NBA Chat With Alex Kennedy 5/6/12

1. Dave

   Lets just say D-Will leaves Brooklyn in free agency. Does Gerrald Wallace and Brook Lopez stay? I personally think that the best places for D-Will is Brooklyn or Dallas.

   • Alex Kennedy

     What’s up everyone? Thanks for submitting your questions. With such a great slate of playoff games today, there’s plenty to talk about. Let’s jump right in.

     If Deron Williams leaves, I can’t see Gerald Wallace re-signing with the Nets. Wallace wants to play for a winning team and I can’t see him going back to Brooklyn if they’re going to be rebuilding. Brook Lopez is a different story because he’s still young and this will be his first payday. The Nets will have to make some tough decisions as well. If Williams leaves, how much money are they going to offer Wallace and Lopez? They may decide to pursue other free agents instead. It’ll be an interesting summer for the Nets.

2. Dave

   Dwight Howard needs to be traded! He doesn’t even deserve to have a say on which team he leaves to. The Magic should just look for the best offer and take it. Stan Van Gundy will get 100% out of the team.

   • Alex Kennedy

     I won’t be surprised if the Magic trade Dwight Howard this summer. If they’re not able to land a second star and persuade Howard to sign a long-term deal, I think they’ll trade him to avoid going through another drama-filled season. You can only delay the inevitable for so long. Orlando may decide it’s time to move on and start the rebuilding process. Talking to people around the league, there’s a feeling that Howard has played his last game as a member of the Magic.

3. Marvelous Marv

   Alex,

   If Josh Smith decides his time in ATL is over and says he will walk. Do the Hawks do a Josh Smith and Marvin Williams for A’mare and Douglas deal?

   • Alex Kennedy

     Josh Smith may demand a trade this summer, but I can’t see the Hawks dealing him unless they’re getting attractive pieces back in return. Smith has been unhappy for awhile, but Atlanta has held onto him because they didn’t like any of the offers on the table. Smith is a very talented player and the Hawks will do everything they can to keep him. However, if they do decide it’s time to move him, I doubt they take on Amar’e Stoudemire and Toney Douglas. Stoudemire’s trade value is at an all-time low and I can’t see the Hawks taking on his contract.

4. Deven

   Hi Alex. Who are some most likely Amnesty Candidates this summer?

   • Alex Kennedy

     Rashard Lewis and Metta World Peace are a few players who come to mind. Sources close to Lewis say he expects to be amnestied by the Wizards. If the Lakers have had enough of World Peace, they could decide to part ways with him. Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood are possibilities as well, but I wouldn’t say it’s “likely” that either player will be waived. Teams are always hesitant to pay players to go away, especially if it doesn’t give the team the flexibility to make a big move.

5. Will

   If you had to guess,do you think Dwight is in a Magic uniform to start the season next year?

   • Alex Kennedy

     Unless the Orlando Magic are able to acquire a second star player this summer, I don’t think Dwight Howard will be in a Magic jersey to start next season. I think he’ll be in Brooklyn catching lobs from Deron Williams.

6. Bernard

   Would Orlando trade for Stoudemire to appease Dwight this summer?

   • Alex Kennedy

     The Orlando Magic will try to bring in a star, but I don’t think they have the assets. At the trade deadline, they worked the phones and tried to make a move. They called the New York Knicks about Carmelo Anthony, they called the Phoenix Suns about Steve Nash and they called the Atlanta Hawks about Josh Smith, but they weren’t able to land any of those players because they don’t have attractive trade chips. Howard wants an elite point guard or a scorer who can create his own shot. Orlando will try to make a splashy move, but that’s easier said than done.

7. Deven

   If the Sixers beat the Bulls in this series, would you consider this to be an upset? To me it isn’t. It would be a major upset if the Bulls were at full strength and Derrick Rose having another MVP-type year. What are your thoughts?

   • Alex Kennedy

     As you said, this would’ve been a huge upset if Chicago was at full strength. Nobody expected the 76ers to have a chance with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah playing. Now, with those two guys injured, I wouldn’t consider it an upset. Chicago is talented and deep, but there aren’t many teams that could win in the playoffs without their starting point guard and center.

8. Deven

   Does Jason Terry bolt the Mavs for another team, since he’s gonna be a free agent this summer?

