NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 1/14/13

1. Peter

   Hey Bill! Delfino has been exceptional thus far for the rockets coming off the bench. Any chance he’ll get recognition for his contributions? 6th man of the yr award maybe? Also, I heard Varejao’s value is going down after going under the knife againnnnn! Can the Cavs still unload him this year and at least get something in return?

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning and welcome to the chat! Delfino has been fantastic, that’s very true. For him to get that kind of recognition, though, the Rockets have to have a great season. Jamal Crawford is likely the best candidate because he’s having an incredible impact on a team that’s contending. Carl Landry is having a similar impact for the Warrior. JR Smith is New York is a stronger candidate. Delfino is playing well, but the Rockets aren’t good enough as a team to warrant that kind of attention for him.

2. Deven

   What made you write the book that was recently published? What was the purpose?

   • Bill Ingram

     Since you asked, my book is called

     Life Is A Mindset

     , and is in large part about how we built HOOPSWORLD, based on what I call the R.E.A.D. Philosophy. If you are Relentless, Enthusiastic, Ambitious and Disciplined you can accomplish anything. Check it out here!

3. Deven

   Any chance Paul Pierce gets traded? Heard the Cs are listening to offers?

   • Bill Ingram

     The rumor is that the Celtics are looking to make a blockbuster trade, but that they don’t want to involve Pierce, KG, Rondo or Bradley. Hard to see them getting anything of value for some combination of Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and whatever else.

4. Cain

   What do you think the potential of Damian Lillard truly is? Can he get to same level as Rose, Westbrook, Curry and Irving?

   • Bill Ingram

     He sure looks like he can be that kind of player. He and Kyrie are already arguably the best young point guards in the game. The Blazers may finally have their star core together . . .just need to add one or two more pieces and let them grow together.

5. Cain

   Paul George has been good this year, what do expect out of him going forward?

   • Bill Ingram

     In 15 starts in December, George averaged 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Unlike November, when he averaged better than 14 points but shot 39% from the field, George was much improved in December, shooting 46% and 39% from three. Yes, he’s having a very good year, and keeps getting better. I think he’s an All-Star in a year or two.

6. Dieslow2

   Can the Rockets land Gay or Granger?

   • Bill Ingram

     Gay, perhaps, but the Pacers aren’t shopping Granger. The Rockets have asked dozens of times.

7. calvinzero

   2 Questions:

   1.Is there any chance for the Lakers to go to the 1st round for this year’s draft whether they make playoffs or not??

   2.In your opinion, is there a possibility for the Lakers to engage in a minor trade involving such bench players like Earl Clark (now his performance become better while J.Hill is gone because of injury)??

   • Bill Ingram

     Want to know how complicated the first round pick scenario is for the Lakers? Here’s what our own Eric Pincus came up with:

     If Lakers finish 1-14 – their 2013 first goes to the Phoenix Suns – unprotected.

     If the Lakers finish 15-30 – their pick will swap with the Cavaliers’ lowest pick in 2013 (furthest from #1).

     The Cavs have three potential picks – their own, Miami protected, Kings protected. HEAT will most likely – almost definitely – finish with the best record.

     Therefore if the Lakers make the playoffs – their pick goes to Cleveland and Miami goes to Phoenix.

     Suns could get 1-14 if Lakers miss playoffs – if not closer to 25-30 – but difference.

     I don’t think the Lakers have a significant enough bench piece to return much better via trade.

8. Jim in CyberSpace

   Bill, these past few years when I watch the Blazers and Thunder play, I can’t help but think about the Blazer’s bad luck.
   Some of the most die hard small market fans in the NBA, year in and out for a long time. I’d Love to live and Play ball there if I were a Pro. Quality of life, etc….
   They must be chewing their fingernails off every time KD comes to town?

   • Bill Ingram

     Just like they did every time Michael Jordan came to town . . .and you’re right. Apart from the 300 days of rain Portland is a FABULOUS place to live. I lived in Salem for six years and always enjoyed going up to Portland. It’s beautiful, the politics are forward-thinking, and the quality of life is off the charts.

9. Aristotle

   Hey Bill

   Just curious if Utah would be a good destination for Calderon, and could the deal be done?

   And also with a month to go, how excited are you about the All Star game being in your state, and will you be going to it as a spectator or as a work commitment?

