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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/1/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:00
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about the Lakers.
Corban
11:00
What are the Lakers doing regarding their big situation? Do you think Ayton is their priority target? If not, who do you think is their target?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
The Lakers' reluctance to commit to anything longer than a two-year contract has made it difficult to land a top free agent. L.A. is reportedly keeping its books clear for a huge move in 2027 to add another superstar to team with Luka Doncic. Two of the Lakers' reported targets, Brook Lopez and Clint Capela, have reached agreements with other teams, leaving Ayton as the top big man on the market. However, Myles Turner's stunning decision this morning to leave the Pacers for the Bucks opens up another serious contender for Ayton's services. Indiana submitted a max offer sheet to Ayton three years ago and presumably still has interest. The Pacers could easily be the top bidder, considering L.A.'s self-imposed contract restrictions. Al Horford might be a name to watch, as he won't be seeking a long-term deal. If Horford leaves Boston, the Lakers could offer the best chance to have regular playing time and compete for a title.
Hawks
11:11
Are the Hawks a dark horse to win the East? Or maybe not such a dark horse considering all the issues facing the top seeds?
ARTHUR HILL
11:17
The Hawks have been very aggressive this offseason and appear to be in position to take advantage of the misfortunes that have befallen the other top Eastern teams. They upgraded their shooting on the first day of free agency, landing Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade and getting a commitment from Luke Kennard. Combined with the trade for Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta now has one of the deepest, most talented rosters in the conference. The Hawks might have been a top-six team this year if not for Jalen Johnson's injury, and it looks like they'll battle the Cavaliers and Knicks for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Bargzzz
11:17
What is the Celtics' path back to contention a year from now? They have 3 starting-caliber players and three bench guys, none of whom are centers. Seems like they'll be stuck in the middle.
ARTHUR HILL
11:25
Finding a center is the main order of business, and that may mean increasing their offer to Al Horford. Even at 39, Horford is a perfect fit for the Celtics' offense, and keeping him is more important than ever now that Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet are both gone. The Warriors, Lakers and Cavaliers are among the teams that have expressed interest in Horford, so he has other options if he doesn't like the offer from Boston. If things don't change, this may be a rare non-contending season for the Celtics. The current roster doesn't inspire confidence, and management may become focused on avoiding the luxury tax and preparing for Jayson Tatum's return in 2026/27.
Mike
11:25
Does Lillard sign this season or sit it out and wait for next summer?  If he can go in the playoffs, he could help someone.
ARTHUR HILL
11:33
There's not much reason for a team to take a chance on Lillard right now, but that could change this winter if he's showing significant progress in healing from his Achilles injury. It typically takes 9-12 months to return from an Achilles tear, and Lillard's happened in late April. He's 35 and recently had blood clot issues, so it's hard to predict what his health will look like by January or February. If he's able to play, he could be a tremendous midseason addition for somebody. Teams that still have a lot of MLE money remaining might think about holding onto it in case that happens.
Corban
11:33
Assuming the Suns don't grab Chris Paul or another point guard, how much faith do you have in a Green/Booker backcourt?
ARTHUR HILL
11:42
The Suns tried playing without a point guard two years ago, and it was a disaster. The theory was that since Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal handle the ball so much, they didn't need a traditional point guard to set up the offense. They changed strategy and signed Tyus Jones last summer, but that was a disaster, too. Jones couldn't defend or shoot well enough to stay in the starting lineup. Green's decision making improved when Ime Udoka took over as head coach of the Rockets, but there's little from his time in Houston to suggest that he's capable of running an offense, and it's not another responsibility they should be putting on Booker, who may have to score even more with Durant gone. I'm not convinced that Booker and Green can succeed together. Green could be gone by the trade deadline or next summer.
Nuggets All In
11:42
I would say this - I can't disagree with the Nuggets new front office. These early moves: Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas are All-In Moves.
ARTHUR HILL
11:50
Johnson seems like a more versatile and reliable version of Michael Porter Jr. I like the deal a lot, and it's certainly worth risking a first-round pick seven years from now. It's good to see Bruce Brown back in Denver, where he should excel by playing alongside Jokic again. You can't blame Brown for taking the big money he got offered, but it's been a rough couple of years for him. Valanciunas is definitely an upgrade over Saric, and he gives Denver the reliable backup center it has been lacking. Those are three good moves from the Nuggets' new front office, which should be making win-now decisions to maximize the rest of Jokic's career. I expect them to be in the mix for one of the West's top seeds.
Unclemike1526
11:50
Now that the Bulls have re signed Tre Jones and traded Ball for OKoro, They still have too many guards  So what do they do when Giddey re signs? They're really not running this team back out again are they?
ARTHUR HILL
11:59
Arturas Karnisovas cautioned Bulls fans not to expect major changes until next summer. So unless they can get a good return for Nikola Vucevic, this is probably what the 2025/26 team is going to look like. They're committed to re-signing Josh Giddey, which is the right move, but they're not in a hurry to part with Coby White, and if they do eventually trade him, the offers may not be as good as they are now. Okoro is a nice addition, but he probably won't be a better player in Chicago than he was in Cleveland and he won't solve their shortage of forwards. The Bulls had a chance for immediate help in the draft, but they opted for a long-term approach by taking Noa Essengue over Derik Queen. I expect next year's team to look similar to this year's, with maybe a chance for the upheaval that fans want 12 months from now.
Nuggets
11:59
Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas - what other moves does Denver need to make to continue this makeover? Could Chris Paul be another piece worth pursuing?
ARTHUR HILL
12:02
Paul would be an interesting addition, and he would love teaming up with Jokic. They're both very intelligent players who see the game the same way, and they could be a nightmare for opposing defenses. Paul is rumored to return to Phoenix, but he would have a much better shot at a ring in Denver. I haven't heard if the Nuggets are interested, but it would be fun to see it happen.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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