NBA Chat with Bill Ingram 12/17/12

1. Steve

   Don’t you think it’s time to trade bargnani? Obviously he hasn’t lived up to the expectations and doesn’t really help the raptors as a 1st option. With his trade value gone low and fans hating on him, is there a possibility he will (unfortunately) stay?

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! I don’t think there is any question that Bargs has to go, but as you mention, his trade value may well be at an all-time low. He’s not playing well, he doesn’t fit the new, rebuilding team around him, and one of the hardest things to do is get value when the rest of the league knows you desperately need to make a deal. In the right system Bargnani can be an effective third option type of player, but that isn’t likely to happen for him in Toronto.

2. Peter

   Hey Bill! Read your article “Time to Trade Kevin Love” and I just couldn’t stop thinking about him wearing a Spurs uniform!! He would be the ideal long term replacement for TD. With his ability to shoot the 3 and rebound, he can excel in Pop’s system. Is there any possibility that the Spurs can land him either through trade or free agency?

   • Bill Ingram

     While I completely agree that Love would be a solid Duncan replacement, it’s hard to see how the Spurs make that happen. First of all, as I said in the article, the Wolves have not yet come to the conclusion that there is any need to trade Kevin, and if they do come to that conclusion they are going to want the moon for him. The Spurs have some interesting pieces, but I’m not sure they have the kinds of pieces the Wolves would be looking for. They don’t need Tony Parker, for instance, and that’s the Spurs most appealing trade piece right now.

3. piston

   What is the word around the league?ARE ANY PISTON IS BEING SHOPPING?If is is there any intrest?

   • Bill Ingram

     I’m actually not hearing any trade rumors about the Pistons yet. The question about whether or not Lawrence Frank is the right guy seems to be getting more play at this point, as the ever-younger Pistons continue to ponder what they have on the roster and who those players might become.

4. wizfan

   How much nba value jan vesely?As a wizard fan wgo watch every game I think that he is lost cause.What could we get for him?I would be happy with 60 pick in next draft?

   • Bill Ingram

     I think it’s too early to give up on a big man, especially one from the European ranks. It takes time for them to adjust to the NBA game, but once they do they are often quite good.

5. ofdfodfkoefoe

   Toney douglas is better then lin.Is it true that livingston was fired during training camp because he was better then lin?What will happen if toney continues to outplay lin?

   • Bill Ingram

     That’s true most nights, especially on the defensive end, which is why we’ve seen Douglas close out quite a few close games. I don’t think the Rockets will trade Lin, not with all of the hype and advertising they have invested in him this season. If he doesn’t find his game, however, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him moved over the offseason. A lot of basketball to be played between now and then.

6. seth

   Luke babbit practice body only?Do you think that he could stay in league for years because his 3point threat?

   • Bill Ingram

     LOL … there are a lot of guys who can his the three who do a lot more on the court than Babbit does.

7. mkg

   How much longer will I wait for dumars and frank fire?Or when will dumars trade anybody of prince,stuckey,maggete and others veterans who are pointless in this rebuilding team?

   • Bill Ingram

     I don’t know which is longer overdue . . .Joe Dumars being fired or Tayshaun Prince being traded. I understand the desire to have a great veteran with a winning history to help a young team grow quickly, but it’s time to set Prince free. They can get some nice pieces back for him and he deserves a chance to compete with a playoff team again. Dumars has done little to help the team since the championship group dispersed.

8. Tom

   Can HEAT get any value trading a combination of mike miller anf Joel Anthony

   • Bill Ingram

     I haven’t heard that the HEAT are shopping just yet, and both of those players might have important roles to play down the road. Would the HEAT have won the title without Miller’s phenomenal play in the last game? Anthony is their best big body to combat some of the bigger teams they might see come playoff time.

9. blazerfan

   Are we making any moves? Part of me prays we do whatever it takes to get a center, obviously needed. However I think a better move would be to get a two guard and another veteran to come off the bench possibly pg/sg. We have bigs, and Hickson is a work horse. Meyers is going to come up and get absolutely vicious. We won’t produce any starters in the C spot for the all-star game but still won’t slow us down a bit in the overall mission. Our ONLY weaknesses are our bench presence and getting a starting SG will allow Matthews to come off the bench, quickly would be in the 6 man conversation and his maturity would be needed with the young, inexperienced “2nd squad”. I have a loophole in my plan though, I like all of our pieces with any value behind their names. What are our plans in the future? Batum isn’t trade-able because of how much we paid him but I think consistency will come with age so keep him anyways, Matthews won’t get as much value as he is worth, same as Hickson. Aldridge, well I won’t even go into him or Lillard…. so what can we do besides the obvious wait for another draft and for the players to mature???

   • Bill Ingram

     I think the Blazers doing just that . . .waiting for players to continue to mature and see what becomes available. Obviously, they attempted to address the center position with Hibbert, but he was Indiana’s to lose. I think they’ll continue to look for opportunities like that, but quality big men are few and far between. Lillard has been better than anyone could have expected, which is an important step in the process, but it’s still a process.

