NBA Chat with Bill Ingram 10/29/12

Catch up on the latest news, rumors and predictions with HOOPSWORLD’s Bill Ingram every Monday at 11:00 AM Eastern.

Bill covers the entire NBA and is based in Dallas, Texas. He has been an NBA analyst since 1998, when he and Steve Kyler founded HOOPSWORLD. He can be heard on radio stations across the country and his work has also appeared in USA Today.

You can follow Bill on Twitter by linking here: @TheRocketGuy.

  1. Lior

    Morey is considered a basketball analytics guru. I’ve been doing analytics for 15 years and I can probably write a long… long piece about how his moves don’t make analytical sense. Driving a team at the edge of the playoffs, in a competitive western conference, deep into the lottery is crazy. Not everybody emerges a SAS or OKC. Some teams spend many years in the lottery (SAC, Bobcats, GSW, WAS, to name a few). The latest move is just amazing. The Rockets accumulated assets to trade for a franchise player such as Howard or Bynum. They just gave up most of their assets (Lamb, DAL pick, and TOR’s guaranteed lottery pick) for Harden. Harden turned down a 4 year $55M contract, so they’ll have to pay him max. Harden is your franchise player? Call the Lakers and see if they’ll trade Howard for Harden one to one. Morey should be terminated NOW. Not really a question just venting

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning, and welcome to the chat! Well, we may as well start with the latest Houston move . . .since I can already see a dozen or so questions about it. I am not someone who believes Morey should be a GM. He is a brilliant man and really is cutting edge in the world of stats, but he lacks the other side of the game. He doesn’t take into account the human factor in the way he deals with players, agents and other execs. That’s not just my opinion . . .I have heard that from many, many people in each of those categories over the last couple of years. What will really bake your noodle is the fact that Morey put much more on the table for Harden than he did in talks about Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum. I like Harden, but is he really a max player worth not only Kevin Martin, Lamb, and picks, but also worth taking back three players besides Harden who probably won’t crack the rotation? Morey should be an assistant GM . . .he’d be one of the best in the league. But he needs to work for a GM who understands that numbers don’t play the game . . .players do. Thanks for letting ME vent in answer to you vent. ;)

  2. Phil

    With the multiple roster moves made by the Houston Rockets including the recent addition of James Harden, what do you think their long-term or short term plan is? Tank and get someone to pair with James Harden and Lin? Or make a run at the playoffs and attempt to bait a star to come to Houston in free-agency? Also, looking at this team on paper, do you see them getting that prized top 5 lottery pick?

    • Bill Ingram

      That has to be the plan . . .they have unloaded all of the players who made them so tough over the last few years. They unloaded most of them for next to nothing. Unless James Harden emerges as Kobe Bryant 2.0, the Rockets are tanking for sure. Problem is, as of right now, there isn’t a player in next year’s draft class who makes Houston a playoff team when combined with the current roster. Houston won’t be the worst team in the league, but top five lottery seems extremely likely.

  3. Mr. Ballistik

    Which would you rather experience?

    1. A three hour training session led by Pat Riley

    2. A thirty-minute period of being stuck in an elevator with a gassy Stan Van Gundy?

    • Bill Ingram

      You must not think much of Pat Riley . . .legend of the game . . .one of the greatest coaches ever . . .I’d take the three hours.

  4. Deven

    On a scale of 1-10 Bill, how shocked are you about the James Harden trade. And should the rockets start him or make him a 6th man?

    • Bill Ingram

      There’s no question he will start, first of all. He had better average 25 a game, too, if he signs a max extension. From 1-10, I’d say about 4. This is what happens when you jack with Sam Presti . . .they put a very good offer on the table that would have allowed Harden to spent the foreseeable future with his best friends and compete for championships every year. He wanted max money, and you don’t have to be a math whiz like Presti to know that Harden is not a max player. When he said max, my gut feeling was that he would be traded. Presti also wouldn’t put up with 82 games of nightly speculation about it. He dealt with that situation swiftly, and got a killer package in return.

