NBA Chat With Anthony Macri 7/3/12

1. J Will

   How in the heck is Danny Ferry not gettin GM of the year nxt yr?, I mean he just traded off the worst contract in the NBA. The Nets should be callin that Joe Johnson trade off. I mean why would you trade for a guy who does nothing special and gets you an irrelevant 20ppg? He’s the main reason Josh Smith wanted to be traded. Max salary for another role player, smh at NBA GM’s!!

   • Anthony Macri

     Happy Tuesday everybody! Things are going well here as the ABL season 3 is completed and we are busy preparing for season 4 in southeast Asia. Congrats to all the Indonesia Warriors fans out there on your championship victory. Let’s talk NBA draft, trades, and everything in between…

     At least you aren’t too shy to tell us how you really feel. I will say if they can somehow still grab Dwight Howard in New Jersey, the Joe Johnson trade doesn’t look too bad. But Ferry should be congratulated for going in and getting a group that is notorious for moving really slowly to get cracking right away. The winner of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes might be the ultimate determining factor for Ferry.

2. Brandon

   Was Kendall Marshall the biggest steal in the draft?

   • Anthony Macri

     Hard to call him the biggest steal when Sulligner dropped as far as he did. I also think Barnes is great value at #7 and I am a Terrence Ross fan though I don’t think he’s necessarily a steal at #8. Kendall got selected right around where he should have been, I think. Could end up being a very fine player in the league a long time, though.

3. James

   Of the realistic players out there, do you see any players that can help the HEAT?

   • Anthony Macri

     I need you to be more specific. Give me a list of the top three most realistic and I’ll let you know who I think helps the most.

4. Pups fan

   What is the story with Courtney Lee …have heard little or nothing …thought he would and should be a Wolves target

   • Anthony Macri

     Tend to agree but I have the feeling the Houston Rockets are about to start moving pieces like one of these speed chess games.

5. Kahari young

   Hey Marc!do you think a 2013 protected 1st round draft pick,devin harris and al horford in exchange for dwight Howard is a nice trade scenario?!both al horford and devin Harris has both made it to the all-star team,devin have finals experience and al has nice playoff experience too and one of the most underrated big men of the game today.it doesn’t hurt to know that Howard is close friends with Anthony morrow and Josh smith, and having enough cap space to sign another star is bonus!

   • Anthony Macri

     I don’t think it’s awful, but I’m not sure I couldn’t get a better package if I’m Orlando. You have a lot of explaining to do on behalf of why I’d want Devin Harris. He is basically Jameer Nelson except skinnier and more self-centered.

6. Peter

   Hey Coach, Scola seems to be on his way out of houston. Any chance of him going back to the team that drafted him, the Spurs? He has an exceptional 18foot jump shot and has a series of low post moves. I don’t think Hou is asking for too much, a couple picks/expiring + Blair maybe enough to seal the deal. Thoughts?

   • Anthony Macri

     This is one of those kind of deals where it will happen quietly, no one will notice it, and then the Spurs are winning 60+ games again and people are talking about the fountain of youth. Interesting scenario Peter!

7. charlie lakers

   Hi coach Macri – Who has better game, Bynum vs Howard? Who has more upside, is the better investment? Is Howard’s back injury worse than Bynum’s knee injury career wise going forward?

   • Anthony Macri

     Dwight’s game is better, he is more versatile and his mobility (when healthy) gives you more options on both sides of the ball. Bynum is slow and so big that he forces you into a very specific style of play to take advantage of his strengths. I don’t really know about the severity of Howard’s back injury as compared to Bynum’s knee issues. I think either can be a good fit for the right team, but I would rather have Dwight personally. Fits my preferred style of play much more.

8. Josh P

   The HEAT are in deep talks with Rashard Lewis, and Marcus Camby do you think they can sign them both because it looks like Ray may stay with Celtics and Rashard may be willing to settle for the vet min.

   • Anthony Macri

     Sometimes, all you have room to do is put bandaids on spots that need much more attention. Rashard wouldn’t be “settling” – isn’t that guy going to make around $14m this year or some obscene number above whatever some team signs him for? If they are both healthy I don’t mind them as options. Limited minutes and very specific roles sound about right.