10. LA in LA

    You seem to believe the Rockets would still like be interested in Pau Gasol but your co-founder Kyler insists that ship has sailed and Rockets have no interest in him. SO why do you feel otherwise?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m sure Steve says that because the Rockets are not currently pursuing Gasol, but I continue to feel that if the Lakers decide to deal him the Rockets won’t be able to resist getting an offer in. Putting him next to Asik puts Houston one significant step closer to being a playoff team, which right now they are not.

11. LA in LA

    IDK who picks the Sunday conversations, but I have an idea for one you can do in the weeks leading up to the draft:
    1) Should high school kids be allowed to jump straight to NBA?

    ANyway, I have a Harden question: IMO it looks like he looks to get fouled rather than score too often. Every superstar has moments where they just dive head first and expect or hope to get a call, but Harden does it A LOT. Is that your observation too?

    • Bill Ingram

      I sent you idea along. Not a bad topic! I don’t believe high school kids have any place in professional sports. That’s part of Harden’s game for sure, and it’s something the Rockets factored in when they were looking at his potential before they traded for him. It’s his ability to put points on the board that they liked, and part of that is finding ways to get to the line. If he were Kobe Bryant he’d be getting a lot more calls, too. It will be interesting to see if the refs start to give him more whistles as Houston’s franchise player instead of the Thunder’s sixth man.

12. Eric

    Bill why did everyone have the Dubs ranked so low even adding two quality veterans and a great draft? Could this turnaround be enough to add a quality veteran to sign with us in 2014? I know its still far off

    • Bill Ingram

      There are quite a few intangibles that go into a team’s season, and with the Warriors there were more than usual. Andrew Bogut’s health was something that gave me pause when looking at the team before the season started. Then there was Steph Curry’s ankle, as well as Brandon Rush’s season-ending injury. As it is, Steph looks good despite his early shooting woes, Landry has been fabulous, and the record reflects how well the team has played for Mark Jackson. 2014 is an eternity away, but veterans tend to look for chances to compete for a championship or at least make a deep playoff run, and the Warriors may well be an attractive destination for them.

13. Jim in CyberSpace

    What’s your All NBA “Mercurial” team? I’m thinking Metta World Peace and Bynum for the three 3 and 5 spots. Maybe Demarcus Cousins at the 4? Rondo at the 1? Rasheed and Delonte West coming off the bench. Who is the 2, J R Smith?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s a pretty good start. Put all those guys on a team together and watch the league rack up the big bucks for charity as a result of all the fines.

14. Frank

    Hi Bill,
    Hope all is well. Agreed with your obs re: DMC…a nightly drama, generally more newsworthy than the game on the floor though equally painful to witness. Anyhow…1)Is it Petrie that stops I.T. from being the PG on the “KINGS of doom”? 2)Is Tyreke the odd man out? What’s he worth on the market? 3) Assuming Hedo gets healthy soon…wd a SALMONS/Jimmer for Hedo trade provide better adult leadership at the 3? Thanks.

    • Bill Ingram

      Hey Frank! No, I don’t think Petrie is interfering with Keith Smart in terms of rotations and minutes for particular players. I do think Tyreke is proving that Smart’s faith in him was well-placed. He’s hitting the three at a career clip, and that was what was missing from his arsenal. As for Hedo, I don’t think the Magic are anxious to move him, preferring to move Al Harrington.

15. dub

    Is it just me or would the raps be stupid to let Jose go? They’re playing with basically their bench players and have been able to win games. In my opinion the ball moves alot more fluently when jose is handling over Kyle. I’m afraid Kyle may be the TJ ford of the past.

    • Bill Ingram

      When Lowry is healthy I like him better than Calderon, but Jose does have the advantage of knowing the personnel better and right now he’s playing better, as well. He’s making a strong case that he should be there long-term, perhaps even at the expense of Lowry. The Raps aren’t making a snap judgement about either of them, obviously, but Calderon is making the decision tougher than it might have been at this time last year.

16. dub

    I think the raps have a starting pf in Ed Davis. People say he is too small, but did that ever stop Kevin Garnett? He doesnt need to shoulder the offence, his rebounding alone makes him valuable. Certainly makes Bargs even more expendable dont you think?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m not sold just yet. He had a great game against Brooklyn, but overall his play is not yet consistently good. It might be time to bench Bargs, even when he’s healthy, in favor of seeing what Davis can do with extended minutes.

17. keo

    I was watching TNT overtime last week and its hard to believe that Barkely was a dominate player. ive never watched him because i didnt start watching nba till 2000… but my question is how was he a dominate player at the 4 when he is undersized and skinny? and how doy you remember him?

    • Bill Ingram

      I remember him vividly . . .watched him with Philly, Phoenix and Houston. He wasn’t skinny back then, for one thing. He had the ability to root himself down in the paint and use his massive hind end to get position for rebounds. Some guys just have a knack for getting to the ball, and Barkley was like that.

