NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 1/24/12

1. rodney

   the magic are currently 11,186,087 dollars above the cap.

   if dwight were to opt out that would free up 18,091 770 in cap space putting us at 6,905,683 dollars bellow the cap

   if the magic were to trade Nelson for Andre Millers expiring contract and allow Millers contract to come off the books that would free up an additional 7,807,728

   putting the magic bellow cap 14,713,411. if they were to use the stretch provision on j rich that would free up enough cap space for them to sign a major market free agent and re-up on howard since they have his bird rights similar to how Miami was able to sign both Bosh and James and then use there bird rights on Wade.

   my question is how realistic would this methodical plan be for Otis to do? and if the Magic had the financial cap space to sign a market free agent would Howard then decide to resign with the Magic?

   • Anthony Macri

     Happy Tuesday morning everybody! Great day here in northern VA, sun is shining and I’ve heard it’s going to be in the 50s! Bizarre. Anyway, plenty of great NBA storylines developing, so let’s get to the chat. Send in your questions now!

     I thought about editing your question down, because ultimately everything you wrote is meaningless if Dwight doesn’t want to be in Orlando. And watching him play right now, it doesn’t really look like he wants to be there. He seems distracted and disinterested. If I’m the Magic, I’m thinking of ways we can re-tool quickly, because there are enough good pieces to be competitive again within a season or two if it can work out right.

2. jeff

   is granger enough to get gordon from the hornets? if not then what will it take?

   • Anthony Macri

     I think it’s hard to do that if you are NOH because it looks like Granger’s best years (year?) are behind him in some ways, while Gordon has yet to really hit his stride. Granger has been mostly disappointing over the last two or three seasons, which is too bad because his 2008-09 season showed so much promise. Not sure what it would take in a package from Indiana.

3. CJ

   I’m going to be honest, it hurts to see NOH lose like they are now, not even being blown out but being outplayed at the last couple of plays. Is this a problem Eric Gordon will solve or is there something fundamentally wrong here?

   • Anthony Macri

     Need more experienced talent. Seems like a stock answer, but the more I’m around basketball, the more it’s about finding talent that fits together and then keeping the core of it together for at least a year or two, that really leads to championships.

4. CJ

   The Wiz are argubaly in a very bad place right with John Wall’s growth being stunted and their various misfits being exposed nightly. Where does the first major change happen for them? Who in your opinion is the biggest of their concerns?

   • Anthony Macri

     It is painful to live in the DC area and be an NBA fan right now. Everywhere I go, in a group of people who know what I do, they ask what is wrong with the Wizards. There are just so many places to start that it is hard to have a good conversation, because it’s more of a list. I think they need to address the overall organization direction this offseason. There is no real value to doing it right now, because nothing would change given the talent on the roster. There might need to be an airing out, so-to-speak. If i’m looking at their roster and personnel, the first things I’m trying to address are the character issues in the locker room. I want to have good guys surrounded by more good guys – otherwise, it becomes a wretched hive of scum and villainy.

5. CJ

   On a more positive note, Philly and Denver both look like legit contenders, how far do you see them going this year?

   • Anthony Macri

     I really enjoy watching both teams play. They are the two teams that don’t have a legitimate STUD that I would pay to see play. I think Denver has a better shot at advancing in a playoff than Philadelphia, because Philly has to deal with some very tough teams like Miami and Chicago, while Denver’s road to the Western Conference Finals doesn’t look quite as daunting. I think Philly takes either Miami or Chicago to six games in one conference semifinal, while Denver has a shot at making it to the Western Conference Finals before bowing out.

6. CJ

   Last Q, what is wrong with the Blazers, I’m rather dumbfounded as to why they keep losing.

   • Anthony Macri

     They just ended a pretty tough and grueling six game road trip and started a stretch where seven of their next ten are at home (including last night’s win over Sacramento). I’d give them the benefit of the doubt for now, they will contend for a 6, 7 or 8 seed when it’s all said and done.

7. Lewis1201

   Do you see the magic going after mayo? JJ or j-rich 1st for mayo and a filler JJ gives them a pure shoote something they need and mayo can get his own shot

   • Anthony Macri

     I have said before I’m not a Mayo fan, and to be honest, I like the way JJ is playing. It is really a matter of fit more than anything else. They are roughly even in terms of points per game, though JJ’s PER is higher. I think a guy like JJ can fit into more varied situations than OJ, who I think needs to have things set up a particular way to be successful.

8. Brian

   Anthony,

   Who would the Grizzlies want from the Wolves for Mayo, not named Love, Rubio, or Williams? Could we get it done with one of our players plus Utah’s #1? Or should we go after Evan Turner or another SG?

