NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 7/23/12

1. Naj

   Do you think the bulls will consider or sign Malcolm Thomas? That guy have a lot of potential he will be a great addition in frontcourt.

   • Bill Ingram

     Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! Great question. Thomas was one of the stars of the Vegas summer league, playing for the Bulls’ squad. He didn’t play as many minutes yesterday, but in his first four games he averaged a double-double and should at least warrant a camp invite.

2. Deven

   What are your thoughts on how this Rockets squad is currently assembled? Playoff time perhaps?

   • Bill Ingram

     I can’t see the current team making the playoffs. To start with, they don’t have a starting center, and no, Asik is not the answer there. If the team can pull off some version of this trade that might land them Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard, yes, they’re clearly a playoff team. If not, my guess is they’re right around the 8-10 seed in the West.

3. Deven

   First it was Carmelo, now Dwight, then who’s next to cause drama: Chris Paul?

   • Bill Ingram

     Take your pick: Josh Smith, Monta Ellis, Chris Paul . . .the next nightmare is right around the corner.

4. Deven

   Bill, give me your stat predictions for Jeremy Lin next season.

   • Bill Ingram

     I think his stats from the final month of last season are a pretty good starting place. 14.6 points and 6.3 assists wouldn’t be bad. I think he could suffer from not being in the D’Antoni system, as well as for not having as many All-Star scorers to feed. At the same time, if the Rockets land a star center and perhaps a wing upgrade, Lin’s numbers could be slightly better.

5. Jared

   Who do you think out of Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones, Royce White, and Scott Machado has star potential?

   • Bill Ingram

     Tempting to go with Royce White because of his versatility. Lamb is a scorer who doesn’t defend; Machado and Jones have potential. But White looks ready to take the court right now, and he’s only going to get better.

6. Zeus

   Hey Bill! So I was looking at the rockets salary chart and they have enough cap friendly salaries and picks to take on Howard+J Rich+Turkoglu w/o giving up Martin. Martin should stay too. Do the Magic want K-Mart?

   • Bill Ingram

     Had to cut your very detailed look at Houston’s salary situation to fit it into the chat space. I have heard that the Rockets want to keep Martin, who has value as an expiring deal, but I do believe, despite what’s being said, that if Orlando wanted him, the Rockets would cash him in. I don’t think the Magic want Martin, though. They want young players and draft picks, which is why the Rockets have accumulated so many inexpensive players. The Lakers have interest in J-Rich as well as Howard, so I believe this will eventually turn into a 3-team deal where Houston lands Bynum. We’re waiting for the 30-day mark to arrive – 30 days after all of the rookies were signed they are eligible to be traded.

7. boynextdoor

   Glad to chat with you bill…I really believe with the present core of my Lakers they can contend…but my concern is that key free agents were already absorbed by teams day by day and yet the lakers are still sticking for a dwight howard deal…why do they really stuck to that plan??and not to just fill the rooster with role bench players that can support well especially someone reliable to back up kobe?? why do they just fill the rooster and then trade for DH…??thanks

   • Bill Ingram

     I think they can, too, but the Lakers are never content to just sit on what they have. A chance to land Dwight Howard and make him the foundation of the team after Kobe retires is simply too tantalizing to pass up. Any moves they might make before Dwight’s status is resolved could wind up costing them the chance to land him, so the Lakers, like the Rockets, are waiting to see what happens with Dwight before they make any major moves.

8. kings fan

   How do you like the additions of Brooks and James Johnson to the Kings and what else do you think we need? James Johnson seemed good when he got minutes (defense/shotblocking/passing, what we need),Toronto fans are upset that he was traded and felt like he’s going to be good with some playing time. Houston used to be my 2nd fave team but now it just seems like they stockpile assets just to let them go a little while later,(Lee, Dragic/Brooks, Scola, T Williams).

   • Bill Ingram

     I think the Kings still need a wing upgrade, first of all. Next, I love the Brooks addition on the offensive end and I think Thomas Robinson will be a beast. All of that said, what the Kings lack is maturity, especially pertaining to DeMarcus Cousins. That is the only thing that keeps me from seeing them as a playoff team this season.

9. Cole

   after summer league would you say that D. Lillard is the best rookie behind A. Davis? who are your top 5 rookies so far?

   • Bill Ingram

     No question. The Blazers are better immediately, with both Lillard and Leonard, not to mention Barton. My top five after Vegas would be Lillard, Jeremy Lamb, Bradley Beal, and Anthony Davis – who wasn’t in LV. The fifth pick is TBD. MKG only played once, and I think he’ll be good. John Henson got better as the league moved along. Lots of solid players in this class.

10. Gustavo A Thomas

    The 10 best NBA team right now are?

