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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 6/17/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:08
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a Kevin Durant question.
Kevin Durant
11:08
It doesn't seem like the teams I want to play for want me very badly, and vice versa. Where do I end up?
ARTHUR HILL
11:14
Durant's camp leaked his list of preferred destinations over the weekend, with San Antonio, Houston and Miami making the cut. It came with a message that those are the only three teams he'll consider signing an extension with, which is the only leverage he currently has. I don't believe the Spurs or Rockets are going to increase their offers to anywhere near what Phoenix wants. With plenty of young talent, they're both set up to be contenders for several years. It might be different for Miami, which has put together two straight lackluster seasons and was embarrassed in the playoffs. That may not mean they'll make Kel'El Ware available, but Nikola Jovic or Jaime Jaquez may be enough to make the Heat's offer the best the Suns will get, assuming Durant continues to discourage other interested teams.
Chip
11:14
Is there a difference between a charge and an offensive foul ? The reason I ask is too many times (Lebron especially) the offensive player when driving to the basket runs right through the defensive player and no foul called on him. Thanks for the chats !!!!
ARTHUR HILL
11:20
There are types of offensive fouls that aren't charges, such as illegal screens. The NBA began emphasizing "freedom of movement" for offensive players a few years ago, meaning there's a limit to what defenses are allowed to do to restrict the players they're guarding. Offensive players tend to get the benefit of the doubt in situations like the one you describe, but sometimes players on both sides of the ball take it to the extreme to see what they can get away with. It's a difficult balancing act for the officials.
JD
11:20
Thoughts on the price for Desmond Bane? It was a lot of draft picks but I don't think KCP or Anthony had much value
ARTHUR HILL
11:32
Two players, four picks and a draft swap seems like a lot on the surface, but the price the Magic paid for Bane isn't as high as it appears. They had to find three-point shooters after finishing last in the league in that category, and Bane was probably the best option on the market. This year's pick is No. 16, and the first-rounders in 2028 and 2030 (along with the swap in 2029) will probably be in the 20s. It's hard to predict what teams will look like in the future, but Bane is under contract through 2029, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will likely be with the team through the end of the decade. The only real draft prize comes next year, when Memphis will have a decent shot at a top-four selection. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a huge disappointment after signing with Orlando last summer, and the Magic may have needed to pay a little more to get the Grizzlies to take his contract. It seems like a reasonable price under the circumstances, as Bane should make Orlando one of the top teams in the East.
Bucks
11:32
If the Bucks are really hanging on to Giannis, what does the rest of their offseason look like? Can they upgrade the roster around him at all?
ARTHUR HILL
11:44
The Bucks' best strategy is to try to keep the current team together, which won't be cheap. Re-signing Brook Lopez and extending Bobby Portis should be priorities. Pat Connaughton holds a player option and can join Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Jericho Sims and Kevin Porter Jr. in free agency. They'll need to find a veteran point guard to run the offense while Damian Lillard heals from his Achilles injury, and Dennis Schroder, Tyus Jones and Malcolm Brogdon are among the names that have been mentioned. But the Bucks are limited in what they can offer, and all three of those players will be in demand. Short-term deals should be the strategy so they'll have the flexibility to remake the roster next summer in anticipation of Lillard's return.
Guest
11:44
Will Kentvious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony still be Grizzlies by opening night?
ARTHUR HILL
11:52
Memphis figures to remain active on the trade market and likely doesn't have any long-term plans for either KCP or Anthony. Caldwell-Pope could be a useful rotation player if he sticks around, but it's probably not reasonable to expect him to become a reliable shooter again. Anthony can still be a binge scorer off the bench, but he's coming off a down season and the Grizzlies have better options. Memphis wants to free up cap space for Jaren Jackson Jr.'s extension and will happily move KCP or Anthony in a money-saving deal. However, they may have to part with one of their newly obtained draft picks to get someone to take the two years and $43.2MM left on Caldwell-Pope's contract.
Russell Westbrook
11:52
Will I be playing for a new team next season or did things go well enough in Denver to warrant a reunion?
ARTHUR HILL
12:00
Westbrook is a polarizing figure wherever he goes, but he can still be valuable in a limited role. Unfortunately, the Nuggets had to rely on him too much in the playoffs, and the Thunder were able to expose his weaknesses in their second-round series. Even so, he seemed happy in Denver and Nikola Jokic reportedly likes having him around. The Nuggets provide Westbrook with a chance to play for a title contender, and he should have a smaller role in the future as David Adelman expands the bench. Westbrook returning to Denver is probably the best bet.
Thanks for the questions this week. We'll talk again next Tuesday.
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