NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 10/31/2011

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, home of the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. 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. IvinTV

    Who was the better Knick and who is the better player between Chandler and Gallo?

    • Bill Ingram

      Happy Halloween, everyone, and welcome to the chat! Gallo has a chance to be a foundational piece in Denver, which is why they wanted him when the Carmelo talks heated up. He’s not Melo, but is the kind of player who could hold down that starting three spot for years to come. He might even evolve into a 20ppg player. Chandler doesn’t get the attention of
      national love that Gallo does, but he seems to have similar potential, even if he looked terrible in the playoffs. If I had to bet, I’d take Gallo as the better player, but I think both could turn out to be important part of a very good playoff team in Denver long-term (assuming Chandler winds up back in Denver).

  2. Dave

    Allen Iverson to New Orleans? Pros and cons?

    • Bill Ingram

      As much as everyone would love to see Iverson return to the NBA and get back on track, that’s just not going to happen. He’s allowed his off-court demon to destroy his life, and it has sabotaged absolutely every effort he’s made to return to the court – here or overseas. I have a hard time imagining any NBA team giving him another shot after his behavior in his last two attempts. He’s just not worth the drama or the disappointment.

  3. Kyle

    Hey Bill, if the new CBA restricts spending, would a team like LAL be at an unfair disadvantage with Kobe making so much more than any other superstar? Should they be punished because he’s still a max player after 14 years? I think they should only count max veteran players’ salary against the cap/tax up to a certain amount (say the max amount for a 8th year player or something) because as it is you can sign LeBron, Mike Miller, and Udonis Haslem for less than Kobe. How can LA compete once Kobe’s salary cracks $30mil?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s one of the huge issues with the new re-vamped cap idea. They have talked about retroactively changing contracts that have already been signed, though I think that’s off the table now. Something will have to be done, because the Lakers, Dallas, Boston, Miami – the big spenders won’t be able to fill out their rosters without paying huge luxury taxes.

  4. Chris

    True or false: The best deal the players are going to get, all things considered (lost games, etc.), was the one they turned down Friday?

    • Bill Ingram

      The best deal the players could have accepted was the initial deal . . .perhaps the one on Friday if the league could have recovered all 82 games. At this point they’re going to lose, no matter what the BRI split is. They simply can’t make up the difference this season, and if we miss games through Dec. 15th it will take them six YEARS to make up the difference.

  5. Don-Don

    In your opinion, could OKC go to the NBA Finals this year even without making significant changes on their roster?

    • Bill Ingram

      Absolutely! They were one step away last season, and they have a lot of young players who improve every year. They might even be my pick to win the West, depending on what the Mavs and Lakers look like on opening night. Lots of unanswered questions with the new CBA.

  6. Jon-Jon

    Among all non-all star players, who do you think will become an All-Star for this upcoming season?

    • Bill Ingram

      LaMarcus Aldridge. It was a travesty that he wasn’t picked to go last year. He finally took ownership of the team and was nothing short of dominant after Roy went down. If Aldridge isn’t an All-Star, they should just cancel the game . . .which they will probably have to do anyway.

  7. Antonette

    If the Spurs were to trade Parker away, what is the best value in return that you could get for him?

    • Bill Ingram

      They explored trading him off and on for the last two years, and what they were looking for was cap relief. They felt George Hill was more than capable of starting, and wanted to use Parker to free up space to sign other players. Of course, they weren’t able to find a taker, though plenty of teams were interested if the Spurs had been willing to take back equal contracts, and the Spurs wound up trading Hill to Indiana instead. That makes it highly unlikely that the Spurs look to move Parker now.

  8. Rockets fan

    Hi Bill
    Is it true that the Rockets could potentially have 3 first round draft pick next year?

    • Bill Ingram

      They have their own, plus the pick they got from NY in the McGrady deal, which is top 5 protected through 2015. They also have Minny’s second pick via the Brad Miller trade. So yes, they will have at least 3 unless they move some of them, which is very likely.

  9. Josh

    if there is no season could the Celtics be in the running for Dwight Howard? and could they sign Garnett & Allen for less money, and will green sign a QO? i think with Rondo, Green & Howard the Celtics could be champs 3-4 times in the next 10-12 years.

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t see why not – barring a new CBA structure that heavily favors Orlando. The Celtics will have plenty of cap space, one of the best point guards in the league in Rondo and an All-Star in Paul Pierce still under contract. I don’t know if KG will still be a viable option to lure Dwight, but Boston will likely be a place Dwight would consider. Large market, proud history, etc.

