NBA Chat With Derek Page 2/11/12

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. Drew

    Couple of trade ideas. Keep in mind twolves have 1st from Memphis and Utah as sweetners if needed.
    1. Luke +1st for Mayo
    2. Beaz and Orton to Milwaukee,SJax to Orlando, JRick to Minny.
    3. Beaz and Randolph for Marvin Williams.
    Any trades seem realistic? Which would you do?

    • Derek Page

      Welcome to the chat everyone, Let’s get rolling!

      Well Drew, your first two proposals just don’t cut it. Grizz don’t really need a PG and Ridnour and a 1st wouldn’t be enough to wet Memphis’ appetite. As for the next one, don’t see why Minn would part with Beasley for J-Rich. Your third option makes some sense, but Atlanta seems primed to keep Williams. But, in general, don’t look for many [if any] moves to happen until we get closer to the March 15 trade deadline. We’re still over a month away.

  2. soup number 5

    Hi man wassup.. hope all is coo, anyways lets say dhow n dwill goes to ny. Whats dallas plans? Do u think mark cuban.waisted one year that could have been a ring if only he gave last years roster one more run? He could have made a major trade just incase the team suck this year.

    • Derek Page

      If both Howard and Williams do end up with the Nets that is a huge blow to the Mavericks hopes for the future. But, to your next point, I really don’t feel like this Mavericks team is any less of a contender than they were last season. Defense has been top-notch all season, while Dirk and this offense is still rounding into form. Cuban did make a major trade: he acquired Lamar Odom — although he hasn’t produced up to his capabilities so far this season — for virtually nothing. I know I may be one of the few that believes this but this Dallas team is for real and will be right in the championship mix again this season.

  3. ken dukes

    Rajon Rondo, j Oneal to Lakers for Gasol, LA 2012 1st
    Brandon Bass, K. Dooling, ($6.5M exp contracts) LA 2012 1st, LAC 2012 1st to Houston for Jordan Hill, Courtney Lee,Goran Dragic. Win for everyone???

    • Derek Page

      I know our own Eric Pincus out in LA broached this subject recently, and where there’s smoke there’s certainly fire but I don’t see this coming together. Not because of the ridiculous belief that Boston and LA shouldn’t trade because of their rivalry history but because it’s simply not a good deal for the Celtics. Lakers make out great by acquiring Rondo while C’s get older, not better with Gasol.

  4. Raj

    hi. T-wolves fan here. what it would take to bring o.j Mayo to minny? is d.williams ready to become a starter at 3-position?
    if they can get mayo then would t-wolves able to keep M.Beasley?

    • Derek Page

      Hey Raj. Beasley would have to be the centerpiece for any deal that would bring back Mayo. As I’ve said in previous chats, Memphis (maybe rightfully so) overvalues Mayo’s talent and even though they seemingly dangle him constantly they never pull the trigger because the don’t feel like they are getting equal value back. In terms of your Muskies, Williams is still just 20 years old and will have plenty of time to grow with Minnesota. Last night against Dallas, his minutes off the bench were second only to Beasely — which shows the coaching staff impressed enough to give him a decent amount of time out there. This even with the T-Wolves playing much better all-around ball.

  5. Charlie

    Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens were both coach and player at the same time. Do you think this will ever happen again in the NBA? If so, what current players could you see as potential candidates.

    • Derek Page

      Personally, the only person I’ve covered that I believe could work the player/coach angle is Mavericks’ point guard Jason Kidd. Dude knows A LOT about the game of basketball. He’s pushing 40 now though, so that seems unlikely. Don’t be surprised to see him with a clip board in hand once his playing days are over.

  6. Sweet Dee

    Which team has assembled the best young core to build around: Jazz (Kanter, Favors, Haywood, Alex Burk), Kings (Cousins, Evans, Fredette, Thorton) or Toronto (DeRozan, Valanacious, Ed Davis, Bayless, Bargnani)

    • Derek Page

      As of this moment, I’d have to go with the Jazz. Each of those four players play significant roles. Don’t forget CJ Miles, who’s just 24 and shows a lot of promise. More than any of those teams, the T-Wolves have assembled the best young talent (Love, Rubio, Pekovic, Beasley Wes Johnson). Minnesota is going to be good for a long time if they can keep those guys together.

  7. Sweet Dee

    What are the reasons Kevin McHale is starting this Chandler Parson’s guy at SF instead of Chase Budinger? Chase had a breakout year last year, but McHale doesn’t seem to want to play him. If you were the coach of Houston, how would you divide the minutes at the 3 spot?

    • Derek Page

      Parsons is a better defender and the rookie overall has played better and better as his minutes have increased. I think McHale is doing it right: he’s basically splitting the minutes between them and going with the hot hand in crunch time. Nobody expected Houston to be 16-11 with this roster, McHale deserves some credit for the turnaround.

