NBA Chat With Bill Ingram – 1/30/2012

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. rockets fan in cali

    Do you think the Rockets will make the playoff this year? (personally, i think they’re going to be ninth place again.)

    • Bill Ingram

      As constructed, the Rockets don’t look like a playoff team to me. They have run off a nice string of wins, but that’s due largely to the schedule and some key injuries. Duncan sat out the San Antonio game, Carmelo sat out the New York win, and they have played some of the worst teams in the NBA. So far they have only won the games they were “supposed to win;” I need to see them win some games against legit playoff teams.

  2. rel

    bill my man!! will they just fire d morey alreay!!! are the rockets trying to get a superstar and dont say kaman. smh i mean this team is in shambles despite the winnings. any trade news??

    • Bill Ingram

      I think Morey gets a little slack from Les Alexander because – honestly – if Yao Ming is healthy and playing the Rockets are contenders. They might even have another banner hanging from the rafters. The question is, how much time does that buy Morey? His business approach has alienated him from his players and some important NBA player agents . . .like Dan Fegan (Kevin Martin, Dwight Howard, Nene). He’s managed to make some trades – Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola – that have made the Rockets a feisty, over-achieving team, but missing the playoffs by a game or two is little comfort to fans. The problem with trades right now is that Morey, according to multiple league sources, vastly overvalues guys like Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, Jordan Hill and Jonny Flynn, all of whom he is shopping. With agents steering their players elsewhere and Morey having a hard time accepting reality on the trade front, I don’t see a clear path ahead until Morey is fired. Bring on Kevin Pritchard, Larry Harris, or better yet – steal David Morway away from Indiana. From pretenders to contenders in three seasons . . .

  3. cj

    the wizards are looking for a lineup that wants to actually give it 100% everynight and isn’t worried about PT too much. If i was randy wittman I would go with mcgee, booker, young, crawford, and wall. I think those 5 would do well together

    • Bill Ingram

      Honestly, I think the Wizards need a major roster move or two to change the culture. The Wizards are used to losing, and seem to expect it now. They need a couple of players who won’t accept losing to push the team in a new direction.

  4. paul G

    andrew bogut out – bynum gets 10 fga’s -should he ( and me ) be frustrated. doesnt taking jump shots suit the bucks D. FRUSTRATED

    • Bill Ingram

      These are definitely frustrating times for Milwaukee fans. The team that had so much promise two seasons ago is all but gone, and the turnover hasn’t made them any better. Having Bogut constantly out of the lineup for various reasons – now an injury – is what hurts the most. The Bucks are actually a good team with him – even with Jackson proving to be a huge distraction – not so good without him. Frustrating times, indeed. Too bad they don’t have the pieces to get Chris Kaman . . .

  5. Rockets Fan On Strike till Morey is Fired.

    The Wolves are my new squad. Rubio is for real. He froze Duncan and Parker a couple of times Friday night and then passed to their man for the dunk. What is their draft pick situation this year, 2013 and ’14. I know McHale traded away this years pick for a bag of skittles but i think there a Boston pick we got in a trade.

    • Bill Ingram

      Right there with you! I’ve always been a big fan of Adelman, and to see that team responding to his coaching the same way his previous teams have is really a lot of fun. Thank you, NBA League Pass. As for draft picks – Minnesota Timberwolves: Receives Utah’s 2012 first-round pick (top-14 protected in 2012, top-12 protected in 2013, top-9 protected from right to swap in 2014, else 2014 second-round pick) via the Al Jefferson trade on 7/13/10. Check out the entire list of teams who own other teams’ draft picks by linking here!

  6. Christian Frank

    Hey Bill, I have a more personal than NBA related question. How did you become an NBA journalist/analyst/expert? What did you do to get into the business? Was it your first career choice?

