NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 10/3/2011

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. AJ

    Who would you say are the five players most likely to be traded this season?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! AJ, I’m going to go with Chris Kaman, Robin Lopez, Lamar Odom, perhaps Jose Calderon, and someone like Courtney Lee, since the Rockets are looking to move a package of players and he’s one of the most desirable pieces of the ones they’re willing to offer up.

  2. AJ

    It seems like you can make an argument for almost every team in the West making the playoffs next year, or at least improving. Which 3-4 teams do you see as the bottom feeders?

    • Bill Ingram

      You’re absolutely right – there’s reason to believe nearly every team will be better. The playoff teams are likely OKC, LA X 2, San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, Portland and Memphis (if Gasol stays). The Kings will struggle until they hire a serious coach, so let’s put them at the bottom. The Wolves will be better, but not playoffs better, so they’re down there. I’ll also say the Warriors, since they replaced a good young coach with a guy that has no coaching experience. That doesn’t bode well. Denver has a lot of questions to answer, but they also have cap space, so they could wind up in either category.

  3. tony

    Give me one good reason why I should support greedy million and billionaires during a bad economy?

    • Bill Ingram

      No, I really can’t. And most people can’t find a reason, either, which is why the NBA better get its act together before games are lost. There are plenty of other entertainment choices that don’t cost as much and aren’t fighting internally.

  4. Joe Shafer

    Are they players losing faith in Billy Hunter? I do not believe he sees the big picture and will end up costing his union a very large part if not all of the season. AND because of that they will end up with a very poor deal.

    • Bill Ingram

      Hunter is not the brightest guy in the room, and that’s absolutely hurting the players in these negotiations. It’s one big reason why the agents are encouraging decertification of the union.

  5. Leonid Nadhodkin

    Do you believe in the Scalabrine/Mbenga/Morrison curse?
    The Celtics and Lakers have sucked ever since they released Scal, Mbenga, and Morrison.

    • Bill Ingram

      Sounds like pure coincidence to me. I’m not one to believe in curses or conspiracies.

  6. Andrew king

    Why does Kobe Bryant want out of the Lakers?Is he this much of a whiner that he’s not happy with his situation on the Lakers right now? Rings handed to him by refs, getting the spotlight, etc. I guess in Italy he can win with ease though even without the refs

    I guess in Italy he can win with ease though even without the refs

    • Bill Ingram

      Kobe Bryant doesn’t want out of LA. Where did you hear THAT? He’s talking to Italy so he can make some money and expand his marketing brand while the NBA is locked out. The second the lockout is over you’ll see Kobe right where he belongs. Keep in mind that Kobe has talked of buying an Italian team once he retires from the NBA, so this is a chance for him to lay the groundwork for that move.

  7. Ronald

    Why do you say that the Thabbet trade was not a bad trade for the rockets because thabbet can be a great player. What i have heard, thabbet hates basketball, his passion is soccer. and he has no nba skills. he is the highest draft pick to play in the d league.

    • Bill Ingram

      You have never, ever, EVER heard me say the Thabeet trade was a good one for Houston. Great move for Memphis, as Shane Battier got them into the playoffs and past San Antonio. But for the Rockets? Terrible. Almost as bad as Ralph Sampson for the entire Golden State Warriors bench.

  8. Jimmy

    Ok, espn says some progress is being made, you guys says its still a long way until a labor deal is done, stern says they are actually gettting somewhere…what the hell is goong on?

  9. black justin bieber

    Should I sell a used Lebron James game jersey from a charity event that he threw in the crowd? If so how much?

    • Bill Ingram

      Is it a Miami jersey or a Cleveland jersey? If it’s Cleveland, you could probably just burn it. If it’s Miami, try ebay and let the bidding begin. :)

  10. kevin

    Do you agree that Durant is mostly hype? he doesnt pass much as he only gets two asists.Durant only scores so many points because he’s a 6’10″ sf who shoots over anyone and everyone. Durant isn’t all that clutch either did you not see the playoffs? he took the wrong shots at the wrong time. Durant is not an all around player ya he gets rebounds but he’s almost a 7 footer againt people 6’8″ and below.

