NBA Chat With Derek Page 1/21/12

Join HOOPSWORLD NBA Writer Derek Page will host his weekly chat Saturday’s at 5:00 pm EST. Shoot in your questions now.

  1. Brandon Denton

    Lamar Odom still seems to be pissed about the trade(even though he demanded it after the Pual trade went bust). If he does not live up to his potential in Dallas, who do you see filling that role and helping the Mavs make another run?

    • Derek Page

      I wouldn’t say as much pissed as just completely out of shape. Recently it looks at though he’s getting back into NBA-game shape but, through the first few weeks of the season, it looked like Odom hadn’t touched a basketball all offseason. I think Lamar Odom will end up being a key contributor for Dallas as he gets more minutes on the court but, if his play doesn’t take a sharp turn for the better by the playoffs, I could see a player like Rodrigue Beaubois being that X-Factor that could propel this Mavericks team. In terms of big men that could take his spot, outside of the athletic but raw Brandon Wright, I don’t see anyone supplanting him — this season at least.

  2. Mac

    If you were starting a team from scratch, which frontcourt do you choose: Marcin Gortat / Channing Frye, Spenser Hawes / Elton Brand, or Andrea Bargnani / Amir Johnson.

    • Derek Page

      Let’s start with process of elimination: Hawes and Brand are disqualified because Brand is too old to be building a team around and Hawes, as well as he’s played so far this season, is a solid center at best. I like what Gortat has done with increased playing time for the Suns, but Frye has been inconsistent. This leaves us with Bargnani and Johnson. Bargnani, a poor-mans Dirk Nowitzki in my opinion, is clearly the best player in this group. He averages 22.3 points and 6.5 rebounds as the go-to-guy on his team – no other player you mentioned can say that. Johnson, still just 24-years old, continues to progress on both ends of the floor. Gimme Andrea and Amir.

  3. Sweet Dee

    Phil Jackson is the most overrated coach in sports history. Many point to his multiple championships, but don’t people realize who he had on those teams? I’m sure he was good at dealing with big personalities (i.e Dennis the Menace Rodman). But I think even Mark Jackson could coach a Jordan / Pippen or Kobe / Shaq combo to the title. Superior coaching skills or superior talent? (note: let’s see how he does with a 500 NYK team next year – many who disagree with me now may acknowledge later).

    • Derek Page

      I disagree. Teams that win championships generally feature superstars, no? It’s interesting though, I think those last two titles the Lakers won were just as important to Phil Jackson’s legacy as it will be to Kobe’s. Not only did Bryant win two without Shaq, Jackson finally won featuring just one bonafide superstar — albeit Kobe was the best player in the game at the time.
      Will Jackson succeed if he decides to coach NY? I don’t know. What I do know is that he’s firmly cemented as one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball — regardless of what his critics say.

  4. JaMoomba

    Devin Harris isn’t an elite PG, but he can certainly be not only servicable but has had moments where he’s looked like an all star. What would it take to get Devin in a trade? Would he be a good fit for the Lakers? He’s still young and would be a huge upgrade over Fisher or Blake. Could the Lakers TPE and the first from Dallas get a trade done? What do you think of a Gasol for Harris,Favors and Burke deal?

    • Derek Page

      That’s a really good question. Harris is the type of player that tickles your butt with a feather with an outstanding performance from time to time, but never really seems to put it all together for a full season — especially since he made the All-Star team for his first and only time in his first full year in NJ. I’m not sure if the salaries match up, but your trade proposal seems like and interesting proposition. Harris has been outplayed by his back-up, vet Earl Watson, so far this season and Gasol seems to always be on the outs in LA when they under perform. Biggest questions is whether or not Utah wants to part with Favors and toggle team chemistry after getting off to such a good start this season.

  5. l

    would a trade with orlando getting bynum scola and k mart lakers getting howard lowry and turk houston getting gasol and jameer work ?

    • Derek Page

      Looks like Houston would be getting the shaft in that deal. Lowry, Scola and Kevin Martin for Pau Gasol and Jameer Nelson? No way.

  6. cj

    POR gets d.cousins and d.augustin
    CHAR gets n.batum
    SAC gets r.felton

    • Derek Page

      Again, not a capologist here, but makes sense on paper. Looks like that trade would hypothetically benefit each player and each team but Portland would have to believe Augustin’s strong play to start the season is not just an aberration and they have always overvalued Batum.

  7. Cain

    Is Rodrigue Beaubois starting to return to his pre-injury self? He seems to be getting more comfortable.

    • Derek Page

      I’m not sold quite yet. I’ve seen Roddy B break out at times for the Dallas Mavericks but he never seems to be able to put it all together on a consistent basis — that is, at least enough to earn minutes from coach Rick Carlisle. Vince Carter being out of the lineup has certainly been a huge factor in Beaubois’ increased minutes here lately too, so it’s still up in the air as to whether or not Beaubois will cash in on his immense talent. Also, at the PG position thus far in his career, Roddy has no feel for tempo and is extremely uncomfortable running the offense.

