NBA Chat With Alex Kennedy 4/20/12

Join HOOPSWORLD’s Alex Kennedy for his weekly NBA chat this Friday at 1 p.m. ET. Submit your questions early because this chat fills up fast!

  1. devonte

    the 2012 nba draft is more than months away but i just wanted to bring up something interesting. the knicks have baron davis and jeremy lin say they lose both in free agency, i could see the guard out of Kansas (tyshawn taylor) being a nice replacement for them but the knicks have no first round pick. could this be see the knicks making a move to acquire a late first pick to select him and if they do how much do you think it would cost? maybe send landry fields and toney douglas to miami in exchange for the 27th pick in the draft?

    • Alex Kennedy

      What’s up everyone? Thanks for submitting your questions. Let’s get started.

      I can’t see the Knicks losing Jeremy Lin this summer. He’s going to be a restricted free agent and the most he can make in year one of his next contract is $5 million due to the Gilbert Arenas Provision. I think New York will match any offer he receives.

      To answer your question though, I don’t think New York is desperate to acquire a first-round pick. They’re focused on winning right now, not bringing in a rookie who needs time to develop. Fortunately for them, Iman Shumpert has been able to step in and be a contributor from day one, but that’s not always the case, especially if you’re talking about a player picked at the end of the first round.

  2. johnny

    Alex,
    i’m sick and tired of it. Why is chris duhon still playing? i was watching the magic vs celtics game and he managed to single handedly turn the game around for the celtics. I dont understand what he brings to the table that stan still decides he is more deserving than ish smith. can you explain it to me or are you just as puzzled?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I wish I had an answer for you. Stan Van Gundy tends to trust veterans over younger players, but Chris Duhon has been terrible. Ish Smith should’ve taken his minutes weeks ago. I’m with you.

  3. Raptor Fanatic

    What do you think happens in Memphis this summer? They have a lot of money tied up with little front court depth and OJ Mayo as a RFA. Also they are dangerously close to becoming a tax team just to fill out the roster for next year.

    Do you think they consider trading Gay to help the depth issue and avoid the tax?

    • Alex Kennedy

      This will be an interesting summer for the Grizzlies. They’re going to be patient and see what teams are willing to pay O.J. Mayo, Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur. All three players will be restricted free agents. Mayo is the interesting one. There are plenty of executives around the league that like his game and he’ll receive interest from a number of teams. But how much are they willing to pay him? That’s the big question that will determine what Memphis does this summer. I don’t think they’ll trade Rudy Gay or anything like that. Even if they lose Mayo, Speights and Arthur, they still have a nice core. They’ll just have to spend their money wisely and surround those guys with cheap, productive role players.

  4. Alex

    Since many lottery teams are now “tanking” to get a better pick, what do you think about this system? If your a lottery team and you go 500. or over in your last 15 games, your lottery odds increase, but if you go under 500, your odds decrease. This makes the end of the season more competitive for lottery teams, correct?

    • Alex Kennedy

      While that system may keep some teams from tanking and benching players, it would punish the teams that are losing games unintentionally. Teams just outside of the playoff picture like Houston, Utah and Milwaukee would have their lottery odds increase, but how would a bottom feeder like Charlotte ever improve? They would just keep losing games and then lose the lottery on top of that. Sometimes it’s hard to tell when a team is tanking versus sucking. I think the lottery system is effective as is because we’ve seen that tanking doesn’t guarantee the top pick.

  5. Will

    With D12 back injury,do you think the Magic trade him this offseason?Brooklyn bound.

    • Alex Kennedy

      I don’t think Dwight Howard’s back injury changes things. Healthy or not, the Magic had a tough decision to make this summer. Do they keep him, go through another drama-filled season and hope he stays or do they trade him for the best package available and move forward as a franchise? They’ll have to weigh their options this summer. The injury makes things interesting because it means Howard may have played his last game as a member of the Magic. We’ll see what Orlando decides to do.

  6. Charlie

    If you were starting a team from scratch, which center do you choose: Javale McGee, DeAndre Jordan, or Marcin Gortat

    • Alex Kennedy

      I love Marcin Gortat. I think he’s an extremely underrated center and I love that he’s playing well in Phoenix. I covered Gortat in Orlando and he was the nicest guy and hardest worker. With that said, he’s 28 years old and that definitely affects my decision. I’d have to go with one of the young guys. DeAndre Jordan’s contract isn’t pretty, but JaVale McGee will probably have a ton of money thrown at him this summer as well. I’d probably go with McGee, even though he’s somewhat high maintenance. I think he has more upside than Jordan and, in the right environment, I think he can be a very good player.

  7. Anthony

    Is Dwight hurt, or is this LeBron leaving Cleveland via the elbow vs. the Celtics all over again? Simply put, this is simply too convenient for Dwight. Side note: Dwight is a coward.

    • Alex Kennedy

      Dwight Howard is hurt. He has a herniated disk in his back and he has been in a lot of pain in recent weeks. I know several people in Dwight’s inner circle and they’re very upset that people are questioning if Howard is actually hurt. He tried playing through the injury and wasn’t able to do so. He has had various forms of treatment, but hasn’t responded well to them. He’s getting surgery in Los Angeles as I type this. This is a legitimate, serious injury. He’s not going under the knife, missing the playoffs and skipping the Olympics because he doesn’t want to play for Stan Van Gundy. That’s absurd.