   • Alex Kennedy

     I think Jason Terry has played his last game as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. I’ve been told that he won’t give the Mavericks a discount and will explore all of his options this summer. At 34 years old, this is likely the final payday of Terry’s career and he’s going to find the best situation for him. If I were in his shoes, I’d do the exact same thing.

9. Cain

   Why has Paul George been struggling so much with his shooting in the play-offs? Can he find the consistancy over the Summer?

   • Alex Kennedy

     That’s how Paul George has played all season long. At times, he has looked phenomenal. At times, he has looked average. Like a lot of young players, George is inconsistent. As he continues to grow up, I think he’ll become someone who the Pacers can rely on every night. For now, he’s only 22 years old and still developing. This summer will be huge for George though, as you mentioned. He’s someone who works very hard during the offseason. For the second straight summer, he’s going to work out with Danny Granger, which will be good for him. Granger pushes him and the two have become close.

10. Drew

    What can we expect from Amare this game? And where can the Knicks find offense against this smothering Heat defense?

    • Alex Kennedy

      That’s an excellent question. After seeing the picture he tweeted, I wouldn’t expect much from him. How is he going to hold the ball, grab rebounds or play defense with all of those stitches in his hand? I give him credit for playing – I’d be sidelined for months – but I’m just not sure how effective he’ll be against Miami’s frontcourt.

11. Alex

    With Amar’e letting the knicks and the fans down again, what do the knicks do with him? Does he accept a 6th man role?

    • Alex Kennedy

      What can the Knicks do? They need Amar’e Stoudemire to step up and play to his full potential. They can’t trade him because his contract is ugly and he’s considered injury prone by nearly every executive in the league. They can’t bench him because you don’t pay your sixth man $20 million per season. New York needs to find a way to compete with their core group of Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler. They don’t have many other options.

12. Philip Fletcher

    Alex;
    How are you this day? Are the Spurs that much better than last year, or are the Jazz worse than we thought?

    • Alex Kennedy

      The Spurs are much better than last year. Tony Parker has elevated his game, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are well-rested and they’ve adjusted their style of play to fit their pieces. They have also received huge contributions from young players like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Gary Neal, Patty Mills, etc. San Antonio may be the scariest team in the league right now. They always seem to make the right play and they’re so efficient. There’s no margin for error when you’re playing against them.

13. JP

    Is it possible for Minnesota to get the 3 pick to select Bradley Beal using the pick they have and some one not named Rubio, Williams, Love and Pekovic?

    • Alex Kennedy

      The Timberwolves would love to move up and draft Bradley Beal, but I don’t think they’ll be able to find a trade partner without parting ways with one of the players you mentioned. The Wolves will have a lot of competition for Beal because there are plenty of executives who love his game. He has star potential and is one of the best pure scorers to enter the league in awhile. Whichever team lands the second or third overall pick will strongly consider drafting Beal and, if they do decide to trade down, they’ll have plenty of attractive offers to consider.

      With that said, Minnesota will definitely try to add a scorer this summer. Don’t be surprised if they try to sign a free agent like Jamal Crawford or make a trade for someone like Kevin Martin.

14. Jef

    Teams like Charlotte and Wizards were so bad this year that it seems like it will be years before they are actual contenders, if ever. Besides a #1 Draft pick, what can teams like that do to get better? Will the Bobcats or the Wizards EVER be playing in a NBA Finals game?

    • Alex Kennedy

      If they make the right moves, they can become contenders. The Oklahoma City Thunder were awful a few years ago, but they drafted some excellent players and are now a perennial contender. The Los Angeles Clippers were a bottom feeder, but made the right moves and are now a very good team. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat held the top two picks in the 2008 NBA Draft, and are now the best teams in the Eastern Conference. It’s a cycle. Teams go through different phases. Some organizations are better than others, but it is possible for struggling teams to turn things around quickly and become elite if they draft and acquire the right pieces.

15. Steve

    Who do you think are the top big men in the upcoming NBA draft not named Anthony Davis?

    • Alex Kennedy

      Anthony Davis is by far the best, he’s on a tier of his own. After Davis, the best big men are Andre Drummond, Thomas Robinson and Jared Sullinger. Arnett Moultrie is very talented as well and I expect him to climb draft boards over the next few months.

      Thanks for submitting your questions! If I missed you, send me your question on Twitter (@AlexKennedyNBA). Have a great week!