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Hoops Rumors Live Chat: 9/9/25
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ARTHUR HILL
11:00
Welcome to this week's chat. We'll start with a Pistons question.
michigan27
11:01
Do you think the trade deadline is when the Pistons will become aggressive and try to add a top stretch four to get closer to contending in the East?
ARTHUR HILL
11:09
The Pistons need more shooting in general, and a dependable stretch four would be an ideal complement to Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. Tobias Harris is entering the final year of his contract at $26.6MM, so he would be a perfect trade chip if that type of player becomes available. Finding a big man who can shoot from the outside is probably the Pistons' number one priority, and I expect them to be aggressive throughout the season in hopes of landing a deal by the February deadline. If it doesn't work out, then Detroit will look to fill the position in free agency next summer.
JD
11:09
Will Ben Simmons play in the NBA this season? I don't think he's getting an offer above the minimum and it sounds like he might not be willing to take that
ARTHUR HILL
11:17
Simmons reportedly already turned down a minimum offer from the Knicks, and it doesn't sound like he's getting any interest from teams willing to offer more than that. He could have been a valuable addition in New York, with his passing and defensive skills fitting into an already stable environment, but he likely would have been a fringe rotation player. Simmons has a long injury history and has already made more than $200MM, so he may not be willing to take on a series of minimum contracts just to stay in the NBA. It would be unfortunate to see his career end at age 29, but it looks like that might happen.
Unclemike1526
11:17
I'm just curious but exactly what is the criteria for trading a player for draft choices in the NBA's stupid money for money match up system? Is there certain dollar amounts attached to 1st and and 2nd round picks? And why aren't the Bulls trying to move some of their expiring deals for draft picks? Thanks as always.
ARTHUR HILL
11:26
The NBA's valuation of draft picks isn't as clearly defined as the NFL's, and it's more determined by what each team is willing to accept. All drafts aren't created equal, so it varies from year to year. As for the Bulls, it appears that management once again has unrealistic expectations for the current roster. Even though the East is down overall, Chicago will probably back in its familiar role of chasing a play-in spot with a record around .500. Hopefully they'll start to plan for the future at some point, as there are several expiring contracts that could be traded for draft picks at the deadline. Vucevic, Collins, Huerter and Dosunmu should all be on the market by February. The Bulls will have money to spend next summer, so it's time to start planning ahead.
Bearman
11:26
If the Phoenix Suns' season starts to unravel, do you think they'd consider taking trade calls for Devin Booker, or is he seen as a cornerstone for the long haul?"
ARTHUR HILL
11:35
Mat Ishbia has changed directions on a few things since he bought the team, but he hasn't wavered from the idea that Devin Booker is a franchise player that a title contender can be built around. Ishbia quickly dismissed trade rumors regarding Booker last spring, and he backed up the commitment with a two-year max extension that runs through 2030. I agree that the Suns' season is likely to unravel at some point, and trading Booker for young talent and draft picks is probably the best long-term solution. However, Booker wants to play his entire career in Phoenix, and Ishbia believes he can rebuild quickly. Booker's new expensive price tag almost ensures that he'll be a Sun through the end of the decade.
Cam Thomas
11:35
Will I still be a Net on February 6?
ARTHUR HILL
11:45
Thomas has put up huge scoring numbers over the past two seasons when he's been healthy, but that didn't earn him a big contract offer this summer, either from the Nets or anyone else. Restricted free agency factored into it, but he may not have cashed in even if he had been unrestricted. There are too many holes in his game, and his best role going forward is probably as a sixth man who can provide instant offense off the bench. That's not likely to happen in Brooklyn, where the Nets are expected to prioritize the four guards they selected in this year's draft. Thomas would be an inexpensive gamble after signing his qualifying offer for less than $6MM, so I expect him to be a popular target on the trade market.
Jay
11:45
When do you think Trajan Langdon will have a large enough sample size to determine whether Jaden Ivey or Jalen Duren are core pieces of the roster moving forward? And will the team be aggressive at the trade deadline to become contenders in the East?"
ARTHUR HILL
11:55
Ivey missed a huge chunk of last season with a fractured fibula, so that delayed the evaluation process, but he looked really good in the 30 games he played. His shooting numbers from the field and three-point range were both up significantly, and he'll likely retain that efficiency when he returns this season. I expect him to sign an extension next summer, even if it's not for the max. Duren is less of a sure thing, as his limited shooting range affects his value, but he's been the starting center for two-plus years now and has proven to be an effective rebounder and rim protector. He and Ivey both seem to be part of the foundation. The Pistons need more shooting, but they have a chance to be real contenders after their surprise jump last season, so I expect them to be very aggressive about trying to upgrade by the deadline.
Guest
11:55
Any thoughts on the new All-Star format? Will this one last more than a single year?
ARTHUR HILL
12:01
The NBA's All-Star Game has fallen on hard times because there's no real incentive for players to try to win. While adding an international team is an inventive wrinkle, the idea of three squads competing in a round-robin format doesn't solve that basic problem. The league has tried hard to make the game interesting, with ideas such as the Elam ending and having captains draft teams, but those approaches got stale quickly. This new format is almost certain to suffer the same fate.
Thanks for all the great questions. We'll talk again next week.
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