   • Bill Ingram

     I don’t think the Raptors trade Jose with the way the team has responded to him and vice versa this season.

10. da wink

    Are we expecting a deal for the Rox before the All Star break? either major or minor?

    • Bill Ingram

      I always expect a deal for Houston. They have been good at times, but they are still a work in progress. They are waiting for the next player to decide he wants out . . .perhaps Rudy Gay?

11. Ruben

    Good morning Bill, if Memphis is trying to shed salary wouln’t it make sence to trade ZBo to Houston.They have a lot of young power forwards with cheap salaries and upside; wich lets Memphis keep Gay.

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think the Grizzlies are looking to shed salary as much as they are shopping a player who doesn’t want to be there. For more on that, make sure you catch the NBA PM today. I talked to Rudy about the situation over the weekend.

12. Blake (from Daleville,AL)

    Bill, who are the Rockets looking to possibly trade for as the deadline nears? And who might the Rockets part ways? Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      For the right player they would probably part with anyone beyond Harden and Lin (marketing reasons, as much as his play). As always, the Rockets have a ton of redundant talent. Expect White to be involved as a throw-in.

13. Brian

    Happy Monday, Bill.

    If the Wolves miss the playoffs, tell me Taylor will wake up and bring in somebody that actually has a hoops background, as well as GM experience?!!
    Also, what moves would you make if you were at the helm?

    Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      Well, David Kahn now has a hoops background and GM experience, and it’s starting to show. He gets better every year. And honestly, if the team was healthy at all they would be contenders. Look how good they’ve been with multiple starters out every single game! All they need is to get the current group healthy. Shved might even be the answer at the two.

14. Zac

    Is there any Portland could land one of Milwaukees bigs? I think a guy like dalempert would make Portland a much better defensive team and rebounding coming off the bench

    • Bill Ingram

      I have two words for you: Nikola Pekovic. Minny would be crazy to let him go, but if Portland makes him a huge offer they can’t really afford to match when they have Love and Rubio as their main salary guys. I think an argument could be made that they should keep Pekovic and deal somebody else to make that happen, but for now they appear to be committed to Love and Rubio. Pekovic is radically better than Dalembert or Sanders.

15. Michael

    Hi Bill!
    Do you have any insight as to how front office personnel are recruited and/or trained? Do you believe it is still possible in 2013 to move up the ranks in an organization, starting from the bottom?

    • Bill Ingram

      Sure it is. Look at Caleb Canales. He’s moved up in the Blazers organization, and is still on his way up. There are still teams that believe promoting from within is the way to go, though you’re right, it’s not the norm any more.

16. Danny Two Step

    Billiam,

    Can you tell me who you would rather have on your team in this 90s vs. 2010s showdown.

    Shawn Kemp or Blake Griffin?
    Dominique Wilkins or Carmelo Anthony?

    Also, which style do you prefer – 90s (slower pace, post-oriented, more physical) or 2010s (pg-centric, faster pace, less physical) thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      Interesting question. I think I would go with ‘Nique for his overall basketball IQ, but I would take Blake Griffin because he is so much more dynamic than Kemp was. I grew up watching the Houston Rockets as one of the top defensive teams in the 90′s, when Olajuwon was in his prime and reinventing the post game on a night basis. I love defense and strategy, so watching today’s game, where defense is almost not allowed against star players is fun, but not up to the standard I was accustomed to back in the day.

17. Alex C

    Hey Bill, Happy Monday,

    Since my sixers are hardly talked about, i was curious what do you think they should do now, the season is turning into a mess…who should they shop to trade? who should they target before the deadline? who should they target in free agency?

    thanks for your time,
    Alex

    • Bill Ingram

      Morning, Alex! Yeah, Philly looked pretty good early on, but the reality of playing without the main player around which the team was built is starting to set in. Jrue has been fantastic, and would likely get All-Star consideration if the team was winning, but without Bynum the Sixers are just not very good. I don’t think they should make any rash moves, however, until they see what the team looks like with Bynum healthy. They could be very, very good, as we thought before he got hurt.

18. Paul

    Rockets in a slump. I think they’ll get it back together. Do you know how far along D MO is in his development? Has he gotten any stronger? is he any better on defense?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yeah, hitting the road will do that to a team, and you also have a situation where teams are scouting the Rockets more thoroughly and finding ways to neutralize their inside-out attack. So much depends on them hitting a high percentage of threes, and that’s not a dependable game plan over 82 games. I think the main thing holding DMo back is the logjam at forward.

