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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 5/20/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:00
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question on the Pistons.
romanregins
11:01
Should the Pistons be aggressive this offseason and trade for a superstar to build around Cade Cunningham, or stay patient until 2026 when the free agent class is much stronger?
ARTHUR HILL
11:08
The Pistons were one of this season's best stories, tripling their win total and establishing themselves as a legitimate force in the East. There might be temptation to try to move up into the next class, especially with uncertainty in Cleveland and Boston, but I don't think they should rush the process. Jaden Ivey's return from a broken fibula will provide a dynamic backcourt scorer to team with Cunningham. They only had a couple of months playing together under J.B. Bickerstaff, and they should become one of the best guard combinations in the conference. Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland and Jalen Duren are all on affordable contracts, so Detroit can take another year to see how they all develop. As you said, it's a better free agent class in 2026 and the Pistons will have Tobias Harris' contract coming off the books, so that's when they should plan their big moves.
Seth Rollins
11:08
It’s Monday Night Rollins! Do you think the Phoenix Suns are seriously considering trading Devin Booker to maximize their return, or are they more likely to build around the assets they could get from an eventual Kevin Durant trade?"
ARTHUR HILL
11:16
Owner Mat Ishbia was as definitive as he could be when he stated that the Suns won't entertain the thought of trading Booker. He still views Booker as the type of player that a title contender can be rebuilt around. While that's understandable, it's going to be much tougher to acquire talent than Ishbia expects. I think the offers for Durant are going to be heavier on draft capital than immediate on-court help. His age and his desire for a two-year extension are going to limit what teams are willing to part with. If they're determined to trade Bradley Beal, they'll have to include several sweeteners to convince someone to take his contract and the no-trade clause that comes with it. And once Durant and Beal are gone, Phoenix won't have much scoring to put around Booker. Ishbia won't trade Booker this summer, but he may eventually have to consider it for the Suns to get worthwhile assets in return.
JD
11:16
Who should the SIxers take 3rd overall? Bailey? Edgecombe? Trade down? Trade out?
ARTHUR HILL
11:21
It's the first tough decision in the draft, with Flagg and Harper virtually locked in to the top two picks. Ace Bailey looks like the better fit as a scorer with size, but I've seen reports that scouts believe VJ Edgecombe and maybe even Tre Johnson would provide more immediate help. Getting someone who can contribute right away will be important, as a front office overhaul is definitely in the cards after this disastrous season. Daryl Morey had a history in Houston of dealing away first-round picks for veterans, and I think he's already listening to offers. I would guess Bailey is still the favorite at No. 3, but the Sixers will be trying to make a deal until they're on the clock.
Unclemike1526
11:23
Surely this is the year that Bulls management figures out they have to trade everything that's not nailed down before the draft and then finishes the job at the deadline right? They really can't keep compounding their mistakes can they? And let the Giddey market play out since nobody has any Cap Space right? Just a bunch of different ways of asking the same question. Thanks.
ARTHUR HILL
11:34
Hopefully the Bulls learned a lesson about restricted free agents after mishandling the Patrick Williams situation last year and getting stuck with a long-term contract that they can't unload. Giddey is worth keeping, but they should let him see what kind of offer he can get on the open market instead of rushing into a deal. You probably shouldn't get your hopes up for a complete overhaul until next summer. After the season ended, Arturas Karnisovas asked Bulls fans to be patient and said he'd have more financial flexibility in 2026. Nikola Vucevic will probably be traded, and hopefully Chicago will add some size in the draft, but I expect the roster to look mostly the same. I think they should explore a Coby White trade while his value is high, but I'm not sure Karnisovas sees it the same way. There's probably another year of mediocrity for Bulls fans, but hopefully things get better after that.
Jon Horst
11:34
If you were me, what would you say to Giannis to try to convince him to stay in Milwaukee?
ARTHUR HILL
11:43
Giannis is expected to meet with Bucks executives this week, and the franchise will quickly shift from contending to rebuilding if he asks for a trade. I would try to sell him on a best-case scenario. Damian Lillard will likely miss all of next season with an Achilles tear, but he'll be back for 2026/27 and they developed into one of the league's best pick-and-roll combinations in their second season together. Kyle Kuzma currently has the only other significant contract that extends past next season, so there's an opportunity to create a younger, more athletic roster that fits better around the two stars. It's a tough case to make, though, as Giannis wants to win titles and the Bucks have been going in the wrong direction since their 2021 championship. There were rumors that he was thinking about asking for a trade before the Lillard deal, and the Bucks are in a much worse position now.
Jonathan Kuminga
11:43
How will my restricted free agency play out? Think I'm back with the Warriors or elsewhere by the fall?
ARTHUR HILL
11:50
Kuminga is in a very strong position to cash in after his performance in the second round against Minnesota. He averaged 24.3 PPG in the final four games of that series, and someone who can handle that kind of playoff scoring load at age 22 isn't easy to find. Kuminga was off to a strong start before suffering a severe ankle injury in January, and re-signing him would be an easy decision for the Warriors if they hadn't traded for Jimmy Butler. Kuminga is too valuable of an asset to lose with nothing in return, so Golden State will likely either give him an extension or match his offer sheet. However, he's an awkward fit alongside Butler and Draymond Green, so he may be on the trade market next summer.
barron_hudson
11:51
What moves do the Pistons need to make during the offseason to advance in the 2nd round of the playoffs?
ARTHUR HILL
12:02
With the turmoil affecting other Eastern Conference playoff teams, keeping the current core together may be enough. The Cavaliers have tough decisions to make this summer, the Celtics may have to survive next season without Jayson Tatum and the Bucks might be forced to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pistons are in a good spot to move up without a major roster addition. Re-signing Malik Beasley should be a priority. He was a huge bargain at $6MM and was a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year honors. They should also try to keep Dennis Schroder, who turned out to be a great fit after being acquired at the trade deadline. Schroder will never be an efficient shooter, but his intense defense and fiery competitiveness make him perfect for the personality of this Pistons team.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next Tuesday.
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