NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 9/3/12

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. 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. Kevin

    When the Spurs won the championship in the last shorting season, people tend to put an asterisk next to that win because it’s a little easier than going through the full 82 game, 7 month long season. There more injuries that hurt your chances in the playoffs w/ full season. Just like the injuries to Bosh and Wade (that required surgery), in a full season, would they have been able to play in the playoffs? But no one puts an asterisk next to their win; they just talk of their greatness and dominance. But, before Rose got hurt, the Bulls were the favorite to win the east! Why no asterisk?

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! I hope you’re all enjoying a day off with family and friends. :) First of all, I never put an asterisk next to that championship. Sure, it was a shortened schedule, but it was also a compressed schedule. This year’s NBA schedule was more grueling and demanding in some ways than the usual 82-game schedule. A championship is a championship, whether it’s a shortened season or not. As for why the perspective differs, you have a fairly unpopular team in San Antonio, which looks to appeal only to their home market as much as possible, as opposed to an over-marketed team from Miami that needed to win to justify all the fuss. Also, times have changed since 1999. The NBA is now very much like a reality show, where player movement overrules wins and losses and individual players are more important than teams. That plays a role, as well, as LeBron and Wade are more popular than Robinson and Duncan were back in the day. Those two never sought or wanted the limelight . . .the Heat duo practically beg for it.

  2. Chris

    Hi Bill. Word is Derrick Rose and Kevin Love have talked about forming the next superteam in Chicago. Any truth to this? The Bulls seem to be the next logical place for a super team being that they are the only one of the major market teams w/ only 1 superstar.

    • Bill Ingram

      Have they talked about it? Perhaps. But how does that happen, exactly? Love is under contract in Minny for the next three years, and by the time he becomes a free agent again the full impact of the new CBA, which is designed to make super teams very difficult, will be in effect. Love would have to leave a LOT of money on the table in Minny to leave for Chicago . . .and that’s highly unlikely.

  3. ken

    Why are you such a lakers hater?? They are one of the most successful franchises in the NBA and the NBA won’t be as popular as it is if it wasn’t for them… luv ur work thnks…

    • Bill Ingram

      Lakers hater? Wow . . .don’t think I’ve ever been accused of that. I’ve done nothing but defend Kobe and his legacy and admire the work of the Lakers’ front office, which always done exactly the right thing, cost be damned, to keep the team in contention. It’s OKC and the Lakers in the West . . .everyone else is a distant second. How do you define hater? :)

  4. The Philippine Eagle

    Is there a team out there interested in trading with the Lakers for Steve Blake? And will the Lakers ever trade him to that team?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m not hearing any recent talk about trading Blake, and the fact that Nash will need to play fewer minutes to be effective spells more time for Blake. If they do elect to trade him, there will be takers, especially as injuries occur over the course of the season, but right now I don’t believe they are actively shopping him.

  5. Peter

    Hi Bill, How was your weekend? I am a Spurs fan but starting to worry about their chances of winning in the next couple yrs. Last season was probably their last shot at a title with this current group. Do you see Pop breaking up the big three and use them to acquire high draft picks? The Spurs are the model franchise when it comes to drafting superstars.

    • Bill Ingram

      Good morning! Had a nice road trip to San Antonio for my nephew’s birthday party . . .love visiting Alamo City. Today I’m off to Houston to meet with Hakeem Olajuwon tomorrow. Pretty nice few days! I think it’s going to be interesting to see how the Spurs handle the aging of Duncan and Ginobili, honestly. Do they take the blow-it-up approach? Last time around D-Rob’s back injury made it easy for them to lose one superstar and gain another without missing a beat. They had one bad season drafted Duncan, got Robinson back, and started winning championships. Hard to duplicate that set of circumstances. I think the Spurs will look to surround their big three with good young players like Kawhi Leonard in hopes that the next group will hit their primes as the old group prepares to retire. I’m not sold that Splitter is the guy, and if he’s not the Spurs need a big man desperately. The clock is ticking, for sure. I think they’re in the mix this year, but clearly not as good as the Thunder and the Lakers.

  6. sharanraj

    I saw someone commented in previous chat saying that Dwayne wade is behind MJ is all-time SG list and Kobe doesnt deserve this because he never put a team on his back like wade did on 2006.. This is asolutely ridiculous! How many times in championship finals Kobe took over the 4th quarter and becoming unstoppable?
    In your opinion, who deserve to be next to MJ? Keep in mind that Kobe has number of rings that can fit all fingers in a hand…

    • Bill Ingram

      Why is Dwyane Wade in a conversation with Michael Jordan??? His first title also involved Shaq, so if we’re going to somehow disqualify Kobe, how does that not apply to Wade? Wade was the second-best player on two teams that made it to the Finals. Greatest player of all time? Bill Russell – 11 championship rings. Then we can talk about Jordan, who had the biggest impact on the NBA, with a nod to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, who made the NBA prime time. Kobe is next. Any top five list of all-time great that doesn’t include Kobe is questionable. Any top five list that includes Wade is completely silly.