  8. drew osborne

    Hey so what do you think about the idea that maybe j kidd is
    Tired from chasing that dream for 17 years? Seems as though he’s aged and with one year left on his contract might well be out of steam.

    • Derek Page

      It’s certainly a valid question. Jason Kidd finally won an NBA Title last season at the ripe old basketball age of 38 and so far this season has really looked like the shortened season and lack of a defined offseason has taken it’s toll. Kidd’s averaging a career-low 5.4 assists per game to start the season and simply looks out of sync out there with some head scratching decision making and a lack of any kind of precision on his passes. The future Hall-of-Famer told me recently he’d like to play a few more years in this league — and he still has that superstar-esque ability to take over a game with one of those jaw dropping plays at either end of the floor — but he’s going to have to shake off the rust and start playing better if he believes that’s a realistic possibility.

  9. Ewe Dawn U.S. Haslem

    Lebron season MVP
    Wade finals MVP
    Curry Nutri-System MVP

    ?

  10. Tonya

    Do you think D.Howard has a good chance to go to the Macs?

    • Derek Page

      As I mentioned in my chat last week, I think Dwight has his eyes on a legitimate contender in a big market and the Dallas Mavericks would seem to fill both of those criteria. Do I think it’s more likely that he comes to Dallas? I think it’s 50/50. The Nets can’t sign him without retaining Deron Williams and Williams won’t resign with no Dwight Howard. The Lakers would have to trade for him using Andrew Bynum and the massive trade exception acquired in the Lamar Odom trade. Dallas, on the other hand, simply plans to have enough money to throw at both Howard and Williams this offseason. The wild card is Orlando because they can pay him the most, but reports are he would like to get a fresh start somewhere else.

  11. david loya

    What kind of moves do you see the Lakers making now that they have shown they are old and slow and have a horrible offense. Are there any good players out there that can create their own shot off the dribble? Or maybe some perimeter shooters we can trade for?

    • Derek Page

      It’s still very early David, let’s not count out Kobe and the Lakers as presently constructed just yet. Kobe, even at less than 100 percent, has shown the ability of old to completely take over basketball games for long stretches. Andrew Bynum has been excellent since returning from suspension and Gasol is still solid underneath. This team is still a legitimate title contender.

  12. Jon

    Hi. Who do you think is the MVP this year? I really believed KD deserved it last year, so I hope he’s getting it this year, even though Lebron’s been playing amazingly well. I’m rooting for Lebron too, since I’m his number 1 fan, but Durant deserves it

    • Derek Page

      LeBron James has been doing it all and doing it well out there on the court so far this season and Kevin Durant has led OKC to the best record in the Western Conference, but through the first quarter of the 2011-2012 NBA season I’d give it to Kobe Bryant. Black Mamba has come back with a vengeance this season and is making the statement that he is still one of the game’s elite, if not the best player in the game of basketball. Already one of the most self-motivated players in NBA history, Kobe has the bitter taste of a second round sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Mavs still lingering and, even with a couple of sub-par games on his resume over the last few, doesn’t appear apt to stop his rampage until a title is back in LA…. With the Lakers that is.

  13. Tonya

    Do you think the mavs have a good chance to get derron Williams?

    • Derek Page

      Deron Williams, a hometown guy from the Colony, TX which is about 30 miles outside of Dallas, would like to come home and play with Dirk Nowitzki and possibly Dwight Howard but right now — publicly at least — the Nets are his top choice. This of course all hinges on if the Nets can lure another top player to play with Williams in Brooklyn. If that doesn’t happen, the NY Knicks, LA Lakers and Mavs would all appear to be possible destinations

  14. Brandon Denton

    How far are the Clippers from being the best in L.A.? What realistic additions put them there?

    • Derek Page

      I think the Clippers are close already, but not quite. They’re deep, just check out the way Mo Williams and Chauncey Billups picked up the slack with CP3 out of the lineup against the Mavs just a few days ago, and their talented with Blake Griffin pounding the paint and Paul playing at an All-Star level on the perimeter. These guys just need to gel and they’re going to be a very dangerous team come playoff time.

  15. matt

    I’m sorry but after AB,Kobe and Pau that Lakers roster is brutal.

    • Derek Page

      Yeah but those three are what makes LA title contenders. Kobe is back to playing GOAT basketball, Pau is still one of the top-10 pf in basketball and Bynum is working his way up to a top-5 center in the NBA. When you have a trio like that, all you need is role players to fill out the rest of the roster — which is something the Lakers have an abundance of. It’s still very early in the season. Let’s revisit this question in April.

      That’s all for today guys. Thanks for all of your questions, sorry again to anyone I couldn’t get to. Try me again next week — same time, same place!
      Need answers now? Follow me on twitter @DPageHOOPSWORLD.