9. maestro

   Small trade: Atlanta send newly acquired Anthony Morrow to the Clippers for a trade exception and future second round draft pick. Atlanta sheds more salary, Clippers get back up wing player who can flat out stroke it.

   • Anthony Macri

     It’s interesting – so many of the trade suggestions we receive in these chats are monster blockbuster 4 team deals with so many interchangeable parts that it is small ones like these, which are actually about value and piling assets, that get lost in the shuffle. I’d have to do some research but in theory sounds ok.

10. Deven

    Hey Coach Macri. Who would be an ideal candidate to coach the Orlando Magic, with or without Dwight Howard?

    • Anthony Macri

      Quite a few options in terms of names, but the real key is finding someone who either doesn’t mind replacing SVG and by the way your first team all-NBA center is gone, or someone that doesn’t mind replacing SVG and your center is here, but in reality you answer to him. I haven’t heard too much about their search (to be honest, the player movement is more interesting to me right now than coaching destinations) – but if you threw out a few names I’d give you some thoughts.

11. Deven

    Where is the best place for Steve Nash to finish his career?

    • Anthony Macri

      I have been a big fan of him lacing them up next to Derrick Rose in Chicago. Great complementary situation – shooter and ball-handler who can take the pressure off Rose. Maybe not the defender individually that is a perfect fit but Thibs can figure out how to best use him in the system.

12. Deven

    Does Ray Allen sign with the Miami Heat?

    • Anthony Macri

      Doubt it.

13. Deven

    Which rookies are you looking most forward to seeing next season that aren’t lottery picks?

    • Anthony Macri

      Jared Sullinger and Will Barton. Sullinger because he is a lottery talent who fell, and I think he’s good (I’m not as concerned about the knee), and Barton because I believe he is flat out good. Ridiculously long, athletic, and his shot selection improved tremendously from last year to this. He learns quickly, and he can defend.

14. keeweekid

    seriously, what is going on with some of these insance contract offers that are being reported? I thought the new CBA was going to punish teams that do not budget wisely. Apparently, this does not seem to be the case. #’s are crazy for some average talent (Omar Aski, Batum reportedely at $12M, Hibbert a MAX players…please)

    • Anthony Macri

      Punish is an interesting word. My guess is their punishment comes in the form of long-term inflexibility, a fate worse than death in the NBA.

15. keeweekid

    Since D. Howard has no path now that gets him to Nets as they seem to be out of the running by signing JJ, what team do you think is the new clubhouse leader that he will be playing with long-term?

    • Anthony Macri

      Don’t say “no path” as it seems they may just find one.

16. Melvin C. Pingal

    Good day sir! What’s ur grade on Billy King’s moves lately(JJ trade; Crash)? Its long term effects on the Nets..tnx

    • Anthony Macri

      Eh. I’d want to get the excitement level up with the move so no one has a chance to catch their breath from all the excitement… I’m not sure what the final play is given the moves so far.

17. Geoff

    Will Marcus Thornton be the sixth man for sac. Possible six man of year??

    • Anthony Macri

      Depends on what else they do to their roster. Certainly a possibility.

18. Paul

    Wats going to happen to Jeff Teague now after the Harris trade?

    • Anthony Macri

      I wouldn’t pencil Harris into too much. Competition time!

19. i am Houston

    What is your thoughts on the Rockets tanking the upcoming season and going for the lottery because i see Morey either cant make good deals or players really dont want to play here?If we were going to offer crazy money for a restricted agent why go after Asik no free throw shooting a– and not a player like Hibbert who’s clearly a better player and a starter for sure?Now we get to watch him go to Portland,Dwight go to Dallas,Kaman go to etc…My opinion is Morey sucks and all the gm know it…

    • Anthony Macri

      I get the feeling if I say something like “I don’t mind Asik, I think he could be a pretty good talent” you are going to get pretty mad at me. I’m not a fan of Kaman. I like Hibbert but you have to mold offense around the way he plays, while you can fit Asik into a variety of schemes and supporting players.

20. Myron

    Wanted to get your thoughts from a coaches perspective on the Cavs where they sit.