   Thanks!

   • Anthony Macri

     Find another target. No need for a guard with poor shot selection on that team. I’d rather have a guy who can hit corner jumpers and doesn’t fancy himself a great creator given the way Rubio spreads the ball out.

9. keo

   What do you think about this three team trade

   Orl gets tyson chandler and kg
   Ny gets dwight
   Bos gets stat

   Would this work?

   • Anthony Macri

     In a dream world where teams like to shake up their team to the core by shuffling players around their own division. The Knicks obliterate their scenario, btw – they come out WAY ahead.

10. ORLD12FAN

    Will the Magic be looking to trade Nelson + fillers for a better PG? It seems that pass first PG with size has always been lacking on this Magic team.

    • Anthony Macri

      Need to address Dwight, then let the rest fall into place. I actually think Nelson was a great fit when they surrounded Dwight with shooters and pick & pop guys. He was the right guy to make it hard on teams to ignore the ball-handler in ball screen situations.

11. Mutang

    Utah really is the most interesting team this year. I mean they have to be THE most surprising team, or at least in the conversation being picked to be horrible, and now 3rd in the West. They went into this season with “the glut” of bigs, and talk that one needed to be or would be moved. Now Paul and Al both playing great, Favors and Kanter looking very good. On the other side, Devin not so good. They have a TPE and GS pick in ’12. What does Utah do, who do they move if any at all? Do they just stay the course? They need their PG of the future from somewhere…..

    • Anthony Macri

      Agree they need to make a move at the one, I have never been a big Devin Harris fan. They are a team I want to do some writing about, so maybe I’ll watch them today or tomorrow. Please feel free to give me a topic to focus on if you’d like!

12. JP

    IF you are David Kahn and you want to bring a multiple all-star potential center? Which one would you bring and how? Would you make a move for O.J.Mayo to have him too?

    • Anthony Macri

      No on Mayo. Not sure I want / need a multiple all-star center (hey look, if one fell in my lap, ok). Instead, I’d try to focus on finding a defensive minded athlete center who can run the floor and gives me a chance to make some mistakes on the perimeter. I might also look for a guy who could really pass the ball well… the way Vlade Divac used to do for the Sacramento Kings comes to mind.

13. James

    I hear everyone wants D12. I can argue that Dwight cant be the main cog in a championship team. For all the flack Ottis gets he tried to and pieces around D12 to win that elusive ring. Similar to what CLE did lebron, thoughts?

    • Anthony Macri

      They were pretty darn close to winning a ring one year and they really didn’t have another major All-Star piece on the team. They had some nice players who could do specific things, but not another big-timer. I think it’s a fallacy to say you can’t win championships with a guy just because they haven’t. Let’s remember, there are 30 teams in the league, and only 1 can win a championship in any given year. Just like any player, they need not only the right system but the right personnel around them to be successful, and even then, part of winning a championship is just luck and timing.

14. Chris Mendoza

    Mo Williams has been playing very well lately. Are the Clips thinking (1) we have a solid PG off the bench or (2) let’s see what we can get for Mo because his trade value is sky rocketing. If the Clips consider trading Mo, what type of talent can they get?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think they are thinking both, and that’s the right way to consider an asset like him. It is pretty dangerous and borderline incompetent to consider players as filling a production role only when they also have value as an organizational asset. Not sure on the type of talent available – depends on the market for a Jason Terry-like change-of-pace guy. I’d look at him as instant offense in the vast majority of mid-level playoff teams. Of course, that is the exact role he plays on the Clippers, so what can they get for him that they don’t already have and that can replace his production?

15. Cliff

    Everyone is loving the way the Pacers are playing. Realistically how far can this team go?

    • Anthony Macri

      They look like a 6 or 7 seed to me when it’s all said and done. 7 is a first round death sentence. 6 means they can make the conference semifinals for sure. Higher the better. Need to get more games in the books for a better sample size.

16. Cliff

    is Paul George a future All Star. I love the way he plays, but no one seems to think he can be “The Guy”

    • Anthony Macri

      Not sure he can either… 30 minutes a game, middle-to-mediocre PER, no real standout statistics… it’s hard to imagine him as being “The Guy” anywhere in the NBA. I’ll try to watch him a bit but nothing strikes me as outstanding.

17. Can Pelister

    what are you think for Adam Morrison? Do you think he is come back NBA next season? Greetings from Turkey, Istanbul.

    • Anthony Macri

      To do what? If he still has that cool facial hair some teams may want him to entertain the fans…

18. Chris Mendoza

    Why won’t the Hawks blow up their team? Sir Charles got it right by saying that the team reached its peak a few years ago.