19. dub

    Who do you expect to burst the first bubble before the trade deadline?

    • Bill Ingram

      I would have said Boston last week, but now they’ve won five in a row and the talk about their “blockbuster” has quickly faded. It wouldn’t be a trade deadline if the Dallas Mavericks weren’t involved in a deal, and with Rudy Gay on the market maybe they pull something off with Memphis.

20. SatBchMagicer

    Good morning Bill; Anything new on the Royce White situation? After his suspension by HOU, and a few of his ‘usual’ tweet ‘clarifications’ haven’t seen any other word.

    • Bill Ingram

      The only thing the Rockets are saying is that the two sides are at an impasse.

21. dub

    I think that ed davis is the future pf in toronto. He’s shown great improvement this season and this has really been his only season with a full training camp. I think he could be a regular double double player and makes all the more reason to ship bargs. Agree?

    • Bill Ingram

      I really do agree, and I’m someone who had doubts about Davis as a pro as we looked at the league over the summer. The Bargs injury has been a godsend for both the Raptors and Davis. He’s their guy, alright . . .now they just need to unload Bargs.

22. Michael

    Hi Bill!
    Would you agree that Noah is a top 5 C in the NBA, when you put contracts in the equation?

    • Bill Ingram

      Noah makes about the same as JaVale McGee and quite a bit less than Hibbert, and he’s better than either of those players. Noah might be a top five center with or without salary in the equation.

23. Danny Two Step

    Billiam,

    In his rookie season Courtney Lee looked like a rising star. Nowadays, well let’s just say not so much. My question is what the heck happened to this young Einstein of defense?

    • Bill Ingram

      You know, I thought he would be much better for the Celtics than he has been. He was good in Houston, but needed more playing time, and I thought he would get that with the Celtics. Instead, he’s fighting for minutes there, too, and when he’s played big minutes he hasn’t played well. He’s still a good defender, but he isn’t a good enough defender to stay on the court when his shot isn’t falling.

24. Kuda

    Hey Bill, Raptors where up 20 points in yesterdays embarassing loss to Bucs who is to blame for that?

    • Bill Ingram

      First half leads mean nothing in the NBA, and that’s something young teams have to experience to understand. Consider that a lesson from the school of hard knocks for the Raptors.

25. kurt

    What do you make of the Jazz, they really need a point guard. Do you think Bledsoe would make a good fit and do you think they have the assets to get him?

    • Bill Ingram

      I know the Clippers are very high on him and have been unwilling to entertain offers in the past. There are teams like Houston that have PG talent to spare. The Jazz can get one by giving up one of their bids before the deadline.

26. dub

    I think Terrance ross has a much higher ceiling than derozan. He’s already head and shoulders above demar at the same stage of their careers. Do you see a future controversy at the sg spot in toronto, or could ross turn out to be a jamal crawford type 6th man?

    • Bill Ingram

      He could, yes, but he could also turn into a hybrid wing player. Any more we see teams looking for multiple dynamic scorers at the guard and small forward positions, so I can also see a day where Ross starts with DeRozan at the 2 and 3.

27. dub

    It’s starting to look more and more like Jose is the better pg in toronto. The ball sticks in lowrys hands and he just doenst seem like the advertised product we thought we would see in toronto. Is he still part of the future?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good question. I thought he was one of the most underrated acquisitions of the summer, and yet he has struggled to play as well there as he did in Houston. At the same time, Calderon is playing the best ball of his career. Lowry and Casey are close, but if the Utah Jazz were to call looking for a PG would the Raptors listen? I think they would.

28. Danny Two Step

    Billistics,

    I am a lakers fan. I think the lakers should do the following and then we’ll be good. Sign Devean George and trade him and Devin Ebanks for Lebron James. Then trade Gasol for Love, Rubio, D. Williams, and to be fair to the lakers, Pekovic. Your thoughts?

    p.s. i’m making fun of lakers’ fans.

    • Bill Ingram

      My only response was going to be: You ARE a Lakers fan. The I saw the “PS.” LOL. Good one!

