NBA Chat With Derek Page 1/12/13

Covering all things NBA from the city of Dallas, join HOOPSWORLD NBA Writer Derek Page for his weekly chat this Saturday at 5:00 pm EST. Shoot your questions in now.

  1. Wes

    Do you think the Rockets could get Josh Smith this offseason? We have the cap space and it seems like the perfect fit for the team and could possibly put us with the elite in the west next year. Just not sure of his interest in leaving Atlanta and coming to Houston.

    • Derek Page

      Welcome once again to my weekly chat NBA fans. Plenty to get to so let’s get started:

      Not a likely chance that Atlanta allows Smith to walk this summer. The Hawks can offer him the most money and the team has exceeded expectations by playing top-4 basketball in the East this season.

    • Derek Page

      Sorry guys. Enjoying some good old fashioned internet issues at the moment. Let’s get back to it:

  2. Wil

    Hi Derek, I realize LA isn’t going to trade Dwight, but perhaps they should. How about his for fun:
    ATL sends Horford, Korver, and Harris to LA in exchange for Dwight, Blake, and Duhon.
    LA gets an arguably better fit for Kobe and Pau in Al and Kyle, and a decent back-up PG who can shoot while unloading Black and Chris.

    • Derek Page

      I like the way you’re thinking Wil, but LA could get more value in return for a player like Howard. Love that move for Atlanta though. Josh Smith and Dwight Howard are good friends and Dwight spends a lot of time in the Atl in the offseason. On the court, would easily be the most athletic and talented pf-c combo in the NBA.

  3. LA in LA

    Hey Page, 3 Gay questions for you:
    1) I saw Twolves rejected a Rudy Gay offer. Must have included a player they like but who? I’m sure Love and Rubio are unobtainable but I don’t see why they’d want either of those, or Pekovic, when they already have Gasol, Conley Jr, and Zbo.

    2) Any idea of what the package from the Nuggets would look like? I imagine if the Nuggets were serious, offering Gallo or AI would be very enticing to the Grizz.

    3) What is the Kings Package? Because I hear the Grizz liked that one…

    • Derek Page

      1. Didn’t hear about that… Not sure what Minny could offer that Memphis wants or needs…

      2. Galinari would have to be a major piece and clearly the Nuggets have the talent to give the Grizz pretty much anything they want.

      3. Definitely headlined by Tyreke Evans. Again though, if you follow my chats you know I’m not an advocate of Memphis trading Gay. Simply not in their best interest moving forward.

  4. Peter

    Hey Derek~ Hope you are having a great weekend! Is there a possibility that D’Antoni will get fired this season and Phil Jackson replaces him? Looking at the LAL’s schedule, they got some pretty tough teams to play. Missing out on the playoffs may become a reality.

    • Derek Page

      Thanks Peter, you too buddy… Never say never, but LA would have to pay Mike D’Antoni a lot of money to leave and the ZenMaster a lot of money to come.

  5. Spur

    After about 30 games, what team/s do you see can beat the HEAT in a playoff series?!

    I got a poor limited answer from Mr. Yannis with this one. Could you please give me a better answer?! Thanks.

    • Derek Page

      I think Boston always has a shot but NY looks like the best bet right now. Carmelo Anthony’s MVP-level play has the Knicks playing excellent basketball right now.

  6. Trog

    This may be pipe-dreaming, but since Pau Gasol has worn out his welcome in LA (and Earl Clark is emerging), any chance of a Gasol to Dallas trade? Could Dallas work something like the expiring contracts of Kaman, Marion, Dominique and Dahntay Jones + a 1st round pick for a year and a half of Gasol + Duhon? That would free up $22.5M for the Lakers next year and likely net them a lottery pick in the draft. Mavs could put Gasol at center next to Dirk to give them an interesting frontcourt, while still having the space to go after a max contract in next year’s free agency. Lakers get Kaman to replace Jordan Hill (out for the rest of the year) plus get more athletic and defensive upside with the other three players, as they try to push for a playoff spot.

    • Derek Page

      Would seemingly work but I don’t see why LA would even consider that. That would be robbery plain and simple on the Mavs part.

  7. Spur

    Do you have Tony Parker in your Top 5 PG list?! Because he doesn’t seem to be included everytime.

