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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/10/2025
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Luke Adams
2:02
Hey guys, apologies for the brief delay. Sorting through all the early questions -- we'll get underway in just a sec.
Chris D
2:03
Is it just me or was it crazy for Portland to trade the expiring Simons for 3 years of 36 year old Jrue Holiday? They had to buyout Ayton, they've found no takers for Robert Williams, Jerami Grant's deal is woefully under water. And they still have Thybulle. Does.any team have this many bad contracts, and they trade for another?
Luke Adams
2:05
I didn't hate the Simons/Holiday deal for Portland, especially without the draft picks involved. I think they probably envision Holiday being to them what VanVleet was to the Rockets -- a veteran guy who can help change the culture for the better and make the young guys better, even if his own stats don't jump off the page.

I do think the Blazers badly mismanaged Grant's contract and should have traded him well before now if they could've gotten positive value back, but I don't know that they were ever getting anything good for Ayton (too expensive) or Williams (never healthy).
One for the Road
2:05
There has been speculation that the Wolves are looking for another ballhandler or perhaps a traditional big to directly back up Gobert. Of the remaining FAs, and based on the Wolves cap situation, who is currently available that could make sense in either of these roles?
Luke Adams
2:09
I really like the idea of Malcolm Brogdon landing there. He's like Conley in a lot of ways -- good ball-handler, can organize an offense, solid off-ball shooter, not a minus on defense. The health is a concern, but with both him and Conley in the picture, they could manage the minutes.

The point guard spot looks like a more pressing need to me than center, and with 13 guys already under contract there, I'm not sure they'll go for both.
TrustTheProcess
2:09
Can the Sixers sign-and-trade (s&t) Quentin Grimes? I saw a blog post that said the Sixers canโ€™t include Grimes in a s&t, because he spent less than a year with the Sixers, while on his rookie deal.
Luke Adams
2:10
The Sixers can absolutely sign-and-trade Grimes, but they'd run into the same challenges that the Warriors would with Kuminga -- his outgoing salary from the Sixers' perspective and his incoming salary for his new team would be quite different due to base year compensation rules, which would complicate salary-matching and would mean a third team would probably have to get involved.

I'd be surprised if Grimes doesn't just end up back in Philadelphia.
Detroit Dan
2:10
Are the Pistons finished for the off-season or is there a way to get a back power forward or veteran point guard. P.S.ย ย Who useful is the trade exception they created at this season trade deadline if they want to add at that point.
Luke Adams
2:12
That TPE is more useful than most, for a couple reasons:
  1. It's the size of the mid-level exception, which means there's a good number of players who could fit into it.
  2. The Pistons are far enough below the luxury tax line that they could add a $14MM player and still stay out of the tax.
Whether or not they use it this offseason is an open question, but if they don't, it's the sort of thing that could come in handy during the season too.
Chicago TimberSpurs
2:12
What's the holdup with Beal's buyout? Any thoughts/predictions you'd like to share?
Luke Adams
2:14
I imagine the Suns want him to give back the $13.8MM+ they need him to in order to use the stretch provision on his contract, and Beal is exhausting his options to see if he'll actually be able to make back that money in free agency.

Frankly, Beal would be doing the Suns a favor if he forfeits nearly $14MM and gives up his valuable no-trade clause, so I'm a little surprised that it seems like it's trending in that direction. I understand why he wouldn't be eager to get it done as fast as possible -- it's not a straightforward decision.
Teez
2:15
How do you see the rest of the Warriors off-season playing out?
Luke Adams
2:16
I'll be interested to see if there's any action on Kuminga at Summer League. Sounds like he'll be meeting with teams - including the Warriors - there, so maybe something gets figured out.

Kuminga's restricted free agency seems to be holding up some of the Warriors' other business, since they can't commit MLE money to someone like Horford and hard-cap themselves before they know for sure they wouldn't risk losing Kuminga for nothing in the process (by opening themselves up to an offer sheet they wouldn't be able to match). Once Kuminga's situation is resolved, I could see Horford and/or Melton coming aboard.
R. Alan
2:17
The Wizards are getting some compliments for remaking the team and bringing in a lot of young pieces. But they have a lot of wings and guards. Are they taking the best player available, hoping that at some point a big comes along that they like? What do you think?
Luke Adams
2:18
Yeah, I don't think they'll mind that much if their roster is unbalanced this season. They'd owe their first-round pick to New York if it lands outside the top eight, so they definitely won't be trying too hard to win games. Wouldn't expect them to worry too much about a player's specific fit until 2026 and maybe later than that.
Jed
2:19
What's the latest with the Nuggets and "JV"?
Luke Adams
2:20
Still sounds like that trade will happen at some point. And at this point it seems more likely that Valanciunas will be playing for Denver next season than Panathinaikos.

There was a story in the Greek press this week about Panathinaikos not realizing that JV's agent hadn't gotten assurances from Denver that he'd be let out of his contract to sign with them, which I interpreted as them backing off a bit.
Riley
2:20
After pulling off some genius and getting Powell, do we still have cap to make a splash should Giannis request a trade or target another star. Personally I'd dangle Bam, Ware, and draft capital to get a star.
Luke Adams
2:23
Making Bam available is the only way the Heat would have a shot at someone like Giannis, but even then, it would depend on exactly what the Bucks are looking for. There are other teams that could offer way more draft picks or potentially a younger star (albeit probably not one as established as Bam). It's also still far from a certainty that Giannis will be available at any point in the next year or two.