    • Anthony Macri

      Pretty. Love their upward mobility. I am a really big fan of Kyrie Irving, and their roster looks better and better.

21. Shad

    Have the Rockets changed their stance on Howard? Especially since they offered Asik an outrageous amount of money!

    • Anthony Macri

      I think a few teams are pretty convinced Howard may not really be going anywhere – not sure if it’s true or not.

22. Jim in CyberSpace

    Jeff Green… “Uncle Jeff” is a respecful young Man, the Celt’s have been taking care of him. I hope he’s wearing Green next season.

    He’s a “Tweener” he’s not a natural 3 or 4. Or he could play the sixth man? He has versatility?

    • Anthony Macri

      Some of my colleagues have given me an earful for always being a Jeff Green fan, but I maintain he is a versatile good fit. If you are looking for big time production, you are making a mistake. Great glue guy. I hope he can make a full recovery.

23. Radu

    Hi coach! How’s Asia treating you?
    Let me see if I got this straight: over the past few days, the Jazz sent away Devin Harris and added Mo Williams and an overpaid Marvin Williams.
    I truly believe Devin Harris was bad for them and I am pleased they replaced him (albeit with a similar player in Mo Williams). They also got some depth at Small Forward, although you still have to question their overall talent at that position.
    How do you see these moves? Would you rather have Mo Williams or Devin Harris on your team?

    • Anthony Macri

      I’d rather have Mo Williams but I think talent wise its mostly a wash. Just not a fan of the way Devin goes about his business. Marvin is fine as long as you know what you’re getting. Utah is making some smaller incremental steps but, like some other teams, there seems to be a much bigger endgame situation on the horizon.

24. jason brown

    real trade???? Pau Gasol for De. Williams, Wes Johnson and a sign/trade Beasley?

    • Anthony Macri

      Not sure I like that – love Pau but he is on the tail end and I’m not sure this wouldn’t be giving up too much for him when I think the pieces can be broken apart for alternate values.

25. Tim

    Are the Nets about to complete two of the most foolish trades in NBA history? What good could possibly come of mortgaging all of your young guards for useless Joe Johnson and then your promising front line for Dwight Howard who obviously has commitment issues??? And doing all of this before Williams even re-signs? Jesus I’m glad I switched teams. Go Celtics.

    • Anthony Macri

      I want everyone to understand how huge it is that Tim is making this statement. He has been a lifelong Nets fan (in fact, he has deep family relationships in the Nets historical organization) – this is tantamount to Jack Nicholson swearing off the Los Angeles Lakers – maybe even more significant.

      Hard to tell exactly what the plan is in Brooklyn. If it is to grab Dwight and get D-Will to re-sign, and all that happens, it looks pretty brilliant, because I don’t think Dwight’s “commitment issues” will exist in a new situation, and I think that’s a pretty good core with those three, all at positions that would give the Miami Heat issues.

26. Jim

    Lakers fans are looking too much at pau for a superstar, wouldnt filling multiple holes make more sense? Wolves want gasol (pair with rubio and love), rockets will chose dragic and trade lowry, so pieces from minny and LA to hou, gasol to wolves and lowry, derrick williams, beasely to LA, filling the PG, SF and PF spot. Thoughts?

    • Anthony Macri

      I like this kind of deal more than the one earlier. Have to break it down a little more exactly, but your scenario might also be a lot for Pau at this stage.

27. Lior

    What do you think about the latest Howard to the Nets rumors? I think it’s a smoke screen to drive Dwight’s trade value up. Orlando can get much better offers than Lopez, Brooks, and Humphries. With Howard the future draft picks are likely to be in the high 20′s.

    • Anthony Macri

      You mean NBA teams artificially drive up asset values? No way!

28. Michael

    The magic would be stupid to turn down the trade offer that has just been released…3 first round picks, Brook Lopez a future consistent all star, kris humpries a very solid player, and brooks a young stud..common now

    • Anthony Macri

      The picks seem like a big key. I don’t think Brook Lopez is a future consistent all star, however.

29. Jason

    Coach, if I’m looking at this correct, if M. Miller retires and they amnesty J. Anthony, they’ll be under the luxury tax and MIA will have the whole MLE. Do you think Kaman would come for that? If not him, I think J. Thompson would be a good fit.