    I see Westbrook, Williams, Rose, Rondo & Paul on the list most of the time. What do you think makes them better (each please) over Parker (but exclude Paul)? Thanks!

    • Derek Page

      That’s a good question. Parker has the most hardware of any of those guys… Rose is out though so he’s out of the running. Here’s a quick top-5 of healthy guys off the to of my head:
      1. CP3
      2. Rajon Rondo
      3. Westbrook
      4. Parker
      5. Deron Williams

  8. Angaso

    Just a curious question of how strong the Heat are.

    What previous NBA champions (in the past 10 years maybe) do you think could the HEAT beat?!

    Or maybe, how would you rank the HEAT among the previous ten (10) NBA Champions. Thanks!

    • Derek Page

      Dallas did the year before, there’s one. :)

  9. Deven

    Is the Lakers season more dramatic and scrutinized than Miami’s 2010-2011 season?

    • Derek Page

      Of course it is. You’re talking about the most popular basketball team on the planet. LA is always on the media’s radar no matter what.

  10. Aristotle

    Heya Derek,

    Can you see Dirk calling it quits if the team doesnt improve immensely? I can’t see him choosing to go to another team.

    • Derek Page

      Not in Nowitzki’s nature to quit like that. Also can’t see Dirk ever leaving Dallas to play somewhere else… Although he has publicly said he would consider playing in Europe when he doesn’t feel like he can cut it in the NBA any longer…

  11. Shabbir

    Hi Derek

    In your opinion, what was the greatest team not to win a championship? Reggie’s Pacers? Mailman/stockton? JKidd and Vinsanity at New Jersey?

    • Derek Page

      Of my era, it would have to be those old Jazz teams. Utah had two of the best players in the game and still couldn’t get over the hump with MJ in the way.

  12. Ran

    Who do you have in the finals and who do you have winning it all?

    • Derek Page

      I think OKC and Miami would be another fun matchup… I really like the way Memphis has played if they remain intact though. Knicks have been fun to watch as well but age might catch up with them as the season unfolds. Don’t sleep on the Clippers either!

  13. Strong

    Any good chance Rudy gay gets traded to the kings?

    • Derek Page

      I think there’s obviously a decent shot considering all of the rumors swirling. As I’ve said, I think it’s a bad move though.

  14. Tony

    If and only if Kevin Love makes it known he wants traded from the Timberwolves over the summer, is there anything the Cavs could put together for him while keeping Kyrie, Dion, and our first pick this year? I think Kyrie and Kevin Love would be lethal on the same team.

    • Derek Page

      Minnesota would be fools to let a talent like Love slip away. If Timberwolves can get fully healthy, they’ve got talent to stack up against most NBA teams.

  15. Old jazz bones

    Would this be feasible? Jazz get shved and gay
    Memphis gets milsap and Derrick Williams
    Barea
    Minnesota gets big al back
    Money works and everybody gets what they say they needs

    • Derek Page

      Memphis has Zach Randolph. Why would they want Paul Millsap?

  16. csc

    any chance Bulls move Noah? trading him and giving boozer amnesty gives them a chance at cap space to retool. thoughts??

    • Derek Page

      Let’s see how the team responds to Derrick Rose’s return before we start blowing up the Bulls.

  17. Jacob

    Who are the Pistons looking at for the future SG to go with AD,Moose,and BK?

    • Derek Page

      Your guess is as good as mine. The situation in Detroit is a mess.

  18. Payten

    Who would the grizz want from the raptors for gay

    • Derek Page

      The Grizzlies should hold on to Rudy Gay. Simply not going to get equal value for a talent like Gay.

  19. Paul Gasol

    Do you think theres a trade lined up for me. Only the filler players need to be showcased to make the numbers work? Will I be on my way out in a few days on 1/15?

  20. Jamie

    The Clippers and Thunder seem to be playing the best basketball at the moment, if these two teams meet in a playoff series who would you give the edge to?

    • Derek Page

      Right now the Los Angeles Clippers are the best team in basketball, top-to-bottom. Things could change a lot by May but, as of January 12, Clipps have simply been dominant and should be considered the favorites in the West.

      Thanks for the time once again guys. If I missed you hit me up on Twitter (@DPageHOOPSWORLD). Everybody be safe out there this weekend.