29. AJ Vic

    Hi Bill, What do you see in this cavs team? I like Kyrie and Anderson Varejeo do you think they can do anything in the next 3-4 Years?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think Waiters is the better Robin to Kyrie’s Batman, simply because Andy can’t stay healthy and when he is healthy they shop him. Another high first rounder should help the Cavs get to the next level quickly. I have no doubt Irving is going to get them back to the playoffs soon.

30. Marcus

    Can the Bucks get there hands on one of these fringe all-stars like Millsap, Jefferson, Pau, Varejao, Gay, etc without giving up Jennings, Ellis, Henson, or Sanders? They have a lot of valuable expirings like Dunleavy, Udrih, and Dalembert to combine with guys like Moute and Ilyasova.

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s certainly possible, especially with teams starting to look for shakeups at the deadline. Utah’s a good example because they are well short of where they thought they would be. Teams that know this season is a bust often look for those expiring deals to give them more flexibility come free agency.

31. Paul

    I see Dwight Howard signing with the Rockets possibly. He hates Kobe and he doesnt have many other places to go. Do you agree?

    • Bill Ingram

      The Rockets can’t afford to sign him. Dallas can, but even with the relationship between Dwight and Kobe being what it is, I have a hard time seeing Dwight leave LA. He’s the ultimate showman, and there is no bigger spotlight than that in Laker Land.

32. SatBchMagicer

    Bill, with almost 1/2 of the season now in the books, do you see Rockets remaining in the 6/7/8 seed picture or fading to traditional ‘just out of the money’ 9/10 spot they have occupied for past few seasons?

    • Bill Ingram

      Having gotten used to this scenario playing out for the last few years, I expect them to be about 4-5 games over .500, miss the playoffs by 2-3 games and land the 14th pick in the draft. (yawn)

33. Prince

    Hey, Goodmorning Bill, I know DPOY usually goes to big men, but when I look at Avery Bradleys tenacity on defense and how the Celtics defensive resurgence coincided with his return do you think he would’ve had a shot if he didn’t miss so many games?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yes, if he didn’t miss all those games. His impact on the team has been remarkable, hasn’t it?

34. Steve

    Hey Bill, The Buck are 3-1 under Jim Boylan, and it looks like they are turnig things around. Do you hear any trade rumors involving the Bucks?

    • Bill Ingram

      They would move Ilyasova, but his play makes that hard. A new coach and a new winning mentality will likely make it less likely that they make a big trade. If they start to lose games again, though, expect them to start working the phones.

35. Nick

    In 3 years, Paul George or Kawhi Leonard?

    • Bill Ingram

      Paul George, as much for his communication skill as for his play on the court.

36. Brian

    Bill,

    Pek for Cousins, who says “no?”

    • Bill Ingram

      Do those numbers work? The way Adelman gets the most out of his guys, he might be the right guy to channel Cousins. Interesting.

37. jake Ryan

    Why does Eric Pincus look like Jerry Seinfeld in his Hoopsworld Picture? Also, is he employed to specifically write only about the Lakers all the time? Anyway, Any Idea on who San Antonio might be looking at via trade?

    • Bill Ingram

      Because he looks like Jerry in real life. LOL Eric is now covering the Lakers for the LA Times, so his primary team for us is the LA Clippers.

38. will

    Hickson has played well this year for the Blazers and out of position. What is his worth on the open market?

    I believe the Blazers should try and deal him before the deadline. They can pursue a long term solution at Center this summer.

    • Bill Ingram

      Fit is so important for certain players, and JJ found his fit in Portland after struggling in SAC and CLE. Not sure his value is particularly high for that reason, but also don’t think the Blazers are shopping him. They’re in the playoff picture, and he’s been part of that. Hard to see them getting a starting center for Hickson, largely because there aren’t the guys available. Cousins is, of course, but the Kings want star power back, and Portland won’t do that.

39. Tim

    By now I think we all have to agree that Amare is just not cutting it for the knicks. What are the chances that ANY team trades for this guy? Somebody has to be desperate enough right?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, last question, everyone. First, let’s give Amar’e a few games to get back in game shape, eh? The Mavs didn’t trade Dirk after he stunk it up for 5 games. Teams don’t want any part of Amar’e injury history or his contract. I can only see a trade happening if some team wants to amnesty him this summer and make room for a major rebuild. Thanks for making HOOPSWORLD part of your Monday, and have a great week!