    • Bill Ingram

      HEAT, Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Nets, Pacers, Suns, Clippers, Knicks . . .but stay tuned. The Dwight Howard trade could shift things a bit.

11. Gustavo A Thomas

    CH Bulls thi year.contender,pretender or Lotery team?

    • Bill Ingram

      Contenders . . .especially if Rose is back in January, as he’s predicting.

12. Peter

    Hey Bill! So excited the Olympics are coming up! Other than Basketball, what else will you be watching closely? Now that Hou has gotten JLin, do you think the Rockets should go all out and get either Dwight or Bynum? I would be happy if either of them came to town. DH or Bynum running PnR with JLin WOW! And lastly, if McHale fails to bring the Rox back to the playoffs, do you think he is out? D’Antoni worked well with Lin, maybe he can replace McHale.

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m a one-sport guy, so basketball is my only focus. Yes, it has to be Bynum or bust for Houston (Dwight won’t stay). I don’t think the Rockets, who stress defense, would go for D’Antoni, but Nate McMillan would be a great fit for a team looking to get back into the playoffs.

13. Abdul Rahim

    Do you think that the Rockets have enough to give and take in order to acquire Dwight Howard? If not, do you think they will turn to the Lakers and try to acquire Andrew Bynum in a 3 team trade with the Magic?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think the Rockets need LA to take on some salary, and I also think the Rockets would be better off with Bynum, who is more likely to re-sign in Houston.

14. Melvin C. Pingal

    Hey sir! Damian Lillard has been fantastic throughout the Summerleague, does that mean it will translate well to the actual NBA games? Or his performance is just a result of mediocre competition?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s the question. We’ve seen plenty of players dominate summer league who never made it in the NBA. But Lillard is a far cry from Marcus Banks. He looks like a Russell Westbrook type of player to me. The Blazers are going to be extremely competitive this season.

15. butch

    hi, at this point what else should we aspect from the rockets on the trade front(a part from signing Asik, and trying to obtain Bynum)?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think Dwight or Bynum alone will make Houston happy. I think they will chase Iguodala and Rudy Gay, as they have been trying to upgrade the wing spot for a while now and have yet to do it. Perhaps they can pull it off after they get the center spot squared away, especially given how well their rookies played in summer league.

16. sammy v

    I am really disappointed with cavs draft pick of waiters before Barnes or Robinson. Dude is already overweight and undersized and if they didnt like Barnes, Kyries’s friend with all star potential, they could ve gotten TROB since Tristan is not really killing it over in CLeveland and who they picked instead of Jonas V, who is in the worst case scenario going to be like Varejao. No wonder LBJ left…

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s easy to understand your frustration, but if Waiters turns out to be a Dwyane Wade type of player, that might prove to be a brilliant pick. I don’t see it, but a lot of teams were looking at Waiters in the lottery, so there must be something there.

17. mario

    What’s up bill just wondering a few bulls fans along with myself are wondering what the bulls management are doing and you along with some other writers are convinced the bulls will be better than we think could you explain also did they just not do anything because they are waiting till 2014 to be major players thx bill

    • Bill Ingram

      Well, they had the best record in the East last season even as Rose looked on so much of the time. I love the Hinrich signing, assuming he can stay healthy, and I think once Rose returns they will be back in the chase for home court and even the Finals once the playoffs begin. It’s a mistake to shake up a team that has been so close to a title, and I think the Bulls are showing a great deal of confidence in their guys. All they need is health.

18. Will

    Why doesn’t Houston trade for Bynum,and let Dwight go to LA,at least Bynum would be interested in resigning with Houston longerm?

    • Bill Ingram

      Likely the plan . . .though the Rockets think they can convince Dwight to stay with the help of Olajuwon.

19. David Rivas

    If Kirilenko decides leaving CSKA, do you thonk Kings have any chance of getting him?

    • Bill Ingram

      Sounds like he is VERY likely to be a Net, though the Warriors would love to have him, as well.

20. martay

    Why don’t the lakers go after barbosa from pacers they need bench help and back up 2 guard I think he would be great and he would cost much and he played with Steve bash already. Should lakers give him a look

    • Bill Ingram

      They might land J-Rich in the potential Dwight Howard deal . . .which would mean they don’t need Barbosa.

21. Andrew

    Bill could you please explain from your point of view why some teams, like my spurs and the hawks before Ferry, are contempt with being perennial outs in the playoffs? Its obvious those teams are not going to beat OKC, Miami, and now even LA if they get Howard. Why the contempt for regular season success but no championship?

    • Bill Ingram

      I wouldn’t say they are content. The Hawks just hired a new GM, as you mentioned, in an effort to improve the team. The Spurs made it to the Western Conference Finals. Not every team can make it to the Finals, even the ones who spend a ton of money trying to do so.