  10. Ludwig Hasbauer

    hey bill :) it’s been a while! but it seems a deal is not too far away, at least I hope so! what do you think the amnesty clause will look like, and how would it affect my kings?

    • Bill Ingram

      Welcome back! :) I don’t know that the amnesty clause will impact the Kings. The only player who they night consider using it on is John Salmons, but it’s not like he’s wildly expensive and they do like him. It looks like the amnesty clause will allow a team to pay a player and waive him, stretching the payments over a number of years to ease their cap burden. But that’s not set in stone yet . . .

  11. Dong of Dayton

    Hey Bill,

    Who makes the bigger improvement in their third year, Ty Lawson or Jrue Holiday?

    • Bill Ingram

      As much as I like Ty, Jrue gets my vote. Not only did he improve dramatically across the board in year two, he’s in a great situation with a young team that is establishing its identity. He has a chance to lead that team from the ground up . . .where as Ty is in the middle of a very uncertain situation. That makes a difference. I would take either one of them as my floor leader of the future, but I think Jrue has the better year this year.

  12. Fraser

    Bill, love your chat. What are your thoughts on the possible amnesty clause to drop a player. Could this be enough to save the Magic from losing Howard?

    • Bill Ingram

      Thanks! Much appreciated! There are two things in the works that can help the Magic make up for Otis Smith’s abysmal two-year meltdown. First is the amnesty clause, though my partner Steve Kyler has been told they won’t use it on Arenas. If they don’t, they’re screwed. The second thing is the idea that there will be restrictions on Bird’s Rights players . . .if Orlando is the only team that can pay Dwight the big bucks without regard for the salary cap, they have a huge advantage in re-signing him.

  13. tony

    Being as close as they are. Deal in next two weeks?

    • Bill Ingram

      You’re almost spot on. Players stop getting checks for last season on Nov. 15th . . .I suspect there will be a rush to make a deal after that.

  14. vince

    Good day Bill, What do you think about the kings if some of these deals I’ve been thinking about were made; sign n trade Dalembert for Haslem, sign a big F A like Nene M. Gasol,trade JJ Hickson for Batum n patty mills? It really hypothetical but do you think they should do flashy moves like that or minimal vpickups like every year? What’s a move you think they need to do?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning! Sure, the Kings would be great after those moves . . .but let’s talk turkey. Dalembert is going to get overpaid because he’s a center . . .Haslem only makes $3.7 million next season, so that’s not likely. The Blazers aren’t interested in moving Batum, either. The one advantage the Kings have is that they have the most cap space of any team once free agency begins – probably something like $30 million, depending on the new cap. I don’t know how much they’ll spend, given all of the financial concerns surrounding the team, but they should be able to add a significant piece. How about Aaron Brooks? He’s looking for a huge payday above all else and he would be crazy good next to Tyreke Evans.

  15. Bob

    With the way the new CBa looks what ur take on Orlando what can they do to improve and can dey keep howard

  16. mikey

    With this likely amnesty clause, and Blake Griffin going on record saying that he enjoyed playing with Baron Davis -via Bill Simmons podcast– the Mo Williams for Baron Davis trade looks all the more short sighted and haunting for the Clippers.

    • Bill Ingram

      The Clippers saved a ton of money on that deal, and also got a more proven winner in Mo Williams. Baron’s a fun guy, but would you rather have fun or win? Mo’s a solid fit there and he can help groom Bledsoe to start in a couple of years. I think they’ll have a spooky-good record this season. ;) That’s it for me – everyone have a safe and haunted Halloween!

  17. Anthony

    Do you consider JR Smith to be a great ball handler for a SG? I was under the impression that his ball handling was more of a weakness in his game.

    • Bill Ingram

      JR is actually quite good at creating with the ball in his hands . . .got better than 28% of his offense in isolations last season. That ranked him in the 68th percentile league-wide. His best role is as a spot-up shooter, where he ranked in the 98th percentile and got better than 21% of his offense, but he is a capable ball handler, as well.

  18. Matt (UK)

    Who do you think will end up playing PF for the Nuggets as and when we get a season? Harrington, Farriad or Nene, because the Nuggets have singed Marc Gasol to play center?!

    • Bill Ingram

      No way they get Gasol AND Nene. I think Nene is the center again next season . . .with Harrington and Carl Landry sharing time at the 4.

  19. Izakdavid

    With the extra rest: Yao comes back from injury, ala Big Z & leads HOUSTON to a Championship.
    Yes or no?

    • Bill Ingram

      I wish I could say that’s realistic . . .but the Rockets sincerely believe Yao Ming has played his last game . . .as does Yao.