  7. sean

    hey bill, i think the magic should sign greg oden, i mean its not like we’re trying to win anything right now, and that gives him time to heal and rehab properly. when he comes back it’ll basically be a steal if he’s anything close to his ohio state days. low risk high reward, your thoughts…

    • Bill Ingram

      If there was any chance Greg Oden was going to play basketball ever again he would still be a Blazer. Sadly, we’re very unlikely to see Oden in a jersey again.

  8. Will

    Can you see LA trading Gasol at the deadline for a younger star to pair with Dwight for the future like Jsmoove or Rudy Gay?

    • Bill Ingram

      I can, if things aren’t going as planned. If the Lakers aren’t the first or second seed in the West, you can bet there will be more talk about trading Gasol. if the Lakers are at or near the top of the West, forgeddabout it. (is that how you spell that?)

  9. Lakers#1 Fan

    Hi Bill! Thanks for taking your time on Labor Day to answer our questions. When do the players report to training camp and when does the preseason start?

    • Bill Ingram

      My pleasure! For teams playing international preseason games, training camp opens on Sept. 29th. For everyone else, camp opens on Oct. 2nd. Preseason starts shortly thereafter . . .just check your favorite team’s NBA.com schedule page.

  10. Lithuanian Fan

    Hey Bill!! This upcoming season two young lithuanians will start their careers in NBA. In Toronto they are really expecting Jonas Valanciunas to become their best player in couple of years. Do You think that he can become a dominating centre in nba? And what player can he look up to become not only a star but a Hall of famer as well?

    • Bill Ingram

      I know the expectation among the Raptors’ front office guys is absolutely that he will become a major star in the NBA. I expect there to be an adjustment period – thank goodness it’s a full 82-game schedule this year – and that he will need a couple of months to really get his legs, but the sky is the limit. He could very well be the Raptors’ next All-Star.

  11. Brian

    Bill,

    Thoughts on where the Wolves will finish this year? If Roy’s knees don’t hold up and AK47 doesn’t play as well as he did in the Olympics, this offseason could cost us another 3 years of rebuilding and losing Love. Agree?

    Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      I see the Wolves as a strong candidate for the 8th seed . . .but you know how the West is. Minny will be in the fourth seed at some point and the 10th seed at some point. The question is, where are they at the end of the season? I don’t see Roy being a major factor on the court. 15-20 mins a night, averaging 8-10 points per game. If you expect more than that, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. AK47 will be great – I don’t doubt that at all. I see Minny making the playoffs if everyone’s healthy. Heck of a team there!

  12. Robinson asitimbay

    Good morning, Do u think the knicks have the core and depth to take ot all tbis year, and why do so many people doubt melo and stat.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think the questions about Melo and Stat have been and continue to be about defense. You can’t win a playoff series without defense, especially from your primary guys. I will be interested to see how Amar’e's work with Hakeem will change his approach to the game. Dream certainly helped LeBron see the big picture and expand his game. The Knicks are deep, yes, but they don’t have many guys who play both ends of the floor, and that’s troublesome.

  13. Ronn

    i read an article by steve kyler and he said shabazz may not have franchise player potential!! do you believe he does?

    • Bill Ingram

      Hard to say at this point, obviously. He’s currently projected to be the second overall pick in next summer’s draft. That doesn’t mean much in September, but it does indicated a lot of people believe he has great potential.

  14. jp co

    Hi Bill, I’ve read Larry Coon commenting about the moves Clippers made this summer. Is there a possibility that Chris Paul will sign to another team if they can not win this year? I really doubt it, since he insisted to be part of that team. your thoughts please thanks

    • Bill Ingram

      There’s always a possibility, and if he believes the Clippers have a chance to win it all he’s not as smart as we all believe him to be. Chris knows the Clippers are a piece or two away, but he also knows that unless he lands in LA (Lakers) or OKC he’s not going to have a better shot at success. He’s actively recruiting people to the Clippers long-term, so I’d be surprised if he left. That said, yes, there is always a possibility.

  15. J

    What is your opinion of harrison Barnes? And do you see him as a 20ppg guy in the next 3yrs? Thanks!

    • Bill Ingram

      Honestly, my opinion of Harrison is based as much on talking to guys who played with him and who went to UNC and with Warriors scouts as it is by my own conversations with Barnes, and no, I don’t see him as a 20ppg guy. Will he score 20 from time to time? Sure. But he is more the Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza x-factor type of player, I believe.