22. Anthony

    Is it me, or is Zeller completely flying under the radar? 11/7 in 22mpg, ran the floor as well as any big out there, and shot 90% from the line. Do you think TZ will be able to adjust to the big boys and show that he is a top 10 center in the league at some point?

    • Bill Ingram

      Top 10 might be a stretch, but I think he’s a solid big man who will have a nice career. I want to reserve judgment until we see him in actual NBA play, though. I am optimistic about a lot of guys after Vegas, but have seen plenty who looked good in SL play fall flat in real games.

23. jerry

    I have August 5th when Howard (or maybe Bynum) is traded to the Rockets. Why? My opinion is Magic would like a big in return in any package, which will be when DMo will be eligible to get traded. Your thoughts of a good Rockets-Magic trade. I would think Rox will fight hard not to include Lamb because they will be stuck without a shooting guard.

    • Bill Ingram

      Right . . .like I said earlier, rookies can’t be traded for 30 days, so I think the Dwight deal goes down shortly thereafter. I think they would include Lamb . . .

24. Brian

    Good morning, Bill.

    Not sure if you recall, but I told you Kahn would screw this thing up. No Mayo, no Lee….no improvement. While I like Roy, who knows what you’ll get out of him? The rest of Kahn’s moves are just sending parts out and bringing in different parts, which is what he does every year. The guy should not be running an NBA team. Anybody out there you would lobby for? You wouldn’t happen to have any pull with Taylor, would you? Say goodbye to Love!

    Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      LOL . . .I don’t think Taylor will ask me. David Morway is the best GM available, along with Larry Harris, Jeff Bower and a few others. That said, let’s wait and see. Kahn has the Wolves in position to make the playoffs if Rubio is healthy, and there are still some 2-guard options. I’m with you on Roy. I would love to see him revive his career, but I’m not counting on it.

25. Wil

    Hi Bill, I am a bit worried about the Pacers. They appear to be the new Atlanta Hawks (good enough to reach the second round, not good enough to compete for a championship). Toward that end, they needed to be very careful with asset management. So, I was surprised by their draft (the reach for Plumlee, whom they could have gotten in the second round, and passing on Perry Jones and Marquis Teague), giving away Collison (since they could have signed Mahinmi anyway), and then extending Hill (who in my opinion is better as a 6th man role). This is a dangerous place for them to be, as they failed to address their major needs (future PF, future backcourt, and deciding between Granger and George). Thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      No argument here . . .I would agree with your analysis on every count. They need a player who can create his own shot if they’re going to get to the ECF, and right now that player isn’t there. Maybe George becomes that player? The Pacers need another move, though, and they have plenty of time to make it. Bird and Morway set the team up well, and Pritchard is a solid GM who can make good deals happen. Pacers are in good hands.

26. Bevhead

    Hey Bill. I know it’s ‘only’ Summer League but Jae Crowder looked like a man amongst boys. Has he got a legit shot at playing time with the Mavs or even being the surprise Faried was last year?

    • Bill Ingram

      I talked to Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson about him . . .both are extremely pleased. The HW team really liked him . . .we said what you did, which is that he looked like a second or third year player out there. I think he can crack Rick’s rotation.

27. Kuda

    With the Raps working on signing Jonh Lucas III, Jose is now a sure thing of the past.Do you think they need all 3 point guards or they are going to get rid of the Spaniard ? Is the Raptors Bench looking solid or what?? GO RAPS

    • Bill Ingram

      Every team needs a good backup PG, and having Lucas gives the Raptors three. I think they will shop Calderon at the deadline, using him to fill any need that becomes glaringly obvious between now and then. The Raptors look like a playoff team to me.

28. Wil

    Hi Bill, what happened with Courtney Lee? I was surprised more teams didn’t chase him (IND and MIN in particular), given their needs and his final cost from Boston (which was reasonable). Did he want to play for the Celts?

    • Bill Ingram

      I know both the Pacers AND Wolves were very interested in Courtney, so that was a surprise to me, as well. Courtney actually wanted to stay in Houston, but he has to be thrilled to be competing for a championship in Boston.

29. Mark

    Are there any chances that the Lakers pull off a trade with for Brandon Rush. Would something like McRoberts and Blake for Rush work? Also, has there been any news on the Lakers trying to get Delonte West?

    I think both of those players would solidify their backcourt and get them that much closer to possibly winning a championship.

    • Bill Ingram

      We talked to Rush in Vegas and he said the Lakers hasn’t even called him. Sounds like he will be back with the Warriors, according to a Warriors source we spoke to. They’re waiting for someone to set his value.

30. Jackson

    What do you think about the Charlotte Bobcats team this upcoming season? 30 wins??