    • Bill Ingram

      I actually speak at schools around Dallas telling the HOOPSWORLD story – Steve Kyler and I shared a loathing for the way ESPN covers – or fails to cover – the NBA. We met online, he was running a rumors site called bskball.com, and found we had a common vision. We started HOOPSWORLD – I was teaching full time, he was working as a network engineer – and spent 8 years killing ourselves working by day, doing the NBA by night. Then we were acquired by a company that wanted to form a multi-sport platform (Fantasy Sports Ventures), and they actually paid us a living wage to cover the NBA full-time. Last week USA Today bought out FSV and now we’re going to be USA Today’s NBA platform. That’s the short version. We started the company from scratch, never took “no” for an answer, and worked harder than everybody else until we finally started making money.

  7. Sabin C

    Hi.Otis should call Raptors for Calderon and get him.He’d be a great fit for Magic.I don’t think that Raptors will ask much in return.Your thoughts ?

    • Bill Ingram

      The Raptors are looking for a starting small forward or a sizable trade exception so they can try to grab Wilson Chandler when the Chinese season ends. The Magic don’t have what Toronto is looking for.

  8. Ray

    What do D Rose and Bron think of each other?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think the phrase is: “no love lost,” though Rose is far too classy to come out and trash LeBron.

  9. rodney

    As a magic fan im getting tired of dwight! someone needs to tell him when you point 1 finger at someone you have 3 pointed back at you.

    he is questioning the team and there desire, yet he is playing with half emotion in the game, he is saying people need to know there role and play as a team yet says he wants to win his way, and wants to be the main focal point in the offense,he says the team cant get frustrated by refs and need to keep there composure yet he is known for complaining to refs and has more techs than any other player on the magic, he says he wants to win yet he wants to go to NJ! NEWWWW JERSEYYYYY!!, he is the definition of an oxymoron!
    As a magic fan i dont care if he is wearing a Magic jersey come all star game in fact im disgraced that he beat Nick Andersons all time Magic scoring record to trash his team the way he is, no honor no class,

    sorry for the rant but this is ridiculous!

    Do you see the Magic begin to start to open the flood gates to trade this cancer off our team! Just take a look at the boston game when he sat we build a major lead and the magic played like a team, Howard came back in and it appeared that the magic were trying to make him happy by giving him as many possessions as they could to appease him and we lost the game.

    • Bill Ingram

      Normally we don’t answer a long question like this, or we shorten it, but I think you have your finger on the pulse of Magic fans, as a whole. In a way, Dwight might be doing the Magic a favor by telling every team he plays that he would like to play for them and by calling out his teammates publicly. Frankly, the team around Dwight is not a very good one . . .largely older players who basically stand around and hope Dwight gets them open. We knew they weren’t very good to start off with, but I think a weak easy schedule gave Magic fans false hope. Ownership in Orlando says Dwight stays, but I have to think that if the team continues to lose as they have been that stance will change right before the deadline.

  10. Steve

    What do you think of the future careers of Greg Monroe and Ed Davis? Could Monroe become the second best center in the league?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m definitely waiting for Davis to show me that he’s a legit NBA player. I’m not feeling it just yet. Monroe, though, is every bit as good as the Pistons hoped he would be. I think he’s a top 5 center in the next 2-3 years.

  11. Lior

    Do you see the Rockets interested in getting Kaman as a backup center? I’d give up any combination of Thabeet, Flynn, Williams, and Hill.

    • Bill Ingram

      Backup??? Kaman is SO much better than Dalembert. Problem is, the Hornets know Kaman is better than all those guys you mentioned put together. They like Scola, and would do a deal that brought him to town, but they wouldn’t give up a starting center for a bunch of D-League scraps.

  12. ET

    Hello Bill, Do you know if Rockets are trying to find a starting SF and backup center? The team looks ok but it’s not enough for the post season. Lowry/Dragic, Martin/Lee and Scola/Patterson are ok, but #3 needs an upgrade and #5 needs a back up.
    Thanks
    ET

    • Bill Ingram

      I do know those are the positions they would like to address, but they don’t have the pieces to do it without creating other problems – like trading Martin or Lowry and then needing starters at those spots. If they could land Kaman it would be a big step forward, and Bud and Parsons can hold down the three if there’s a better big man in the middle with Dalembert backing him up.

  13. Jerry

    Why does DRose keep getting outshined by LeBron? Is it mind control or is it the fact that Rose is a mini LeBron?

