NBA Chat With Alex Kennedy 8/26/2011

1. Mynor

   Hello Alex,
   In my opinion, I think Bismack Biyombo, will be one of the top 5 picks in the 2011 class, a player that is dedicated to defense and rebounding, and with the attitude he has, most always carve a niche for themselves in the NBA, agree or disagree?

   • Alex Kennedy

     He certainly has a lot of upside. He’s still extremely raw, but he seems to have good instincts. He’s already a great shot blocker and his rebounding isn’t bad. If he continues to work hard, he could become a very good player. At the very least, he’s going to be a good defensive specialist, which every team in the league needs.

2. cj

   Who do you believe has a better chance at winning the next mvp award, Kevin Durant or Dwight Howard?

   • Alex Kennedy

     I’m expecting both players to have huge years, but I think Durant is more likely because the Thunder will finish with a better record. History shows that the MVP award usually goes to a player on a top team and I think Orlando is going to struggle next season. They have a lot of holes and their cap situation is very ugly so there’s not really an easy fix there. On the other hand, Oklahoma City will only continue to get better as their young pieces develop and gain experience. Durant has been the MVP of the summer with his dominant pro-am play, and I could see that being the case next season in the NBA as well.

3. devonte wilson

   do you think the players will except defeat in these negotiations?

   • Alex Kennedy

     I know several players on the NBPA’s executive committee and they insist that they won’t accept defeat. They’re not going to accept the owner’s current proposal because they say that losing the season is better for them long-term than signing that deal. Jared Dudley told me that they would rather sit out for two seasons than sign the proposal that’s on the table. Everyone thinks that the players will budge when their paychecks stop showing up, but everyone that I’ve talked to is adamant that they will hold their ground. The players are willing to negotiate, but they won’t let the owners walk all over them. The next bargaining session will likely be held next week so hopefully we have some progress when the meeting wraps up.

4. Keith

   Whats going to happen first, your 21st birthday or the start of the next NBA season? happy birthday!

   • Alex Kennedy

     Thanks! Hopefully it’s the start of the NBA season! If we don’t have a deal in 362 days, that will mean very bad things for the future of the NBA.

5. Mike

   Is Andre Iguodala a top 30 NBA player?

   • Alex Kennedy

     I like Andre Iguodala right at #30. Sports Illustrated did their rankings earlier this summer and that’s where they had A.I. That puts him below other perimeter guys like Rudy Gay and Eric Gordon, but above forwards like Lamar Odom and Luol Deng. I think that’s a fair ranking. Whenever the lockout ends, there will be plenty of teams calling the 76ers regarding Iguodala so that has to count for something, right?

6. Renee

   What is the best contender for Steve Nash and Grant Hill?

   • Alex Kennedy

     I wouldn’t be surprised to see Grant Hill sign with the Miami Heat. I think there’s mutual interest there. Steve Nash’s future is a little bit tougher to predict since he still has a year left on his deal. I think we’ll see plenty of teams try to trade for Nash next season. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks have actively pursued him in the past.

7. devonte wilson

   out of these 7 players who will win rookie of the year? iman, kyrie, brandon knight, kemba, jimmer, marshon, alec burks

   • Alex Kennedy

     I think you have to go with Kyrie Irving. He’s going to have the most opportunity to succeed because the Cavaliers will want to showcase him. He’ll likely play the most minutes and he should have the starting job from day one. That can’t be said with 100 percent certainty for Iman Shumpert, Brandon Knight, Marshon Brooks or Alec Burks. Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker could compete as well because they’ll be contributors, but I think Irving has the edge going into the season.

8. cj

   Do you think media pressure (ESPN) will speed up the lockout at all?

   • Alex Kennedy

     Last season, the NBA had it’s most successful year in terms of interest, ratings, etc. I think the fear of losing that momentum will speed up the process more than media pressure or other factors. They have reached the casual fans and generated a ton of interest in their product. Nobody wants to screw that up by losing the season.

