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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 7/3/2025
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JuJu Buluaani
1:37
Are there any interests around the league for Norman Powell or Kris Dunn? If CP ever signs with the Clippers and starts, I don't believe Norman will want to stay.
Luke Adams
1:37
Haven't heard any rumors, and I think the Clippers like both of them. But they'd both have positive trade value if they end up on the block.
Bucks Fan
1:37
Are the bucks moves as crazy to you as they seem to everyone else?
Luke Adams
1:39
Yeah, the Lillard waive-and-stretch left me a little queasy. It probably won't be quite as onerous on the back end as it's being made out to be, since the cap will have increased by quite a bit by then. But it's a BIG risk just to add a younger version of Brook Lopez to the roster.

The Bucks probably need to find another rotation upgrade on the trade market using Kyle Kuzma and their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick, because I don't think this roster is a favorite to come out of the East as is.
Jason
1:39
Why on earth did the Rockets sign Clint Capela? Are they not satisfied with their rim protection with Sengun and Adams? That signing is baffling to me. I was hoping they'd make a run at Luke Kennard.......
Luke Adams
1:41
Yeah, when that Shams report came in on Monday evening, I actually recommended that we hold off on it for a few minutes just to make sure he didn't actually type the wrong team. It seems like overkill, but Adams is a veteran guy who has dealt with some health problems in recent years, so Capela is a great insurance policy.

It also suggests to me that they plan to use two-big lineups pretty frequently, like they did late in the season and in the playoffs this year.
RobertG
1:41
Wolves fan here...they have only 13 under contract and, to my eye, they need a point guard who can play competent minutes if Conley gets hurt.  (Dillingham is hopefully going to take a step forward this year but we can't count on him playing big minutes yet.). Any ideas who might be in their sights as a minimum or near-minimum PG?
Luke Adams
1:43
In terms of skill set, Malcolm Brogdon would probably be the perfect fit, but it's fair to question whether you want a guy with his injury history backing up a 38-year-old. Also not sure whether or not he'll have to settle for the minimum.
Ryan Rollins could be an interesting below-the-radar target for them. His track record is pretty limited, but he was really solid last year for the Bucks, and you're not getting a perfect player for the minimum.
Memphis
1:44
There is a rumor that Houston is turning the KD trade into a 7 team trade. Is that true and if so what players are going to those other teams
Luke Adams
1:45
Yeah, I wrote about that here: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/07/durant-trade-expected-to-be-comple...

It sounds like it'll just be combining a bunch of previously reported agreements (a bunch of draft-pick trades, plus maybe a sign-and-trade or two, like Capela and/or NAW) into a single transaction. I wouldn't get too excited about it.
Cowbell Kingdom
1:45
If the Kings offered Carter and Monk for JK do you think that would get the job done?
Luke Adams
1:46
I don't get the sense that the Warriors are all that excited by any of the players the Kings would put on the table for Kuminga, including Monk.

Carter may hold some appeal, but his stock has dropped quite a bit in the last year following his shoulder issues and an underwhelming rookie season.
Scott Perry
1:47
Did I bid against myself for Dennis Schroeder?
Luke Adams
1:48
He's coming off a two-year contract worth the full mid-level, which he's essentially getting again (with a small partial guarantee for year three). I don't think that's a huge overpay, and even if no other team was willing to go quite that high, the Kings needed to make sure they got a point guard.

It's not my favorite signing of the offseason, but they have worse contracts on that roster.
RobertG
1:48
Any buzz on DeAnthony Melton--Is he ready to play? If so, who's looking at signing him?
Luke Adams
1:50
There was a rumor linking him to the Lakers on Monday night. Not sure if they're still interested after landing LaRavia, but they should be, especially if they can get him for the minimum. He'd immediately be their best backcourt defender, assuming he's fully healthy (which hasn't been confirmed, but his injury happened early enough in the season that I expect he'll be OK for camp or shortly thereafter).
Guest
1:50
I’m really happy with what the Knicks have done so far, but is there anything else on the horizon? It seems unlikely that they bring back anyone from last season, but I feel like more frontcourt depth could be necessary.
Luke Adams
1:53
I'm curious to see whether Yabusele ends up getting the full taxpayer mid-level exception from them or slightly less. Because if he gets all of it, they'll be carrying 12 players with something like $3.5MM below a second-apron hard cap -- not even enough to sign a vet. minimum and a rookie minimum to get to 14 players.

If Yabusele takes a little less than the full TMLE, they'll have room for one vet minimum signing, and there have been rumors about Landry Shamet or Ben Simmons. But anything more significant would have to be done on the trade market.
CW
1:54
Outside of resigning Giddey, what are the most likely options for the Bulls? Seems as if we may just be running the same squad next season at this point.
Luke Adams
1:56
I think there's still a chance for some changes to that roster. Lots of expiring salary for trades, with guys like Vucevic and Dosunmu seemingly on the block. Sounds they're lurking in the Kuminga mix as well. Re-signing Giddey is the only move I'm pretty confident about for them, but there's still time -- there's often a small second wave of trades when the moratorium lifts and sometimes during Summer League.
Joe Dumars
1:56
Can someone in this chat check up on what Troy is doing down here in NO? He told me trading for Poole was a great idea and giving Looney $8 million a year was good business. He also mentioned 1st rounders are unnecessary given his incredible talent evaluation talents. I'm starting to worry.
Luke Adams
1:58
I like a lot of the players the Pelicans have added this summer (Looney is underrated! Queen was great value at No. 13!) but I sure they wish they'd put at least top-three or top-four protection on that 2026 pick they sent to Atlanta. It also seems questionable to be making these sorts of aggressive win-now moves when a handful of key players (Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy) are coming off major injuries and may not be at 100% for the start of the season.
Raj
1:58
Nick Richards to lakers?
Luke Adams
2:00
Would make a lot of sense. He's a solid backup, and the Suns wouldn't even have to take any salary back (he could fit into the Lakers' bi-annual exception). Agreeing on his value might be tricky though. Phoenix likes him and probably isn't just gonna give him to a division rival for a second-round pick.
Guest
2:01
If the Suns don’t sign CP3, what’s their best alternative for a FA point guard signing at the vet minimum??
Luke Adams
2:02
A Cam Payne reunion might make sense. I do think Gillespie will play quite a bit, so they probably aren't looking for someone who will play 25-30 minutes a game.
RC
2:02
Do you expect the Pistons to do anything else? I feel like they still need some size behind Duren and Stewart. They could also use a stretch 4.
Luke Adams
2:04
I know he's not really a traditional power forward, but I imagine Robinson might be that "stretch four." If they want someone who can match up defensively with bigs a little better, Trey Lyles would make a lot of sense. Maybe Chris Boucher.
Eddy
2:05
Any rumors as to why banchero’s max extension hasn’t been announced by the Magic?
Luke Adams
2:06
Well, the Magic won't be announcing any deals like that until Sunday, after the moratorium lifts. But yeah, I would've expected news on that by now. Wouldn't worry about it though -- Franz Wagner's max rookie scale extension didn't get reported until July 5 last year.
Thanks for all the questions, guys! Many in the queue I couldn't get to, unfortunately, but we'll do this again next Thursday, and Arthur will be hosting his usual Tuesday chat for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers.

Have a great week!
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