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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 6/1/2021
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Luke Adams
9:18
Hey all, submit your questions early or during our live chat. We'll get underway right around noon CT!
Robert
12:01
Who has better shot of advancing? Clips or lakers?
Luke Adams
12:02
Right now, I've gotta take the Clippers, since they're the healthiest team in either of the two series. If Luka's not 100%, I don't see the Mavs winning two more games. Even if he is, the Clips looked like they figured some stuff out in those two games in Dallas.
12:03
That's not to say the Lakers can't advance too, but if Davis misses the next game or two, that's a tougher challenge.
Listencat
12:03
What odds would you give Masai Ujiri remaining with Toronto and Nate Bjorkgren returning to coach Indiana? What other job opportunity could you foresee opening up for Masai Ujiri and/or could you see him sit out a year?
Luke Adams
12:04
I'd be surprised if Masai goes anywhere. The marquee big-market teams won't be shaking up their front offices this offseason and Toronto should be able to outbid any other interested teams. I'd give at least 75% odds that he's back.
12:06
As for Bjorkgren, maybe a 40% chance that he's back? The longer the Pacers go without announcing a decision, the higher that number climbs, since it doesn't make sense for them to wait too long to start looking for their next coach. A week ago I would've been way more confident that he was a goner, but I'm starting to wonder now if they'll give him one more chance.
Wagner13
12:06
How far do you believe the Clippers need to advance in the postseason for Kawhi Leonard to commit on an extension longer than 2 years?
Luke Adams
12:09
I'm not 100% convinced there's a direct link between their playoff success and the length of his next contract. But it'll be a factor, for sure, and I'd be a little surprised to see him lock in a five-year deal if they're knocked out early again.
So maybe the Western Finals?
pimpis zajoba
12:09
Sabonis to GSW....for Wiseman and Minnesota pick+filler....who says no?
Luke Adams
12:11
It's an interesting concept (Sabonis or Turner) but matching salaries would be tricky and it'll depend where the Wolves' pick lands. I think GSW might hold out for a bigger star if they're making that package available, but if the Wolves' pick lands at No. 9 or something, it becomes a lot less valuable.
Travis Schlenk
12:12
Do you think I'll get any consideration for Executive of the Year? I signed Bogdanovic, Gallinari, Hill, and Rondo. Then, traded Rondo for a bench energizer in Williams. I also got rid of our underachieving head coach and (probably) found his successor
Luke Adams
12:13
Consideration, sure. I think it's probably Sean Marks' award to lose though. The execs who vote on that award tend to favor the splashiest big-name acquisitions by the very best teams.
Grizzly
12:14
Memphis has an intriguing young core, but they are clearly a couple of steps below contender-level. What approach should they take? Should they stick to the young lads and give them time to develop or try to go after a difference-maker? In the latter case, which kind of player(s) should they pursue?
Luke Adams
12:17
The Grizzlies are sort of in a weird spot. They're too good to get a high draft pick, but they're not really a destination for top free agents, so their best bets for increasing their ceiling are waiting on the young players to develop or making a trade. I'd probably want to wait on JJJ, but I think they could put together an interesting trade package with some of their other pieces (maybe starting with Brandon Clarke). They could benefit from adding a solid veteran wing if there's one out there.
Hawks roster
12:18
The Hawks remind me a lot of the New Jersey Nets a couple years ago. A steady team with no real superstar, but a lot of hard workers. The next year, they went all in and acquired Irving and Durant. Do you think the Hawks will pivot and try to land another star to pair with Trae Young?
Luke Adams
12:19
They have a ton of depth and are well-positioned to make a 3-for-1 type trade for an impact player, especially if they're willing to give up a draft pick or two (and there's no reason they shouldn't be). So yeah, I could see that. It would just probably have to be via trade rather than in free agency like the Kyrie/KD additions were.
Evans44
12:19
Which coaches need to do well in the playoffs to save their jobs? I was thinking Stotts and Budenholzer.
Luke Adams
12:20
Stotts, for sure. The Blazers are in a pretty good position to get past the Nuggets -- if they don't, I think Stotts is gone.
12:21
Budenholzer is trickier -- the Nets will enter that series as favorites, so if the Bucks don't win, I'm not sure that can really be considered a disappointment. Though obviously things would look different if they got swept vs. if they got eliminated in a hard-fought seven-game series.
