Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/10/2026
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Luke Adams
3:51
His value really nosedived last year. If he signs with an NBA team this summer/fall, I'd be surprised if he gets more than the minimum. More than ever, it feels to me like front offices don't have much time for guys who can only score and don't offer much defensively or in the way of connective offensive play.
Harmon Ripkowski
3:52
How about ROY if outside top five?
Luke Adams
3:53
His Summer League play was hit and miss, but I definitely expect the Kings to give Darius Acuff a lot of run this season. He'll have the volume stats if nothing else.
Guest
3:53
Why are they saying that teams can lose the draft rights of a player they drafted? Like they could have with Dillon Mitchell or something
Luke Adams
3:57
I think there are two different things you might be referring to here. One is the recent court ruling that gave four-year college players from 2022-26 a fifth year of eligibility, which meant that guys like Dillon Mitchell, Braden Smith, and Tyler Nickel, who were drafted but had yet to sign NBA contracts were technically eligible to return to school for another season.

It doesn't seem so far as if any of those draftees are taking that route (Mitchell has since signed a two-way deal with Boston, for instance), but if they do, their NBA teams would still control their rights. For example, if Nickel goes back to school for the 2026/27 season, he'd be a domestic draft-and-stash prospect for the Knicks, who could sign him in 2027.

The other recent development for draftees was the Aug. 5 deadline for teams to issue required "tenders" to second-round picks. If a team doesn't do that, it can lose its rights to a draftee, but it's basically a formality, and every team does it.
James H
3:57
So Lebron is not coming home so why am I not signed yet?
Luke Adams
3:57
I really did think Harden's deal would be done by now. I assume the Cavs are still seeing what they can do with Kuminga and/or Watson. If they make a sign-and-trade deal for either one, it'd create a first-apron hard cap, which would have an impact on how much Harden could earn in 2026/27.
BULLS FAN
3:58
Looking into your crystal ball, where do you see the Bulls finishing the season?
Luke Adams
4:00
I don't hate the Bulls' roster but I don't think it's unrealistic for them to finish 13th or 14th in the East, which is a pretty strong conference from top to bottom. I do think they'll be ahead of at least 2-3 Western Conference teams.
KJ
4:00
Getting back to the previous Xmas question, if you were in charge of scheduling what would be your 5 matchupss
Luke Adams
4:02
With the caveat that I'm putting together this hypothetical schedule off the top of my head in two minutes and should probably dedicate more time to giving a proper answer, I'd say something along the lines of....

Celtics vs. Sixers
Knicks vs. Pistons
Heat vs. Nuggets
Thunder vs. Timberwolves
Spurs vs. Lakers
4:03
Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and/or followed along today! Love that these chats are remaining so active deep into August. We'll do it again next Monday afternoon. Have a great week.
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