    • Bill Ingram

      Kevin Durant is a game-changer, and he’s still a long way from reaching his full potential. He led the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals, and his team will be picked by many to win the West this season. Could he be a better defender? Sure. But does that mean he’s all hype? If so, he can hype up my team any day.

  11. Andrey Belenkiy

    i forgot to add to my past question which i submitted before my question. it was would you consider michael jordan ot be overrated?

    • Bill Ingram

      Michael Jordan? Overrated? How does that happen? I mean, six championship rings and the guy completely redefined the NBA game from both a marketing standpoint and a popularity standpoint. I always preferred Hakeem, being from Houston, but it would be pretty hard to make an argument that MJ wasn’t the best player of his era and possibly of all time, with a nod to Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

  12. sam chan

    Since I know you are a rockets fan do you consider Kyle lowry to be an all star and a top ten point guard. Where would you rank him in terms of point guard

    • Bill Ingram

      HOOPSWORLD’s Coach Macri put Kyle in his article about the most underrated players in the NBA, and I couldn’t agree more. Kyle took his opportunity seriously when Aaron Brooks went down last season and has been working even harder this summer. I think he’ll be a top 10 PG for sure, if he wasn’t already. He may not be in a class with Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Derrick Rose, but he’s not too far behind.

  13. Giovanni Antonini

    What’s going on with Cavs 2nd round draft pick Milan Macvan? What parts of his game did he work on over the summer? Any other news you can give on Macvan?
    Thanks

    • Bill Ingram

      There’s not much out there about Macvan, and I have to admit I don’t watch a lot of Serbian basketball. I know that when he was at the Nike Hoop Summit there were questions about ability to defend and block shots due to his lack of lateral movement. When you’re 6’9″ 260 and last until the second round, that says something. The NBA is desperate for quality big men, and he doesn’t appear to be seen as one.

  14. Lee

    If there’s an amnesty clause, Renaldo Balkman should get the axe. He is awful. I can’t believed he secured a guaranteed NBA deal. You’re thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      Hard to argue that one. I saw Balkman at the pre-draft camp the year he was drafted and I can understand why he got picked. He changed ends faster than anyone and was an impressive defender. That said, I don’t think I’ve seen him play that way since he came to the NBA. There are outside issues preventing him from being the player he could be, and that’s unfortunate.

  15. Michael

    bill if u guys opened the site and its free 4 us, where do u guys get paid from?

    • Bill Ingram

      Internet revenue is driven primarily by advertising dollars. You know those irritating ads that pop up and take over the screen? They keep the site free.

  16. 1mike1matt

    Bill lets face it. Many of us over 40 who rembr what a real work ethic is already didnt care much for the younger generations attitude of entitlement. These young players pale in effort and LOVE OF THE game comparedd to 20-30 years ago. If they dont ( I mean the players ) quit tryn to get even more over paid for playing a game they will lose the middleaged fans who really have the money for good. We 35 – 55 fans are the life blood of sports. We buy the tix and the parphnla for our kids. WE ARE TIRED OF SPOILED GUYS WHO PLAY A GAME FOR A LIVING CRYING ABOUT HOW THEY DESERVE MORE….POINT BLANK IT IS A JUST GAME!!!!!!!

    • Bill Ingram

      I have said many times that as long as people are willing to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to watch some guys play a sport, professional athletes are going to make ridiculous amounts of money. They deserve to make at least half of the BRI, as people are paying to see the players, not just the teams. How many people show up for a Lakers game if they don’t have Kobe Bryant? How about Dallas without Dirk Nowitzki? Miami without LeBron James? Chicago without Derrick Rose? New Orleans without Chris Paul? I’m not prepared to say that ALL young players lack work ethic, as Kevin Durant, Rose, Kyle Lowry – I could give you a long list of great young players who want to win more than anything. That said – I do agree with you on your primary point. If the NBA misses a significant number of games, much less a whole season, it’s going to be hard for them to get back the hard-working fans who won’t relate to millionaires fighting with billionaires.

