NBA Chat With Bill Ingram 9/26/2011

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. Carlos A

    What sg you think the bulls will start with when the lockout ends? What are the chances we get mayoor thorton? Kover + 1st round pick for mayo or thornton

    • Bill Ingram

      Good Morning, everyone, and welcome to the chat! I think Mayo would be an awesome pick-up for the Bulls, but the Grizzlies aren’t completely sold on trading him. It probably depends somewhat on what happens with Marc Gasol and if they need to use Mayo to fill in a front court hole. I think Rip Hamilton is more likely for Chicago, but I’d take Mayo any day and twice on Sundays.

  2. B-Man

    i am really happy with milwaukee’s draft day deal and feel that they have the right balance of role and main players to have success in the league. and if bogut and drew gooden are healthy, feel that they can have a better record than orlando or atlanta. do you agree?

    • Bill Ingram

      I do, but then I thought they made some great moves last summer and it didn’t work out that way. I’m not sure Skiles is a long-term type of coach. He seems to grate on his players after a while, and that probably had something to do with the Bucks’ chemistry issues last season. I’ll say this, though – Stephen Jackson would be one of my first picks if I was trying to find a leader to bring a team together. He has had a positive influence on every team he’s every played with, and was the player the Charlotte Bobcats credited for pushing them to the playoffs for the first time. Should be a much better year for Milwaukee.

  3. kirk

    Which pair are you most exctited about, Irving/Thompson, walker/biyombo or Burks/kanter?

    • Bill Ingram

      It’s a tough call, but I think the Bobcats are poised to make rapid improvements with Larry Brown gone and a solid cast of young players ready to rebuild in a hurry. Biyombo and Walker are just what the doctor ordered, and with Silas on the bench and Cho in the front office the Bobcats could be a surprisingly good team in 2012, and certainly going forward.

  4. Dirk

    LeBron James is secretly your favorite bball player in the world huh?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t actually have a favorite now that Yao Ming is gone. Hakeem Olajuwon is easily my all-time favorite, but right now I’m kind of in limbo. I love Dirk Nowitzki, both his game and who he is as a person, and I have a great deal of respect for Kobe Bryant, though I have never been a Lakers fan. Dwight Howard is up there for sure – probably the most exciting player to watch night in and night out. I also like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose a lot.

  5. jesse

    Hi Bill, it seems like the owners and players are closer than they are letting on? Owners offered 49% and a soft cap, players were either at 52 or 53% and a soft cap. Is 3 to 4% that big of a deal? I know it is to us little folk, but this is small change to million and billionaires isn’t it? Lets just get to the 51 to the players and 49 to the owners already, I want some basketball!

    • Bill Ingram

      The percentages aren’t that far off, you’re absolutely right, but the hard cap is the sticking point. The owners are saying no deal without one, the players are saying they won’t give in on that because it would destroy the NBA’s middle class. And it would, too. Everything else is secondary to the hard/soft cap issue, and that’s not getting resolved any time soon. I don’t expect to see an NBA game before December.

  6. Kam

    Hey bill how you doing? I was wondering based on current CBA rules can a player play in the chinese basketball league ie kmart and jr smith then sign with an NBA team in march once the season is done and A. Be eligible for NBA playoffs? And B obtain bird rights with new team. Sounds like a good route for players looking for a championship. what do you think?

    • Bill Ingram

      Doing great, Kam, thanks for asking! I’m not sure about the Bird rights situation. Larry Coon will be chatting later this week and that would be a great question for him – he’s THE expert on rules like those. As for signing with an NBA team in March, it depends on when the season starts and when the cutoff is set for teams to sign with playoff teams. I think it’s safe to assume those guys will be back in time to make a playoff roster, though, and that could be the best of both worlds for the players.

  7. Peter

    Hey Bill! With teams like Chi, NY, NJ, Chi, Bos and Orl owning the East for possibly the next 10 years, it seems like Indiana won’t be in contention for a while. Do you think Granger should start planning his Indie exit? He is in his prime and needs to get outta Ind if he wants to win.

    • Bill Ingram

      I think you should take a closer look at the East. Orlando is about to be forced to trade Dwight, the Celtics are ancient, the Knicks are a star player away from contention and the Nets are a handful of players away from even making the playoffs. Honestly, I see the Pacers as challenging for home court this year if they are able to add the front court player they need and also a shooting guard. They certainly have the cap space to do it, and their front office staff is pretty darned good.

