NBA Chat With Alex Kennedy 9/30/11

Join HOOPSWORLD’s Alex Kennedy for his weekly NBA chat this Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Submit your questions early because this chat fills up fast!

  1. Dong of Dayton

    Hello Again Alex,

    What are your thoughts on Jerryd Bayless. In April last year he put up some Gaudy numbers while filling in for Calderon. Do you see him taking over the starting spot this year?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I like Jerryd Bayless a lot and I think it’s only a matter of time until he takes over as the starter. During the final month of the season, he averaged 22.5 points and 5.6 assists. He showed why he should be the starter going forward. With that said, Jose Calderon is still owed a ton of money, which sometimes plays into those decisions. No owner likes to see a guy who’s making $9,780,993 on the bench. If it were my decision, Bayless would be the starter on day one. He’s always been a very talented player, and he can flourish if given the opportunity.

  2. louis

    Do u think a more experine point guard would help the heat, I have a problem with that scenario with the amount of time lebron and wade have the ball, also do u think that lebron is holding back so that he does not stop on wade shoes.

    • Alex Kennedy

      If Miami had an experienced distributor, they’d be a lot better. With that said, acquiring a solid point guard is easier said than done. T.J. Ford, Ronnie Price and Sebastian Telfair are arguably the best unrestricted point guards this offseason, so the experienced player you’re referring to would likely have to added through a trade. Miami’s options are limited so Mario Chalmers may be their best bet.

      I do agree that LeBron James and Dwyane Wade seemed worried about stepping on each other’s toes at times last season. Going into the year, everyone wondered if they’d be able to coexist and keep their egos in check. As the season continued, it seemed like the problem was the exact opposite. They were being too unselfish and taking turns dominating the game. It’ll be interesting to see if they can get on the same page and focus more on playing well together rather than looking at each individual’s touches and contributions. I don’t think either player was ever intentionally holding back, but there were definitely stretches where they were completely passive and trying to hard to defer, which has to change next season.

  3. devonte wilson

    im starting to think that there will be no season because in my head it was simple lower the bri keep the soft cap but the owners keep trying to stick with a hard cap or somewhat of a hard cap what will it take to make a DEAL!!!!!!????

    • Alex Kennedy

      The cap structure and BRI split are the biggest issues that need to be resolved, but there are other things being discussed as well. Once they find a middle ground by lowering the BRI and implementing a cap structure that somewhat resembles the one we saw in the last CBA, they’ll have other issues to address. The owners want to shorten max contracts, reduce the mid-level exception, eliminate the bi-annual exception, remove sign-and-trades and introduce an amnesty clause among other things. These negotiations are complex and there are a lot of things that still need to be discussed. Hopefully this weekend’s meetings will be productive and yield progress.

  4. LT Kaivi

    Who do you have as the top 4 teams in the West? And what team has more championship potential: OKC or Memphis?

    • Alex Kennedy

      My top four teams in the West would have to be Dallas, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Portland. The Mavericks, Lakers and Thunder are the top tier, but I think the Blazers have a lot of potential. They played excellent basketball toward the end of the season and if they can stay healthy, which is always a huge if in Portland, then they could join that group of elite teams.

      I think Oklahoma City has more championship potential, but I do really like the team that has been assembled in Memphis. The Thunder will bring back the same core, which is important after a crazy summer and during what may be a shortened season. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, will have to reintroduce Rudy Gay into their lineup. I like both teams a lot, but entering the year, I have the Thunder projected higher.

  5. Manny

    Can you explain the proposed “Carmelo Rule” that the owners are proposing for those that don’t completely get it.

    • Alex Kennedy

      The “Carmelo Rule” is being proposed by the owners to prevent another “Melodrama” situation, where a team can acquire a player midseason and immediately sign him to an extension using the Larry Bird Exception. The new rule would ban teams from extending players if they’re acquired during the final year of their current deal.

  6. devonte wilson

    does it tear you up inside to know that you cant really answer our questions without the cba getting done so that you can know the rules and restrictions that might be brought on to teams and with free agency/trades/rumors?

    • Alex Kennedy

      It’s tough to answer some of these questions with so much still up in the air. As soon as this thing ends, I’ll be able to give more in-depth answers. Not to mention, we’ll have a condensed free agency period , which will be a lot of fun if it’s anything like what occurred in the NFL this summer. Whenever the lockout ends, these chats will be even more fun.

  7. zac

    if the amnesty rule goes into effect and a player like haywood, beidrens, or another big man gets waived what are portlands chances at getting one of them? and who is most likely to come to portland?

    • Alex Kennedy

      The Blazers won’t have a ton of money to spend, but I’m sure they’ll be an attractive destination for big men. They have available minutes and they’re going to be a playoff team.

  8. Vlad

    why so many people hate Kahn? He did draft Flynn vs Curry, but he got him basically for Foye/Miller. Beasly and Randolph for nothing, convinced Rubio to sign and brought Adelman! So many people were laughing at him that he can’t get Rubio and that he is too late to find a good coach. Now he is still a bad GM? Even Darko is not that bad with 2.3 blocks in 20 mins. for 4 mln. And Darko is the only questionable contract MN has. Rambis hire was considered by many a home run 2 ys ago. I think over all Kahn is doing rather well. Do you think MN would double 17wins with Adelman?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I’ve been saying that the Minnesota Timberwolves have a lot of young talent for quite some time. I like their core and they could be a team that’s scary in the future. David Kahn takes a lot of heat, but I think it’s because of his public comments rather than his personnel decisions. You can’t say that your player smokes weed on the radio or insinuate that the NBA Draft lottery is rigged. That’s begging for haters. But like you said, he acquired Beasley for scraps, landed Anthony Randolph in a low-risk, high-reward move and brought Rubio over. Also, Darko Milicic actually signed for less than what was reported at the time. If the Wolves do better this year, which I believe they will under Adelman, it’ll be interesting to see if people back off from Kahn.

  9. Jesse

    Any news from meetings today?

  10. dyrese

    should the knicks trade toney douglas? landry and iman will make a explosive backcourt to spell billups

    • Alex Kennedy

      The New York Knicks shopped Toney Douglas before the draft and then went on to select a point guard in Iman Shumpert. Douglas is somewhat expendable now so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knicks moved him.

  11. Jesse

    If there is an amnesty rule, can a team resign the player they buy out? For instance, could Portland use it on Brandon Roy then resign him at a much cheaper deal?

    • Alex Kennedy

      I believe a team could re-sign their bought out player, but there are very few owners that would be on board for a move like that.