NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 11/14/2011

1. Alec

   I was wondering, since this lockout is just so f-ing annoying like seriously (someone should slap the nbpa and tell them there is no such thing as “fair” and just accept the damn deal)…my question to you guys would be since every single nba site out there is running out of things to discuss, do you guys see a descreasing numbers in fans too or are you guys break even? i love your site more than espn, i just wouldnt like to see more of you guys gone man! BRING BACK TOMMY BEER!!!

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! Actually, we have seen an increase in visitors since we re-launched the site over the summer, though overall pageviews are down because we have less to talk about . . .instead of having people in half the arenas in the league on a given night we’re all sitting around waiting for the lockout to end. I really appreciate the feedback, and Tommy is still very much a part of our team. He asked to take a smaller role for the time being because he has some personal stuff going on. Once the lockout ends Tommy will be back in a more consistent role.

2. brendan gibson

   what do you think of my fantasy team? i got stuck with a late pick. what advice can you give me?

   pg: steve nash, toney douglas, kyrie irving, baron davis
   sg: joe johnson, stephen jackson
   sf: tony allen, thaddeus young
   pf: blake griffin, zach randolph, glen davis
   c: roy hibbert,

   • Bill Ingram

     I don’t spend a lot of time on fantasy, honestly, but my first thought would be – can you start Zach Randolph at center? He’s a stats machine! Too bad you have to choose between him and Griffin. If not, try to trade him or Griffin (low FT%) to someone for a better starting small forward.

3. Raymond

   Knowing that the owners are not spooked by the decertfication, do you think the players will accept the revised deal ?

   And if the deal is accepted, are we going to see some crazy free agency trades that will shock us?

   • Bill Ingram

     I think there is a little more tweaking to do . . .one more round of talks . . .one more 12-hour marathon before the players decide to take the deal, or one very much like it. The players are actually working on a counter-proposal that they hope the owners will seriously consider. And then, yes, we will see a flurry of trades and signings. Many of the GM’s have been talking to each other about deals even though they can’t make one until the lockout lifts, so expect to see a lot of business get done in the first 48 hours of free agency.

4. Aussiebballer

   If the NBA wanted to get a mjority of players to vote for a new deal would it better if they reduced the MAX contract and increased the Mid-Level exception?
   ie lower the STARS wages to increase the middle-class.

   Say reduce the MAx to $10-12mil and the MLE to $6-6.5mil

   Since many more players would be worried about middle/lower end contracts then MAX deals.

   This would also allow teams to carry more MAX contracts, instead of 2 guys making $18-20mil each.

   • Bill Ingram

     That actually makes a lot of sense, for two reasons. First, the superstars aren’t the ones in NY going through these grueling marathon bargaining sessions. It’s mostly the middle class of the NBA fighting to maintain a middle class. Second, the stars make plenty of money away from the game, and can afford to make a little less from the NBA as they can make up for it with their endorsements. The middle class and below have fewer opportunities to do that, and rely almost solely on their NBA checks as a source of income. I haven’t heard that smaller max contracts is an issue, but it would make some sense, for sure.

5. Radu

   Bill, as a Nuggets fan I keep worrying about their PF. Assuming (hoping) Nene is their center, would Glen Davis be a good/cheap fit? Is there any chance they think a Harrington/Faried rotation is good enough and decide to not spend more money at that position?

   • Bill Ingram

     I have a great deal of faith in Al Harrington, but have no idea how ready Faried might or might not be. Usually we’ve seen some summer league play and preseason by now, even a few regular season games, and would have at least an idea about how quickly Faried might become a rotation player. I think the smart money says the Nuggets will look at Carl Landry or another veteran PF to supplement Harrington at the four.

6. CJ

   A point that’s been bugging me, the only reason the rank and file earned what they have is because those before them ensured that the opportunity was there. Now the rank and file are apparently the ones who just want the deal and play? They have an obligation to the future generations coming into the league and should settle down imo.

   • Bill Ingram

     Many understand that, but many don’t . . .and many don’t care because they just need the checks to start flowing again. I’ve spoken to a number of the rank-and-file guys, and they all get it. Even the ones who just want to take a deal and get back on the court get it. But at some point they also desperately need the next check, and the longer the lockout lasts the more pressure there will be from those guys to get a deal done so the money starts flowing, even if it is somewhat less money.

7. Cain

   Was is Paul Georges potential? I see him as a better shooting Caron Butler.

   • Bill Ingram

     I can tell you that the Pacers are *extremely* high on Paul, and they were before he had those stellar showings in the playoffs. He can be a game-changing defender, and could be a great scorer, too, as you mention. I hate to start making bold predictions about a young player and add to the inherent pressure of his situation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a big part of Indy become a regular playoff team going forward.