But yeah, the Heat did well to add Powell without really giving up anything of value, and I could see them making a play for a lesser star without having to touch Bam/Herro.
GrizzMan
2:23
Does Jock Landale move the needle for Memphis?
Luke Adams
2:24
I don't think he's going to single-handedly get them any wins this season. More of a third center.
Keith
2:24
Who is next to be traded from the Celtics tear down? If it is Simons can they get anything useful for him, or would he be another salary dump?
Luke Adams
2:26
It does sound like they're still actively shopping Simons. If he's moved, I wouldn't get your hopes up too high about what he'd bring back, unless Boston is attaching draft capital (which probably doesn't make sense ahead of a "gap year") -- it would just be about whittling that cap hit down a little further.
2:27
I could see something like Kevin Huerter + Ayo Dosunmu for Simons maybe.
Bradley Veal
2:27
What will the Bucks do the rest of the offseason? It seems like they need a PG and SF. How much cap room do they have left and what are some reasonable paths to upgrading the roster at this point? Is there any interest in trading for Kyle Kuzma around the league and what could the Bucks get in return for him?
Luke Adams
2:30
The Bucks are pretty much limited to minimum-salary offers at this point -- they have a bit of the room exception available, but I think it's only about $3.65MM, which is in the ballpark of the minimum salary for a 10-year vet.

Getting someone like Chris Paul or Malcolm Brogdon would help them a lot, but they have a lot of competition on those guys.

I do think trading Kyle Kuzma along with their remaining first-round pick is their best/only path to a meaningful upgrade at this point, and the good news is that they're so far below the tax now that they could comfortably take back nearly $31MM in salary for Kuzma. If I were them, I'd try to find a scenario where they could get two quality rotation players back in a deal along those lines, but Kuzma's value is down, so it'll be tricky.
2:32
From Milwaukee's perspective, a deal like Kuzma + a first-rounder for PJ Washington + Naji Marshall + Max Christie would make a lot of sense. Obviously Dallas is in win-now mode and wouldn't be motivated to make a deal like that, but it's an example of the sort of move that makes sense for the Bucks.
Knick / knack ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ€
2:32
Who do you see the Knicks signing with their last available minimum salary veteran player to continue to add to the bench ?
Luke Adams
2:33
I'm kind of intrigued by the Ben Simmons possibility, but I think it's probably more realistic that it ends up being Shamet or Payne coming back. Melton's another guy I'd really like for them, but I'm not sure if he expects to do better than the minimum.
Just Asking
2:34
Are the Lakers done? If not, what is their next move besides convincing the Heat to lower the asking price? Also, will they guarantee Shake Milton's contract?
Luke Adams
2:36
Would be surprised if Milton gets guaranteed. Even if they want to keep him, they could probably waive him and bring him back on a minimum-salary deal, but I think it's more likely he just gets cut at some point soon.

As for the Lakers' next moves, they're sort of in the same situation as the Bucks -- yeah, small free agent signings are possible, and maybe they'll get lucky and land one of the bigger-name guys that's left. But their best path to a real upgrade would be by trading their last movable first-rounder with some of their expiring contracts.

I'm curious to see whether they make that sort of move, since we saw at February's trade deadline that they were willing to give up that first-rounder for Mark Williams, even if the deal didn't ultimately happen.
Kwahi Fan
2:37
So, Beal and CP3? If the Clips pull it off, how do you like their chances to contend in the West?
Luke Adams
2:39
I think they have a good chance to be a top-four team in the West even if they end up with just one of those two guys, which seems pretty likely at this point. I really liked their Brook Lopez signing -- he'll be asked to do a lot less than he was in Milwaukee, and at a fraction of the price.

Like always, will come down to health with them.
GrizzMan
2:39
Will KCP start 70 games for Memphis this year?
Luke Adams
2:40
Normally I'd take the under on anyone starting 70 games, just because it's not easy staying healthy all season, but KCP has made at least 76 starts four years in a row, so why not -- I'll take the over. I think he'll be better than he was last year.
Chicago TimberSpurs
2:40
Is there still a good chance the Bulls pull off a trade of Vuc, PWill, Ayo, or White this offseason? Or are we likely waiting until the trade deadline?
Luke Adams
2:43
They're one of the teams that sorta seems like they're stuck in a holding pattern until their big RFA gets resolved. It does feel to me like they still have a move or two to make this offseason, but that front office often surprises me by standing pat when I don't expect them to (I thought Vucevic would be traded in February).
Macca!
2:43
Monte Morris back to Denver a possibility?
Luke Adams
2:46
They'll still have one open roster spot once the JV deal is done, and another point guard would definitely make some sense. Morris was one of my favorite backup PGs in the league a few years ago but seems to have lost a step as of late. If he's fully healthy, I like the idea of having him go back to where he had his best seasons.
arcman
2:46
No word yet on GP2 or Chris Boucher on any deals. Are they close to any club signing them?
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