Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/13/2026
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
Luke Adams
3:01
Hey guys, thanks for all the questions today! We'll get underway in just a couple minutes.
MaxDeal
3:04
Do you see more star players following Victor Wembenyama’s lead and declining Rose Rule language to help teams manage the salary cap? Or is Wemby’s decision an anomaly?
Luke Adams
3:08
I suppose you could say it was Chet Holmgren who started that trend, rather than Wemby. Holmgren didn't negotiate Rose Rule language into his rookie scale extension last year and then made an All-NBA team this year. The Thunder already have the most expensive roster in the NBA -- imagine if Holmgren's salary this year were 30% of the cap instead of 25%.

Anyway, to answer your question, I don't necessarily think Wemby will be the last one to do it, but there are also aren't many players at that age who qualify for Rose Rule raises anyway, so I wouldn't expect it to become some super-common thing either.

What wouldn't surprise me if more teams negotiate that language like the Thunder did with Jalen Williams last year, where it's not just an automatic bump to 30% for an All-NBA third team spot. Maybe a third-team spot is 26%, then second-team is 28% and first-team is 30% or something like that.
Nba champs 2026
3:08
Who will the Knicks add as their 14th rostered player?
Luke Adams
3:10
Another center makes sense to me. They really only have Towns and Drummond there right now, and I imagine they want to have some flexibility to play Towns at the four sometimes. The pickings are pretty slim though. Maybe Nick Richards or Kelly Olynyk? Or maybe they convince Valanciunas not to go overseas? You can see why they were trying to trade for someone to fill that spot.
Arcman
3:11
Since the warriors have a few roster spots to fill with cheap contracts Would Marthurin or Williams be a good back up guard for warriors to sign? Or should they promote of CJ Cryer into a full contract and use a 2 way on one of the Vegas players like Ike or Jones?
Luke Adams
3:14
Don't think they'll be able to pry away Mathurin on the cheap unless the Clippers pull that QO. Not sure which Williams you mean -- there are a few out there. I like Ziaire Williams though, and I like Brandon Williams even more.

The Warriors could use more help on the wing, especially with Butler and Moody out to start the season, so I'd probably be looking at guys like Z. Williams, Bruce Brown, and Matisse Thybulle. They're not a bad fit for DeRozan either, if he'll play for the minimum.
Sean
3:14
Which team do you think is the best fit for LeBron? I've seen quite a few media folks suggesting Minnesota, which is surprising given the lack of previous connection compared to Miami and Cleveland.
Savannah James
3:15
Minnesota makes the most sense, right? Best on court fit, young superstar in Ant, Jaden and Rudy to take the defensive pressure, LaMelo to run the offense, innovative offensive mind in Finch, Connelly and A-Rod front office / ownership group. Who cares if it's cold in the winter, they're not playing outdoors.
Luke Adams
3:17
Yeah, to me, Minnesota is clearly the best ON-court fit for LeBron. There's a gaping hole at PF that he'd slot right into, and there's enough offense (LaMelo, Ant, Ayo) and defense (Rudy, Jaden) that he wouldn't need to carry a huge workload on either end of the court. He'd really be the perfect piece to complete that roster.

Minnesota itself could be a tough sell though for someone who has gotten used to living in Southern California. Especially when all they have to offer is the vet minimum.
Joker
3:17
Are the Nuggets actually going to do anything to get better this offseason?
Luke Adams
3:18
Not a fan of Alpha Diallo or Marvin Bagley??

In all seriousness, I'm very curious to see what the Nuggets are planning. I thought they would've traded Cam Johnson by now. Maybe once LeBron makes his decision, they'll have a move or two ready to go. But I still can't see them re-signing Watson and blowing past the second apron for essentially the same roster that was eliminated in the first round last season.
Scottie Barnes
3:19
What award do you see scottie Barnes winning for next season?
Luke Adams
3:19
All-Defensive second team. All-NBA third team.
Bob G
3:19
Thats a nice payday for Gary Trent right ?
Luke Adams
3:20
Um... yeah. Some might say the sort of payday that would've made more sense if the front office was making the decision in 2025.
Shane
3:21
What team has improved the most this offseason?
Luke Adams
3:23
In the short term, I'd probably say Toronto (assuming the Kawhi trade goes through as planned).
Ant Man
3:23
Assuming Lebron eventually signs elsewhere, any trade PF trade targets for MN that are feasible with a Josh Green trade? I know we can only trade him without attaching another player for now, but curious if there are any rumblings.
Luke Adams
3:27
The other tricky part about a Green trade, besides not being able to aggregate him for now, is that you can't take back more than his salary ($14.7MMish), since the Wolves are over the second apron.

The Bulls could be an interesting trade partner. Okoro ($11.8MM) or Jalen Smith ($9.4MM) would both be interesting to me. Even Zach Collins ($8.5MM) maybe, if he's healthy.