    • Anthony Macri

      Sometimes from the inside out it’s hard to see you are on a giant hamster wheel.

19. matt

    What teams do you think could be interested in L.Barbosa?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think he’s a change-of-pace guard as well, a guy who can come in, ratchet things up a notch, and help a team score their way out of a slow start. I’m not sure how good of an option he is long-term to be counted on to play a ton of minutes. He is in a good situation right now in terms of fit with roster, and I’d want him to have a similar impact on my team if we were winning, but not a bigger role. Some guys don’t produce more with more minutes, they end up doing pretty much what they’ve always done, which means you aren’t getting the kind of production you’d like. So where can he be effective? Boston and New York come to mind immediately. Would need to think about other locales.

20. matt

    My toronto raptors are 19th in the league in defensive efficiency, 11th in opponents’ points/game and 4th in the league in opponents FG% (behind Indy,OKC and LAL). This year was about setting a foundation and Casey is doing just that.

    • Anthony Macri

      Agree. Like the path he has them heading down.

21. matt

    Raps’ D has improved significantly this season. Now we just need some more offense. This is a key season for DeRozan and I can’t wait for the raps’ ’12 draft pick, JonasValanciunas and what happens in the offseason (trades and free agency)

    • Anthony Macri

      Agree. That was easy.

22. matt

    I think it’s obvious that Charlotte should hand over the reins to Kemba despite DJ Augustin being a solid PG.Augustin is a restricted free agent and could net a decent piece for the bobcats.

    • Anthony Macri

      I’d like to see how nice a piece he could land. Would not be so quick to assume he could be part of a really big acquisition.

23. Sweet De

    Coach Macri, you mentioned earlier in the chat how the Wizards are struggling and need a clear direction to take the team. If you were GM, which players would you consider apart of ‘the core’ to build around with John Wall.

    • Anthony Macri

      No one else is untouchable, but I think some guys are worth saving. In no particular order, Trevor Booker, Jan Vesely, and Jordan Crawford would be guys I wouldn’t rush to move. I might also keep JaVale McGee because I think he would be better with better pieces around him.

24. Mac

    If you were starting a team from scratch, which frontcourt would you choose: Roy Hibbert / David West, Tyson Chandler / Amare Stoudemire, or Kendrick Perkins / Serge Ibaka.

    • Anthony Macri

      Rough question. Each has their limitations and their advantages. Probably Chandler and Stoudemire because I think both are really effective in ball screen situations, and I like running the floor more in general, which I think both do well.

25. James

    I never said D12 couldn’t win a championship. I said he couldnt be the focal point of the offense. Bad ft pct. and limited low post moves to name a couple of reasons. But the most important reason is he has a (not my fault) attitude. We seen it on 2 occasions. First loss to Bos in the playoffs it was Stan panicking. Second was the guys are not playing inside out. be a leader and keep that stuff in house.

    • Anthony Macri

      I read your question wrong, I apologize. I disagree he can’t be a main cog for a championship. Look plenty of guys bring ‘locker room business’ outside into the open, and as long as they win, they are called great leaders. Taking ownership is part of the equation as well, but I think a team that builds around Dwight and has the right pieces can definitely contend (and therefore ultimately win) for a championship.

26. Mac

    Marcus Thornton has emerged as a legit scoring threat this season. One has to wonder, how did he not get any run back in New Orleans. Are you telling me Marco “I play no defense” Bellinelli started over this guy? Was this a case of a player not fitting the system or a coach not recognizing the talent Thorton had?

    • Anthony Macri

      GREAT question. I think it is a little bit from Column A, and a little bit from Column B. Sometimes guys just don’t fit in one place, but excel somewhere else. Remember, when a guy gets to play in the NBA, he has to be pretty darn good. It’s impossible not to be talented (whether that is physically or skill-wise is a different discussion). In Marcus Thornton’s case, I think it was a situation where he didn’t really fit what they were trying to do, so his skills didn’t shine. It is hard to be a coach in that situation and see how good a player can be when he can’t really fit what you are trying to do. This happens all the time at every level of basketball – part of the way the game is played.

      Alright folks, that does it for me. My mentor, Coach David Thorpe, has his own chat starting right now over at ESPN, so check that out. In the meantime, look out for my Coach’s Notebook later this week and see you next Tuesday. For those of you curious, the team I’m coaching (Paul VI HS in Fairfax, VA) is now #18 in the country according to USA Today, and we have huge matchups with DeMatha this Friday and Gonzaga next Tuesday, both top 20 nationally. Hope our guys perform well! See you next time…