12:23
I don't think any other playoff coaches are in legitimate danger. If this was Lue's second or third year, he'd certainly be on the hot seat, but I'd expect the Clippers to give him longer than one year even in the event of a first-round exit.
Spacing in New Orleans
12:24
Where do you see Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe getting flipped to? Adams just resigned so that hardly works in the Pelicans favor but he could fit in somewhere like Boston? Bledsoe maybe like Miami?
Luke Adams
12:25
I wonder if there's a deal that sends them both to OKC (reunion for Adams!) in a package for Horford. I expect the Thunder would be happy to accommodate it if they're getting a draft pick out of it, and the Pelicans have a few extras.
Listencat
12:26
OKC’s record was 19-25 before the trade deadline and 3-25 after. 5 of the losses after the deadline were in single digits, while 5 other losses after the deadline were by 37, 38, 39, 48, and 57 points. Do you believe if Al Horford is not traded during the offseason, will the NBA League office, by pressure from NBA team front offices, force and/or require Al Horford play at the beginning of next season or will OKC be allowed to sit Horford like they did Trevor Ariza this past season?
Luke Adams
12:28
I don't think the Thunder would have a problem playing Horford in the first half of the season if they don't move him this summer. He could help the younger guys on the court and showcase his value in advance of next year's trade deadline.
12:29
If the Thunder were still unable to move him at the 2022 deadline, maybe they try shutting him down again (or simply buying him out), but I'd be pretty surprised if he's still on the roster by that point.
Supernova
12:29
Back in the day, the Raptors had Batman (Vince Carter) and Robin (Tracy McGrady). McGrady left and became a true #1 player in Orlando in his own right. Who do you think could be a modern day McGrady and go from being second fiddle on his team to superstar?
Luke Adams
12:31
The best modern-day comparison I can come up with off the top of my head is Michael Porter. Jokic is obviously The Man in Denver, and Jamal Murray was the second option before he got hurt. But if Porter were headlining a rebuilding team like the Thunder or Magic, I think he'd be among the NBA's scoring leaders next season.
Sharkey
12:32
Do you think Donte DiVincenzo is still a Buck after the trade deadline next season? He’s the best trade chip they have and extending him would make me nervous with his injuries and inconsistency. A trade would be dependent on how his ankle looks, obviously.
Luke Adams
12:34
We saw last season amidst the Bogdan Bogdanovic drama that the Bucks were willing to trade him for an upgrade. Assuming they fall short of a title again this season, there's no reason to think that won't still be the case, especially since his rookie contract is nearly up and the Bucks will be pretty locked into the expensive Giannis/Middleton/Holiday core.
12:35
If he's traded, it's more likely to happen during this offseason than at next year's deadline, since then his new team would have a chance to extend him before the season.
Gerald Rivera
12:35
Why wasn’t Miami’s season seen as big of a disappointment as Boston? They’re coming off a Finals Run, added a few experienced vets, yet they’re only a seed higher? Obviously Spoelestra is a good coach but Brad Stevens received a different wrath from the fans and the media.
Luke Adams
12:37
I can't speak for the media in general, but I always felt like the Heat significantly overachieved by making the Finals last year -- a bit of bubble weirdness that might not have happened in a normal season. So my expectations for them entering this year weren't as high as they were for Boston.
12:38
Also, that one-seed difference was the difference separating the two teams from a play-in spot, which was big at the time (not so much now!). I think you have a point though -- both teams underachieved, with COVID and injury issues playing a major role.
Mavs4life
12:38
Hard to believe THJ turned out to be the best part of the Porzingis trade for Dallas? I'm guessing the Mavs are stuck with KP at this point? What a disappointment
Luke Adams
12:39
Yeah, it's going to be tough to get decent value for him this offseason. Their best bet is probably to wait it out and hope for a healthier, more productive 2021/22.
mr trade man
12:40
Assuming Kawhi re-ups with the clips, would GSW look at signing Demar Derozen?
Luke Adams
12:40
Don't think either player is a realistic target for the Warriors, who will be way over the cap and likely won't be able to acquire anyone via sign-and-trade due to CBA hard-cap rules.
John Collins
12:41
How much money do you think John Collins has made/lost this postseason with his play? I haven't been impressed and would be scared to give him a max deal
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