    • Bill Ingram

      LeBron has more experience, and is a freakish athlete. Rose is mentally tougher, which is where his edge comes in. Will make a very entertaining ECF!

  14. Wil

    When will Stan van Gundy be fired. This Orlando Team looks terrible and changes must be made right?

    • Bill Ingram

      Otis should go first . . .Stan isn’t the one who destroyed the roster. A coach can only do so much . . .and this is Otis’ mess.

  15. English Knick

    Bill,

    I saw the ‘rumour’ of Sixers interest in trade for Stat, and Tommy B reckones Sixers would try to unload Brand contract. Any idea what else Knicks could get in that deal? Iggy plus Holiday or Williams, Brand for Stat and TD seems like a lot to give up for Sixers but could Knicks really allow anything less?

    • Bill Ingram

      I saw that rumor, too, but it isn’t consistent with what we’re told by the Sixers. They love the way the team is performing, and would be hesitant to break that group up. It’s why Iguodala is still in town despite half the teams in the league calling about him. I believe that Stat rumor is coming from New York, where they would like everyone to think Stoudemire has a great deal of value. He’s a good guy and a very good player, but he’s owed a LOT of money and he isn’t the most durable player in the league. I wouldn’t trade for him . . .

  16. Brian

    Good morning, Bill.

    It was clear after last night’s game against the Lakers that the Wolves are lacking at SG. Mayo has been mentioned, but either the Wolves aren’t interested or we don’t have anything the Grizzlies want….other than Love, Rubio, or Williams (shouldn’t give up). What should they do?

    Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      Yeah, the Grizzlies have been very schizophrenic on the Mayo trade issue. Courtney Lee has asked for a trade and he would be a great fit in Minnesota, depending on how much the Rockets want for him . . .word is they are vastly overvaluing their players. I believe the Wolves would part with Beasley, Randolph and maybe even Ridnour for the right piece. Trouble is, the other teams around the league know Minny is a 2-guard away from being extremely good, and they’re using that against them in trade talks.

  17. Alex

    Sure looks like the Rockets are front-runners for Kaman. What pieces do you see Morey sending to Demps/Stern for the caveman?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t know if they’re frontrunners, though they absolutely need him. Indiana, San Antonio, Boston, and a couple of others teams would love to have him, as well. The Rockets are trying to move their scraps, but that won’t fly with Demps. To get a true starting center like Kaman the Rockets are going to have to give up something good . . .like Luis Scola, whom Demps covets.

  18. will

    Blazers trade Batum, Felton, and Matthews for D Williams. NJ get young good players and balance their roster.

    What is your thought?

    • Bill Ingram

      You might be over-valuing Deron Williams. Batum is Portland’s long-term starter at the three with Crash hitting free agency this summer, and Matthews took Roy’s place at the two. I think it’s more likely that Portland looks to make a few upgrades this summer with the cap space they’ll have than trying to send a bunch of talent to NJ for Williams, thereby creating holes in their roster. Portland is one of the teams that could really use Kaman.

  19. Juan Pablo

    If you are David Kahn which would be your next move? Which position would you upgrade first SG or Center and which player would you take in both positions? Would you trade to draft?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m not concerned about center at all, if I’m David Kahn. Milicic is better than he’s given credit for and Pekovic is coming around. I’m not waiting for the draft . . .I’m trying to cut a deal with the Rockets for Courtney Lee.

  20. Hurricane Game

    any way the bulls can swing a deal for a pau gasol or somebody to replace boozer?

    look at his stats in “big games” vs teams like the celtics and miami

    its either he cant stay on the floor or he is inneffective, outside of that tipped pass and that awesome shot he made in the post during yesterdays 4th quarter, he has been horrible against teams that play D

    look at his stats for this year, the only good games hes had are against phx and toronto, teams who cant play D, im sick of his crap, we need to trade him, or atleast let taj start

    anyway: boozer+korver+ 1 pick for gasol?

    • Bill Ingram

      The thing is, the Lakers are watching that happen, as well. The Bulls aren’t shopping Boozer, but if they were they couldn’t get Gasol.

