Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 8/13/26
powered byJotCast
This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.
ARTHUR HILL
11:01
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a question about Jonathan Kuminga.
MaxDeal
11:01
Do you see Jonathan Kuminga signing a one-year minimum salary deal, since no team wants to acquire him in a sign-and-trade deal?
ARTHUR HILL
11:10
I'm sure that Kuminga never expected to be unsigned this late into the summer after finally getting his chance at unrestricted free agency. But the market didn't break his way, and there's no one left to make the type of offer he wants without a sign-and-trade. The Lakers, Cavaliers, Kings and Wolves have been prominently mentioned among the teams with interest, but they're all limited to minimal offers unless a sign-and-trade agreement can be worked out, and the Hawks aren't eager to take back salary unless they get real value in a deal. Cleveland may be Kuminga's best hope if they're able to shed some salary in a trade, but that won't be easy at this point in the offseason. Kuminga will likely wait out the process until late September, but a one-year minimum contract may wind up being his only option.
JD
11:10
If Philly and Miami move into the top 6 in the East, which top-6 teams from last year would you expect to fall out?
ARTHUR HILL
11:18
The Hawks were the sixth seed last season, so they're probably most likely to slip, even though they got slightly better by trading for Lu Dort and and Aaron Wiggins and drafting Kingston Flemings. Atlanta should be one of the league's top defensive teams, but that may not be enough for an automatic playoff spot in the East. The Pistons, Celtics and Cavaliers all had disappointing offseasons and could be in danger of sliding down the standings. To me, the biggest risk in that group is Boston. We're not sure that Jayson Tatum has fully recovered enough to carry a team every night, and Jaylen Brown isn't around any more to bail them out if Tatum has to miss significant time. Add in Paul George's injury risk, and this could wind up being more of a gap year for the Celtics than last season was.
Cale
11:18
Any thoughts on the Christmas schedule? I was surprised not to see the Pistons on there
ARTHUR HILL
11:26
After finishing with the top record in the East last season, Detroit certainly has a strong case to be featured on Christmas. The Pistons also have one of the league's most exciting and marketable players in Cade Cunningham. The Cavaliers may have an even stronger argument after reaching the conference finals last season, and the Rockets have a chance to be one of the top teams in the West. While players tend to look at the Christmas Day schedule as recognition, the league and the networks are focused on ratings. That's why Stephen Curry and the Warriors are on the slate every year and LeBron James would have been featured no matter where he went.
Unclemike1526
11:26
The Bulls can't seriously be wading into the season with just Claxton and Collins for C's can they? That would be suicide right? Thanks
ARTHUR HILL
11:37
Claxton is a solid veteran center with an affordable contract for the next two seasons. He'll never be a star, but he can score, rebound and protect the basket and he's coming off a career high in assists last season. He's probably at least a small step up from the last few years of Nikola Vucevic. Collins is serviceable as a backup, and hopefully he'll be able to bounce back after missing nearly all of last season due to injuries. And Jalen Smith is still around, so the center rotation isn't terrible. There aren't many big men left in free agency, so I wouldn't expect another signing before training camp. However, none of the three current centers is a long-term solution, so eventually the Bulls will have to upgrade at the position.
Ben Simmons
11:37
Will I be on an NBA roster on opening night?
ARTHUR HILL
11:44
Ben Simmons looking in top shape and talking about making a comeback has become a regular summer occurrence. But there might be something behind it this year, as Jake Fischer reported that several teams have interest in bringing him to training camp. He may be able to earn a roster spot and a veteran's minimum deal somewhere, but I'm skeptical that he'll ever be a productive rotation player again. He sat out all of last season and really hasn't been good since 2020/21, which was before his back injury and psychological issues. It could be a fun story to watch if he's in camp with some team, but it's very unlikely that he'll ever come close to being the player that he once was.
Esteban
11:44
Is the Kawhi Leonard investigation is holding up free agency?  Because if I'm a young free agent wing like Johnathn Kuminga, Peyton Watson, or Bennedict Watson, I'm not signing until I know the fallout. It's just worth the wait. The idea of playing in an attractive market like Los Angles on a good deal even if they're currently an unknown is still a more viably attractive option than a city like Cleveland or Milwaukee.
ARTHUR HILL
11:52
The Leonard trade being on hold for so long has brought some uncertainty to the offseason, even though it sounds like it will eventually go through. And the Clippers' stalled negotiations with Bennedict Mathurin make it possible that he could be sent out for Kuminga or Watson in a double sign-and-trade deal. There doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency to get any of these free agent situations resolved with training camps still so far away. I think all three players that you mentioned are willing to wait out the market, so I wouldn't expect a resolution for another month or more.
Guest
11:52
Will opening night be a preview of next year's conference final matchups? (Sixers-Knicks and Spurs-Thunder)
ARTHUR HILL
12:00
Three of those teams were in the conference finals last season, and the Sixers have added enough talent to make them a legitimate title contender. San Antonio and OKC are clearly the class of the West and may be destined for conference finals showdowns for the next few years. The Thunder sacrificed some depth to cut their tax bill, but they still have enough talent to be elite, while the Spurs may have improved by adding Tobias Harris. New York had a stable offseason and should remain in the championship mix, but Philadelphia is less of a sure thing, with its title hopes depending on Joel Embiid remaining healthy and LeBron James playing at a high level after he turns 42. Whether this turns out to be the final four or not, the NBA certainly found a great way to tip off the new season.
CP3 vs. Russ
12:00
Who had the better career, Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook?
ARTHUR HILL
12:11
Both are first-ballot Hall of Famers who were among the top point guards in the league throughout their long careers. Paul was more of a traditional lead guard who ran the offense and made his teammates better, while Westbrook was a dynamic force who could take over games with a relentless style of play. Westbrook will be remembered for his 2017 MVP and for averaging a triple-double for three straight seasons. Paul was the MVP runner-up in 2008 and defined the position for more than two decades. Both of them played in numerous cities, and while neither of them won a title, they both came close. Paul was probably the easier player to build a team around, but Westbrook created a prototype that will endure long after his retirement. I'd give Paul a slight edge, but it's a close call.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
Connecting…