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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/17/2025
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Pelicans/Bucks first rounder
2:42
Do you think the Hawks will hold onto the Pelicans/Bucks pick next year or do you think they'll try to trade it for a proven veteran midway through the year?
Luke Adams
2:44
If there's still a realistic chance at the trade deadline that it could be a lottery pick, it'll be very hard for them to give it up. The Mavs' lottery win this year was a reminder of the upside of even a late lottery pick, so if they did move it, they'd need to put some sort of protection on it.
TrustTheProcess
2:44
Do you think the Knicks are holding off on giving Mikal Bridges an extension because they want to include him in a deal to acquire Giannis?
Luke Adams
2:46
I doubt that's the main reason they haven't gotten a deal done yet. Maybe a side factor. But I think it's probably more about what I mentioned earlier -- teams seem to be negotiating a little harder with non-stars than they have in the past rather than just offering them the most they can.
Franzgrote
2:47
While the Nuggets trading an unprotected 2032 1st rounder is a big risk, I'm actually surprised that more GMs don't make moves like this since the odds of them still being the GM in seven years is somewhat slim. Your thoughts?
Luke Adams
2:49
I see where you're coming from, but a GM worried about his job security would probably view that sort of move as a last resort, since if he moves an unprotected pick like that and doesn't get short-term results from his roster, he'll likely be on the hot seat soon.

The Nuggets and Tenzer can afford to be a little more aggressive since this is his first year in that role.
Bebo
2:50
Who says no? Bucks send Kyle Kuzma to the Kings for DeMar DeRozan. Kings need size, Bucks need a second scorer.
Luke Adams
2:52
Interesting. Kuzma is coming off a down year and has a fully guaranteed second year (DeRozan's is only partially guaranteed), so maybe the Kings ask for more, but I kinda like it for both teams.

That Kuzma salary slot is important for the Bucks, since he's their only high-salary player who's really tradable at this point, but any deal they could make with Kuzma would probably be available with DeRozan too (and his slightly higher salary opens up a few more possibilities for what they could take back).
Dirk
2:52
Does Kelly Olynyk make the Spurs better this year, and do you see any more trades happening, perhaps featuring D. Fox? Thanks
Luke Adams
2:56
I liked the Olynyk addition for the Spurs. Always thought he was a bit underrated, and they were able to get him for almost nothing from a team that had only taken him on as a salary-matching piece.

As for a Fox trade, I've mentioned this before in these chats, but I view it as very unlikely for the time being, since it'd be a bad look for the Spurs to turn around and trade an All-Star caliber player just months after he went out of his way to get to San Antonio.

Probably safe to assume that the Spurs wouldn't have traded for Fox if they knew they'd get Harper a few months later, but now that they have both (and Castle), I expect them to try to make it work and see what happens.
Stephs 62M
2:56
Do you think the league will ever actually look into making cap exceptions for home grown players? GSW would have a lot easier time building around Steph without him having the highest salary in the NBA, but to be fair Lacob should pay him like 2.5B for what he has added in franchise value. I hate how aging stars have to choose between having a competitive team and taking way less than they deserve.
Luke Adams
2:59
I know some people have suggested that super-max deals shouldn't count for their full value -- like, if a player qualifies for the 35% max based on his performance, his cap hits should still be based on his standard 30% max, even if he's making a little more. I like that idea.

I'm not sure what that would look like for someone like Curry though, whose default max is now 35% of the cap. It seems worth exploring. The super-max rules themselves suggest the NBA sees value in players sticking with their original teams (since players don't qualify for super-max contracts if they change teams).
Kip
2:59
Any candidates for the Nets to take in so they hit the salary floor?
Luke Adams
3:01
There are still a ton of teams who could benefit from shedding some salary for apron- or tax-related reasons. Boston, Toronto, Dallas, Phoenix, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, among many others. I imagine the hold-up on the Nets' cap room isn't a matter of them not having any options -- it's more about them sorting through a ton of options and figuring out which combination of moves would benefit them most.
Rajiv
3:01
Will Jazz use that big TPE they got for Collins to go after one of the big 4 RFA's? (Kuminga/Giddey/Thomas/Grimes)
Luke Adams
3:03
I'd be a little surprised if they do. I haven't gotten the sense they're looking to spend big money on anyone right now, even if it's someone relatively young who could grow with their core. It's an interesting idea though -- Grimes would be a nice fit for them.
Black Ace57
3:05
Do you think stretching and waiving these max or near max players like Lillard and Beal will become more of the norm or were they unique circumstances?
Luke Adams
3:08
They're somewhat unique. Both of those contracts (the Beal five-year max deal with a no-trade clause and the Lillard two-year max extension when he was still under contract for several years) were viewed at the time they were signed as questionable investments. There aren't a ton of deals like that out there (and even Lillard's wouldn't have been that bad if he hadn't torn his Achilles).

The Suns and Bucks were also uniquely positioned to benefit from stretching those contracts (Phoenix will go from second apron to under the tax; Milwaukee was able to create cap room for a top free agent). Most teams don't find themselves in those specific situations and aren't desperate enough to take such drastic measures.

That's not to say this will be the last time we see a move like this made, but I highly doubt we'll get 1-2 every year going forward.
Thanks for all the questions this week, guys! Enjoy the rest of Summer League and we'll talk again next Thursday.
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