  17. 1mike1matt

    D Wades asertn ” dont point at me I am an adult ” is very childish and juvenille a response to D Sterns less than provacative action. Wades response in a high profile big business meeting only highlights these players lack of business acumen and lack of polish. I could see if these players used there un Godly salaries to TRULY help their community, ( I dnt meant NBA sponsored PR events for an hour here and there) but truly reinvested in their community to help make a positive diffrnc then the people would supprt them. But when they foolishly spend their money on owning 20 cars and million dollar chains just to say ” LOOK AT ME I HAVE MONEY” who really will support these self serving guys?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think it’s hard to make a judgment about something if we weren’t in the room. Can Stern be condescending? Absolutely. He sometimes talks down to people who are not beneath him, and very often has a condescending tone. I’m sure the players don’t appreciate that. Also keep in mind, these are people who play sports for a living, and while some are highly professional, many are just guys who get a lot of money to do something the rest of us do for free. As to your final question, though, America has a long history of people watching and supporting those who can’t live without 20 cars.

  18. All Cheddar

    Any takers out there for Jose and his massive contract?

    • Bill Ingram

      Assuming you mean Calderon – if Colangelo puts the right pieces in a deal he can move Jose. The question becomes how badly do you want to move him and what will you give up to do it? Then again, bad contracts are often moved….like Arenas, Turkoglu and Lewis, to name a few.

  19. All Cheddar

    Whose game is Jonas V most similar to? How does his game project to the NBA? Future all-star potential?

    • Bill Ingram

      His upside is somewhere in the Andris Biedrins neighborhood. I don’t know that he has All-Star potential, but he should be an impact player.

  20. Edward Lee

    Why should the owners share profits with the players? Do the players share profits as well as losses with the owners?

    • Bill Ingram

      Because without the players there are no profits….

  21. George

    How many years do u think raptors will be a playoff team? And also do you think bayless should be starter for the raptors cuz i dont see what calderon brings to the team.

    • Bill Ingram

      I love the Dwane Casey hire…that will help them a lot. They’re still not a playoff tea on paper, though. Bayless could, indeed, be their floor leader of the future…he’s looked great at times, and maybe he will reach his full potential in Toronto. That would put them one big step closer to the postseason.

  22. BK_Nets08

    Hey Bill,

    Do you see Orlando trying to make a trade for Howard this season?

    • Bill Ingram

      It very much depends on whether or not this Carmelo Anthony rule comes into being. Under the old rules, Dwight is gone, but if the Magic can’t sign-and-trade him and the receiving team doesn’t retain his Bird Rights, it’s highly unlikely Dwight moves elsewhere.

  23. Frank_head

    I see David West and Carl Landry both leaving New Orleans. Do you think Anthony Randolph would be a good fit to play beside Okafor if the team chooses to rebuild? For some reason I really like this idea, and think Randolph deserves a shot at starting somewhere for a year.

    • Bill Ingram

      There’s very little chance the Hornets let West go . . .he’s one of the keys to keeping Chris Paul happy. Landry will get a lot of love from teams like Denver and Indiana who want to add some front court talent. I don’t see Carl being in N.O. this season. Randolph could be moved for the right price. He has a qualifying offer option from the Wolves, and he’s the kind of player who could really flourish under Adelman. I don’t know that he’s going to be available.

  24. jey

    how would the new “melo” rule affect D.Howard trade scenerios? Can you explain this proposed rule in simple terms? Is it like how D.Will was traded early to the Nets?

    Also, how would this affect any strategy for teams pursuing Howard, or any up and coming FAs? In parcticularly the Rockets!