  16. Ron

    where do the 76ers go from here? are they a contender? I’m not sold on Jrue H what are your thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      I look forward to seeing Jrue play with a legit star center for the first time, and that will show us what his ceiling is as a player. Are the Sixers contenders? Maybe. But considering the answer to that question 2 weeks ago was “heck no,” I’d say they have made major progress. If they hire Sam Hinkie as their new GM it will help them maximize their current lineup and find steals in the draft going forward, as well. Bright future for the Sixers.

  17. Ronn

    seems that steve blake is the new walton..every laker fan wants him traded

  18. derbebop in the Az

    Bill,

    I used to really dislike a lot of your comments…but, I guess I’ve seen the light & now really look forward to your chat! You wrote recently that you were thinking about putting a column together about how the Phoenix Suns are being underestimated this year…Well, I am a long time Suns fan and would like to see your take on the risks the “management” of the Suns are taking and what they’re trying to do not only this upcoming season…but in the next 2-3 years. thx..

    • Bill Ingram

      Glad to hear you’ve come to the light. LOL. Seriously, that story is cooking in my head and will appear, likely this week. We’ve been doing some ranking things, and that took up a lot of my time last week. Count on seeing that Suns feature in the NBA PM later this week.

  19. harvey shearer

    What do you think of the best of the Rockets power forwards. specifically Donatas Motiejunas?

    • Bill Ingram

      The player I am most excited to see play this season – from Houston – is Motiejunas, no question. They have set their expectations low, comparing him to Josh McRoberts as a worst-case scenario. But he could also be Andrea Bargnani, which would be great for the Rockets.

  20. SixersfaninCT

    What news is there on the gm position in Philly? This offseason got me so pumped, the cherry on top would be Penn. Otherwise if we get Bower I feel liike the kid with no ice cream surrounded by the rest of the kids singing “I got my ice cream…. “

    • Bill Ingram

      Penn is great, and I actually really like Jeff Bower. Sam Hinkie is the other name very much under consideration and he would be even better. Seems like they would want to make a decision sooner rather than later, so the team is in place before camp. That would mean the next couple of weeks will see the Sixers name a new GM.

  21. da wink

    Any other moves or signings for the Rox?

    • Bill Ingram

      Well, they have a full roster, so signing would only happen if they made a cut first. Trades? Well, they have explored all kinds of things, but failed to make any of them happen. Seems unlikely. They will likely look to deal Martin at the deadline, but expect to see a young and exciting (yet losing) Rockets team come November.

  22. jeremy

    Is Cuban right for clearing cap space and not overpaying Chandler and JJ? I think those two were perfect for what they DID get paid but not what they got.

    • Bill Ingram

      Exactly right. Chandler got overpaid in NY, as did JJ in Minny. There’s a great deal of logic in keeping a championship team together, but those contracts would have put the Mavs in a tough position long-term. We’ll see if they were the right moves, as it will depend on Cuban putting another contender together around Dirk in the next 2 years. If he can’t, it might have made more sense to pay Chandler, JJ, Jet etc and figure the rest out later.

  23. Ronn

    wade is on of my favorites but your right not top 5 in all time greats…but what i do disagree with is you said he was the 2nd best player on bot championship teams…i believe in 06 he was the best he carried that team, not beginning to decline, shaq

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s debatable. . .I’ll concede that.

  24. miller31

    hey bill great chatz as always…..ok so what u tink g.hill of indy overpaid en hibbert??last why u tink reg.miller didnt chose bird in da hof presentor ty as alwys bill

    • Bill Ingram

      Not exactly sure what you’re asking. I think George Hill has a lot to prove, but he got paid what a mid-level starting point guard gets paid. Is he a reliable starter for a team hoping to contend? We’ll see. Hibbert was overpaid, absolutely. The internal debate in Indy was as much about who would replace him as it was about whether or not he deserved the contract. If they let him walk they have no starting center, and there weren’t any centers available who were as good as Roy. They overpaid him, but they had little choice. As for Reggie, he isn’t close to Bird. Obviously, he chose his sister because they are extremely close.

  25. G

    I’m not a fan of what Orlando got for dhoward but am I wrong to think that affalo can b flipped for a lottery pick… 2 yrs ago he was a hot up n coming player…a good defensive two guard with range

    • Bill Ingram

      You might be onto something . . .Arron has good potential, and if the Magic don’t want to make him part of the big picture, he can certainly be shipped out for a first rounder, assuming he plays well this year.

  26. miller31

    me again last question…….your all time nba lineup mr.bill………thanks

    • Bill Ingram

      Very hard question, as you will always tick off fans of some player, but since it’s Labor Day and we’re having fun, here’s my FAVORITE NBA lineup of all-time.

      PG: Magic Johnson
      SG: Michael Jordan
      SF: Larry Bird
      PF: Tim Duncan
      C: Hakeem Olajuwon

      Bench: Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Alex English, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, John Stockton, Dirk Nowitzki

  27. piston

    pistons-evans tyreke
    kings-prince and daye
    Would kings and pistons accept this?If not why not