  21. Aaron

    Hey Bill,

    How can the Mavs continue to incorporate odom in the lineup now that dirk is back? he had some nice games with Dirk out. Also, what is happening with delonte west’s playing time? he’s been arguably the best mav all season but his minutes keep changing.

    • Bill Ingram

      Well, he had one really good game and was decent a couple of times. Odom has a long way to go. West has a hamstring issue that kept him out a couple of games ago and limited his productivity against San Antonio. Meanwhile, Beaubois is finally playing well with consistent minutes and that’s a very real threat to West. With Kidd out, however, the Mavs need West to get over the hamstring and play as well as he did through the early schedule.

  22. Hurricane Game

    should the twolves make a move for Mcgee? he would be a great compliment to love, just like how jordan is for griffin

    mcgee obviously has maturity problems, but i believe that adelman could help him

    maybe anthony randolph and a 2014 pick for mcgee? or beasley and a pick for young and mcgee?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s actually an interesting point . . .he would likely find success with Adelman. That said, the Wolves aren’t looking for a big . . .

  23. Drew

    So We NEED that SG! The question is who can we get to make that difference? Lee? Mayo? Derozen? I realize Ellis will cost to much and Martin is not avaialable. Could we do Mayo for Beaz or Randolph and Memphis’s 1st back?

    • Bill Ingram

      That would make sense . . .the Grizzlies could use another big and they obviously aren’t sold on Mayo since they keep working out trades for him and then backing out. Mayo would be fabulous under Adelman . . .fabulous!

  24. Leslie

    Hey Bill. Would the Rockets give up Lowry, Scola and a pick for Stat?
    Thanks

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think they would give up Lowry. The Lakers asked for Lowry with Scola for Pau and the Rockets turned them down. The Rockets clearly have interest in Stoudemire, as they had a deal done at the deadline two years ago but it was submitted after the deadline. Still, it would seem that Lowry stays.

  25. Sylvester Bassey

    Is Chris Bosh the best Power Forward in the East?

    • Bill Ingram

      He has absolutely taken some steps forward this season, hasn’t he? I think he really benefited from the deep playoff run last year. David West is obviously in that discussion, as are Amar’e Stoudmire, Josh Smith and Andrea Bargnani, but Bosh is making a real case for himself. He might just be the best now.

  26. Tyler

    At what point do the Magic players and fans tell Dwight Howard if you don’t want to be here then we do not want you here. It’s looking rough in Orlando.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think that time is coming . . .and as I mentioned earlier it might make it easier for Magic fans to stomach if and when the team is forced to trade Dwight to avoid losing him outright. Of course, Dwight would have to leave a LOT of money on the table to leave Orlando, and the Magic are hopeful that he won’t actually do that. I don’t share that hope.

  27. Chris H

    How could you not love the rockets right now? They’ve beaten the wolves (NBA’s new darling team), spurs twice (once at full health) and ATL (before horford went down) and played well vs the thunder and lakers and they’ve yet to put together a game of everyone playing their best ball. My question is, do you see them moving their expirings for a contributor?

    • Bill Ingram

      The thing is, they beat a Bucks team that was missing 3 starters, a Portland that stinks on the road, Spurs without Duncan, Hornets without Gordon, Timberwolves without Beasley or Barea, Knicks without Carmelo, the terrible Pistons and Wizards . . .I’ll be interested to see how they fare against a much better schedule in February. But hey, they have won most of the games they were “supposed” to win, and many teams fail to do that. Lowry has been fantastic!

  28. Lior

    Follow up on the Kaman discussion. First, Kaman hasn’t played like a starter (or his old self) in a couple of years. I’m also willing to trade Scola for Kaman as you suggested. We have tons of young, talented, cheap 4′s. Even if Kaman doesn’t stay we get a lot of cap space.

    • Bill Ingram

      Yes . . .and Patterson and Morris get a chance to show what they can do . . .

