Hoops Rumors Mailbag: MIP, Hawks, Warriors, Morant, More
Our latest Front Office mailbag takes a look at the early frontrunners for the Most Improved Player award. We also answer several questions from readers that Luke Adams was unable to get to during Monday's live chat.
Bob asks:
Early thoughts on Most Improved Player? I'm thinking either Jalen Johnson or Deni Avdija, but I'm sure I'm missing some worthy candidates.
Five Potential Sellers Who Could Shape The Trade Deadline
Several teams who currently sit well below .500 - including the Bucks, Clippers, and Pacers - are viewed as unlikely to sell off veterans at the February 5 trade deadline due either to a belief they can still make a run this season or a desire to preserve their core for next season.
Certain other teams projected to end up in the lottery - like the Jazz and Wizards - have few appealing veterans to sell off to begin with, since their rosters are heavy on young players and veteran cornerstones they're reportedly not looking to move, such as Lauri Markkanen in Utah and Trae Young in Washington.
With 20 playoff or play-in spots up for grabs and several of those bottom 10 teams not preparing to hold fire sales, the door could be open for a handful of would-be sellers to fill the void and conduct some favorable business in the coming weeks.
We're looking today at five teams well positioned to cash in on several trade chips -- if they choose to go that route.
Let's dive in...
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 1/8/2026
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included how the Trae Young trade will affect the Wizards, potential targets for the Pistons and Bulls, DeMar DeRozan's market value, the chances of Anthony Davis winding up with the Hawks and more!
Six Teams Who Should Consider Pursuing Michael Porter Jr.
Team context and opportunity are the two most important factors for individual success for the grand majority of NBA players. Those factors are also the primary determinants of whether a contract is viewed as being team- or player-friendly.
Consider, for example, former NBA big man Richaun Holmes. After being selected 37th overall in the 2015 draft, Holmes spent the first four years of his career providing energy and athleticism off the bench in Philadelphia and Phoenix. At 6'9" and 235 pounds, Holmes was undersized for a center, and seemed unlikely to ever have a full-time starting role.
Holmes' career trajectory changed when he signed with Sacramento in the 2019 offseason. Playing on a two-year, $10MM contract, Holmes averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game over the next two seasons as the Kings' starting center, shooting 64.1% from the floor and 79.2% from the foul line.
Holmes parlayed his newfound success into a four-year, $47MM contract in the summer of 2021. He played quite well over the first 20 games of the 2021/22 campaign, but then got hurt and became embroiled in a child custody battle that resulted in him missing time for personal reasons (he eventually prevailed in court). Around the same time, the Kings traded Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis.
The addition of Sabonis significantly reduced Holmes' importance in Sacramento, making him look both unnecessary and overpriced. He never really regained a foothold in the rotation, and spent the past few years bouncing around the league as a veteran backup. Now 32, Holmes signed with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos over the summer after he was unable to find an attractive NBA opportunity.
What does Richaun Holmes have to do with Michael Porter Jr.? That's a fair question.
Each Western Conference Team’s Most Likely Trade Candidate
Not every NBA team will make a trade between now and the February 5 deadline, but every club will at least entertain the possibility of doing so, engaging in discussions with potential trade partners in the coming weeks.
So which players are the most likely to come up in those talks, and which are the most likely to actually be on the move in the month-and-a-half? We're exploring that subject, taking a closer look at all 30 teams and identifying the player we believe is most likely to be dealt by each club.
After examining the 15 Eastern Conference teams last week, we're shifting our focus today to the Western Conference.
Let's dive in...
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 12/30/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included a potential Ivica Zubac trade, Most Improved Player candidates, the Bulls' options with Coby White, the Rockets' approach to the trade deadline and more!
Each Eastern Conference Team’s Most Likely Trade Candidate
Not every NBA team will make a trade between now and the February 5 deadline, but every club will at least entertain the possibility of doing so, engaging in discussions with potential trade partners in the coming weeks.
So which players are the most likely to come up in those talks, and which are the most likely to actually be on the move in the month-and-a-half? We're exploring that subject this week and next, taking a closer look at all 30 teams and identifying the player we believe is most likely to be dealt by each club.
We're starting today by examining the 15 Eastern Conference teams, with the Western Conference to follow next week.
Let's dive in...
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 12/23/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is really "locked in" with the Bucks, whether the Mavericks should trade Anthony Davis and start rebuilding now, the Pelicans' options with Herbert Jones, a look at how the NBA did with its Christmas Day schedule and more!
Hoops Rumors Mailbag: Reaves’ Next Deal, Slow Starts
This week's mailbag covers questions on what Austin Reaves' next contract might look like and players experiencing early-season slumps.
Muhammad asks:
What do you think about Austin Reaves' contract for the next season? Will he exercise his player option or decline and sign a max contract?
Reaves is undoubtedly boosting his value in a contract year. He discussed his future and desire to remain with the Lakers last month in a story from ESPN.
“I’ve said it a million times. I want to be in L.A. I love it,” Reaves said at the time. “Even though the other extension was turned down, that doesn’t mean that I’m trying to go get a f---ing gigantic number that don’t make sense. I want to be here, I want to win. I want to do everything that can help this organization be better. So I don’t try to think about those things.”
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 12/18/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included whether the NBA should be limiting the television audience for the NBA Cup semifinals and finals, the chances of Draymond Green being sent to Dallas in an Anthony Davis trade, the 65-game requirement for awards consideration, the prospects for expansion and more!