  5. Deven

    What does Harden bring to the Rockets? And do you think they can
    make the playoffs this year now that he’s there?

    • Bill Ingram

      Make the playoffs? Ummm . . .James Harden is a nice player, no question. He choked in the Finals – big time – but he’ll get over that. But we’re not talking about Kobe Bryant or LeBron James here. This is a solid building block for the future . . .nothing more. Best case for Houston is they win 40 games and land the 14th pick in the draft. Again. Worst case is they win 25 games and land a top five lottery pick in the worst draft class to come along in years.

  6. Mr. Ballistik

    I’ve heard the league is close to placing advertisements on jerseys. Really? Hasn’t the league had a few good years financially?

    Hopefully they at least get the product placing correct: snickers (Eddie Curry), coppertone (Matt Bonner), and energizer, (Kenneth Faried).

    • Bill Ingram

      LOL . . .nice! No, that’s not going to happen . . .not now, anyway. You may notice that absolutely everything is sponsored in pro sports. It’s the Soda halftime report, the Bottled Water timeout, the Air Freshener free throws . . .it’s ridiculous, but hey, if people want to give away money, the NBA will take it.

  7. Mr. Ballistik

    If Tyreke Evans does leave Sacramento, where would be a good destination for him?

    • Bill Ingram

      He has to find his three-point shot to really be a great fit anywhere, and if he does the Kings don’t want to give him up.

  8. LA in LA

    Mr. Ingram, 2 questions:
    1) tell me about Kevin Martin’s off ball movement? I haven’t seen him play much but someone told me he’s like Ray Allen with his constant movement. I hope not but that’s still preferable to Harden.

    2)Will Harden and Lin get in each other’s way, since both are more effective with the ball?

    • Bill Ingram

      1) Kevin is a fantastic offensive player . . .no question. Moves without the ball, and is instant offense when he gets it. He’s in midseason form, too . . .doesn’t slack during the offseason. He’ll help OKC immediately. 2) Interesting question, one that will have to be worked out as the 2012-13 season turns into extended training camp for Houston. There’s a reason Harden and Westbrook rarely started together.

  9. Steve

    Wow what a trade by houston kind of makes me think whre they could be if they aquired howard. Any thoughts of their future. And will harden sign extension with them?

    • Bill Ingram

      Dwight Howard, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Chandler Parsons is a contending lineup. No question about that. See my previous remarks on your other questions, but yes, with D12 it was a different discussion.

  10. Philip Fletcher

    The Question on everyone’s mind. Did OKC take a step back by trading away Harden?

    • Bill Ingram

      Absolutely not . . .no more Harden contract distraction, Martin will be great next to Westbrook and Durant, and Lamb had very good potential. OKC also unloaded some folks they weren’t going to use anyway.

  11. kyle

    Do you consider deron williams to be overrated?Last season be bailed out on nets despite being considered a top two pg by the media. chris paul also had just as bad of a team in 10-11 season and made the playoffs in the west which is harder. this season he is making another excuse that his foot will be his excuse for his failures this year. why didnt he have surgery during summer. why did he let his team down.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think Chris Paul is a much better point guard, no question. Chris Paul can be one of the best of all time if he can get and stay healthy for a long period of time. Deron is a good point guard, one of the best in the league, but I don’t see him as an all-time type of player. He had a great team around him in Utah and couldn’t content . . .it’s one of the reasons I don’t believe in the Nets. Several very good players … no great ones.

  12. jason

    Once Shaq matured his game, and his frame, he evolved into what is the most dominant player of all-time (Shaq as #34). Regardless of what anybody says, Shaquille O’Neal anchored the Laker dynasty of the 2000s. During his days with the Lakers, there wasn’t a single player in the league who could guard Shaq. His dominance got to a point where it was ridiculous. His drop step was so unguardable that the NBA had to begin calling it an offensive foul. Not to mention the infamous Hack-a-Shaq strategy, which proved to be the only way to attempt to stop the Diesel late in games.I don’t think he could’ve stopped #34 Shaq.

    also hakeem had more blocks than shaq not cause he was better but because players were scared of crashing into shaq as he was huge.