18. JP

    Having in mind the current roster of Minnesota, is it a sure thing that a trade will occur before the trade deadline ends?

    • Bill Ingram

      I saw you had several questions, but I think we can address them all with one. I do think the Wolves will look to move Williams before the deadline, and two-guard is their most glaring need, assuming Roy is not going to be able to give them quality minutes long-term. The Rockets don’t need Williams, and the Magic have been unwilling to deal Redick, so those options seem unlikely.

19. kws

    Would the Blazers try to get Kevin Love in Portland? Any other trades on the horizon with my Blazers, would they trade Batum?

    • Bill Ingram

      I like LaMarcus Aldridge an awful lot, and he’s a real team guy. You’re never going to hear LA say he thinks the Blazers need to trade him. And no, the Blazers have said (and shown) that Batum is a core piece for them.

20. Nick

    This is looking ahead, but I am a spurs fan and lived in San Antonio my whole life. When Duncan and ginobli retire in 2-3 years, what will the spurs do with Parker? He will only be 32 I believe, will we trade him to start building around kawhi and become a lottery team? Or will we keep Parker, and most likely became a middle of the pack team? I know a team can’t stay on top forever, but this has been racing through my mind for a while now.

    • Bill Ingram

      Good timing . . .I’m in town from a weekend game with the Spurs. I think Parker and Leonard are the future 1-2 guys for the Spurs, and that they will build around them as they have so successfully done with their stars in the past. Smart management is the key to success, and the Spurs are among the best, if not THE best, in the NBA.

21. Scott Davis

    Do you see suns making moves. Maybe Gortat? What could we get for him.

    • Bill Ingram

      It does seem like moving Gortat is going to happen, though they don’t seem to be shopping him just yet. He’s a starting center in this league, and those are incredibly hard to come by. If they put him on the market there will be plenty of offers.

22. Billy M

    I gotta say, I’m surprised to hear you not fully down on Lin. I heard ideas where he comes off the bench. Seems like it would work for everyone especially if we see another game where he excels without Harden on the court. You think this will ever happen?
    Also, do D12 and Bynum still get max this summer after the way they have been this season, respectivly?

    • Bill Ingram

      D12 and Bynum get max because they are seven-footers. Period. Look at Roy Hibbert. The thing with Lin is he’s a young player who is still finding his way in the NBA. I’m sure he will never be an elite defender, but does that mean he will never be a legit starter? We have to wait and see. I guess my expectations for Houston are low because they have been mediocre for so long . . .I am at a point where every time I think about the Rockets it’s with a wait and see mentality. It’s not what Houston fans want to hear – and it’s not what I, as a lifelong Rockets fan want to hear – but that’s where we are with current management.

23. Eric123

    Hi! Whats the latest on eric gordon?When is he expected to return to action?

    • Bill Ingram

      The latest I’ve heard is he’ll be back before the end of the month.

24. Randy

    In your chat a few weeks ago, you stated Orlando rookie Andrew Nicholson has an attitude towards the media which is very interesting. What are you specifically referring to? And which instances during the draft or summer league did Andrew earn this label?

    • Bill Ingram

      He see the media as the enemy, like we’re out to make all players look bad. While some people are like that, the vast majority are not. I can understand why he might feel that way, but at the same time, the media can be a very good friend to young players looking to make their mark on the NBA.

25. Matthew

    The D-League seems like a good place to develop talent as a “farm team” to an NBA team. However, there may be an inherent problem with the system. For example, Chris Douglas Roberts is leading the league in scoring at 27+ points a game (which seems great on the surface). But if he were ever recalled, he would play a completely different role at the pro level – defensive stopper, spot shooter, not-focal part of the offense. So you are calling him up based on offensive statistics – but you don’t want him to play that role. Questions: Do you think there is an inherent problem with the D-League – calling up players to play a completely different role once there?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think there is a problem only if a GM were looking at the player in the D-League without realizing the difference. There aren’t too many GMs who aren’t aware of exactly the issue that you’re pointing out.

26. Nick

    How much do the Net’s covet Taylor and Brooks? It appears that they want Ersan and the Bucks are bound to lose Ellis, Udrih and Jennings (possibly). Seems like good trade partners to me.

    • Bill Ingram

      You’re right that Milwaukee would move Ilyasova and the Nets have been after him for some time, but Brooks and Taylor don’t make nearly enough to make that deal work, making it hard to consummate a deal without adding more pieces that BRK wouldn’t want to part with.

27. Beckner

    Do you think Shved will be the TWolves’ permanent starting SG?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright, everyone, last question! He’s certainly making a case, isn’t he? I’m hesitant to make such a snap judgment – after all, he’s only started two games – but he’s a player I’ve been watching since preseason. Great pick-up for the Timberwolves. As always, thanks for spending some of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD. Our next chat is this afternoon, as Stephen Brotherston in Toronto takes the stage. Drop your questions in now!