8. Cain

   Where do you think Nick Young, Arron Afflalo and Marcus Thornton will be playing next season?

   • Bill Ingram

     Nick Young will most likely be back in Washington. I talked with him on Saturday night, and he certainly expects to be back. I would be shocked if the Nuggets let Afflalo leave, especially with Chandler playing in China. Thornton is another matter. He could be back in Sacramento, but then again, a team desperately in need of a scoring shooting guard (Chicago) might make an offer the Kings won’t want to counter. Thornton is not the Bulls’ first choice, but if they miss on some of the guys they would really like, he could become an attractive choice.

9. Johnny

   Bill I read that David Stern said that if the players decertify, all guaranteed contracts will be voided. Does this mean that whenever the lockout is lifted that all players would become free agents. Could you explain what this means.

   • Bill Ingram

     That’s certainly very possible, though I have been told it’s unlikely all contracts actually get voided. What happens is we lose an entire season while the two sides sort out the mess . . .don’t expect decertification . . .Can you imagine every player in the NBA being a free agent? There’s no way the Players want that. The owners would love it . . .Joe Johnson would never get that contract again, to name one.

10. john

    10 breakout candidates this year

    • Bill Ingram

      Steph Curry, Blake Griffin (even more), Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge (even more), Tyreke Evans (healthy!), Roddy Beaubois, Derrick Favors, Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Anthony Randolph. . .off the top of my head . . .

11. Sven

    Hi Bill. Is it fair to say a 12,3% shift in BRI (from 57 to 50) should be enough to fix the system (mostly broken by excessive spending owners anyway) ?
    I know I wouldn’t accept such a salary decrease, what about you ? Wasn’t it D. Gilbert who said to trust the owners on system issues if the NBPA accepted the 50/50 split ?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think you’d accept the salary decrease if it meant keeping your job . . .I know far too many people who have been faced with just such a choice and had to suck it up and take it. At least for NBA players we’re talking about a few hundred thousand less on million-dollar contracts. I think I could adjust. Honestly, I don’t think the BRI shift is enough. The Owners need to level the playing field, and that can only happen with the systemic changes they’re trying to ram down the Players’ throats.

12. Kevin in Tokyo

    What would be involved in splitting all income instead of just BRI after expenses.. It seems like if the players only get their split after expenses (which are easily abused), that they are losing a lot of money. Also when will we finally get to see the team’s financials? It seems like the entire premise of the negotiation on the owner side is based on “Trust me, we are losing money.” P.S. The Answer joining the Truth and spelling Ray/Rondo?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning Tokyo!! You’re touching on one of the HUGE issues in this process. The Players don’t trust the Owners’ numbers when it comes to expenses, and they are easily manipulated. Very easily. You’d be SHOCKED to learn what some execs count as “expenses.” SHOCKED! As for Iverson, I have a hard time seeing him back in the NBA. The first thing he would demand is a starting spot, so do you bench Rondo or Ray Allen? He has blown chance after chance, and the Celtics aren’t a team that’s going to put up with that kind of crap. They don’t need him to sell tickets like the Grizzlies did.

13. Luke

    Considering most 1-8 and 2-7 matchups are not competetive and not entertaining. What do you think about the 1st round of the playoffs being a winner take all elimination game. Much more exciting.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think you’re forgetting the main reason we have seven-game first round series: it generates more revenue. I don’t think anyone wants to see the top team in the conference have one bad game and be out of the playoffs. You would also see the top teams tanking games at the end of the season to avoid such a scenario.

14. dyrese

    hey bill i liked tht article on jordan u wrote .My q is now tht its almost the 11th hour in the lockout do you think the owners and players will meet again to smoove out the deal or will they ask for the consensus vote and refuse to bargain any further?

    • Bill Ingram

      They have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow, but it doesn’t sound like that’s going to resolve anything. If the Owners stick to their guns, that the deal only gets worse, then we’ll go downhill from there. If the Owners are open to the counter-proposal the Players are planning to present, we might be a big step closer to basketball. My guess is this one won’t end well, the sides will meet again in a week, and the process will repeat.

15. dyrese

    have you did any scouting on jerome jordan he hes gonna be a knick rookie whenever this lockout thing is over any projections on his play?

    • Bill Ingram

      He signed a one-year deal to play in Slovenia after the lockout started, though he probably has an NBA-out. Not sure how the Euro experience will impact his play, but it could set him back a bit. The FIBA game is so different from the NBA game. Especially for a big man . . .That’s it for me, everyone! As always, thanks for spending some of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD. Next up is Coach Macri, so drop your questions in for him now!