If the Wolves are willing to be patient and wait until closer to the deadline to make a deal, I'd be keeping an eye on the Clippers. If they go into sell mode, Rui Hachimura ($14MM) would be a really nice target.
Raffy
3:27
Is there any hope in Sacramento?
Luke Adams
3:29
Well, at the very least, I think it's encouraging that they haven't made any egregiously bad moves so far this offseason. Though I will say that Acuff's first few Summer League games weren't all that encouraging.
raz1374
3:29
Pacers have 5 guys vying for 3 two-way slots and given the way the Pacers push the tempo game in/game out, these would seem to be slots that might see a little more court time than other two-ways. Any thoughts on which three they should go forward with? Also, given their propensity to avoid the tax, what players could you see them trying to offload to duck under the tax?
Luke Adams
3:33
I need to double-check the numbers on this, but if I recall correctly, guys who get carried over on two-year, two-way contracts keep their spots by opening night less than half the time. So I'd consider Peter and Thompson to be the two-way guys most at risk in Indiana, with Brown, Smith, and Slawson likely to end up in those spots. But I don't think that's a lock.

As for the tax situation, if Jarace Walker's playing time and production drop off at all this year with a healthier roster, he's probably the odd man out. He's one of the few expiring contracts on the roster, and with the Pacers only over the tax line by about $6MM right now, moving off his $8.5MM salary would be the cleanest way to duck the tax.

Of course, that changes if he takes another step forward and establishes himself as an important rotation player this fall.
Ant Man
3:33
Didn't Washington literally just sign Rui though?
Luke Adams
3:34
The Clippers did just sign him, which is why a trade would have to wait until closer to the deadline. He only got a one-plus-one deal, so if L.A. is scuffling through the first half, I doubt they'd be too resistant to moving him.
Damir
3:35
Do you think the Hawks have enough size to make some noise?  I like a Okongwu and Ejiofor but they are a bit undersized to play center.
Luke Adams
3:37
I like several aspects of the Hawks' roster but haven't been particularly enthused about their offseason moves. Landale was a nice find on a minimum deal but isn't a bargain at $14MM, and I would've liked to see more of a rim protector in that spot.

They do still have trade chips to work with, so they might not be done.
GrizzMan
3:37
Will DLo play a game for Memphis?
Luke Adams
3:37
I'd be surprised if he's still on the roster by training camp.
D-Rock in BKLYN
3:38
Do the Nets overvalue the development of our rookies and sophomores versus undervalue the necessity of quality and high-quality Stars and role-players? Myles Turner would look better setting screens and playing pick-and-pop on the Nets versus the Bucks. Did the Nets truly want Jaylen Brown and if so, could we realistically kept MPJ and Randle while giving up 4-6 1sts? Are we sure we don't need Trey Murphy or Peyton Watson? Is Mikel Brown Jr the best starting Point-Guard we can roll out to start the 2026-27 season? I appreciate you reading my rant. I'm just tired of losing and I want to make the Playoffs, although I'll settle for one or two Play-IN Tournament games. Thanks in advance
Luke Adams
3:40
I don't think the Nets are in position to be giving up a bunch of draft picks for win-now players, but I did sort of think their offseason would look more like what the Bulls have done (signing Norm Powell, trading for Nic Claxton, etc.).

The Nets got a quality starter in Julius Randle, but had to trade a starter in Claxton to do it. And Keon Ellis and Moritz Wagner aren't exactly difference-makers in free agency -- I also didn't think either of those deals was all that team-friendly.

Brooklyn does still have some cap flexibility so maybe something else is coming, but it doesn't sound like they've been pursuing any of the top RFAs.
Jon Horst
3:41
What should I do about all the guards on my roster? What would be some reasonable trades to clear up the logjam at guard for my Milwaukee Bucks?
Luke Adams
3:44
Rollins, Burries, and Jakucionis look like keepers, so I could see Porter and Herro involved in trade talks. AJ Green too, if we consider him a guard. LeVert's value is negative right now so he'd only be useful if you needed a salary-matching piece. Gary Trent can't be traded until January 15 now, so he's staying put to open the season.
R. Alan
3:44
It may make sense for Miami to wait for LeBron, but the number of free agents is fast dwindling. Is it likely that if they are spurned by LeBron that they are basically screwed - with no bench?
Luke Adams
3:46
I think if there was someone they really wanted and who reciprocated that interest, they could probably work out a tentative agreement that gets finalized after LeBron's decision, sort of like the Warriors did last year with guys like Horford and Melton while they waited for Kuminga.
Chris
3:46
Anything brewing on the Pistons front? Besides Duren. Is Watson a possibility for us?
Luke Adams
3:49
I haven't really heard Watson linked to Detroit at all but it would technically be possible -- you could offer him a starting salary upwards of $25MM using Robinson's outgoing salary for matching purposes and still fit a new contract for Duren below the first apron.

The Nuggets wouldn't want to take back Robinson's contract though, unless they shed salary elsewhere, so you'd have to meet Denver's asking price for Watson (in terms of draft picks) and then find a separate taker for Robinson, whose salary is a little too big to fit into anyone's non-taxpayer MLE. Not easy.
GrizzMan
3:50
Tell me how the Jerami Grant saga is going to play out in Memphis? Trade deadline move? Next off season? Could he be an All-Star?!?
Luke Adams
3:52
"Saga" feels like overstating it. I think they'll be happy to keep him around playing a regular rotation role for now, hoping that he can help make them competitive enough to avoid being a bottom-three team.

The Grizzlies are in no rush to contend, so there's no reason to look to flip him if his value remains neutral to negative. If they can get something decent for him during one of the upcoming transaction windows (2027 deadline, 2027 offseason, etc.), then go for it. But I also think they'd be fine going into 2027/28 with his expiring contract and seeing what happens that season.

(All-Star feels a little bullish, by the way!)
Connecting…