9. devonte wilson

   wilson chandler tweeted “ny is a possibilty in the near future” what do you take from that and if he does want to come back is that the right move for both parties

   • Alex Kennedy

     I think Wilson Chandler was tweeting about visiting New York, but he’s definitely interested in returning to the Knicks. He really didn’t want to leave New York at the trade deadline and I think he had the toughest time adjusting to life in Denver out of all the players they acquired. I don’t think the Knicks will have the money to sign him this summer, but who knows? From the moment he was traded, he asked his agent if there was any way he could go back this summer. If he’s willing to take a pay cut, maybe New York will be a possibility in the near future.

10. 1mike1matt

    could the new cba force the heats big 3 to b split?

    • Alex Kennedy

      That’s a great question. It’s something that has been discussed during the negotiations. David Stern actually talked about that prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Miami. His quote kind of flew under the radar because everyone was focused on the Finals, but it’s definitely an interesting possibility. Here is what Stern said when asked about the possibility of breaking up the “super-teams” around the league:

      “That’s part of the negotiation. There are all kinds of negotiations that go on in these things between teams that have different roster make ups, between teams and among teams that gross different amounts generally when it comes to revenue sharing, and on the other side, amongst players who have different economic interests and deals. This is very complex. It’s going to involve a lot of working together with the union, with the full confidence of both the players and the owners that if there’s a will, we’ll be able to work all those issues out.”

11. Steve

    Hey Alex, Do you think Larry Sanders will make a big jump in his second season? Where do you think he will play the majority of his minutes center or power forward?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I like Larry’s game a lot and I think he’s ready for a breakout year. He’s certainly working hard this summer and setting the bar high for himself next season. He wants to be a significant contributor next year and was frustrated with his performance during his rookie season. He felt like he could have brought more the table than he showed and he’s determined to prove that. Unlike most players, he’s not considering overseas offers because he feels he needs to be 100 percent focused on the Bucks and improving his game for next season. He’s very mature for his age and I think he’s doing all of the right things to take the next step. To answer your second question, he’ll play most his minutes at power forward. He can slide over to the center, but his body is better suited for the four.

12. 1mike1matt

    I think just better D n the Knicks dont need another star player? your thoughts…

    • Alex Kennedy

      I don’t think the Knicks can afford another star player so they’ll have to improve within. The new CBA will make it extremely difficult for a team like New York to add a third star like Chris Paul or Deron Williams. They’ll have to continue developing the talent that they already have. I think they’ll be okay and I see them being an elite team once they improve their chemistry.

13. 1mike1matt

    Ive asked some solid questions, whats the problem?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I’ve answered two of your questions!

14. Mynor

    How does one become a hoopsworld writer?

    • Alex Kennedy

      You have to complete an extensive obstacle course in under five minutes, go through a three-week boot camp and then complete the initiation by surviving in the woods for one month. Once that’s finished, you must endure all of the hazing from Steve Kyler.

      In all seriousness, HOOPSWORLD wants to have writers in various markets around the league so we look for qualified individuals in cities that aren’t already represented on our staff.

15. Chris

    Are you at all surprised at how little coverage the NBA lockout is getting especially when compared to how all encompassing the NFL lockout was handled by the media?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I think the NFL lockout was a huge story because there was nothing else to talk about. The NBA and NHL seasons were over and MLB was at the point in their season when interest levels off. I’m not surprised at all that the NBA lockout has been basically ignored. People missed football so it’s going to be the main story now that it’s back. Also, what is there for the national media to talk about? There’s nothing to cover if the NBA’s owners and players are refusing to meet.

16. Chris

    Who has a better chance to dominate over the next decade? Heat, Bulls or Thunder?

    • Alex Kennedy

      That’s a tough question. Miami will dominate the most in the early part of the decade, but they’ll fall off first because Dwyane Wade is 29 years old, LeBron James is 26 and Chris Bosh is 27. I think Chicago and Oklahoma City will meet up in the NBA Finals at least once later in the decade. Chicago’s best, young players are Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, so their two most important positions are set for the future. With that said, the Thunder are arguably the best run franchise in professional sports and Kevin Durant could emerge as the best player in the NBA in a few years. That’s a tough question. Miami will likely win the most titles, but all three teams will be great.

      
      That’s all for today! If I missed your question, ask me on Twitter and I’ll get back to you. My first chat on the new site is finished and I didn’t even break anything! I’ll be back next Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Have a great week!