:31
Who should Miami sign with their open roster spots?
Luke Adams
12:34
They'll have to fill at least one of those spots within the next couple days and I imagine they'll be looking at a big man after missing out on LaMarcus Aldridge. I can't get too excited about veteran free agents like Dewayne Dedmon, Greg Monroe, or Anthony Tolliver -- I wonder if they'd go younger and try one or two guys on 10-day deals. maybe Justin Patton, Donta Hall, someone like that. It also wouldn't shock me if one or both of their two-way guys (Strus, Vincent) ends up being promoted to the 15-man roster on a multiyear deal.
bob
12:34
are there any true "starless" teams in the NBA right now?
Luke Adams
12:37
Cleveland comes to mind. They have some good players, but no great ones. I'm not sure there's a future All-Star on Detroit's roster yet either. Orlando and Houston might be in that category too. And maybe San Antonio, depending on how you feel about DeRozan and the young guys?
Luke Adams Fan
12:37
Looking back at Trade Deadline, should the Toronto Raptors have traded KLow?
Luke Adams
12:39
It's hard to say without knowing what the offers were, but I don't think they should've just taken whatever they could get. The opportunity to either re-sign Lowry or get something for him a sign-and-trade this summer outweighs taking pennies on the dollar for him at the deadline. Even if they'd been able to get someone like Duncan Robinson, I'm not getting the opportunity to give him a four-year, $80MM deal this summer is tangibly better than just opening up cap room if Lowry leaves.
Russell
12:39
Who are your top 8 draft picks?
Luke Adams
12:41
As a non-draft guru, I'd say something like: 1. Cunningham 2. Mobley 3. Suggs 4. Green 5. Kuminga 6. K. Johnson 7. J. Johnson 8. Kispert
Thon Maker
12:42
How come I don’t have a Contract?  Teams always need a Stretch-5.
Luke Adams
12:43
If your 31.6% rate on threes since your rookie year was a few notches higher, you'd probably be on a roster right now. It could still happen before the end of the year -- lots of open roster spots out there right now.
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