    • Anthony Macri

      Not a fan of Kaman on that team given the way they play is best at full speed. I like Jason Thompson. Not sure on your math / cap-ology.

30. Ray Felton

    What team you think fits my talents, I had a helluva start in NY before that trade…

    • Anthony Macri

      Get in shape, then we’ll talk.

31. Arvin Singh

    What are the chances for INDIANA to maintain Roy Hibbert?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think it is a great fit for his talents and I’m not sure he’s worth a ton to a team that isn’t certain how to make him fit.

32. John

    La news? Can you tell propably a move of lakers? I think they are going to keep pau

    • Anthony Macri

      I have advocated this before, and I’m sure it’s blasphemy to some – but I wish there was a way to move Kobe. He’s the stumbling block to their ability to really re-make the team into a contender.

33. James

    On my HEAT question I was thinking maybe Marcus Camby, Grant Hill, Ray Allen, or Rashard Lewis?

    • Anthony Macri

      I think Grant Hill fits because he can be part of that amoeba switching defense and still get buckets in the halfcourt. I also like Camby if healthy for similar reasons and he does really compete. Ray might be ok in limited minutes. I’d really have to be sure that Rashard Lewis isn’t too far down the road of irrelevance before considering bringing him on board.

34. LA in LA

    Hypothetical situation: If Nash agreed to go to OKC for MLE, would they be a better team? They’d obviously have to move Westbrook to SG

    • Anthony Macri

      Not convinced they’d have to move Westbrook to the 2. I think it’d be similar to what you do if you paired Nash and Derrick Rose – Rose would remain the primary ball-handler and Nash could fill in occasionally to take pressure off him and give him a chance to attack from the wing more. Try to avoid thinking too rigidly when it comes to positions.

35. Steve

    Good morning hope all is well
    what do you think of the players the cavs drafted? With six first rounders in the next 3 years should they try and move veragao for another pick or just keep him?

    • Anthony Macri

      I don’t think more picks are necessarily the answer… I’d keep the options open to package him with picks to find value.

36. muffinalt

    Hey Coach!

    What do you personally think of Tristan Thompson? He is said to be improving a lot this offseason. Many people (including Byron Scott) rave about his work ethic!!

    Also your thoughts on the pairing of Kyrie and Dion Waiters? Any potential issues?

    Thanks for the answers, appreciate your chats and work

    • Anthony Macri

      No issues, it’s Kyrie’s team. I like Tristan Thompson a great deal – have for a long time. He seems to love basketball, which is critical for a guy with his body type to really be successful.

37. Ludwig

    Does geoff petrie really think Ryan Anderson can play small forward? or do the kings have a bigger plan with this?

    • Anthony Macri

      I’m not sure I can fairly comment on the Kings “planning.” Things have not been good in terms of strategy there for quite a while.

38. Drew

    Are the Sixers a fit for gasol? They also need a shooter. Mayo perhaps?

    • Anthony Macri

      It’s a grab bag! Get whoever you can, quick!

      Mayo shoots a lot but that doesn’t make him a shooter. Poor shot selection and inconsistent outside stroke – sounds like most players already in Philadelphia.

39. Tmitch

    Whats your thoughts on Norris Cole on the way he played in the finals. Do you see his role increasing next year

    • Anthony Macri

      He is a specialist to me – his role may increase but I expect it will remain inconsistent as they will use him as needed, and not much more.

40. Josh P

    Even if the Nets sign Dwight and Dwill do you think they can knock off the EAST CHAMPS?

    • Anthony Macri

      If they are able to sign Dwight, keep Deron Williams, and have a piece in Joe Johnson, I think they have a shot depending on the rest of the roster. They then have two guys in Williams and Howard that are very difficult for Miami to guard, and Joe Johnson is able to be a more effective third scorer. They are also more impressive defensively with rim protection (which will set the rest of their defense). I don’t think they are better than the HEAT if this were to all go down, but I think it’d be a heckuva matchup!

      Alright folks that just about does it for me this week. I’ll be back at the same time next week for another chat – in the meantime, be on the lookout for my Coach’s Notebook articles! All the best and see you next time!