  8. Peter

    After seeing what happened to Cle following LBJ’s departure, I think there will be a higher chance that CP3 and DH12 will get traded. Denver stayed competitive after dealing Melo. NO and Orl should look at how Den dealt with their superstar situation to avoid following the footsteps of Cleveland. Thoughts?

    • Bill Ingram

      I agree 100%, especially with regard to Orlando. The Hornets can keep CP3 if they use their cap space wisely and finish in the top four in the West. But Dwight is going, going gone, sadly. Make sure you read the NBA PM today . . .I talk about where he seems destined to go . . .

  9. Jon

    can steve nash dunk?

    • Bill Ingram

      I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nash dunk, and I saw him a lot when he was here in Dallas . . .

  10. Jon

    Who are the top 10 centers in the nba right now and why?

    • Bill Ingram

      That would be quite a lengthy response, so I’ll give you the top 10 in no particular order. Dwight Howard (obviously the best), Andrew Bynum, Andrew Bogut, Tyson Chandler, Brook Lopez, Al Horford, Chris Kaman, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Nene.

  11. Bill

    Do you think a trade of Lowry and Scola to Okc for Westbrook and Aldrich would work? Okc gets a pure point guard and a consistent low post weapon and the Rockets get a star in the making and a center prospect

    • Bill Ingram

      The Thunder aren’t shopping Westbrook, but even if they were Houston wouldn’t make this trade. Scola and Lowry are top-notch NBA starters, while Aldrich is a big question mark. Perkins and Westbrook, sure, but not Aldrich. And again, the Thunder aren’t shopping Westbrook.

  12. alex

    which if any of the following small forwards is lebron ( the supposed DPOY) better than on defense?
    tayshaun prince, andrei kirilenko, josh smith (really a SF), shawn marion, luol deng,andre iguodola, ron artest, luc mbah a moute, tony allen (guards SFs too),thabo sefalosha…

    • Bill Ingram

      At this point I think LeBron is better than the aging Tayshaun Prince and when he’s playing hard he’s better than AK47 and Smith, as well. But Kirilenko and Smith will give you better defense if you’re averaging it out per 48 minutes and over 82 games plus the playoffs. Someone needs to light a fire under LeBron’s butt so he can live up to his hype. He certainly has the talent.

  13. simon

    which 3 players would you rather start a team with in their current stage in their game, d12, kobe, lbj, durant, cp3, drose, okafur, amare, melo, love, aldridge, okur, roy, curry, dwill, nash, jrich, barigani, derozen and granger. why? which 3 would you less likely start a team with? why?

    • Bill Ingram

      That, too, is a really long question to try to answer in a chat, so I’ll give you my top 3, last 3. I would take Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose and LaMarcus Aldridge. They are all young, never get hurt, and all play hard on both ends of the floor. With Rose setting them up I think LA and D12 would be the best front court in the world, though it’s awfully tempting to put Chris Paul in that group, injuries or no injuries. My last 3 would be Brandon Roy (injuries), DeMar Derozan (least proven player on the list) and Nash (age).

  14. Raptorman

    Toronto trades Ed Davis to Portland for Nic Batum; who says no? Portland needs a big man and Raptors need a SF.

    • Bill Ingram

      Portland says no . . .if they decided to move Batum they could get more than Ed Davis. They have been unwilling to engage in conversations about Batum, but a new GM would likely decide to cash him in since Wallace is going to be the starter at the 3 for some time . . .then again, he gets hurt a lot and it wouldn’t be bad to keep Batum as insurance.

  15. devonte wilson

    robin lopez to knicks for landry fields and a first round pick?

    • Bill Ingram

      The Knicks don’t want to part with Fields – he’s their starting two. They would take Lopez for a second round pick and $3 million . . .

  16. devonte wilson

    whats better to have, 54% of bri and a hard cap or 50% of bri and a soft cap?

    • Bill Ingram

      The soft cap is the key issue, so from the players’ POV it’s better to have the soft cap than a higher percentage of BRI.

  17. Bugsy Mogues

    What role do you see for Omer Asik this coming season. Will he see a jump in his 12min/game and production from last season?

    • Bill Ingram

      Asik certainly earned a bigger role. Frankly, if he hadn’t gotten hurt the Bulls might have gotten past the HEAT.