  29. Ruben

    Hey Bill what do you think about Wilson Chandler?He a restricted for Denver who just inked Gallo.Do you think Houston would make a good offer to him,or try a trade for his rights with Denver,what would it take to get him?TNX

    • Bill Ingram

      The Nuggets have every intention of re-signing him, and the Raptors are dead set on making that difficult. Houston would have to blow him away with an offer Denver couldn’t match, and they don’t have the space to do that as things stand.

  30. Ap

    Where is the link for the draft picks?

  31. jey

    how would Chris Kaman fit with the Rockets? Kaman is not worth a 1st Round pick….

    • Bill Ingram

      The last time he was healthy – 2 years ago – he averaged basically 18 and 10 for the Clips. He’s healthy now, and Kyle would find him often . . .he would be a great addition now, and yield cap space next summer when his deal expires.

  32. martay

    Dwight Howard and deron Williams where do u think they will be playing by the trade dead line

    • Bill Ingram

      Deron will still be in NJ . . .Dwight . . .the Magic are saying they won’t trade him, but it would be tough to keep him if they keep losing. Insiders believe he will land in NJ, but that’s hard to stomach for Magic fans. Dallas would certainly put together a package of anything the Magic want outside of Dirk, and other offers would no doubt surface if the Magic really started shopping him.

  33. Cricket

    Los Angeles Lakers fans like to brag how well their team is run. So let’s just say it: that Lamar Odom trade was downright dreadful. They got no player in return, only an exception (which has a bunch of restrictions), PLUS you need to find another team willing to take salary relief back for a rotation player. If they had waited and traded Odom midseason they would have gotten FAR more value than they will trading this exception mid season. The Lakers are a business, so who cares Mr. Sensitive was upset. They shot themselves in the foot by rushing to trade Odom only 48 hours after the failed CP3 trade, meaning they couldn’t possibly have properly shopped him around the league in that timeframe. Agree or Disagree with the way the Lakers handled the Odom situation?

    • Bill Ingram

      Now you know why Kupchak is talking about walking away. That Odom trade was supposed to set up a Dwight Howard deal, but the Busses couldn’t agree on whether or not they could offer both Gasol and Bynum for D12, which Kupchak was prepared to do. It would have been Dwight and Hedo, which would have been an interesting lineup. I don’t know if that’s a whole lot better than what they have now, but that was the plan.

  34. Sweet Dee

    If you were starting a team from scratch, which center do you choose: Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, or DeMarcus Cousins.

    • Bill Ingram

      Hibbert, no question. He may not have as much upside as Cousins, but he is a great locker room guy and a leader. He is also less injury prone than Lopez and more consistent than either of them. Hibbert should be an All-Star this year.

  35. Sweet Dee

    If you were an owner of a NBA team, who would you rather have locked up in a contract for the next 3-4 years: a good young point guard (Kyrie Ivring, Ricky Rubio, John Wall) or a great coach (Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley).

    • Bill Ingram

      You can always hire another coach . . .give me Rubio or Irving and I’ll take my chances with Adelman or Byron Scott.

  36. Mario

    Hey bill now dwight is saying he wouldn’t mind playing with derick rose what do you make of this bill.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think Dwight is fishing for All-Star votes and jersey sales. Has he mentioned how much he would love playing with Tyreke Evans yet? That’s when we’ll know he’s close to rounding out the entire NBA.

  37. Christian P

    Is there anything the warriors can do to make them a better team by the trade deadline or this offseason? I’m tired of seeing a team with this much talent have such a bad record.

    • Bill Ingram

      What? Not in love with hiring a coach with NO coaching experience? This is what happens. My first step would be to pay Jerry Sloan whatever it takes to get him off the farm and back on the sidelines.

  38. Michael

    The Cavs aren’t really going to ruin this rebuild by finishing 8th or 9th in the East and be mediocore for the next few years, are they?

    • Bill Ingram

      Not at all . . .they are positioned to be major players in free agency and they have NO intention of losing this year or going forward. They want to establish a winning culture, and you can already see the roots taking hold.

  39. Juan Pablo

    Is it possible to get Greg Monroe or Hibbert out of their teams to fill the center position in Minne while getting Mayo using Beasley and a 1st round pick?