    • Bill Ingram

      Essentially, it means the team trading for Dwight won’t have him signed long-term because there are no sign&trade scenarios allowed. It also means the team trading or Dwight does not retain his Bird Rights, so they couldn’t go over the cap to re-sign him. It basically means the Magic won’t trade Dwight because any team that would get him would likely lose him to free agency at the end of the season.

  25. Dong of Dayton

    Hey Bill,

    What do you think is going to happen with Kemba Walker and DJ Augustine in charlotte? They wont make the playoffs this year so should they just let the rookie play or will they keep a regular rotation and have him come off the bench?

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s pretty clear what’s going on in Charlotte – they have jettisoned all of their veterans in a huge youth movement. Silas is building the team from the ground up, which means they’re going to lose some games in favor of developing young players. The idea is that they will start to look decent by the end of the season and hopefully be back in postseason contention in a couple of years.

  26. marc

    if you were to build a team with 1 max player, one 15 mil player, one 10 mil player, one 7 mil player and one 5 mil player under the old CBA. who would it be?

    • Bill Ingram

      My max player is Dwight Howard and my $5 million player is Shane Battier. Off the top of my head I don’t know who makes $10 million and who makes $7 million, but if I could sign Rose for $10 million I’d take my chances with just about anyone else at $7 million.

  27. Billy M

    If there ends up being no basketball, do you see ESPN and other networks playing more Euro ball? It was reallll nice seeing Scola and friends on TV last month

    • Bill Ingram

      A lot of people feel the way you do…I absolutely expect ESPN to chase down NBA stars playing overseas.

  28. JB

    What do the Rockets need to improve? I think they have a good core, but need more big men. Thabeet isn’t waht I had in mind. If Hill nad Patterson improves, that’s great, but we still need a center. What would it atke to get Dwight or maybe Bogut?

    • Bill Ingram

      Dwight is their pie-in-the-sky dream, but hard to see that happening. The Rockets are hoping to land Gasol, Nene, Chandler or Kaman – any of which would put them back in the playoffs.

  29. Nick from, Australia

    Luke walton and Steve blake for Deshawn Stevenson and Haywood?

    who says no?
    Lakers get a backup shooting guard who can come on off the bench and do some damage, and also some size.
    Mavs get a backup PG for their current ageing PG and a backup SF

    • Bill Ingram

      The Mavs would love to unload Haywood, but they don’t need Blake or Walton. Barea and Beaubois are their point guards of the future and they have a load of small forwards who actually play, which Walton rarely does. I also don’t think the Lakers move Blake, who is the heir apparent to Fisher, without getting a point guard back.

  30. Larson

    If Billy Hunter is such a moron why has he been allowed to head the player’s union for so many years? Don’t the players have options to choose others to head their union if the current leadership is unresponsive and incapable of meeting the needs of the rank and file?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s the big question, and it does seem that this will be Hunter’s last action as the head of the players’ union.

  31. Aristotle

    Hi Bill
    Would a KLove for PGasol work for both teams if they swapped?

    • Bill Ingram

      Apparently not, as that was discussed at some length. The Timberwolves ultimately decided they were better off with Love long-term.

  32. Billy M

    I honestly don’t see the Rockets being a long shot at getting D-12 one way or the other. He has more ties to Houston than most other cities and could fit in superbly with the team. Of course I am biased no doubt

    • Bill Ingram

      I think they’re a long shot, even though he is their ultimate target. No one wants to see Dwight in Houston more than me – I can promise you that – but it’s very hard to see how the Rockets convince Orlando to take Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, Chase Budinger, or whatever else they might offer up for him. They just don’t have pieces that add up to Dwight.

  33. petercom

    Hi bill, simple trade proposal :
    Josh smith for gortat and pietrus (plus a pick maybe), what do you say? THX

    • Bill Ingram

      That would be a good move for the Hawks, but not for the Suns, who absolutely LOVE Gortat.

  34. MEEE

    your top players of all time?10

    • Bill Ingram

      Wow . . .someone always gets left off, but let’s go – in no particular order – Bill Russell, Kareem, Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Julius Irving and Kobe Bryant.