  18. Tony in Indy, Indy

    I was thinking David West would be a good target for the Pacers to pursue, even though he’s older and coming off a major injury. Should they learn from the 76ers mistake of Elton Brand, and look elsewhere? Or do you think West will bounce back to his former self?

    • Bill Ingram

      The Pacers have had some internal discussion about West, but his injury history, his health, and his likely asking price are all pretty steep for the Pacers. They could make it happen, but how good would West be without Chris Paul? That’s the question. The Pacers love Carl Landry, and he may be their ultimate choice. All things considered, he’s probably a better long-term pick anyway. I don’t think Landry has even come close to realizing his potential. He needs a team that really wants him and that will give him starter minutes. He’ll prove to be a great player for his next team – very likely Indiana or Denver.

  19. Eric

    After seeing him in person Gilbert A. is in great shape compared to what he was last season. What should the Magic do with the PG spot, they have a ton of money at that position. Taking into consideration Dwight’s relationship with Nelson and what that will mean in keeping D12 past this season.

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s really a tough situation for Orlando. Ideally, because of Dwight’s close friendship with Jameer, you keep Jameer and trade Gil. With Gil it’s never been about him being in shape as much as it’s been about the mental aspect of the game. That’s why the Magic are highly unlikely to find a taker for Arenas, even if they were smart enough to look. Instead, it seems Jameer may be the odd man out. He has decent trade value, and the Magic could cash him in to get a backup center, perhaps. As you pointed out, the Magic really can’t afford to spend that much money on the PG spot. You could start them together in the backcourt, but J-Rich is a much better option. MUCH better.

  20. Wile E Coyote

    Hi Bill. Are Hunter & Fisher aware of the way the NHL lockout played out? Does it concern them? Seems like the owners are taking the same ‘Take it now or take it next summer’ approach. Will they gamble a years wages hoping that the court system or owner divisions avoid this?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s really the big question, and the owners are unified in their answer. Some are very willing to sacrifice an entire season – some even say two seasons – to get the drastic change in salary structure that could save the NBA long-term. Some are not willing to miss an entire season, and are already starting to talk about giving in on the hard cap concept. The players are talking a good game, but we’ll see what happens when final checks for last season arrive mid-November. I wouldn’t be surprised if a hard cap become more palatable for players who desperately need that next check.

  21. Wile E Coyote

    Hi Bill. I’ve read that Adelman is not strictly a ‘system coach’ and will adjust his offense/defense to match the talent on the roster. If true, what sort of offense/defense do you think he’ll implement for Rubio/Johnson/Webster/Beasley/Williams/Love ?

    • Bill Ingram

      Adelman has a system he likes, which features a multi-faceted big man in the high post kind of running the offense. He had that in Sacramento with Divac and Miller and in Houston with Yao Ming. That said, it’s hardly set in stone. Injuries have forced him to adapt so much over the years that adapting has become his greatest talent. He’ll get the Wolves out on the floor, spend some time seeing what they can and can’t do – especially Rubio – and start from there. One thing we know for sure – the Timberwolves will be better on Day One with Adelman at the helm. Best coaching hire of the summer.

  22. Josh

    Bill,

    Do you feel most fans are like me right now (who makes pennies compared to the NBA players and owners) in the sense that as long as the season starts on time I couldnt care less what has happened with the CBA but the moment the 1st game is cancelled due to billionaires and millionaires arguing over their millions we will jump ship?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think fans are resilient. Whenever games resume we will turn out. Being a basketball junkie is not an easy thing to shake. Casual fans? Sure. They will have to be won back. But the die-hards? We’re back immediately.

  23. Dee

    Do you believe the OKC Thunder have a realistic shot of signing Shane Battier?

    • Bill Ingram

      Yes I do. I know Durant is pushing for him, and was very impressed by his play (defending KD) in the playoffs.

  24. Dee

    Lebron James had a triple double in a NBA Finals game this past year. Yet the next day Hoopworld had an article entitled “Lebron chokes in 4th.” I wanted it retitled to “Lebron dominates first 3 quarters.” Are the expectations placed on James unrealistic by the media?

    • Bill Ingram

      They have been unrealistic since he was in high school . . .but he also carries himself like he’s the second coming of MJ, and you better not evoke MJ and disappear in the clutch. I don’t care if you score 50 in three quarters. If you disappear in the fourth and your team loses those 50 were wasted.