    • Bill Ingram

      Since you’re not asking a question, I will just comment on your comment. Hakeem had more blocks because he was so quick and agile that he blocked shots on the weakside when players thought he was too far away to get them. He redefined the center position for all time. Ask Shaq who the best center of all time is and he will say Hakeem Olajuwon. He has said so many times, and Shaq is not a humble guy. He was just humbled when he couldn’t stop Dream even once in the 1995 NBA Finals. Shaq is better compared to LeBron James . . .both are physical phenomenons, both befuddle the refs who are trying to figure out if overpowering everyone is a foul and whether or not David Stern will get upset if they call a foul on a favorite son. These two guys are unique athletes who can do/could do amazing things in a league that has very few players who measure up one-on-one.

  13. andrey

    would you say the nba players quit showing loyalty,is decling. The league is so predictable in that since 1984, there have only been 8 different teams (BOS, LAL, DET, CHI, HOU, SA, MIA, DAL) to win the NBA title. Nearly every star (LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Howard, Stoudemire, etc) is so narcissistic that they will all buddy up in the offseason and play together in order to win. You would never see MJ, Magic, or Bird all team up, they had too much pride and competitiveness to do so.

    • Bill Ingram

      No question . . .how interesting is a Cavaliers game, a Magic game, a Suns game, if you’re, say, a Memphis Grizzlies fan? You used to pay to see Dwight Howard and the Magic, even if your home team was awful. Why does a Charlotte Bobcats fan buy a ticket to see Orlando this season? Basically small market teams are hoping their fans will pay to see the big market teams comes through. Loyalty is not dead – see Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant, LaMarcus Aldridge, and very few others. But loyalty is on its death bed, no question.

  14. Randle

    Why wouldn’t the Thunder have waited to see what more they could have gotten for Harden? If they only wanted to pay him 9 million a year then why not try and swing a trade for Rondo who make 9 mil and move Westbrook to the two. I and many have asked this last year and Hoopworld experts have claimed Harden has more upside than Rondo, but I think u guys have it wrong. Westbrook is a good pg but a Rondo driven team would make the Thunder better. With the trade to Houston are the thunder still the favorites to come out of the west now?

    • Bill Ingram

      Rondo is not on the table, and Martin/Westbrook will be a better combination than Rondo/Westbrook would have been . . .Martin doesn’t need to dominate the ball. He will move around, get open, and make opponents pay for leaving him to cover KD and Russ. The deal went down as soon as Harden’s camp made it clear they wanted max money. Presti was not going to overpay him, and he wasn’t going to live with the distraction, either.

  15. Gunnar

    Wow! Who saw that coming, huh? What’s next for the Rockets? Do they go after Josh Smith? Or some other star player? They might make the playoffs…

    • Bill Ingram

      Josh Smith is not asking to be traded, actually is talking about signing back with the Hawks for the first time in a long time. The Rockets will be competitive, but not a playoff team, as constructed.

  16. chris

    would you say the nba is fixed to help certain teams win. in 2012 lebron was clearly helped by stern to win.in game two boston miami game rondo was hit in the head by haslem around 1:18 left in the game.even commentators who are paid professionals admitted rondo was clearly wacked.also in that game,wade kicked garnett end of the game instead foul was called on garnett

    • Bill Ingram

      The way games are called does lend itself to conspiracy theories . . .but if you saw the inner workings of the NBA . . .it’s amazing that they get the games played, much less dictate outcomes. It has happened obviously, as former refs have attested to, but is it widespread to the point that the NBA is fixed? No chance.

  17. Trog

    Got a chance to see Eddy Curry suit up for the Mavs against the Bobcats. The guy looked in great shape and like the best player on the court for much of the game. Am I reading too much into the preseason? Or in your opinion, has this guy turned the corner?