  8. Charlie

    Are NBA players drug tested during the year? If so, is marijuana on the banned substance list? Thought I’d ask because one of my favorite mixed martial artists was recently disqualified due to a positive drug test (despite being medically cleared for legal use in his state of California). Can NBA players get in similar trouble for a positive test? Do you know of any NBA players who currently have medical clearance for use?

    • Derek Page

      NBA players are tested during the season for both performance enhancers and recreational drugs like marijuana, and both the new CBA and old have a max of four tests per player per year. Starting before the next season, players will be tested during the offseason for PED’s but not marijuana. Personally I don’t know any players with a MM Card, but I’m 100 percent positive there are plenty NBA players that do have one. That’s a good question. I need to start asking the real questions to these players what people really want to know!

  9. JP

    1-Do you think that the core that Minne must not move up in any trade to
    upgrade the team are Rubio, DWilliams and Love and perhaps Barea as a
    game changer from the bench?

    2-Do you see Rubio arrival as the real reason of why Minne is pushing
    for a playoff spot even with Love at his level (think of the last year)?

    3-If Pacers actually move for Eric Gordon. Who is going to get traded?

    • Derek Page

      1. From what I’m hearing, Minn is content to let this roster play out. However a lot can change in a month if this team starts tanking.
      2. Rubio is definitely a reason, but not necessarily the biggest. Kevin Love has been an absolute monster for the T-Wolves and this team as a whole is just playing better ball all around.
      3. That’s a tough one. I like Gordon’s game but it’s hard to get a read on the guy because he’s seemingly always injured. This also makes it difficult to get a gauge of what he’s worth talent-wise but he was the largest return in the CP3 trade so that should tell you something on what the Hornets would expect in return.

  10. Tony

    When Kobe loses to detroit in the finals or gets swept by Dallas the Jordan comparisons die. When he has a streak of scoring 40 points they return. Jordan is 6-0 on the biggest stage. That alone should bury the comparison forever regardless of what else Kobe accomplishes. Thoughts?

    • Derek Page

      Kobe is not Jordan, plain and simple. That being said, no one is Jordan. MJ is MJ because he is the greatest basketball player ever. That’s why I think it’s important to just judge Kobe as Kobe. The guy is an amazing player in his own right and Jordan himself would be the first one to tell you he’s about the closest to being on his level.
      I hate comparisons in general. They are so easy to dole out without actually analyzing a players game and giving said player his own defining characteristics.

  11. devonte

    jeremy lin is playing outstanding basketball, whats your take on him? if there was one or two things he can improve on what would it be?

    • Derek Page

      Let me just preface my following statement with the fact that I am a fan of Lin’s game. I remember watching him in preseason (albeit against much lower competition) when he was with the Mavs and being blown away with his skill set. However, the guy is not Kobe Bryant. If Lin played in Milwaukee (who actually have a better record than the Knicks right now) you would be hard pressed to find a damn thing on the internet about this guy. Because he plays in NY, he has had a meteoric rise and will have just as big of a fall when he comes back down to earth and averages a quality 18 and 5 or whatever it may be — which are really good numbers for a PG.
      In terms of improvements, I think he obviously needs to hold onto the basketball better as he’s had far too many turnovers.

  12. devonte

    is there a date when j.r. smith can sign with a nba team? and ultimately who does he sign with (knicks or clippers)

    • Derek Page

      I’m hearing shortly after the 15th of this month but it’s still up in the air a bit. Reports are that Smith will head to NY but I don’t know how well he fits there. In my opinion, he’s a better fit for both sides with the Clipps but where he signs is his prerogative.

  13. Mutang

    Derek really curious about Utah’s PG situation.They have a good young team, TPE’s and draft picks coming, but PG is where they need to address. Who do you see as Utah’s starting PG in 2013, or for the future?? Thanks.

    • Derek Page

      They’re banking on Devin Harris right now and frankly he just hasn’t cut it. While he’s played much better over the last month or so after a dreadful start, Harris must continue to get back to the level of play he showcased early-on in NJ — not the tentative Devin we’ve seen so much of in Utah. The Jazz would prefer Harris to be the point guard for now and the future but if he doesn’t get his game back to a consistent level they could look outside of the organization in the off season or maybe even as early as the trading deadline.

  14. daniel

    Are the Lakers looking at stephen jackson as a option.

    • Derek Page

      He’s not on LA’s radar from what I know. As long as he played nice, Jack could potentially be an energizer for LA. Problem is what do the Lakers have to offer that Milwaukee wants. Jackson isn’t worth LA trading Gasol or Bynum. Bucks may have better options but Jackson’s stock looks to get considerably cheaper as his role decreases in Milwaukee.

  15. Kris

    Kings are 6-1 with Evans, Thornton, Salmons, Thompson, and Cousins starting. Won 4 of their last 5 and last 3 losses have been on final possession. Are we seeing improvement or just a hot streak?

    • Derek Page

      Definitely improvement. That team is stocked full of talent and as they gain maturity they will only continue to get better.

      Thanks for joining me everyone! I had a blast yet again. Sorry to everyone I couldn’t get to. Let’s do this again, same time next week!