  25. Scott

    Did Chris Kaman help his stock any by playing in the Euro’s? What do you think the Rockets would offer for him?

    • Bill Ingram

      The Rockets have already offered basically anything besides Kevin Martin, but the Clippers weren’t overly interested. I think everyone knows what Kaman can do when he’s healthy, which he is. Did he help himself dominating with Dirk? Perhaps. But that’s Kaman. No one questions his ability.

  26. Bill

    I know the thunder aren’t shopping westbrook but if they were I think scola and lowry would be a nice return and the Rockets would get the piece to build around that they need. I think lowry is way underrated but I can’t stand to watch scola play defense. He is immensely talented on offense but he is not a part of the future of this team.

    • Bill Ingram

      What? You don’t like the Argentinian flop defense? Come on!!! :) I know the Thunder aren’t shopping Westbrook and I know the Rockets aren’t shopping Lowry . . .I also know the Rockets want a proven starting 5. All of those things add up to this not happening.

  27. jeremy

    why are these ppl in these labor meeting only meet once a week like what else better do they have to do. i know the owners have differet ventures but should they be in the meeting eb=veryday at 8am sharp to try and get something hashed out this is nuts I need NBA!!!!!!

    • Bill Ingram

      They need time to get the word out to everyone who’s not in the meetings, for one thing. Beyond that, they just need to let time pass and think long and hard about the discussions. We’re at an impasse, and the only way that changes is if one side has a change of heart. That will only happen with time, and the pressure that lost revenue brings.

  28. justin

    What do you think about the Jazz’s future? and Can they make the playoff?

    • Bill Ingram

      That’s a tall order with their current roster. Devin Harris needs to return to All-Star form and Big Al needs to shake his reputation for not being a winner, despite his often-impressive stats. Few teams have as many questions surrounding them as the Jazz, honestly.

  29. justin

    Would Harris, Millsap,Miles, the G.S. pick from the Dwill trade be enough for Chris Pual (and maybe Ariza)?

    • Bill Ingram

      Right now there’s no offer that gets CP3 away from the Hornets . . .

  30. Mac

    Last week, Alex Kennedy somewhat controversially said that Jonas Valanacious was a better prospect than Enes Kanter and that “its not even close.” Do you agree?

    • Bill Ingram

      I’m sure Alex has good reasons for thinking that. As for me, I like to see the guys play a few times at this level before I make any kind of judgment. It was really hard missing summer league. That’s where we start to form an idea of who these guys might be. That’s it for me, everyone. Thanks for spending some of your Monday with us here at HW! I’ll stop back in throughout the day and answer any late questions. In the mean time, our next chat is with Coach Anthony Macri, so drop your questions in now!

  31. Eric

    tyrus thomas and exchange of pick/s for bargnani?

    • Bill Ingram

      Risky move for the Raptors. Bargs is going to fill up the nets, even if he’s not much of a defender. Tyrus is just a very hard read. Some nights he looks amazing and many nights he looks lost. I don’t think I make that move.

  32. DISDATRUTH

    I don’t think Thad Young’s worth more than 6 mil plus to be a backup?. And would the Sixers be in a better position to win a title if they sign & trade Young for the 6 mil, along with Nocioni for C.Kaman, & A.F.Amuni…Then acquire FA Pg J.Pargo, & SG T.McGrady as cheap reserves to bolster their roster, & make them a complete team. Is this the right move to make?…

    • Bill Ingram

      Intriguing . . .the Clippers are looking for a better option at the three and are very likely to move Kaman. I would stay away from McGrady, though. You don’t want him around a young team like Philly.

  33. Freddie

    Hey Bill. When basketball comes back, why don’t the raptors just sign kwame brown, tank the season and dominate with JV (the next tim duncan)

    All jokes aside, what do the raps do at the PG spot next year?

    • Bill Ingram

      I think they’re stuck with Calderon for the time being, though his expiring deal will be easier to unload at next year’s deadline. There’s also not much to chose from in the free agency market this year. The Raptors could try to land CP3 or Deron Williams next summer, but that seems extremely unlikely. It does look like the Raps will be a lottery team again, and if they land a high enough pick in what promises to be a very deep front court draft, they could easily parlay a quality big man into a replacement for Calderon.