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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/29/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a Josh Giddey question.
Chris D
11:01
The Wizards have gotten themselves $30+ mil under the luxury tax for this year. They have an absurdly unbalanced roster, currently with 2 bigs and 13 wings. Do you think they might be quietly stalking Josh Giddey? They don't have a true pg and Will Dawkins drafted Giddey when he was in OKC. Giddy would be the perfect fit for the Wizards. Do you think a sign and trade is possible and what might a transaction look like?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
The Dawkins connection is a good point. He has a history with Giddey and obviously believes he can serve as a building block for a young team. Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum both have expiring contracts in excess of $30MM, so matching salaries wouldn't be a problem if Chicago is willing to take one of them. The next-richest deal they have is Corey Kispert at about $14MM, and too many other players would have to be included to make a trade feasible and still get into the salary range that Giddey wants. Giddey would be a good fit in Washington, but it's probably not likely to happen. I think the Wizards are more focused on developing their young talent and positioning themselves for next year's draft than trying to win right away. Also, I believe the Bulls plan to keep Giddey; they just don't want to overpay him. Maybe Giddey to Washington is an idea that can be explored in a couple of years, depending on the direction the two franchises take.
Guest
11:10
Are my Celtics still planning to add a starting center or are we entering the season with Garza, Tillman, and Queta battling for the starting job?
ARTHUR HILL
11:16
None of the reports out of Boston indicate that the Celtics are looking to upgrade their current roster. They're still trying to shed salary, with Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang and Sam Hauser as the most likely trade candidates. Maybe they can take back a serviceable big man in one of those deals, because there's not much left on the free agent market. Queta will probably be the starter if that group stays together, but it would be one of the worst collections of centers in the league. Unless they can find a better option, this season might turn out a lot worse than Boston fans are expecting.
Scott S.
11:16
What's with the Bulls extending their front office and coach? Are they taking below-market deals or something? This level of faith doesn't seem warranted.
ARTHUR HILL
11:25
Billy Donovan has only made one playoff appearance in his five seasons with Chicago, and that ended quickly with a first-round loss to Milwaukee in 2022. But in his defense, he hasn't really had playoff talent to work with. He proved he was a good coach in Oklahoma City, and Bulls ownership has always expressed full confidence in him. It's harder to understand the faith they've shown in Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, who've been responsible for those mediocre rosters. They haven't displayed much talent for drafting, trading or even dealing with their own free agents. Donovan hasn't been given any real stars to work with, but he manages to keep the team at least somewhat competitive. The Bulls are fortunate that he accepted the extension instead of looking for a job with a better organization.
JD
11:26
If Cam Thomas accepts his QO, how soon until he's not a Net anymore?
ARTHUR HILL
11:34
Thomas was hoping to cash in as a free agent, so he's going to feel severely underpaid if he winds up accepting his $6MM qualifying offer. The only upside is that it will make him an unrestricted free agent next summer when more teams will have cap space available. This experience should be eye-opening for Thomas, who views himself as much more of a potent offensive weapon than the Nets seem to. Although he's an explosive scorer, averaging 24 PPG last season, he's an inefficient shooter and can be turnover prone. He also played just 25 games last season, so there are questions about his durability. He'd be a bargain at $6MM, so someone might try to trade for him as an instant-offense option off the bench with the hopes of signing him to a reasonable contract in 2026. Regardless, I think Thomas has realized that his long-term future won't be in Brooklyn.
Unclemike1526
11:34
I know it's the Bulls and not much makes any sense but if you had to guess, Does Giddey end up closer to 20 million or 30 million? I mean I'm sure they will sign him but at what cost and years? Sidenote: Are you buying that nobody is interested in trading for the Bulls players, Or are they really happy with going for 10th place every year? Thanks as always.
ARTHUR HILL
11:45
Like the other restricted free agents still on the market, Giddey has virtually no leverage. The Bulls can wait for him to bring them an offer sheet, but there's no obvious suitor, either by creating cap space or putting together a sign-and-trade. Management was rightly ridiculed for mishandling Patrick Williams' free agency last summer, and they'll want to avoid a repeat by caving into Giddey's demands. They'll eventually reach a compromise, likely around $25MM per year on a shorter contract so Giddey won't have to wait long to try free agency again. On your second question, there's probably not a lot of trade demand for Bulls players, but I'm surprised Nikola Vucevic is still on the roster. He's a good offensive center with a reasonable expiring contract. Surely someone will try to land him by the deadline. I also would have tried to move Coby White this summer, but it seems as though the Bulls plan to build around him and Giddey, no matter how much that limits the rest of the roster.
Chris Paul
11:45
Will this really be my last season or will I like playing in L.A. again so much that I keep going past 2026?
ARTHUR HILL
11:52
At one time, Paul wasn't sure if he was going to keep playing, but he seems to be rejuvenated by the return to the Clippers. It allows him to be with his family in Los Angeles and gives him a chance to win a title with the franchise where he's still a beloved fan favorite. Paul has been remarkably durable for a small guard, starting all 82 games with the Spurs last season. He'll have a smaller workload with the Clippers, which should make it easier to extend his career. Of course, there are a lot of variables for a 40-year-old, but I think Paul will want to keep putting off retirement if this season goes well.
Corban
11:53
both Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Victor Oladipo have made entreaties/workouts to get back into the league this season. Do you think either will be on a roster at some point during the 2025-2026 season?
ARTHUR HILL
12:00
Oladipo got positive reviews from his recent workout in Las Vegas. He's only 33 and still may be able to help a team if his knee is fully healed. It's easy to forget how good he used to be, but he was a two-time All-Star in Indiana before the injuries. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone give him a chance. It will be tougher for Hollis-Jefferson, who hasn't been a full-time NBA player for five years. He's only 30 and having some success overseas, but teams tend to be skeptical of players who have been away for that long. It would be a great story if he can make it back.
12:02
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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