    • Bill Ingram

      They still have some moves to make, but they are obviously a MUCH improved team. We visited with their new head coach and talked to the rookies . . .headed in the right direction, for sure. Watch for my interview with Rich Cho later this week.

31. Ben

    Where does Kirilenko end up? Heard Wolves, Nets, and Warriors.

    • Bill Ingram

      Most likely Nets.

32. Mario

    Bill, Do you think the Rockets should have tried harder to sign Dragic instead of Lin?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yes. Yes I do.

33. Leo

    Howard will be a ______?
    Bynum will be a ______?
    When did those Rocket rookies sign their contracts?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think August 5th is our magic date, though Eric Pincus and I were trying to figure out whether 30 days will actually be the 5th, or perhaps the 4th since there are 31 days in July. That’s the rough date, anyway. Howard a Laker, Bynum a Rocket is my best guess/hope.

34. SNOOPNENE3000

    How do you feel about the new look of the hawks? I think that they should trade Al Horford and possibly teague for big man to make it to the finals, what do you think the Hawks need?

    • Bill Ingram

      Small forward is their most glaring need . . .I love that Ferry was able to immediately unload two contracts that people thought couldn’t be traded. They are as good as they were last season, spending far less money. Ferry still has some moves to make, and I don’t believe trading Horford is one of them.

35. Graham

    Does kwhleonards have superstar potential fur the spurs, he looked good this summer or is his ceiling more along a 3 n D?

    • Bill Ingram

      He was fabulous, yes! I think the Spurs have done what they do, drafted and developed another budding star to shoulder some of the load and help extend Duncan’s career.

36. "reliable source"

    If you were Brian Colangelo, what block buster trade would you try to make right now or @All-Star break in order to push them into the playoffs?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t know about a blockbuster, but I think he has another tweak or two up his sleeve, revolving around Calderon. All he needs is for some key team to lose a PG to injury and he’s set.

37. Steve

    Hey Bill, I was out in Vegas and I must say as a Bucks fan I thought Tobias Harris could have been the MVP of the entire summer league. Do you think he will be the starting sf for the Bucks this season?

    • Bill Ingram

      You should have said hello to the guys in the HOOPSWORLD polos. If it hadn’t been for Lillard, Harris might have gotten strong consideration.

38. nick

    Are the cavs going to do anything this summer…are they playing for the 1st pick in the draft…the bynym trade won’t happen since he won’t sign an extention

    • Bill Ingram

      If Kyrie is healthy they’re much better than last season. Still a likely lottery team, but they’ll be very competitive and perhaps in the playoff mix for parts of the season.

39. Joe

    where do you see the Blazer at this time next year. and what do you think of the current roster.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think they have one more lottery pick next year. The rookies looked fabulous and Aldridge was very happy with the team. Too many young pieces to think about the playoffs this season, but add another high pick and some experience for Lillard, Leonard and Barton . . .they won’t be down for long.

40. Mike Moran

    They way I see it OKC has to take a chance on Dwight Howard… Not only will OKC have the most dominating line up in the NBA, if they do not make this move they are handing the most dominant big man of this generation to the Lakers for the long haul. If DH12 goes to LA the Thunder will never see the finals again and Durrant’s and Westbrook’s salaries alone will cripple the teams ability to make moves. Even if Dwight walks at the end of the season he will not be able to sign with LA. He’ll most likely have to sign with ATL for $20 million less or seek OKC’s help with a sign and trade. Harden, Maynor, and Perkins are all replaceable.

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s just now how Presti does things . . .ZERO chance of Dwight in OKC.

41. Blake

    Bill,

    Any chance on the framework of a Howard deal to Houston happening this week?

    • Bill Ingram

      First week of August . . .after rookies are eligible to be traded.

42. derric

    Am I crazy to think that in 2-3 years LaMarcus will no longer be the Blazers best player and instead it will be Lillard? He reminds me so much of D Rose. Did you see that Dunk against Atlanta?

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s possible . . .we were thinking Westbrook more than Rose, but you could be right. Let’s see how he looks in real games, but he was brilliant in Vegas.

43. Lorie

    two questions for you. 1.)any idea who the next coach will be for the blazers? 2.) any word on Phil Jackson going to Portland or meeting with Paul Allen?

    • Bill Ingram

      Alright . . last question, everyone. Lots of variations on the Dwight question, and I think I answered them all with the few I did take. Lorie, I know the Blazers are earnestly seeking a new head coach, but I also love the job Kaleb Canales has done. The players have a great deal of faith in him, and he’s running the team like he’s the guy. I haven’t heard anything new on Phil Jackson, but I do know that Neil Olshey did not in any way try to prevent Jackson from being involved with the team, as was rumored. Thanks for spending some of your Monday with us here at HOOPSWORLD! Our next chat is with Stephen Brotherston in Toronto, so drop your questions in now.