  18. Trog

    Now that the James Harden trade has gone through, OKC has a couple extra roster spots. Can they double back and sign Hollis Thompson/Daniel Orton even though they just cut them? If not, do you see a possible late free agent sign for the Thunder? They seem especially thin on depth for the bigs now (Nick Collison and Thabeet for backups). Maybe sign Kenyon Martin?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think Martin might finally find a home there . . .he’s been waiting for an opening like this. Good speculation . . .

  19. Jim in Cyber Space

    The most poignant thing I take away from the Harden trade…is don’t call Sam “effing” Presti’s bluff. He won’t hesitate to go all-in, to borrow from the poker vernacular.
    It sends a message. Westbrook left money on the table for the team, Ibaka left money on the table for the team.
    Harden wouldn’t…doesn’t fit the Thunder “Team First Motto”, the DNA of Presti’s vision of a sustainable team in a small market.
    It will make sense in a few years. He got some nice Draft Picks, Kevin Martin this year as sixth man and his 13M dollar expiring contract…he has so many things to make potential “deals” with now and stay flexible under the salary cap, and still compete.

    • Bill Ingram

      Presti doesn’t bluff . . .he’s a straight shooter. Here’s our best offer . . .take it or pack.

  20. Jason M.

    Hey Bill, how do you see Donatas fitting in the Houston rotation this season. Also, does his future hold the possibility of being at least a semi-star player or will be just be a solid role player?

    • Bill Ingram

      He’s looked very good at times . . .very promising. One of the players to watch in Houston this season, for sure!

  21. Jason M.

    With Delonte West excused from Dallas, does that open up a chance for Dom Jones to show what he has or are they over him at this point?

    • Bill Ingram

      Or do they have to let Jones go to add Eddy Curry? Jones is on the bubble, for sure . . .

  22. Jason M.

    I was surprised to see Quincy Miller get exactly zero minutes this preseason. It seemed like the time to at least get his feet wet with a few minutes here or there. Does this mean he’s doomed to be stuck in D-League all year or do you think he will get called up and get a little burn like most rookies do at some point during the season?

    • Bill Ingram

      I was, too, especially after seeing him work out with John Lucas in the predraft process and hearing Lucas sing his praises. He just needs an opening to show what he can do . . .

  23. Aristotle

    Oh Billy we know the majority questions will be about your view on the Harden trade, but hey who else do we ask but the RocketGuy. My questions are if you think this trade was more about getting Martin out of the Rockets than having Harden come in considering a better trade may have been possible later on in the season, and if you think Lamb should of been included in this trade, or could the Rockets have offered something else to OKC?

    • Bill Ingram

      Presti isn’t like some GMs, who will take back crap to get a deal done. He makes the smart deal or he makes no deal. The way he thinks is that Martin is in the last year of his deal, and Lamb is a very similar player. If Martin wants too much money or doesn’t fit well, they let him walk and move Lamb into his place, or they deal Martin at the deadline to team seeking cap space and land a piece they’re missing for the stretch run.

  24. dennis

    Which team has the best bench entering 2012-13 season?
    Which team is better: Bobcats or Magic?

    • Bill Ingram

      Bobcats are better . . .Dallas has the deepest bench if everyone can ever get healthy.

  25. Gregory

    If Bynum plays 70 games and Evan Turner and/or Jrue Holiday breakout, can the 76ers snag the 2 seed and reach the eastern conference finals?

    • Bill Ingram

      If wishes were horses . . .how likely is it that Bynum plays 70 games? If what you’re saying happens, the Sixers will be very good, but not Miami, Boston, Indiana good.

  26. Kurt

    Enes Kanter looked like a monster during the Pre Season if he develops what could the Jazz get for Millsap or Jefferson in a trade?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, wanted to finish on a non Harden question, since we’ve beaten that to death. This is where it makes sense for a team needing a legit center to talk to Utah about Jefferson. Someone else asked about Houston giving up several players in a deal for Jefferson, and that’s what Houston needs. Jefferson is a real starting center, which Asik is not. Thanks for sharing some of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD! Happy Halloween!