  8. Raps4ever

    Hi Alex, How positive are you about the Raptors going Forward next season? They have a good coach in DC, and the arrival of JV, from Lithuiania. Do you think Colangelo and Stenfanski are the are guys to turn this franchise around next year?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I think the Raptors are heading in the right direction. Dwane Casey has done a great job in Toronto and Bryan Colangelo has put them in position to be successful. They have a lot of flexibility going forward and they’ll be able to improve the team through free agency and the draft. I’m really excited to see what Jonas Valanciunas can do next season. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from people around the league and there are definitely high expectations for him. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Raptors fighting for a playoff spot a year or two from now, when their young pieces start to come together and near their primes.

  9. Deven

    Hi Alex. I’m hearing about Billy Hunter asking Derek Fisher to step down as NBAPA President? Why is that?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher haven’t been on the same page for awhile now. They had issues with one another during the lockout. Fisher didn’t like the way that Hunter ran things and Hunter didn’t like the way that Fisher looked out for himself during the negotiations. This Hunter-Fisher drama is just getting started and I think a lot of ugly stuff is going to come out in the near future.

  10. Chris

    Better matchup for Knicks in the first round heat or bulls?

    • Alex Kennedy

      The better match-up would be the Bulls. Not only has New York played well against Chicago this season, I think the Bulls are entering the playoffs with less momentum since they’ve had so many injuries. The Knicks have the talent to make either series exciting, but I think a series against the Bulls would be more competitive.

  11. Deven

    With Dwight Howard having back surgery and his season ending, where’s does the Magic go from here in your mind, Alex?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Without Dwight Howard, I don’t think Orlando will do anything in the playoffs. They may get swept. They’ll likely play the Indiana Pacers, who are the hottest team in the NBA right now after winning seven straight games. It’s going to be an ugly series. That team is built around Howard and while they’ve been able to win some games in his absence, I can’t see them making things interesting against Indiana.

  12. Deven

    What’s the latest on Amare?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Amar’e Stoudemire will play tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He wanted to return tonight so that he could get back into a rhythm before the playoffs start. He is pain-free and looking forward to getting back on the court. We’ll see how effective he can be tonight and how the Knicks readjust with him back in the lineup.

  13. Deven

    Fact or Fiction: Miami Heat will take Chicago’s spot for the #1 seed in the east.

    • Alex Kennedy

      It’ll definitely come down to the wire. Chicago has to play Dallas, Indiana and Cleveland. Miami has to play Washington, Houston, Boston and Washington again. I think the Bulls will hold on since they have a 1.5 game lead, but it could be close.

  14. Piotr Stokłosiński

    Who should be 1st USA Center in Olympic Games if Dwight Howard will miss it?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Tyson Chandler. He can defend, rebound and do the dirty work for Team USA.

  15. Bryan

    I believe with G. Hill starting at PG the Pacers are a much better team. Why no love from media? They beaten everything playoff team in the east.

    • Alex Kennedy

      George Hill has done an excellent job and the Pacers are definitely a scary team entering the playoffs. They’re the best kept secret in the NBA. They have a balanced attack that is going to surprise a lot of people in the postseason. They have arguably the most impressive résumé in the NBA, with wins against the Thunder, Heat, Bulls, Lakers, Mavericks, etc. They love that they’re flying under the radar. They haven’t received the credit they deserve and they’ve used that as motivation all season long. The Pacers are definitely a team to keep an eye on.

  16. Charlie

    Greg Popovich is notorious for sitting his veteran players during the regular season to rest for the playoffs. When he did this last week, he listed Tim Duncan – “DNP-Old” However this was met with public outcry to the point Pop was quoted “I wont be doing that again. Some people didn’t find it too humorous.” Question: Did people have an issue with Pop was coming out with honesty (instead of listing a fictitious injury). I thought that was both hilarious and honest, why did people have such a problem?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I loved it. I thought it was very funny and it’s better than making up some random injury. I hope more coaches start doing this. I’d love if they were really honest, like “DNP – Hungover” or “DNP – Still Doesn’t Know The Plays.”

  17. Mac

    If you were getting a vote for the all-NBA teams. Its a given Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum are the centers on team #1 and team #2 (in whatever order). Who would you vote as center for the all NBA third team? Brigham voted Tyson Chandler. Agree or someone else?

  18. Robert Harbour

    Do you think the hawks will trade josh smith with his demands earlier in the season? Would you rather trade joe and build the team around Smoove?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Josh Smith wants out and I’m sure the Hawks will weigh their options this summer. They’ll definitely gauge interest in him, but I’m not sure if they’ll move him. They really like Smith and it’ll take a lot in return for them to make a deal, even with his trade demand.

  19. jack

    why do fans and pundits alike think that the Spurs have any legitimate chance to complete for the title. Aren’t they a team built for the regular season, only to get a beatdown from a young athletic team in the playoffs???

    • Alex Kennedy

      That was one year. Prior to last postseason, the Spurs were always described as a team that’s built for the playoffs. They would coast through the regular season and then emerge as a contender every year. While last year was ugly and certainly caught the Spurs off guard, I think they do have a legitimate chance to compete for a title this season. It’s hard to bet against an outstanding coach like Gregg Popovich, future Hall of Famer like Tim Duncan and their deep bench. With the right match-ups, they could make a deep run in the postseason and make people forget about last year’s loss to Memphis.

      I’m out of time, but thank you for submitting your questions! If I missed you, hit me up on Twitter. Have a great week!